Cell phones in the Britannia Dining Room

[0493669935]

As we approach the end of our voyage on the QM2 after 4 years of anticipation we can report that we had a wonderful time on board with our puppy. The kennel masters, John and Oliver are amazing.

 

But, we are astonished at the cell phone use in the Britannia dining room at dinner time. We had a particularly loud couple in their 50's ( we think) each with their own phone, taking incoming calls and talking loudly at the table next to ours. And those 2 tops are very close to each other as most of you will know.

 

We requested that they take their incoming calls outside but with no success. 

 

So, Cunard if you are reading this please display a sign (in multiple languages) as you enter the restaurant that cell phone calls are NOT permitted. The dining management should have back up from head office to enforce this as best as they can.

 

[majortom10]

Height of bad manners.

[RICHARD@SEA]

The phone use is out of control all over - its rude, obnoxious & certainly detracts from actually having a human experience - anywhere.

 

Recently I was in a FOUR SEASONS HOTEL having dinner w a friend when the food was delivered the waitress said to me "aren't you going to take a picture - everyone does"  when I replied no she continued to press....ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.

 

The selfies & food pics are not necessary - most are not pretty to look at (Thats being kind) I don't think the designers of some of the worlds greatest monuments & art designed w the idea "i wonder how the tourist will look in front of this art. building etc.

One representative pic of someone & family/friends is quite enough thank you!

 

Talking on the phones in your circumstance should of been immediately addressed by a Cunard employee - whatever happened to class.

 

[Pushpit]

I haven't seen anyone make a voicecall in Britannia Dining Room (usually the wifi has too much latency to make that sensible) but it's not unusual to see people tapping on their phones in the restaurants onboard. I don't think it's a major issue, to be honest, but I would hope a member of wait staff would gently steer those making calls to leave the main dining area, and perhaps offer to send any plates off to a plate warmer while this happened. 

[3rdGenCunarder]

1 hour ago, RICHARD@SEA said:

The phone use is out of control all over - its rude, obnoxious & certainly detracts from actually having a human experience - anywhere.

 

Recently I was in a FOUR SEASONS HOTEL having dinner w a friend when the food was delivered the waitress said to me "aren't you going to take a picture - everyone does"  when I replied no she continued to press....ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.

 

The selfies & food pics are not necessary - most are not pretty to look at (Thats being kind) I don't think the designers of some of the worlds greatest monuments & art designed w the idea "i wonder how the tourist will look in front of this art. building etc.

One representative pic of someone & family/friends is quite enough thank you!

 

Talking on the phones in your circumstance should of been immediately addressed by a Cunard employee - whatever happened to class.

 

 

 

Yes, taking a call during dinner (or any meal) is rude if it's any longer than "sorry I will call you back," and then only if it's an important call that the person had been waiting for.

 

I agree about the endless selfies. Worse are the narcissistic young women who take each other's pictures. Not a quick "stand there and I'll take your picture," but tossing the hair and striking a pose like they think the picture is going to end up in Vogue. 

 

But I have no problem with food porn. That has become a part of travel in my family. Come to think of it, not only travel. We text "look what I made for supper!" pictures when we try new recipes. For us, it started during Covid when we couldn't get together for meals.

[exlondoner]

If it is an important call, surely it is easy enough just to slip outside to deal with it?

[NE John]

I’m actually guilty of sharing some “wine porn” on these boards from a recent tasting on QM2…But hopefully other wine enthusiasts got something out of that post. 
The problem with selfies and taking calls onboard (or at The Four Seasons) is that one loses the feeling of “being here now” while they watch their lives through screens to share everything on social media. Sad. 

 

[Rothko1]

Someone taking food photos, or even selfies, doesn't bother me too much.  It's taking a call and talking loudly (enough that I can follow one side of the conversation) that is unacceptable.  Because it bothers other guests.  I am having dinner - I don't need to hear about your conversation with your grandchild or your pet or whoever.  Take it outside.

