Concerned about poor reviews of food in QM2 Britannia

[T5LHR]

None, I wouldn't impose any of these culinary aberrations on anyone.

 

What are you doing in Sydney? Have you been to OZ before?

 

Ha ha ha... I feel sorry for your other half! :D

 

Work trip... We only get 34 hours in SYD... Not really looked yet, will have a shufty and see what takes my fancy...

[Whitemarsh]

Ha ha ha... I feel sorry for your other half! :D

 

Work trip... We only get 34 hours in SYD... Not really looked yet, will have a shufty and see what takes my fancy...

 

I used to live in Sydney, if you were to ask me where are the cool places to hang out (circa 1996) then I could have helped you.

 

If you're up for restaurant and breakfast tips I can still help with that. Isn't it terrible getting old, you don't know where the cool clubs are anymore, but you still have your finger on the pulse when it comes to eating establishments. :eek:

[Ray66]

Juglejane. Lovely photo. Mind me asking how you managed to reproduce it? I've tried to scan photos we purchased that were taken on board by ships' photogs, but the moire pattern was so bad that the image was unrecognizable. I asked a ships' photog about that, and the answer was (in short) that the image was copyright and could not be reproduced. Seems you cracked the code? Or perhaps the new digital photo package allows for duplication? Thanks.

 

Salacia

 

The photographs bought on board ship can be scanned and give good results. I know someone who did this back home and got the scanned photo made into a canvas. It looks really good. It was not part of any digital photo package.

[The Old Young Man]

I was on QM2 yesterday after staying for the round trip TA and I was entirely impressed with the Britannia. I haven't seen the "slippage" in my 12 TAs. The only minor issue was that certain meal times (breakfast, for example) were a bit slower in getting a few things out to you, such as coffee.

 

By the by, the beef selections served at dinner were always perfect. My friend swore they were the best he ever ate. As for the salads, I did shy away after recieving a rather soggy caesar (since it was pre-tossed with dressing unlike others who have their dressings dispensed tableside) Then again, we are all supposed to be on vacation, enjoying things less healthy than a trivial plate of greens!

 

The room is beautiful and relaxing as well as the service and food being quite lovely and well presented. Britannia was truly my "main" place to dine for a whole two weeks.

[RJChatsworth]

We are planning on booking the June 1, 2013 eastbound TA for our family of 4. We want to use frequent flier miles for our flights, so we will probably need to commit ourselves and book those in the very near future. We are concerned because we keep reading negative reviews about the food in the MDR on the QM2. We've read lots of complaints in the member reviews section about small portions and mediocre food. I don't think we have unrealistic expectations. We know that the food in the MDR is generally more banquet-quality rather than fine dining. Still, the drumbeat of negativity is starting to concern us. Add to that all the negative comments I read on this board moaning about "slipping standards" "culture eroding" and "dumbing down" of the experience and we are questioning our plans.

 

I'd love to hear some more reports about the dining experience in Britannia on the QM2. Please either reassure me or help me lower my expectations!

 

We disembarked QM-2 on 24/6 having completed one of many eastbound transatlantic voyages. We were in Britannia Club and I couldn't fault the food at all. Sometimes the helpings are a litlle on the small side, but this is easily made up by asking for more or ordering an additional course. The waiters always oblige.

 

I sometimes wonder what base line is used for commenting on the food. Is it anything to do with what has been paid for the voyage? If you have paid a last minute rock-bottom price you may think it good value, but if you booked early and paid three times as much you might not take the same view!!

[Jimsgirl]

RJChatsworth,

 

I agree with your comment re the cost of the cruise, obviously the room, service, food etc is going to be better in the Grills - and should be for the price they pay - wheeee.

 

However as you say, when someone gets a cruise for a rock botom price in the last 30 or so days on one of the Queens, they are going to be more easily pleased than someone who has to pay full price because they booked a year ahead.

