SonofTertius

9 hours ago, SonofTertius said:

Day 7 - another Port stop YAY! Las Palmas, Gran Canaria

So exited to be getting off the ship again. Breakfast this morning was a nightmare again. Now even the back back of the marketplace gets packed within minutes. There was an actual cue to get into that area this morning. This ship is not designed for the amount of people they are squeezing in to it. It’s is not normal to feel claustrophobic on a cruise ship, Eben a Butlins style one - no offence meant to the regulars of MSC… if you like the brand, good for you. Each to their own. 

Continue…

At the marketplace again tonight. Couldn’t be bothered with the MDR or Speciality restaurants. Had a nice day off the ship exploring Las Palmas. Just realised the only queues this deep into the cruise at the buffet are for chips, sticky toffee pudding, and boiling water (for tea of course) LOL Oh dear, why bother leaving your front rooms LOL. 

Day 7 - another Port stop YAY! Las Palmas, Gran Canaria

So exited to be getting off the ship again. Breakfast this morning was a nightmare again. Now even the back back of the marketplace gets packed within minutes. There was an actual cue to get into that area this morning. This ship is not designed for the amount of people they are squeezing in to it. It’s is not normal to feel claustrophobic on a cruise ship, Eben a Butlins style one - no offence meant to the regulars of MSC… if you like the brand, good for you. Each to their own. 

Day 6 - continue…

Have Indochine booked tonight. MDR last night wasn’t too bad. Mediterranean Night with calamari starter and Turkish lamb chops were really nice and flavoursome. Service was good too. We skipped breakfast this morning to get off the ship early. Funchal is amazing. Love it here. We’re back on the ship now and will set off in about 15 minutes time. I’m at the back-back of the Marketplace in our Sanctuary. Grabbed some scones off the buffet for afternoon tea - beat scones I’ve ever had. Maybe the ship ain’t so bad after all, or am I just getting use to mediocre? 

Love love love Funchal! We’ve just booked to come back here in late November for a week. 

23 October 2022 - Day 1 - Southampton Embarkation Day

What on earth?! Felt as if I was attending a football match today. The amount of people getting on this ship is just ridiculous. I cruised twice during Covid and dare I say; I enjoyed the empty ships.
the checking process from start to finish took about an hour and a half and we arrived on the ship just before 14:00 after starting the process at around 12:30. It wasn’t disorganised but it was BUSY. Have I mentioned how busy it was? 
The ship itself is humongous and give some of the RCL ships a run for their money in terms of the sheer size. The passengers however, well, we can compare them to a Carnival crowd.  

The emergency drill at 14:00 was an utter mess. It was so confusing and they had all 5000 guest-people that are onboard cram into the staircases and muster points. I know it’s a legal requirement but why can we go back to the Covid style drills where people didn’t have to all be crammed into small muster points spaces - this is surely the perfect opportunity for a virus to spread. Talk about virus, MSC - your hand sanitiser stations are all empty. 

On QV now and have to say it has been wonderful not just what we expected but are expectations gave been exceeded. This is our first time on Cunard and hopefully not our last.

 

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Enjoy Caz. Good to hear they have pulled their socks up.

Walked past the Burlington Arcade this morning. Made me smile. Here you go Cunard...

I would not .think you would be bragging trying to break the ice by claiming to be a Diamond Member, so easy to qualify to be a Diamond Member. I think one world cruise would give you qualification:evilsmile:

Good you mention this Mal. It's funny how different colours and minerals define us when travelling. A few decades ago gold was top. Now it's platinum. Or is it black? I can't keep up. When I was in kindergarten, our teachers gave the groups animal names. Perhaps we should move back to that. Nevertheless, I'll always travel in donkey group whilst others would certainly prefer to travel as lions or elephants. We'll always have to watch out for the snakes though [emoji6].

SoT, I didn't read this thread until today as I've not had interest in sailing on the QV to date, not because of bad reviews but the fly/cruise concept is not something that is appealing to me right now. I'm sorry that the bad for outweighed the good and so many things were overpriced. I hope you find a better experience and value on another line.

 

 

 

That said, I have to confess that your comments have caused me to reevaluate how I might interact with fellow passengers going forward. When striking up a conversation with total strangers, it just seemed to be a natural "ice breaker" to ask if this was their first time on the ship. Was I ever wrong. Didn't realize that it was boarding on braggadocios to reply that it was my 9th, 10th, or whatever. Never intended it to be "one upping" anybody but it's obvious it could be taken as such. If they ask "What dinner sitting?" it would be better to say that I'm dining in the buffet if I'm really in the Grills. Maybe there was an advantage to the fare class separation on the old liners. The people in the less expensive categories didn't encounter those with more money or had traveled more extensively and thus were protected from being put down by them.

