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Carey and Kerry
Cruiser
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Posted: Thu Sep 17th, 2009 01:37 pm | 1st Post |
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Here is a review of my trip on the QM2 over Labor Day weekend .
If I didn’t have to fly, this would have been an almost flawless vacation, but trust US Air to get things messed up! Suffice to say I was sitting at LaGuardia baggage claim at 7:15am, Cunard’s bus doesn’t start until 10am and the terminal won’t let you in board until noon. In case anyone is interested, the seats at baggage claim are cold, hard & very uncomfortable!
But onto the ship – I boarded around noon and went straight to the cabin. Because I was traveling with friends that have a handicapped daughter (29yo) they have to get 2 cabins as the QM does not have handicapped cabins for 3 unless you want to pay for the really expensive suites (I think my friend said for this cruise it was around $25,000). So they get 2 cabins, 1 for them and a handicapped for their daughter. I was graciously invited to be their guest since they paid for the cabin so their daughter would not have either a stranger put in the room or be in there by herself. ]I believe it was category D-5 standard inside room, it was on Deck 5. I am not used to inside rooms (I’m a suite kinda gal, hee hee), but this was a very nice room. I did get a peek at the normal inside rooms in this level and they are very small. The only problem I could see was that the storage was not that great, especially if one was on a TA or world cruise. Because the bathroom is larger, I am not sure if there were some extra drawers in a regular room, but it still would be a tight fit for all the clothes needed. I did find that on a couple of decks (deck 5 for one) there are laundry rooms with washers/dryers and irons/ironing boards. The washers and dryers are free I think, so that is always an option. My friends had a balcony room across the hall, I think a B-2, not sure. It had a balcony, but it was one of those enclosed in metal kind, with a picture window size opening to stick your head out and see the world. I personally didn’t like it, but in talking with some passengers that came from Southampton, they prefer it, especially in inclement weather. I think there might be clothes storage issues with that size cabin on a long cruise as well.
The Kings Grill is the buffet area where we ate lunch once we all met up. The food is very good, IMO with a lot of selections, but is kind of confusing on how to find all the stations. If you don’t know what is available, you could easily miss some of the choices by the way it is arranged.
The sailaway party is always fun, since everyone is waiting for the funnels to hit the Verazzano Bridge (never does). The band Vibz is very good, but no one should sing Jimmy Buffet songs but Jimmy Buffet. Then it was on to dinner. Last year we were placed in the next to the fartherest back table in the Britannia Rest – Cunard knowing that we had a wheel chair passenger. So I was sure that this year would be better. WRONG! We were the the fartherest back table possible – go figure!!! We maneuvered the wheel chair back there every night. My friends have agreed (finally!) that this was unacceptable and will make sure they get it changed for next time. We were on the main floor on deck 2 and I have heard from several passengers that deck 3 was a nicer floor to be on, so I think we'll ask for that next time.
The food was delicious (again, IMO) every night. The selections were varied and always done exactly as was requested. My ice tea glass stayed filled, the service was impeccable.
Because it was a 4 day cruise, there were 2 sea days and a day in St. John’s, New Brunswick. This is where a hiccup occurred. ]There were 2 formal nights scheduled and that MEANS formal – the dress code is more formal than other cruises and is adhered to. As the Commodore always says “this is NOT a cruise ship, THIS is an ocean liner”. The 2nd formal night was scheduled to be the night we left St. Johns. However, about a month ago, we got a notice that we would not be leaving at 6pm as originally scheduled, but at 11:30pm (due to tides I’m sure). So couple of problems here – we were there on a Sunday and St. John pulls up the sidewalk around 5-6 generally, so not a lot going on in the evening. Plus, people coming back in shorts, etc mingling with the diamonds and furs going to dinner is not such a good match. So Cunard had been called and written to by many people (from the DS anyway) about whether the formal night would be the same, cancelled or moved. Without fail, their response was it stayed the same. Ok then – people packed accordingly. Then in the daily program we get the night before we dock, it says, “elegant casual” not “formal”. Rut ro!!! In talking with a shore excursion person the next morning we are told (throughout the day, same story) they had decided the night before to change the dress code. Come on, Cunard, you knew about this for a month – you waited until the night before!?!?!?!? So you had some people that because it was a short cruise, only packed enough carry on for what they needed – no extra “elegant casual” in their suitcase. Others had come on board (such as my friends) with special formal clothes (kilts and coordinating plaid scarfs, don’t ask)to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary and to get special pictures taken If everyone had been told at the beginning of the cruise, they could have worn the outfits the first formal night. The end result was the laundries were busy and people dressed in every way, from sports jackets, to tuxes, to yes, the kilts. Very poor planning Cunard – interesting side note, we never received our comment cards to fill out – we tried to get some at the Pursers desk, but they wouldn’t let us have any, since they said “our names were preprinted on ours” (the ones we never got, right Pursers’s desk?) I wonder how many others didn’t get theirs, hmmm………
The shore excursions we went on, were very nice and well organized. We went to a Ganong Chocolate factory and then a tour of the Bay of Fundy, very nice.
