Queen Victoria - The Courtyard Dining

[rjms74]

Hello,

I will be sailing on QV in October and not having yet sailed on the ship wonder how popular the Courtyard dining option is for the Grill passengers?

Can you have lunch, dinner or afternoon tea here - having seen this small space during a tour of the ship I imagine not many guests can be here at any one time - and is it posible just to have a drink there or breakfast? Do you have to reserve a table with the Maitre D' or your butler?

Also I have read many times that the Grills lounge is a lot smaller than on QM2 - does this get very crowded at times & I also understand the Concierge desk is also here and there is not a separate lounge like on QM2?

Kind Regards,


RJMS74

[YorksLady]

Originally Posted by rjms74

Hello,

I will be sailing on QV in October and not having yet sailed on the ship wonder how popular the Courtyard dining option is for the Grill passengers?

Can you have lunch, dinner or afternoon tea here - having seen this small space during a tour of the ship I imagine not many guests can be here at any one time - and is it posible just to have a drink there or breakfast? Do you have to reserve a table with the Maitre D' or your butler?

Also I have read many times that the Grills lounge is a lot smaller than on QM2 - does this get very crowded at times & I also understand the Concierge desk is also here and there is not a separate lounge like on QM2?

Kind Regards,


RJMS74

We only ever saw folk having lunch in the Courtyard. On the two days it was warm enough to enjoy dining outside, upon arrival at the Grills we were offered the option to dine in or out...it was never over crowded on our voyage.
Must add that this was at lunch time. No one dined out in the evening.

Apart from luncheon it was pretty deserted, although we never went to the restaurant for breakfast, so can't comment on that.

The Grills Lounge l would say is on a par with QM2, most certainly the sea views are much better and therefore it feels a little more spacious.

The concierge desk is indeed in this lounge and not manned like the lounge on QM2 is, which we personally didn't like.

Afternoon tea however is most enjoyable here and although can get pretty busy, we never had trouble finding a table.

Jackie

[safarigal]

We had breakfast and lunch in the Courtyard most days, it was never crowded, but got very hot when in port. As in Jackie's post, we didn't see anyone dining there in the evening. Also, I didn't see anyone having afternoon tea there.

I am not sure about bar service in the Courtyard. We would order our drinks from the Grills Lounge and take our drinks out there, and return our glasses to the bar. Nobody objected to this, but nor did they come running out to see if we needed another drink, so I'm not sure what the protocol is for its use! I loved the Courtyard, and relaxing there after a long day ashore was perfection!

The Grills lounge is a lovely spot, very bright and airy, and we were always able to get a table there for pre dinner drinks. Having the Concierge desk there didn't seem to be a problem at all, but I agree that it was annoying as there never seemed to be anyone there where I needed to speak to someone. This is what it looks like:

http://gallery.me.com/lesleyblake#10...&bgcolor=black

The set up for the Grills otherwise is really wonderful. The dining room is beautiful, and having unobstructed sea views is great! Enjoy your trip!

Lesley

[bobnatt]

Originally Posted by rjms74

Also I have read many times that the Grills lounge is a lot smaller than on QM2 - does this get very crowded at times & I also understand the Concierge desk is also here and there is not a separate lounge like on QM2?

Kind Regards,


RJMS74

I very much enjoyed my cruise last summer on the Queen Victoria where I had QG accomodations. However having sailed twice before on the QM2 (also QG) it is my opinion that the Grill lounge on the QV does not work as well as the separate Conceirge Lounge and Grill lounge on the QM2. The lounge is too small and if you don't get to afternoon tea early enough you will likely end up having the tea in the Queens Grill sitting at a dining room table...certainly not what you would have expected.

I was on the Norway cruise last summer and not once on the 13 day cruise was any meal served in the Courtyard because the weather was either too cold or rainy. I understand that when the ship is in warmer climates the Courtyard is very popular.

Question: Can Princess Grill passengers have their meals in the Courtyard?

[safarigal]

Originally Posted by bobnatt

Question: Can Princess Grill passengers have their meals in the Courtyard?

