Cunard's QUEEN VICTORIA... An Autumn Cruise in the Rain and Wind...

[Cruachan]

That you are, and where would we, in this scepter’d isle, be without ships that proudly sail under the Red Duster (incl the ones talked about here)?

 

I thought you were a Far-Out Gari?

From a right-on

 

He just mentioned my position on the school rugby team.

 

Left-out. :D

 

J

[pepperrn]

Our recent experience of Queens Grill was excellent. However you may wish to be aware that some suites at the aft of the ship can suffer badly from soot fallout on occasions.

 

Thanks for your comments, and for that interesting news. Of course, the “wind scoop” around the funnel on QE2 and QM2 is functional, unlike the faux version on QV that contains vents. Astern of every funnel an area of low pressure is created as the ship moves forward. The fatter the funnel, the bigger the low-pressure area. Fumes can be sucked into this instead of being pushed high above the decks. It would seem, from your information, that the wind scoops on QV should not have been merely decorative.

 

Thanks again for your post.

[pepperrn]

Marvellous, Pepper - thank you. It's even better the second time around. Mary

 

Thank you, and I’m flattered you read it twice!

 

Very best wishes and many, many thanks.

[pepperrn]

Thank you Pepper for yet another wonderful review. Fabulous. Jackie

 

Thank you so very, very much, lovely to hear from you, kind of you to comment, so glad you enjoyed reading it.

 

With very best wishes and deep gratitude for your post.

[pepperrn]

Add my thanks for your excellent review; perhaps, Pepper, you might give the QV another try in Grill class, however. The Grills Lounge before dinner has an elegance and conviviality which, until QE, at least, I believe to be unsurpassed on land or sea. On QV, unlike, QM2, the Grills experience is very worthwhile - pure magic! Happy cruising!

 

Thank you for your flattering comments, and your thoughtful advice. I came very close to booking Queens Grill on QE2 in 2007 (eventually choosing Caronia grade). As it turned out, through an invite from friends on board, I was able to visit the Queens Grill Lounge for drinks. If the version on QV is anything like as good as that, it must be wonderful indeed.

 

Thank you, once again, for your comments and advice.

[pepperrn]

Pepper, thank you for the review. You answered a few questions I had regarding the QV. I'm glad to hear your love for her "Big sister" has not diminished. Linda

 

Thank you, I am glad if my report of the voyage was helpful. QM2 will always be my favourite, I enjoy every moment on board, and I know you share those thoughts with me. I look forward to having lunch with you again one day, maybe, once more, courtesy of “The White Star”.

 

Thanks again, with very best wishes.

[pepperrn]

Hi Pepper. I found your "journal" about your QV voyage interesting, informative and surprising about the weather. We too were booked for your sailing but decided instead to go on a 15-day Viking river boat cruise from Antwerp to Basel 10/25 - 11/8. However, our concern everyday was that the river level was too low and we prayed for rain, so that our cruise wouldn't become a "bus tour" as they were during their October cruises! Before we departed on the cruise, we toured Amsterdam for two days on our own, and on Saturday, 10/24, we were thoroughly drenched as we walked around. It didn't rain again until after the ship left Cologne when it touched the river bed! And then, we too, sloshed around in the rain for a few days while telling ourselves that we "love rain"! We often thought about the QV trip and that maybe we should have sailed on her - a peaceful voyage without stress over the weather! How ironic, eh? Thankfully it was a 15-day river cruise!

 

Thank you for your informative and detailed post. I do hope your time on the river cruise was fun. I have not taken one yet; maybe it is something I should look at for the future. It certainly was wet in Amsterdam!

 

Thank you once more for your very kind comments, very interesting to read and something to remember for the future.

[pepperrn]

Thanks, Peperrn, for your vivid QV review. My DW and I are embarking on QV next Wednesday for the first time (on the 'Winter Wonderland' cruise) and are really looking forward to it. Regards, Ted

 

Thank you, once you return I would be very interested to read of your thoughts about her.

 

Once again, thank you, I hope you are having a great time.

[pepperrn]

Pepper - thank you for a wonderfully informative review - it was like being back onboard! I expect you were devastated that the Captain/Cruise Director did not spend his evenings stopping by for a long chat! LOL!

