foodsvcmgr

I’m pretty sure that fixed dining has table numbers pre assigned, you would only need to stand in line if you were unhappy with what you were given and wanted to change.

Understood but not sure why reports of issues and general dissatisfaction would be exclusive to CC participants. I don’t put much faith in random complaints but there is certainly a pattern here with DMW.

Reading all this, are there truly enough people who have no issue with DMW or conversely not enough demanding a return to the TD option, or does Princess simply not care about the guest experience? Seems unusual to see a business so wedded to a policy or procedure and not care about customer satisfaction.

Doesn’t have to be Lincoln Center branded. The old piano and violin duos were fine with me. Anything larger or better would just be a bonus.

These concepts like many other great plans in the cruise industry over the years all appear to be struggling with money. Mirai lacks the cash to close on Aida. Veendam still languishing. And the latest entrant wants to buy a ship that isn’t even currently for sale. Do you see a pattern here?

Booked Concierge for Antarctica in January. Just received Move Up offering Aqua for $150 pp minimum bid. 25 cabins appear unsold currently. With the current menu and food issues would it be worthwhile to bid for an upgrade to Blu vs MDR and for how much above the minimum? Any thoughts? Thanks.

Even if they eventually redo the other ships I hope QM2 retains her original font on the bow as that was a tribute to the style used on QE2. I believe “Hamilton” is a rectangular plate welded over top of “Southampton”.

Teesa the temps were low 70’s partly cloudy, pop up showers, so nice sightseeing type weather more than swimming for me anyway.

We had an outstanding Bermuda cruise on Liberty last May, liked the ship and layout. Menus were the same as others have indicated, so appears they have been consistent for the 5 night cruises. Food and service in fixed dining were quite good.

On a directional cruise I would pick the side that potentially would offer some scenic cruising, in this case the port side. Your particular one way sailing still offers a mix of directions at times though. Tough call. Whereas on a round trip it makes less difference because the ship turns around at the halfway point. How the ship will face when docked is usually impossible to predict.

I took a short cruise to Bermuda on Liberty of the Seas last May and they also had day of the week carpet inserts in the elevators.

For whatever reason, I have found that cream by any name is extremely difficult if not impossible to come by on Cunard as well as HAL, Celebrity, and Princess. MDR’s and buffets seem to only offer regular or skim milk. I’ve always thought it was an odd quirk of cruising.

You may also find that the onboard credit will not be combinable with the lowest promotional fares. It would be a shame to wait trying to get the OBC only to be denied. Check fare options closely. This was my experience in August.

I enjoyed Club on a T/A where the fixed table and servers for all three meals was an attraction. I wouldn’t pay the premium for a port intensive cruise where I might need an early and fast buffet breakfast or eat a local lunch off the ship. Also as Winifred says, we eat at late seating so the option to dine at different times not really needed. Club is a very nice experience however.

Having for 30 years been responsible for prepping a 700 room hotel for periodic visits by ownership I agree that many issues will be remediated and concealed for the exec team, this is nonetheless very good news. While they will certainly receive their food hot, they will still experience the very small menu. The ship will be clean, but still quite worn, etc.

Agree QV food at end of August was outstanding. Seems like a Chef issue on QM2 rather than corporate cost cutting.

HAL just offered a Dollar Deposit day a couple weeks ago, so I think Carnival Corp. still sees merit in this type of promo. If this generates too many frivolous bookings, maybe Princess could restrict the number of bookings an individual can hold for $1, more than one or two would require full deposit?

I like the huge amount of public space for number of passengers, forward and aft viewing decks across multiple levels, full promenade, forward facing buffet, lots of options for entertainment, etc.

My experience in the US is that you can make your initial deposit online but that you need to call to pay the final balance.

Agreed Victoria, I’m eager to try QA and see for myself. Cunard can’t be blamed for wanting to market to a larger and wider audience. There is no reason they can’t offer “something for everyone” as they state. I have no problem with others attending a wellness program as long as I can still enjoy a lecture or concert. It doesn’t bother me that some will choose to eat informally in the new speciality restaurants as long as I can still enjoy fixed late seating in Britannia dressed in a tux. The only issue will be if/when those in charge start removing the traditional options, and I optimistically don’t see that happening.

Fascinating, hard to believe it can be completed so quickly. Thanks for posting.

Apologies, this was actually September of 1979. In April I was experiencing the final days of the Italian Line aboard “Guglielmo Marconi”. Back to Cunard, I was on a r/t under the One Way Free promotion of the time. Laurence Portet was Captain. The good old days…….

Thanks for starting a fun topic. My first T/A was April 1979 in what was by then democratically renamed “Transatlantic Class” inside single #3002 all the way forward. In some of the heavy weather pictured I recall levitating off my little bunk as the ship pitched. These gents were my server team in Tables of the World, Londoner section. Agreed not a lot of professional entertainment then, but a highlight was a speech by Prince Asfa Wossen Asserate of Ethiopia who was on his way to the UN to ask for help liberating his country from the communists who had overthrown his father Haile Selassie. A memorable precursor to todays lecture programs.

Sad that there are no more actual rotating appetizers, only soups and salads plus the daily shrimp cocktail and escargot.

I noticed very little substantive difference in Britannia food on QV six weeks ago compared to QM2 in 2018. But as I have frequently stated on these boards I believe Cunard’s overhyped marketing does them no favors in the end.