Mack704

I'm a little confused. Is there a separate sea pass account for tips to be assessed? Or is there just one sea pass account with debits and credits? Wouldn't OBC just be a credit and gratuities just be a debit? Can anyone explain the ins and outs of how this works? Thanks!

 

Harvey

An insignificant detail in the larger scheme of the Celebrity website. I'm sure that was the original description when the Cafe Al Bacio was added to the website that was not changed when the venue was changed.

 

As noted on these boards ad nauseam, there are bigger problems with Celebrity's website than updating an "insignificant detail" like no more savories at this dining venue.

 

Harvey

This is from the website. I didn't really notice what they had on my most recent sailing however. Keep checking throughout the day..."Morning specialties include almond croissants, pain au chocolate, brioche and boule de Berlin. At lunch time, enjoy light sandwiches such as salmon mousse on pumpernickel or brie with sliced apples on a baguette. Desserts are offered in the afternoon and evening. Apricot pistachio tartlets, chocolate gianduja cake and tiramisu are all quite tempting. An espresso and a chocolate truffle may become your 4:00 p.m. daily ritual."

 

Unless that is a new paragraph on the website? It is just wrong:rolleyes::eek::(

but we shouldn't be too surprised about that.......

 

I haven't seen any savories at lunchtime in years....

 

Hey Lois, just for a kibbitz, I checked the website, and the above is a direct quote from the description of the Cafe Al Bacio. They may not serve savories anymore but Celebrity's website says the do.

 

Harvey

[quote name='lexdisic']No problem at all :)

On numerous occasions - cant give a definitive answer as I wasnt counting - BUT - as we were sitting close to the entrance to the kitchens, we could see meals being taken from diners to the kitchen and returned with the staff making apologies on behalf of the chef maybe 3-5 times while we were there. This was happening most nights on the first leg. We experienced incorrect cooking ourselves - in particular the beef dishes which were "well done" when asked for a medium rare. This was a common complaint we experienced or heard about. A neighbouring 2 top table both sent their chateaubriand 2 times and in the end gave up and didnt eat their meal. We did inform the Maitre'D and it was him that told us of the change of chef. My stomach cant take a rare steak as it used to and so I tend to have it medium these days, but we had to order it medium rare in the hope it came back medium otherwise it would have been well done. I did not send my meal back as my partners meal would have been interrupted, so I just ate it with the hope it was a one off - unfortunately it was not - hence I spoke to the Maitre'D. As I previously mentioned, the second leg was not as bad, but we still had to order how we thought it would arrive instead of how we would like it. We had numerous conversations (wasnt counting :p) with other diners and we were asking how it compared to other X ships and ALL said there was no comparison to their previous experience of Blu. There were also issues of missing ingredients e.g. no avocado on the avocado and arugula salad, to me again this showed that the kitchen was under great stress for whatever reason - which I could only conclude would be understaffing in the kitchen. That was sent back and was returned complete so it could not have been due to the shortages that were happening (bananas and berries missing for nearly a week which then became a standing joke with the waitstaff as the deserts were still listed but didnt have the ingredients for them e.g. banoffee pie with no bananas :))

I have to say that thanks to the wait staff in there, that things stayed in control - if anything we were embarassed for them as they were trying their best to please everyone - so kudos to them for a fine job done. None of the problems were unsolvable, but were enough to put us off Blu on Millie, and would try it on an S class ship as it was recommended by others on Millie.

Hope that helps :)[/QUOTE]

It does, in fact, help. Thank you! Your explanation is plausible. I'm sorry you had such experiences and observations in Blu. I've been on several Celebrity cruises, although never having eaten in Blu, but have found the MDR very good to excellent on most dishes ordered.

My curiosity stemmed more from dress code threads than from Blu or MDR quality of food threads. Some of our fellow Cruise Critics are wildly adamant in one direction or another about dress on formal night, etc.

I've seen on these boards people estimating the number of tuxes, suits, casual cloths, etc. on formal nights and wonder how their surveys are being conducted. Some gave actual percentages of what diners are wearing.

DW and I never seem to notice what anyone's wearing, or if the Maitre' d is preventing entrance or giving out jackets to men not wearing any. We barely notice what anyone is wearing in the immediate area of our table.

