PG versus QG dining post refit

[resistk]

A bit shocked to find that the Queens breakfast and lunch menus matched the selections in Britannia.

 

Good point about breakfast, it is the same in the grills as the Britannia which is to say mediocre, boring and hasn't changed in over a decade. Oceania, Princess, and even MSC have more variety. In the grills you can usually get berries and not get the horrible disembarkation day bad service but that's about it. But Cunard is English and that means fry up.

[Bell Boy]

Good point about breakfast, it is the same in the grills as the Britannia which is to say mediocre, boring and hasn't changed in over a decade. Oceania, Princess, and even MSC have more variety. In the grills you can usually get berries and not get the horrible disembarkation day bad service but that's about it. But Cunard is English and that means fry up.

 

Can you please enlighten us, what exactly is it that you would like to see on the Breakfast menu in the Grills that is not already available.

 

What is it that you find boring ? I have just disembarked from the QM2 yesterday, the Breakfast menu covered two pages, the selection was endless.

[david,Mississauga]

Good point about breakfast, it is the same in the grills as the Britannia which is to say mediocre, boring and hasn't changed in over a decade. Oceania, Princess, and even MSC have more variety. In the grills you can usually get berries and not get the horrible disembarkation day bad service but that's about it. But Cunard is English and that means fry up.

 

It has been two years since we travelled in PG and a few years more since we were in QG. The breakfast menus always had added items that were not on the Britannia menus, such as steak and lamb chops. It's a shame they have dropped those extra choices.

 

Even in Britannia I have had a very good breakfast without having a fry-up every day. I often have porridge, fruit, smoked salmon and maybe splurge now and then on one Cumberland sausage or an egg (all right, that is a bit of a fry-up).

[exlondoner]

They have not dropped those choices. At least they hadn't on QE two weeks ago. The QG breakfast menu was vastly more diverse than that available in Britannia Club, when I travelled in that a few years ago.

 

I think the lunch menu is much the same though.

Jane

[tv24]

Well they dropped them on the Queen Mary 2 just last week. I was a little shocked that the menus were the same as Britannia as I had expected that Cunard would try to differentiate Queens Grill from Britannia since the price point is many times higher. We did have an OK breakfast in QG. Most of our lunches were also OK in QG, even though the menu was the same as Britannia. There were a few missteps, but those probably would have been missteps in Britannia class as well.

[Host Hattie]

Definitely still available on QV.

 

Sent from my GT-I9195 using Forums mobile app

[Solent Richard]

Just crossed on the QM2 and our first time in Queens. We did order off menu, but had to negotiate what we wanted to match the food they had on board and what the chef was willing to cook. The result was OK, but nothing special and not what we had ordered. The maitre'd came around most lunches and asked if anyone wanted something off the short specials menu for dinner. We did this a couple of times and it was OK, but really just cruise ship food, with a lot of lah-dee-dah at table re-heating. A bit shocked to find that the Queens breakfast and lunch menus matched the selections in Britannia.

 

Oh dear, no more elephant's ear.

[Chunky2219]

DW and I are currently aboard QE in a QG. When digging out the luggage I found an old stack of menus for a 23 day voyage we did five years ago, our last time aboard this ship so I have something to compare new against old. In the intervening years we’ve cruised once or twice annually on either QV or one of the Celebrity vessels.

 

I’ll report back at the end how things have changed. In the meantime, here are some initial impressions:

 

Suite Drinks – Boo, hurrah, boo, hurrah.

No Pol Acker when we arrived. We always take this delightful gem home, just in case we get any teenage visitors who ask for Lambrusco or similar fizzy stuff. Or in case we have any drains that need a flush. But on the plus side, the Delamotte champagne in the ice bucket is now Veuve Clicquot. Another boo for the water, where the glass bottles of Cunard brand have been replaced by plastic bottles of generic stuff. In the end, water is water so it’s hardly the end of the world. And a final hurrah – the Pol Acker arrived mid afternoon on our first day.

 

Menus

It’s early days yet and the menus are indeed definitely different to how they were a year ago. At some point during the cruise I was going to ask if we could get a bouillabaisse made but hey presto, there it was as a starter on the first night. Never seen that before.

