canoncruiser

Alas no, the Verandah on QM2 IS NOT as on the old Queens; in the evening they were night clubs-but I confess I rather like the present, quiet and calm atmosphere. A late friend and I were on QM2 in 2004 after the Olympics; the Olives’ portions were huge-really too much! I’ve not found the service overbearing; there have been changes and ups and downs-which I put down to the rhythms of modern seafaring labor availability. The food is consistent and I think, very good. Personally, I wouldn’t mind some nice modulated dinner piano music. But that’s me-too many venues are too loud with folks having to talk over the entertainment.

QM2 is my absolute favorite-I’ve travelled on her every year since 2004. I have just been on Holland America’s 73 Day Africa Grand Voyage-superb by the way. We left Ft. Lauderdale 3 days after the terrorist attack in Israel - we sailed through Suez and the Red Sea after the conflict had broadened. There were regular and clear - and reassuring announcements from the Captain. Toward the southern end of the Red Sea we passed an American warship on patrol. That was rather unnerving but evidence of what has now come- missile attacks on commercial vessels. I would be surprised -amazed-astonished if Cunard sent their flagship into an increasingly hot war zone-a la Lusitania 1915. Without a sharp cooling down in the war zone, I do not think they will. There’s a new Cunard TV commercial featuring QM2-she would present a fine target. Sorry booked cruisers but I think there will be changes.

Hi, I was just on the Grand Africa for 73 days-The laundry and dry cleaning was superb-quick turnaround and extremely well done. Don’t hesitate to use it.

I have just seen Chris Frame’s video on the Queen Anne on YouTube and I was troubled by what he described as changes being made to the Commodore Club. I have just gotten home from a 73 Day Grand Africa cruise on Holland America’s Zuiderdam. Much was splendid about the HA ship and the cruise EXCEPT what they have done to the Crow’s Nest-their equivalent of the Commodore Club. In earlier years the Crow’s Nest was a splendid bar with a night clubby feel, it was in the front of the ship with views forward and piano music in the evenings. HA has transformed and enlarged the space into a small bar, plus coffee bar, plus games room, plus shore excursions. The bar had a limited drinks selection and with essentially no regular night life as before-in the evening it was nearly empty most of the time. Chris Frame indicates that Cunard is about to effect something of the same thing on Queen Anne with a coffee bar-what else is in store I fear to imagine. Coffee availability is fine - as on QV and QE- but not a facility apart from the Club itself. Chris’s video struck me as an anticipatory apologia for some ‘innovations’ which some Cunarders may find offensive. Hope I’m wrong. He did say that Cunard had nothing to do with it’s creation.

Grand Africa is excellent.-Zuiderdam is a very good ship for such a long cruise.

I am a dedicated Diamond Level Cunarder. I am on Zuiderdam on the Grand Africa Cruise (73 days); The Internet on this ship is superb . My cabin is outside on the lowest deck(1) and the IT is great. I hope my favorite line gets its act together. SOON

I’m on Zuiderdam-rocking along at 19 knots-all is well - except today’s Sunday Brunch; it was awful; more like a tasting menu with days old stuff. The experience has warned me off the promised Sea Food Boil. Otherwise, seas are smooth, cabin comfortable some genial and interesting fellow PAX, Madeira in a few days. 😀

Passing time in my hotel in Ft. Lauderdale-embarking later today for Grand Africa cruise😂. Beautiful day here. I’m ready to sail!!!! Best. to all.

Thanks Ma’am-I’ll go well armed. 😉

No they just said it might be required in certain countries and that upon presenting an MD’s exemption a decision will be made then. Go Figure🤨

Getting ready for my Grand Africa cruise in a couple of weeks-whoo-hoo😂 BUT just got a Yellow Fever vaccination requirement from HA-I’ve contacted my PC doctor and asked for an exemption letter. My last shot was 9 years ago and I am of a 'certain age’. So we’ll see. Bags are being collected on Wed. so packing -packing and packing😊

We went to Venice a while back on QE- our third visit. Had a small evening tour to St. Mark’s-the guide was superb -we got up close to the Pala D’Oro(?) which was amazing as well as the rest of the cathedral in the evening -we were the only folks in the church😄 On another trip on QE we stopped at Santorini; the cable car was busted and I stayed on the ship-BUT quite a few folks used the donkeys and the elevators were ‘in a light blaze’ until the crew were able to refresh the carpets-WHOO😮‍💨

I was on QV from NYC to Dubai-overall a very good experience although there were a few hiccups. We visited Figi-that was wonderful; Cunard should always go there. We could not visit Tonga or the other island(🙄. Indonesia and Maylasia, KL and Penang were wonderful-Jakarta-meh-. Itinerary was altered in December. We did not visit Vietnam , Hong Kong our Columbo-probably Covid and politics. Stewards- cabin, bar and restaurant were very good. The food in Britannia was just OK-not up to Cunard standards-they ran out of certain whiskies😖 I was on QE for the full World Cruise in 2015- it was fabulous, there were no overland-overnight tours this year😞

I was on QM2 Westbound in May. The ship looked great, maintenance was being done-I noticed that the concerns about enclosed balcony signs of rust had bee dealt with, the public rooms looked splendid, the stewards-bar and dining room and cabin were in very good humor-willing and able. Many of them were new, I suspect that because of the ‘pandemic’ and the attendant job losses, there has been a lot of training up to standard. Steven Payne was on board and lecturing; the weather was good. Captain Hashmi was in command; and my friends who had never crossed before had a very good time. I always have a good time on the Atlantic on QM2!

I was pleasantly surprised-when I sailed from Brooklyn an month or so back, I arrived at the terminal around my appointed time 1:30, and I ‘sailed’ right through and I was on board very quickly-no lines nor any standing around.😊