Queen Elizabeth Q 516.

[foster269]

Hello, my wife and I have just finished the above cruise.For us another enjoyable one,our third on Queen Elizabeth.The weather was very very good,I know this sounds wrong but,sometimes a little too hot possibly for walking about.Two small beers became the norm.

We had a problem on our table for eight, which alas forced us to ask,and get,a change.We did this after seven nights but should have done it sooner.We were determined not to let it spoil our cruise.It did not.

I would like to pass a comment on one of the speakers,Lord Digby Jones.I attended his two lectures and his question and answer session,he was outstanding.

The weather in the bay coming back, was to say the least, not good but hey ho.

One comical point I would like to share with you.In Lisbon I walked along the dock to take some pictures of another vessel.It was very hot so I took off my shirt,not a brilliant sight but I have seen a lot worse.From behind me I could hear a voice shouting.I did not think it was relevant to me so did not turn around.The shouting got closer and more urgent.I turned to see a short but rather round and flustered lady,in a uniform, telling me in Portugese to put my shirt on ?.Maybe my body did offend.Ah well

[mandranuc]

One comical point I would like to share with you.In Lisbon I walked along the dock to take some pictures of another vessel.It was very hot so I took off my shirt,not a brilliant sight but I have seen a lot worse.From behind me I could hear a voice shouting.I did not think it was relevant to me so did not turn around.The shouting got closer and more urgent.I turned to see a short but rather round and flustered lady,in a uniform, telling me in Portugese to put my shirt on ?.Maybe my body did offend.Ah well

 

Maybe she thought it was a Portuguese Man of War ?!

[Bell Boy]

And she was quite right too. There are now strict laws in place in many parts of Europe to put an end to this chavish behaviour of guys and some women walking around half covered.:eek:

 

Ok on the beach, but not on the streets of Lisbon.

[Essex Boys]

Not sure we would have wanted to have seen that sight either, unless your toned and got a 6 pack, and then only on the beach

[Host Hattie]

Thank you for reporting back

[maggiemou]

I live in the Eastern Mediterranean where we have had temperatures of up to 57 C this summer. Walking around half naked in a public place is not acceptable in most Mediterranean countries.

Men who strip off to the waist is as insulting to a local as it seeing a woman half naked. Plus the locals do not like men sitting with no top on at a bar, or restaurant.

It often offends their faith and also they see it as unhygienic, perspiring all over their furniture. British people often do this and usually what I see is "not a pretty sight" :)

Men, unless they have a body of an Adonis, should stay under wraps unless on a beach or in a swimming pool area. :)

Far easier to stay cool by wearing a good 100% cotton shirt & pants and a good Panama hat.

Glad you never got arrested Foster, now that would have been something to write about. :) Nice to have you home safely.

[pepperrn]

... We had a problem on our table for eight, which alas forced us to ask,and get,a change.We did this after seven nights but should have done it sooner.We were determined not to let it spoil our cruise.It did not. ...

Hi foster269,

 

Glad to read you had a great cruise, QE is a very fine cruise ship IMHO. I've yet to have the privilege of hearing Lord Digby Jones's lectures, hopefully in the future.

Not wishing you to divulge details you may be reluctant to discuss, but I would be interested, if possible, to understand what happened over seven nights to make you eventually request a change of tables, if you wouldn't mind, thank you. I'm pleased the incidents didn't spoil your time on board.

 

Best wishes :)

Edited September 16, 2015 by pepperrn

[foster269]

Good evening pepperm.Yes if you get the chance do attend a Digby,sorry Lord Digby Jones lecture do so.

Thank you for your interest in our dining problems.It would take too long and possible induce a " yawn" or two to explain,a precise would not do it justice.

I do though think it would be unfare to publish on here as of course there are allways two sides.

Rodger.

[pepperrn]

Good evening pepperm.Yes if you get the chance do attend a Digby,sorry Lord Digby Jones lecture do so.

Thank you for your interest in our dining problems.It would take too long and possible induce a " yawn" or two to explain,a precise would not do it justice.

I do though think it would be unfare to publish on here as of course there are allways two sides. Rodger.

