Rare Se1lad Posted July 18 #26 Share Posted July 18 On 7/17/2024 at 8:31 PM, exlondoner said: Even more so the Concierge Lounge. Now I think about it, the QM2 Concierge Lounge was probably the inspiration for the Grills Lounge on QA, although that does have a little natural light, while the QM2 one has none whatsoever. The concierge lounge on QM2 has all the charm of a budget airport lounge at a regional airport. Pre Wi-Fi upgrade it was very popular however as it was one of the few places on deck 9 you could get a decent WiFi signal! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Se1lad Posted July 18 #27 Share Posted July 18 On 7/17/2024 at 9:59 PM, Millieloulou said: Responding to 2 Oldpeople in love, I am still shocked that someone wrote asking” Was the grills terrace on Queen Anne being “ policed”, because interlopers were “ getting in”.I appreciate that with the ship being new, some things were not quite as they should be, but “ policed”. It’s been posted elsewhere that they are working on getting access control systems fitted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liberal_Baggie Posted July 19 #28 Share Posted July 19 Looking forward to trying the Princess grill experience on Queen Anne in 9 days time. My experience of QM2 in December after the Nov Refit was brilliant. Deck 11 only comes into its own in the Caribbean or other warm weather cruising, its very nice and comfortable with a brand new hot tub too as all the others. New Loungers everywhere ! Grills lounge is lovely brand new furniture and decor top place for Afternoon tea and they were happy to provide with advance warning Vegan alternative which was stunning. See your matradee to book. Always liked the Concergree room on Deck 9 its a great space for getting things sorted out and the staff are amazing nothing is too much trouble. You can also take take light bites there and drinks and its another relaxing space. I don't see how any of the other ships could be better to be honest. Im feeling apprehensive about Queen Anne the wardrobe space and room size and outside furniture on the balcony are all looking like a corporate induced rip off. Right now I'd swap my booking to QM2 in a heartbeat if I could. Hope to be proven wrong... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NE John Posted July 19 #29 Share Posted July 19 42 minutes ago, Liberal_Baggie said: Looking forward to trying the Princess grill experience on Queen Anne in 9 days time. My experience of QM2 in December after the Nov Refit was brilliant. Deck 11 only comes into its own in the Caribbean or other warm weather cruising, its very nice and comfortable with a brand new hot tub too as all the others. New Loungers everywhere ! Grills lounge is lovely brand new furniture and decor top place for Afternoon tea and they were happy to provide with advance warning Vegan alternative which was stunning. See your matradee to book. Always liked the Concergree room on Deck 9 its a great space for getting things sorted out and the staff are amazing nothing is too much trouble. You can also take take light bites there and drinks and its another relaxing space. I don't see how any of the other ships could be better to be honest. Im feeling apprehensive about Queen Anne the wardrobe space and room size and outside furniture on the balcony are all looking like a corporate induced rip off. Right now I'd swap my booking to QM2 in a heartbeat if I could. Hope to be proven wrong... PG on QM2 would be my “go-to” booking for Cunard. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exlondoner Posted July 19 #30 Share Posted July 19 1 minute ago, NE John said: PG on QM2 would be my “go-to” booking for Cunard. PGs are the only aspect of the Grills experience that isn’t nicer on the Vistas. The QM2 ones are infinitely nicer. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare WantedOnVoyage Posted July 19 #31 Share Posted July 19 (edited) The Grill area on the QV and QE are, to me, simply outstanding... two really excellent expanses of private deck area, a very pleasant (if often inadequate in seating) lounge with stunning views and with the two restaurants adjoining. It's as perfectly situated and conceived premium area one (well me) could ask for. And it's secluded and private too. QM2 still appeals... PG cabins are so superior to QV and QE as to not even compare in decor or feeling of spaciousness and "de luxe" and QG has superb suite locations... we are not keen on being shoved astern as on QV and QE. I like the Grill Lounge too... we had superb service there (best bartender on the ship, too) and it feels spacious and uncrowded. And sorry, no ship afloat has the wonderful lofty ceilings and spacious passageways of QM2 not to mention the real teak wood decks. The Grills Deck, yes... that is often inadequate in space. QA... no thanks. I've seen and heard enough and not for me. My preconceived notions as to her have been exceeded by what I've seen and read. Nope. Edited July 19 by WantedOnVoyage 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NE John Posted July 19 #32 Share Posted July 19 33 minutes ago, WantedOnVoyage said: QA... no thanks Luckily QA will rarely visit North America so we are off the hook! If the deal is right however, I’d give QA a shot. Norway maybe? While we certainly liked the Grills lounge on QE (especially with views of Alaska) I too still like the Grills QM2 lounge. It feels comfortable and for some reason I feel very much at home there. With the concierge in the same room, I felt like being back in school days with a proctor looking after us…🤓 Also, DW also enjoyed Afternoon Tea in QM2 Grills lounge over Tea in the PG restaurant on QE. The latter Tea seemed busy, discombobulated, and not relaxing. I like calmness when I’m onboard a Cunard ship. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare WantedOnVoyage Posted July 19 #33 Share Posted July 19 (edited) Yes... tea is properly served in the Lounge on QM2. We even had a menu although I suspect that's gone now, too. But it was so much nicer than sitting at someone else's table in the PG Restuarant and why we almost never "do" tea on QE and QV. And yes... the quality, almost vanished today (maybe because few appreciate it) of "calmness" and quiet, refined service is worth the cost of admission to us. And why a "jumbotron" overlooking the main pool of QA is such a turn off that I wouldn't set foot on her on that score alone. QM2 IS Cunard. QA is Cunard Lite. And QV is... sigh, just right. Edited July 19 by WantedOnVoyage 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Victoria2 Posted July 19 #34 Share Posted July 19 OK. I'm going to stick up for Annie. She's not half as bad as some folk paint her, speaking from a Grills perspective and more pertinently, QG. The accommodation is smaller but counter that with the modern fittings. The food has been phenomenally good and the service, excellent. I don’t like hiking the ship especially when I turn left and find once at the end, I should have turned right. I do NOT appreciate the lift doors closing on us before we’ve managed to race across the lobby if I’m pushing a wheelchair and the pinch points on deck three on the way to the theatre is an annoying bit of bad planning but Annie as a ship, has grown on us. She is NOT a trad. Cunard ship, but as I have said before, she IS a Cunard ship, too and I speak as a confirmed QV groupie. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exlondoner Posted July 19 #35 Share Posted July 19 18 minutes ago, NE John said: Luckily QA will rarely visit North America so we are off the hook! If the deal is right however, I’d give QA a shot. Norway maybe? While we certainly liked the Grills lounge on QE (especially with views of Alaska) I too still like the Grills QM2 lounge. It feels comfortable and for some reason I feel very much at home there. With the concierge in the same room, I felt like being back in school days with a proctor looking after us…🤓 Also, DW also enjoyed Afternoon Tea in QM2 Grills lounge over Tea in the PG restaurant on QE. The latter Tea seemed busy, discombobulated, and not relaxing. I like calmness when I’m onboard a Cunard ship. I felt completely the opposite: the PG is calm, quiet, very restful, and with a window view. I felt no sensation of bustle. The table is a good size, and the right height for the chairs, so you don’t have to lean over in an awkward way. The QM2 Grills Lounge has not much of a view, uncomfortable furniture, unless they have changed it since 2022, and a complete lack of charm. I didn’t find it restful at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Victoria2 Posted July 19 #36 Share Posted July 19 8 minutes ago, WantedOnVoyage said: Yes... tea is properly served in the Lounge on QM2. We even had a menu although I suspect that's gone now, too. But it was so much nicer than sitting at someone else's table in the PG Restuarant and why we almost never "do" tea on QE and QV. And yes... the quality, almost vanished today (maybe because few appreciate it) of "calmness" and quiet, refined service is worth the cost of admission to us. And why a "jumbrotron" overlooking the main pool of QA is such a turn off that I wouldn't set foot on her on that score alone. QM2 IS Cunard. QA is Cunard Lite. And QV is... sigh, just right. The Pavilion screen is great if there’s something being screened, of interest. A cup of tea in PG suits us down to the ground, Vistas or Annie and yes, QA is Cunard lite but most acceptable and QV, just right 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exlondoner Posted July 19 #37 Share Posted July 19 1 minute ago, Victoria2 said: OK. I'm going to stick up for Annie. She's not half as bad as some folk paint her, speaking from a Grills perspective and more pertinently, QG. The accommodation is smaller but counter that with the modern fittings. The food has been phenomenally good and the service, excellent. I don’t like hiking the ship especially when I turn left and find once at the end, I should have turned right. I do NOT appreciate the lift doors closing on us before we’ve managed to race across the lobby if I’m pushing a wheelchair and the pinch points on deck three on the way to the theatre is an annoying bit of bad planning but Annie as a ship, has grown on us. She is NOT a trad. Cunard ship, but as I have said before, she IS a Cunard ship, too and I speak as a confirmed QV groupie. I can see little to dislike about her, and a lot to love, and I don’t really get this claim that she is not a proper Cunarder. I think she is great mainly. Perhaps that just shows my low calibre tastes, though. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Victoria2 Posted July 19 #38 Share Posted July 19 Just now, exlondoner said: I can see little to dislike about her, and a lot to love, and I don’t really get this claim that she is not a proper Cunarder. I think she is great mainly. Perhaps that just shows my low calibre tastes, though. If your tastes are low, then ours are too 😀 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exlondoner Posted July 19 #39 Share Posted July 19 Just now, Victoria2 said: If your tastes are low, then ours are too 😀 I thought I had better get that it to save others the trouble of implying it. How is the Icelandic weather? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Victoria2 Posted July 19 #40 Share Posted July 19 10 minutes ago, exlondoner said: I thought I had better get that it to save others the trouble of implying it. How is the Icelandic weather? Beautiful today. Clouds and sunshine. The air temp. is chilly but the wind across deck eleven isn’t as strong as the last couple of days. Loads and loads of free loungers and chairs and constant bar and coffee service. All tickety-boo. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NE John Posted July 19 #41 Share Posted July 19 (edited) 1 hour ago, exlondoner said: I felt completely the opposite: the PG is calm, quiet, very restful, and with a window view. I felt no sensation of bustle. The table is a good size, and the right height for the chairs, so you don’t have to lean over in an awkward way. The QM2 Grills Lounge has not much of a view, uncomfortable furniture, unless they have changed it since 2022, and a complete lack of charm. I didn’t find it restful at all. It looks like the QM2 lounge has been updated with the 2023 refit. On YouTube, Sail Away Magazine (who was very critical about QM2 pre-refit and generally seem cranky) positively highlight their post-refit QG experience including a “chapter” on Tea in the QM2 Grills lounge. Look it up on YouTube…I can’t seem to copy and paste. This video makes me feel better about QM2 in light of the recent poor experiences we’ve read about. And yes, getting a window table for Tea on QE was awesome. I believe the three days we had tea there something weird was happening with short staff and them running out of food. The table next to us was served food that came from the Lido. Chalk it up to a bad stretch for them. At this stage of my Cunard experience (no where near many of you but enough onboard experience to be dangerous!) I still say my favorite ship is QM2. Of course I need to get on QV to make a more valid assessment. Edited July 19 by NE John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exlondoner Posted July 19 #42 Share Posted July 19 5 minutes ago, NE John said: It looks like the QM2 lounge has been updated with the 2023 refit. On YouTube, Sail Away Magazine (who was very critical about QM2 pre-refit and generally seem cranky) positively highlight their post-refit QG experience including a “chapter” on Tea in the QM2 Grills lounge. Look it up on YouTube…I can’t seem to copy and paste. This video makes me feel better about QM2 in light of the recent poor experiences we’ve read about. And yes, getting a window table for Tea on QE was awesome. I believe the three days we had tea there something weird was happening with short staff and them running out of food. The table next to us was served food that came from the Lido. Chalk it up to a bad stretch for them. Yes, it does seem to vary from cruise to cruise, and ship to ship. I’ll try and find the refurbished QM2 Grills Lounge. 😀 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exlondoner Posted July 19 #43 Share Posted July 19 3 minutes ago, exlondoner said: Yes, it does seem to vary from cruise to cruise, and ship to ship. I’ll try and find the refurbished QM2 Grills Lounge. 😀 I’ve found a picture, and it does indeed look much much nicer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cpt Pugwash Posted July 20 #44 Share Posted July 20 (edited) I just happened to come across this post and though i have never travelled with Cunard only P&O i am shocked to hear that in these days people can be stopped from going into certain parts of a Cruise Ship they have paid to travel on. Last year on one of my Cruise i met one of the Loveliest Young Ladies i have ever met who was only on Iona because her Mother wanted to try it and said she normally travelled with Cunard and suggested i should try them sometime as they are more superior in many ways. I replied jokingly 'they would take one look at me at Check In and say No we'll give you your money back' 🙂 Well reading these posts has made me decide i will never book Cunard because through various jobs in my lifetime face to face with the Public i have been shouted at called many names some i didn't even understand and i just ignored them but the thing i could not bite my lip was when someone looked down there nose at me thinking they were better than me or anyone else. Edited July 20 by Cpt Pugwash spelling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare *Miss G* Posted July 20 #45 Share Posted July 20 17 minutes ago, Cpt Pugwash said: Well reading these posts has made me decide i will never book Cunard because through various jobs in my lifetime face to face with the Public i have been shouted at called many names some i didn't even understand and i just ignored them but the thing i could not bite my lip was when someone looked down there nose at me thinking they were better than me or anyone else. Why in the world would you think that anyone is looking down their nose at you on Cunard? 