mariposa777

We seldom drink an entire bottle of wine with dinner and often order quite different meals when we are out. In (land) restaurants these days we will normally ask the sommelier to bring a glass of wine matched to the meal ordered. I can't remember ever having been offered something undrinkable although of course some I like more than others.

One is fairly well protected from being given overly expensive wine using this system as the scary expensive wines are not generally available by the glass.

On QM2 last year in Britannia Club we did the same and were quite happy. Even though one can have a bottle put away for the next night, we like the variety. One glass with the main (entree) was generally sufficient as we are not big drinkers and there is the possibility we had started the evening in the Commodore Club and planned to end it in the theatre with a libation or two.

The one exception was an Italian red we ordered in Todd English (Birthday celebration) on the basis of tasting it's stablemate in the Britannia Wine Tasting. It was quite pricey and very very nice. We chose food to suit in that case.

Hmmm, you didn't need to when I read it on 1st August.

 

I used this link and read it without subscription.

The 2011 refit mostly replaced soft furnishings. This refit will involve dramatic renewal of staterooms and deck 7. (And likely more that wasn't included for feedback from our group.) If what I saw gets implemented, after this refit you're going to see QM2 restored to the luster she had when she entered service.

I don't envy the refit planners their task - no matter what they end up doing someone will not be content.

I will be interested to hear about the deck 7 changes - we attempted lunch in KC on embarkation day and for a short time I thought I'd made a bad mistake booking the TA. Luckily a beer in the Golden Lion saved the day and the rest of the crossing pretty much met expectation - we did not go back to KC.

(Yes i know that buffet lunch of day one is worst scenario ... But first impressions matter)

8 days without Halifax or any other stops along the way.

We did a 8 day trip with Halifax - although we quite liked Halifax, another sea day would have been better! I suspect we are not suited for 'cruising'.

nup - 5 nights minimum - we have to fly halfway around the world to do a TA so a few days between unpacking and packing is important :-)

A day of fast sailing would be cool though…...

The external ones. But again, on board officer talk...

Nooooooooooooo………

we wore a track in the carpet from 12024 to the commodore via the outside lift……...

Hello all!

 

Booking at the last minute has left me with less time than I like to prepare :) I'm trying to figure out the options for getting from the ship to the Southampton airport post voyage. We are willing to take a taxi, but I'm having trouble finding the cost, but would also be up for public transport if that's a reasonable option.

We took a train from the airport to Southampton Central after dropping our hire car at the airport … then taxi the short distance to the dock. Works well as long as you don't have massive amounts of luggage. The station at the airport is right next door to the terminal and easy to access.

(this was June 2014)

Try this.http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programitem/pery39G9EL

Good work!

Thanks for that - i was trying to quickly post on my way out the door to a beer and whisky evening. Aquired a taste for whisky on QM2 last year and a taste for english/belgian/german style beers on our last couple trips to UK/Europe.

Looks like the Abc doesnt geoblock then - a lot of the bbc stuff is not accessible from the antipodes:(

Abc radio in sydney had an interview with Chris Frame about ocean liner history - focussed on Cunard.

Unfortunately i cannot get a link to work ... Damned ipad. Will try again later if some kindly person doesn't post one first

Westbound TA on QM2 June 2014

It was a birthday present from me to the Mr for his birthday in 2013, a crossing which included his birthday in 2014 .. and turned out to be part of our honeymoon trip - somewhat spontaneous wedding in May 2014.

The attraction was the QM2 herself and the 'voyage' as a way to travel from UK to NYC.

The big memory is seeing the Narrows Bridge loom briefly out of the thick fog before disappearing again. Also sunset molecular cocktails in the Commodore Club looking out over the bow before the blinds were lowered in the evening.

Getting a spot on the behind the scenes tour was the icing on the cake - While not a ship nerd, the Mr has a wide interest in things of an engineering nature so it was a highlight for him (and me).

Given that port intensive cruising does not appeal to us - that TA may be the only voyage we take. If we lived in Europe or the US I'd take a TA every year ….

Now to wean myself off this dammed forum…..

The lounges (sofas) seem to inspire a lot of hate from regulars on QM2.

Are they the same throughout?

Is this the one?

While I wouldn't take it home I sat on it a bit and it was adequate to the task ….

Info Received: 3 min ago (2015-03-30 00:36)

Area: G. Australian Bight

Latitude / Longitude: -34.78733° / 138.4133°

Status: Underway using Engine

Speed/Course: 10.1kn / 281°

AIS Source: 146 VK5AKK

Itineraries History

From marine traffic just now. Not far out of Adelaide - outbound

Half an hour before sailaway.

The Mister has some fireworks shots on his iphone (currently in his pocket) - which tragically takes better nighttime pics than my DSLR - but Cunard posted some.

There was a small but appreciative crowd at the overseas terminal to see QM2 off and watch the fireworks - which were fired off over near QV once QM had drawn up alongside. If there was the traffic chaos predicted on the radio it must have been elsewhere.

Cunard Facebook fireworks shots

Brought back nice memories of our honeymoon TA last June.

Had some spare time so we went into the Quay last night to watch QM2 sailaway.

Just a bunch of ferries …

Passed by with nary a friendly toot …. (that was the Pacific Pearl)

Nice pics … being out on the harbour on a kayak would have been great… must try that one day.

QV from an office block in North Sydney.

My research on this rainy afternoon in Australia - where the opportunities to dress formally are few - indicates that a cravat is generally reserved for daytime wear.

