Disappointment with Cunard and QV

[adh123]

Have just returned today from 14 nights Med Cruise on Queen Victoria - first time with Cunard and although we enjoyed the holiday we were very very disappointed with the overall Cunard experience. We were expecting a 'WOW' factor when we boarded the QV but we didnt get one! We were expecting a 'WOW' factor with the service and facilities on board - but we didnt get them! It all seemed cramped - the staff were unhelpful and gave the impression they really didnt want to be there at all never mind serve us with a drink!

 

What really surprised us was the quality of goods on sale - the choice in the stores themselves was extremely limited and not very inspiring - the 'special sales' events left me speechless not least because much of what was on sale was faulty and quite obviously faulty - e.g. evening bags that were studded with fake gems but the gems had fallen off and just the glue was left! I couldnt believe they would even put the items out on dispaly let alone think someone would buy them!

 

We paid 5 star money but certainly didnt get 5 star service. C unard are trading on their name only and what we received certainly didnt live up to the reputation.

 

Glad we didnt book our 2011 World Cruise with Cunard anyway!

:(

[bepsf]

How sad that you weren't pleased w/ your QV cruise...

 

...my boss took her first cruise aboard QV last summer, and returned raving about her experience - Although I suspect that her choice of Queen's Grille accommodations may have played a part in that.

 

Regarding the shopping experience - I'm surprised as I would have expected the items on offer to be of better quality than those offered on other lines, but recall too that the shops are run by an outside concessionaire just as the Photo Shops and the Spa: Neither the goods nor the salespersons actually belong to Cunard.

[safarigal]

We were on the same voyage as Brian's boss last summer (in fact this time last year I was sunning myself on deck, being pampered in the way I deserve!) and we had a perfect voyage, so I am sorry yours didn't meet your expectations. I agree that the goods for sale in the shop were not of great quality, but I had left my usual evening bag at home, and the one I bought for $10 on board has now travelled around the world with me, and continues to look great!

 

The QV is not for everyone, and it is a shame it was not a great experience for you. We certainly were amazed by our trip, hopefully your next cruising experience will be a better one.

 

Lesley

[ovccruiser]

Sorry to hear of your dissapointment with your cruise, but if you require 5* service you should receive it. That does not include waiters hovering around you trying to earn their commission to see if you want a drink. Cunard has it right imo sometimes a discreet can I help, but normally catch the eye of the waiter and call them over, that is a better service. As said, the shops are, to a point, beyond the control of Cunard.

[GAV BOY]

All my Cruises on Queen Victoria have been excellent, definately 5 * + but not at 5* prices. :p

I am very much looking foward to my Cruises onboard her this year :D

Gavin.

[Cruachan]

All my Cruises on Queen Victoria have been excellent, definately 5 * + but not at 5* prices. :p

 

I am very much looking foward to my Cruises onboard her this year :D

 

Gavin.

 

Totally agree Gav. We've cruised twice on QV now, and have had an enormously enjoyable time on each occasion. Never has any member of staff that we have dealt with been anything other than unfailingly helpful, polite, and professional, and I am at a total loss to understand the comment that the ship is cramped. Inter alia, she has one of the largest theatres at sea, and the Queens Room is, I would suggest, large enough and spacious enough to suit anyone's taste. We have occupied balcony cabins on 5 deck and 7 deck and found them to be at least as spacious as an equivalent hotel room. On the other hand, an M6 inside on QE2 - now that was cramped!

 

I accept that the car boot sales do not represent a top flight retail therapy experience, but if you want to shop till you drop why not consider Oxford Street, or Fifth Avenue?

 

J

[guernseyguy]

While I too had an excellent crossing on Queen Victoria - and agree that the Cunard staff do get the balance right between being invisible and relentless pestering - I certainly agree with the OP - the 'sales' are a disgrace - 'yard of tat' and 'inch of junk'. The quality would not have made it past Woolies buyers. But. But. People keep buying the wretched stuff - so if we don't want to see these - stop buying stuff!

 

Peter

[stowaway2k]

I certainly agree with the OP - the 'sales' are a disgrace - 'yard of tat' and 'inch of junk'.

 

I've trained myself to go into denial on Special Sales Event day.

 

If I (pretend) I don't see it... it's not there. :rolleyes:

 

The advert flyers we get in the cabin every day go immediately into the filing can.

 

I boarded the ship to find that I had forgot to pack my belt.

So I bought one "on special" in the shop

Now, maybe it had something to do with afternoon tea, but the belt buckle broke off after two days. :eek:

[SeaMatesNYC]

I boarded the ship to find that I had forgot to pack my belt.

So I bought one "on special" in the shop

Now, maybe it had something to do with afternoon tea, but the belt buckle broke off after two days. :eek:

 

Next time, use the tail end during discipline.:eek:

[guernseyguy]

Next time, use the tail end during discipline.:eek:

Maybe thats how it broke!:eek:

[owenmahamilton]

Slightly off topic I realise but I bought a belt on Ventura (they use the same company as Cunard I think) and that only lasted a couple of weeks!

