Not-quite-Live < limited > cruise journal: QE (Q427) Alaska cruise: 10 night, 30 Aug – 9 Sep 2024 plus Vancouver pre & post

[mking8288]

Golden Lions Pub and menu 

 

 

 

Queens Room - dancing

 

[mking8288]

Fixed time dining in Britannica Restaurant - speaking to one of the Asst. Manager, they have far more tables for 2 and 4 than 8 or 10, 6 is easy too as it can be easily combined by rearranging a table for 6 into 2's and 4's.  Solo cruisers and a couple doesn't have to share a table with strangers unless they choose to and ask for ...

 

 

It's an early arrival into Juneau at 6 AM and the crowds thinned out of Britannica early, only about 55% occupied with late seating at 7:45 PM 

 

Plenty of comfortable places to sit around, have a drink or play card or board games, quietly and without disturbing others. 

 

 

That's the Verandah Restaurant (steakhouse, open for lunch & dinner, upcharge applied) on Deck 2 

 

 

This is the upper level Library, Deck 3 Mid, with 2 PC stations powered with Viewsonic monitors.

 

 

Edited September 3 by mking8288

[rakkor]

3 hours ago, mking8288 said:

I am trying but also trying to avoid the traps akin to hot topics like hash browns on NCL. Cookies sightings are rare but abundance of chocolate, everywhere ...  As for those tea biscuits & square chocolate mints, a sharply divided, first world matter for a few on this site. 

 

 

 

There's quite often a secret cookie stash in the Lido if you ask at the sandwich station

 

 

[mking8288]

Tonight's MDR Menu - 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disclaimers: impressions about food are always subjective, personal & biased and YMMV widely ... Tonight's sweet & sour pork got a 2 thumbs down vs. the veal was tender, moist and soft (especially for those w dentures, hahaha).  French onions soup with a mixed review for those sensitive & hard to pleased about being salty or high in sodium ... same person "complained" of bland food & lacking taste or flavor 😔 duh 🙄 

 

P.S.  We are always offered chocolate after dinner - I prefer dark ones. 

Edited September 3 by mking8288

[mking8288]

NCL'ers ... sorry to rub this in, 2 chocolate mints on our bed/pillows again this evening as part of turndown service.  Our friendly steward, Rommel is out in the corridor by 5:30 for the evening and is done before 8 PM.  

 

 

Our room among the easiest to clean & freshen up.  Here's our live-in look, the white robe is soft but the universal slippers too small - using the blue ones picked up last November in Ponta Delgada during the NCL Prima TA. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The shower area resembled crew cabin, small and "mind" your head stepping in or out and while using it.  Water pressure is good and temperature, adjustable and hot. 

 

Noticed the shower flooring, just like the Epic & it flexed.  Sink is good & deep, easy to do hand laundry - free detergent in the guest laundrette, ours down the hall, maybe 1 deck above or below. 

 

Samsung Smart TV, securely wall-mounted and is feed via Cat-5 network cables, the untouchable.

 

Edited September 3 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Night owls special mini reports on Starlink - if results are not as expected or promised, start w your own hardware & recheck the outcome, it could be the end user's equipment - distorting the numbers.  Late night, about 11:30 PM Alaska time (3:30 AM in NY) 

 

Starlink showing impressive speed above - Samsung Galaxy S24

 

 

On Google Pixel 7 Pro - 

 

On iPhone SE 2022

 

We are sailing toward Skaway, already picked up T-Mobile's 5G signal, sometimes 4G LTE ... 6 hours before arrival & docking.  Back in 2008, it was EVDO 3G signal on a Motorola flip phone or Q9C running WinMo 6.1 when we cruise Alaska on the NCL Star ... the Blackberry days.   EOC at the the medical center where I worked had Nextell walkie-talkie phones w satellite options, kept for emergencies & disaster responses. 

 

Just can't figure out what's been going on lately with NCL's Starlink network installed onboard their ships - not my problem to solve & for them to fix it. 

 

Edited September 3 by mking8288

[dexddd]

8 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Behind The Scene tour 😁 of laundry operations, "for our convenience" to sail & sustain ... a la NCL   

 

Except this is DIY, washing a load took about 30 minutes, drying time 20 to 25 minutes depending on the fabrics & preference.  Free powdered laundry detergent provided - 2 scoop maximum for 6 kg max load. 

 

A virtual tour - 

 

Here's your study "😀 guide of how-to.  Nearest one is 10 cabins down the hallway. 

Is there an automatic laundry folder machine?

[dexddd]

8 hours ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

Great pics today @mking8288! But there seems to be a lack of clotted cream with the scones. Are you even trying?

