QE Casino & Single Cabin Pics

[pepperrn]

If you want to compare basically the 2nd class rooms of an Olympic class is in the same category as the inside state rooms of a cruise ship, since there are no dorms in a modern crusie ship, I was commenting on the cabins which look like something from a barracks, the public areas look OK. As for Cunard my impression was that it was marketing itself as a premium cruise line, a step above HAL and Celebrity. And as for me I can live perfectly fine in an Olympic class ocean liner in a 2nd class cabin as long as I get to count the number of lifeboats first.

Thanks for your explanation :) .

 

You have an advantage over me, I've not sailed with HAL or Celebrity, only Cunard.

 

How would you compare your voyages with Cunard against those on HAL and Celebrity? (ie, forget the marketing hype (which all lines go in for) but your actual experiences of all three lines). I'd be interested to learn from someone with more experience than myself, thank you in advance.

 

Did you enjoy touring Queen Mary in Long Beach? Or were you fortunate enough to have sailed on her? Thanks again!

 

(so many questions :) )

 

Best wishes.

[balf]

 

I'm a great fan of old ships, but 99% of today's passengers wouldn't book without en-suite bathrooms, balconies, wifi, current menu choices, etc.

 

) .

 

The past is a foreign country, they do things differently there (L.P Hartley)

 

It's pointless to compare now and then. many things are better, many worse, but if you were used to outside toilets at home, going down the corridor to go to the bathroom would be no big deal.

 

David.

[pepperrn]

It's pointless to compare now and then. many things are better, many worse...

I couldn't agree with you more :) . It is the regular posts here suggesting that all things old were good, all things new are bad, that I find curious.

but if you were used to outside toilets at home, going down the corridor to go to the bathroom would be no big deal. David.

Do you think there were many "First Class" passengers 75-100 years ago on ships without en-suite facilities (even in First Class) that had outside toilets at home? :D ;) :rolleyes:

 

Happy sailings :)

Edited June 27, 2014 by pepperrn

[balf]

. Do you think there were many "First Class" passengers 75-100 years ago on ships without en-suite facilities (even in First Class) that had outside toilets at home? :D ;) :rolleyes:

 

Happy sailings :)

 

No, but I bet there were many more immigrants in steerage who didn't.

 

David.

[pepperrn]

No, but I bet there were many more immigrants in steerage who didn't. David.

Quite!

 

And those immigrants/steerage/third class passengers would be amazed to discover that even the cheapest inside cabins with Cunard have private facilities these days.

 

But I'm in danger of falling into the trap of comparing apples with oranges, so I'll stop there :) .

Edited June 27, 2014 by pepperrn

[david,Mississauga]

Which part of Queen Mary? The Third Class Library and Cinema? The (shared) toilets and baths down the passageway? The lino floors everywhere? The rolling even in moderate seas? No theatre?, Lack of communication with the outside world (only expensive 'phone calls for the super-rich), etc...

 

Even First Class in the "golden age" would seem basic to modern expectations.

 

I'm a great fan of old ships, but 99% of today's passengers wouldn't book without en-suite bathrooms, balconies, wifi, current menu choices, etc.

 

Nostalgia is a wonderful thing, but it isn't what it used to be ;) .

 

While I agree that "nostalgia ... isn't what it used to be" there are some aspects of the old days that would be welcomed by many on today's ships. When I first booked a balcony stateroom seven trips ago, my travel agent said that I would never again want to travel without a balcony. He was right about that. But I would gladly sacrifice this amenity and the general comfort of today's staterooms to enjoy the grandeur of the public rooms of, say, the Aquitania. Real wood panelling on ships is gone for good for obvious reasons, but it certainly added to the elegance.

 

There is no doubt that many passengers appreciate the varied dining options available today, especially the lido or cafeteria, but I am happy with traditional dining. The Tourist Class menus that I kept from my 1970s and 80s crossings on QE2 offered more choice than today's equivalent in the Britannia Restaurant. Even in Tourist, dinner was served with traditional "silver service" that even in today's Grills is offered only with a few of the a la carte items.

