Dissapointing Food on QM2

[tmcauban]

Just back from the April 28, 2008 crossing this year.

Our fourth crossing on QM2 since the beginning of the ship.

We were in the Britannia Restaurant, very spectacular as usual.

Service was OK, but they insisted that you order your dessert upfront, at the beginning of the meal. Why?

Sounds not much, but it turned out to be a bore as when dessert time comes, your mood and your appetite may have changed.

 

But the main problem we had was that, overall, the food was much less good than last year, and could only be only called "Mediocre", an opinion unfortunately shared by many repeat passengers on board.

 

Todd English was a big dissapointment with heavy food and huge portions, but we had been dissapointed by his restaurant in Las Vegas as well.

If you go for quantity you will be satisfied.

 

The Spa is wonderful, with great staff.

Shall we go back? I wonder as I was so dissapointed by the food this year.

[SeaMatesNYC]

Service was OK, but they insisted that you order your dessert upfront, at the beginning of the meal. Why?

Sounds not much, but it turned out to be a bore as when dessert time comes, your mood and your appetite may have changed.

 

It's very strange, I agree. I think it's so that they don't need to return to take another order and can concentrate on setting tables for breakfast and get off work sooner. Far cry from the service on QE2, no? Really no point in paying a premium unless you are going to get a premium product...your report may put to rest the hypothesis that the poorer service/food quality some have recently experienced in Brittania was a factor of the shorter cruises RT NYC.

 

Michael

[NomDePlume]

Service was OK, but they insisted that you order your dessert upfront, at the beginning of the meal. Why?

Sounds not much, but it turned out to be a bore as when dessert time comes, your mood and your appetite may have changed.

 

But the main problem we had was that, overall, the food was much less good than last year, and could only be only called "Mediocre", an opinion unfortunately shared by many repeat passengers on board.

 

Todd English was a big dissapointment with heavy food and huge portions, but we had been dissapointed by his restaurant in Las Vegas as well.

If you go for quantity you will be satisfied.

 

The Spa is wonderful, with great staff.

Shall we go back? I wonder as I was so dissapointed by the food this year.

On our return sailing on May 4th--Britannia Restaurant late sitting--never once did they ask for our dessert choices upfront, and I noticed the same pattern at non-hosted tables. I do agree, however, that the quality of the food was disappointing, compared with previous Cunard trips.

[pepperrn]

Oh dear, more cost cutting on Cunard? Let's hope not, otherwise, why pay more for less? Restore the standards at once Cunard/Carnival or you'll lose your customers (to other non-Carnival lines) who have, in the past, paid a premium for premium standards.

 

Meantime, can I urge everyone here to say to to your steward/waiter on any Cunard ship, "we'll order dessert later, after the main course, thank you" (if asked to order the entire meal as soon as you're seated). After all, they can't take orders if we don't order anything, can they?

[yorky]

We were on the April 6th 10 day carribbean. Loved the ship but the food and service in Britannia was without doubt the the worst we have had on any cruise line.

 

Shame as in other areas such as the golden Lion things like the fish and chips are great. Great food also when using room service and in Todd English.

[The Real PM]

Just back from the April 28, 2008 crossing this year.

Our fourth crossing on QM2 since the beginning of the ship.

We were in the Britannia Restaurant, very spectacular as usual.

Service was OK, but they insisted that you order your dessert upfront, at the beginning of the meal. Why?

Sounds not much, but it turned out to be a bore as when dessert time comes, your mood and your appetite may have changed.

 

But the main problem we had was that, overall, the food was much less good than last year, and could only be only called "Mediocre", an opinion unfortunately shared by many repeat passengers on board.

 

Todd English was a big dissapointment with heavy food and huge portions, but we had been dissapointed by his restaurant in Las Vegas as well.

If you go for quantity you will be satisfied.

 

The Spa is wonderful, with great staff.

Shall we go back? I wonder as I was so dissapointed by the food this year.

 

As far as ordering dessert, we were told we could order any way we liked, so I waited and ordered after the entree. Our table mates liked to eat in a hurry so they could be the first ones in for the show, so they ordered before dinner. I found that our service was wonderful in the Britannia Restaurant and everywhere else, for that matter. It seemed to me that the reasoning for ordering early would be that it cuts a little time off the whole process--just a guess. As far as the food, I believe you hit the nail right on the head, it was just a little better than mediocre. Choice was okay, however, I believe there could have been more follow- through with complimenting foods on each menu.

