Queen Victoria - Got to get this off my chest!!

[William Dean]

I had an extra plate of pork crackling - simply because they remembered from a previous cruise. Now that IS impressive!

[Jimsgirl]

I am truly pleased that EssexZBarnes had a good cruise, may I ask that he write a longer review for the review page.

 

It is important that the review does let us know if the writer was QG,PG, Brit.Club or regular Britannia, so we can compare apples with apples. Obviously food, service and overall experience is very different when one is writing about QG or D8.

 

 

Also we do have to compare dates of various reviews, as everything can vary greatly from cruise to cruise, expecially food,and staff services. Recently for a family birthday we went to a local restaurent, we have been there many times, always good food, service etc. Not this time, food was not good and the service downright terrible we could not believe we were in the same place as the last time we were there. So it is with ships.

[EssexBarnes]

Jimsgirl .....wrote a review on "Cruise critic" QV page.

 

This time we travelled Brittania class (A1 Grade)

 

And i totally agree regarding variation, we too have been to restaurants, that friends have reccomended two weeks prior and we have been dissapointed....or vice versa

[guernseyguy]

Also we do have to compare dates of various reviews, as everything can vary greatly from cruise to cruise, expecially food,and staff services.

 

While it can, I suspect there are greater differences between reviewers than cruises. Recently I have seen several reviews for the same cruise on Queen Victoria - one rated 1*, the other 5+*! Both Britannia.....

[William Dean]

While it can, I suspect there are greater differences between reviewers than cruises. Recently I have seen several reviews for the same cruise on Queen Victoria - one rated 1*, the other 5+*! Both Britannia.....

 

Some people like to moan, others prefer to have a good time.

 

Reviews follow the mindset. I have seen this before too.

[Jimsgirl]

Thank you EssesBarnes

 

I will read your review. Maybe some will think me "nosy" but I do like to know which grade the poster was in. I always book D8 and have been most fortunate to get upgrades at least 70% of the time. On my next cruise QM2 in Nov I have alread gone from D8 to C3. I travel alone and a verandah would be a waste.

 

On my last cruise on QM2 I was invited to visit the Holyrood suite for drinks. it was really a case of "wow" of course the fare paid was also very "wow" making.

 

When I went into the Champagne bar on my own , I received smiling polite service certain no cause for complaint.

However when I went in there with an escort form the Holyrood suite (who was being kind to an old lady), we were treated as "reely reely special" even to receiving a dish of strawberries with our drinks, a "perk" I did not receive when I was in there on my own.

 

It did give me reason to wonder 'Why the difference'? Was it because they thought we were mother and son , or was it the stateroom shown on his card? Of course I loved it any way

 

On QV next Feb I have booked D2 as I will be on board for 29 days B2B cruises. I am really looking forward to the cruise

 

Lynn

[GCurry]

Dancing in the Queens ballroom to a proper strictempo orchestra is sheer heaven and the guys in Hemispheres were great too.

Good information as we dance rather than see the shows.

 

I try to take most internet postings with a grain of salt. If you want to see negative reviews go to the Holland America board and read the reviews of the ms Veendam. Like you, I was almost cancelled my cruise because of those reviews. But also like you, I went ahead with my cruise and had a great time on the Veendam. I was hard pressed to find the "problems" complained about in the postings.Tom

Some years ago we cruised on the Veendam for our Honeymoon and had a wonderful time.

We've cruised HAL several times since and have never been disappointed.

[guernseyguy]

It did give me reason to wonder 'Why the difference'? Was it because they thought we were mother and son , or was it the stateroom shown on his card?

 

The Stateroom should not have been immediately apparent - but the Cunard World Club level (newbie, silver, gold, platinum, diamond) would be.....I did notice staff attentiveness got better after I got my Diamond status....which I had ascribed to my natural charm....but then again...

[realtorlovescruising]

:)We have sailed on Vicky maiden trans Atlantic. Even with 21' waves very much enjoyed the ship, service and amenties. We have booked again and sail with her this month. Cannot wait. this our 10th cruise and that includes one on Mary.

My wife and i were originally due to travel back from NY on QM2, but due to certain circumstances had to cancel and rebook during August in the Med on the queen Victoria.

 

This would be our 20th cruise and 2nd time with Cunard but first timers on this particular ship. So thought i would learn a little more by having a look at the reviews and forum threads for this ship......boy did this worry me as some of the reviews over the last two months have been pretty scathing.

