a few hints & observations TA 04 27 12

[SEFlyer]

Originally Posted by dfwguy

Chefs Galley within KC is open to all during breakfast/lunch. I enjoyed the pizza. They also do pasta- cooked to order. In addition, Chefs Galley has a bank of televisions on the wall. All broadcasting -silently- the news programs with the captions turned on.

In the evening at the dinner demonstration those televisions show you what the chef is doing from all angles while he speaks to you through a sound system. We enjoyed the steak frites dinner demonstration on the Southampton-Cape Town segment back in January.

They have about 4 different dinner demonstrations and they cost the $10 fee charged for KC dinner. But there are only about 30 seats so best to reserve early.

[Salacia]

Originally Posted by Underwatr

This is very surprising because we've always gotten them whether we requested them or not (we asked on our first cruise not realizing that the waiters (usually) save them anyway). Maybe your waiter was inexperienced or having a bad week...

Hi Underwatr, Yes, we also recieved the menu packet for each of our voyages, but from what I understand, the practice has changed. Perhaps because so many packets were found in cabin waste paper baskets? It does add to luggage weigh, so passengers tend to toss what isn't essential (or worth paying added fees to airlines...or shelping to the parking lot).

I'd love to have a recipe for one specific dish that I really enjoyed on each voyage, rather than all the menu's from each dinner, but I realize that isn't practical. Cheers, -S.

[pepperrn]

Originally Posted by Underwatr

This is very surprising because we've always gotten them whether we requested them or not (we asked on our first cruise not realizing that the waiters (usually) save them anyway). Maybe your waiter was inexperienced or having a bad week...

I think many people ask for a set of menus from their first voyage as a reminder, or to show family/friends who will ask "what was the food like?"
At the end of one crossing I was given a set (not asked for) which included menus for meals that I hadn't had (dined elsewhere on board).
As they are not now being given to passengers as a matter of course, the weight/cost of paper, and the fuss of printing menus with a "use-by" date on them, how long before the date at the top of the page is removed, they are sealed in “wipe-clean” plastic, and re-used time and again? After all, they already repeat the same dishes. Even now there is a bean-counter somewhere working out how to further diminish the "on-board experience". It will be sold as "go-green menus".

[secondhandrose]

Thank you for all these tips... very helpful. One question please,what if any is the difference between Brittania Club dining and the main dining room. I have noticed that it only has a Your Time Dining and one sitting. Thank you!!
S.H.R.

[Alibobs]

Originally Posted by secondhandrose

Thank you for all these tips... very helpful. One question please,what if any is the difference between Brittania Club dining and the main dining room. I have noticed that it only has a Your Time Dining and one sitting. Thank you!!
S.H.R.

http://www.cunard.co.uk/Ships/Queen-Mary-2/Dining/

[Underwatr]

Originally Posted by Salacia

Hi Underwatr, Yes, we also recieved the menu packet for each of our voyages, but from what I understand, the practice has changed. Perhaps because so many packets were found in cabin waste paper baskets?

As peppern has suggested, currently they print daily menus anyway so all that saving them for the passenger might do is shift the time/place at which they're discarded.

As I've around here that since the executive chef has to manage food costs based on average passenger ticket revenue (which varies from voyage to voyage), it would seem impractical to change to a repeated set of dinner menus.

[pepperrn]

Originally Posted by Underwatr

...it would seem impractical to change to a repeated set of dinner menus.

Thank you, this is good to read, and long may it continue! .

[shinyshoes]

Could somebody with a better memory than mine remind me, did we not used to get the menus presented in a kind of proper printed cover (as opposed to an obviously photocopied one)? I have a vague recollection of this happening and of the actual menu pages being rather higher quality paper. Not that I'm advocating a return, we never take ours although sometimes the waiters seem quite crestfallen when you refuse them. They do have the job of signing all the damn things. So there we are folks Cunard is definitely going to Hell in a handcart. Rubbish labels, rubbish menus, no plastic wallets, no plastic key cards, sometimes no posted pre cruise docs whether you go green or not. Can't get a pre-boarding G&T in the terminal. Casual dress in the lido after 6pm. Last time I was on board hardly any of the crew knuckled their forehead as I passed.
Where will it all end?
Where did I put that Thompsons' brochure?
Shiny

[Jim Avery]

Originally Posted by shinyshoes

Could somebody with a better memory than mine remind me, did we not used to get the menus presented in a kind of proper printed cover (as opposed to an obviously photocopied one)? I have a vague recollection of this happening and of the actual menu pages being rather higher quality paper. Not that I'm advocating a return, we never take ours although sometimes the waiters seem quite crestfallen when you refuse them. They do have the job of signing all the damn things. So there we are folks Cunard is definitely going to Hell in a handcart. Rubbish labels, rubbish menus, no plastic wallets, no plastic key cards, sometimes no posted pre cruise docs whether you go green or not. Can't get a pre-boarding G&T in the terminal. Casual dress in the lido after 6pm. Last time I was on board hardly any of the crew knuckled their forehead as I passed.
Where will it all end?
Where did I put that Thompsons' brochure?
Shiny

Shiny,
Your memory still has room for a few more G & Ts and martinis. Yes, we used to get the voyage menus in a printed binder on QE2. As the resident pack rat (my Wife is like you and throws everything out) I kept mine for years, finally selling them to an antiques (??) dealer. And yes, I miss the bar service in the terminal while awaiting call to the photo queue to board.

