richard_london

Definitely a sheltered balcony.   You still get a view, it does make the view a little darker in the cabin compared to a standard balcony (unobstructed), but if you have obstructed at least some portion of your view will be obscured.  My last trip on the QM2 was a sheltered and I'd have no hesitation sailing again, but I'd avoid an obstructed.  Iif you are going in March an obstructed balcony might suffer if the weather is not so good, whereas a sheltered can give more protection for when the weather is bad, so I think they are a good option overall.

Glad to help, as others have said a centrally located cabin might be best to minimise the motion of the ship.  I certainly felt less movement in my cabin as opposed to other parts of the ship, but then 4 deck is quite low down so wouldn't have a balcony if that was a key requirement for you.

I was in a cabin down on 4-deck, so low down and in the centre of the ship (one in the section that was added in the 2007 lengthening). Just to say, still to this date it has been the roughest seas i've sailed in, so I don't have any context for how any other ships would behave, so this is just my experience.  This was in April, so similar time to when you would be going.

When it was Force 8 winds the pitching (bow to stern) was okay, and whilst I felt nervous I didn't feel scared all the time.  I didn't like the pitching and rolling (side to side) at night as it kept me awake but during the day when it was daylight it was fine.  There was only one pitch/roll that made my heart skip a beat but it was during the night.  As I said in my previous post, the spray from the big waves would go right over the top of the Observatory Lounge, which was quite an impressive sight.  But she coped with the seas fine for a small ship.  I noticed the movement more when on higher decks, but you get that on any ship.  There was creaking from the ship and in the cabin at night but it was very rough, so expected I guess.

I didn't get seasick, quite a few did but they weren't in the majority by any means.  One thing I wrote about was the slamming of waves on the bow as a shudder would go through the entire ship, which was most noticeable at night.  But I had that on the Queen Anne's maiden voyage in the Bay of Biscay in much calmer conditions.

I did sail on Balmoral again up to Norway and have other cruises booked on her so I wasn't discouraged.  The only inconvenience for me was interrupted sleep and I don't recall anyone being injured and the worst anyone experienced was seasickness.  Normal activities continued during the day even during the worst weather (except for being able to go out on deck).  She got us safely to New York in horrible condiitons so I will also be fond of her.

I hope I haven't put you off but wanted to share my honest experience.

I sailed on the Titanic Memorial Cruise in 2012 across the North Atlantic so a northerly route compared to what you would take.  It was Force 8 for two days, and then Force 7 for a further day and then dropped (alhtough it did go back up to Force 6 on one day), so I do have experience of the Balmoral in rough seas.   I remember sitting in the Observatory Lounge and the spray of the waves coming right over the bow of the ship.  I could elaborate more, I kept a diary at the time which I have retrieved as I made some notes about how the ship was handling which I can summarise for you?

Please can someone let me know if the Beef Wellington option still available on request? On the QV and QM2 we were asked after breakfast if we wanted any of the special order items off the menu.  We have a QA Queens Grill trip booked and we like to have the Wellington on one night as it is very nice and when they serve it at your table the experience is special.

1 hour ago, TouchstoneFeste said:

Instead I use gaff (or "gaffer's") tape. It's used by theatrical and film companies specifically because it doesn't leave a residue.

I had to check, Google says we're talking about the same thing. 

18 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

I didn’t mind the light under the door or the moonlight from outside, but there are also several annoying electronic lights. The red on the TV, the slightly illuminated switch for the bathroom night light, the light on what I assume was the router and something else, perhaps the phone.

Yes, I noticed those too and they bother me.  It's the same on any ship and any hotel i've stayed in.  If you go on Amazon and buy a packet of those little felt discs you can put on the bottom of furniture to stop them scraping, or some blu-tac, they work equally well at blocking the light. I put a piece of duct tape directly over the LED and then then the pad or blu-tac on top, as the duct tape protects the LED and doesn't leave any stick residue.  Just remember to take it off before they clean the room and when you disembark.

28 minutes ago, Selbourne said:

It doesn’t sadly. The side we get noise disturbance from is the side behind our huge padded headboard. 
 

It all depends on the cabin neighbours that you end up with. If they are considerate, talk in hushed tones when neighbours are likely to be asleep, and don’t have their TV on too loud, then people will assume that the sound insulation is brilliant. If, however, you have an inconsiderate person next to you (as we do on one side) then you realise that it isn’t. 

Oh, that's disappointing.  I always am quite careful with my cabin selection, but these things can never be completely planned out.  Shame people can't be considerate.

On the maiden voyage, the cabin on one side, I can hear muffled conversations, not enough to be able to hear what words were being spoken.  When I was sitting at the desk a sneeze from the man in the same cabin was very audible.  I don't know if the textured wall/headboard behind the bed helps deaden the sound a bit, or I was lucky, but couldn't hear anything from the other side.

Sound from the corridor was minimal, but there was a companionway opposite so there wasn't a cabin directly opposite.

If you are affected by light in your room at night there is a big enough gap below the door to let light through, so I used a towel to block the light, and make sure the peephole is closed as that allows a shaft of light into the room that illuminates it surprisingly well!

On 5/22/2024 at 3:43 PM, Jerry987654321 said:

Thank you for the pictures.  We are booked in the Mersey suite Q1 for next year, Northern Lights voyage.  Cannot figure out from what I find online how the layout behind the bed connects to the Master bath and 2nd bath?  Seems like if that is true it would be unusual.  Your pictures look wonderful.  If you don't mind sharing, is it Q1 or Q2?  Thanks again.