 

On a funny note: I still recall the first time I heard the word "selfie" used.  I was eating with friends in a restaurant in Key West, and one of them remarked on how there was a Darth Vader helmet fixture in the bathroom, and that I should go in and take a selfie.  I had no idea what that meant, and in the context I thought she was suggesting something different.  I declined to go to the bathroom.

[techteach]

@NE John and @D&N Yes, we are guilty of the wine picture which is how we share our love of fine wine on a thread dedicated to it. I am sure we are careful when we take our pics to not bother others around us. Repeat after me: I pledge to take pictures of fine bottles of wine using stealth and lack of flash…

[foodsvcmgr]

Unfortunately many people who are not retired don’t get the luxury of vacation time without being on call for their jobs, particularly those in higher level positions.

However this should be conducted via text NOT voice calls.

Personally I like taking food and menu photos, much more discrete now using a cell phone than in years past dragging an SLR around everywhere.

[tony s]

What ever happened to just enjoying the company of your companions and not your device. I have worked in areas where no electronic devices allowed. It allows for more conversation. If the need for device is more important than enjoying your vacation maybe stay in the buffet.

[WantedOnVoyage]

Not possessing of one nor intending to do so, I maintain that practically every annoyance, nonsense, immature act and self absorbed quality is enhanced, faciliated and spread by the "smart" phone. The phone is smart. Its users... not.

 

It is astonishing that barely 15 years after they were invented (by whom... for what?) people are so addicted to these things that they find it essential to even bring them on a cruise.  We live in an era of instant communication with absolutely nothing of value to say.  

 

The day Cunard makes possession of these things essential (as on Virgin Cruises) to even get in your cabin or indeed replace real menus... I go on the beach and never return. 

[Lakesregion]

13 hours ago, 0493669935 said:

As we approach the end of our voyage on the QM2 after 4 years of anticipation we can report that we had a wonderful time on board with our puppy. The kennel masters, John and Oliver are amazing.

 

But, we are astonished at the cell phone use in the Britannia dining room at dinner time. We had a particularly loud couple in their 50's ( we think) each with their own phone, taking incoming calls and talking loudly at the table next to ours. And those 2 tops are very close to each other as most of you will know.

 

We requested that they take their incoming calls outside but with no success. 

 

So, Cunard if you are reading this please display a sign (in multiple languages) as you enter the restaurant that cell phone calls are NOT permitted. The dining management should have back up from head office to enforce this as best as they can.

 

I find the bestway to squelch those calls is to join them. Respond loudly to the call from the next table. Sooner or later unless they ae totally brain dead they get the message and stop the rudeness.

[Lakesregion]

3 hours ago, tony s said:

What ever happened to just enjoying the company of your companions and not your device. I have worked in areas where no electronic devices allowed. It allows for more conversation. If the need for device is more important than enjoying your vacation maybe stay in the buffet.

Every once and a while after watching an elderly couple eat dinner with both parties fixated by their smart pnones I will say in leaving the room. "You know that one day one of you will not be here, why not enjoy each other while you can". I do not wait for a response just leave them with the thought.

[NE John]

37 minutes ago, WantedOnVoyage said:

Not possessing of one nor intending to do so, I maintain that practically every annoyance, nonsense, immature act and self absorbed quality is enhanced, faciliated and spread by the "smart" phone. The phone is smart. Its users... not.

 

It is astonishing that barely 15 years after they were invented (by whom... for what?) people are so addicted to these things that they find it essential to even bring them on a cruise.  We live in an era of instant communication with absolutely nothing of value to say.  

 

The day Cunard makes possession of these things essential (as on Virgin Cruises) to even get in your cabin or indeed replace real menus... I go on the beach and never return. 

The hook of joining in social media and the easy access of sharing one’s life online has replaced cigarette smoking as the new addiction. (Except, of course, being on CC…!) 
A Smart phone is not the problem in itself, it’s the users who know of no boundaries, discipline, or control that create unpleasant situations for those around them. 
Technology advances are not going away. 

Edited July 28, 2023 by NE John

[Jack E Dawson]

18 minutes ago, WantedOnVoyage said:

It is astonishing that barely 15 years after they were invented (by whom... for what?)