Thank you Rodger for your answer to my little question, I quite understand. I asked because although I've been generally quite lucky with tablemates in the evenings (no serious issues needing a change of tables), I have had several lunches and one memorable breakfast over the years where I had agreed to share a large table, and almost immediately wished I hadn't. Certainly not seven evenings that's for sure!

Thank you again.

 

Best wishes :)

[Ray66]

I was also on this cruise, i.e. 16 nights on the QE to the Mediterranean, 30th August - 15th September.

 

I also thought the Lord Digby Jones lectures were outstanding.

 

Here are my few brief notes:

 

Embarkation at the Mayflower terminal was very quick. We actually boarded before noon although were told that our rooms weren't all ready so told to wait to be called in the Lido. We never were called so went to check our room to see if it was ready and it was.

 

We had booked an Early Saver fare, requested a table for two on early seating and that's what we got. A proper table for two as well!

 

The quality of the picture on our wall flat screen TV was very poor and just as bad as the one on our QE trip last December. We bumped into the side of it more than once as well.

 

One of the reasons we booked this cruise was that there was to be an overnight stay in Monaco. We have never been here before and wanted a good look round. The first day and night we were to be docked and then the ship was due to be moved to anchor early the next day. But no, our captain decided that she didn't was us tendered and so decided to dock in Toulon the next day which meant sailing back on ourselves. To get to the city centre in Toulon required a 20 minute journey by boat, so the only difference was that we got on the boat was from the quayside rather than a boat directly from the ship. I'm sure most people knew when they booked this cruise that we were to be tendered the second day (as we did). Needless to say, we were very disappointed. It also meant extra work like cancelling excursions and booking new ones from Toulon. And the one day we were in Monaco was a Sunday and all the shops, apart from souvenir shops, were shut!

 

Overall, the evening entertainment in the theatre was definitely an improvement with new production shows and two comedians.

 

We were only given ONE print-off account. This was towards the end of the cruise. There was NO final account on the last evening. When I enquired in the morning, I was told there was some sort of glitch.

 

Disembarkation was different in that only Grills and Diamond members got to wait in the Commodore Club, with tea, coffee and cakes. Previously we as Platinum members were able to do this and also able to disembark an hour early. Also the only ones to get given new labels were Grills, Diamond and people with transfers. The rest of us had to use our embarkation labels, wait in the theatre and disembark from the top decks down but our deck at least was called half an hour early.

[sogne]

I was also on this cruise, i.e. 16 nights on the QE to the Mediterranean, 30th August - 15th September.

 

I also thought the Lord Digby Jones lectures were outstanding.

 

Here are my few brief notes:

 

Embarkation at the Mayflower terminal was very quick. We actually boarded before noon although were told that our rooms weren't all ready so told to wait to be called in the Lido. We never were called so went to check our room to see if it was ready and it was.

 

We had booked an Early Saver fare, requested a table for two on early seating and that's what we got. A proper table for two as well!

 

The quality of the picture on our wall flat screen TV was very poor and just as bad as the one on our QE trip last December. We bumped into the side of it more than once as well.

 

One of the reasons we booked this cruise was that there was to be an overnight stay in Monaco. We have never been here before and wanted a good look round. The first day and night we were to be docked and then the ship was due to be moved to anchor early the next day. But no, our captain decided that she didn't was us tendered and so decided to dock in Toulon the next day which meant sailing back on ourselves. To get to the city centre in Toulon required a 20 minute journey by boat, so the only difference was that we got on the boat was from the quayside rather than a boat directly from the ship. I'm sure most people knew when they booked this cruise that we were to be tendered the second day (as we did). Needless to say, we were very disappointed. It also meant extra work like cancelling excursions and booking new ones from Toulon. And the one day we were in Monaco was a Sunday and all the shops, apart from souvenir shops, were shut!

 

Overall, the evening entertainment in the theatre was definitely an improvement with new production shows and two comedians.

 

We were only given ONE print-off account. This was towards the end of the cruise. There was NO final account on the last evening. When I enquired in the morning, I was told there was some sort of glitch.