 

Thank you for your flattering remarks, very, very good of you to comment. As I said, I did not see Captain McNaught except during divine service. I occasionally spotted one or more of his officers walking swiftly past a bar or lounge, they did not seem interested in talking to anyone. However, I did get chatting to several other passengers, and made a few new acquaintances, over a martini or three, and, of course, during dinner; we may keep in touch. Although several had experienced QM2, not one had been on QV before. Such nice people Cunard generally attracts (there was one group, on one evening, who drove people from the Commodore Club until asked to stop by the crew. Their language (at full volume) was, um, expletive rich … and their vocabulary not vast).

 

Thank you once again.

[pepperrn]

A long and tiresome personal view of a 'new' ship Why compare QV with QM2 , the latter is ,in tonnage, 50% larger and as correctly noted significantly larger in dimensions. QV is capable of going to places that QM2 cannot dream of, try taking QM2 through the Panama Canal!!

 

Welcome to the Cunard board, thank you for taking the time to comment, esp. with a first post, very good of you. Thanks. I’m certain you’ll find lots to interest you here, please share your experiences of past voyages, I’m sure we’d all enjoy reading them.

Of course all reports of a voyage will be personal and reflect the writer‘s views and opinions, just as you have with your comments, that is inevitable. If you found it too long, I can only suggest “skipping” paragraphs or ignoring it altogether. If it is “tiresome”, I can only apologise.

I compared QV to QM2 because many members will have sailed on QM2, It gives them reference points. In addition, of course, the whole reason I booked the trip was to compare Cunard’s newest ship with one I know so well.

As for Panama, you are, of course, correct; QM2 is far too big to use the canal. As she was planned to have a life of 40 years, a decision was made to build an all steel ship, rather than one with an aluminium superstructure (such as QE2 and QV/QE). To build a Panamax ship with high stability and great seaworthiness, suitable for the North Atlantic, in steel, would have resulted in a ship smaller than QE2. So, at an early planning stage, it was decided not to restrict her dimensions to a size that would fit the locks, for the ONE voyage a year that required her predecessor, QE2, to use the canal, as this would potentially reduce her profitability, when operating as a transatlantic liner, and on long ocean passages. Her exceptionally deep draft also means many ports are either “out of bounds” for her or require the use of tenders. Just as happened when QE or QE2 went cruising.

 

Now to the review. Firstly the problems of the British railways system are not part of a ship review.

 

I do not wish to appear as if I am quibbling, but I did not set out to write only a “ship review“. Otherwise, I would not have mentioned the visits to Cherbourg and Amsterdam, rather something about my short holiday on QV, including information, written as an introduction, about my experience in getting to the port in the hope that some readers build, into their departure day schedules, a little more time for the unexpected. Therefore, clearly, it was a part of my “review“. It may not be in yours (which I eagerly await) but we all have different styles. Can I respectfully suggest skipping the fourth paragraph next time?

 

Personally from leaving home to sitting in the Lido was exactly 45 minutes . Reviewer should read the joining instructions sent out by Cunard.

 

You were very fortunate, well done. I’m sure that many passengers in that queue had been told to arrive at that early hour (as some were QG or diamond world club members). In fact, whilst I was standing in the queue waiting to go through security, my own suggested arrival/boarding time came and went.

 

The arrival of passengers is staggered starting, in our case, at 1:30 (to plan to arrive at 11:30 was courting problems)

 

It has never been a problem in the past when boarding either QE2 or QM2. Indeed, on my first voyage I arrived (at the QEII terminal) at 1130 and was in my cabin at 1215.

 

We arrived at approximately 1:45 , no luggage hold ups, no waiting for check in and a non-stop passage through security and the long trail to the ship ( one problem with the new Ocean Terminal) where we were greeted by a few staff who pointed the way to the cabin on deck 5 Called the lift and had it to ourselves.

 

You were very lucky indeed. Interestingly ray66 (above) had a completely different experience. He arrived at 1300 and didn‘t board until 1445. Well done.

