Windsurfboy

"Ow mooch" . Clearly only those who cant speak the queens English would dare to raise the issue of price, a gentleman doesn't discuss prices with tradesmen. .

I don't think anyone except Jeff Bezos et al , selects anything regardless of price. We all have a premium we would pay, we all have our limits. However, when we look at Cunard are we paying a premium? Actually NOT AT ALL. Most of the "luxury "lines mentioned , you would get a cabin that's somewhat smaller than PG for QG money. So you are not paying a Cunard premium The only line that is comparible in quality and price for both suites or balcony cabin is Saga, but that a different but in my mind equally good experience. Other big ship , ship within ship concept are similiar price to Cunard. If we look at lines without ship within ship concept that offer QG sized suites, then it's Princess or P&O, and Cunard is a significant £5k to £8k per cabin (2 weeks)

My preference is for the fares to be lower, by this amount and let me choose what I want. Which I think Cunard is. If Cunard in a like for like cabin was same price as "premium all inclusive line" it would be poor value

If you look at a QG sized suite on the lines you quote they are significantly dearer. Must compare like with like.

Be prepared, Cunard have just now reintroduced masks.

Do they deem lack of speciality restaurants grounds to cancel or postpone cruise , without penalty, even after full payment . I certainly would feel they have not provided facilities as advertised. Luckily out Arvia cruise isn't for a long time ,more than a year, but without speciality restaurants would consider abandoning my 5% deposit. I will certainly ask for reassurance before full payment

This reminds me , one QG benefit, is that it hasn't gone down the all inclusive drinks route, unlike most other "luxury " offerings.

You must have been unlucky , the people on our P&O cruise were every bit as well mannered as Cunard. Tattos can be seen on Cunard especially once you leave the rarified Atmosphere of gross deck , and the Cunard shops are full of bling, someone must be buying it. As for getting hammered round the pool, now that Cunard have followed down the line of drinks packages, you will be bound to see those that want to get their money's worth on Cunard.

Looking at cost per night should compare Oceania basic balcony with Brittania Club. Can't comment never sailed in either. On Cunard except for the restaurant you dine in, the Grills lounge and priority embarkation, QG passengers treated same as everyone else thoughout the vast majority of ship where people mix. No Queue jumping no special treatment everyone treated the same. Some may say that's good, some may not .

You can't say why Cunard without comparison to alternatives Thus it was fine to introduce the passenger space ratio into the conversation. Cunard is better than many especially big ships , but doesn't compare to the space offered by Seabourn, SS, etc , similar to Celebrity . The comparison of Cunard to Claridges , and P&O to Butlins , is biased beyond belief. Cunard is not Claridges àlthough QG may come very close, but QG is only 5% of a Cunard ship. P&O is certainly not Butlins, I don't understand the unjustifiable denigration of other lines. What is luxury, I would agree in many ways with ak1004, except that luxury is intimate service , which is theoretically possible on bigger ship , ship within ship concept. If luxury is what you want question is why QG not another similiar ship within a ship , or a small ship "luxury" line. To me that depends on where you are going, we wouldn't do a TA in a small ship , but would do a fly Caribbean or Mediterranean. Also not a believer that all inclusive means luxury, prefer quality over quantity, so like to pay for very good wine but only drink at night with meal. Champagne at breakfast isnt luxury. Do you want the order off menu facility in QG , or the multiple restaurants of other lines. All a balance . But for most the question is why Cunard vs other bigger ships. The answer is not in the numbers space ratios etc. Cunarders feel the difference is in the intangibles. The lecture program, which of course is very personal, it depends on the subjects chosen. Cunard has fine tuned this to it's clientele. You can only look at what is on offer to make a personal choice. It is a very personal choice. If anyone could post daily programme Similiarly Atmosphere. If you like formal nights then all the British based ships have a similiar number and identical dress codes. Pre covid I would say that across all the UK lines , the % of men in a Tuxedo was similiar well into 90% on all ships, but Ladies on Cunard did take the elegant dress more seriously. The Queens (and other ships of their age) have a more classic look , more wood and more or a nod to the pre war ocean liners. Whether it's luxury or main stream , the question is why not. We are trying different lines. Set your parameters for lines you wouldn't touch, for us no party lines (Disney, Virgin And other ) otherwise, our view is why not give it a go. So why not Cunard , you will enjoy it, as we have every new line we try. It may not become your go to line for every cruise, but you won't regret it.

To reassure you there was a selection of the cold items as you describe. It was the alternative hot items , which was pizza or pasta every day , that was repetitive and may I say boring.

My disappointment at lunch tine was, not with 3 course lunch, as this is not what we wanted. It was with alternatives, being pizza , pasta, or a toastie every day. Nothing wrong with a toastie may have one for lunch today . But that's at home , this is on a not cheap cruise where I look for different from at home. Sometimes had just a starter. On holidays look for some thing light but more exciting , tapas, sushi, .........