 

Disembarkation was different in that only Grills and Diamond members got to wait in the Commodore Club, with tea, coffee and cakes. Previously we as Platinum members were able to do this and also able to disembark an hour early. Also the only ones to get given new labels were Grills, Diamond and people with transfers. The rest of us had to use our embarkation labels, wait in the theatre and disembark from the top decks down but our deck at least was called half an hour early.

 

 

 

what reason was given for not tendering?

[foster269]

Hello Ray66.I think we must be following each other around.I think you were also on The Lusitania trip in May.

Although the overnight in Monaco was not our main reason for booking the cruise,we also were dissapointed that the overnight was cancelled and I certainly will not rush back to Toulon.Having never mean to Monte Carlo I wanted to visit the Casino,not to gamble,just to look.Another alas dissapointment.I had read ther was a strict dress code,which turned out to be not the case.Because we were second sitting we decided to eat in the Lido and then walk to the casino.I donned my dark lounge suit and collar and tie.We went into the Lido and felt very overdressed and after watching a chap make a cheese sandwich decided it was a one off.

My wife is not a good walker and I think she is still paying for the effort and I am still paying for the suggestion.

The dress code in the Casino was anything but formal.Girls in shorts and men in jeans,yes jeans appeared to be the norm.

The decor of course is as one would expect,but the place was lacking in atmosphere.Maybe this working class lad expected too much.

Of course the parade of cars outside was awesome.Dream on boy.

Then the walk back in the suit in about 25 degrees.

Back on board apparantly we missed a very good firework display.Not sure how.

Rodger.

[foster269]

Hello sogne.

Sorry if I am butting in ray.The captain was concerned about the swell.

I suspect a reaction to events earlier in the year.

Rodger.

[sogne]

Hello sogne.

Sorry if I am butting in ray.The captain was concerned about the swell.

I suspect a reaction to events earlier in the year.

Rodger.

 

in that case you have to accept her judgement since she has ultimate responsibility we are in Monte Carlo next month and are due to tender

[Camgirl]

We were also on this cruise.

 

The dedication to change the itinerary was made several days earlier prior to our arrival in Monaco. It didn't bother us to be honest and we had a super day on a lovely beach near Toulon.

 

We were lucky enough to have a table by the back Windows, second sitting. The fireworks in Monaco were visible during dessert. I have no idea what they were for but it was a good display.

 

Ray66, this was our first trip on QE. I don't like those tv's. I also bumped into the thing repeatedly and I would rather watch from the sofa than be forced to sit on the bed.

 

Like you we are also platinum and really missed the separate departure lounge. We wondered if there were just too many platinum members. We also noticed the lack of final bill - which we had wanted to check an earlier mistake had been corrected the day before. We will never know! Luckily it was only 3$ so not the end of the world.

 

All in all it was a wonderful cruise but a little port intensive for us (10 ports in 15 days). We need a rest to recover now!!

[cruiseluvva]

We were also on this one. Not staying overnight at Monte Carlo was disappointing, but understandable. I was starting to feel unwell, but we hadn't been there before and I was desperate to go ashore. We went to the casino and I managed to win six times my stake, which was great - my husband lost all his!

 

Unfortunately from then on, I was really ill with a really severe respiratory tract infection, and "the cough" and didn't leave the cabin until Gibraltar, when I started to feel a little better. However, our guarantee cabin allocation was very far forward on deck 4 and the heavy seas we had for the two days back, rendered me flat with seasickness - something I don't normally get troubled by, but we felt every wave reverberate through the cabin! So we missed cocktails with the lovely Capt Inger on the last formal. Lesson learned - don't book a guarantee!

 

We then had a hideous four and a half hour journey home - and STILL I cough and cough and cough! Nice to meet the members from here, but overall, for us it was not a good one. Hopefully November will be better.

 

For those who may remember me asking if it was likely we would get a table for two with a late saver fare, we asked - and we got the last one, just near the aft portside window. Perfect really, though of course it stood empty for much of the time.

Edited September 17, 2015 by cruiseluvva

[kir royale]

Hi Gill,

Hope you are feeling better.

I too started with the cough on Monday !

Had to see my GP on Wednesday and am on a course of Steroids !

Because of my previous medical problems have to have more investigations.

Hopefully November will be better.