 

no, the old white gloved stewards who carried your bags are only in the memory The personal view of the ship is just that - persona l Like the curate's egg it's good in parts However the picture of the Britannia restaurant is, in my mind a serious distortion. Nowhere did we see ' on every table' 2 litre plastic bottles of water.(check it is 1.5 litres not 2).

 

My apologies for not noting that 0.5 of a litre difference down. Sorry. I do try to be as accurate as possible. However, the first night, I did see them on every table (that I looked at) as I walked the whole length of the restaurant.

 

On all ships we always have a large bottle of sparkling water with dinner and what remains at the end of the meal is taken back to the cabin to wash down my bedtime pills

 

I believe the water in the plastic bottles was “still”. Had a choice of water been offered, on a menu, or as “available on request“, I would have no issue. It was the fact of it being placed, with a large price tag, on the table, that I found objectionable.

 

all ships water can vary from OK to disgusting. The steward always topped up our glasses and replaced the bottle out of sight as requested on the first evening. So fair warning to all future passengers. Read the joining instructions and comply. - see also the dress code .- Move house to live in the beautiful New Forest

 

If we all did that, I doubt it would be “beautiful” for very long. Many passengers travel a long way to get to Southampton, some drive (as I have in the past (and was stuck in road works on the motorway)), many come by train and some by air and taxi. All will have different experiences.

 

and remember that there is an old saying at sea that ' present ship is nothing like as good as the previous one', We have also sailed on QM2 and rate QV highly, we did have a full 24 days Autumn Colours cruise so plenty time to really get the feel of the ship We will be sailing again on QV but after we have sampled the 'new' Queen Elizabeth and compared it with the 'old' Queen Elizabeth ( not the QE2)

 

You have me there; I have not set foot on the QE (although I did see her on one occasion), just the QM.

 

Once again, many thanks for your comments, as I said, very good of you, and Bon Voyage! for your next trip, I look forward to reading all about it.

[pepperrn]

Dibdenden, you are welcome to this little band of Cunard fans, Pepper does in-depth thorough reviews and most subscribers like them or perhaps just ignore them. You are obviously entitled to your view but it will be in the minority. The comparison between a large and a smaller vessel has great merit as the folk who read this board tend to be Cunard fans and therefore likely to try the brand in all of it's guises. Pepper, keep them coming - but you don't need me to tell you that again.

 

Thank you again capnpugwash.

[pepperrn]

Why not compare them? If I decide one day to sail with P&O, I would very much like to know before booking the difference in their ships I was on the same cruise as the OP (Gallic Getaway 2 on 22nd October) and I can confirm that there was indeed big plastic bottles of water on every table in the Britannia (upper level in my case). I can also confirm that there were delays in the ocean terminal. We arrived at the time suggested by Cunard and it took nearly 2 hours before we actually boarded the ship.

 

Thank you once more ray66. We really must meet up next time!

[pepperrn]

Perhaps they are taking note of comments - they seemed to be down to 1.5 litre glass bottles on our recent trip - our waiter (almost apologetically) asked if we wanted it & when we said no, iced water please, it went away, never to be seen on our table again. (this was upper deck Britannia) Great review Pepper - wish I'd had enough time to read it while onboard, but those free internet minutes disappear so quickly

 

Thank you for your lovely comments, hope all is going well/went well with your voyage. Interesting to hear that the bottles are now glass, a small step in the right direction.

 

Once again, thank you for taking the time to comment, much appreciated.

[LDVinNC]

I, for one, enjoyed your review. Sometimes I am amazed at what happens on this board!

[The Real PM]

2. THE VOYAGE.

Great review, Pepper!

 

Furthermore, I noticed that every table had at least one, sometimes several, 2 litre plastic water bottles on them of the sort that “own brand” cola comes in when displayed in supermarkets. I cannot stress how cheap this made the whole restaurant look. Despite the gleaming cutlery and shining plates, the fresh flowers, the artfully folded napkins and wonderfully reflective glasses, there, plonked down amongst all this finery, were these noisome objects. As I sat down and the steward draped a napkin across my lap, I asked for iced water. “Of course sir” was the reply. When the water arrived, and with the consent of my dining companions, I asked her to remove the plastic water bottle, we never saw it again. What makes this worse is the charge of $3.50 + 15% for room temperature, plastic bottled, water, when iced is free! Around me I saw people (new to Cunard?) opening these bottles. I urge every passenger to tell their stewards that they do not need these plastic aberrations on their dining table. Cunard may get the message then.

