New York to Southampton 29th October 15

[lannp]

Brigitte, Oct. 30th is supposed to be the one formal night.

Linda

[brigittetom]

Thanks Linda.....I think I'm just going to dress as the mood strikes me....and of course doing the 30th as formal. I'm pretty sure that I'm just going to stick to the normal dress code....sounds a lot less complicated. :)

[david,Mississauga]

The problem with your argument is that the last night of the cruise was initially deemed as Formal which was a crazy decision with everybody needing to pack for disembarkation the next day. That is taking formality a bit too far.

 

I wasn't aware of that. It is certainly not traditional to have the last night of a voyage designated formal. In over 40 years since my first ocean voyage I have never encountered that.

 

It was so much easier to deal with dress codes on my travels in the 1970s and 80s when tradition was followed and passengers did not need the steamship line or cruise director to tell people the dress code on any given night. On an Atlantic crossing (they were only five nights on the fast liners, such as the QE2 and France) in First Class formal wear was worn every night except the first and last. In Tourist Class formal wear was not usually worn, but a jacket and tie was required every night.

 

The liner voyages I made that were not Atlantic crossings were on British ships (P&O and Union-Castle) and on these longer trips the exception to formal nights included Sundays and any night in port.

[lannp]

I've often suspected that shoreside didn't have a clue about things but after this I am totally convinced. Thank heavens the crew of the QM2 do:rolleyes:

[Underwatr]

QM2's Christmas cruise revisits the formality you mention in days gone by. The three southbound sea days all have formal evenings, the five port days are informal, and of the three northbound sea days only the last evening is informal as it's the night before disembarkation. It helps that Christmas & New Year's Day and their Eves are all sea days.

[navybankerteacher]

I can't say I'm happy with this at all. When I bought my ticket I was told 4 formal nights and the voyage personaliser reflected this.

 

Yesterday Cunard emailed me to "remind" me that there is only 1 formal night. Interesting use of the word "remind" as this information was not made clear to me when I booked.

 

In other words, they've missold this cruise to me. As others have said, had we known this, we probably would have booked a different voyage or even travelled on a different cruise line (there's a NCL transatlantic at the same time I was maybe interested in as friends of ours are on it).

 

I've informed Cunard of my disappointment. I'll see what they come back with.

 

:mad:

 

PS: my voyage personaliser still states 4 formal nights... They need to get their act together.

 

 

I understand your disappointment - but wonder about your supposed alternatives. There are very few eastbound transatlantics in the Fall. We are coming home on the November 5 sailing from a visit to family - and hope that the ship will not be full of people on the second half of their back-to-back who will feel entitled to follow the dress code they enjoyed eastbound.

[brigittetom]

and hope that the ship will not be full of people on the second half of their back-to-back who will feel entitled to follow the dress code they enjoyed eastbound.

 

I don't think so. I think you will find that more people will have been disappointed in the EB dress code. We just booked this R/T and the dress code wasn't mentioned.

[bluemarble]

Our Voyage Personaliser is now updated as of this morning to show one formal evening (Oct. 30) and six informal evenings. And Oct. 31 is now listed as the Halloween Ball in Voyage Personaliser as well. I think all the stars have now aligned with regard to the dress code for the Oct. 29 eastbound crossing although there is still room for some confusion over "Informal" versus the "Smart Casual" designation (with jeans allowed) in the description of this Blue Note Jazz at Sea voyage.

[Bell Boy]

Well it goes from bad to worse ! We have just been informed that the headliner act 'Natalie Cole' has now pulled out !

 

Does anyone know were I stand ( I've paid my balance) on cancelling or transferring my booking to a future voyage ?

 

To say I'm disappointed is an understatement, I only booked the crossing as the attraction was Ms Cole. :mad:

[canoncruiser]

Just saw an e-mail from cunard via princess to a friend-

 

natalie cole has canceled-so i’m not going-trying to get my money back-she was the only reason i had decided to sail at that time.

 

My t/a is checking this out-if not true then princess has been hacked.

Edited September 25, 2015 by canoncruiser

[bluemarble]

Just saw an e-mail from cunard via princess to a friend-

 

natalie cole has canceled-so i’m not going-trying to get my money back-she was the only reason i had decided to sail at that time.

 

My t/a is checking this out-if not true then princess has been hacked.

 

Yes, I think it's official. Gregory Porter is replacing Natalie Cole on this Blue Note Jazz at Sea voyage. I also received the e-mail notification and Cunard's web site is now describing the voyage as "Gregory Porter & Blue Note Jazz at Sea".

 

Regards,

John.

[lannp]

I didn't receive an email about that but I did receive one from Cunard with a survey regarding my upcoming transatlantic (Oct.29) and 15 minutes later another stating they had withdrawn the survey due to errors and would contact me again. I didn't see either email until later so I've no clue what the survey was about. Cmon Cunard - get your act together!

[bluemarble]

I didn't receive an email about that but I did receive one from Cunard with a survey regarding my upcoming transatlantic (Oct.29) and 15 minutes later another stating they had withdrawn the survey due to errors and would contact me again. I didn't see either email until later so I've no clue what the survey was about. Cmon Cunard - get your act together!

 

Those e-mails from Cunard about the survey had me confused too. I did take the survey before it was withdrawn. Here are the questions that were asked. All but the last question were multiple choice. I'm omitting the choices here for the sake of brevity.

 

1. Please let us know how many cruises you have previously been on, with any cruise company, excluding any future cruises you may have booked but are yet to take.

 

2. How many cruises have you ever been on with Cunard? Again, please exclude any future cruises you may have booked but are yet to take.

 

3. You have booked to travel on a Transatlantic Crossing this month. Please let us know why you booked this Cunard holiday.