[secondhandrose]

Originally Posted by Alibobs

http://www.cunard.co.uk/Ships/Queen-Mary-2/Dining/

Thank you for that Alibobs. I had seen the page but the info just had not sunk in. Ta again
S.H.R.

[shinyshoes]

Talking of menus and waiters etc. What is quite remarkable is how some of the staff remember one. In 2010 on the first night when the waiters take you to your table we got a very warm greeting and the waiter said 'Good to see you again Madam, Sir.' I of course had absolutely no idea we had ever met before but my wife said she remembered him but not which voyage. So we asked him. It turned out he had been our bus boy on the QE2 8, I repeat, 8 years before. Now whether they get a list of names and voyage history I don't know but if they don't that is a remarkable feat of memory. Last December after disembarking, as we were staying in Soton overnight we went to the big shopping mall where we were accosted by a small group of lads who said they hoped we had had a good trip and wished us a Merry Christmas and Happy new Year. My wife told me they were wait staff, but not from our table but from the next station along. Conduct above and beyond... Amazing.
Shiny

[dfwguy]

Originally Posted by secondhandrose

Thank you for all these tips... very helpful. One question please,what if any is the difference between Brittania Club dining and the main dining room. I have noticed that it only has a Your Time Dining and one sitting. Thank you!!
S.H.R.

We seriously considered Britannia Club. Yes, you have your own dedicated table for all three meals and may dine at the time of your own choosing. BC is an enclosed dining area , I believe all tables would have some sort of ocean view (some , more than others).
We were a table for two- and noticed no tables-for-2, majority of tables in Britannia Club seemed to be in the 6/8 range.
Speaking strictly for ourselves, I am happy we opted against BC, but this is strictly a personal bias (table for 2 issue).

[pepperrn]

Originally Posted by shinyshoes

It turned out he had been our bus boy on the QE2 8, I repeat, 8 years before. Now whether they get a list of names and voyage history I don't know but if they don't that is a remarkable feat of memory. Shiny

I can't come close to eight years (!) with my story, but on my second voyage on QM2 (I'd had a cruise on QE2 in the meantime) I recognised a waiter at the Terrace Bar who had served me in the Commodore Club 13 months before. Before I could say a word he said "welcome back on board Mr ... can I get you your usual?" I was impressed!

[Mid-Atlantic Ridge]

Originally Posted by pepperrn

I can't come close to eight years (!) with my story, but on my second voyage on QM2 (I'd had a cruise on QE2 in the meantime) I recognised a waiter at the Terrace Bar who had served me in the Commodore Club 13 months before. Before I could say a word he said "welcome back on board Mr ... can I get you your usual?" I was impressed!

One time I was resident on a table when a couple joined on changeover day. The sommelier remembered them from their voyage a year previously and then produced the wine list and directed them to the wine they drank last time. They did say yes once they had recovered from the shock, I can still remember the sound of their jaws hitting the floor.

Thinking it a fluke, I met the same sommelier quite by chance in the Britannia restaurant a year later and although he was not my sommelier this time, he knew my name and regaled me with a list of the wines I drank during that previous trip. Quite incredible since he had no opportunity to refer first to a written record.

M-AR

[suzyed]