 

Good for you Pepper, I must remember to be that persistent on my next cruise. Hopefully Cunard will have got the message that bottles on the dinner table is not good manners. And, on top of that much of the bottled water is tainted—nothing I wish to drink. And glass bottles are not much better.

 

The quality, choice and standard of the food here is superb. However, not everything is perfect. I had been used to seeing cloth napkins wrapped around cutlery in the Kings Court. Here there seemed to be only trays of cutlery and piles of paper napkins. My heart sank. I know it sounds fussy but I prefer a cloth napkin to paper. The other problem was the lack of Orange juice. Cranberry? Yes. Apple? Yes. Orange juice? No. Only on the last morning did it put in an appearance, along with the cloth napkins.

 

I wonder why that was the case. It is strange that the napkins were there all along , but didn't show up until the last morning. Were they waiting, thinking that a last impression is a lasting impression. You can find paper napkins in any old diner, you don’t want them on an elegant cruise ship. And I don't believe it is fussy of you at all.

 

Later I made my way to the Queens Room for afternoon tea. I wish they would use clotted cream but, even so, this combination was almost as good.

 

We specifically requested clotted cream on the QM2 at afternoon tea. That was my first taste of clotted cream so I don’t know if it was authentic or not, but an English lady we were with said it was excellent—so next time please request it.

 

On QM2, they set up the sales tables and “inch of gold” displays around the Grand Lobby and along the broad promenades. This is not only unsightly; it blocks the main passageways and cheapens the whole Cunard experience. However, on QV, these tables are set up in the Royal Arcade around the small atrium outside of the shops, and on the balcony of the Queens Room, a far better solution as this leaves the major parts of the ship clear and clean.

 

This was one of the few things I found unsightly and dismaying on the QM2 too--it just doesn’t’ seem to fit with the elegance of the rest of the ship. It is good that QV worked this out in a more satisfactory manner.

So there it was, a “sea day” instead of Bruges. Shortly afterwards one of his Officers announced the “exciting line-up of activities” they had planned for the slow cruise to Southampton.

 

I always pray for this to happen to me because it is the sea and the ship that I love so much and not the ports I visit. Although, I must admit, the planned activities aren’t really what I seek. I guess I should take a cruise to nowhere for about three months. :o)

 

Although many passengers were disappointed not to call at Zeebrugge, several, including myself, were resigned to a day at sea, an opportunity to get to know the ship and so I decided to take more photographs and study the ship in detail.

 

Now that is the perfect day aboard ship!

 

I did venture out on deck; the views demanded it. There was a gentle, almost imperceptible, rise and fall of the bow, very pleasant. I intended to have lunch in the Golden Lion but arrived (at 1200) too late to find a vacant seat, so I walked to the restaurant and once there, was escorted to a lovely window table. I noted there was fish and chips available so this is what I ordered, not quite as good as I have had in the Golden Lion on QM2 but very nice anyway.

 

I guess the fish and chips that we had at the Golden Lion Pub on the QM2 were an exception to the rule. It was very, very mushy—the entire thing.

 

During the afternoon the promenade was reopened as the wind had abated somewhat. However, the seas seemed to pick up a little and, high up and forward in the Commodore Club I could feel an odd sensation I had not noted on either QM2, or before on this ship. The waves were hitting the ship diagonally across the bow, each time she ploughed through one there was an odd shudder and corkscrew motion, it was particularly noticeable when sat, one lady called this dance the “Queen Victoria shimmy”.

As the day wore on the sky clouded over and, through the clouds, I could see a glorious sunset.

 

My magnificent obsession is to photograph the perfect sunset and/or sunrise.

 

Dinner that night was superb as always, I cannot praise my steward enough, she was attentive, friendly and professional.

 

Stewards, I have always found, are always very professional and attentive. I can’t remember one that wasn’t.