I was slightly disappointed in the lack of activities on the sea days, I guess because it was such a short cruise, they figured people wanted to relax., but there really weren’t a lot of choices and the weather although sunny and the waves calm (someone kept calling it Lake Atlantic), it was a bit chilly to be outside all day.
Disembarkation was a snap, as I only had carryon luggage. I salute the British – if they call green and you are red, you have to step aside and wait. Just like embarkation – if they call the #37 group and you are in 38, step aside and wait – good for them!!!! I was on the first bus back to LaGuardia and oh boy another snafu with US Air (delayed/cancelled flights, 6 gate ]changes).
The best news of all is that the QM is doing some Caribbean cruises next year and my friends booked a 10 day from NY in Jan, 2011 and I get to go!!!!! Plus by booking on board, my roomie and I each get $200 OBC and my friends each get $300 to use on that cruise – YIPEEE!!!]
Any questions – ask away and I will try to answer.
Carey
Last edited on Thu Sep 17th, 2009 01:43 pm by Carey and Kerry
____________________
Carey
All she needs is a tin cup!!
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Catnip
Charter Member
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Posted: Thu Sep 17th, 2009 02:36 pm | 2nd Post |
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Carey and Kerry wrote:
Disembarkation was a snap, as I only had carryon luggage. I salute the British – if they call green and you are red, you have to step aside and wait. Just like embarkation – if they call the #37 group and you are in 38, step aside and wait – good for them!!!!
Carey
I wish all cruise line and all airlines would start doing this! It would make boarding the planes a hell of a lot more efficient!
____________________
37 previous cruises..
Next up: Jewel of the Seas 9-10 Canada-New England /Mariner of the Seas 11-2010 Mexico/ Queen Victoria TA 1-2011
**Triangles Are For Losers!**
Proud non-member of the O-Crew and FOMT
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Catnip
Charter Member
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Posted: Thu Sep 17th, 2009 02:53 pm | 3rd Post |
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Carey and Kerry wrote:
it was on Deck 5. My friends had a balcony room across the hall, I think a B-2, not sure. It had a balcony, but it was one of those enclosed in metal kind, with a picture window size opening to stick your head out and see the world. I personally didn’t like it, but in talking with some passengers that came from Southampton, they prefer it, especially in inclement weather.
The Kings Grill is the buffet area where we ate lunch once we all met up. The food is very good, IMO with a lot of selections, but is kind of confusing on how to find all the stations.
The food was delicious (again, IMO) every night. The selections were varied and always done exactly as was requested. My ice tea glass stayed filled, the service was impeccable.
There were 2 formal nights scheduled and that MEANS formal – the dress code is more formal than other cruises and is adhered to. As the Commodore always says “this is NOT a cruise ship, THIS is an ocean liner”.
Great review! 
I'm glad to hear the food/service in the MDR was good. On our past 3 crossings on the QE 2, we were in the "Grill" dining rooms, but this time around we're in the main dining room.
The Kings Grill area is a buffet-type area for lunch, right? But at dinner, is it also buffet-style, or a "sit-down" dining room? And aren't there a couple different dining venue's in that same Kings Court area?
I'll have to go look at my cabin category, but I think it is a "B-4", which has the in-hull balcony. It will be our 1st time with an "enclosed" balcony, but we figured on the North Atlantic in November, we might be happy for a little protection from the cold wind, but still be able to enjoy the balcony & fresh air. I'll report back.
On our 3 crossings on the QE 2, it was "formal" every night, so we're used to the formal attire. I think the QM 2 is a little more relaxed than the QE 2 was in that respect, as I think on our voyage in November, there's a few "elegant casual" nights thrown in there.
My husband wears a tux every night anyway, so it's so easy to pack for him. 
And I remember on my 1st time on the QE 2, I was reminded by numerous people (staff inlcuded) that is was a "crossing" and not a "cruise".  LOL!
Last edited on Thu Sep 17th, 2009 02:53 pm by Catnip
____________________
37 previous cruises..
Next up: Jewel of the Seas 9-10 Canada-New England /Mariner of the Seas 11-2010 Mexico/ Queen Victoria TA 1-2011
**Triangles Are For Losers!**
Proud non-member of the O-Crew and FOMT
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Carey and Kerry
Cruiser
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Posted: Thu Sep 17th, 2009 03:35 pm | 4th Post |
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I think the Kings Court (not Grill, I got confused, sorry)is buffet all the time, but we only ate there for lunch a couple of time, 1 time at the Pub (which I loved) and we did the MDR all the other meals.
I think you'll be ok with the in hull balcony - all the British folks I talked with seemed to like it on a "crossing" (yea we heard that too) since it did as you say - protect them from the wind and inclement weather but they got fresh air. I'm just so used to the Caribbean stops and wanting to see the panorama view.
You're right about the QE2, I thought it was more formal as well, although I will sayon this voyage if it said "elegant/casual" every man had a sports jacket(as requested by the dress code) and every woman had on pants/skirt /dress on even though it was a short cruise. I don't remember seeing any capris until after dinner at the shows. Maybe those people ate at the Kings Court and then came to the show.I have heard that on the Caribbean ones they do stretch the casual, especially allowing Bermuda shorts.
____________________
Carey
All she needs is a tin cup!!
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