 

If I go to McDonalds, or Dennys, I do not expect the same food for $6 as in Le Chez Maison at $75 , unfortunately I am a passenger who booked a year ahead.

 

Also as I have said many times about the experience as a whole, unless two people share the same cabin, share a plate of food, and spend every minute of every day glued to each other, they will not have the same experiences.

 

To often we read the comment "I do not believe this happened" from a poster who was not even on the same cruise.

 

Is it not odd that we are expected to believe every word of the "I had a wonderful cruise, dined with X officer, and Y officer, saw fabulous shows etc etc on my cruise on X " but are supposed to dismiss as fabrication the adverse comments of another passenger on at a different time , in a different cat of cabin on a different deck etc etc. ?

[Salacia]

Salacia: It's been a while but I believe I just scanned it on my home scanner/copier/printer. I'm not sure why but it did scan well.:)

 

Hi Junglejane. Thanks, I'll try again - maybe a different ships' photo will scan (I had accepted that a ships' photog said it it couldn't be done, but clearly that's not the case :)) Cheers, -S.

 

@Ray, thanks for the confirmation.

[junglejane]

I agree, one person isn't a crisis, but, in the worst case scenario, one becomes many, and before you know it, the one person that's dressed differently to the rest is the passenger in formal wear.

 

It is annoying having to look at these people wandering around in their casual wear on a formal night. The surroundings are so elegant, everyone looks amazing, and then there are these inconsiderate people dressed in daywear. It does ruin the effect.

 

I do wonder why these people don't choose a cruise line that's more in line with their sartorial preferences. I wouldn't go on a P&O (Aust) cruise and take my tux, as I know it's not the done thing and would make the other passengers uncomfortable. I don't know why these unfortunate people can't be as considerate when they book on Cunard - they should bring their formal wear or don't book at all.

 

Serious hypothetical question here. I have read numerous posts expressing the same sentiment that Whitemarsh has -- that people who want a more casual experience should not choose Cunard. I have a serious question about this issue. As I've already indicated, we are totally up for the dress code on our transatlantic crossing. (I guess I posted the photo to "prove" our willingness to comply.) But I would be less enthusiastic about it if we were doing a port intensive cruise. Next up for us will possibly be a Baltic cruise in 2014. When we select a cruise, we are typically looking in a very limited time frame due to our children's school break schedule and their other summer activities (e.g., sports camps, speech & debate camp, etc.). When we actually look at the available cruises with our desired itinerary, there often aren't actually that many that fit our timing requirements. So my serious question is this: is it possible to take a port intensive Cunard cruise but decide you want to skip some or all of the formal nights? Can one do this in a non-offensive manner, dining in the King's Court and/or the alternate dining venues (with at least a jacket, of course). Does it ruin the ambiance if a man is in the casino on formal night in a jacket but not a suit? I can definitely understand that people wandering around in velour jogging suits or denim cutoffs would seriously detract from the atmosphere, but I am wondering if there is a middle ground where people can avoid the formal dining but still appear in the public areas on formal nights. Can it be done without offense?

[balf]

take a suit for semi-formal nights and a jacket for elegant casual nights. /QUOTE]

 

He doesn't really need to take a suit. The only difference between these two dress codes is a tie for semi formal - same jacket is fine for both.

 

David

[BigMac1953]

Junglejane, I think you've grasped the general idea and you'll be fine.

 

On a port intensive trip, there will be less "formal" nights.

 

You can dine casually in the Lido/Kings Court if you really want to.

 

Just relax and enjoy yourselves!

 

Stewart

[electra2008]

I had never worn a Tux in my life (nearly 65 now) until we went on the Queen Victoria last July, my wife said I looked so good in it she was going to bury me in it, I have asked her to wait until I pass away but she is a very impatient woman!:(

Nice one :cool: made me smile, with sound effects;)

[keithm]

I may work on getting DH to buy a tux, but in any event here's a picture of us trying out Cunard on the 4 day QV "Mexican Getaway" in Feb. 2011:

 

You both look stunning! A tux is not necessary with the suit your DH has on. You both look great. The kids must be good kids..I see no frazzeled hair or early grey. My parents, on the other hand....