Originally Posted by dfwguy

This is not a full review of our completed Westbound TA 04 27 12. However, I would like to post a few tips and observations that might help optimize your future QM2 experience.
In random order.
Hot bouillon is self served on cold days at the aft pool (Terrace bar)
When disembarking you must turn in your room key.
Coffee is not bad. I brought Starbucks VIA packets and did not use them
Check out the dogs kennels when they have exercise time -deck 12 -aft section
Loved the Canyon Ranch selections - I often ordered a single item from the CR offerings in conjunction to my regular meal and was never,ever dissapointed.
Kings Court (KC)- la Piazza has a shelf that displays daily menus for the venues -including Britannia.
Buffet selections in KC- all 4 restaurants serve slightly different items for breakfast and lunch.
We liked the fruit smoothies and pizza available at Chefs Gally -KC
Lotus serves more seafood and has Asian condiments available 24/7
Hamburgers & hot dogs available at carvery in afternoon
Check out Homer Simpson in the mural - hint- He is on the N. American panel
KC does an afternoon tea -(aprox 3-5)
grab a tray- pick your own scones, finger sandwiches, etc and head down to Wintergarden.
Wintergarden broadcasts important soccer matches on a big portable screen.
We bought a drink card- loved it-Brought our own big insulated 32 oz. lidded cups - Bartenders never raised an eyebrow when we used these for our soda refills.
Connexions -on the 2nd floor also has coffee, juice machines
Juice selection differs in Connexions from KC
Bridge courses must be taken in order (we learned too late) - If taking a course- start on day 1
Planetarium- consenus is "passport to the Universe" show is weakest - Only 2 shows presented on our 7 days.
Planetarium tickets- Show up at connexions desk- 9 am-
tickets are in a self-serve stand and go quickly.
RADA-Unlike planetraium shows, RADA does not repeat shows- We had 2 shows during our 7 days.
State room number is NOT on your key card- for security
Our stated check in time was 3: 30 - we arrived Southampton terminal, 11:30 and were on ship enjoying lunch by 1 pm.
There is no shopping in terminal bldg. I needed aspirin and a few other things - had to purchase on ship.
Limited selection of toiletry items in QM2 shops- if in doubt, bring your own.
Forgot my bowtie- cheapest available was $32 in Mayfair shops.
You must drop off checked luggage before entering terminal-not after.
You can have breakfast items in Sir Samuels.
Saddest, biggest dissapointment.I was truly looking forward to having 7 days of menus as souvenir. Sadly, you must ask waiter at beginning of voyage to save your menus- We did not do this. I am still sad about this.
We brought 3 bottles of our own wine including 1 bottle champagne for our room, and would do it again.
We went to G32 and Queens room during the mornings/early afternoon- grabbed a table by the portholes and had the rooms to ourselves.
I wil post a detailed review later. if anyone has questions, I will be happy to try and answer

Did you carry on your wine or put it in your checked luggage? Can you bring wine to dinner and pay a corkage fee?

I seem to remember sharing a lovely bottle of champagne with another couple the last time we sailed, but for the life of me, can't remember if we brought it with us or purchased on board. We sat in the atrium and drank it.

[suzyed]

Originally Posted by Mid-Atlantic Ridge

One time I was resident on a table when a couple joined on changeover day. The sommelier remembered them from their voyage a year previously and then produced the wine list and directed them to the wine they drank last time. They did say yes once they had recovered from the shock, I can still remember the sound of their jaws hitting the floor.

Thinking it a fluke, I met the same sommelier quite by chance in the Britannia restaurant a year later and although he was not my sommelier this time, he knew my name and regaled me with a list of the wines I drank during that previous trip. Quite incredible since he had no opportunity to refer first to a written record.

M-AR

We had an experience on Carnival that was similar. We sailed with two of our children, Meghan and Tim in 1999. When we sailed on a different ship, about 5 years later, WITHOUT the kids, we saw our dining room waiter, Vinu, working at another table we went over to say hello, and he remembered us!! We were in shock! Then he asked how Meghan and Tim were!!!! We just couldn't believe it! Some people have amazing memories!

[dfwguy]

Originally Posted by suzyed

Did you carry on your wine or put it in your checked luggage? Can you bring wine to dinner and pay a corkage fee?

I seem to remember sharing a lovely bottle of champagne with another couple the last time we sailed, but for the life of me, can't remember if we brought it with us or purchased on board. We sat in the atrium and drank it.

We brought all bottles in our checked luggage. We took a bottle with each evening to Britannia- (I put it in a discrete paper bag from prior Mayfair shop purchase). I put it on table- when Wine Waiter appeared, I pointed to our bottle. He said, we charge a $20 corkage fee, I said that was fine. He never charged us for any of the bottles and we discreetly left a $20 tip on the last night

[Underwatr]

Originally Posted by dfwguy

He said, we charge a $20 corkage fee, I said that was fine. He never charged us for any of the bottles and we discreetly left a $20 tip on the last night

How do I get that wine waiter? Mine have always been unfailing in charging me the fee (and then subtly expecting a tip at the end). Over 6 bottles the corkage adds up...

[Salacia]

Originally Posted by Underwatr

How do I get that wine waiter? Mine have always been unfailing in charging me the fee (and then subtly expecting a tip at the end). Over 6 bottles the corkage adds up...

Underwatr, is the 15% service charge added to the corkage fee automatically? Thanks, -S.

[Underwatr]

Originally Posted by Salacia

Underwatr, is the 15% service charge added to the corkage fee automatically? Thanks, -S.

No. I consider it a service charge on its own.