26 minutes ago, Cpt Pugwash said: just happened to come across this post and though i have never travelled with Cunard only P&O i am shocked to hear that in these days people can be stopped from going into certain parts of a Cruise Ship they have paid to travel on. You say you only travel on P&O. Have you not encountered the Yacht Club yet? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare david,Mississauga Posted July 20 #46 Share Posted July 20 It is quite common in the transportation world - whether air, rail, sea or hotels - to be expected to use only the facilities you have paid for. I do not always travel in the Grills and when I am in Britannia I do not go into Grills Areas. I am not permitted to use Air Canada's Maple Leaf Lounges or VIA Rail Canada's Business Class lounges when I travel in economy. I am not permitted in the Gold lounge of Fairmont Hotels if I have paid for a non-Gold room. Such is life. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cpt Pugwash Posted July 20 #47 Share Posted July 20 11 minutes ago, *Miss G* said: Why in the world would you think that anyone is looking down their nose at you on Cunard? You say you only travel on P&O. Have you not encountered the Yacht Club yet? No i'll never be invited to that but i can see the point your making but that is only one place not various parts of the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare WantedOnVoyage Posted July 20 #48 Share Posted July 20 (edited) I am shocked that anyone would be shocked that one gets what one pays for... in travel, property, or indeed any consumer good. Possibly confused that "Champagne taste on a beer budget" implies you actually are owed a Pol Roger 1994 when you paid for the Carling six-pack. I remember sailing in the 1939-built BALTIKA from London to Leningrad in 1984 when the Socialist paradise of the USSR was alive and kicking. And BALTIKA was a Hero Ship of the Soviet Union. And yes... she ran with three classes of passengers and no, you did not get to just wander at large either. We carried a large group of Danish Youth Communist League boys from Copenhagen and sailed to the tune of "The Internationale" and yes, the boys were in Third Class and we, including the Soviet Ambassador to Great Britain, were in First Class. What would Karl Marx made of that, I wonder? I suspect he'd travel Cunard in Princess Grill, P2 Grade. Better not best. Edited July 20 by WantedOnVoyage 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NE John Posted July 20 #49 Share Posted July 20 (edited) As stated before, Cunard is the least class based cruise operator. Unlike other cruise ship suite pax, Grills pax do not have: separate theater seats, escorted to said theater by their butler while skipping the line, prime ship space taken over for suites only passenger use (Grills venues are far from prime spots onboard), and no one knows what class the fellow pax seating next to you is part of when you’re out and about on the ship. Cunard’s Grills is mainly centered on bigger cabins/suites/bathrooms, an expanded dining experience, and a more personal service from the crew. Outside of that, no one is looking down on anyone nor does anyone really care what “class” one is on a Cunard vessel. If I found Cunard clas based and snobby, I wouldn’t bother going with their product. In fact, we’ve met wonderful people all about the ship and no thought of which cabin category we’re in. Edited July 20 by NE John 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare WantedOnVoyage Posted July 20 #50 Share Posted July 20 Methinks the issue is not those who look down but those always looking up... or indeed thinking anyone is looking or caring fullstop. I even remember when the Paris Metro had First Class carriages! Now that was class. And no standing, even in rush hour. I started my half century of sea travel as a 16 year old travelling min. Tourist Class on a student fare... the lowest of the low. So know what the "First Class Only" sign looks like from the other side. On Italian Line, though, if you managed to score a girlfriend in First Class, they even wrote you a permission slip to visit her in First (those romantic Italians think of everything)... assuming, quite rightly, she wasn't coming "down" to you... regardless of my teenage charms. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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