[Austcruiser84]

I used to live in Sydney, if you were to ask me where are the cool places to hang out (circa 1996) then I could have helped you.

 

If you're up for restaurant and breakfast tips I can still help with that. Isn't it terrible getting old, you don't know where the cool clubs are anymore, but you still have your finger on the pulse when it comes to eating establishments. :eek:

 

I would highly recommend Eau De Vie in Darlinghurst. It won global awards in 2011. It's a great classy bar with some good food options, all done in 1920s prohibition era style. There is now a restaurant a few doors up called Roosevelt. Very nice.

 

Sydney is slowly reviving itself I must admit after quite a few years with poor or old culinary and drinking experiences.

[AlexDouglass]

Two notes of possible relevance from the QM2 TA that, alas, ended this past Sunday:

 

- Food in the dining room was very good to excellent. We split our time, for various reasons, between Britannia and Britannia Club, and neither disappointed, although we did decide we prefer the more personal services, a la carte choices (including escargots and excellent scallops), and the other little touches in BC. We're picky eaters who like good food, and we were rarely disappointed. Portions can be small, but that only means that you can wend your way through a four (or five - or more!) course dinner without feeling stuffed. The only let-downs were liver one night (tough and dry, but replaced swiftly with a substitute choice) and, across the board, soups (which were too thick, as if thickened with starch too late in the cooking, and oddly similiar, as if all made with a too-strong stock base that overwhelmed the other ingredients.

 

- In good news for the fashion police, dress-code compliance was generally excellent, with even some enforcement in the dining room. The first formal night, we arrived after a 60-ish British couple, she in a lovely dinner dress, but he in brown corduroys and a sort of brown chamois hunting jacket (at least with tie!). After much backing and forthing with the maitre d', they were at last escorted, not to their central table on Deck 2, but up, up, up to what sounded, from its number and the expression on the accompanying waiter's face, darkest Siberia. They disappeared up the stairs, she with an expression that indicated that this was not, by any stretch, the first time she had found her spouse a bit of a trial...

[Whitemarsh]

I would highly recommend Eau De Vie in Darlinghurst. It won global awards in 2011. It's a great classy bar with some good food options, all done in 1920s prohibition era style. There is now a restaurant a few doors up called Roosevelt. Very nice.

 

Sydney is slowly reviving itself I must admit after quite a few years with poor or old culinary and drinking experiences.

 

Thanks for the tip, I'll check them out when I'm next in Sydney. Bistro Moncur is an old favourite of mine, have you been there?

 

Two notes of possible relevance from the QM2 TA that, alas, ended this past Sunday:

 

- In good news for the fashion police, dress-code compliance was generally excellent, with even some enforcement in the dining room. The first formal night, we arrived after a 60-ish British couple, she in a lovely dinner dress, but he in brown corduroys and a sort of brown chamois hunting jacket (at least with tie!). After much backing and forthing with the maitre d', they were at last escorted, not to their central table on Deck 2, but up, up, up to what sounded, from its number and the expression on the accompanying waiter's face, darkest Siberia. They disappeared up the stairs, she with an expression that indicated that this was not, by any stretch, the first time she had found her spouse a bit of a trial...

 

Thank you for this update. We were in fact aware of this particular case, and the couple in question duly received the below message (warning?) courtesy of the Fashion Police. :D

 

[Austcruiser84]

Thanks for the tip, I'll check them out when I'm next in Sydney. Bistro Moncur is an old favourite of mine, have you been there?

 

Can't say I have. I tend not to eat out so much when I have a cook on hand. I will have to ask a good friend of mine about Bistro Moncur as he is the food expert in my social set.