Looks there are doors either side (i've added the red arrows), one to the small shower room on the left and one on right to the main bathroom, and then behind that is the dressing room which looks like it has two doors. Looks very nice!  Done a master suite on the QV and it doen't have the extra toilet/shower room. 

On 5/25/2024 at 8:18 AM, Selbourne said:

We have an accessible Club balcony cabin. There is a fixed grab rail on the wall to one side of the toilet but no drop down grab rail on the other side, which there should be

It is strange that FInanctieri, who are no strangers to building ships and Cunard with three ships in service and so much experience can make these omissions on a new ship.  I thought they would have consult people with accessibility needs specificially to design cabins to be more accessible. 

In a standard Britannia on the QA I found the grab handle placement in the shower problematic, you need to pay attention to what you are doing because if you hold the handle to open from the inside and open it fully you can pinch/trap your hand between the shower door and the grab handle.  It's a painful mistake I only made once. 

22 minutes ago, richard_london said:

If you have it with the optional smoked salmon, that gets added table side. Well that's what I saw on the maiden on the table next to me.

Sorry, my confusion, this was in Sir Samuel's not QG. This is the salad as served with dressing already on

1 hour ago, Victoria2 said:

Caesar on the menu comes pre prepared. Off the menu and as a special would probably be what you would order.

If you have it with the optional smoked salmon, that gets added table side. Well that's what I saw on the maiden on the table next to me.

Have they sorted the ice dispensers in the water stations in the lido/buffet/artisan's? During the maiden voyage you'd place your glass in front of the sensor and it would keep dispensing ice even if you moved your glass away leading very quickly to a big pile of ice {very wasteful)

It is open into the atrium so you can see and hear everything going on there.  The library is more traditional and quieter if that is what you are after.  There is a great model of the QA in the drawing room and make sure you have a look at the chess sets by the games room opposite. The pieces are all Cunard/QA themed.

I had a very nice lunch in Sir Samuel's but I was a little bit surprised about the number of menu items with an additional charge when there was already a cover charge. The crab cakes appetiser was one I remember. Can't recall the others. I can understand for the wagyu beef but crab cakes? This is a change compared to the menu previously shared on the forum which showed no supplement. it was a good meal but the menu seemed smaller than when we dined in the QV's Verandah last year. I would still recommended it and it is in a better location (i.e. for the views of the sea)

4 hours ago, NE John said:

Did anyone speak to staff to determine if that large percentage of staff was that inexperienced?

I asked five I think on the first day and all but one were QM2. The other who looked after my room wàs new to Cunard but had worked for NYK on the Asuka.  I think my strike rate of finding QM2 was just chance. On the first night for dinner some in the restaurant couldn't even find the tables easily so I did feel for them. They should have been better prepared, it wasn't their fault but Cunard's.

Pleased the situation has been resolved.  I know a couple on a Cunard cruise I was on and they were doing back to back cruises, and for the second cruise they were bumped down from their balcony to an ocean view down on 1 deck (this was on the QE) because Cunard had a big (as in number of people) travel agency booking joining the ship.  They were as livid, as I'm sure you were.  So I don't think you are an isolated incident.

Was looking at future cruises and surprised by the availability for the QA as my next is not until nextt year in Grills.  Did a quick check, found of the 70 sold out cruises listed on the Cunard website only 4 QA voyages are sold out. I thought a new ship would be sold out or is it the itineraries are the "usual" European cruises and just less popular?

5 hours ago, Jim9310 said:

Has this been clarified? 

On a future voyage, I have a balcony cabin on deck 11.  Will I or won't I be able to walk to and use the rear deck on my cabin's level?

Yes it is a bit complicated but seems you have to go to the C stairway and up to where Sir Samuels and Aji Wa are.  Out through the doors to the outside terrace and immediately turn to your side and there is a companionway along the side of the ship.  Sorry, not explaining it very well.  But, yes to your question. 

4 minutes ago, MylesS said:

Yes. For context on what I did, I went to Deck 10 stairway C and through Aji Wa (no seating yet, so thought this was acceptable) and from there you can get out to the open deck. Then up the small set of stairs and you’re just behind the funnel, with deck chairs directly behind if you’re so inclined as well. 

Brilliant!   Thanks for your help.  Much appreciated. 

1 minute ago, Colin_Cameron said:

No, it's only the Centre section. The problem is getting from A to C without going through B. 

Ah!   Thank you.  I thought it odd that there seemed so little deck space.  Thanks for clarifying. I thought it was odd because I couldn't find anywhere to sit out in the sun and thought I must be missing something. Your help is much appreciated!

5 minutes ago, MylesS said:

I’ve just gone outside to take these pictures. I’m not in the Grills’ and not in their area when I took these. 

So you have to go down to deck 10 and then back up to get to that deck? 

6 minutes ago, MylesS said:

Yes, you can do that on here regardless of what cabin category you’re in

Is the rear of deck 11 not also grills I just got to where the wellness studio ia and there is a gate.  I thought it was all Grills only from there?

1 minute ago, Selbourne said:

Do I take it from this comment that you are dining in Britannia Club? If so, aside from the restaurant size, how are you finding the food and service (we are booked in BC on QA for two cruises). Thanks. 

Food has been good so far.  Service has improved since day one as per other comments, but then this is the first trip with passengers so I was expecting more hiccups than there have been.  Of the staff i've spoken with quite a few have come over from the QM2 so there may be some familiar faces for some.  But given that they are getting used to a new ship I think the service is fine.  By the time of your cruise everything will be fine.