Quick guide to Cunard

[Whitemarsh]

YoYo was on board for our TA on 26 April. She was lovely.

 

Is she Japanese?

[pmb1]

Fashion Police charter cruise.

 

B2B transatlantic from Southampton. Five nights each way (enjoy QM2 as the commodore puts the pedal to the metal)

 

1. Formal five nights a week (with diamonds mandatory for the ladies) except for the first and last nights of any voyage.
   
2. The other two nights would be smart casual (no jacket required for the gents).
   
3. Real clotted cream for afternoon tea.
   
4. Caviar available free of charge every three days in the Princess Grill and once a week in Britannia (5% price reduction for those passengers who advise that they will not partake at the time of booking)
   
5. Prices in the spa are reduced by 50%
   
6. Drink prices are reduced by 20%
   
7. Crepes Suzette are now flambéed table side in the Britannia Restaurant.
   
8. Smoking allowed in the cigar room.
   
9. Gentlemen hosts are pre-screened to ensure dancing skills are to the standard expected by Cunard passengers.
   
10. Vibes will be taking a well earned break. A DJ will take residence in G32 and Max Raabe & His Palace Orchestra will hold court in the Queens Room.
    
11. Your voyage sales specialists Dragana & Petra will give away a bottle of Cristal at each cocktail party as part of a lucky door prize.
    

If you're doing a five nights crossing, Item 2 makes no sense. And gentlemen just don't do tie-less and jacket-less fine dining.

 

About Item 8, smoking (I guess you meant cigarettes) is allowed in Churchills, at least by the cigar smokers if you ask them politely. My wife's experience last December was that three or four cigar smokers will stare down the waiter spouting the new "no cigarettes" policy, after they overcome their astonishment at having been asked for their permission, that is.

 

Anyway, make it New York - Southampton - New York, in the winter, and we're in for sure.

[Whitemarsh]

If you're doing a five nights crossing, Item 2 makes no sense. And gentlemen just don't do tie-less and jacket-less fine dining.

 

About Item 8, smoking (I guess you meant cigarettes) is allowed in Churchills, at least by the cigar smokers if you ask them politely. My wife's experience last December was that three or four cigar smokers will stare down the waiter spouting the new "no cigarettes" policy, after they overcome their astonishment at having been asked for their permission, that is.

 

Anyway, make it New York - Southampton - New York, in the winter, and we're in for sure.

 

Yeah, that's not enough formal nights. I've increased the voyage to six nights each way. And replaced smart casual with elegant casual.

 

I wouldn't mind some suggestions on entertainment.

 

Fashion Police charter cruise.

 

B2B transatlantic from Southampton. Six nights each way (enjoy QM2 at speed as the commodore puts the pedal to the metal)

 

1. Formal every night (with diamonds mandatory for the ladies) except for the first and last nights of the voyage which will be elegant casual.
   
2. Real clotted cream for afternoon tea.
   
3. Caviar available free of charge every three days in the Princess Grill and once a week in Britannia (5% price reduction for those passengers who advise that they will not partake at the time of booking)
   
4. Prices in the spa are reduced by 50%
   
5. Drink prices are reduced by 20%
   
6. Crepes Suzette are now flambéed table side in the Britannia Restaurant.
   
7. Cigarette smoking allowed in the cigar room (everyone will just have to muck in and get along).
   
8. Gentlemen hosts are pre-screened to ensure dancing skills are to the standard expected by Cunard passengers.
   
9. Vibes will be taking a well earned break. A DJ will take residence in G32 and Max Raabe & His Palace Orchestra will hold court in the Queens Room.
   
10. Your voyage sales specialists Dragana & Petra will give away a bottle of Cristal at each cocktail party as part of a lucky door prize.
    
11. Interesting lecturers: Hilary Kay, Hugo Vickers, Karl Lagerfeld, Lady Pamela Hicks, Helen Mirren and MEP Daniel Hannan.
    

[Rotterdam]

Life Boats organized by Designer(Oscar De La Renta, Bill Blass, Baleciaga, etc..)