 

The al-la-carte is very much slimmed down and all the old staples such as chateaubriand, beef Wellington, rack of lamb and Dover sole have gone. My heart sank. That is, until we were told that the a-la-carte is changed twice a week so we’ll see four menus and maybe some familiar dishes. If not, we’ll just ask.

 

Sadly, there are now no a-la-carte dessert options at all, which is a definite step backwards. Sabayon, strawberries Frasier, all the rest, gone. I might ask for some butterscotch flavour Angel Delight one evening for nostalgia’s sake.

 

Hors d’ouvres

I confess, we’ve been spoilt rotten by Celebrity. There’s something different every time and plenty of it. Olives, cheese, fancy breads, oils, tapenade, sushi, sun dried tomatoes, roast artichokes, handmade crisps, dips, you name it. It makes the Cunard plate of five miserable offerings under a plastic hood look wholly inadequate.

 

However, things are looking up. First night we got two portions of four different tasty morsels, all very nicely presented and one with a bit of caviar on it. No longer any need to argue about who has to eat the bit of rye bread with cheese spread atop and who gets the prawn. I wonder what delights await for future evenings.

 

Embarkation

Hmmm.... definitely not as good as it used to be. Last time we had a high-end QG suite it was like stepping on the Hogwarts Express. When we turned up at the Grills desk the lady went away and came back with two red cards to wave on our passage to cabin. We were then escorted through a separate security channel (at the Mayflower terminal) and once aboard were immediately picked up by our butler who escorted us to the suite. What’s not to like?

 

This time, we arrived at the Ocean Terminal about 11:20 and the Grills desk wasn’t open yet. No problem, we got the sea passes from a normal desk, cleared security and went aboard. At the door was a lady who said, “The staterooms aren’t available until 12:00 pm, so we’re directing people to the Lido. “ No Grills waiting?”, I asked. Nope, go to the Lido. So we went up to the Grills lounge anyway, which was already half full, to enjoy a coffee while we waited. No announcements were made, so at about 12:15 we took our chances and wandered down to our suite. We didn’t see our butler until after lunch, but found out he was new on board and had been in training, so no problem with that to my mind. He’s a smashing chap and very helpful, which is much more important than him being waiting at the door.

 

As a comparison, here’s how it’s done on Celebrity, for all suites, not just the top end. On arrival, you collect sea passes, clear security and are then picked up and escorted on board to Michael’s Lounge by someone who insists on taking the hand luggage. You might grab a glass of fizz on the way but regardless, when you get there you are offered more drink or a coffee. There are nibbles waiting for those who can’t wait until lunchtime. The concierge is already buzzing around the lounge, introducing her/himself and picking up any outstanding issues that the shore concierge didn’t bottom when they contacted you pre-voyage. “You want to meet with someone from the tours desk to query excursions? Certainly, we’ll arrange it for here in the Lounge, after dinner, what time would you like? “ Once your suite is ready your butler arrives to collect you and take you there.

 

Cunard, please take note; the White Star service ain’t as slick as the competition has become.

 

 

.

[Host Hattie]

The "old" a la carte is still available on QV, including desserts.

[Chunky2219]

Update - QE has a separate a-la-carte list of some "order in advance" favourites that you need to get in at lunchtime as always. It appeared at lunch yesterday, on day 2.

 

Sole, Wellington, chateaubriand, duck a l'orange, lamb, lobster. But the desserts have definately gone.

 

.

[Bell Boy]

Your arrival onboard shortly after at 11.30am sounds as if it was a one off ? (never heard of boarding Cunard before staterooms are available) If I'd have been you, once onboard I'd have made my way to my suite , and I guess you'd have found it ready. No need for a waiting lounge on Cunard unlike Celebrity who are not always ready in time.

 

Just to add. Cunard Line also offers the services of Voyage sales or the Tours department at a pre booked time to suit the customer/guest in any comfortable venue onboard.