 

I am equally amused by those who say everything was better in the old days and those who say everything is better now. I suppose the ideal ship would be one that offered all the amenities - particularly the staterooms - that we have come to expect and the grandeur of the public rooms of the grand old liners. But, being realistic, I will continue to enjoy the current Cunard fleet which is very nice indeed.

[Dancer Bob]

Well, Cunard marketing is up to their old tricks again. Yet another spam boasting about their wonderful prices "... does not apply to singles".

Any speculation about what they're going to try to do with single rates, once they can claim they have single cabins available?

[pepperrn]

Any speculation about what they're going to try to do with single rates, once they can claim they have single cabins available?

And the point of speculating would be... ?

[Dancer Bob]

I stand corrected. Any "informed speculation" rather than "wild speculation"? Is it worth bothering to read the Cunard spam and keeping track of what's going on with single rates, or just delete without reading, and plan on taking my future cruise business elsewhere?

Edited July 9, 2014 by Dancer Bob

[pepperrn]

... Is it worth bothering to read the Cunard spam and keeping track of what's going on with single rates ...

Well that's certainly what I intend to do :) .

 

Wait until the Cunard cabin rates are published, follow the prices up and down and up for voyages I may wish to take, and decide what to book and when.

 

Very much as I do now in fact.

 

Happy sailings with Cunard :)

Edited July 9, 2014 by pepperrn

[Scrapnana]

Well, Cunard marketing is up to their old tricks again. Yet another spam boasting about their wonderful prices "... does not apply to singles".

Any speculation about what they're going to try to do with single rates, once they can claim they have single cabins available?

 

I don't know if it is a glitch in the system but right now Cunard is offering one of the single OV staterooms for $46,896, a balcony (BC) for $36,136 (booked for one), or a regular oceanview (FA) booked for one for $31,848 on the 2015 World Voyage. I speculate not many are picking the single stateroom.

[Ray66]

No HD Content and it does look bad.

I hooked up my portable Blu Ray player and that looked Very Good.

 

Yes, the picture on our TV on the QE was also of poor quality. Not only that, the TV is now on the wall opposite the bed and when you sit on the sofa you are now facing a blank wall where the old TV used to be.

 

Another change is that the computers used to be in Connexions 1. They have now been placed in the library upper floor in full show. This means that everyone walking past can see what you're typing/reading on it. The Connexions 1 room is now full of rows and rows of Apple Mac computers. These computers are sometimes available for general use but at other times the room is used for lectures.

 

In the Lido there used to be two big alcoves with two round tables and sofa style seating with a mural on the wall behind. These two areas have now been walled up and used as service areas. We used to like sitting there but they are now no more. :(

 

This is a photo of a similar seating area on the QV

 

 

I hope Cunard don't make these changes on the QV as in our opinion they are not improvements

[japyke]

Just an observation here. Cunard is still not showing these single rooms in their downloadable deck plans even after their May 2015 re-formulations (that is, for example, when there go from 3 categories of balcony stateroom to 8!). Items that can't be seen or located are a little more difficult to sell, but then again, at the pricing that's been mentioned maybe nobody cares where they are. Could these rooms be intended primarily for entertainment/enrichment staff who won't accept a windowless inside? They look a little spartan to me.

But then again, I find the corridors on the vista's to be drab anyway.

[Scrapnana]

Just an observation here. Cunard is still not showing these single rooms in their downloadable deck plans even after their May 2015 re-formulations (that is, for example, when there go from 3 categories of balcony stateroom to 8!). Items that can't be seen or located are a little more difficult to sell, but then again, at the pricing that's been mentioned maybe nobody cares where they are. Could these rooms be intended primarily for entertainment/enrichment staff who won't accept a windowless inside? They look a little spartan to me.

But then again, I find the corridors on the vista's to be drab anyway.

 

On the website, when you make a dummy booking, they are still saying that these solo staterooms are on deck 3 (this should have been fixed by now).

[Jimsgirl]

While I agree that "nostalgia ... isn't what it used to be" there are some aspects of the old days that would be welcomed by many on today's ships. When I first booked a balcony stateroom seven trips ago, my travel agent said that I would never again want to travel without a balcony. He was right about that. But I would gladly sacrifice this amenity and the general comfort of today's staterooms to enjoy the grandeur of the public rooms of, say, the Aquitania. Real wood panelling on ships is gone for good for obvious reasons, but it certainly added to the elegance.

