Live aboard the Queen Victoria

[violetta58]

May 11 th

I'm on the Queen Victoria sailing across the rather rough bay of biscay despite it being a lovely sunny afternoon. This is the first at sea day of a cruise to Vigo, Lisbon , Lanzarote

, Tenerife, Madeira , Grand Canaria and La Coruna. This is our fifth time on the QV and while she and its crew are as nice as ever , she is showing her age and could do with some new furnishings around the ship. The casino has shrunk considerably so they could put the single staterooms but otherwise the ship looks ok. As it the 175 year anniversary , it is mentioned constantly and this morning we had a celebration in the Queens room where there was displays of the services in the ship and also a stall of souvenirs. There was free tasting of pastries, sushi , food from the speciality restaurants in The Lido and The Verandah and a beautiful ice sculpture of a dolphin. Free shoulder massages and make up advice was also available.

We went to two lectures today , both very interesting , one by an ITN cameraman of 27 years ( can't remember his name ) who told very poignant stories of his reporting in the Balkan crisis , and Michael Kushner who talked about Bletchley park and the enigma machine . Ann Widdecombe the ex Tory MP is aboard and will give her talk later.While I may not agree with her politics she seemed very nice and friendly when we met her by the lift so we will probably go and see her. It is an almost full ship mostly Brits and we are all looking forward to some sun in the next few days.

Any questions please ask me and Internet permitting I will answer!

[Host Hattie]

Thanks for taking us along with you, have a great trip.

[Bell Boy]

May 11 th

I'm on the Queen Victoria sailing across the rather rough bay of biscay despite it being a lovely sunny afternoon. This is the first at sea day of a cruise to Vigo, Lisbon , Lanzarote

, Tenerife, Madeira , Grand Canaria and La Coruna. This is our fifth time on the QV and while she and its crew are as nice as ever , she is showing her age and could do with some new furnishings around the ship. The casino has shrunk considerably so they could put the single staterooms but otherwise the ship looks ok. As it the 175 year anniversary , it is mentioned constantly and this morning we had a celebration in the Queens room where there was displays of the services in the ship and also a stall of souvenirs. There was free tasting of pastries, sushi , food from the speciality restaurants in The Lido and The Verandah and a beautiful ice sculpture of a dolphin. Free shoulder massages and make up advice was also available.

We went to two lectures today , both very interesting , one by an ITN cameraman of 27 years ( can't remember his name ) who told very poignant stories of his reporting in the Balkan crisis , and Michael Kushner who talked about Bletchley park and the enigma machine . Ann Widdecombe the ex Tory MP is aboard and will give her talk later.While I may not agree with her politics she seemed very nice and friendly when we met her by the lift so we will probably go and see her. It is an almost full ship mostly Brits and we are all looking forward to some sun in the next few days.

Any questions please ask me and Internet permitting I will answer!

 

So sorry, have to disagree with you " Queen Victoria showing her age " ?? in what way ? ... I've just got off as you've got on and she looks very much like the Queen she should be. It was only a few months ago that all carpets and soft furnishings were replaced after her dry dock refit. The flat screen TVs are to be fitted some time this summer, what other new furnishing did you have in mind :) .

[foster269]

Hello,like Bell Boy,my wife and I got off Queen Victoria yesterday.I like Bell Boy am a little confused by your comment,but of course it is your oppinion and you entitled to them.I would though like to know more.Can you be a little more specific.

Rodger.

[Delbankin]

Hi,

Could you let us know who the Captain is at the moment and also the Cruise Director and piano bar (Champagne and/or pub) entertainer. There may well be somewhere to find this out from Cunard website but I can't recall where. Hope you enjoy your cruise.

Del.

[Bell Boy]

The Captain is Commodore Christopher Rynd

The Entertainment Manager is Sally Sagoe

( well they were yesterday)

 

No idea who the piano players were, a female up in the Commodore Bar Clarolyn somebody with no personality unfortunately, unlike Paul Madden.;)

[violetta58]

So sorry, have to disagree with you " Queen Victoria showing her age " ?? in what way ? ... I've just got off as you've got on and she looks very much like the Queen she should be. It was only a few months ago that all carpets and soft furnishings were replaced after her dry dock refit. The flat screen TVs are to be fitted some time this summer, what other new furnishing did you have in mind :) .

 

Hi

I didn't mean anything in a derogatory way as I love the QV and have sailed in her 5 times including last summer.Flat TVs aside which were in last summer, the cabins we sail in have not changed since 2009 in terms of furniture , carpets and curtains ,cushions are the same and there is some evidence of nicks and stains. Our balcony was quite rusty as are other exterior parts of the ship , although I know it is constantly being treated by the staff and may well be done when we are in port. As for the public rooms, the only carpet we could see had been replaced is that where the casino has been changed to accommodate the single rooms. The theatre, bars have all the same except the cCommodores club that does have a few new chairs. I suppose I expected a refit like the QM2 with new and different furnishings and carpets in the cabins and restaurants . Nothing is dirty and it looks as it should be, but no way was every carpet and soft furnishings were replaced, that didn't even happen in the QM2 refit and could never have been done in the time allowed.

Edited May 11, 2015 by violetta58

[Host Hattie]

Hi,

Could you let us know who the Captain is at the moment and also the Cruise Director and piano bar (Champagne and/or pub) entertainer. There may well be somewhere to find this out from Cunard website but I can't recall where. Hope you enjoy your cruise.

