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Queen Victoria January 19-30 review

Jim Avery

By Jim Avery,
in Cunard Line

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Jim Avery

Jim Avery

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Back again. Our stateroom is 7013. Starboard side forward of A staircase. Very convenient for Commodore Club. Nice but smaller than we expected and chain hotel bland. The shower, as has been mentioned here before is very small. Smaller than even SeaDream and basic fiberglass with a cheap curtain. We like the balcony availability and loved drinks there last night and coffee this am. If your neighbors are out, you all hear each other very clearly. Private visually but not so much audibly. The cabin inside is completely quiet so far and the bed is great. Slept like a baby. Have been a bit shocked at drink prices but have only been on all inclusive ships since QM2 in 2004 so have not seen the price creep. $19 for two Jack on the rocks ( with service charge included)!:eek: Hey, we will have fun. The staff, to a person, so far has been very good. All very friendly and helpful. The internet connectivity is iffy for iPad/iPhone. Cell service is available everywhere but be advised, it is pricey. I will only use the phone when near land. The internet center is nice and the staff helpful. They are in the middle of changing out the old computers for new flat screen jobs. Should be done in the next few days. Ok, now the main gripe so far. When we booked, we booked for early seating in Britannia. When our Voyage Personalizer came up, we were shown as second seating, waitlisted for first. No problem, this usually is solved with a trip to the Head Waiter upon boarding. No way. Pleading, begging, even introducing my old friend Benjamin Franklin did not sway the all business Filipino Maitre d. How I miss good old corruptible English restaurant staff.:eek: (Hush, not trying to start a war here--just joking. Maybe.:D). So, Lois says we will wear their legs off bringing us room service.:D Have done room service twice so far. Last night and breakfast this am. Both right on time, hot and as ordered. Tonight we are booked into the PanAsian Alternative (part of the Lido) and again for Indian night. Trust me, we will not starve. My question, if you can have open seating in Britannia for Breakfast and lunch, why not dinner?? Best question, as a Diamond World Club guy, why no priority on seating?? The other gripe of sorts, why is there no way to buy a beverage package. It is not so much the cost of drinks as the intrusion of having to sign a bill every time you get one. Reminds you that you are a customer, not a guest. I got spoiled on the all inclusives by never having to sign for a drink. Maybe a scarlet A on your forehead to indicate you have pre paid for drinks. Small niggles. Love the interior look of the ship and have pre booked for tthe private boxes in the theatre for two shows so far. Oh, almost forgot. The safety drill was in the theatre. Must have been 800 in the room. I hate to think what would happen if the worst was to occur. Many of the staff seemed to not know what was going on. I suspect they were brand new crew. Scary. Sea day today and CC meet in the Commodore Club at 11:30. More later. Need a Bloody Mary!

J.

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FoghornLeghorn

FoghornLeghorn

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I noticed the missing letters and wondered how difficult the bulbs were to replace. About how high are those letters?

 

I don't know...but, being the good sport that I am...they can put me on board and I will crawl up there and replace them. Shouldn't take me over a week or two to complete the task :D:D

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Jim Avery

Jim Avery

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Hope you are having fun, but wouldn't want to have your bar bill. Keep on posting.

 

FT

 