 

We found Todd English excellent, but like you said it was very heavy, we had the largest piece of filet mignon I've ever seen, and after eating a small portion, and only a few bites of the wonderful dessert, we felt that we wanted to roll down the corridor to our cabin and go to sleep (and that's exactly what we did). We found the other alternative restaurants very good.

 

Now, this was my first time on the Queen Mary 2, and I am absolutely in love with nearly every aspect of her. From the detail of her decor, to her beautiful welcoming spaces, from the graceful way she slips through rough waters, to the civility that she attracts, I would bet she is second to none, so for me I would not let the less than excellent food keep me from an otherwise perfect voyage.

[SeaMatesNYC]

The less than perfect food and service did not ruin our voyage, but I surely was shocked to find that many of Cunard's sister lines had much better fare and served with much higher standards of care than my first exposure to QM2. In fact, I have had better food and service in diners! Very disappointing. But, my experience of QE2 service and food (for the first and last time, sigh) turned everything around for me. Hopefully, some of this professionalism may carry over to QM2 once QE2 goes to her (sad) end. I sincerely hope that Carnival management is listening and hears that they have a real problem situation on their hands and must make efforts to turn things around. I honestly don't believe that they are being penny wise but pound foolish and that they surely understand that they cannot allow their premium brand to be so diluted.

 

Michael**

[Vic The Parrot]

Can anyone elaborate as to how the quality went down ??

 

 

The food was great back in January. It's hard to believe that there would be such a drastic change in 5 months. :confused:

[The Real PM]

The less than perfect food and service did not ruin our voyage, but I surely was shocked to find that many of Cunard's sister lines had much better fare and served with much higher standards of care than my first exposure to QM2. In fact, I have had better food and service in diners! Very disappointing. But, my experience of QE2 service and food (for the first and last time, sigh) turned everything around for me. Hopefully, some of this professionalism may carry over to QM2 once QE2 goes to her (sad) end. I sincerely hope that Carnival management is listening and hears that they have a real problem situation on their hands and must make efforts to turn things around. I honestly don't believe that they are being penny wise but pound foolish and that they surely understand that they cannot allow their premium brand to be so diluted.

 

Michael**

 

 

Michael,

 

Many, many years ago when we were on our first cruise aboard the Brittanis, of the Chandris Line, we met several passengers who were tendered from the QE2 into Hamilton Bermuda. They were a little disgusted that they, first of all, were in Bermuda (they were not supposed to go there) and secondly by their food on the QE2 (they told us that most of it was fried). Now that was in 81, so I believe that was before the QE2 was stretched or whatever happened to her. What I'm trying to say I guess is that , at any time the quality of food can change for good or bad, and I believe that the quality of food will get better again-- I'm just an eternal optimist, I guess.

[Cruise NH]

I was on both the April 16th and May 4th crossings. I was never asked to order dessert at the beginning of service. I can only guess it was that particular waiter.

 

As for the quality of the food, while somethings were better then others, I thought the overall quality was very good. The service, at least in our little corner of the dining room was great.

 

Now this was my first time on the QM2, but I did notice that some veteran Cunard passengers like to find fault. 'Things weren't as good as such and such a time, etc.' The 'time' being sometime in the past, usually on the QEII, when things were apparently much much better, at least in their memories.

[SeaMatesNYC]

I was on both the April 16th and May 4th crossings. I was never asked to order dessert at the beginning of service. I can only guess it was that particular waiter.

 

As for the quality of the food, while somethings were better then others, I thought the overall quality was very good. The service, at least in our little corner of the dining room was great.

 

Now this was my first time on the QM2, but I did notice that some veteran Cunard passengers like to find fault. 'Things weren't as good as such and such a time, etc.' The 'time' being sometime in the past, usually on the QEII, when things were apparently much much better, at least in their memories.