 

Admittedly I am not fussy about food. I quite like simple meals and tend not to care too much about the presentation of it. So long as it is edible I am fine.

 

In all other aspects of life I am extremely fussy - from the quality of spirits used at an establishment to what I wear. I must admit I am most annoyed that QM2 does not seem to stock the Walker Blue. I suppose I'll need to bring my own for stateroom consumption.

[balf]

Hi Junglejane. Thanks, I'll try again - maybe a different ships' photo will scan (I had accepted that a ships' photog said it it couldn't be done, but clearly that's not the case :)) Cheers, -S.

 

@Ray, thanks for the confirmation.

 

Even Cunard can't put anti copying on a print as is possible on a digital image. Of course you will be in breach of copyright law if you do copy a print; the copyright is retained by the photographer, but Cunard is not likely bother and I won't tell. Your problem with the scan is probably because the print is glossy. You could try laying a sheet of glass over the print to keep it flat against the scanner base, or you could simply photograph it if you have a reasonable camera with close up.

 

Can't work out if the ship photographer was winding you up or he really thought it could not be done.

 

David.

[keithm]

Well, I have never cooked that, but then I have never been offered it on QM2 either.

 

As for et al, who knows.

 

David.

You could always order it in the Queens Grill. Trust me..give them a days notice & they can produce pretty much anything your heart desires.

[Salacia]

Even Cunard can't put anti copying on a print as is possible on a digital image. Of course you will be in breach of copyright law if you do copy a print; the copyright is retained by the photographer, but Cunard is not likely bother and I won't tell. Your problem with the scan is probably because the print is glossy. You could try laying a sheet of glass over the print to keep it flat against the scanner base, or you could simply photograph it if you have a reasonable camera with close up.

 

Can't work out if the ship photographer was winding you up or he really thought it could not be done.

 

David.

 

Thanks Balf, I'll give it a go. Regards, S.

[pepperrn]

I copied one of the offical photos on a scanner, it came out very well, almost as good as the original.

However, despite taking some time cleaning both the glass of the scanner and front of the picture (carefully) to remove dust or hairs/threads etc and ensure both were "spotless", it took three attempts before I was happy with the results.

Best of luck!

[resistk]

Food varies by cruise menu. I was on the Jubilee TA and the Food was an A+, the later TA was a B, and Norway lasy year had the lousy food - a C. Other perennial QM food problems are spotty and slow service for lunch and breakfast in the britannia and the refusal to provide chocolate croissants to the peons in Britannia.

[Underwatr]

Food varies by cruise menu. I was on the Jubilee TA and the Food was an A+, the later TA was a B, and Norway lasy year had the lousy food - a C.

The executive chef's budget for food varies as the average fare paid per passenger varies. If you get a great deal on a voyage (and lots of your fellow passengers get the same deal) there will be less money available for stellar dining.

[Salacia]

The executive chef's budget for food varies as the average fare paid per passenger varies. If you get a great deal on a voyage (and lots of your fellow passengers get the same deal) there will be less money available for stellar dining.

 

 

Yes, that has also been my experience. For example, in 2010, we did a back-to-back Caribbean voyage on QM2, booked well in advance. As it turned out, the first voyage was fairly well sold out, but the second was last-minute-discounted. We still joke about the items on the menu in the MDR on the second voyage. Happily, we'd never seen it before or since!

[keithm]

Food varies by cruise menu. I was on the Jubilee TA and the Food was an A+, the later TA was a B, and Norway lasy year had the lousy food - a C. Other perennial QM food problems are spotty and slow service for lunch and breakfast in the britannia and the refusal to provide chocolate croissants to the peons in Britannia.

We got the choc.croissants no problem. They do run out frequently. We just politely asked & received them.

[Jimsgirl]

My experience is that the quality, and choice on the Britannia menu varies with the Ex Chef.

 

Boohoo- have just found out that the chef on my next cruise , is someone who I know from past experience is less than stellar.