So much so, that i nearly cancelled altogether!!

 

The reviews talked about poor cleanliness (especially the toilets in public areas), lack of choice in restaurants and the quality of food in both Brittannia and more especially the Lido buffet. Surly staff and poor entertainment.

 

I accept that all reviews are subjective, but with these in mind, i made a mental note of the potential problems areas to look out for and my wife and i agreed to treat this as a much needed rest if nothing else.

 

How wrong were those reviews and am so pleased that we chose to continue with our travel plans. In short, having cruised with most of the leading cruiselines, this cruise and the Queen Vic proved to be the best cruise ever ....and that includes Grill class on the QM2.

 

In brief.....Cleanliness - Spotless (especially toilets even around decks).

Food choice - Excellent in fact spoilt for choice across all courses - it was hard to choose, just went with whether we were in a fish or meat mood. Quality of the Food - Simply outstanding from the Lemon sole on the first night to the Double cut Sirloin on the last.

The staff, from the deck attendants to the bar staff around the decks and especially in the lounges were faultless, smiling and courteous and certainly followed the "White Star" service *****. Although the headline artists were not to our liking, the production shows were outstanding especially the dancers and certainly not "end of the pier" type shows as had been mentioned in some reviews. And finally the Lido buffet being more like a cafeteria then restaurant...Could not have been further from the truth. The quality and choice again were excellent with people talking about broken equipment and paper napkins - i certainly never witnessed this on any occasion. It was linen napkins every day and good very drinkable coffee at all times (with a plentiful supply of Hot Chocolate sachets for the late nightcap drinkers - and there were plenty of us)

 

So was there a negative?

Yes there was.....I asked a question on a thread a few weeks ago regarding sunbed / chair availability on sea days. Most said - no problem. Sadly,it was a nightmare. I have never seen so many towels and books sunbathing. But you get around this with the help of the deck attendants.

Wait by a chair for 10 mins when nobody returns tell the attendant and he does the deed - Sorted!

 

Dancing in the Queens ballroom to a proper strictempo orchestra is sheer heaven and the guys in Hemispheres were great too.

 

As i said earlier - best cruise ever!

Within 24 hours of arriving back home i have booked same cruise, but different month next year....and i am looking forward to it already.

 

In short will be careful which reviews i read in future,,,sorry for the rammble but had to get this off my chest!!

[Precious10]

Great feedback EssexBarnes. We can't wait to board this lovely Cunard Queen in October and your description has been a great boost.

 

Thanks for the positive insights and for painting such a great vision of a wonderful holiday.

 

We loved the cruise on the QM2 on the TA a few years ago.

 

How lucky are we to be able to dream about these fantastic experiences?:)

[Jimsgirl]

Oh GuernseyGuy, we have I think been on the same cruise at least once. My Holyrood host and myself were both Platinium, I am sure womething "tipped" off the staff. Of course thinking of it now, it could have been the price of the wine itself, he purchased Grande Dame!

 

Dont misunderstand me, I have no adverse comment on my solo visit to the champagne bar, and had I not gone there with a friend later in the cruise would never have bee aware of any difference of the two visits. My Nov cruise (Caribbean) will be my 14th, so the first segment of my Feb B2B on QV will see me elevated to Diamond.

 

 

I am so lucky really, I book D8/7 and most times receive an upgrade. In Nov I have already gone from D8 to C3 (82 days to go).

 

So heres to my next visit to the champagne bar. with or without strawberries.

 

Lynn

 

Lynn

[southwestie]

Lynn, always nice to read your posts, we too will be Diamond, but not untill after our next voyage, 20 days to NYC and Canada.

 

Next time your in the champagne bar, just ask for the strawberries, thay sometimes forget to bring them out :eek: but thay do have them, covered in chocolate . we often pop in there before dinner

[Alona]

Just had to write a few words. This August my husband and I went on our first ever cruise and chose the Queen Victoria. We had an absolute wonderful time. When we got back a friend asked if there were any negative points about the cruise and I could honestly say there were none. We had particular dietary requirements and nothing was too much trouble. Our head waiter Judith was fantastic and her reply to us was always "No problem". The theatre was great and we looked forward every night to the performance. We also read some negative comments before we travelled. Its a good job we didn't take any notice. We can't wait for our next cruise and it will be on the Queen Victoria without a doubt.