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

[mking8288]

Live atrium music - 7:30 PM 

 

 

 

[mking8288]

Mendellhall Visitor's Center, accessible friendly via elevators, thru the tunnel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mking8288]

2 hours ago, Seas2mountains said:

What do the nieces think of Cunard?  We have adult kids who are a little younger in mid 20’s to early 30’s. 
What are you and Susan missing about NCL if anything? 
And do the food items look better than how they are described in the menu or is that just me?

It's late here in Alaska time, 10:45 PM or almost 3 AM EDT ... but I am  going to answer some questions on an interim basis - which I know several others are eager to read & see, what we think.  

 

Our twin nieces in the mid 30's and been on several cruises with us, over the years, career pro in finance/accounting - had a longer informal polling session with them (LOL) this evening ... both of them have positive impression of sailing Cunard and said they would cruise again, even if given the choice over NCL ... similar prices & itinerary/ports.  They are pretty much among the 10 youngest onboard this sailing, from what we can see.  They aren't party girls and don't drink, do go to movies w friends & see Broadway shows.  Liking the onboard experience, service standards and don't mind not having loud music or late night parties ... during the day, between meals, they disappear & somehow managed to find things to do and keep themselves busy - one thing is certain, they aren't bored.  Of course, their parents are onboard and the girls paying for the trip & minding the elders.  

 

Food-wise, that's always subjective & biased - overall, Cunard has the edge & thumbs-up often ... NCL is losing their appeal, for us.  I will come back to this in greater depth & details, post-cruise.  Just our impressions thus far.  

 

As for things we missed since we've worked our way to Diamonds in 2023, not much - definitely not the 4 or 2 "cartons" of water or the plate of chocolate strawberries.  We still have our unopened small bottle of sparkling wine in our mini-refrigerator (it's bigger, slightly & colder) so the bottle of house wine from NCL's short list, not a deal-breaker either.  But, I think we do wish the onboard restaurants (upcharged or specialty dinining) is a prize to go after, but it was earned ... Cunard has perks for frequent cruisers.  If 2 of us were cruising ourselves, I am pretty sure we'll not mind doing the steakhouse for lunch, if not dinner, just to see & compare ... next time ??

 

Services in the dining room and with housekeeping, nothing missed or issues to "report" as missing basic expectations - attentive, responsible & friendly with smiles.  We are now having doubts & questioning whether NCL's "current" dining for the MDR is really good (detail chats, later)

 

We "missed" free laundry when sailing NCL but having guests (free) laundry room w ironing/board access is good - we got ours done in about 75 minutes while 1/3+ of the guests were busy with 1st seating for dinner ... just down the hallway.  

 

We can bring bottled water, juice & soda (wine & beer too, for others) free - as carry-on or in checked luggage, security doesn't blink or ask about "what's that" 

 

I'll answer & post more thoughts and comments later on, post-cruise as I have "notes" taken to help, so much to absorb & take in. 

 

And, I've been shaking my head and pounding sand (LOL) reading some of the comments over at NCL lately with highly respected reviewers like Yvonne & Jim, and others.  Dirty Harry is steering the fleet sideway and as tiny shares holders of NCL and CCL, not happy about it.  

 

Enough said for one evening.  

[Victoria2]

I must compare my Mendenhall Glacier photos with yours to see how much receding has taken place.

 

I'm so glad you're enjoying your Cunard experience and the positive vibes you're sending out to all especially your imported 'others' who are following this thread might mean that Cunard could see more newbies joining our Cunard family.

 

The more the merrier. 👍

 

 

 

[mking8288]

Heads up, we are rocking & rolling, the girls got motion sickness Rx with them, they might go for it, or not.  For us, great sleeping while in motion - midship and Deck 5, Susan said ... we are going fast ?  

 

No honey, 17 kts with modest crosswind. Oh.  Back to sleep again ... translation, no big deal, unless we are heading into 20+ waves and increasingly. 

 

 

[mking8288]

Let me finished uploading photos from the tour 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 5 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Juneau overlook from Douglas Island and finally ... whale watching "made belief"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 5 by mking8288

[mking8288]

 

Look closely 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mking8288]

Eagles

 

 

 

 

Footnote: we do have a # of short video clips to share & upload ... given the limitations of Starlink's bandwidth & fair use doctrine, those will be amended & added post-cruise on a faster broadband connection.  

Edited September 5 by mking8288

[dexddd]

Breakfast here yesterday in lower 48?  Not much of breakfast eater but yesterday was a generic wrap.  No upcharge, covered under dining plan, for our convenience, of course.

 

That steak looked good.

 

Will you be doing a follow up of totems in NYC?

 

Does Cunard source their salmon locally?

 

My guess why triangle hash browns is they get discount on them in exchange for buying a pallet of leeks.

 

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

2 hours ago, mking8288 said:

 

Tracy’s has “the best legs in town” 😂

I did enjoy myself after my dogsled and glacier adventure. Hope to be back soon. 
 

Thanks for the pics! You and Yvonne are really making me miss Alaska. 
 

 

[cruiseny4life]

9 hours ago, Seas2mountains said:

I wish I had the skills and talent to bring fun and humor but I must have been busy when those gifts were being handed out before birth.  It’s a good thing my husband has those humor skills and talents as I get to observe him make the crew laugh with his silly jokes.  In the meantime, I’ll admire the photos and the witty comments from @cruiseny4life and @Sugar Magnolia. 
 