Thanks Blue. As I'm still new to cruising I'm sure I'll find something suitable - this was after all only my second cruise. Contrary to popular believe; I do like the concept of cruising but as you said, I need to find my 'fit'.

Don't be totally put off by the comments about what you say when striking up conversations. I'm in a career of 'reading people' and perhaps a bit more susceptible or sensitive to behaviour - to my own disadvantage sometimes.

But yes, saying that you are dining in the buffet restaurant might get different reactions from different people. Some might feel more comfortable to strike up a conversation, but I'm sure you'll throw a few backs out too. Just as well that there's always a doctor onboard [emoji850].

I'm anxiously looking forward to my FIRST Princess cruise and now have seriously high expectations thanks to SonofTertius.

Prepare to be underwhelmed Richard. As a retired hotelier and respected Cunardite, I would think that you'd edge towards more traditional standards. Princess might just be a tiny notch too rebellious for your taste [emoji6]. Whatever you do and/or unless you have more than 60% Far Eastern roots; do not step foot on Majestic - she was built for China, and this includes the food and entertainment.

WOOOHOOO!>..thanks for the hint...thats fun and also wasted half an hour and was a lot more interesting in this thread which has clearly begun to die a much anticipated death;p

My sentiments about Cunard exactly. You couldn't have put it better.

Although I can't find it now, there was a comment earlier in this thread about "Cunard cheerleaders." I think the Cunard cheerleaders are quite gentle compared to the equivalent on other cruise lines pages.

 

A couple of years ago I inadvertently stirred up the Holland America cheerleaders. Not having cruised with HAL for 40 years I had a few questions - not criticisms - about our upcoming voyage. We had splurged on a Neptune Suite, which is as close to Cunard's Queen's Grill that HAL offers. In answer to my first question about amenities to those in this level of accommodation I got told off. The attitude was: How dare you suggest that HAL should provide this to you. It didn't get any better later on. I have seen this attitude on other cruise lines' pages.

[emoji362]I wonder if the MS Nieuw Statendam would have any last-minute deals for her maiden voyage season in 2018 [emoji362]

Part 6 of 6

Conclusion

Like most people in the world, I am a consumer of goods and services; items and experiences which are made available to us by organisations much like Cunard, at a price, and as per demand (direct or indirect) from the consumer. If consumers are willing to pay the price and the product lives up to expectation, the consumer would generally purchase said product again. When a consumer acquires a product for the first time and the product does not live up to expectations, the consumer will move on to the next product, a 'better', 'more innovative' product - it's all a bit subjective.

The organisation would perhaps keep selling the 'failed' (again, subjective) product and might not initially realise that their products are resisting to attract/retain potential repeat customers nevertheless, when a product/service is blatantly 'defective' in terms of the exaggerated promises it makes, it is perhaps time for someone to speak-up, challenge it's continual existence, and question the organisation's values regarding sustainable business ethics and customer satisfaction.

During our 7 day cruise on the Queen Victoria there were only two members of the crew which we were impressed by. I'll let you do the math. There is a definitive 'tell' or 'show' throughout the ship which indicates a lack of training and/or poor attitude from a large number of the employees. This was especially prominent when signing bills or 'checks', even more so if I didn't add an additional percentage onto your automatic 15% 'service charge'. Passengers would perhaps be less suspicious of it if they had called it something else. Let's say for arguments sake; tourism tax. The fact is, we do not like paying for things we do not receive - polished service on Queen Victoria would be one of those things.

We were last minute bookers. Maybe this was our downfall - our own fault. It shouldn't be though. We had still paid for our passage and even though it was perhaps not expensive as The Grills, it was still a ticket for an experience on an "elegant and luxurious" vessel, as Cunard's marketing team has so eloquently put it. The whole experience for us was restrictive. It felt as if we were steered into a direction in which we would have to conform to and if we didn't, we'd feel excluded. And we did.

Forget about the English theme for a minute. We have no issue with that. We are English ourselves and immensely proud of our heritage. It was the lack of choice which disturbed. The lack of choice in so many aspects during this cruise, but especially in terms of dining, entertainment and technology. Apart from the lack in choices and poor service almost throughout, we had found the overall ambiance of Queen Victoria to be melancholic and full of pretence. It certainly not the Englishness which I know and love. What sort of message does this send to the rest of the world. Stiff upper lip whilst being ripped off?!