 

He had a picture early on, think first tea, with clump of stuff, was that the stuff?

[dexddd]

Latest news, Pope going to Indonesia.  Wendy's might intro a krabbypatty burger.

 

Speaking of burgers, what is a 28 day burger?   Since you are on a 10 day trip, does it eventually move to 38 day burger?  On that long trip after yours there are going to be some old burgers.

 

 

[cruiseny4life]

On 8/31/2024 at 12:08 AM, mking8288 said:

21:00 hour and 5G signal still possible, off & on ...

 

 

MDR menu - Day #1 (photos to follow tomorrow or later tonight)

 

 

 

Side comment for NCL's - bathroom's shower floor reminded us of Epic's design 🤔   "Mind" the showerhead's low overhang, and the curtain, right next to you.

I'm finally back after an extended weekend away - well, away from Cruise Critic. We had a lot of chores to do - the barn finally looks like it wasn't hit by a tornado! Our tractors have a place to park, the extra hay is all scraped out, all our poisons (pesticides) are neatly put away, and hand tools are hung where they belong. Whewwwww, I'd rather be on a cruise, but....

 

Looking at this first dinner menu of the cruise, I'm thinking I just might lose a lot of weight on Cunard. I would (hesitate), but order the medallions of pork. Must be a poor person's filet mignon? I suppose I could pair it with the vanilla cheesecake. But those are literally the only things (other than ice cream) I'd even consider.

 

I'm looking forward to better luck on future days!! And, since I'm on page 11, currently, hoping for some amazingness coming my way, via your trip, through page 16!

[cruiseny4life]

On 8/31/2024 at 12:41 PM, mking8288 said:

 

Later, has a 10 AM welcome to Cunard reception for newbies w prize drawing ! 

This is a super nice touch! For pin collectors, it's nice you get a Cunard pin upon your first sailing. If I recollect, you don't get Bronze pins from cheap-o NCL until your second sailing. But, it is a nice touch to have a welcome party for all those new to the queens. 

 

Hash browns, those deceitful little nuggets of golden oil deliciousness that abandoned us on NCL. It's nice to see Carnival Corp can source hash browns, unlike the lord and master Dirty Harry at NCLH. 

Edited September 3 by cruiseny4life

[cruiseny4life]

On 8/31/2024 at 5:00 PM, mking8288 said:

Steakhouse Dinner Menu 👍 - impressive choices & varieties, some w upcharge as expected, on Cunard vs. NCL's Menu "Limited" 🙄

 

 

Is this a specialty restaurant with a cover charge? And then, if you want one of the "enhanced (as NCL would call it" selections, you pay the upcharge? 

 

Unlike the main dining room menu, this one looks fantastic! I see quite a few dishes I'd select. Yum!

 

OOOO, thankfully I can still edit! The menu for Bamboo Garden looks good (not quite as good as the steakhouse) too! I'm not quite understanding these alternative dining situations. Are they specialty? Or are they like Shanghai Noodle Bar?

Edited September 3 by cruiseny4life

[mking8288]

😁 Good morning, it's still early but we are almost at Skaway ... going back to sleep. Room service between 7:30 to 8:00 and then we'll head for Deck A's gangway to go ashore.

 

 

Lined them up ... we could've booked the Sun, 10 days out of Seattle, but 🤔

 

Edited September 3 by mking8288

[cruiseny4life]

On 8/31/2024 at 8:25 PM, mking8288 said:

Random food photos and scenes from the Lido Restaurant a/k/a buffet ... and it is big, put the Prima's small buffet to shame 😔 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know - I'm being annoying with all my posts, but I've gotta catch up to you! 

 

Hot dang you had me at baked potato bar on the buffet! At least that's what it looked like. It's amazing how fond of baked spuds I am. Throw some cheese sauce, bacon, butter, and sour cream together and I'm a happy man.

 

That roast meat looks fantastic for buffet gruel!! Is it possible Cunard does a good job with food? Is it kangaroo? Like really the hippity hoppity boxers down under? I'm not quite sure I could do that. I'm afraid they'd be kicking me from the insides! 

 

Ok - doing multiple posts here to keep myself constrained. @The Traveling Man doesn't appreciate my high post count, so gotta do him favors.

 

  

On 8/31/2024 at 8:42 PM, mking8288 said:

We were at the Queens Room by 2:45 PM and it was nearly full already and got the 1 of the last remaining table for 4 and a table for 2 behind us, on starboard side at the far corner.  Others that showed up ended up in a long queue, for a 2nd seating ??

