What's happened to the bread rolls?

[keithm]

While we were fortunate to have two excellent waiters last week at our

regular dinner table in Britannia, I must agree with jimsgirl that several days on open sitting breakfast we had servers who were obviously very

new and poorly trained and not particularly self motivated either.

 

QM2 is a magnificent and unique ship, but for the fares charged and all

the White Star service hype there should be better training.

As my avatar implies, food service is my field, it isn't that difficult to

achieve the expected results.

We own a large catering bus. here in NH. We had stellar service in the Queens Grill, but had friends in Britannia that had very mixed service. Jimsgirl is correct in stating about Cunard's reputation. You should be pampered. If service continues to decline in Britannia..how long before it slides in the Grills? We had read about many issues about service before our Nov. trip. Luckily, for us things were fine. I really feel that Seaborn really should be the one training Cunard staff. Princess line is average at best. If you want better standards, then use those who know what it REALLY means to offer a luxury experience.

[conniedoug]

You do seem to have a problem deciding which ship and when, but then perhaps like myself you have "senior moments".

 

So I will say again, each cruise can and will be dependent on the staff at the time. Each passengers' experience (for the same cruise) will depend on cat. of room, which dining room - natuarally given the price difference the Queens Grill will be different to Britannia, and even in Britannia, it will be different depending on time and table staff.

 

So if you are going to write an opinion different to the original posting, please people let us compare apples with apples, and not apples and peaches.

 

The experience of someone like myself and my fellow passengers in Britannia .First seating ,upper level, will of course be different to that of someone in a Queens Grill suite/dining.

 

Waiters in Britannia were untrained, and should not have been foisted on unsuspecting passengers. If you had experienced the chaos, cold and incorrect meals,missing courses etc, I am sure you would have been as upset as we were.

 

Training should be completed BEFORE any staff has to deal with paying passengers. We are not "widgets" , any passengers who travels on Cunard,whether in Grills or Britannia has the right to expect, attentive staff, great service, and "pampering.". throughout the cruise .

 

Cunard promises a certain type and standard of cruise, they should fulfil that promise.

 

 

Usually, l do not get upset by these ridiculous posts and merely 'laugh them off'. However, when a significant percentage of our world population is starving and our armed services are risking life & limb to make this world a safer place, l find it abhorrent that posters persist on dwelling on something as daft as 'bread rolls'. I think it is time to get priorities in order here - Fair play to Capn' Pugwash - he tried to end this with a tad of humour - Surely, humour & enjoyment is what travelling with Cunard is all about?

[conniedoug]

Hi Heywood. Thanks for the cute song; you could make some dough as a lyricist :D

 

Merry Christmas,

Salacia

 

As always, Salacia, great humour! BTW My mum's still doing what your mum did - if you recall!

 

Hope you have a lovely Christmas & for a new-visitor to CC in 2010, thanks for all the words of wisdom!

 

Now - Whatever happened to our eloquent friends, Cruachan & Gari?

 

Again, Happy Christmas

 

Anamaria:)

[Whitemarsh]

Usually, l do not get upset by these ridiculous posts and merely 'laugh them off'. However, when a significant percentage of our world population is starving and our armed services are risking life & limb to make this world a safer place, l find it abhorrent that posters persist on dwelling on something as daft as 'bread rolls'. I think it is time to get priorities in order here - Fair play to Capn' Pugwash - he tried to end this with a tad of humour - Surely, humour & enjoyment is what travelling with Cunard is all about?

 

This thread is not about solving the problems of the world, it's about bread rolls on the QM2. The people who received poor service paid a lot of money for their cruise and they are entitled to write about their experiences.

 

This is, after all, the appropriate forum for this kind of discussion.

[Salacia]

Again, Happy Christmas

 

Anamaria:)

 

Thanks Anamarie & a Happy Christmas to you too.

 

And to all at sea and on land, and to those who work so hard on Cunard ships to make our voyages safe and pleasant, best wishes for the holidays. -Salacia

 

[CTCRUISERS2]

Lynn, I agree, so what do we do about it?

[MsDeva]

Usually, l do not get upset by these ridiculous posts and merely 'laugh them off'. However, when a significant percentage of our world population is starving and our armed services are risking life & limb to make this world a safer place, l find it abhorrent that posters persist on dwelling on something as daft as 'bread rolls'. I think it is time to get priorities in order here - Fair play to Capn' Pugwash - he tried to end this with a tad of humour - Surely, humour & enjoyment is what travelling with Cunard is all about?

 

 

I was quite thinking on the same lines conniedog. It is at this time of year that we should be thinking of those who are indeed not as fortunate as most.

But for those enjoying Christmas Cruises wherever you may be, l wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and happy cruising also.

 

Best

Judy

[Cruachan]

Now - Whatever happened to our eloquent friends, Cruachan & Gari?