Hi FT. Yes, it will not be pretty but, for what this cost, compared to 11 days on SD in the Caribbean plus air, we would have to have a $9,000 bar tab!:eek: Dont think that will happen. Hope not anyway. So far, food and service have been great. Have used room service 3 times. Always right and always spot on time. Went to tea in the Queens Room yesterday afternoon and managed another 1,000 calories or so. Very nice even without real clotted cream. Last night we dined in the Alternative dining which on this night was called Bamboo. A tasting menu of Pan-Asian fusion cuisine (their term not mine) and it was wonderful. $10 pp cover charge. We also paired it with sake by the course. 2 cold, 2 hot, 1 dessert. Never had cold sake before but quite nice. The sake pairing was $15 pp cover. Now hold on FT but in this alternative restaurant, the food, presentation and especially service was as good or better than on any of the all inclusive lines we have sailed. Really very good.:D Last night was formal and people that looked like fugitives from Wal Mart in the daytime suddenly looked very elegant. Presto Changeo! It was 007 James Bond night in the Commodore Club. Yes, I had the proper martinis. So far, the main problem for us is that we have just plain been eating too much.:eek: I think some self control is needed. Any ideas where they sell that? Lois says she will get around to the packing demonstration eventually but she is shopping at the moment.:eek: Tonight we have one of the private boxes reserved in the Royal Court Theatre for a Celtic music show. More later. Maybe. So far a very nice cruise. Oh yes, at the Cruise Critic meet and greet in the Commodore Club yesterday, we had a turnout of 13 (one spouse slept in). I will leave it to Natasha to cover those events. Very nice group and made it fun to see familiar faces in the various bars. Where is that bloody mary?

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DisneyJen "Live from...." Rare

DisneyJen

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Sounds like an enjoyable trip so far Jim! I do hope you had a toonie for me last night ... stirred, not shaken, blue cheese stuffed olives:p

 

I really do miss formal nights but there is no way I will get DJ's DH into his monkey suit (yes he owns one, complete with a Mickey Mouse cumberbund and bow tie) on vacation:rolleyes:

 

Sailing on one of the Queen's is on my leap/bucket list ... has been since I was a child.

 

Looking forward to more reporting!

 

P.S. Please interview Lois about the shopping post that report here:p

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Jim Avery

Jim Avery

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It is a beautiful day in St. Thomas. Perfectly Caribbean. Lucky us, only one other ship in town, Norwegian Gem. Last night, we reserved a private box in the Royal Court Theatre for Celtic Heartbeat show. The show was great. Very lively and loved the music. The private box started with a private reception with sweets. Chocolate with icecream in the middle, chocolate strawberries, etc. and champagne. Then we were escorted to our box and given a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne and champagne truffles to enjoy during the performance. I thought the setting, costumes, and performance were as good as I have seen on any ship. Ended the evening with Big Band night in the Queens Room. Lois actually got me up to dance.:eek: 2 left feet would be giving me a raise. Coffee and light breakfast on the balcony while we docked this morning then a short cab ride to Havensight (we are docked in Crown Bay) for the cable car ride to Paradise Point. In all the visits here, we never did the cable car. Pricey at $21.50 pp but the view is fantastic. Naturally, Lois found sandals and a beach coverup in the only shop on the mountaintop.:eek: Back down the hill and a real short cab ride into Charlotte Amalie. I managed to escape with only a bushwhacker and 2 Carib beers on the tap. One store put a nice little emerald tennis bracelet on Lois. Foolish me asked "how much?". For me, today, $99,000.00. :eek: Yowza! Get me outta here. Found a nice pair of compact Steiner binoculars at the new shops by the pier in Crown Bay so I guess I won today. Tomorrow is Antigua and a whole new gamut of Diamonds International, etc. We just had our first meal in the Britannia Restaurant. Still cannot get early seating for dinner but lunch is open seating. It was very good and with prompt service. I have to say I have been most pleased with the food and service on board. Glad my Tuxedo has adjustable waistband. Well, time to be off to the Winter Garden for a bit of sun. Feeling the need for a banana daiquiri. Heard from Ganttc on SeaDream enroute from San Juan to Barbados. Said they had a very rough first night. We have had mainly calm seas so far. Hoping it stays that way. All the best.

Jim & Lois.

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Bejeaux

Bejeaux

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I am so enjoying reading your posts. My husband & I will be boarding the QV on January 30 and I have been nervous because this will be our first "luxury cruise". Reading your experiences is helping me to feel a bit more at ease. Thank you!:)

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Jimsgirl

Jimsgirl

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Amazed that your wife can manage with just a carryon .