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Afternoon tea. Oh!! How lovely! Those scones look airy, fluffy, and just how a scone should be. Not like those freezer biscuits. So, you're a cream before jam kind of guy, eh? Trying to start a war here?! 🤠

 

Not gonna lie, I'm loving this live!! Now, I'm still hesitant about the whole Cunard thing, but food wise, they seem pretty darned good!

******* Not sure how I did this, without quoting you*****

 

Sunset coming up as we made our way to our late seating for White themed gala dinner.

 

 

 

 

 

Casual observation, 5 out of 10 men in dark suit, no more than 2 out of 10 in tux, other 3 either in lighter color suit or just sports jacket. Women generally dressed up more & better. 

************* End of mking, start of cruiseny*****

 

Now where is all the themed clothing? Is a white shirt just good enough for a white themed gala night? Cunard might want to work on that name....not so sure it's exactly...ummm appropriate in this day and age in the States, at least.

 

Anyhow!! if I ever do cruise Cunard (which your live is making more a possibility, given the food photos), I'll certainly be decked out in all-white. If it's a theme, you gotta own it. Cunarders, do better! Own that theme. Yikes. I suppose this means *I* could actually be the most dressed up on a theme night, given I'll be taking that theme and making it all my own. Now to find a white suit, tie, vest, and pants. Do gents don top hats? Is that allowed? I could see a nice white top hat with a baby blue band being quite nice with baby blue trim on the very white suit. 

 

From that gala night menu, I'll take the shrimp & lobster croquette, onion soup (if it's like French Onion), and venison, with chocolate brownie - hold the orange curd. My husband would starve as he wouldn't eat anything on the menu. Night one - we both starve. Night two - he starves. 

 

 

[cruiseny4life]

19 hours ago, mking8288 said:

 

I absolutely adore this photo. Thank you! That sky, those clouds, the water, and mountains....wow! Love, love, love this!

 

EDIT - caught up...photos are stunning! You have some real great photos in your collection. Well done and keen eye!! That landscape - oh, so great!! 

 

As for dinners, I won't post the menus again, but will just say we're 1 - 4 where I'd eat in the main dining room and 0 - 4 for my husband. We'd definitely have much smaller bellies when we disembark if we are to cruise Cunard! Alas, the specialty/alternative places look very yummy!!

Edited September 3 by cruiseny4life

[exlondoner]

46 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

I'm finally back after an extended weekend away - well, away from Cruise Critic. We had a lot of chores to do - the barn finally looks like it wasn't hit by a tornado! Our tractors have a place to park, the extra hay is all scraped out, all our poisons (pesticides) are neatly put away, and hand tools are hung where they belong. Whewwwww, I'd rather be on a cruise, but....

 

Looking at this first dinner menu of the cruise, I'm thinking I just might lose a lot of weight on Cunard. I would (hesitate), but order the medallions of pork. Must be a poor person's filet mignon? I suppose I could pair it with the vanilla cheesecake. But those are literally the only things (other than ice cream) I'd even consider.

 

I'm looking forward to better luck on future days!! And, since I'm on page 11, currently, hoping for some amazingness coming my way, via your trip, through page 16!

You seem to have a startling number of food dislikes, but perhaps you could take refuge in the always available stuff that they don’t mention on the menu, you know, salmon, sirloin, chicken. But then given your dislike of the things on the menu, I can see they might not do either. 🙁 Oh dear.

[schmoopie17]

19 hours ago, mking8288 said:

As if right on cue, time now is 10:05 and we are indeed seeing the skies clearing up ... hello, Endicott Arm.  

 

 

Woman at the second table: "Hey, look...there's Endicott Arm!"

 

Man at second table wearing baseball cap: "That's nothing. Check out these hash browns!"

(Inside NCL joke).

[cruiseny4life]

22 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

You seem to have a startling number of food dislikes, but perhaps you could take refuge in the always available stuff that they don’t mention on the menu, you know, salmon, sirloin, chicken. But then given your dislike of the things on the menu, I can see they might not do either. 🙁 Oh dear.

I'm eccentric like that! Or weird. or crazy. Take your pick. 🙂 Just a Millennial doing Millennial things...except being a foodie. If there's nightly sirloin or chicken, then my husband will be quite happy as he enjoys both! 

 

In my above statement, I said I was 1 - 4. I misspoke. I'd be 2-4 (venison and pork). Perhaps 3 - 4 given salmon is on the menu each evening. Thanks for the info!

[exlondoner]

4 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

I'm eccentric like that! Or weird. or crazy. Take your pick. 🙂 Just a Millennial doing Millennial things...except being a foodie. If there's nightly sirloin or chicken, then my husband will be quite happy as he enjoys both! 