 

I'm still here. Is eloquent the same thing as gobby?

 

:D:D

 

J

[heywood]

I'm still here. Is eloquent the same thing as gobby?

 

:D:D

 

J

 

Loquacious perhaps ?

 

I'd settle for eloquent if I were you though J ;)

[Cruachan]

Loquacious perhaps ?

 

I'd settle for eloquent if I were you though J ;)

 

Nah - I think I'll go with prolix. That has a certain je ne sais quoi about it.

 

J

[Salacia]

I don't like anything bad being said about Cunard. I worked on QM2 and QV for some time, along with a slew of lesser lines. No one works harder at training their staff and looking after the staff and passengers than Cunard. That is true.

 

I think the lowering of service has to do with the lowering of the US dollar which makes foreign employment less attractive to those from developed countries.

 

Also, remember Cunard used to have a great fleet where they could rotate staff members. I've heard of some now waiting for months for an assignment to go back to work.

 

In reading the comments, there is no contract to provide sun-dried tomatoe or olive rolls at every meal and a first-timer would not even find that unusual. You are basing your opinion on a former voyage, possibly former ship, former Maitre'D, etc..., and everyone runs their space differently.

 

Upon hearing you liked you flavored baked starches everyone bent over backwards trying to get you what you would like. I think that can't be said of most other restaurants out there on land or at sea.

 

As far as the tea: They should know better than to mess with tea.

 

Hi Former Crew. From what I've read on this board, and from my own personal experience, the majority of passengers have high regard for the crew on Cunard ships. I recently spent 22 days on board QM2, and met many crew members who worked very hard and still managed to smile. I have a great deal of respect for their work. I appreciate their efforts and their dignity.

 

HOWEVER, it seemed to me that the MDR was understaffed, cabin stewards had more cabins to cover and there were many crew members (Britannia Restaurant., Pursar's Desk, Voyage Sales, Tour & Travel Office, Empire Casino, etc) who were new to the ship and struggled to do their job well. Over-worked and under-trained crew can result in unhappy response from passengers who are told to expect White Star Service from Cunard, especially when passengers pay more.

 

I appreciate your loyalty to Cunard, and I can understand why you don't like anything bad being said about Cunard. It is my sincere hope that Cunard realizes the importance of a loyal crew AND loyal passengers.

 

Thanks, and to all the current crew who work so very hard....

 

Best wishes for the New Year,

Salacia

[Jimsgirl]

Usually, l do not get upset by these ridiculous posts and merely 'laugh them off'. However, when a significant percentage of our world population is starving and our armed services are risking life & limb to make this world a safer place, l find it abhorrent that posters persist on dwelling on something as daft as 'bread rolls'. I think it is time to get priorities in order here - Fair play to Capn' Pugwash - he tried to end this with a tad of humour - Surely, humour & enjoyment is what travelling with Cunard is all about?

 

This is about getting that for which we paid. It is not about saving the world

 

BTW, I spent a large part of my life , facing "the bad guys" starting with Sept 3rd l939, The Blitz,V1'sV2's, the cold war, I served in the Womens Air Force, married a "profesional military man', and for over 30 years I coped with alarms in the middle of the night, living in wild places (yes including that "tribal area" in Pakistan , and having a "bad guy" threaten to cut the throats of my children and myself).Being left alone whilst my husband was off somewhere.

 

Now alas I am alone again, a widow. a member of the generations past, and I just wish that some of those who post here actually think on the subject matter before adding their "two pennies worth".

 

If you purchased a "brand new item (like a car) and found it was in fact , rusty, missing parts etc" would you not be angry.?

If you sail and everything is wonderful, good service , great food, fine new shows, etc, I am happy for you, but sometimes that is not the case.

[Jimsgirl]

Lynn, I agree, so what do we do about it?

 

Write letters of complaint, to Hotel Manager - even if he does not bother to answer! Imagine if he received 100 letters of complaint in just a few days!

 

Spread the word , maybe someone at Cunard will actually see the posting. There is an ex member of staff on here, maybe he can pass it along.

 

Withhold the auto tips. Give only to those staff who really care about you as a passenger.

 

Why should I tip some anon. person who clears tables in the Kings Court/Lido when I do not use those areas?

Why should I tip a waiter who fails to deliver the meal I ordered? The wine steward who does not bring my glass of wine until I am eating desert? Who tells me she "is very busy,"

"you should order a bottle if you want wine with your entree"!!!

[Whitemarsh]

The wine steward who does not bring my glass of wine until I am eating desert? Who tells me she "is very busy,"

"you should order a bottle if you want wine with your entree"!!!

 

That really is appalling. I would be livid if someone said that to me, especially considering the vast amounts of money involved (that Cunard is making from me).

 

I feel for you that you had to experience this.