 

No trick in my memory here. QM2 Feb 2008, QE2 April 2008. Extreme contrast. I will hope that poodlesmom is correct and that the dining experience we had on QM2 was a momentary aberration, but negative reports (and positive) continue - should be more consistently excellent, IMHO to justify the premium prices. It better have been a weak moment or I am going back full-time to my beloved *** (another Carnival line that you can figure out for yourselves, singing waiters and all - love those Indonesians!).

[tmcauban]

I should have added in my original posting that we were also on a segment of QE2 worldcruise in March/April and the food was exquisite, with a wonderful selection and grand, impeccable service.

Well, ...it was the QE2! and it met all our expectations.

(as usual as it was our 17th time on the QE2)

Maybe we went too soon on the QM2 after this great, memorable cruise?

 

But

We were also, in February 2008, on the Golden Princess, yes, on a Princess cruises ship, and we found that the food was very good. I would say extremely good, much better than what we experienced on the QM2 during this April 28 crossing.

If Cunard is so Princess these days, why don't they offer at least the same quality of food?

[southwestie]

Well Im still in love with QM2 and now QV , but I was talking to a lot on the QV who have said that RCL is much better in the food dept and even NCL, well im going to try NCL in a few weeks and also RCL so I will let you know the honest answer,

 

I have to say that so far both QM2 and QV have been wonderful apart from one steak??? that happens wherever you are, but I will test out the others

 

rob

[The Real PM]

:) It just could be that it all is a matter of taste--no pun intended. Both my husband and I agreed that the food on the QM2 was not excellent, but very good. However, in my experience on ships, I haven't found excellent food yet. Some of it was very, very good, but never excellent. Probably the best food was on the Brittanis, when she was an elderly--past her glory but quaintly charming ocean liner. She was a Greek ship then, and the Greeks seem to know about good food (I've heard that food on the Celebrity ships is excellent as well). Or maybe it just seemed excellent because I was quite young then, eating out was not on my high priority list, and I was not yet a bonafide excellent cook (I'm much better today).

 

I'm trying to come up with just why it is less than excellent to help Vic understand, and the only thing I can conclude is just what I said in the beginning--it comes down to taste--simple but true.

 

Gail

[The Real PM]

No trick in my memory here. QM2 Feb 2008, QE2 April 2008. Extreme contrast. I will hope that poodlesmom is correct and that the dining experience we had on QM2 was a momentary aberration, but negative reports (and positive) continue - should be more consistently excellent, IMHO to justify the premium prices. It better have been a weak moment or I am going back full-time to my beloved *** (another Carnival line that you can figure out for yourselves, singing waiters and all - love those Indonesians!).

 

 

I'm still a little wet behind the ears--so could you please share your "beloved", or is it against the rules? I need a back up, a ship comparable to the QM2, in case the right itinerary and /or price doesn't show up through Cunard. And if you can share it, could you explain why she is so beloved?

 

Thanks,

Gail

[yorky]

I'm still a little wet behind the ears--so could you please share your "beloved", or is it against the rules? I need a back up, a ship comparable to the QM2, in case the right itinerary and /or price doesn't show up through Cunard. And if you can share it, could you explain why she is so beloved?

 

Thanks,

Gail

 

Given the cruises taken it's Princess. Having also sailed with them I found the food far superior in the main dining room on Princess although things like room service food and alternative dining venues were defiantly a notch lower in my opinion.

[SeaMatesNYC]

I'm still a little wet behind the ears--so could you please share your "beloved", or is it against the rules? I need a back up, a ship comparable to the QM2, in case the right itinerary and /or price doesn't show up through Cunard. And if you can share it, could you explain why she is so beloved?

 

Thanks,

Gail

 

You can see it in my signature. Starts with and H and ends with an L with one vowel in the middle.;) Food and service are consistently outstanding. Ships are lovely. Closest things to Cunard, IMO, out there...a bit sedate, but lovely. Kind of like QM2!

[The Real PM]

And just one other thing--it sounds rediculous, but I have never flown (except on my broom), so does H** go out of New York? I'm pretty sure that Princess does, but I'm not sure of how often? Perhaps I should try it once--maybe it's not too bad, fly, I mean.