Except this one formal night, the 2 top next to ours in select dining had an adorable young (early 20s) couple wearing barely casual cloths. We had a lovely time conversing with them in spite of there ignoring of the dress code. But apparently the Maitre'd let them in and did not give him a jacket to wear.

I'm rambling now. Sorry. Again, thanks for satisfying my curiosity. And again, sorry for your poor experience. Dining is definitely a large part of my cruise enjoyment. I've really never had a poor experience in any of X's MDRs. I may even try Blu next time. I'll let you know.

Harvey

[quote name='lexdisic']We were on a 28 day B2B on Millie. The first leg was very inconsistant, with numerous diners sending meals back for not being cooked as ordered - overdone in most cases. We were told that it was because of the change in chef - surely there has to be more than one :rolleyes: We found it to be more hit and miss after 8.00pm when the crowds started - it just seemed that they struggled when it got busy. The kitchen used is the same one as used by the MDR, not a separate one, but we did not hear of anything similar happening in the MDR. There was slight improvement on the second leg.
Breakfasts, as usual, were superb. The first leg had shortages, in particular, the fruit - no bananas or berries, but it didnt seem to affect the wonderful smoothies. The second leg had no shortages
The staff were outstanding for both breakfast and dinner - any problems we encountered were from the kitchen.
We have been looking at another B2B on Millie, and have decided not to go AQ because of the problems, which may or may not remain unresolved as long as its a shared kitchen. Can only assume that not enough kitchen staff were allocated to Blu. We never ate in the MDR for dinner so dont have any comparison, but from all accounts, we will miss the quietness and relaxed atmosphere - as well as the breakfasts and superb staff.[/QUOTE]

Just curious and playing a little devil's advocate here. How did you know or find out that numerous diners were sending back meals and for what reasons? Did you look around the room when you were dining? Did you walk around the room when you weren't dining? Did you stay at the hostess station and poll the diners as they were leaving? And for the entire dining hours? Every day? Or just a random sample? Did your waiter tell you? Did you find out from the host(ess) or Maitre' d?

I've seen many generalizations on these boards similar to the claim you made. I'm just curious how you found out. No hostility, just curiosity.

Harvey

The only food establishment outside is the poolside grill, which most likely will not be open unless you have some really nice weather.

 

No, you won't have to walk outside to get to any restaurant on the ship. My wife always takes a wrap into any restaurant, land based or on a ship.

 

You might want to dress a little warmer if you eat at the buffet and use their outside deck. But it's not necessary to go outside. Usually always enough seating inside.

 

Harvey

Maybe Cunard doesn't accept loyalty status from a sister company, but it does exist within the cruising industry.

 

In the Royal Caribbean family, RCL accepts attained loyalty status from Celebrity, and X accepts the same from RCL.

 

Maybe it's a new thing within Carnival Corp.

 

Harvey

The dining staff on our crossing (just back), were bending over backwards to keep us happy. Our two or three off menu requests were met with smiles and fulfillment.

 

You could alert your head waiter the first night. You could speak to the assistant Maitre'd for your section at the beginning of the cruise. Or you could handle it night to night with your waitstaff. In any case you should have no problem whatsoever.

 

Harvey

Honestly, I'm trying not to sound nasty with my answer, but here goes:

 

Whose approval are you seeking here? The Cunard stated dress policy; our fellow cruise critics; your fellow passengers; the management and staff of the main dining room; yourselves; or some other higher authority?

 

DW and I, just today, came off the Qm2 Western crossing. Our intention was to rent formal wear for me, so as to not have to lug it around Paris and London prior to the cruise.

 

Once inside the formal shop on board, we decided to just buy a tie and make due. Well, they were out of neck ties already, on just the second day. So we bought a handsome bow tie.

 

Having not brought a suit of any color, we pieced together my formal attire as follows: black sports jacket; charcoal dress pants; white dress shirt; handsome bow tie. Almost Looked like a faux tux.

 

No remarks or negative looks from dining staff. (Matter of fact, our wait staff was superb, as usual). No looks of condescension from fellow passengers. (Not that we would have cared). My wife took a picture. I looked sharp.