 

There is no doubt that many passengers appreciate the varied dining options available today, especially the lido or cafeteria, but I am happy with traditional dining. The Tourist Class menus that I kept from my 1970s and 80s crossings on QE2 offered more choice than today's equivalent in the Britannia Restaurant. Even in Tourist, dinner was served with traditional "silver service" that even in today's Grills is offered only with a few of the a la carte items.

 

I am equally amused by those who say everything was better in the old days and those who say everything is better now. I suppose the ideal ship would be one that offered all the amenities - particularly the staterooms - that we have come to expect and the grandeur of the public rooms of the grand old liners. But, being realistic, I will continue to enjoy the current Cunard fleet which is very nice indeed.

 

I began sailing in l954, First Class did have to go down the hall for toilets and showers, but First Class did mean FIRST CLASS , it was SERVICE all the way even on deck. the menu even at breakfast was at least 4-5 pages of choices, every meal was "silver service". with a correctly laid table to match, (sugar was cubes with silver tongs and every passenger drinking tea had a choice of 4-5 different teas your tea was always served really hot in pot for one , your toast was served in a rack.

 

Of course every night was Formal dress, and if you were invited to sit at the Captains table you did so for EVERY MEAL ,EVERY day, not just one night for dinner --MAYBE-- IF THE CAPTAIN chooses to eat in MDR as is the case now - the female Captain chooses not mix with the Britannia passengers, not even by attending a Cocktail party in the Queens Room.

 

IMO Cunard have forgotten, that it is the PASSENGERS that are IMPORTANT, that it is the passengers whose fares pay the wages and the dividends - you cannot have these without passengers. Today passengers are after thoughts, -they are thought of in the same way as cases of "widgets " on a container ship.

[melb1988]

Please Cunard, fit the TV's on QM2 & QV ASAP!! they look fantastic! really modernises the stateroom! :)

[Salacia]

Please Cunard, fit the TV's on QM2 & QV ASAP!! they look fantastic! really modernises the stateroom! :)

 

Hey, Melb, get in line...first those crazy colored, faded, stained, old loveseats/sofas need to be replaced...they hold the record for most traveled ugly upholstered furniture (ok, I exaggerate; the furniture on the Lyubov Orlova is worse !) :D

Edited December 28, 2014 by Salacia

[roscoe39]

the female Captain chooses not mix with the Britannia passengers, not even by attending a Cocktail party in the Queens Room.

 

IMO Cunard have forgotten, that it is the PASSENGERS that are IMPORTANT, that it is the passengers whose fares pay the wages and the dividends - you cannot have these without passengers. Today passengers are after thoughts, -they are thought of in the same way as cases of "widgets " on a container ship.

 

AAAAAAhhhhhh there you are Jimsgirl, thought we had lost you and these boards were never going to be the same again.

 

Im surprised you say that Inger, Cunards female Captain doesn't circulate with the Brittania classes, on my last trip with her, we were tabled next to the Captains table and she and her "very easy on the eye Husband" :D hosted on the table every formal night we were on board. We were always bumping into her throughout the ship and had many chats with her during the cocktail parties.

 

We thought she was one of the more passenger friendly Captains we had come across.

 

I hope you're recovery continues and you can again experience the joys of Cunard and be able to share them with us.

Edited December 28, 2014 by roscoe39

[melb1988]

Hey, Melb, get in line...first those crazy colored, faded, stained, old loveseats/sofas need to be replaced...they hold the record for most traveled ugly upholstered furniture (ok, I exaggerate; the furniture on the Lyubov Orlova is worse !) :D

 

Hahahaha!!!:D

How can I forget!?!? Yes those wretched love seats need to go! We're all still waiting for them to be replaced as part of the last refit in 2011! Which it was promised (by the CEO of I remember correctly) that they would be replaced ASAP following that dry docking. Here we are 2014 (nearly 15) and still stuck with the chairs!

Luxury at its finest those seats :p