QV 5109 - noise from lifeboat mechanisms?

[Runaways]

I wonder if anyone who has stayed in this particular stateroom, or 5114 on port side, can let us know if they were disturbed when/if the lifeboat cranes and mechanisms were used. How did you find the obstruction generally - annoying or a reasonable compromise for the lower fare? Your advice is appreciated.

Thank you.

[the english lady]

Only been on p and o ships so far, and in cabins 2-3 decks above the lifeboats. However when they were lowering the lifeboats to use as tenders we could hear them. If you are on a deck lower down, and near a lifeboat being lowered , you will hear it.

[Ray66]

We were a few cabins away on our cruise last month. Yes you will hear the tenders being lowered, possibly while you're still in bed. We only had one tender port.

 

The view you will have will be similar to that shown on 5114:

 

https://ask.cunard.com/help/cunard/fleet/qv_obs

 

It didn't bother us too much as you can still see the sea from your balcony.

[jimmybean]

We had a balcony on deck 6 on the QE and didn't hear a thing when the lifeboat was lowered for use as a tender one morning. We looked out (surprised) and said "Hey, someone stole our lifeboat."

 

Our cabin was just above the top of the lifeboat. Maybe, all the noise travels downward.

 

We did notice that they took different lifeboats--from both sides of the ship-- to act as tender in different ports. So, it wasn't the same lifeboat each time.

 

My guess is even if you do hear some noise one time, it won't be something that happens over and over.

 

Best and happy sailing!

[navybankerteacher]

The partially obstructed cabin is definitely worth the price differential from an inside. Because all lifeboats on a ship need to be periodically lowered to maintain/check function, it is very unlikely that the one by your cabling will be lowered/raised more than once unless you are on an extraordinarily tender-heavy itinerary. Yes you will hear it - and will probably also hear the ones just forward and aft - but the noise only lasts a few minutes - quite possibly when you are at breakfast.

[Runaways]

Thank you all for your input. We're doing 38 nights on Queen Victoria next year so a partially obstructed balcony was a compromise for us - one we've not made before. However it makes this long cruise affordable and we'll still get mid-ship location (important for me as prone to queasiness), good light and fresh air, even if some 'ship's hardware' and tender use get in the way a bit. We have 4 scheduled tender ports so that's not too bad over 38 days. Any other info or photos of these obstructed balconies would be interesting to see. I've seen Cunard's photos - it's good of them to show what to expect. Thanks again. Gwenn.