In addition, there were various tangible issues which had also negatively affected our overall experience. Small things such as damaged old shower curtains, clothes hangers which did not clip, an array of onboard technical equipment not functioning to need, equipment which did not function at all, certain areas on the ship which are in desperate need of refurbishment, the lack of thought which went into the design for some of the cabins - the list goes on. As David Dingle and his marketing marketing team again pledges; "luxury down to the smallest detail". I have to say that I have found this to be a misleading promise. It is after all the small details which had prompted me to write this review.

Entertainment onboard was repetitive. It was much of the same thing during different times of the day, in different areas. Repetitive and restrictive. Cunard only caters for a certain type, and that is evident. Other liners have an array of entertainment services which allows them to cater for a vast demographic. On Cunard it is fit in or, 'go away' - I'm sure you get the idea. That is at least how we felt.

I'm not asking for wave riders or climbing walls. That would defer from the whole point of being Cunard. What I had expected from the journey was to (a) feel comfortable in my surroundings yet (b) entertained with relevant activities whilst © feeling that I was looked after and (d) appreciated as a customer - It was quite the opposite.

The fact that I should now feel discouraged by having booked with Cunard in the first place, would be my main gripe with the organisation. Cunard is not a secret society where members can join only by special invite - as much as some who sail on her would like that to be true. No, what you have is a product which is marketed and available for any consumer to utilise if they choose to do so, a product which does not deliver her promise in my opinion - a product which rests on previous laurels and tries to be something it's not.

It is however our choice to sail with Cunard. Our money, our experience and our dedication to the brand. You might enjoy the creature comforts they offer, nothing wrong with it. It doesn't make you better than me, or, vice versa. Dedication to a brand is what keeps it alive. What Cunard perhaps haven't realised is that there are various new generations of cruisers - we shall one day decide which brand we are dedicated too.

If you alienate us, it won't be you. It won't be Cunard. It won't be the Queen Victoria. It won't be the Golden Dragon Pub. It won't be authentic fish and chips.

Thank you for reading.

Till next time.

FIN.

I suspect we won't see SoT again.

Perhaps until my next cruise Mr Toad. It certainly won't be with Cunard [emoji6]

Have just spent some time reading this thread. Sadly it is time in my life I will never get back. Can't every one, including the OP just accept that some things in life is not for everyone and leave it at that. As has been said lets move on to another adventure and finish with this thread.

Agreed. The end.

You are right, no one is forced to read this and you have the right as a consumer to raise any issues that you found - and you have done that. As such, I am not sure what else you are looking for from this "thread"? Indeed, having read your posts carefully, it is unclear what you are looking for from a cruise line. I know a number of things that you don't like, but you tell us very little as to what you like or want. As such, even after all these posts, I doubt anyone could point you in the right direction as to what line to book.

 

 

 

But what I will take from this thread is the importance to do your research before booking to ensure it is the right fit for you. In this case, you appear to have taken a late booking without any real idea as to what the ethos/culture of the line is like. Unfortunately, this has put you out of step with what is offered by Cunard and to be honest what is wanted by the other passengers. Yes, drink prices are expensive, but there is so much information available on the internet that this should not really come as a shock. Indeed, you can view sample menus, watch video's of life on-board the ships and of course read reviews of previous guests. But you do need to be clear about what you want and what you don't because the lines can be very different - just because the price is right, doesn't mean you are going to enjoy it and I doubt that you will change what they offer.

 

 

 

While you say you do not wish to force your opinions on others, by the nature of your comments, and the style of writing that you use, you are of course doing just that. Rather than providing a balanced review, you do tend to concentrate on the negatives and put all the blame on Cunard. Clearly, you did not enjoy your Cunard experience, but as I have already said, isn't this simply a case of a customer booking the wrong cruise line? Without sounding harsh, it may be time to move on to the next adventure - after all, none of us are getting any younger.

Very well said. You make valid points. I appreciate that you debate like an adult. Thank you for your time in reading the review. I'm sorry if you feel that the review was unbalanced - that was not my intention.

I didn't book the wrong line. I booked the only line with cabins available which was travelling to the destinations I selected during the time I was free. The deciding factor for me was Cunard's shiny advertising campaigns. The fact that there were plenty of cabins available, just a week before the cruise, was, to me, an indication that the product would not be up to scratch and is probably in a slow decline. It sadly was.