 

Later, as usual, I retreated to the Commodore Club, this night, much quieter than on previous evenings. Many of the passengers, enjoying the atmosphere there, commented that they could see the lights of Portsmouth’s Spinnaker Tower in the distance. As the evening passed I could tell, by noting it’s ever-changing position relative to the ship, that QV was holding her position but slowly swinging first to port and then to starboard, back and forth all evening.

 

Therefore, I had “full English” instead, as did the other passengers sat at my table. Not one of the six came as ordered, either an item missing or extra things added. In the Grand Lobby, there was a table set up selling newspapers. I bought one and, carrying this and my hand luggage I went, one last time, up to the Lido to sit, read, have more coffee and wait to be called.

 

This day must always come, but it is always so sad.

 

Would I sail again on the Queen Victoria? Sorry, but, no. That was, almost certainly, my first and last voyage on her.

My heart belongs to QV’s big sister, the greatest liner in the world, queen of the oceans, the incredible Queen Mary 2. It is QV’s misfortune but our good luck that Cunard have a bigger, better ship. My thanks go to the Queen Victoria, she is far better than I had imagined she would be; I wish I could have fallen for her, but it was not to be.

 

One day I hope to sail on the QV. My heart belongs to the QM2 just like you. I am not nearly as well versed as you are about the Cunard ships, so I suspect I will find the QV almost as charming, as her big sister— at least, I hope so anyway.

 

Thank you, Pepper. I just loved your review of your first cruise on the QV. You have made the ship and your own experiences very real to me. I can see the ship quite clearly through your words as you took us through the ship, deck by deck and day by day. Wonderful job!

 

Gail

[pepperrn]

I wonder why that was the case. It is strange that the napkins were there all along , but didn't show up until the last morning. Were they waiting, thinking that a last impression is a lasting impression. You can find paper napkins in any old diner, you don’t want them on an elegant cruise ship. And I don't believe it is fussy of you at all.

 

Hi Gail, thank you for taking the time to comment, I am very grateful. Yes, it was odd about the napkins, there may have been some lurking about unseen by me until the last morning, however, whenever I passed through the Lido, I did have a deliberate look for cloth, but could see only paper ones. At first I thought that maybe it was a permanent change but, as I said, on the last morning there they were! I wonder if it was an experiment to see if anyone complained? And, if no one did, will we see more paper napkins in future?

 

We specifically requested clotted cream on the QM2 at afternoon tea. That was my first taste of clotted cream so I don’t know if it was authentic or not, but an English lady we were with said it was excellent—so next time please request it.

 

Good tip! Thank you, next time I shall.

 

I guess the fish and chips that we had at the Golden Lion Pub on the QM2 were an exception to the rule. It was very, very mushy—the entire thing.

 

I am sorry to hear that, my experiences have been consistently good. My only gripe are the peas, they are good, but nothing like the mushy peas I am used to.

 

My magnificent obsession is to photograph the perfect sunset and/or sunrise.

 

I’ve posted a few of my feeble attempts, you can see them via the link below, there is a passable one in the TA ‘06 file and a few more in the Caribbean ’07 section. I was lucky some days, the clouds were in just the perfect position.

 

One day I hope to sail on the QV. My heart belongs to the QM2 just like you. I am not nearly as well versed as you are about the Cunard ships, so I suspect I will find the QV almost as charming, as her big sister— at least, I hope so anyway.

 

Thank you for the compliment, I’m sure you’re far more knowledgeable than I am. QV is a good cruise ship but she’s no QM2!

 

Thank you, Pepper. I just loved your review of your first cruise on the QV. You have made the ship and your own experiences very real to me. I can see the ship quite clearly through your words as you took us through the ship, deck by deck and day by day. Wonderful job! Gail

 

Thank you for your very kind and generous words, really good of you. And I wish you Bon Voyage! for your next trip.

 

Thank you again,

[pepperrn]

I, for one, enjoyed your review. Sometimes I am amazed at what happens on this board!

 

Thank you, I am so pleased to read that your enjoyed it, very kind of you to comment.

 

Thanks again, very best wishes.

[Aquaphobic]

Thank you, once you return I would be very interested to read of your thoughts about her.