The cell phone was invented by Martin Cooper, a Motorola engineer, on April 3, 1973, so they are a little over half a century old. By 1990 there were 11,000,000 users. Although I can't say for sure "for what" Mr. Cooper invented the cell phone, my wife feels the primary purpose is to prove to me that I'm not nearly as smart as I think I am, as in "oh really, let's just goggle that".  

[bergenbird]

14 hours ago, Lakesregion said:

Every once and a while after watching an elderly couple eat dinner with both parties fixated by their smart pnones I will say in leaving the room. "You know that one day one of you will not be here, why not enjoy each other while you can". I do not wait for a response just leave them with the thought.

By dinnertime, some of us elderly couples have spent 12 waking hours together, and could use a bit of time to catch up on other family, friends, and the news!

[exlondoner]

13 minutes ago, bergenbird said:

By dinnertime, some of us elderly couples have spent 12 waking hours together, and could use a bit of time to catch up on other family, friends, and the news!

But why do it at dinner?

[Rothko1]

10 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

But why do it at dinner?

 

They've run out of conversation topics?

[exlondoner]

4 minutes ago, Rothko1 said:

 

They've run out of conversation topics?

Perhaps they wouldn’t have, if they had used some time in privacy earlier in the day for phone conversations.

[bergenbird]

I'd agree that talking on cell phones in a restaurant/ in the Britannia Dining Room is very rude. But does everyone else really think that reading, for example, the newspaper on the cell phone is rude? It doesn't intrude on anyone else's space...or is this against the decorum we all hope to maintain on the QM2?

[Craigrlewis]

I have seen/heard people in the Britannia using cell phones but have to admit it has always been (as far as I cam remember) on port days and the gist of the conversations seem to have been meeting people ashore/calling taxis etc.

 

I guess if i was eating dinner and people were loudly chatting nearby it would probably be an irritant.  I would likely complain to the maitre d’

 

That said though some people are very loud even without using a phone and seem to try to present a “listen to me” kind of mentality when in public areas.  
 

Nowt so queer as folk

 

2 cruises ago in the PG we were on a table for 2 and 3 tables away was a table for 6.  

All very gentile and peaceful every mealtime until a certain couple arrived.  
The entire mealtime all  you could hear was her chattering at the top her voice.

Whatever the topic was she had a personal connection and usually either she or her husband or good friend or a Relative etc had done it been the got the T-shirt etc. and she could out trump and take over the story.

 

I try to shut these cell phone users out and think Im glad that my job doesn't necessitate me being contactable 24/7; My family are not unwell sp I don't need to check in daily etc etc

 

Im glad when I step on board one of the Queens that after 20 cruises I still state to my partner “ I feel Im back in my rightful home and this is the most relaxed and switched off type of holiday we ever undertake”.
 

Using a cell phone or the internet is the not even on my things to do today list - thats filled up with eating, drinking, sightseeing etc etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[exlondoner]

5 hours ago, bergenbird said:

I'd agree that talking on cell phones in a restaurant/ in the Britannia Dining Room is very rude. But does everyone else really think that reading, for example, the newspaper on the cell phone is rude? It doesn't intrude on anyone else's space...or is this against the decorum we all hope to maintain on the QM2?

It’s not the reading indeed, but the talking. On the other hand, if my table companion spent the meal reading their phone while eating with me, I should be very offended.

[exlondoner]

1 hour ago, Craigrlewis said:

 

 

I try to shut these cell phone users out and think Im glad that my job doesn't necessitate me being contactable 24/7; My family are not unwell sp I don't need to check in daily etc etc

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I always wonder why people feel they have to check on people who are ill. If something dreadful has happened, what can they actually do about it from a ship that may be thousands of miles away?

[Rothko1]

4 hours ago, exlondoner said:

I always wonder why people feel they have to check on people who are ill. If something dreadful has happened, what can they actually do about it from a ship that may be thousands of miles away?

 

Make sure that all the dinner guests around them know about it too...