Del.

 

The Senior Officers list is here. I'm not sure if there is anywhere you can find out about the entertainers.

[capnpugwash]

Hi,

Could you let us know who the Captain is at the moment and also the Cruise Director and piano bar (Champagne and/or pub) entertainer. There may well be somewhere to find this out from Cunard website but I can't recall where. Hope you enjoy your cruise.

Del.

 

The pianists rotate from bar to bar, no-one is purely allocated to one area.

[Ray66]

I thought the QV was in quite good shape and we noted the improvements made in the refurb, mainly new carpets in the corridors - I seem to remember they were solid red on port side and solid blue on starboard side and now they have just red or blue boarders like on the QE. In the Lido the alcove seating has gone as have the sofa seats at tables which were dotted around. They have replaced some of the tables but not all which means half of the tables are the old ones with a blue mosaic pattern boarder and half are plain. A good thing to see was the addition of the awnings on deck 9 and also the seats and tables next to the pool (similar to what they have on the QE). Also pleased to see that the Britannia balcony cabins TV's can still be watched while sat on the sofa opposite, unlike on the QE.

[theTom&Carol]

QV Gym new carpeting. It'll be interesting how this carpet wears over time. The new carpeting looks nice, but not sure about the quality/durability?

[seacruise9]

Hi,

 

Thanks for your report. I recently sailed aboard the Queen Victoria for the first time (8-day transatlantic crossing, April 25 - May 3, 2015) and was very pleased with the ship. I think the ship is beautiful and in excellent condition. Other than the fact that the chairs on my balcony needed to be repainted or replaced (very minor), the ship looked great.

 

Chuck

[WillH]

Many thanks for the updates.

 

I have one question that someone may be able to answer. Was the sun awning fitted on the Grills Terrace as well as Deck 9 ?. I know that it was planned to fit this on QV along the lines of the QE during the recent refit, but I haven't seen any mention of this since.

 

Many Thanks

 

Will

[seacruise9]

Many thanks for the updates.

 

I have one question that someone may be able to answer. Was the sun awning fitted on the Grills Terrace as well as Deck 9 ?. I know that it was planned to fit this on QV along the lines of the QE during the recent refit, but I haven't seen any mention of this since.

 

Many Thanks

 

Will

 

Yes, there are sun awnings on the sides of the Grills Terrace.

 

Chuck

[WillH]

Chuck

 

Many thanks for confirming this.

 

Will

[Bell Boy]

And also aft of deck 9 :)

[Bell Boy]

The only disappointment , The flat screen (wall mounted) TVs have not yet been fitted. Something to do with the wrong type of fixtures & electrical fittings delivered to Hamburg when the ship was in dry dock early January :(

 

Apparently, to be fitted later in the year ?

[Delbankin]

Thanks for answers to my queries , particularly Host Hattie pointing the way to the link for the senior crew. It is always interesting to see who is in charge and particularly if the list is up to date it appears we have a change of some crew during our cruise.

 

It would be interesting to hear if anyone has experience of Sally Sagoe or Hayley who are both listed as CD's during our cruise.

 

I did also ask about piano entertainer but didn't really get an answer on current performers. We find they can make an evening and on a previous Cunard cruise we had Brett Cave who was very lively and used to perform in the pub on a number of evenings. A quick look at his profile suggests he is on Seabourn and HAL at the moment.

 

It would be good to hear of who might be on board just now as entertainers and how good or otherwise they are.

Del.

[late2cruise]

Joanne Haley has definitely grown into the job. She was an excellent entertainment manager during our world cruise segments on Victoria.

Sally Sagoe isn't one of my favourites I'm afraid so I'll pass on her.

 

Regarding the Grills Terrace, I can confirm the awnings are on both sides of deck 12. They are very substantial and were a great asset when the temperatures climbed and the sun was intense.

[roscoe39]

Thanks for answers to my queries , particularly Host Hattie pointing the way to the link for the senior crew. It is always interesting to see who is in charge and particularly if the list is up to date it appears we have a change of some crew during our cruise.

 

It would be interesting to hear if anyone has experience of Sally Sagoe or Hayley who are both listed as CD's during our cruise.

 

I did also ask about piano entertainer but didn't really get an answer on current performers. We find they can make an evening and on a previous Cunard cruise we had Brett Cave who was very lively and used to perform in the pub on a number of evenings. A quick look at his profile suggests he is on Seabourn and HAL at the moment.

 

It would be good to hear of who might be on board just now as entertainers and how good or otherwise they are.

Del.

 

 

I've always found sally to be lively and full of personality which is what you want in a CD. Shes always got a smile on her face and time for a greeting and to ask if you are enjoying your voyage, I'm hoping she'll be on the qv wc next year.

 

I also believe that there have been some positive reports about Jo, she's young so im sure she will grow into the role beautifully.

Edited May 13, 2015 by roscoe39

[maitai999]

We love Sally Sagoe, she has stuck to the QV for many years now and has always been on the summer voyages. In our eyes a true professional who always gets involved with guests and genuinely seems to be passionate about her role and our favourite by far. She always remembers us, takes time for a drink and a chat, great fun at the masquerade ball, not a bad jazz singer either ...... plus we remember her in Eastenders married to Tony!