[VirginCruiser II]

These tacky stalls just seem to sell a load of old tat most of it of dubious quality from what I've seen and it all looks so downmarket and has no place on these elegant Cunard ships. It takes me back to when I was a child trying to fight my way through Brixton market when I see all the old dears pushing and shoving to save a few dollars when they have probably forked out thousands for their voyage!:D

[GrimWheel]

While I too had an excellent crossing on Queen Victoria - and agree that the Cunard staff do get the balance right between being invisible and relentless pestering - I certainly agree with the OP - the 'sales' are a disgrace - 'yard of tat' and 'inch of junk'. The quality would not have made it past Woolies buyers. But. But. People keep buying the wretched stuff - so if we don't want to see these - stop buying stuff!

 

Peter

 

 

We've been once on QV and she totally lived up to expectations.

 

The shops however I would agree with. The "travellers cove" style outlet is really useful, but the others would be better space used for another purpose.

 

Maybe its me, but on our Baltic cruise we saw a load of stuff in the shop which looked like Franklin Mint style ornaments, you know the sort of thing. Maybe to somebody's taste but not ours. Anyway - "how much ?" - £3000 for that sir...

 

Really - as overheard in Harrods once, standing adjacent to a solid crystal telephone table (it was really, really horrible), "how can anything so expensive be so vulgar !" - or maybe expense and vulgarity go together in such cases.

 

Anyway - ditch the tatty shops I say. Even if its expensive tat.

[Dorchester]

My Wife and I absolutely love QV, and are very much looking forward to our next voyage on her later this year. The service was exemplary throughout, and the atmosphere on board was excellent, certainly better than that previously experienced on QM2 and almost as good as our beloved QE2 - apart from the terrible "Flea Market"!

 

The piles of junk and tatty fake jewelery heaped on trestle tables, with potential customers scrabbling to find a 'bargain', is not the kind of thing that greatly contributes to a Five Star ambiance.

 

Granted that the sales are operated by an outside concessionaire, but it is Cunard who sells the licence to the operator for that concession. One would have thought that Cunard would be a little more selective in selling these concessions, particularly when they must be aware of the type and quality of the items that are offered for sale.

 

Should I wish to purchase such items, then I would visit a local Flea Market, and not spend good money with Cunard in order to experience their claimed "elegant sophistication".

 

Regards,

David

[bepsf]

Granted that the sales are operated by an outside concessionaire, but it is Cunard who sells the licence to the operator for that concession. One would have thought that Cunard would be a little more selective in selling these concessions, particularly when they must be aware of the type and quality of the items that are offered for sale.

 

If I'm not mistaken, Cunard are not the decisionmakers as to who have the concessions aboard their ships - nor do they have any input as to the wares offered other than in a very limited aspect for logo merchandise.

 

CCL Miami makes the decisions for who has the photo, spa and gift ship concessions for all CCL lines/ships. The non-logo merchandise could just as easily be found on a Cunarder as a Carnival ship - and the salespersons/photographers/spa personnel move fluidly between lines as well.

[CTM55]

We have just returned from this cruise and our experience was completely the opposite. The staff were friendly, smiled and nothing was too much trouble!

 

I liked the fact that we weren't harrassed at every opportunity to buy a drink.

 

I agree that the sales were tat! But it didn't spoil our cruise.

[Jimsgirl]

I do wish that there were more reviews on the Cunard ships.

 

However we should all remember that

 

a/ No two passengers will have the same experieince on the same cruise. For instance the experieince of someone in the Queens Grill will be quite different to that of a D8 inside passenger as regards service in their cabin, room service , even repairs should that be needed.

 

b/ Someone who cruises in say February, will have a totally different crew to someone who cruises in say Aug. This is especially true of dining . The food/serive in Feb could be wonderful, in Aug, it could be terrible

 

So if someone has problems on their particular cruise, it does not mean they are "whining",or that they "did not travel on the ship". For myself I would like someone with a bad experience to be specific about the incident, rather than a general "the cruise was bad and I will never use that ship (line) again". also please tell us which class of cabin occupied. Telling that the table steward was wonderful, the cabin was spacious etc etc may be true for the poster in the Queens Grill or suite but someone in D8 and dining in Britannia could have a bad table waiter, and a bad cabin steward

 

I have posted a not enthusiastic review of 17 days on QV Jan NY to LA , I love QM2, have done quite few cruises with Cunard , and have more booked, but that cruise on QV was bad

[stowaway2k]

The shops take up a lot of tonnage on ships, so they must be money-makers or they wouldn't be there.

Even though the shops are not Cunard, by virtue of being there at all they represent Cunard are identified with Cunard, and contribute to or detract from the overall Cunard experience.

The same thing with any other line.

I guess they keep the shoreside bean counters happy as long as the ink is black.

 

And the same thing with the auctions. I've heard them being described as "art" auctions but I cannot bring myself to do it. :rolleyes:

 

Some people buy on board and are perfectly happy with it, as long as they don't mind their "investment" being a step away from tossing money overboard.

[GAV BOY]

I do wish that there were more reviews on the Cunard ships.