PS - I'm not looking for anything from this thread. People are raising questions and leaving comments which I feel obliged to answer. Other than commenting on these, all I'm doing is practicing my right to review a product on a forum which encourages us to do so.

We could all move on to our next adventure, yet we keep coming back here to quarrel. Again, no one is being forced.

Hi Daniel.

 

 

 

Somehow I don't think so: unless of course my comment was taken out of context.

Who knows Richard. I'm the troll, no? I love your jacket by the way.

Well there's a turn up for the books.

 

 

 

According to Wiki it would appear that 'Piquet' is a card game for two players.

 

 

 

Hardly mass entertainment then.

Whilst doing your research, you could perhaps find it beneficial to also do an exploration of the word "irony".

I disagree with this statement also but am not accusing you of trolling.

 

 

 

If he was responding to people in a constructive way it would be different. He isn't, he is responding with the same line about enjoy Cunard. His meaning is clear. If we enjoy it we are boring or snobbish. I consider myself to be neither of these things. I just like different entertainment to him.

 

 

 

Repeated comments about dress code and entertainment are no more constructive than me going to a forum about club 18-30 holidays and writing pages of review where I moan about the lack of dress code and the excessive cheap booze consumed. I wouldn't do that as it is clear this type of holiday isn't aimed at me. That's fine, no one thing can suit everyone.

I am truly sincere in my wishes. I didn't enjoy it yet would not want to force my opinion onto others. You are not held at gunpoint to read this thread. Nobody is. It is my right as a consumer to raise any issues I might have with a service or product. My right as a consumer and as a guest on a public forum which encourages people to inform others about their experience with organisations which makes profit from our hard earned money.

Good afternoon Daniel.

 

 

 

I'm always happy to point out a few facts: as a 'consumer' of course. :cool:

You prove my point [emoji6]

No, you really don't. You are a guest here.

We all are.

This thread should be closed, in fact it should have been closed some time ago. Not because Cunard is being knocked but because this is basically a troll thread.

 

 

 

He is posting a critical review, fine, I love Cunard but it certainly isn't perfect - nothing is. But when anyone responds by pointing out an inaccuracy (2 hour shows for example) or asks him what he did want he makes a comment along the lines of 'You keep enjoying Cunard then'. This is a veiled insult as he has already made it clear he believes that us folk who do enjoy Cunard are Mrs Bucket.

 

 

 

Cunard offers entertainment that clearly doesn't interest him, that's fine and I hope he finds a line that appeals. I personally want live music in which lounge/bar I decide to sit in and Cunard gives me that. I want interest I talks by a variety of speakers, the talk about drug smuggling in the Med sounds great to me. He has made his views of this sort of entertainment clear.

 

 

 

I don't mind a funny review but I think it has gone to far.

The guidelines of this forum have been adhered to and as a consumer, I have the right to express my concerns and my experience over a product on a public platform.

Hi Lucky Mal.

 

 

 

I think you will find the Daniel (the OP) hasn't as much cruise experience as some have given credit for.

 

 

 

Add to that the fact that this cruise was only booked on 6 July, nine nights before sailing, one would have thought at least a reasonable amount of research would have been undertaken: research that would have enlightened Daniel on what to expect.

 

 

 

As for ..." one of the reasons we had chosen Cunard - a blanket of calm", I'll leave my fellow members to decipher..

Thank you for your comments Richard. I shouldn't think that booking a cruise last-minute would have had any bearing on the outcome of the final product and/or experience of the consumer. If it does, it is perhaps a failed product. Much like the one discussed on this forum perhaps?

Yes, I thought that it would be a calm and relaxing cruise. It turned out to be boring and rather backwards. Calm and boring are rather two different things in my experience, and I'm sure, for others too.

I have almost zero cruising experience. I have never tried hiding the fact. The realisation that it could be seen as a 'disadvantage' by 'Cunardites', having pointed it out to fellow cruisers (much like you are pointing out my real [or perhaps not] name (Daniel), perhaps just highlights the various issues I (and others) have raised about the aggressive attitudes of people who are dedicated to a certain brand, regardless of what the brand does 'right' or wrong.

The card games you mentioned?

Irony.

You have NOT mentioned yet what you like to do on a cruise while at sea, maybe deep deep sea diving. You must be a very difficult person to satisfy?:(

Please see above.