We have put our deposit down to book again !. I think I've concentred on where they could improve, A generally very good performance. Like to try Discovery. Think East to west and seafood restaurants are more to our taste.

Yes we tried the grill most days only ate in MDR once for lunch. Fall back was the small open sandwiches in living room. For hot meals the grill had 3 course MDR menu , plus 2XPizza plus pasta. Of course sandwiches and salad. But if you want more than a sandwich, and don't want a salad, all you have is same pizzas or a pasta every day. We had just starter quiet a few times. I would have liked some imaginative light alternatives. I think at lunch time the grill should be truly an alternative venue with alternative options. Kukhuri is a "marmite" restaurant. Many love it .

We jumped in at the deep end with a 32 day Saga cruise. What did we think Enough has been said a about black sea cancellation So at did we think. Given only 520 passengers we were spoilt. Firstly a lovely ship, which we would expect to be spacious even when full. Saga passengers are the friendliest, everyone spoke and chatted. All cruise ships the staff are nice, but saga are superb. Our midships suite was lovely, but we spent so much time out of it given the space and comfort in lounges and bars and company . This meant we will not go for a suite next time. This is in contrast to bigger ships where we would want a private haven of a suite. Food , main dining room dinner excellent quality had two meals which were up with best I've ever had anywhere. However choice at each meal very limited, one fish, one red meat ,one other meat . NB we are not into vegetarian/vegan which had two choices. The speciality restaurants, Amalfi for first 2 weeks menu was good/OK, but for example fish was always swordfish. It took pressure from passengers for new menu weeks 3 and 4. This turned out to be much better menu superb lobster ,prawn ,calamari, fish combo, went 3 times could have gone more . Once weather fine had 8 tables outside at back of Amalfi (and kukhuri) , really lovely Supper club, except for steaks , there was only lamb which was really really nice or fish. The steak eaters loved steaks. For first 2 weeks had fish of day, but went backwards for 2nd two only sea bass every night. Kukhuri, a marmite choice , only went twice as OH not into spicy food. I love it, but in an elegant way not a vindaloo , however, not overly impressed. My Wife's lamb was pink , not slow cooked, the duck dry. My seafood special OK Lunch, if you like a 3 course meal fine. If you want a snack, boring. Pizza x 2 , or pasta. No little light dishes, no sushi , just very same same. We were lucky having premium drink package ,good choice of very good spirits. Included wines drinkable, but if you wanted something better could take 15minutes to find it. Must praise Amalfi staff, after second visit had my Barolo ready and waiting. Entertainment as good as any other cruise line. When their own cast sang in Britannia lounge really great, better than external entertainers, everyone up on floor at times. Britannia lounge great for drink and dance, best combination of bar and dance floor on any ship. Included excursions cr*p, is best description, OK if just want to sit on coach for 3 hrs. Once bitten wegave them a miss. Yes you can pay for other trips, but you've already paid for the included torture trips. Should get rid of them

There is a small pile of passenger books in library that disappears. There is face to face exchange of books on sun decks, if you get into conversation with someone .

I think you must also take into account Saga are instructing people not to take public transport. Thus given many Saga customer aren't up to driving 200 miles they must use Saga transport. Saga would be in a very weak position if it forced you to share a car , and they others were positive and you couldn't travel. REFUND PLUS COMPENSATION Perhaps Saga will follow other cruise lines where you test night before. Then they can introduce shared transport.

Underwhelmed by Jubilee celebrations on Adventure. Renamed what would have happened anyway.

Tested on embarkation and next 5 sea days

It doesnt spoil cruise , unless you are unlucky enough to be a contact. One new case yesterday and their contacts put in isolation. Only using half main dining rom for breakfast. We have table for 2 , but if we were quarantined because table near us , when half dining room empty would be more than annoyed, would amount to negligence on Saga's behalf.

Contact trace done by taking cabin numbers and seat numbers manually , in restaurants, theatre and coaches. No tracing in bars as far as I can see. We are avoiding coach trips.

Nothing seems to have changed. Still wear masks when walking, but not when sitting down . Except in theatre. Testing for first 5 days. test and trace in operation, but now no routine mass testing after day 5. Library no books, no bridge or card games organised. No other restrictions. 1 crew member , no passengers tested positive on eastern med cruise one week in.

We just had a timetable for 3 days of Jubilee celebrations in our village. Which led me to speculate what Saga will be doing. I know dining is freedom, but given numbers are being kept low, and on our Eastern Mediterranean Oddyssey replacement for Black sea they are especially low. For once it might be nice if everyone sat down together, to celebrate and toast her Majesty at the same time. Just a thought