Austcruiser84

Based on Cunard’s decision to slightly increase the forward plating on QV and QE to help in rough Atlantic seas. That is public knowledge. QA is also said to have had similar treatment.

Dictionary definition includes cruise ship alongside scheduled passenger service ships as ‘liners’. Plus from a marketing perspective it sounds better. I believe QA’s forward hull is slightly more robust than your average cruise ship. Therefore slightly more liner in design than cruise ship. Excited to finally see what she looks like inside (bulky exterior is somewhat uninspired).

From the renderings and the photos of the bathrooms I’d say QA is very similar in decor to the QV aft QG suites. Not identical but very similar. Also, still under construction with poor lighting probably isn’t doing it justice. Taste is an interesting thing. So many loved QE2 but when I see photos from the 90s and 00s I see a dated decor that belongs in a grandparent’s home. Yet clearly many people (mostly grandparents? 🙂) loved it.

I like the idea of a supper club. Could do it in 1920s/30s style, with live entertainment. A long bar as well. Imagine it would be incredibly popular on Cunard. Agree with many saying Verandah isn’t the experience it could be. Mostly empty on my recent QE Australian cruise. No atmosphere.

The ‘new’ aft grills suites on QV were a test run for QA. Having occupied 8178, I can confidently say the finishings are beautiful, though you’d sure want to keep hands away from the glossy wood panels (must be a pain to clean - another reason to tip stewards). I’d say the QA will look amazing too (love the colour schemes) and look forward to sailing later this year. That said, 8178 did feel more cramped due to some design elements like including a partition wall between lounge and bed. I felt the coffee table was also too large for the lounge space. It seems that the suites are smaller than on the other ships so I hope they get the furniture sizing right.

…and far more luxurious!

Pre-Covid, you could organise for hot canapés through your butler. When entertaining, the butler would meet with you to talk through the food and wine. They’d also serve while guests were present. Have been able to host small gatherings of 4-6 in a Q6/5 quite comfortably. Butler will even write a hand written invitation to the cabins of your guests, even if they are in Britannia.

It occurred to me that any changes must factor passengers’ ability to obtain visas. That will certainly determine the route and stops in any diversion.

Interesting, though I’d imagine there’s only be a small number doing the full WC vs segments so surely better to repeat than cancel more segments?

Carnival (as the parent company) is based in both the US and UK and is subject to regulations of both countries.

I’d say it doesn’t matter who owns QM2, it’s seen as belonging to the West. That’s all that concerns those launching strikes against shipping. Doha and Dubai are safe ports and I’d say the WC will continue to there, before diverting around via the Cape and up to Seville. From there back to Southampton. She will miss Salalah, Petra, Athens and Barcelona. While possible to include a port enroute from Dubai to Seville, it’s entirely possible they may sail non stop to get back to Southampton on time for the first TA after the WC. That’s a lot of sea days even at higher speeds (cruising speed is usually only 20 knots or so vs 33 knots she is capable to achieving) so a port visit somewhere on the African coast is probable. Those doing the whole WC could be in for a treat with experiencing QM2 at liner speeds. Of course, QM2 could still transit Suez under destroyer escort but would miss Salalah and Petra, docking in Athens as next port after Dubai. Even then, passengers would be treated to the experience of naval escort.

Given staff clearly saw them enter that way, they clearly condoned it. I’ve made a note of it in my end of cruise survey as it’s clearly a staffing issue that standards are not being enforced.

Hardly. On my recent 3 night cruise I can with certainty say more than half the passengers were not adhering to the dress code. From tee shirts, shorts and flip flops, to bare feet, to someone who came in a rather shoddy beefeater costume for the red and gold gala night (at least wearing shoes and I suppose coordinated with the colour scheme), the number of inappropriately dressed passengers (mostly the men, women were generally far better dressed) of an evening was palpable. Certainly a stark contrast to what I’m used to with Cunard. I put this down to three connected things: 1. Short cruise, 2. A lot of first time cruisers (sea of red sides cruise cards), and 3. Australians have a more casual approach to dress standards.

I was already disapproving of seeing numerous individuals wearing flip flops of an evening, but the barefoot individual was a step too far. I think I was too shocked to have been capable of raising a complaint.

Reminds me of the time a gentleman (perhaps the wrong term) in first class on a flight was using the edge of the door to his suite to remove dead skin from his bare feet. Toenails were long and yellowed too. I needed a double G&T after that. Frankly, I’m not sure that the crew would do anything even if you reported it. Just off the QE, where one evening a person was permitted to walk through a restaurant and dine barefoot. Their attire suggested this was a casual dining choice on their part as opposed to a medical reason. I never imagined I’d ever see that on any vessel, let alone a Cunard ship!