Edited November 9, 2016 by Bell Boy

[DaddyWarbucks]

We have just returned from a WB crossing on QM2. The PG Matre D' Attila could not do enough for us. Beef Wellington was not on the menu, but no problem, he produced 3 for our table of 6. Flambe deserts every night. I give him credit for saying yes regardless of what Cunard regs said. Apparently the Maitre D has a lot of discretionary power.

[RevCo0219]

Just back from 11/19 crossing.

 

PG is not very different from prior to refit. Grey colors in the dining room and cabins are very nice accented with Cunard colors. Overall tones and textures very nice.

 

Atila was great. Got a table for two all the way in rear on our own. Overall food was good. Didn't feel as creative in dishes as last time on was PG on QM2 but was completely acceptable. Ordered off the menu whatever I wanted without issue. I had yearn for roast beef/yorkshire pudding/potatoes/veg normal Sunday afternoon dinner and it was prepared and served, off the menu.

 

Also beef wellington off the menu arranged without problem.

 

Were in cabin 10090. Great location for all things toward middle and rear of ship though many long walks for spa, gym and all things at front of ship.

 

And then there was Angus. I hadn't followed weather before boarding but on Saturday night we plowed our way through Angus. 115 MPH winds, the largest seas I've ever witnessed, and from what I understand from very experienced QM2 folks, the roughest weather they'd ever seen.

 

My faith in the ship has grown, even if it faultered during the storm. Some scary few hours I must admit.

[tv24]

Kasius: Congratulations on making it through Angus! Awesome!

[Chunky2219]

Here are my PG impressions after a recent 12 nights on QE I can't go back to the halcyon days of QE2 but I'm looking back on about 7 years of QV and QE:

 

 

• Menus have changed but they were a bit tired and "same old, same old" anyway so were due for a refresh. Overall food choices are as good, or maybe slightly better than before.
  
• There are some welcome new items on the evening menus that I've not seen before.
  
• We did get one menu which was repeated, on a Monday, which caused a bit of puzzlement but next day everything was new again.
  
• Food presentation is very good, although some of the descriptions on the menu take a bit of a stretch to line up with what is on the plate when it arrives. It's not full blown Heston Blumenthal though and enjoyable nevertheless.
  
• Lunchtime menus varied between very good items and stuff that was okay, but nothing remarkable. Wraps and sandwiches were nothing to write home about, for example. At embarkation day lunch I'm sure the ham was that pressed, sliced stuff from a packet.
  
• The old a-la-carte menu is gone. Instead, there's a short list of order in advance favourites as well as a rejuvenated a-la-carte menu which changed once during the voyage. The total result is a better choice than before.
  
• The a-la-carte dessert menu is gone. The daily dessert options were okay but choice sometimes wasn't great. Without the a-la-carte it needs at least a couple more choices every evening. More than once, cheese was the best option.
  
• The quality of ingredients is really, really now very good, especially the meat and fish. The only place I've had a beef Wellington that good is when cooked by Mrs C when we'd paid a king's ransom for the fillet.
  
• The cheese trolley is still there but the choice isn't up to QG standards. Cheddar, Wendsleydale, Brie, run-of-the-mill Stilton and a some flavoured options IIRC. The most adventurous thing was Gruyere. Before now I'm sure there has been Comte, Pont l'Eveque, maybe Roquefort. Or maybe I'm dreaming. A nice Gorgonzola was only there for one evening but when we asked for it later in the voyage some was fetched.
  
• That reminds me, the service is still good and nothing was too much trouble for the wait staff. Silver service is long dead and gone, so anyone who likes to have their vegetables plated separately by a white-gloved server needs a time machine.
  
• Ordering off menu is still no problem, we did it a couple of times including a terrific baked Alaska.
  
• It certainly isn't "pushed" in the way that it used to be and table side cooking didn't look as frequent except for standards like Chateaubriand, which hardly qualifies.
  
• Some of this may be down to the atmosphere the maitre d'hotel sets - I fondly remember AN, who seemed to be on a mission to get everyone addicted to QG and both Sandro and Ico have previously been enthusiastic with us. Beniamino was new on the ship at the same time as us, so might have been feeling his way and by now could be in full flow. Or else, a new policy is in place?
  
• What I'll call "fussy eaters", which I'm sure includes people with certain food in tolerances or worse, were well catered for. More than one person received menus a day in advance and was able to discuss them with the head waiter and tweak to meet their needs. I know how important this can be, we have a family member who would likely be killed by exposure to an egg.
  
• Ordering a-la-carte on special evenings such as the cocktail party night is now not a problem. You could always do it, but now the menu is there on the day rather than you having to know the game.
  
• Caviar is still available, not just on request but was also a menu item one evening. It still comes in those hinged silver globes and still doesn't have enough blinis.
  
• Initial positive impressions about hors d'oeuvres faded. Six items instead of the previous five, better presented, but very little variation over the 12 days and we soon got fed up. Celebrity still wins this one hands down.
  
• Breakfast was good quality and eggs Benedict always came with soft yolks, which is a good measure of how good things are. I can't believe how often you get an egg so firm it would bounce on some other lines.
  
• In the past we've seen wait staff sometimes stretched and things could slow down. It might have been specific to our voyage, but they always seemed to be on top of things and overlapped well as a team. Only one evening, the final formal when the room was almost full quite early, was there a slight wobble and I wouldn't place bets on whether this was just the kitchen struggling to keep up.
  

In summary, QG is still as good a dining experience as you are likely to find at sea. But you need to chirp up to get the best of it.

 

I brought back a handful of menus and have some old ones too. So if anyone is really that interested, shout up and I'll scan them and post them on a web-accessible site.

 

 

 

.

[Scorer9]

Chunky,

Your post starts off with reflections of PG but finishes QG. Which was it?

[Chunky2219]

Chunky,

Your post starts off with reflections of PG but finishes QG. Which was it?

Oops. QG.

 

 

.

[Scorer9]

Sounds good. We are in QG on the QV for 66 nights from 5th January, so I hope it is just as good!

[cruiseluvva]

Your arrival onboard shortly after at 11.30am sounds as if it was a one off ? (never heard of boarding Cunard before staterooms are available) If I'd have been you, once onboard I'd have made my way to my suite , and I guess you'd have found it ready. No need for a waiting lounge on Cunard unlike Celebrity who are not always ready in time.

 

Just to add. Cunard Line also offers the services of Voyage sales or the Tours department at a pre booked time to suit the customer/guest in any comfortable venue onboard.

 

We have boarded before cabins were ready a couple of times in the past, both times on a smaller Queen. I wish we'd thought to going straight to the Grill's Lounge instead of the crush in the Lido, but will remember that for any future early boarding.

[cruiseluvva]

 

 

As a comparison, here’s how it’s done on Celebrity, for all suites, not just the top end. On arrival, you collect sea passes, clear security and are then picked up and escorted on board to Michael’s Lounge by someone who insists on taking the hand luggage. You might grab a glass of fizz on the way but regardless, when you get there you are offered more drink or a coffee. There are nibbles waiting for those who can’t wait until lunchtime. The concierge is already buzzing around the lounge, introducing her/himself and picking up any outstanding issues that the shore concierge didn’t bottom when they contacted you pre-voyage. “You want to meet with someone from the tours desk to query excursions? Certainly, we’ll arrange it for here in the Lounge, after dinner, what time would you like? “ Once your suite is ready your butler arrives to collect you and take you there.

 

Cunard, please take note; the White Star service ain’t as slick as the competition has become.

 

 

.

 

Hmmm, that was NOT our experience of a suite on Celebrity. Firstly we weren't given a Priority Boarding card, although our friends in a Concierge Cabin were. We weren't escorted on board, but had to find our own way, we did get offered the drinks and nibbles in Michael's, but then nobody came to escort us to the suite - again we had to find it ourselves. The suite was great, the service - wasn't!

 

In our experience, our only experience of Celebrity in fairness, it came nowhere near the QG experience.

[BarneyCat]

We've boarded QV today and I thought the a la carte menu for Queens Grill might be useful...

[Host Hattie]

That seems to have changed since we were on board last month.

Have a good trip.

[BarneyCat]

The menu did indeed change part way through our 10 night cruise...