I do think the fellow in the picture above looks very smart.

Thanks for even more advice everyone. :)

 

Is a Cravat considered acceptable? Hubby has his dress black suit for formal events and he often wears one of his cravats to go with it and a dark coloured shirt so its not wedding like...he has the floppy hair and thin build to pull it off. He likes dressing up just does not like the tux look at all and I agree.

 

I think you will enjoy Cunard.

And perhaps your husband might enjoy a visit to "Fine and Dandy" in Hells Kitchen when you are in NYC - we found it quite by accident and has some nice accessories for gents who like to dress up.

Personally I would take the ship to New York and get some of those 25 hour days and then take one of the daytime flights back to the UK. I believe both BA and VS still do the daytime flights. Done it several times.

We took the ship westbound - spent 11 days in NYC then flew back to Australia via Abu Dhabi. There was jetlag at the home end which was ok as we didn't have to hit the ground running workwise. I like to minimise jetlag while actually travelling.

We are booked on QM2 next year on a TA - never been on this ship before so we are really looking forward to it. Then I read the things on here about how tired she is/the sofas/the potholes/the rusty balconies etc etc and I'm wondering if we are doing the right thing.:confused:

We did a TA in june 14 - and loved it. The sofa in our club britannia stateroom was fine, the occasional bit of rust not an issue, the potholes a bit of a mystery until I researched them here (but not a problem for us).

We even liked the food (did admittedly avoid Kings Court as we don't like buffets in general).

It was our first time on a big ship and a significant birthday celebration (and honeymoon as it turned out) and we'd do it again in a heartbeat.

I think you can safely look forward to your crossing.

Hi Zider, I wasn't quite sure how the club dining worked. We enjoy mealtimes and although some experiences have been better than others we do enjoy the social aspect of sharing tales of our day with companions and listening to their adventures. I may be wrong but had the feeling that with the club dining we may get say a table for 8 but people may come and go at different times to each other and if this is the case can't quite see that suiting us and feel I would find it less relaxing. Correct me if I'm wrong, you do have a good point of it being an alternative. Thanks

(not Zider but…)

We found on our TA in June 14 (8 nights) our table of 6 (3 pairs) in Britannia Club naturally settled into a similar dining time after a couple nights. We would arrive at slightly different times generally but usually left together.

It was a little awkward on the first night as we stayed on deck as long as possible without actually missing dinner - so were meeting our dining companions when they had already done the initial meet and greet between the other four. But it worked out fine.

Since they're fairly unlikely to ask me …..

Red - I think it will impact the space/venue in a good or bad way

Purple - Probably wouldn't use it but don't object

YES - Winter Garden Continental Breakfast Buffet

Nah - Todd English Breakfast Buffet

Nah - Breakfast in Bed (your own stateroom bed ;))

Nah - Golden Lion Breakfast

Nah - Britannia Buffet Breakfast

Maybe - Britannia Expres Breakfast

Nah - Chart Room Light Bites

Maybe - Terrace Pool Bar - Burgers, etc.

Yes! - Extended Golden Lion Lunch hours

ONLY if it is an espresso type thing, can't see it happening - Tea and Coffee in-stateroom facilities

NO! CC is perfect as is - Commodore Club light bites

YES - Winter Garden light bites

OH YES - Kings Court Buffet with Table Served Drinks

Maybe - Chefs table (max of 10 at a time - food at its finest)

LORDY YES - Winter Garden Supper Club (dinner with live music and entertainment)

Isn't it this already? - Kings Court Evening Buffet

Nah - Kings Court Showcase Kitchen

Disclaimer - I have not actually eaten in Kings Court - in fact went out of my way to avoid the whole area after checking it out on embarkation day (acknowledge that this is not any ship caffeteria's finest hour)

 

Like the OP, I really relish the vintage air of Cunard's menus - nothing in foam, nothing that requires freezing in nitrogen, and minimal use of lemongrass and other flavors that, excellent in some contexts, are too often just used for a "stylish" effect.

 

I love a modern degustation (even with foam) but the food in BC was just what I wanted on the QM2.

I think a lot of folks find the trad. stuff a bit dated. I was looking for trad so all was good.

 

Any of these desserts: Baked Alaska ?? Crepes Suzette ?? Grand Marnier Souffle ??

I really can't remember the entrees or mains but we did have Crepes Suzette on the last night of our TA in June 14, flambed (sp?) at the tableside for our table of 6 .. yummy and fun.

(it was the Brittania Club restaurant on QM2 - don't know if they do it in the main part of the Brittania)

Kick off every evening with cocktails in the Commodore lounge!

After reading this post I felt I must comment. Just to clarify a point Cunard is not responsible for any of our boo boo's. Cunard is a cruse line, they are NOT a floating hospital for the elderly or sick.

 

A quick google tells me that a boo boo is either -

1. A stupid mistake; a blunder

or

2. A slight physical injury, such as a scratch.

I think we are talking about more than a slight injury in this quite specific case.

I would expect Cunard CS to stand behind their branded insurance products if approached and to assist a claimant to process their paperwork.

From what Jimsgirl has told us it seems that the ship medical staff have done all the right things in transferring her to hospital and then the ball was dropped by the assistance provider - leaving her feeling deserted and vulnerable for 6 days.

The subsequent claim issues just add insult to injury and are a salutary warning for all of us.

I hope this is resolved soon for you Jimsgirl and you can return to cruising in some form at least.