QA Canaries 10 May Comments

[Windsurfboy]

The speciality restaurants look excellent.  Especially the Asian and Indian. 

 

I wonder if the sweet spot (economically) on QA , would be a PG , hence access to grills, but using speciality restaurants for a change (the PG alternative to ordering off menu) . The one question is how easy to get into speciality restaurants,  not the same if you need to book everything in advance.  Has Cunard said anywhere the capacity of the speciality restaurants. 

 

I wonder how the off menu Asian,  Sushi , Indian food you get in QG compares to speciality restaurants, would chefs  dedicated to one cuisine in speciality restaurants have the edge. When we were on Vistas and QM2 only  speciality option was Veranda which didn't excite us.

[exlondoner]

33 minutes ago, Windsurfboy said:

The speciality restaurants look excellent.  Especially the Asian and Indian. 

 

I wonder if the sweet spot (economically) on QA , would be a PG , hence access to grills, but using speciality restaurants for a change (the PG alternative to ordering off menu) . The one question is how easy to get into speciality restaurants,  not the same if you need to book everything in advance.  Has Cunard said anywhere the capacity of the speciality restaurants. 

 

I wonder how the off menu Asian,  Sushi , Indian food you get in QG compares to speciality restaurants, would chefs  dedicated to one cuisine in speciality restaurants have the edge. When we were on Vistas and QM2 only  speciality option was Veranda which didn't excite us.

Our neighbours in QG was able to get the Md’H to agree that he would order a special dhal up from Aranja when they wanted it.

Edited May 14 by exlondoner

[Windsurfboy]

22 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Our neighbours in QG was able to get the Md’H to agree that he would order a special dhal up from Aranja when they wanted it.

 

That's  interesting and  encouraging.  It shows Md is both honest in accepting that the specialist chefs could perhaps do a better job, and flexible in the service to QG, ie if you are in QG and its cooked on the ship you should be able to get it.  Luckily these restaurants aren't too far away. For example  wouldn't work if tempura had to be brought up from deck 2 or 3

[3rdGenCunarder]

3 hours ago, safarigal said:

The wait staff from the Cabana do circulate from time to time, but the bar is really close so we just pop over there to order the drinks, and then they deliver.

Warmer weather is on the way - so I will be watching out for fruit and ice cream. They did serve afternoon tea on the terrace yesterday so that's a good sign.

 

 

Ohhh, I have fond memories of tea served on Sun Deck on QE2. 

[TowandaUK]

14 hours ago, Lakesregion said:

How is the afternoon tea in the Queens room going given a smaller room and more passengers than the other ships? 

 

Do they continue to pass the sandwiches and the sweets throughout the time of the tea? White gloves? easy to obtain more tea?

We arrived early for afternoon tea and I would say most seats were taken by 2.45. I suspect some people could have been disappointed and not able to get a seat. 
it was our first time and it seemed just like the YouTube’s we have seen on other Queens. Staff paraded out to Fernandos hideaway and clapping. Table with tablecloth, and staff with white gloves. No shortage of tea, savouries, cakes and scones. Multiple visits from staff to refill plates and cups. 
Music on that occasion was from the excellent queens room musicians and plenty of ballroom dancing. 

Edited May 14 by TowandaUK
Edit

[3rdGenCunarder]

15 hours ago, david63 said:

I have been told that table allocation on any ship is a "black art" known only to a few and if divulged to any passenger would result in said passengers never sailing again😄

 

That must be the company line to avoid giving details. I had an issue with the buffet on QV last fall, and I wrote a note to the head of F&B. I ended on a positive note, saying that our table in Britannia was fantastic. 10 people from 5 countries, age range at least 30 years, many-time cruisers and first cruisers. On paper, we seemed to have little in common, but we gelled quickly and had a wonderful time together, becoming the rowdy table in the back of the Britannia restaurant, laughing all the time.

 

I asked how do they know what people to put together. She said "arranging tables is an art."

 

[Red Ray]

In a previous life I was a contracts officer responsible for the servicing  and maintenance of about 750 passenger lifts. Reading the posts I think the problem is that the safety edges have been set incorrectly. This is a fairly simple procedure to rectify by a lift engineer, but putting an arm (or any other bodily part!) out to hold the doors open is not recommended for 2 reasons; most importantly safety - if the timing control malfunctions it can lead to a nasty accident. Fortunately this is rare in modern lifts though a 7 year old boy hurt his hand badly in London a few years ago. Secondly, repeated manual interventions disrupt the safety edges' operations so it's a bit of a vicious circle. 