 

Once again, thank you, I hope you are having a great time.

 

Greetings Pepper (and Happy Christmas!), had a wonderful time aboard QV and found her to be a lovely ship with an ocean liner feel. I saw many waiters, head waiters and wine stewards who I remembered from QE2. I thought the public rooms were tastefully and elegantly decorated, and that the service in Britannia Restaurant was better than that on QM2 (and with no spelling errors on the menus!).

 

As we didn't experience any weather above force 8, I can't comment her handling of rough seas, but there certainly wasn't any more motion than what I've experienced on other ships.

 

All in all, a lovely ship with a wonderful crew.

 

Regards, Ted

[pepperrn]

Greetings Pepper (and Happy Christmas!), had a wonderful time aboard QV and found her to be a lovely ship with an ocean liner feel. I saw many waiters, head waiters and wine stewards who I remembered from QE2. I thought the public rooms were tastefully and elegantly decorated, and that the service in Britannia Restaurant was better than that on QM2 (and with no spelling errors on the menus!).

As we didn't experience any weather above force 8, I can't comment her handling of rough seas, but there certainly wasn't any more motion than what I've experienced on other ships. All in all, a lovely ship with a wonderful crew. Regards, Ted

 

Ted, Christmas greetings to you as well!

 

I am glad to hear that you such a great time on QV. My personal experience of the service from the stewards in the Britannia Restaurant was, like yours, very good. I would say, IMHO, the equal of QM2's Britannia, both slightly behind the service in QE2's Caronia Restaurant which was simply superb. The service in the bars on board QV was also very good.

 

I'm looking forward to trying QE and further voyages on QM2. May I wish you an early "Happy New Year" and Bon Voyage for your next trip. Thank you for your comments.

[guernseyguy]

My personal experience of the service from the stewards in the Britannia Restaurant was, like yours, very good. I would say, IMHO, the equal of QM2's Britannia, both slightly behind the service in QE2's Caronia Restaurant which was simply superb. The service in the bars on board QV was also very good.

 

Your post prompted me to think of service over the years on Cunard - while most of it has been very good, there have, inevitably, been highs and lows.

 

The highs in the dining room are Princess Grill on Queen Victoria, Caronia (the ship) Mauretania on QE2 and Britannia on QM2.

 

The 'OK, but could do better' would be Caronia on QE2 and Britannia on QM2.

 

The 'lows' would be (early) Breakfast service in Britannia on QM2.

 

Of the bars, frankly I always found QE2 a bit hit-or-miss - the Chart Room and the Crystal Bar, depending on timing, could be poor. Funnily enough (what became) the Funnel Bar was consistently excellent.

 

But the best bar in the fleet....and quite possibly in the universe...is the Commodore Club on the QM2 (though I have yet to try out the remodelled QM2 Chart Room). The 'Champage Bar' aka Princess Grill Bar on the QE2 while a lovely gem was often staffed with bored bar tenders whose repertoire did not extend beyond Champage or G&T (I know, I tried a "Dry" Martini...). The Commodore Club on the QV is not in the same league.....And then there's the 'Golden Lion' on the QE2...probably better seen through a haze of cigarette smoke....

[hansol1966]

The Princess grill bar (champagne bar) on QE2 was a hard to find gem with free canapes was an amazing place for pre dinner drinks

 

 

 

 

 

The Princess Grill bar although dark was a fantastic venue for pre dinner drinks /cocktails with complimentary canapes, a wonderful venue and very relaxed.

Fred & Sian.

[PennyAgain]

Absolutely wonderful write up and photos. I really do appreciate your point of view as I crossed on the QE2 back in her prime when she was all Cunard all the time.

[pepperrn]

Your post prompted me to think of service over the years on Cunard - while most of it has been very good, there have, inevitably, been highs and lows. The highs in the dining room are Princess Grill on Queen Victoria, Caronia (the ship) Mauretania on QE2 and Britannia on QM2. The 'OK, but could do better' would be Caronia on QE2 and Britannia on QM2. The 'lows' would be (early) Breakfast service in Britannia on QM2. Of the bars, frankly I always found QE2 a bit hit-or-miss - the Chart Room and the Crystal Bar, depending on timing, could be poor. Funnily enough (what became) the Funnel Bar was consistently excellent.

