Jim_Iain

LOL - another rebel. I live about 1 mile from Google Headquarters and Google is my Best Friend.

I sometimes search on Google adding the word CruiseCritic and it finds threads that are impossible to searching on CC.

Yikes -- I'm a long time Celebrity Cruiser in upper suites and really don't notice a major difference in regard to class structure. Sure the Retreat has created a ship in a ship but we have met many cruiser that aren't in suites. Coming up to our first cruise on Cunard cruise in Queen's Grill I've wondered how different it will be. Not so much with the segregation of the Grills from Standard Class but the attitude of the passenger. I'm trying not to be rude but reading some of the comments on CC Cundard Thread, have left me feeling the class system is live and strong on Cunard. Not necessarily by class of service but by attitude to what is "Socially Proper". I've read criticism and nose in the air comments - like Oh my God - a man took his jacket off in the evening in hot weather to calling some a Pleb because they find the included wines acceptable. I sometimes wonder if those so critical are related to Hyacinth Buket. So far I have a good feeling about Oceania - Most of the post seem down to earth and lacking criticism of other guests. Really looking forward to our first Oceania Cruise in September.

Thanks for posting. Very useful.

Really enjoy his very detailed and informative reviews. His reviews also pointed me to QM2 to give her a try.

It's always to see other's opinion - even if it is different than ours. As a reference point we are Double Zenith and had sailed exclusively in upper suites for 24 years. After spending 13 weeks on Apex and Edge in the past year, we have decided we will never sail on an E-Class ship ever again. I agree with you the ships are beautiful but they have some major downsides in our views. Notable the sound issues with all of the specialties dining rooms. No Walls--- open to loud Lobby with ear splitting "Light Show" The other main issue is the sheer number of passenger in Luminae. Unlike the M and S class ships were they cook your meals to order - On E-Class the cook more cafeteria style and I have had numerous dishes that were totally inedible or cold on the outside while on a piping hot plate. We will be taking out first cruise on QM2 in October and wont' be trying to comparing it to Celebrity but experience it as a new chapter in our life. After 24 years with Celebrity We have booked 2 Cunard Cruises, 2 Oceania, 1 Silversea and 1 Celebrity so far this year. We definitely are no longer and exclusive Celebrity Fan. On the brighter side we just returned from 5 weeks on Solstice and love it with the exception of some small but noticable cut backs --- 1 QTips so thin stems you can't use them (had to buy my own). No Butter in OVC Grill - they have switched to little tubs of a butter blend, Butter in Luminae Cut back to 50% of normal size and Ice Cream in Luminae that was totally inedible, Icy, bad taste and texture of ice milk.

Glad things have worked out for you. I was getting angry for you ---- especially since it is your honeymoon. Even though it was resolved it left a nasty taste in my mind toward Cunard.

I have an older plan called 2 Line One All In Plan and when traveling internationally I also get 5g Speed when available for 5gb of data. After that it throttles my speed to 256 kbs (unlimited). I've only passed the 5 Gb usage a couple times and the 256 was ok for using maps etc but little else.

Enjoying your live post. The photos are incredible.

I think I got the same treatment once coming through JFK. It was a connecting flilght so got the treatment both in San Francisco and then again at JFK. In my case at the entry to the plane the took me aside to a screened off area to do the secondary. I have a feeling that even with Global Entry it is just random. On this one Iain got it and I didn't. We have never both been tagged on the same trip.

That would indeed be a long trip. I guess the question is do you just bite the bullet and do it in one huge trip or spread it out over a couple days. I usually find the hardest part is to get my head around it pre-flight but once on board just buy an internet package and carry on.

I've done it before on a B2B in an upper suite. My intention was to give it do him on turn around day and expecting it back in 2 days.... it came back that night.... I'm sure our butler did some special pushing behind the scene. I often send out our dinner jackets when we first board to be pressed and always get them back for 1st Chic night the next day.

It is incredible when those Winter Storms hit... I'm sure many are amazed that they get Snow on the peaks.... Hope you get a nice show of colors from the rains.

Iain is cooking up a batch now. He always makes a big batch and then we freeze it for future meals. This one I thin he used 4 lbs of Ground Turkey. We have been eating the poultry version so long I now find the Lamb version far too rich. Iain remembers the Vesta Curries but was never and still is not a curry fan.

Oceania Regatta - 9/14/2024 - 12 Night Alaska Cascadia Cunard QM2 - 10/25/2024 - East Bound Trans Atlantic Silhouette - 11/16/2024 - 13 Night Trans Atlantic Oceania Vista - 11/09/2025 10 Night Med Cunard QM2 - 10/30/2025 - East Bound Trans Atlantic Equinox - 11/21/2025 15 Night Portugal to Buenos Aires I also have them updated in my Signature. I haven't figured out yet how I will post. I will probably do a comparison Live Review - possibly split it up so don't abuse the CC policies of staying on subject of the thread.