 

I am doing the Feb 28th trip, 5 Formals 5 Semi formals and 7 Elegant casuals, believe me there is no way I can pack less than 2 checked cases, and an overnight in the bin (in the plane for hotel/first night dinner on board) and a small bag stacked under the seat in front of me (book, food for 7 hours flying, brush/comb for tidy up).

 

I travel solo by the way.

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shinyshoes

shinyshoes

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Amazed that your wife can manage with just a carryon .

 

I am doing the Feb 28th trip, 5 Formals 5 Semi formals and 7 Elegant casuals, believe me there is no way I can pack less than 2 checked cases, and an overnight in the bin (in the plane for hotel/first night dinner on board) and a small bag stacked under the seat in front of me (book, food for 7 hours flying, brush/comb for tidy up).

 

I travel solo by the way.

 

Lynn, if you don't have big ballgowns it's pretty easy. Luckily my lady shares my minimalist philosophy with regard to packing. She took two holdalls for 22 days, one medium and one small. And she still managed to turn out on formal nights without causing consternation amongst the equine community.

SS

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Jimsgirl

Jimsgirl

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So pleased to read she did not frighten the horses. My trouble is that it is my face tht frightens them!!!

 

Seriously I do admire her, every cruise I make a resolution NOT TO OVERPACK, and every cruise I do just that. Not that I take ball gowns, all mine are washable "knits" of some kind, and yes I do wear the same dress two or gasp even three times, it is all the rest of the junk that takes up the room.

 

Please continue to write, realise it is not easy on board, I can barely do it here at home, but as I am taking the Feb 28th cruise, I read everything to do with how it is on board just now.

 

Have fun

 

Lynn

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Jim Avery

Jim Avery

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Last night was dinner in the Lido featuring German food. Very good as I love that stuff you shouldnt eat. Went to the show last night and saw a pianist/comedian, John Courtenay. Sounds wierd but he put on a great show. So far, all the entertainers we have seen are very good. Today is Antigua and the weather is perfect. As we had been here a time or two, we just did walkabout in the city and replenished a few "supplies". The Norwegian Gem and Celebrity Constellation are also in port so the streets are a madhouse. Back on board for a grill lunch at the pool deck aft. Very good cheeseburgers, etc. grilled to order. Are saving up as tonight the Alternative venue is changing to Coriander-Indian food. Our fave. All food seems to be our fave.:eek: Consensus aboard is we are all eating too much and it is all good. If Coriander is as good as Bamboo was with the Pan-Asian presentations, we will be well pleased. Service continues to be very good. Tomorrow is Grenada, a new stop for me. Lois went there many years ago on the old Carla C (costa before carnival). We have booked our only shore excursion through the ship for Grenada. Very touristy and I will wait till later to fess up.:D The days and evenings certainly seem very full and we dont feel that we have even touched the surface of what is available. So much to do I need a nap.:eek: More later.

J.

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jj6961

jj6961

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Hi Jim & Lois,

I sailed QV in November from Venice(well, actually the ship departed from Trieste due to HEAVY fog in Venice but that's another story)to Fort Lauderdale. I was wondering if you had considered Todd English for dinner? The food was amazing and the prices were very reasonable.

I really enjoyed the crossing and hope you enjoy the rest of your voyage.

Jen

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bazzaw

bazzaw

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And she still managed to turn out on formal nights without causing consternation amongst the equine community.

SS

 

He means (I think) that she didn't frighten the horses!! :) Please tell me if I am mistaken :)

 

 

Barry

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Salacia

Salacia

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He means (I think) that she didn't frighten the horses!! :) Please tell me if I am mistaken :)

 

 

Barry

 

G'day Barry. That was also my interpertation.

 

"I don't care what the people do, as long as they don't do it in the streets and scare the horses." -attributed to Henry the Eight (I believe)

 

I walked by horse drawn carriages today near Central Park. Happily, they had side-blinders on so the horses didn't see me :) Victory! Another day where I didn't frighten the horses :D

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