I am having an “intense” week and not only appreciate your fantastic live review but also the questions from @cruiseny4life when he rejoined as he asked questions or made comments that I was wondering but didn’t have the time to ask. 
 

Here are my questions. What do the nieces think of Cunard? We have adult kids who are a little younger in mid 20’s to early 30’s. 
 

What are you and Susan missing about NCL if anything? 
 

What do you love so far about Cunard? Or, what are you disappointed about? 
 

And do the food items look better than how they are described in the menu or is that just me? Thank you! 
 

 

You are asking the right questions! What great ones - I didn't even think to ask. Sorry about the nasty work week! It'll get better, I hope! And @mking8288, thanks for answering them despite the late Alaska hour. Is it still light out until the very wee hours of the morning? 

 

9 hours ago, mking8288 said:

 

LOVE that you were able to capture some salmon without the ripples. They're really a quite grotesque, yet beautiful fish. Only thing better, would be to see their snaggle teeth up close!

 

8 hours ago, mking8288 said:

 

 

 

 

 

Now this, this is yum!! What a great meal! As always, thanks for sharing!! Wish I could smell and taste the photos, but alas, the internet hasn't figured out scratch and sniff/devour yet! Soon, I'm sure!

[mking8288]

Edited September 5 by mking8288

[mking8288]

 

Rise-n-shine ?  And, we are going to rock ... slightly, sideway due to crosswind (and hearing a little bit of metallic noises, not uncommon for a 15 years old vessel - unlike the 3 years old Norwegian Prima on both of our TA crossings). Only woke up once ... for the bathroom.  Mrs has no issues at all, slept well - we are accustomed to these typical sea state of 5' to 8' (ft.)

 

Uploaded today's Daily Programme (a few sections only) directly from the browser-based "app" as FYI while I was peeking outside. 

 

Celebrity Summit is playing wingman ahead ... going to breakfast shortly, MDR - Deck 2 AFT, open seating ... just like NCL and other lines.ra

 

 

 

Starlink has continued to deliver quite consistently 👍👌

 

[mking8288]

Turning in toward Hubbard ... 

 

 

Orders from her majesty, let do some laundry later. Okay. Next time, we can pack less - 1 set of PJ and fewer undies, etc.  🤔 Hmmm, I got homework to do ahead.

 

[mking8288]

Freestyle breakfast in QE 😁 literally almost no lines, seated in 5 minutes, done the whole full meal, in less than 1 hour.  Hot & tasty, 1 click above NCL. 

 

 

 

 

Nice Oceanview outside, from our table.

 

 

@dexddd - forget your beans photo 😁 

 

 

 

[mking8288]

Coming out of Britannica Restaurant at 9:15 and walking toward midship ... where is everyone, still in bed cause we don't see any crowds in the atrium lobby.  Cafe nearby has tea, coffee & pastries/bakery - plenty of space to sit ... no chair hogs or noisy gathering. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compare to NCL, this just feels different. 

 

 

 

Okay, get ready to hopefully see the Hubbard Glacier soon b/c mother nature is ...

 

 

[mking8288]

Report from the balcony 🤗 

 

 

Per CruiseMapper, we are on our own ahead ... Summit, our wingman has charted a different course away from the Hubbard Glacier, going westerly.

 

 

 

Edited September 5 by mking8288

[NE John]

24 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Report from the balcony 🤗 

 

 

Per CruiseMapper, we are on our own ahead ... Summit, our wingman has charted a different course away from the Hubbard Glacier, going westerly.

 

 

 

Commodore Club has good views of Hubbard Glacier. Try to go there. 

[Host Hattie]

Hope your weather improves 

[mking8288]

Visibilities are now slightly better and we've slowed to under 10 kts 

 

 

 

 

 

Wide-angle view

 

Look, there's a boat in the distance 

 

 

Sea State is moderate

 

 

 

[mking8288]

The Captain's report  from the bridge is usually once a day at noon, and when his voice came over the P.A. around 10, one just knows ... 

 

Next highlight will be Sitka, tomorrow.

 

 

Edited September 5 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Today will be a day at sea, for safety reasons as the QE was sailed into maritime weather & conditions beyond its safe limits and has turned around ... hopefully find calmer area to run donuts or maybe an impromptu whale watch ?

 

These pictures, FWIW, taken while attempting to see the Hubbard Clacier, captain apologized for the disappointment. But, it is what it is 😔

 

 

[NE John]

41 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Today will be a day at sea, for safety reasons as the QE was sailed into maritime weather & conditions beyond its safe limits and has turned around ... hopefully find calmer area to run donuts or maybe an impromptu whale watch ?

 

These pictures, FWIW, taken while attempting to see the Hubbard Clacier, captain apologized for the disappointment. But, it is what it is 😔

 

 

Oh no…that’s a bummer and a half. I’m glad you take things in stride. Be here now. 

[D&N]

4 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Turning in toward Hubbard ... 

 

 

Orders from her majesty, let do some laundry later. Okay. Next time, we can pack less - 1 set of PJ and fewer undies, etc.  🤔 Hmmm, I got homework to do ahead.

 

Maybe less casual wear and layers. Just stick to the glitzy dressy stuff and stay on the ship as much as possible. If it's not over 75F stay indoors! 😃

And have one phone that does all the laptop stuff to cut weight.

 

But seriously, your "Not-quite-Live" is absolutely wonderful. It really feels as if we're travelling along with you. Which is great because we've decided Alaska is too far away to do again.

YouTube and Google Photos are a much better way to see places that are thousands of miles away!