Austcruiser84

Having sailed on the Diamond I don’t feel it fits my tastes. Yes, perhaps a more authentic Japanese experience (even having an onboard onsen) but the ship is not for me. Much prefer Cunard and looking forward to this trip, even if it means I must search for culture myself.

I can live without the flower arrangement (as nice as that is 🙂). Sadly people don’t dress up anymore. I love it and will certainly bring my formal attire. Worst case, I’m better dressed than others. Curious what else made you feel second class (aside going PG rather than QG 😉)?

Enrichment talks aligned with the country sounds great. Not that I expect Cunard to abandon its ways, though I do also hope for a few nods to Japanese cuisine. Worst case, I’ll get that ashore.

Hoping there may be some wisdom on the board with cruising Japan with Cunard. I’m curious about the passenger demographics, kind of entertainment (similar to what I’m used to with Cunard or unique to region?), food (do love Japanese cuisine), quality of shore excursions (or best to organise myself? I have found shire excursions touch and go in quality) and the general experience and any advice people who have done such a cruise would have. Will be a first time in Japan!

2.30pm expected to be tied up at Hamburg and 10pm departure tonight. Arrival into Southampton expected on schedule morning of 22nd.

So my upcoming Cunard voyage is all paid for and online check in will soon become available. I’ve got a specific stateroom booked, which has always showed on the Cunard my voyage app. However, in the past week I have noticed that the phrase “your stateroom will be allocated prior to sailing” appears for 10 seconds before my stateroom number shows. Should I read into this or is this common and likely an app glitch? Happy with my choice but won’t say no to an upgrade.

Moving with the times will be a positive for Cunard. It ensures their survival. More dining options not only gives more choice when onboard but as some have noted on shorter voyages it will be hard to try them all. Clever business move here that entices people to sail again, with the mind of trying the venues they didn’t get to before. The modifying of formality isn’t something new. I imagine some people were concerned about slipping standards when Cunard shifted from formal attire to a mix of formal, semi-formal, smart casual many years ago. I don’t see a singlet and shorts crowd happening on Queen Anne purely because of the price point, advertising and beauty of the interiors. People ultimately dress to feel they belong with their surroundings. I’m confident many of the naysayers will come around and I’m sure Cunard is also confident. Just recall concerns about the introduction of the Vista class QE and QV. A lot of criticism of Cunard introducing cruise ships and not ‘real liners’ like the QE2 and QM2. Fast forward and those same critics are now regular cruisers on those Vistas. Glad to see Cunard is evolving and thriving. It means Ill be able to enjoy their hospitality for many decades to come.

Have heard this is possible with planning. Also, if you just like to live your best Rose from Titanic fantasy you can always book another room and have it converted to hanging space. There was an occasion where a lady on a world voyage booked adjoining suites and used the second one purely for storage of clothes, shoes, etc. I’ve also seen a couple stack 16 matching cases outside night before disembarking. They were in a suite.

Installing more hamster wheels below deck to add a little speed to the internet. Can’t ask the little creatures to run any faster than they already do. Would like to see Grills bathrooms renovated. Having sampled the QV aft suites that has spoiled me. Though I’m looking forward to next month on QM2 regardless.

8178 is beautifully appointed. I enjoyed my time in it. However, the coffee table is quite large, making the sitting area a little cramped. The marble bathroom and large shower made up for it. Next QG on QV I’ll certainly book a remodelled aft suite again.

Thank you 🙏 I think to be safe I’ll order once onboard so I don’t miss out. The problem with off menu is always so many possibilities and not so many days! techteach, signature pasta sounds wonderful. What was in that?

Fair point though I’m sure some water and food could be brought over to the terminal from a nearby location.

That does sound rather poor. It surely wouldn’t have cost Cunard much to have brought out water and some light food from the ship itself to appease people waiting in the terminal. Or perhaps even provided a couple of hotel conference room / ballroom spaces for a few hours to keep throngs of people out of the terminal, and then transport them over to Brooklyn when the time was right. On top of this, perhaps a light dinner service arranged for late embarking guests could also have been sorted. These don’t take that much organising really but I’d wager would have spared everyone a headache. People don’t always remember what you get right, but they sure remember what you get wrong in business. Sounds like Cunard - like most airlines and I’m sure many other cruise companies - could do with a better shoreside management team.

In QG on QM2 this September and already thinking about what items I plan to order off menu (sometimes I feel like planning trips is more fun than experiencing them!). While I have sailed in the Grills before, I have not yet ordered Peking Duck. I believe they used to offer this off menu, but that you needed to order it multiple days in advance (as opposed to just lunchtime on the same day). Is this the case and if so, how far in advance does it need to be ordered? Is it worth it? On the subject of off menu dining in QG, what other items have people ordered that they’d recommend? I’ll certainly have the sole one evening, but more interested in what people have had made or have been surprised with that doesn’t come on the usual QG menu.

Was watching QM2 videos as I get more excited for my upcoming trip on her and this video came up in relation to the delayed boarding on this voyage. Did Cunard not explain to passengers boarding in NYC the reason for the delay?

Always underwhelmed by coffee in the US, UK and much of Europe (bar Italy of course). I do enjoy a cappuccino in the morning but those in-suite machines don’t make the cut. Think I will stick to room service or the restaurant. Missing out on a decent coffee is a relatively small price to pay for the enjoyment of travelling outside Australia.

Interesting, too, that there are seemingly far fewer QG suites than PG on QA. The deck plans mailed out show the QG restaurant is quite small vs the PG restaurant. Bizzare decision making given how popular the grills are and how quickly they seem to sell.

Looking at the mock ups of the cabins across all grades, proper showers with glass doors are coming on Queen Anne. The deluxe oceanviews even seem to have bath and shower (insides and balconies only have a shower, PG has shower/bath and QG has separate shower and bath). This appears in the 147 page 2023-24 brochure I received in the mail some months ago.

On one QE cruise I abandoned a table where a lady sought to control the dining experience for everyone, including what seat you could have and in what order people could speak. I was reallocated to another table after two nights of unbearable, yet somewhat entertaining, dining dictatorship. At the new table was a couple heavily involved in the Scottish National Party. They only talked politics. They were perfectly nice and I did learn more about the SNP so saw it as an educational experience. Plus they didn’t tell me what I could order off the menu!