Yes, but you are segregated to the PG side of the Courtyard. Your regular waiters then serve you. I think you may be wrestled to the ground if you dared stray into the QG side of the Courtyard, I did not attempt this however. Perhaps the QG folks are also kept to their side of things.

[YorksLady]

Question: Can Princess Grill passengers have their meals in the Courtyard?[/quote]

Yes Bob, Princess Grill pax can enjoy dining in the courtyard.

When we were on board the Captain ate there with his family too.

Jackie

[YorksLady]

Originally Posted by safarigal

Yes, but you are segregated to the PG side of the Courtyard. Your regular waiters then serve you. I think you may be wrestled to the ground if you dared stray into the QG side of the Courtyard, I did not attempt this however. Perhaps the QG folks are also kept to their side of things.

Have to admit we didn't experience this when we were on board, and we were QG pax.

Jackie

[rjms74]

thanks everyone for all your very helpful posts - will let you know how I get on!


Kind Regards,


RJMS74

[Bigmike911]

Originally Posted by rjms74

Hello,

I will be sailing on QV in October and not having yet sailed on the ship wonder how popular the Courtyard dining option is for the Grill passengers?

Can you have lunch, dinner or afternoon tea here - having seen this small space during a tour of the ship I imagine not many guests can be here at any one time - and is it posible just to have a drink there or breakfast? Do you have to reserve a table with the Maitre D' or your butler?

Also I have read many times that the Grills lounge is a lot smaller than on QM2 - does this get very crowded at times & I also understand the Concierge desk is also here and there is not a separate lounge like on QM2?

Kind Regards,


RJMS74

We lunched in the Courtyard once during our 19 days from NYC to LAX in January. We found the courtyard nice, but you have to deal with wind when at sea and sun on a sunny day. It was not as comfortable as one might wish. I predict eventually some sort of roof will go on it.

If your a QG your QG waiters will serve you , if PG, the PG waiters will serve. This makes for a bit of segregation, but I observed no unkindness. The Grills are on opposite sides of the ship.

The Grills lounge, is quite nice, and we never found it particularly crowded. The wait staff were excellent. Drinks could be taken to table, and your sommelier would gladly refill them if asked. It certainly has better views than the QG Lounge on the Mary, will a bit smaller. The concierge was located there, as the grill suites are on multiple decks on the Victoria unlike QM where they are on 9 and 10. The gent manning the desk was gracious and helpful.

In general I found QV to be smaller feeling than the QM, but the Grills lounge was one of the high spots. The Private Grills deck on 11, is quite convenient and the service there was graceous as well.

I hope this helps.

Mike

[Oliver Wilson]

Just returned from the Med cruise in the QG and enjoyed dinner in the Courtyard on several evenings. While much more popular at lunch, on evenings when the wind is not so brisk it is quite pleasant out there and many couples took advantage of the change of pace. The maitre'd will let you know nights when it is better if you let them know you're interested. Your staff actually enjoys serving you out there as it gives them a bit of a change and some fresh air.

[Shellie1964]

My husband and I have just had the pleasure of experiencing Princess Grill on QV. As the weather was pleasant during our voyage we did partake in using the Courtyard for alfresco meals (woundn't be authentic with a cover on it). I can reassure you all that you are entitled to sit wherever there is capacity (on a first come first serve basis) and no one will 'wrestle' you to the ground as one poster has stated.

In regards to the Concierge desk, I will admit I did not see anyone sat there during the times we visited, but then again the need to discuss/clarify anything never arose for us personally.

On the whole we found the service in the Grills to be attentive, yet unobtrusive.

S x

[CDRMark]

DW and I were aboard this time last year in QG cabin and our entire table of 6 dined in the courtyard one evening. The staff asked for a days notice when we enquired if it would be possible.
It was lovely. Weather was perfect. The staff seemed to enjoy the change in routine, but they were so accomodating that if they had been put out, it would have been hard to tell.
Try it and hope the weather cooperates.
Cheers
Mark