But the best bar in the fleet....and quite possibly in the universe...is the Commodore Club on the QM2 (though I have yet to try out the remodelled QM2 Chart Room). The 'Champage Bar' aka Princess Grill Bar on the QE2 while a lovely gem was often staffed with bored bar tenders whose repertoire did not extend beyond Champage or G&T (I know, I tried a "Dry" Martini...). The Commodore Club on the QV is not in the same league.....And then there's the 'Golden Lion' on the QE2...probably better seen through a haze of cigarette smoke....

 

Thanks for your interesting and informative post. It’s always good to read such detail from someone who is prepared to share their experiences, gathered over many voyages. You also have the ability to inform in an authoritative and entertaining way. Thank you.

 

I agree with you, service on Cunard ships does have its highs and lows, as does everything in life! I guess I’ve been lucky, I’ve very rarely found the service I’ve received to be poor, it is almost always good, and occasionally outstanding.

 

Of the dining rooms you list as being exceptional, I have only eaten in QM2’s Britannia, I didn’t book the Caronia when I could have, missed QE2’s Mauretania (dined elsewhere on the ship) and will probably not return to QV.

I’m sorry to hear that your experience of the Caronia on QE2 wasn’t as good as mine, the service I received there was quite the best I’ve ever had, on land or at sea.

 

I did visit the Crystal Bar on QE2, after dinner in the Caronia, I stopped by for a drink, it was crowded with passengers who had just left the Mauretania Restaurant. After a long wait to be served I gave up and retreated to the Chart Room. Unlike yourself, I thought the service in the Chart Room was fine, I wasn’t overly keen on the layout of the room however. There was a great pianist there on one occasion, playing the QM piano. Like you I enjoyed the Funnel Bar.

 

I, and many others, agree with your sentiments about the Commodore Club on the QM2. I thought it superb back in 2006 and, despite seeing its larger counterpart on QV this year, still think so now. As you say “the best bar in the fleet....and quite possibly in the universe“. I am looking forward to enjoying it many times over the coming years. Whilst the QV version is great during the day, I didn’t warm to it at night.

I made a couple of visits to the Princess Grill Bar on the QE2 and thought it felt like a “well-kept secret” bar. So small, hidden and tucked away, you really had to know it was there. On one occasion I ascended the spiral stairs into the Princess Grill.

The service in the Queens Grill Lounge on QE2 was exceptional on the one occasion I visited for pre-dinner drinks. Nothing was to much trouble, anything was possible it seemed. The attention to detail was incredible, the choice of drinks overwhelming. The steward who brought around the tray of canapés (twice!) knelt on one knee so that we could see the choice without rising from our chairs or him lowering his head over the tray. The room itself felt like a well appointed, and disappointing, corridor however (and was planned to be a bowling alley I believe before she entered service, later a coffee shop).

I thought the Golden Lion on QE2 looked tatty and run down (one of the few places on board that did), and, as you say, smoky! However, one night it was the perfect setting, as QE2 steamed down The Channel, to watch England beat France at rugby “live” on TV.

 

Thank you once again for sharing your thoughts and experiences.

[pepperrn]

The Princess Grill bar although dark was a fantastic venue for pre dinner drinks /cocktails with complimentary canapes, a wonderful venue and very relaxed. Fred & Sian.

 

Hi, I missed the complimentary canapes in the Princess Grill Bar! Such a pity. I did enjoy the atmosphere there however.

Strange, in a way, a tiny room with no windows and a spiral staircase leading out of it. But we all (it would seem) have very fond memories of it! I doubt we'll ever see anything like it again. There are four photos of the Princess Grill Bar via the link below (under QE2 voyage 2007).

 

Very best wishes to both of you.

[BigMac1953]

Yes, quite agree about the PG champagne bar.

 

On our first trip on QE2 we went PG and almost every evening we went via this wee bar and stopped for a glass of fizz.

 

During that 2 weeks, we never saw another soul in the bar. It was as if it was your own private domain.

 

Stewart