cunardaddict

If QM2 is aimed at the US market, Cunard's aim is way off. I have not seen any print or heard any radio ads for a Cunard ship where I live. The overwhelming number of voyages/cruises sail from Europe, not the US. On most of the QM2 voyages I have taken, the majority of passengers were from the UK (exceptions being the so-called 4th of July cruise that isn't happening in 2015 and some of the Caribbean cruises that were discontinued years ago).

 

Regarding Commodore Rynd, he served eight years as a reserve officer in the British Royal Navy and gained his qualification as Master in London in 1979.

 

My understanding is that the headquarters for Cunard is in Southampton.

 

So for those reasons, I disagree with you that QM2 is aimed at the US market, and disagree that there is "almost no British influence in the ships management". -S.

CUNARD is only a Brand of Carnival Cruises. The Carnival House at Southampton houses a branch of Carnival including few employees assigned to manage the brand CUNARD. That is all.

Obviously Commodore Rynd is as British as I am.

It's all fake British, but most passengers including DW and me still like it.

I have been on many cruises and TAs on CUNARD ships within the last 9 years where mostly Europeans (including British) where a small minority.

But Commodore Rynd is from New Zealand!

Ah, his wife then...

Anyway, not Britan at all.

To what prison island are you referring? Your geography seems a bit confused, among other things.

The island with a virtual fence around it - Australia 😅

QM2 pretents to be a British ship. In fact it is a Carnival ship aimed at the US market - fake British like anything pseudo ethnic in the US.

There is almost no British influence in the ships management, even the Commodore originates from a prison island on the other end of the world.

It's suppose to be a British ship.

 

David.

It was a Hamburg to Hamburg TA. QM2 is not a British ship. She has been in better times.

On the surface this is just plain daft not to have your account on the TV. Mind you it might prompt people not to spend too much. Whoops I do let my cynical side have an outing now and again😉

It's not cynical. You say it as it is. I know.

Did you go to So'ton or Hamburg?

What really annoys me is the coffee cups being set and filled while I am still eating

David.

It is a German standard. Coffee comes with the pudding and not afterwards. But it tends to change now.

Time to end this silly thread, folks. The ships have an easily implemented technical solution: balcony door open = cabin AC and heat off. As for the noise caused, neighbors pounding on the walls and door will solve that.

Certainly not QE.

I don't quite understand. A Rug? for what purpose?

Praying? We might have detected a Djihadi :rolleyes:

Try a little creme de cassis and turn it into a Kia Royal

PA never makes a Kir into a Royal.

Yoshikitty, she didn't see a doctor for days, which I consider to be the most worrying aspect of the whole treatment.

If that was true her doctor should ask the hospital for the full report and check on it. But I doubt it because we have a specisl stroke awareness year in the European Union.

How terrible for hospital staff. Let us all feel sorry for them. I mean an actual ill person turns up at hospital expecting to be looked after and needing care attention healing and occasionally fed? How thoughtless. I bet it disrupt staffs routine no end. One or two had to wake up. Obviously ill people should go elsewhere not be burden to poor overworked staff trying get some serious shuteye. Im sure we only want what is easiest for them.

Lynn. Please time next stroke to take place when convenient for hospital and notify well in advance and never at weekends. Thank you.

At last. A hospital system worse than the NHS.

Cheers.

I cannot comment on the medical aspect. But in Europe nurses are not responsible for the personal comfort of patients - it is in the hands of their relatives. A hospital is not a hotel. Nurses have appr. 10 minutes per day to care for a patient in a public hospital.

Most hospitals have a section offering more comfort, but someone has to agree to pay the huge extra charges. Someone without any means of payment will probably not be accepted there.

Off cause Cunard is to take the full blame for Lynn's discomfort. The ships crew does not care at all once a passenger is of the ship, even when in the midst of a cruise. How can they leave you in a srange country without your passpot and wallet in a substandard hospital? I can only recommend never to travel alone.

It was certainly a difficult situation. On the other hand it wasn't easy for the hostpital staff.

I would have expected a lot more help and support from Cunard, definitely when the take extra money for this care.

Raw herring, called. "Matjes", is a regional speciality and highly rated along the north sea shores.

Everyone will have to accept local food when hospitalized abroad. You are free to order the food of your liking - in accordance with your doctor - at a local restaurant.

A few years ago we tested it on the QM2 in the area of the Antilles. A yacht with a powerful repeater was accompanying us at a useful distance to supply a testing line acting as a bridge (Some regulars may have noticed). Technically it worked out quite well but a lot of administral issues with the not always very democratic governments along the routes are holding it up.

An open door can severely impact the comfort of people in the surrounding rooms.

I'd rather like to see a sign: 'For the comfort of your neighbours please avoid slamming the balcony door or your stateroom door.'

Punkic, I understand that you have been on 40 cruises and never heard a rule about leaving your balcony door open,...

On QM2 an open balcony door does not affect the a/c. It's the Italian made ships QV an QE that need the doors permanently closed.

I agree that almost any other hospital would have done the same, with some exceptions. There is, however, some truth in what Lynn says, it's not only anti-US or UK, but also anti-Flems and anti-Walloons, so some Belgians against some Belgians "A little country with little spirit" as their first King said.

Some are also anti-German. It's adifficult country. According to our Dutch neighbours it shouldn't exist at all.

Are you black and blue yet? I am covered with the beating I am getting.

Just don't care. The US are trying to freeze us to death by their a/c settings. Our weapon is the balcony door.:D

You want to leave your balcony door open? Hope you aren't sailing in an area where mosquitos are a problem...but no worries, just have a grand time. -S.

I passed Africa with the doors open.

I passed through Suez Canal and Panama Canal.

No fly or moscito.

When you get closer to land the risk is considerably higher.

Hello Lynn,

 

I am sure that any USA hospital would have demanded the same thing from me (payment when I am leaving the country) - I am sure that what happened in Belgium was not anti-you -US or -UK.

Absolutely correct.

Lynn, sorry to hear this.

But don't give up. My father had a bad stroke 10 years ago. The firts weeks were really hopeless. No he is over 80 and on a normal bicycle again. Modern therapies can do a lot. Do whatever is on offer.

Meet you in the Commodore Club.

Doesn't leaving the doors open affect the a/c? It works overtime and affects everyone nearby. Or so the Chief Engineer told us.

Indeed. When QE started for her 1st WC we had a wet bed because condensing water was almosr running out of the A/C. This is a typical issue on italian build cruise ships. QM2 is not affected.

If one of the Queens is docked over night at a port, what is the protocol for being back on the ship?

Everyone on bed by 9, lights down by 10 😆

Just beeing funny. Usually the ship is accessible at any time until all aboard time.