QM2 Med 15th July

[ballroom-cruisers]

A quick summary. Chaotic lengthy check-in, but life on board is close to pre-oandemic normal. Very smooth passage all the way across the Bay of Biscay for today's port of call in Cadiz, where it is sunny, hot with pleasant coolng breeze. Excellent meals in Britannia dining room, nice ballroom dancing in the Queens Room each evening, and people generally dressing smartly in the evenings with lots putting on their finery for the Gala evenings. So it feels very much like Cunard cruises always did.

[Bell Boy]

Question : Are Masks Mandatory when walking around .

 

[Host Hattie]

That's good to hear, thanks for your report.

[ballroom-cruisers]

2 hours ago, Bell Boy said:

Question : Are Masks Mandatory when walking around .

 

No they are not mandatory. Some people are wearing masks but most are not. You wouldn't know there was the possibility of Covid and nobody talks about it at all. It isn't an issue as far as we can tell, at least on this voyage at the moment.

[ace2542]

1 hour ago, ballroom-cruisers said:

A quick summary. Chaotic lengthy check-in, but life on board is close to pre-oandemic normal. Very smooth passage all the way across the Bay of Biscay for today's port of call in Cadiz, where it is sunny, hot with pleasant coolng breeze. Excellent meals in Britannia dining room, nice ballroom dancing in the Queens Room each evening, and people generally dressing smartly in the evenings with lots putting on their finery for the Gala evenings. So it feels very much like Cunard cruises always did.

They still check in with colours like they used to. They did use different colours for check in Red, Orange, Green etc etc. It has been a while since we checked in at Southampton.

[ballroom-cruisers]

At the time we got to the terminal a large number of people were checking in at the same time, which led to the queues, and quite a while to get through security. Once on the ship it was fine though.

[Host Hattie]

45 minutes ago, ballroom-cruisers said:

At the time we got to the terminal a large number of people were checking in at the same time, which led to the queues, and quite a while to get through security. Once on the ship it was fine though.

What time did you get there ?

[ballroom-cruisers]

Around 2.15pm when our coach was one of two coaches that arrived about the same time. Large numbers of cars were arriving at that time too.

[Host Hattie]

Thank you 

[exlondoner]

Quick update: embarkation OK, internet diabolical, everything else wonderful.

[ballroom-cruisers]

We have not had any problems connecting to the internet via the ship's WiFi. But it is quite slow, as expected.

 

The food has been good, and it is really nice to have the violin trio and the harpist back playing at the entrance to the Britannia dining room on the two Gala nights. The sea state has been very slight ever since leaving Southampton so the ship has been beautifully smooth the entire time.

 

The orchestra in the Queens Room has played some rather odd tempo music at times which makes it less than ideal for ballroom dancing, but the recorded music has generally been better. There are quite a lot of ballroom dancers on this voyage making for a generally good atmosphere in the Queens Room.

 

Also it's a shame that they have had a comedian doing an hour in the middle of one evening in the Queens Room, who was very mediocre at best. That spoiled the evening somewhat.

 

The pianist in the Commodore Club stops playing after 11pm, so there is less atmosphere than ideal for a late evening nightcap if you are used to having piano music there through to midnight in the past, which is a shame.

 

But all in all a lovely cruise so far.

 

Edited July 20, 2022 by ballroom-cruisers
added sentence

[moses0]

I would agree going well thus far. We got

on in NYC. Masks were mandatory for the crossing so it was quite a shock to see all the Brits boarding sans masks. All right by me. 
Southampton was terrible for us boarding after a day out in the New Forest.  Re boarders were not accommodated at all. 
Still no big deal.. Sun is shining seas are calm like a lake. About to set sail. We are blessed. 

[carlmm]

6 hours ago, ballroom-cruisers said:

The pianist in the Commodore Club stops playing after 11pm, so there is less atmosphere than ideal for a late evening nightcap if you are used to having piano music there through to midnight in the past, which is a shame.

What is this? Another cost fitting?

 

Is there any kind of live music later than that?

Or does the managemant to become a nursery home? 

[Host Hattie]

Great to hear from you all, thanks for posting.

[D&N]

If anyone needs inspiration for some shopping in Monaco tomorrow; how about a nice bottle of wine from the 'Supermarché Casino' at the port? 🤣🤣  No guarantee that the illustrated bottle of Petrus is still available, but the 2011 compares well with the 1996 offered by Cunard and would represent a significant saving.

 

We'll be buying our picnic wine there, but from a fridge without a lock on it!  Even though our loyalty card would give us €300 off the displayed price.

[Bell Boy]

3 hours ago, carlmm said:

What is this? Another cost fitting?

 

Is there any kind of live music later than that?

Or does the managemant to become a nursery home? 

Folks move to the G32 or the Yacht Club until the early hours of the morning .

[carlmm]

47 minutes ago, Bell Boy said:

Folks move to the G32 or the Yacht Club until the early hours of the morning .

Thank you, @Bell Boy,

still sad.

[techteach]

@exlondoner How was Italy? I typed “I can’t imagine how it must feel in Rome with that heat” and then remembered that I HAVE been in Rome in that heat. I hope you are staying comfortable and having a grand time.

[exlondoner]

10 minutes ago, techteach said:

@exlondoner How was Italy? I typed “I can’t imagine how it must feel in Rome with that heat” and then remembered that I HAVE been in Rome in that heat. I hope you are staying comfortable and having a grand time.

 

We didn't go near Rome, but went to visit a vineyard in the hills, which even the Italian guide said was hotter than he has ever known it. Nonetheless, it was probably warmer in London last week.

 

Luckily the ship's aircon has been wonderfully refreshing, though we did have hot water coming out of the cold taps for a few days!

[techteach]

@exlondoner Which wines did you get to taste? Curious about how the vines were trellised. How high up from the ground?

[exlondoner]

2 minutes ago, techteach said:

@exlondoner Which wines did you get to taste? Curious about how the vines were trellised. How high up from the ground?

 

We went to the Leonardi's vineyard, and tried their white Est! Est! Eat!, which was delicious, and their top red, which was also very nice, made from Merlot, Cab sauv, and Cab Franc., but 14.5% alc. We had generous quantities of each, accompanied by a generous plate of antipasti. The vines just looked like rows of vines. Sorry for lack of technical knowledge.

[techteach]

@exlondoner Ahhh.  a Super Tuscan. If not too much Cab Franc, it is one of my favorites! No apologies necessary for not noticing trellis height. I remember being on Santorini seeing the vines wrapped into coils on the ground and covered with tarp to capture the evening dew - the source of water. Anyway, I’m glad you had a great time and wish I could have been there too!

[Host Hattie]

I have moved the wine discussion from the dress code thread ....

Hope you're all still enjoying your cruise.

[techteach]

@Host Hattie Sorry about that Host Hattie.

[deck chair]

On 7/20/2022 at 3:51 PM, carlmm said:

Thank you, @Bell Boy,

still sad.

Hello!  As one who enjoyed the Commodore Club late into the evening it is a shame to hear the pianist ends at 11.    Perhaps it is temporary. Please, G32 or Yacht Club hardly the same obviously.