 

Gail

[SeaMatesNYC]

And just one other thing--it sounds rediculous, but I have never flown (except on my broom), so does H** go out of New York? I'm pretty sure that Princess does, but I'm not sure of how often? Perhaps I should try it once--maybe it's not too bad, fly, I mean.

 

Gail

 

Gail:

 

H** did have the N**rd*m sailing out of NYC for the past two winters, but have ended that. Sad. Flying is not so bad as it must seem to a novice. You mean you have never, ever flown?

[The Real PM]

Well, that is not exactly true. I did fly once in a sea plane on and over a lake in Maine. It had four wings and was very bumpy, both in the air and when it landed. I couldn't even hear myself think. I believe it held four people. I was eighteen and it wasn't the most stellar experience in my life. So I guess I haven't exactly rushed to do it again.

 

Gail

[gardenbunny]

My 2 cents - I agree w/ Vic - can you quantify what has gone bad??? If you can't measure it, you can't manage it. We want specifics. Personally, for me, the experience is better than me having to cook at home and and a whole lot better than what I make at home - and doesn't even compare to how it is presented at home! So I guess it is all relevant. They could serve me S on a S and I would probably think it was fabulous! Seriously, I have never left a dining room on QE2 (I have been in Caronia and Princess Grill) or Britannia on QM2 and said - gee, that wasn't very good. When you break it down, they are floating restaurants - restaurants just like in your own home town - and who hasn't had a great meal at your favorite place, and go back again and it was not as good - for whatever reason - it just happens. But you still go back because there is something about the place you like - and probably the next time you go back, it's back to "your standards". The food conversations on this board never cease to amaze me since I started reading them in 2003.

[Jimsgirl]

Having cruise several differnt lines several times each , I think (and I am no expert) that the reason for the "disappointments" are due to changes in staff both in the kitchens (cooks -sorry chefs) and in the dining rooms. (waiters)

 

QM2 gave up about one third of its staff to QV, and the replacements (again just my person opinion) were and are not up to standard.

 

For instance in March at lunch I asked for my entree to be served "without the cabbage" and was told " The kitchen serves it only with cabbage, if you don't wish to eat it, just leave it on the plate"!!!!!!!. I said quietly but very firmly, "I will NOT accept it with cabbage on the plate, so tell the kitchen to remove it please"

 

The cabbage was removed.

 

Several of the other people at the table that lunch time had problems with the waiter, at least two sent their entrees back, as they were not served the way that they had requested. it was obvious either he came from a line that offered inferior service, or he did not want to be "bothered" he just wanted to get the table served, emptied and go off duty.

 

I also had a cabin stewardess who did not understand "Do not disturb" actually meant "Do NOT disturb", on two occasions she came in whilst the sign was on the door, once I was just coming out of the bathroom from taking a shower and was "starkers" the other time I was half asleep in bed taking an afternoon snooze.

[The Real PM]

Hello Lynn,

 

So nice to see you are on the boards again.

 

What was your opinion of the food on our March cruise? I have said that it was very good, but not excellent. Do you think I am correct or am I just too fussy?

 

You must be getting quite excited again.

 

Gail

[Thames476]

Are the Q and P grills still up to standard ?? I really enjoyed PG Oct. '06 and QG Nov.'07. I've received a Holland Am.freebee thanks to Foxwoods casino. And would love to sail aboard QM2 again however I do wonder about past standards being followed :confused:

[Marmarjudy]

Well Im still in love with QM2 and now QV , but I was talking to a lot on the QV who have said that RCL is much better in the food dept and even NCL, well im going to try NCL in a few weeks and also RCL so I will let you know the honest answer,

 

I have to say that so far both QM2 and QV have been wonderful apart from one steak??? that happens wherever you are, but I will test out the others

 

rob

 

We have sailed both RCL and NCL and found their food to be the most disappointing, and at the bottom of our list of all cruise lines. Celebrity, Carnival...yes, Carnival..their food is very underrated, in our opinion..Princess, and HAL all surpass RCL and NCL by leaps and bounds. Princess and HAL are our favorites. We will sail QM2, our first Cunard, in June, in the Britannia, and if the food there is on par with RCL and NCL I am sure we are in for a great disappointment.

 

Please tell me it's not so! Can anyone that has experienced all or some of these lines share a comparison?

 

Thanks,

Judy