[tacticalbanjo]

1 hour ago, Red Ray said:

In a previous life I was a contracts officer responsible for the servicing  and maintenance of about 750 passenger lifts. Reading the posts I think the problem is that the safety edges have been set incorrectly. This is a fairly simple procedure to rectify by a lift engineer, but putting an arm (or any other bodily part!) out to hold the doors open is not recommended for 2 reasons; most importantly safety - if the timing control malfunctions it can lead to a nasty accident. Fortunately this is rare in modern lifts though a 7 year old boy hurt his hand badly in London a few years ago. Secondly, repeated manual interventions disrupt the safety edges' operations so it's a bit of a vicious circle. 

I don't think it is the safety edges. The problem is that the doors start closing way too early like before you've even started getting in early. There are couches in the lift areas now which block the direct route which adds to the problem. I'm in my 30s with no mobility issues and found myself racing to get in a lift many times last week on the Maiden. And when you get there and the doors are starting to close most people will instinctively stick an arm in to hold it because the alternative is to wait another three years for the next lift. Whoever worked out the length of time to hold the doors open must have assumed a clear lift area and non-mobility challenged guests.

[3rdGenCunarder]

42 minutes ago, tacticalbanjo said:

I don't think it is the safety edges. The problem is that the doors start closing way too early like before you've even started getting in early. There are couches in the lift areas now which block the direct route which adds to the problem. I'm in my 30s with no mobility issues and found myself racing to get in a lift many times last week on the Maiden. And when you get there and the doors are starting to close most people will instinctively stick an arm in to hold it because the alternative is to wait another three years for the next lift. Whoever worked out the length of time to hold the doors open must have assumed a clear lift area and non-mobility challenged guests.

 

Is there a display that shows where each car is? I find that helpful so I know where to stand.

[tacticalbanjo]

1 hour ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

Is there a display that shows where each car is? I find that helpful so I know where to stand.

Yes, you can see where each lift currently is but it’s not always that helpful because you can’t tell if it’s stopping at every floor and will be overtaken by a lift on the opposite bank. 

[Selbourne]

5 minutes ago, tacticalbanjo said:

Yes, you can see where each lift currently is but it’s not always that helpful because you can’t tell if it’s stopping at every floor and will be overtaken by a lift on the opposite bank. 

I’m dreading these lifts, especially as I will be pushing my wife in her wheelchair. It sounds as though a strategy meeting is needed at each lift lobby, with each waiting passenger designated to ‘mark’ a lift and then the winner stands in the doorway to hold it for the others 😂 

[Red Ray]

2 hours ago, tacticalbanjo said:

I don't think it is the safety edges. The problem is that the doors start closing way too early like before you've even started getting in early. There are couches in the lift areas now which block the direct route which adds to the problem. I'm in my 30s with no mobility issues and found myself racing to get in a lift many times last week on the Maiden. And when you get there and the doors are starting to close most people will instinctively stick an arm in to hold it because the alternative is to wait another three years for the next lift. Whoever worked out the length of time to hold the doors open must have assumed a clear lift area and non-mobility challenged guests.

If you do stick your hand between the doors as they are closing then make sure you go 5 inches past them as that's where the sensors are.

[Victoria2]

38 minutes ago, Selbourne said:

I’m dreading these lifts, especially as I will be pushing my wife in her wheelchair. It sounds as though a strategy meeting is needed at each lift lobby, with each waiting passenger designated to ‘mark’ a lift and then the winner stands in the doorway to hold it for the others 😂 

In all seriousness now. Don’t dread them. The strategy is, stand at the head of the couches, monitor the lifts eg which floor and are any heading in your direction, be prepared and dash for the appropriate lift.

 

Of course, there will be times when one lift overtakes the other in true Max Verstappen style which does set you back a lift but you will get one. Truly, it becomes a game! 😃

[Victoria2]

22 minutes ago, Red Ray said:

If you do stick your hand between the doors as they are closing then make sure you go 5 inches past them as that's where the sensors are.

If my arm gets damaged this cruise, I have a sneaking suspicion I shall be 'having more words' with Cunard about their lift policy on their newest ship.

[Windsurfboy]

1 hour ago, Victoria2 said:

If my arm gets damaged this cruise, I have a sneaking suspicion I shall be 'having more words' with Cunard about their lift policy on their newest ship.

 

This is where a walking stick is useful even if you don't need one

[david,Mississauga]

7 hours ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

Ohhh, I have fond memories of tea served on Sun Deck on QE2. 

 

As do I.  It was particularly enjoyable when Dennis Dawson was the lead deck steward. We have never encountered anyone like him; he was a legend.

[3rdGenCunarder]

1 minute ago, david,Mississauga said:

 

As do I.  It was particularly enjoyable when Dennis Dawson was the lead deck steward. We have never encountered anyone like him; he was a legend.

OMG, Dennis!!! I have so many memories of Dennis. Then Roger, then Martin. 

In one of his cocktail party talks, Captain Wells talked about QE2 leaving, accepting that it was time, and commenting that we'll always have our memories of her. He was with Cunard a long time, moving up through the ranks and commented that he remembered his kids learning to walk holding Dennis's hand. 