 

Bottom line: My advice, buy a nice looking suit. Much more practical. Potentially, many more uses in the future. Enjoy your cruise. Enjoy the food. It's real good.

 

Harvey

Having been on four other cruise lines, multiple times, I must agree with you Lynn, this time. Boarding the QM2 this coming Friday, I have no first hand knowledge of Cunard's dining policies.

 

But on Holland America, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, and Carnivai the MDR is NOT open on embarkation day for lunch. Nor is the MDR open on port days for lunch. Since Cunard is now a Carnival product, I would guess the policy is similar.

 

Since my voyage starting Friday is a westbound TA, all days will be sea days. Therefore, I'm anticipating lunch in the MDR every day except embarkation day.

 

Harvey

Believe me it can and does happen, and has nothing to do with the manners of the passenger. Each cruise has a different staff, some alas have never worked in "up scale" locations, some barely speak English, and contrary to Cunard's rules, there are those who constantly speak their own language whilst serving passengers (in Britannia or Kings Court especially).

 

I do know that at least two Ex Chefs came to Cunard from the "working men's club " type of establishment, not 4 or 5 star restaurants. I do know that sometimes waiters say something is not available, just to avoid the extra work involved, even when you can see that item being served to other tables.

 

As I have reported I met with the "Hotel Manager" on one cruise and discovered she had never worked for Cunard before, never worked in the "hotel environment" her previous work experience had been as a Kindergarten teacher ! Indeed I do not think she had ever actually taken a cruise.

 

No I do not know how she managed to get the job on the ship, I only know that she had not the foggiest idea of how to run a big department or the expectations of passengers. She actually informed me that my ideas of treating clients (passengers) as "being right even of they are wrong" was "OUT OF DATE".

 

In my case she decided to change my cabin halfway through a cruise, and give it to other passengers , because and I quote "You are a solo, in a large cabin, and this family needs the larger room you do not need all that space".

 

This even though I had booked /chosen my cabin 12 months in advance and paid the same as that for double occupancy . I refused to vacate, from your reply I assume you would have smiled and vacated the cabin of your choice --- or would you????

 

By all means cherish your ideas that smiling and accepting the service you are given even if it is "poor" , personally I think every customer no matter whether in a store or on a ship is entitled to get that for which they paid, consideration and respect travels BOTH ways.

 

If my steward, server, or Department Manager behaves poorly, should I be expected to accept that poor service simply because he /she comes from X and is working away from family?

 

Paying the cost of a long Cunard "Grand Voyage" I expect a better experience than that offered on a 5 day , $60 a day "cruise to the Islands" .

 

 

Wow! All I gotta say is: if the shoe fits...........

 

Maybe it's because after a dozen or so cruises, on four different cruse lines, my wife and I have never had any of those bad things happen to us. Nor have we encountered any rude or clueless staff members. They never gave us a reason not to smile. Maybe we're just lucky that way.

 

Harvey

I've read three things within this thread that I feel compelled to reply to:

 

1) Mention was made to the matre'd's response in regards to the poor presentation of the French onion soup. Paraphrasing: "I have no control over how the food is prepared". It's hard to believe any matre'd would utter such a short answer unless approached by a pompous ass.

 

2) Mention was made of a small lobster thermador presentation and the wait staff was reluctant to bring seconds. Again, how was the server approached? Again, I find it hard to believe unless the server was talked down to.

 

3) I mentioned in an earlier post that I don't consider small portions a valid argument. Ask nicely and they will bring you more.

 

Thanks for letting me vent. Ten days 'til boarding the QM2. I plan on smiling a lot and talking nicely to everyone!

 

Harvey

Portion size has never been a valid argument in my view. DW and I have cruised on four different mainstream lines. We've never been discouraged to order more than one of any course or dish.

 

Our first Cunard sailing starts May 9. And from what I've been reading the same policy exists on Cunard. So now I have been forewarned. When ordering lunch in Sir Samuels, I will start by ordering two. Thank you!

 

Harvey

As we all are equipped with our own feelings, tendencies, preferences, quirks, (well, you get the idea), that includes with whom we want to dine with.

 

My wife and I request a table for two on every cruise. When I travel alone I dine by myself. I'm the first one to strike up a conversation with strangers in the right circumstance. But I (we) prefer to dine alone. It's a feeling. Don't know if a feeling can be explained.

 

Harvey

I am considering an 8 day cruise on board QM2 in July 2014. This will be to celebrate my wife's 50th. We have previously cruised with Celebrity, P and O and NCL and so are fairly familiar with the different brands. I have read several very negative reviews about QM2 and was hoping for some guidance about how accurate such reviews have been. I appreciate QM2 is a liner rather than a cruise ship and was concerned how this may impact on the facilities. We would likely be in Britannia Class and I was also worried about the different classes on board and if we would be treated as second class citizens down in the bilge. My favourite ship is probably Celebrity Eclipse. How do the different products compare?

 

DW and I are scheduled on the QM2 on May 9. It will also be our first on Cunard. I've done extensive research and have found nothing indicating anyone must where any kind of cabin class ID badges or some such class identification. So how would anyone know to treat you second class.

 

Might you be worried you cabin staff or room service staff or the maybe Britannia staff themselves treat you as second class? I wouldn't.

 

We've been on several Celebrity cruises and I'm looking forward to exploring the similarities and differences. We are all in cruising class, on vacation. Enjoy!

 

Harvey

Hi, I'm brand new to cruising and this site so if this is in the wrong place I apologise. Just a quick question, we are going on a cruise on the Queen Victoria in December around Europe. Can men wear white dinner jackets to the black and white ball, I know white jackets aren't correct form in the winter and non tropical climes and as it's our first cruise I didn't want to get it wrong, can anyone help ?

 

I am a casual type American. Nevertheless, I have been on many cruises and try to conform to cruiseline dress code policies. I'd like to clarify your questions a little, and maybe offer my opinionated answers.

 

First of all, you are definitely in the correct place. This is where questions related to cruising are welcome and this area in particular to Cunard. Now to the meat of the matter.

 

Your initial question words are "can men", implying "are men able to", phisically able to. (at least in the U.S.) Of course, the answer is yes. If you meant "may men", the answer gets a little trickier.

 

Asking the question on cruise critic might mean you are looking for the experienced Cunarders to answer. Or are you looking for Cunard's answer, as known by us Cruise Criticers.

 

Cunard written dress code policy does not specify color of DJ. The upper echelon of Cunard cruisers you've heard from here. Heaven forbid anything but black.

 

As far as most of the rest of us are concerned, you are not 'wrong' in any case. As far as those whose pinky fingers are pointed skyward, who cares what they think?

 

Did you imagine in your mind stares and giggles and finger pointing if yor wore your white DJ and you were wrong? Shame on the snobs if they do.

 

Have a great cruise! Everyone, have a great cruise! Let's all just look good when we clean up for dinner! Seriously!

 

Harvey

 

I realize my post is pointless and useless. But it was fun composing. My favorite post before mine was the flying fig post. Really, color of your dinner jacket? Wrong? C'mon, aren't you going on vacation?

Having not yet sailed with Cunard, but from reading these boards and the Cunard web site, as well as other sources, I'll try to compare it simply with other cruise lines.

 

Inside cabins and most balcony cabins, encompassing approx. 80% of all living quarters on the ship, are assigned the MDR, i.e. the Britannia dining room. Pay a little more pp for your balcony cabin and you're assigned the Britannia Club dining area, a separate dining room just off of the MDR, with anytime dining - that is eat anytime during dining room open hours.

 

The third and fourth, (or the first and second), categories of cabins are essentially suites. The smaller ones are the Princess grills and the larger ones are the Queen grills. The "grills" themselves are two separate dining rooms that only the suite passengers may use. They are also anytime dining, with your own table assignment, for only you, even for breakfast or lunch. At least on the QM2, they're even on a different deck.

 

Did I get that right, Cap'n?

 

Harvey

We also booked not knowing about the celebration. It just fit our schedule. It's gonna be great!

 

Our meet and greet is the next day. Not trying to be a smart-alec, (yes I am), is there a suggested dress code for this event?😉😃😁

 

Harvey

Yes, I'm a baby boomer too. Yes, I was, in fact, raised properly and to dress properly. No, I'm not from Staten Island. (Although, my daughter lives in the West Village).

 

I'm still in a state of amazement, almost shock, that this thread even exits. In the last ten years I've been on at least 15 cruises, sailing four different cruiselines, (none Cunard). In part of my research for each cruise, I've studied almost, Cruise Critic.

 

I've read nothing, nada, zilch, in regards to proper dress for boarding. Caught me off guard. You all enjoy your dressing up for boarding. No criticism from me. Just not my cup of tea, that's all.

 

Harvey

If you are in Southampton on May 9, and boarding the QM2, I'll be easy to spot. I'll be the one that looks like I dressed for the Staten Island Ferry.

 

Harvey

This question is for this entire thread: Dress for boarding? Are you kidding me?? Is there really a suggested dress for boarding? Again, are you kidding me?

 

DW and I have boarded ships from four different cruiselines (none Cunard) in ports from San Juan to Vancouver. Dress for boarding is weather appropriate, nothing more. Shorts and a tee shirt in San Juan, a sweatshirt and jeans in Vancouver.

 

High heels? Are you kidding me? We will be boarding the QM2 in Southampton in May. Is a tux too much? Are you kidding me?

 

In all fairness, y'all might do things differently Down Under than us plain folk in the States.

 

Harvey

Thanks for the advice, Pepper. We will consider it. And thanks for the best wishes. The anticipation is running rampid through my veins. Final payment in just a couple of weeks! Yea!

 

Harvey

The cost of renting a tuxedo onboard is $90 for one night and $250 for five nights. At these prices I think that you'd be better off buying an inexpensive tuxedo before you sail. Besides, you can't be sure that the ship will have a tuxedo in your size.

 

I mentioned the same price quotes to my wife. She'd rather us pay the rental cost than schlep. The wide range of sizes offered include what would fit most men. I believe the chance I'll be taking that they won't have my size is minimal. If they don't, I imagine I'll be getting a lot of condescending looks in the Britannia on formal nights. But, who cares? The food will still taste the same.

 

Harvey

DW and I are also Celebrity regulars, taking our first Cunard voyage this year on the May 9 TA out of Southhampton. My extensive research on the Cunard web site has indicated that there is formal ware for hire on the ship. However it states no eligibility to pre-book.

 

We are spending a week in Europe prior, and have no interest in schlepping more than necessary around Paris and London. So one of our first stops upon boarding will be to the shop where we can rent my tux for the three formal nights.

 

Is this what you're asking?

 

Harvey

In the eleven years DW and I have been together we've spent approx. 135 days at sea on four different mass market cruiselines; none being Cunard. We've done several Caribbean cruises, the Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, New England and Canada, etc. We've discovered we like sea days the best.

 

Neither of us has ever been to Europe. (You may have guessed we live in the US). For our next extended vacation, DW wanted to visit Europe, particularly Paris, and I wanted to spend several days at sea. To compromise, we agreed to spend one week in Europe and then cruise back to the states, preferably in just 7 days; which lead us to Cunard.

 

This vacation is booked for this coming May. Unbeknownst to us at the time, we booked the QM2 10 year anniversary cruise on May 9.

 

I am a vacation researcher. I find the anticipation of a major vacation and the research that I put into it provides much pleasure. I'm researching for months. The vacation is only a couple of weeks. (which seems to go by in the wink of an eye).

 

In recent years, my favorite research tool has been here, on Cruise Critic. Insider information, I call it. In abundance. Pictures and menus and dailies and narratives and travel logs. I've mentioned to my wife in recent days that I'm not sure I'd be interested in interacting with many of our fellow passengers on this cruise. (We usually keep pretty much to ourselves anyway).

 

In reading these Cunard boards, I've found what I've perceived as snobbery, plain and simple. My visual is noses in the air and pinkies pointed towards the sky.

 

The most comforting things I've read on this thread are assurances that the snobs are mainly here anonymously on CC and hardly at all on the ship. Thank you all for that. I feel better now.

 

For any condescending looks in our direction from anyone on the ship, for any reason, don't waste your time. We don't care what you think.

 

For any worrying that we might spoil your ambience on the ship, don't. We generally follow the dress code and any other traditions published by Cunard.

 

Happy cruising! See you on board.

 

Harvey