Cunard Reveals Queen Elizabeth Entertainment Lineup

[LauraS]

Check out this news item from Cruise Critic:

 

Cunard Reveals Queen Elizabeth Entertainment Lineup

[wripro]

Again, sorry but Cunard is not a luxury line.

[keithm]

Again, sorry but Cunard is not a luxury line.

As I've stated before..the Grills definately are luxury.

[MARIANH]

Again, sorry but Cunard is not a luxury line.

 

On any scale of Reference, the Grills are Luxury. In the same class as Seabourn and maybe beating them in some areas. Foe example have you eaten in queens Grill on the queen Vicyoria. happy to expand on this experience if you have not.

[Texas Tillie]

I think what wripro means is that the ENTIRE experience on Cunard is not luxury. Yes, the cabins and the dining rooms in the Grill class are very nice, but a passenger's experiemce anywhere else on the ship is just mass market. You could book a villa on NCL and have every meal delivered from one of the specialty restaurants, but I don't think anyone would call NCL a luxury ship! :eek::D:p

[Travelcat2]

The article is interesting. . . . I feel that sailing in Grill Class would be a good experience. . . . but, have to agree with wripro. Cunard is not a luxury cruise line:o

[wripro]

If they could take the Grills and sail them separately yes, it would be luxury. But as part of a 2600 passenger ship with venues like Kings Court it most definitely is not. It's like putting a top hat on a hobo and expecting him to make the best dressed list.

[keithm]

I think what wripro means is that the ENTIRE experience on Cunard is not luxury. Yes, the cabins and the dining rooms in the Grill class are very nice, but a passenger's experiemce anywhere else on the ship is just mass market. You could book a villa on NCL and have every meal delivered from one of the specialty restaurants, but I don't think anyone would call NCL a luxury ship! :eek::D:p

True, but the Grills have resticted restaurants only for grill passengers.

[Texas Tillie]

True, but the Grills have resticted restaurants only for grill passengers.

 

If you read my post, I said that the cabins and dining rooms are nice - but I said that the experience in its entirety is not luxury. What about the entertainment venues, the bars, the pool, the casino, etc.? That's the point - someone in the grill class has a "partial" luxury cruise experience, but not a "total" luxury cruise experience. So, wripro and the others are just questioning why Cruise Critic lists Cunard as a luxury line, when taken in its entirety, it is not one.

[Glaciers]

Again, sorry but Cunard is not a luxury line.

 

Which cruise lines are truely luxury and what is it that makes them luxury?

[flag fan]

Which cruise lines are truely luxury and what is it that makes them luxury?

 

I think the consensus is that the luxury cruise lines are: Crystal, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn, SeaDream, and Silversea, with the Grill Cabins (Princess Grill and Queen Grill) of Cunard getting luxury ratings as well (although obviously there is not a real consensus regarding Cunard Grill). The main difference between the luxury and the other lines (premium and mainstream) seems to be level of service, with the luxury lines providing a more customized (willing to let guests order off-menu) and personal (greeting guests by name and remembering their favorite drinks and food) experience.

 

Another factor that is almost a universal difference is that most of the luxury lines (except Crystal) provide an "all-inclusive" cruise--meaning drinks are free, even the luxury lines have extra-cost dining rooms and charge for spa treatments, shore excursions (in most cases), and premium-brand alcohol; Crystal is not "all-inclusive" regarding drinks but does provide on-board credits that can be used for drinks or anything else that other luxury lines charge for. I do not think that any of the non-luxury lines are all-inclusive.

 

Factors that formerly distinguished luxury from mainstream no longer do; luxury lines provide for flexibility in dining room seating, but so do almost all cruise lines. Luxury lines formerly had very small ships to ensure more personalized service, but the luxury lines have been building bigger ships (Crystal, Seabourn, Silversea) and some premium lines have small ships as well (Azamara, Windstar).

 

So it looks to me like the definition of what constitutes a luxury cruise line is a little hazy, but most cruisers seem to know one when they see one. (And for the record, I have no problem considering Cunard a luxury cruise line regarding its Grill class cabins--it is a good way to combine personalized services for dining and a private lounge with the advantages of a large-ship--balls, top entertainment and lectures, etc.).