 

I had to go up to him later and thank him for mentioning Dennis. I said he was quite a character. Captain Wells said, "He was rude to people and they loved him for it!"

[TowandaUK]

On a positive note re the lifts- it is very easy to find them. Each lift has its own colour. The carpets leading to the lifts have chevrons pointing towards the nearest and are in the colour of the lift lobby.  It makes it much easier to navigate around the ship. We have found that we tend to mainly use the red lifts which are near the aft. As the  week has gone on we have found less queues and have found it much easier to get a lift - you still have to be pretty quick to get in when they do come. 

[Victoria2]

Had no idea about lift lobby colours so that’s interesting I guess as long as you remember if sky blue pink is aft and purple spotted carpets are forward etc. Takes me all day to remember what day it is and again, I’m guessing that’s  the sign of a relaxing holiday.

 

Spent a good few hours under the canopy in the Grills sun deck, deck 11. It’s a great space and far better than The Vistas so that’s a huge plus. Afternoon tea was served and a waiter continually patrolled the area to take orders from the bar. I will ask if he takes coffee orders ( free from deck 10 lounge) today.

[david63]

13 hours ago, Victoria2 said:

The strategy is, stand at the head of the couches, monitor the lifts eg which floor and are any heading in your direction, be prepared and dash for the appropriate lift.

Not sure that it is quite that straightforward for @Selbourne as his wife is in a wheelchair.

[Victoria2]

2 minutes ago, david63 said:

Not sure that it is quite that straightforward for @Selbourne as his wife is in a wheelchair.

If you read through with particular reference to #60, you will find I have a husband in a wheelchair and as I was answering Selbourne, he will realise I speak as a fellow chair pusher!

[Victoria2]

On 5/14/2024 at 11:11 AM, Windsurfboy said:

The speciality restaurants look excellent.  Especially the Asian and Indian. 

 

I wonder if the sweet spot (economically) on QA , would be a PG , hence access to grills, but using speciality restaurants for a change (the PG alternative to ordering off menu) . The one question is how easy to get into speciality restaurants,  not the same if you need to book everything in advance.  Has Cunard said anywhere the capacity of the speciality restaurants. 

 

I wonder how the off menu Asian,  Sushi , Indian food you get in QG compares to speciality restaurants, would chefs  dedicated to one cuisine in speciality restaurants have the edge. When we were on Vistas and QM2 only  speciality option was Veranda which didn't excite us.

The California Rolls this lunchtime were as good a sushi offering as any I’ve had in a pukka restaurant. No idea if they were prepared by the dedicated Sushi chef, or not. I will ask.

The Peking Duck last  night was a triumph, if a little too much for the two of us but we valiantly did it justice! 😀

[Victoria2]

19 hours ago, TowandaUK said:

On a positive note re the lifts- it is very easy to find them. Each lift has its own colour. The carpets leading to the lifts have chevrons pointing towards the nearest and are in the colour of the lift lobby.  It makes it much easier to navigate around the ship. We have found that we tend to mainly use the red lifts which are near the aft. As the  week has gone on we have found less queues and have found it much easier to get a lift - you still have to be pretty quick to get in when they do come. 

Went for a mooch around on the way to the library and can now concur re coloured chevrons. My aide-mémoire  being blue fin for forward and red arrow for aft.

Edited May 15 by Victoria2

[buchanan101]

On 5/14/2024 at 2:22 PM, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

That must be the company line to avoid giving details. I had an issue with the buffet on QV last fall, and I wrote a note to the head of F&B. I ended on a positive note, saying that our table in Britannia was fantastic. 10 people from 5 countries, age range at least 30 years, many-time cruisers and first cruisers. On paper, we seemed to have little in common, but we gelled quickly and had a wonderful time together, becoming the rowdy table in the back of the Britannia restaurant, laughing all the time.

 

I asked how do they know what people to put together. She said "arranging tables is an art."

 

Suspecting mixing nationalities is part of it. Our very near neighbours in QM2 QG (effectively same table, but 30cm away) were British and Swiss. Got on better with the Swiss - there's more to talk about with different nationalities...

[buchanan101]

8 hours ago, Victoria2 said:

Had no idea about lift lobby colours so that’s interesting I guess as long as you remember if sky blue pink is aft and purple spotted carpets are forward etc. Takes me all day to remember what day it is and again, I’m guessing that’s  the sign of a relaxing holiday.

 

Spent a good few hours under the canopy in the Grills sun deck, deck 11. It’s a great space and far better than The Vistas so that’s a huge plus. Afternoon tea was served and a waiter continually patrolled the area to take orders from the bar. I will ask if he takes coffee orders ( free from deck 10 lounge) today.

How busy is the ship in general?

 

We are in PG next month - and the Grills Terrace was part of the attraction (and the infinity hot tubs). 

 

You can get afternoon tea on deck?!