How Has Cunard Changed Over the Years?

[MollyBrown]

I am curious to know from those who have traveled on Cunard ships for several decades, how has Cunard changed over the years? How would you compare QM2 today with, for example, QE2 in the 1960's?

 

How have the ships evolved, for better or for worse?

[Classiccruiser777]

Service was more formal and attentive. You can see the lowering of standards by comparing the QM2 to the QE2. When boarding the QE2 passengers were escorted to their cabins. On QM2 they are pointed in the direction.

 

The QE2 had pantries near cabins where food ordered for room service was prepared. I suspect the QM2 has a central galley (and a much less comprehensive room service menu) from which most food originates.

 

During tea on board the Franconia III (1960s) a tea buffett was set up on the promenade decks as well as in the "lido" and the main "Queen's Room." Waiters walked the deck offering passengers seated in deck chairs refreshments or snacks.

 

The uniforms are not as elaborate on QM2 as on QE2. The waiter's jackets no longer have gold piping on the sleeves. The engineering officer's purple between their stripes is hard to distinguish as being different from black. One of the engineering officers on board QM2 quipped to me that "Carnival probably saved ten pence" by switching to a cheaper fabric.

[Cruachan]

When boarding the QE2 passengers were escorted to their cabins. On QM2 they are pointed in the direction.

 

Yes, but I think that may have had more to do with the incredibly difficult task of actually finding your cabin on the QE2 than with declining service.

 

The deck plan of the QM2 and the QV is simplicity itself compared with the Knossos like labyrinth of QE2. Even having been escorted there the first time, it wasn't unusual to find people wandering around lost three days into the cruise - and, yes, I had the odd moment of disorientation myself!

 

J

[thranite]

and, yes, I had the odd moment of disorientation myself!

 

J

 

Yes, but that had little to do with the complexity of the ship. I encounter similar situations myself while standing in front of the fridge, for instance, thinking "what did I come here for?"

 

:)

[Cruachan]

Yes, but that had little to do with the complexity of the ship. I encounter similar situations myself while standing in front of the fridge, for instance, thinking "what did I come here for?"

 

:)

 

Ageism, ageism!!!

 

Get back to rowing. You third bank people are all the same. Get promoted to the top level, and you think you own the bl00dy trireme.

 

Now... what was I saying?

 

J

[garigoun]

Conversation overheard in the Roman cruising forum,

 

Well what does Iago Cheapus Skatiae expect if he books on a Nastio Crappus Lineum trireme. He should spend a few more denarii and sail with Cunardus Superbensis, they have quinquiremes. They sail out of Nineva I believe.

Garius

[Cruachan]

They sail out of Nineva I believe.

Garius

 

Indeed they do - but you would Tyre of it pretty quickly I'd guess, and these flaming peacocks aren't half noisy.

 

J

[thranite]

Indeed they do - but you would Tyre of it pretty quickly I'd guess, and these flaming peacocks aren't half noisy.

 

J

 

Right, that's it. I have reported you to the RSPB. You can't go around setting fire to peacocks.

 

If you want to set fire to something, why not pick a cat?

 

:mad:

[Cruachan]

Right, that's it. I have reported you to the RSPB. You can't go around setting fire to peacocks.

 

If you want to set fire to something, why not pick a cat?

 

:mad:

 

Wasn't me guv - honest! It was all that sandalwood and cedarwood. Burns like billyo that stuff.

 

J

[garigoun]

Wasn't me guv - honest! It was all that sandalwood and cedarwood. Burns like billyo that stuff.

 

J

 

I don't suppose it occured to you to extinguish the blaze with the sweet white wine - Oh no. And what about the apes who's responsible of the elf and safety of the bloody apes. Put a squaddy on a boat at your peril.

G.

[Cruachan]

I don't suppose it occured to you to extinguish the blaze with the sweet white wine - Oh no. And what about the apes who's responsible of the elf and safety of the bloody apes. Put a squaddy on a boat at your peril.

G.

 

Honest Gazza, I tried pouring Pol Acker on it but it just made it worse.

 

It's all Masefield's fault anyway, he was the stupid sod who drew up the cargo manifest. If it had been Mr Kipling we could have chucked cream cakes on it, that would have put it out and no mistake.

 

J

[Jim Avery]

Back to the OPs original question. The biggest changes I have seen from the days of Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth to today is that Cunard has transformed from a transportation company to an entertainment company.

[Cruachan]

Back to the OPs original question. The biggest changes I have seen from the days of Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth to today is that Cunard has transformed from a transportation company to an entertainment company.

 

Do you consider that to be a "good thing" or a "bad thing"?

 

J

[Jim Avery]

Do you consider that to be a "good thing" or a "bad thing"?

 

J

 

I guess I would have to be neutral about it as the entire world is much different than in the days of QM/QE. I miss the more traditional elements such as bouillon on deck wrapped in a steamer rug but also think QM2 is a great ship. Ships as primary transport for passengers certainly is a thing of the past so, the next best thing is go play on them!

[Cruachan]

I guess I would have to be neutral about it as the entire world is much different than in the days of QM/QE. I miss the more traditional elements such as bouillon on deck wrapped in a steamer rug but also think QM2 is a great ship. Ships as primary transport for passengers certainly is a thing of the past so, the next best thing is go play on them!

 

You're absolutely right Jim. I love cruising as much as anyone (or I wouldn't be on here at all). But there is a distinct lack of purpose to the whole thing. I fear that something important was lost when travel by sea ceased to be a means to an end, and simply became an end in itself.

 

J

[CruiserTed]

For me, the biggest change from the QE2 in the early '70's to the QM2 and QV today is in the ethnicity of the crew: in the old days, the crew compliment were British, many long-term aboard - indeed, many lifers. Today, the crew are of varied origin and tend to come and go.

[garigoun]

You're absolutely right Jim. I love cruising as much as anyone (or I wouldn't be on here at all). But there is a distinct lack of purpose to the whole thing. I fear that something important was lost when travel by sea ceased to be a means to an end, and simply became an end in itself.

 

J

 

You're absolutely right James, I think that is one of the reasons why the transatlantics are so popular. It at least gives the impression that you are travelling for a purpose i.e. getting to America. And as you know that is the main reason I have for doing the TA's. We could get to NYC more often by air for the cost of a TA return trip but a lot less gracefully. And we could probably get a proper cruise for about the same price but like you say cruising just seems to be aimless meandering about, very nice and all but.....

G.

[Jimsgirl]

I would sum up the change as:-

 

When I first sailed the ocean blue, the passenger was always right , coutesy and service was all important.

 

Now even on Cunard we are simply "wiggets" , bodies to be taken from here to there with the least possible effort of the staff as possible.

 

On QM2 there is a area on the decks for room service, on my last cruise this was near the elevator. of course there maybe an area inside that with a "dumb waiter" contraption down to the kitchen. Passengers are not allowed in of course.

[imacruizer]

Back to the OPs original question. The biggest changes I have seen from the days of Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth to today is that Cunard has transformed from a transportation company to an entertainment company.

 

Well, Jim, here are we are thinking alike again. When I read the original question, the first thing that came to my mind was the change in entertainment. When I sailed on the Queen Mary, there were not non-stop activities like there are today. The pace was much more relaxed.

 

Beth