Hoveto Posted October 4, 2017 #1 Share Posted October 4, 2017 Does anyone remember the Cunard Club (not to be confused with the World Club) when you had to pay an anual membership fee? I’ve forgotten what the yearly fee was but there was an on board party with drinks, snacks and a gift for members. I recall one year when there was a late evening departure that members were invited to meet at the Polygon Hotel in Southampton for dinner and drinks. We left our car at the hotel which was taken to the secure parking area in the docks, our luggage was also taken from us and delivered to the ship and after dinner we were all taken by coach to the ship. You received a Cunard Club badge and luggage labels. I can also remember travelling down on the boat train when all check in formalities were undertaken on the train. Ah, those were the days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adammara Posted October 4, 2017 #2 Share Posted October 4, 2017 And was very similar on P&O, as you say, the good old days of cruising......... But we can now have a suite for the same price as we paid for a deluxe balcony in 1995! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
safarigal Posted October 4, 2017 #3 Share Posted October 4, 2017 I don't remember the Cunard Club, but I do remember the boat train. That was so much fun, I do wish they would rent out one of the Orient Express trains from time to time now, it would be the perfect way to get from London to Southampton :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigmike911 Posted October 4, 2017 #4 Share Posted October 4, 2017 I don't remember the Cunard Club, but I do remember the boat train. That was so much fun, I do wish they would rent out one of the Orient Express trains from time to time now, it would be the perfect way to get from London to Southampton :) Some years ago, perhaps in 2005 on an early voyage we took the Orient Express (actually British Pullman) luncheon train to Southampton to the QE Terminal. It was off the train, around the corner, check in and onto the ship. It was a delight, Not Cheap however, I think about $400, per, but memorable in any event. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kohl57 Posted October 4, 2017 #5 Share Posted October 4, 2017 This was akin to the P&O's Pando Club in the late 80s/early 90s. And yes, I remember the "Ocean Liner Express" trains from Waterloo to Southampton Ocean Terminal (the lovely 1950 Art Deco one they demolished in 1981 to make a open car park for imported cars!). Did that on my first QE2 crossing in 1977. What convenience... you stepped off the train right onto an escalator and into the terminal and directly aboard. So convenient, so civilised... no wonder they got rid of it! They did do Orient Express Pullman charters to sailings until about 10-15 years ago but sadly no longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifer Posted October 4, 2017 #6 Share Posted October 4, 2017 By coincidence, this was mentioned by Maureen Ryan during one of her talks on the recent QE2 Anniversary Voyage on QE. She referred to it as The Anne Bright Club; so named after the lady who first conceived of and then organised the club. It certainly sounded like one of things which made sea travel memorable in days gone by. We also travelled down to Southampton on the Orient Express once, boarded QE2 for the trip to New York and then, after a few days in the city, flew back to Heathrow on Concorde. A wonderful experience, organised and impeccably delivered by Goodwood Travel, if memory serves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiseluvva Posted October 6, 2017 #7 Share Posted October 6, 2017 I started Cunard cruising after those days, but I do remember the P&O POSH Club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaddyWarbucks Posted October 7, 2017 #8 Share Posted October 7, 2017 Does anyone remember when sorbet was served in between courses to cleanse the pallet? How about the orchestra when it had 13 members? Not long ago, they put paper doilies in between plates. No more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kohl57 Posted October 8, 2017 #9 Share Posted October 8, 2017 I remember when Cunard menus had a savoury (like sardines on toast or welsh rarebit) as the very last course after dessert/cheese. And hiring a deck chair in a set location. You got "tucked in" with a steamer rug and tea was served on trays at your chair along with 11am bouillon. On QE2, the steamer rugs and the deck chair cushions all came from the old QUEEN MARY and Dennis Dawson was the dean of deck stewards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiseluvva Posted October 8, 2017 #10 Share Posted October 8, 2017 They still have the steamer rugs on the Grills decks. Lovely on a cool day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bell Boy Posted October 8, 2017 #11 Share Posted October 8, 2017 Rugs are also available on the decks below ( on request from a passing deck crew member) they are stowed in one of the large wooden boxes on deck 7 QM2 ( I've often helped my self to one, even the other month on my crossings) Believe it or not Gill, thanks to Cunard, even those guests not in the Grills are equally well looked after. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiseluvva Posted October 8, 2017 #12 Share Posted October 8, 2017 Rugs are also available on the decks below ( on request from a passing deck crew member) they are stowed in one of the large wooden boxes on deck 7 QM2 ( I've often helped my self to one, even the other month on my crossings) Believe it or not Gill, thanks to Cunard, even those guests not in the Grills are equally well looked after. ;) I just hadn't seen them routinely placed on the steamers. Good to know they're available for all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vistaman Posted October 17, 2017 #13 Share Posted October 17, 2017 Does anyone remember when sorbet was served in between courses to cleanse the pallet? How about the orchestra when it had 13 members? Not long ago, they put paper doilies in between plates. No more. Yes i do remember those days very well - on formal it was a champagne sorbet And on my first QE2 in 1990 there was indded a big orchestra - and French Champagne with canapes with caviar on cocktails on senior officers parties when i started to cruise on Vistafjord it was an 11 member orchestra , during my last cruise on her in 1999 : 7 musicians :cool: serving a sorbet was also done on my first Seabourn in 1999 - i think it was also done on Crystal until 2005 on formal dinners however there was always a sorbet available as dessert and serving a sorbet topped with (real ) champagne or wodka is still done on the Europa and the Europa 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eliana Posted October 17, 2017 #14 Share Posted October 17, 2017 Seabourn were part of Cunard and that is where they got the sorbet concept for dinner. Although the two lines are now separate, but both owned by Carnival, Seabourn have continued with sorbet at dinner always available and on the menu on special nights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abefroman329 Posted October 18, 2017 #15 Share Posted October 18, 2017 Rugs are also available on the decks below ( on request from a passing deck crew member) they are stowed in one of the large wooden boxes on deck 7 QM2 ( I've often helped my self to one, even the other month on my crossings) Believe it or not Gill, thanks to Cunard, even those guests not in the Grills are equally well looked after. ;) Not according to the crewmembers my wife talked to, they weren't. She would've loved to spend the morning under a blanket on the deck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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