 

However we should all remember that

 

a/ No two passengers will have the same experieince on the same cruise. For instance the experieince of someone in the Queens Grill will be quite different to that of a D8 inside passenger as regards service in their cabin, room service , even repairs should that be needed.

 

b/ Someone who cruises in say February, will have a totally different crew to someone who cruises in say Aug. This is especially true of dining . The food/serive in Feb could be wonderful, in Aug, it could be terrible

 

So if someone has problems on their particular cruise, it does not mean they are "whining",or that they "did not travel on the ship". For myself I would like someone with a bad experience to be specific about the incident, rather than a general "the cruise was bad and I will never use that ship (line) again". also please tell us which class of cabin occupied. Telling that the table steward was wonderful, the cabin was spacious etc etc may be true for the poster in the Queens Grill or suite but someone in D8 and dining in Britannia could have a bad table waiter, and a bad cabin steward

 

I have posted a not enthusiastic review of 17 days on QV Jan NY to LA , I love QM2, have done quite few cruises with Cunard , and have more booked, but that cruise on QV was bad

 

1/ Bare in mind it was this posters first post.! (where are they now ?)

 

2/ Should they not take up their complaint with Cunard, and is it justified ?

 

3/ Do we want to hear about it ?

[GAV BOY]

Totally agree Gav. We've cruised twice on QV now, and have had an enormously enjoyable time on each occasion. Never has any member of staff that we have dealt with been anything other than unfailingly helpful, polite, and professional, and I am at a total loss to understand the comment that the ship is cramped. Inter alia, she has one of the largest theatres at sea, and the Queens Room is, I would suggest, large enough and spacious enough to suit anyone's taste. We have occupied balcony cabins on 5 deck and 7 deck and found them to be at least as spacious as an equivalent hotel room. On the other hand, an M6 inside on QE2 - now that was cramped!

 

I accept that the car boot sales do not represent a top flight retail therapy experience, but if you want to shop till you drop why not consider Oxford Street, or Fifth Avenue?

 

J

Thanks for agreeing J, :D

In my humble opinion the Ship is beautiful and very spacious. (as are all Cunard Ships)

The Staff and Crew are excellent onboard.

If you do not like the shops, avoid them. Simple. :eek:

The Shoreside Staff at Cunard are always friendly and helpful to myself.

Yes i have a high opinion of Cunard. :)

Gavin.

[SeaMatesNYC]

1/ Bare in mind it was this posters first post.! (where are they now ?)

 

Isn't that the naked truth! They can no longer cloak themselves in rightous indignation, as their fig leaf of objectivity has been removed! Just what skin in the game they have, we would all like uncovered!

[laktex]

I would not dream of going on board ship with a view to shop, in my opinion it is hardly the purpose of a cruise, there are more appropriate places to do one's shopping.

[adh123]

To answer some of the queries raised - we were in an A6 Balcony cabin on deck 4 - not the best I admit but at the limit of our finances. The quality of the accommodation should have no bearing on the general ambiance and attitude of the staff - admitted if you are in the Grills and Suites you expect some fawning - all we expected was slightly better attention and willingness to provide us with a basic service we had paid for!

 

Our cabin was great - cabin steward was great - food was great - entertainment was not the best we had experienced on other cruise ships but we could pick and choose what to see. What we couldnt pick and choose was the waiters and waitresses - the only ones that provided us with anything like what we felt was good service was in the Commodore Club - elsewhere - Queens Room, Casino etc was frankly diabolical.

 

Once when I brought a problem to the attention of the Pursers office - namely that I had been given someone elses card instead of my own - I was shocked at the blase and smug attitude of the woman behind the desk - I accepted some responsibility in that I should have checked at the time of signing the check that I had my own card rturned but likewise the staff should ensure the customer is given the correct card and when an error is identified I expect a courteous response - no attempt was made to ensure my card was or had been handed in or a check on my account until the end of the cruise

 

The photos that were taken were hopeless - no care and attention to ensure everyone at least had their eyes open despite the wonders of digital cameras!

 

The attitude in the shops when returning faulty goods was 'couldnt care less' and you prove you bought it here - what??? It was the same guy who had served us the previous day!

 

Where were the waiters when we were on the sun deck? They couldnt all have been on the Grill level?

 

Nothing was done about the fact that people were clammering for a sun lounger despite the fact that there was a pile under the stairs doing nothing - chairs were taken up by people who couldnt get a lounger so they put their feet on a second chair

 

Noses were turned up at smokers in the VERY limited smoking areas yet NON smokers were sitting in the seats and had hidden the ash trays! Come on - give em a break - whats wrong with give and take and each to their own - non smokers should stick to their areas too!!

[GAV BOY]

Oh well find another Cruise line, and one where smokers are not frowned upon, good luck with that one. Most Cruise Lines are starting to ban it anyway.

[pnhmrk]

Oh well find another Cruise line, and one where smokers are not frowned upon, good luck with that one. Most Cruise Lines are starting to ban it anyway.

 

Don't even think of going there :mad: