balf

 

The people who sign on for the experience but do not contribute either don't get it or don't care and they come away feeling short changed but never really understand why.

There is little evidence that a problem exists in regard to non appliance of the dress code. No one has reported anything other than occasional breaches of the code. Anyone who has never sailed with Cunard would have a vision of masses of uncouth passengers roaming the dining rooms, theatre, and bars.

To miss quote the advert and David Cameron “calm down dears, the problem doesn’t exist”

David

I would be interested to hear from people on this board who sail Cunard and do not want to follow the dress code.What are the reasons for paying a higher price with Cunard ? It cannot be such things as service in the restaurant or the theatre shows or the Commodore Club or most of the bars as non of these,IN THEORY,are currently open to people ignoring the dress code, so what is it that justifies a premium price to current or potential Cunarders

Have a look at my post 602.

David

This is quite an old thread, we have already established that this "industry insider" has no idea what happens on Cunard.

 

See here

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2413808

Am often disturbed by the resurrection of old threads, and posts from members sadly no longer here. Often wonder what Saiacia would make of the current ongoing discussions. Sadly missed.

Could old posts not be closed after a period of time?

DAVID

The point is actually, that many people on THIS FORUM are in favour of including tips in the fare price. But I feel that users of this forum are a tiny minority of P&O's cruisers, so don't give an accurate indication. Just saying.

Yes, but your point would only be valid if people who post on this forum are in some way different from those who don’t. I can’t think of any reason why this would be so.

DAVID.

We know from all the comments here that most would prefer tips to be included, yet most still continue to accept the “optional” system. Folks, nothing will change while you do. Remove the tips and make it quite plain why you are doing so in any survey.

Let’s think like Aussies for once.

DAVID.

Actually I think it was me, sorry.

David

IMO a large number of people are assuming there will be people who will be happy to sail Cunard with a relaxed dress code than they would have been under the old code.

 

Can someone explain to me why they would want to spend more on a Cunard cruise when they can continue to cruise on cheaper lines offering the same experience? It just doesn't make economic sense.

 

Don't say it is for the ambiance of Cunard because that will no longer be unique, as it will just be like every other line. I accept that TA's might be an exception, (for the time being).

If you took a cruise aboard, say, P&O Ventura (not to be recommend though) you would realise that though Cunard is in the same race to the bottom as all the others, It’s just that they have not fallen quite as far yet and the name Cunard is still a draw for many. Over 50 odd cruises over the years I have seen standards slipping in most departments, but that has not really bothered me too much. I cruise for the relaxation really and a more relaxed dress code would not bother me a jot.

Of course any passenger can dress as formally as they wish, it’s just mixing with those who don’t that seems to be the problem for them and there is still an element of a class system as always.

DAVID

You are possibly right regarding the research but I think the clue is that you suggest they spend "thousand of DOLLARS".....I would be interested to know if they have done any research in anywhere other than the USA as no UK based Cunard manager has suggested the changes are the result of market research.There is a great deal of comment on this subject from EXISTING customers so why do Carnival/Cunard want to alienate existing known customers and substitute them with "possible" new customers.If the dress code is going to be no different from other ships why would anyone pay a Cunard premium.Do you suppose they have factored into to their research results a reduction in income per passenger ???

They are not existing customers, they’re there already.

DAVID.

 

The thread is about leaving the auto tip on or taking it off. As I am going to tip anyway I leave it on as it is easier.

 

 

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Correct me if I’m wrong, but have you not said in the past that are you in favour of including tips in the cruise fare. By continuing to auto tip you are not helping to get the present tipping regime altered as seems to be the option of most on these boards.

DAVID

Of course you may be asked if you have any alcohol as you pass through security

Bal

So how do you answer - true of false

DAVID

Could anyone who has been on a cruise since the change inalcohol policy tell me if we can combine the 1 litre per adult and bring amixture on board. For example, 1 x 75cl bottle red wine, 1 x 75cl bottle whitewine and 1 x 50 cl bottle spirit.

 

The P&O help page (below) does say wine, Champagne,beer, spirit OR liquor. I can’tfind any mention of combining allowances or number of individual bottles.

 

 

 

Each guest aged 18 years(21 years in United States of America ports) and older may bring up to 1 litreof wine, Champagne, beer, spirit or liqueur on board as they embark the shipfor the first time only. Alcohol over the 1 litre limit will be stored andreturned to you prior to the end of your cruise.

The allowance is quite straightforward. 1 litre per passenger. From their point of view, simple to operate though tough admittedly on wine drinkers.

DAVID

Yes, POSH - port out starboard home.

David

It's a shame, really. Dressing for dinner on an ocean liner causing angst, confusion and concern. And it's probably Cunard's fault, too. Too darned many pix of preening models in tuxes and evening gowns they don't even own.

 

The simple fact, the reality is that the dress code is no different today than it was 100 years ago. In First Class, you wore a dinner jack (or indeed white tie and tails pre-war), in Second Class (Cabin) you wore a dark suit and in Tourist you wore that or a sports jacket and tie. So if you consider the Grills First and Britannia Cabin/Tourist (and you should because it is), it's that easy: jacket/tie or a suit and that's it. How easy can it be? When I crossed in the old days in QE2 Tourist Class, I wore a sports jacket/tie to dinner. And when I went Queens Grill I brought a d/j. If you don't like to dress in a tux/evening gown, you are wasting your money going the Grills frankly. But everywhere else.. it's dead easy. And a nice dark suit or dark sports jacket/trousers probably looks better than some rental tux anyway. And no, they don't check to see that you brushed your teeth or have clean fingernails. It's just an ocean liner crossing the Atlantic not some severe English boarding school.

Good post, sums it up perfectly.

David

Proof that dressing better than the average bear at all times ie. blazer, slacks and dress loafers for the gentleman and a nice dress or ladies suit for the lady for boarding allows for dinner in the dining room even if luggage arrives after midnight.

Depends on what sort of a journey you have had surely.

David

If cruise lines omit St Petersberg I don’t think they will sell many Baltic cruises. As with many here I have visited there a few times before but wouldn’t go now if only from the personal safety aspect. It is a brilliant city to visit as Egypt is country, but I wouldn’t go there either now.

DAVID.

I would not criticise how much others drink on a cruise, and liver transplants are “free” on the NHS, but I can still be amazed at the capacity of some.

DAVID.

As with many others here I can only report facts as experienced, but posters who report everything as “perfect” presumably don’t have any knowledge of complaining because they don’t have anything to complain about.

DAVID

Yes, I saw a programme which said exactly that. We grew up without all these anti this and that. We have sound immune systems. I don't remember anybody at my school with asthma, or allergies. I don't use anti bac anything at home. I also have 2 dogs and I know that kids who have dogs in their home develop a much stronger immune system than those who don't have animals.

Excellent post. Someday maybe the penny will drop as to why we have so many ailments around that were rare years ago. I was raised in a household that was basically clean but where we ingested a dose of various nasties every day rather than killing them with powerful chemicals. We didn’t know it at the time but we were getting free immunisation daily.

Never knew anyone with asthma.

DAVID

So sorry to read that your experience fell so short of your expectations as regards dining, that is poor. As it was a failure from the first night, when you spoke with the restaurant manager/ maitre d' and gave him/her details of the problems, did they do nothing to address your concerns, or to even try to rectify the situation? Did you escalate the complaint and did that also fall on deaf ears? If so, that is inexcusable. What were the problems? Was the rest of the ship fine, just dining in PG so poor?

Again, so sorry to read your comments, and about the poor standards. However, many happy sailings for the future :)

Would that everyone had the confidence to complain. I once complained to the M.D. about the really poor cheese board ( well not actually a cheese board more a sparse few pieces of dodgy looking Cheddar with a few crackers) and he told me I knew nothing about cheese, end of story. Sometimes it’s just not worth the upset.

DAVID.

Only 200 people means 200 people reported to the medical room and therefore became statistics. Many more may have been sick but opted to self medicate: probably a much higher number imo.

David

Viruses spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes, expelling viral-infected droplets several feet. These viruses can also live on any object that comes in contact with an infected person. Objects such as door handles, telephones, towels, and silverware can spread a virus days after being contaminated.

 

From the NHS UK site

Colds are spread by germs from coughs and sneezes which can live on hands and surfaces for 24 hours.

 

So it is spread by contact and airborne. someone sneezes, the droplets with virus travel several feet, land on your fork which you then stick in your mouth. The virus itself is not airborne but the droplets are. The droplets themselves can travel up to 25 feet :eek:

Which is what I wrote in my post (Only in close contact with a sufferer who is coughing or vomiting is it likely)

DAVID.

I'm 68 years old and had Flu twice in all those years, once as a 12 year old and again 20 years ago. Both times I was so ill that I couldn't get out of bed and if I had to go to the bathroom I crawled. Now nasty colds on the other hand have come and gone numerous times and yes I've felt poorly but never ever called it Flu as it isn't.

 

As for it being down to poor hygiene on ships that is complete rubbish as it's an airborne problem.

There is only sparse evidence that it is airborne, like the medieval miasma. NHS England does not mention this possibility. Only in close contact with a sufferer who is coughing or vomiting is it likely. The idea that it is widely distributed via an atmosphere or the ship air com is false imo.

David

I rather like this 'spot on' response.

 

Half a story is no good to anyone.

Very true and applicable to the “everything was perfect” posters here.

DAVID.

Please point out where I said they could not change this. What I said was that I agreed an amount at time of booking and that I would pay, but as the change they have made is not mandatory, that would invalidate a U.K. Established contract, I shall chose not to pay the increase.

They are not in the contrast.

DAVID.

On that basis everyone who books on day one would be in the same position. We often book 20+ months ahead so we have a right to only accept conditions in place at that time. On that basis the company would not be able to change anything.

 

I have always thought that this argument that a company cannot change anything after you have booked to be a bit daft. Especially when the lead in time for booking cruises is so long.

 

I will be booking in March April for late 19 and early 20. I have no doubt that some things will change between booking and the cruise. Including another rise in tips.

 

 

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Yes, but remember the gratuities are optional so they are not actually charging anything if passengers choose not to pay. Gratuities are not part of the contract.

David