[Texas Tillie]

I'd put the entertainment and the enrichment program on Crystal above anything else available at sea. If you go to the Crystal website and look at any cruise, you'll see the what they offer - classes for bridge, art, ballroom dancing, computers, golf, keyboard, foreign languages, etc. The production shows are very good and the entertainers on each cruise might range from a concert pianist to a comedian. The lecturers are some of the best in their fields and on many cruises there are "famous" lecturers - as an example, Hugh Downs was on the Panama Canal cruise I took in 2009.

[wripro]

If you want to spend 24 hours a day in the cabin, QG restaurant and lounge then you can consider Cunard luxury. If you need to go to other parts of the ship it is not.

[keithm]

I think what wripro means is that the ENTIRE experience on Cunard is not luxury. Yes, the cabins and the dining rooms in the Grill class are very nice, but a passenger's experiemce anywhere else on the ship is just mass market. You could book a villa on NCL and have every meal delivered from one of the specialty restaurants, but I don't think anyone would call NCL a luxury ship! :eek::D:p

Yes, I agree it is not all luxury. I've met folks who say even on luxury ships, there are those who get more by being in a suite(butler etc,)I have a hard time calling an inside room with less than 200sq. ft. luxury, even if it is on Sea Dream or Crystal. The food maybe excellent but that small a stateroom doesn't cut it for me at those prices.

[keithm]

If they could take the Grills and sail them separately yes, it would be luxury. But as part of a 2600 passenger ship with venues like Kings Court it most definitely is not. It's like putting a top hat on a hobo and expecting him to make the best dressed list.

Well, seeing Hollywood's best on Oscar night must mean many of them are hobos. LOL.

I've seen some real TT(trailer Trash)on Cunard. Much more on the lesser lines. Then again some snobs from Sea Dream/Crystal/Seaborn just flouting their wealth(which I've seen)are just as boorish as the TT.

[keithm]

I think the consensus is that the luxury cruise lines are: Crystal, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn, SeaDream, and Silversea, with the Grill Cabins (Princess Grill and Queen Grill) of Cunard getting luxury ratings as well (although obviously there is not a real consensus regarding Cunard Grill). The main difference between the luxury and the other lines (premium and mainstream) seems to be level of service, with the luxury lines providing a more customized (willing to let guests order off-menu) and personal (greeting guests by name and remembering their favorite drinks and food) experience.

 

Another factor that is almost a universal difference is that most of the luxury lines (except Crystal) provide an "all-inclusive" cruise--meaning drinks are free, even the luxury lines have extra-cost dining rooms and charge for spa treatments, shore excursions (in most cases), and premium-brand alcohol; Crystal is not "all-inclusive" regarding drinks but does provide on-board credits that can be used for drinks or anything else that other luxury lines charge for. I do not think that any of the non-luxury lines are all-inclusive.

 

Factors that formerly distinguished luxury from mainstream no longer do; luxury lines provide for flexibility in dining room seating, but so do almost all cruise lines. Luxury lines formerly had very small ships to ensure more personalized service, but the luxury lines have been building bigger ships (Crystal, Seabourn, Silversea) and some premium lines have small ships as well (Azamara, Windstar).

 

So it looks to me like the definition of what constitutes a luxury cruise line is a little hazy, but most cruisers seem to know one when they see one. (And for the record, I have no problem considering Cunard a luxury cruise line regarding its Grill class cabins--it is a good way to combine personalized services for dining and a private lounge with the advantages of a large-ship--balls, top entertainment and lectures, etc.).

Excellent observation regarding cruielines. I find your thoughts on this thread most refreshing.

[Travelcat2]

keithm: just a few comments. . . . hmmmm, where do I start? Luxury, IMO, is a lot more than the size of the ship or the size of the suites (although most luxury suites start at 300 sq. ft. -- incl. balcony). With the possible exception of Crystal (*which many of us don't count anyway), there are no inside cabins/suites. I had to laugh when you said that luxury ships are getting larger. . . . you're right. . . but the newest ships (Silver Spirit and Seabourn's two new ships) are 450 - 540 passengers. Not exactly large. Luxury ships are all-inclusive --including soft drinks, alcohol, tipping, etc. The speciality restaurants on all luxury ships except Silversea, are available at no additional cost.

 

There is one very important part of luxury cruising that is important to us and is definitely different than Cunard. There are no "classes" on luxury ships. One "class" does not board or disembark before another class. You may be in a larger suite than I am, however, once you walk out of your suite, everything is the same. No one knows or cares if you paid $25,000 for your suite and we paid $7,000. It simply does not matter.

 

Lastly, although I think I may know which CC board has posters who may flout their wealth, etc., this is not the experiernce we have had. Up to now, the only luxury line we have cruised is Regent. No one talks about money, what they do, how big or small their home is, what kind of car they drive, etc. We all dress similarly -- shorts and jeans during the day and "Elegant Casual" in the evening. The discussions are mainly about cruising and travel. . . . also wine, food, etc. Okay, that's my 2 cents.

 

 

*Not including Crystal because it is not all-inclusive (by definition), still has set seating and tipping. It is a luxury cruise line -- just one that stands on it's own.

[Texas Tillie]

There are no inside cabins on either Crystal ship. I've never seen more than a handfull of "snobs" on any of my Crystal cruises - and the other 99.44% of the passengers pretty much ignore them!:p

[keithm]

There are no inside cabins on either Crystal ship. I've never seen more than a handfull of "snobs" on any of my Crystal cruises - and the other 99.44% of the passengers pretty much ignore them!:p

I've heard that Crystal is one(if not)the best out there. They are Japanese(but American run)owned so the hospitality is tops, I hear. I think it is Silversea that has a fair amount of inside staterooms. I guess all the lines have their small "cliques" I see them enough on Cunard.

[keithm]

keithm: just a few comments. . . . hmmmm, where do I start? Luxury, IMO, is a lot more than the size of the ship or the size of the suites (although most luxury suites start at 300 sq. ft. -- incl. balcony). With the possible exception of Crystal (*which many of us don't count anyway), there are no inside cabins/suites. I had to laugh when you said that luxury ships are getting larger. . . . you're right. . . but the newest ships (Silver Spirit and Seabourn's two new ships) are 450 - 540 passengers. Not exactly large. Luxury ships are all-inclusive --including soft drinks, alcohol, tipping, etc. The speciality restaurants on all luxury ships except Silversea, are available at no additional cost.

 

There is one very important part of luxury cruising that is important to us and is definitely different than Cunard. There are no "classes" on luxury ships. One "class" does not board or disembark before another class. You may be in a larger suite than I am, however, once you walk out of your suite, everything is the same. No one knows or cares if you paid $25,000 for your suite and we paid $7,000. It simply does not matter.

 

Lastly, although I think I may know which CC board has posters who may flout their wealth, etc., this is not the experiernce we have had. Up to now, the only luxury line we have cruised is Regent. No one talks about money, what they do, how big or small their home is, what kind of car they drive, etc. We all dress similarly -- shorts and jeans during the day and "Elegant Casual" in the evening. The discussions are mainly about cruising and travel. . . . also wine, food, etc. Okay, that's my 2 cents.

 

 

*Not including Crystal because it is not all-inclusive (by definition), still has set seating and tipping. It is a luxury cruise line -- just one that stands on it's own.

For what they charge in the Cunard Grills it should be all inclusive. You're right about the ship size. The QM2 is massive & would be impossible to have as "all Luxury" The embarkation wait on the smaller ships must be pretty short. On the QM2 with over 2500 it can take a few hours(at least)especially if foreign nationals went touring & are now reboarding. That all aside, in the Grills, it only takes about 45min.to board. We're talking about 300-500 people, similer to most smaller luxury ships. They do have a "class restriction" (the Grills restaurants,restricted sundeck/lounge)since they try to keep the "luxury" image of the Grills intact. We choose Cunard because we like the British oceanliner style of doing things. With Carnival "dumbing" down their system of cruising,we're waiting to see how this voyage(November)turns out. The Grills last year were outstanding. Unfortunately I'm hearing quite a few complaints about Cunard "slipping" in quality on some of the more recent posts(Queen Victoria). As repeat customers, we get quite a few "perks", but if quality lowers, we'll start checking elsewhere.

[Travelcat2]

My DH is British -- came to the U.S. on a Cunard ship many years ago. It was a horrendous crossing -- he describes the class he was in as "steerage". . . . perhaps this is why he stays away from that cruise line.

 

In terms inside cabins, I know that Silversea, Seabourn and Regent do not have any. It would be interesting to know if there is a luxury line that does.

[wripro]

I don't think any true luxury line has inside cabins.

 

And I think we all agree that QG on Cunard is a luxury experience. But you simply cannot separate QG from the rest of the ship so calling Cunard luxury is inaccurate.