 

 

 

Yeah, that's not enough formal nights. I've increased the voyage to six nights each way. And replaced smart casual with elegant casual.

 

I wouldn't mind some suggestions on entertainment.

 

Fashion Police charter cruise.

 

B2B transatlantic from Southampton. Six nights each way (enjoy QM2 at speed as the commodore puts the pedal to the metal)

 

1. Formal every night (with diamonds mandatory for the ladies) except for the first and last nights of the voyage which will be elegant casual.
   
2. Real clotted cream for afternoon tea.
   
3. Caviar available free of charge every three days in the Princess Grill and once a week in Britannia (5% price reduction for those passengers who advise that they will not partake at the time of booking)
   
4. Prices in the spa are reduced by 50%
   
5. Drink prices are reduced by 20%
   
6. Crepes Suzette are now flambéed table side in the Britannia Restaurant.
   
7. Cigarette smoking allowed in the cigar room (everyone will just have to muck in and get along).
   
8. Gentlemen hosts are pre-screened to ensure dancing skills are to the standard expected by Cunard passengers.
   
9. Vibes will be taking a well earned break. A DJ will take residence in G32 and Max Raabe & His Palace Orchestra will hold court in the Queens Room.
   
10. Your voyage sales specialists Dragana & Petra will give away a bottle of Cristal at each cocktail party as part of a lucky door prize.
    
11. Interesting lecturers: Hilary Kay, Hugo Vickers, Karl Lagerfeld, Lady Pamela Hicks, Helen Mirren and MEP Daniel Hannan.
    

[Andiamo]

Is she Japanese?

 

Yoyo's name is Hinano Yeo. I don't know enough about names to identify Country of origin.

 

BTW, I am enjoying this thread immensely. You never let me down.

 

Jeanne

 

(Who is already shuddering at the thought of the new dress code as it relates to Christmas Eve (thank you Mariepr for the link))

[Salacia]

Do any of us know for certain, for any cruise or crossing, from now on?

 

Hi pepperrn. No, I guess not :( I have two QM2 cruises booked for the remainder of this year, and I'm keenly awaiting developments. Cunard sure has sprung a lot of suprises on us in the last few months - I have no idea what to expect next!:eek: -S.

[EGG]

I've only cruised once on Cunard, QV to Hawaii. I've sailed X 5 times. I have never sailed with children or teens.

 

The biggest difference is the dress code. Also the fact that you are expected to stay dressed for the entire evening. Not a big issue to me but may be for the boys.

 

I believe the small indoor pool is restricted to Grills guests. Someone please correct me if I am wrong about this. The pools were out in the open with little to even break the wind. So a trip to Norway may provide little weather for the pool which is usually a favorite of the teens. We did not us the pools at all on our trip to Hawaii, while a previous HI cruise on HAL I do not remember that being an issue.

 

Evening activities tend toward the more elegant with the biggest difference being the ballroom and balls, while Celebrity might have a pool party or other themed party which is much more interesting for the teens. We felt we were waiting around for the show to start on Cunard, and usually we can find something like trivia or theme music to occupy us on X and RCCL.

 

Cunard had 3 lecturers on our cruise. I really enjoyed this. I also like the card game bridge and they have regularly scheduled bridge lessons and duplicate games while at sea. Also afternoon tea is very popular. Obviously these are more geared to adults,

 

Cunard showed movies on sea days in the theatre. Their theatre is special and I was able to watch the movie from one of the "boxes" after which I decided I liked the regular seats better. I prefer a movie in the theatre on a big screen with a guaranteed seat to the cinemas on X and RCCL.

 

I found the food in the Bitannia dining room similar or slightly below X. The lido buffet was beautiful on QV and made it feel less of a cruise ship buffet experience as you entered and once you sat down. Otherwise food was of the same quality.

 

We were not interested in any of the choices in the specialty restaurant so we did not try Todd English.

 

So overall, Cunard, as you already know is a more elegant experience. We like to mix up the ships and the experiences. We will be cruising to Norway next week on QE.