 

In my above statement, I said I was 1 - 4. I misspoke. I'd be 2-4 (venison and pork). Perhaps 3 - 4 given salmon is on the menu each evening. Thanks for the info!

Also they have a separate veggie menu, and, if you inform them in advance of allergies, they take them seriously, and of dietary requirements, for instance low salt, they can adapt menu items appropriately.

Edited September 3 by exlondoner

[mking8288]

 

 

Waking up in the morning, power breakfast in our bed and smelling the coffee & hot food, complimentary & free delivery, smoked salmon & fish. Bagel, toasted and fruit plates (x 2) hash browns. 

 

 

@cruiseny4life what do you 2 think😊. 

Sorry @dexddd no beans ordered. 

 

 

[mking8288]

Outside our balcony - the views

 

 

 

 

[tacticalbanjo]

Thanks for posting all these lovely photos. I have Alaska on QE booked for next year and have just 34 days before I'm on Queen Victoria so you're really getting my anticipation up for both trips.

 

@cruiseny4life The Steakhouse at Verandah is a speciality dining restaurant that has a cover charge then you pay an upcharge for some of the items. Bamboo is one of the alternative pop-up restaurants that take over half of the buffet and have a much lower cover charge than the steakhouse. The pop-ups rotate between Coriander (Indian food), Bamboo (pan-Asian food), La Piazza (Italian food) and Frontier which is an Alaskan themed menu. In other areas of the world you might find Nordlys or Riveria which are Norwegian and Mediterranean themed respectively. We've had great meals at both the steakhouse and the buffet pop-ups.

[cruiseny4life]

34 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Waking up in the morning, power breakfast in our bed and smelling the coffee & hot food, complimentary & free delivery, smoked salmon & fish. Bagel, toasted and fruit plates (x 2) hash browns. 

 

 

@cruiseny4life what do you 2 think😊. 

Sorry @dexddd no beans ordered. 

Looks like a great breakfast to me! I'm not a huge fan of smoked salmon or...is that herring? I have had both and they were tolerable. What can I say, I'm not a fishy lover....please don't take away my NY'er cred! 

 

How are those bagels? The light toasting is actually ok with me, though I'd want some cream cheese. Am guessing you may have added your lox to them? Hash browns look yummy! Haha....oh who would have thought there'd be so many woeful tales of no hash browns (on NCL)? 

 

26 minutes ago, tacticalbanjo said:

@cruiseny4life The Steakhouse at Verandah is a speciality dining restaurant that has a cover charge then you pay an upcharge for some of the items. Bamboo is one of the alternative pop-up restaurants that take over half of the buffet and have a much lower cover charge than the steakhouse. The pop-ups rotate between Coriander (Indian food), Bamboo (pan-Asian food), La Piazza (Italian food) and Frontier which is an Alaskan themed menu. In other areas of the world you might find Nordlys or Riveria which are Norwegian and Mediterranean themed respectively. We've had great meals at both the steakhouse and the buffet pop-ups.

Thank you, thank you!! This is really helpful to give me an understanding of food offered. 

[mking8288]

@cruiseny4life  ...

Not gonna lie, I'm loving this live!! Now, I'm still hesitant about the whole Cunard thing, but food wise, they seem pretty darned good!

 

Carnival's food and service on Cunard is definitely above & beyond NCL's current service & food-wise, leaving dirty Harry (their brand's COO) below deck in crew dining.  Hot chocolate, not in an envelope w hot water to mix yourself. Sliced fruits definitely not Walmart sourced.

 

 

We're never fans of the buffet on Norwegian but DW is now a believer that we can do quite a few meals in Lido, better quality & more choices, better presented and the salad bar, bakery options ... good lord, talk about being open-minded and stretched beyond our comfort zones, doing this with zero status. $100 onboard credit posted,  etc.  I will sit down and do a full post-cruise review ... before we pack our bags to jump back to Royal Caribbean later this month. 

 

P.S.  That's herrings and loving it, buffet had smoked salmon and smoked mackerel.  DW ordered no lox, mindful of keeping the pounds gained in check, and no onions even I promised to brush teeth (what's still there till implants are done next year) & use mouth rinse. Bro-in-law said the hotdogs are good but we need to inspect the 6 oz burger and the duck drumsticks at Golden Lion (The Local / O'Sheehans)

 

Edited September 3 by mking8288

[Victoria2]

cruiseny4life, don't like smoked salmon? One of the foods of the Gods along with hot dog, fried onions,ketchup and fries?

 

One of our table mates had the h.d. meal on a rather grand Gala evening onboard. We were all salivating as it looked and smelt SO good!