 

4. Please confirm which (category of) stateroom you have booked for this Transatlantic Crossing?

 

5. How far in advance did you book your holiday?

 

6. The Transatlantic Crossing you have booked is one of Cunard’s special themed cruises featuring Blue Note Jazz at Sea. Were you aware of this on board entertainment offering when you booked this cruise?

 

7. How much influence did Blue Note Jazz at Sea have on your decision to book this cruise?

 

8. How interested are you in Jazz music?

 

9. During your Transatlantic Crossing you will have the opportunity to see the following entertainment acts:

•Gregory Porter

•Our Point of View, the Blue Note All Star Band featuring Robert Glasper, Derrick Hodge, Lionel Leuke, Marcus Strickland, Kendrick Scott and Keyon Harrold

•Robert Glasper Trio

•Derrick Hodge

•Kendrick Scott Oracle

•Marcus Strickland Quartet

•Lionel Loueke Trio

•Mike Moreno Trio

•Fabian Almazan Trio

•Alan Hampton

How likely is it that you will watch any of the following acts as part of this crossing? Please use the following scale, where 1 is not at all likely and 7 is very likely.

 

10. Finally, please take some time to let us know any other types of themed cruises you would like to see offered on board Cunard ships.

 

Note that question 9 does not mention Natalie Cole but does mention Gregory Porter. This was my first indication that something was up. Maybe the survey was pulled because it was sent out too early, before it had been communicated that Gregory Porter was replacing Natalie Cole. That's my theory anyway.

 

By the way, I have now received two separate e-mails about Gregory Porter replacing Natalie Cole. The first was from "Princess Cruises" and the second from "Cunard Line".

 

Regards,

John.

[Bell Boy]

Thanks John, the plot thickens ;) I was wondering what the survey I received , then withdrawn was about.

 

What a palaver this whole booking system has been, not just for me but for hundreds of other customers. Something so simple as transatlantic crossing which many of us take three or four times a year.

[cruiselife4me]

Have a WONDERFUL time!

Mary

[Bell Boy]

You've got to be joking, wouldn't dream of booking through a Travel Agent, maybe a Cruise Specialist and even then several cruise specialists I've spoken to here in the UK have been kept in the dark with all this confusion surrounding the 29th October crossing.

 

This promotion has been driven by the North American brand of Cunard, even some people at Carnival House UK have concerns.

 

Let's see how things play out during this crossing and hopefully I'll get back to you all. ;)

[brigittetom]

 

Let's see how things play out during this crossing and hopefully I'll get back to you all. ;)

 

I want to know now. :D. What concerns do the Carnival UK people have?

[Salacia]

I want to know now. :D. What concerns do the Carnival UK people have?

 

:D Well, if it was the UK people who wrote the dress code - "denim pants permitted" for six out of seven nights, I imagine they must be expecting lots of laughs for those who don't understand the difference between trousers and pants on the two sides of the pond (giggle).

[majortom10]

:D Well, if it was the UK people who wrote the dress code - "denim pants permitted" for six out of seven nights, I imagine they must be expecting lots of laughs for those who don't understand the difference between trousers and pants on the two sides of the pond (giggle).

 

Certainly dont think it was the UK people who wrote the dress code having sailed on numerous American cruise lines their idea of formal dress beggars belief so I think it was instigated either by Cunard in the USA or Carnival.

[brigittetom]

Hi Salacia...it's good to see you. :) I have to agree...I don't think this theme came from Cunard UK. Although, I was one who thought that the German Rocker (jeans) cruise was the worst idea ever....it was a huge success. But then again, those people knew what they were booking. :p

[Bell Boy]

You've hit the nail on the head Brigittetom ;) It was my personal cruise specialist/agent at Carnival House who had the concerns. We here in the UK in the early days of booking this particular voyage, were unaware of the dress code. It was the headliner act Ms Cole, that attracted the majority of customers to book.

 

To quote what was said to me at Carnival House ...We ( UK) have had a gun "almost" ! put to our head to go along with this suggested dress code".. "it's been 'sort of' driven by the North American Brand. "

 

:)

[Salacia]

Certainly dont think it was the UK people who wrote the dress code having sailed on numerous American cruise lines their idea of formal dress beggars belief so I think it was instigated either by Cunard in the USA or Carnival.

 

Yes, well, it would appear that your belief is not being begged since the issue on this particular voyage is not the formal dress code, but rather the reduction of formal nights (having been supplanted by the new "smart casual code").

 

As to the identity of the "instigator" for this new dress code, no doubt there will be a call to round up the usual suspects.

 

Just curious: where is it popular to refer to jeans as 'jean pants' other than Cunard's web site:confused:

 

BTW, Cunard lists this crossing as a 'cruise deal' ($699 pp inside http://www.cunard.com/cruise-search/book-a-cruise/cruises/qm/1157-m526-nyc1-sou1/ ) - better offers may be found through travel agents. Anyway, it's obviously not a sell out at this time.

 

 

Wishing all bon voyage, and all the jazz :) - Salacia

[brigittetom]

 

 

Wishing all bon voyage, and all the jazz :) - Salacia

 

Cute!

 

Bell Boy, we booked this crossing because of the timing and Natalie Cole was a big bonus. I had no idea about the dress code and still wouldn't have if I didn't read CC. We have done this crossing a dozen times before and it just never occurred to me to research details. I mean really, what could possibly be different about a crossing. :D

Edited September 30, 2015 by brigittetom

[majortom10]

Yes, well, it would appear that your belief is not being begged since the issue on this particular voyage is not the formal dress code, but rather the reduction of formal nights (having been supplanted by the new "smart casual code").

 

As to the identity of the "instigator" for this new dress code, no doubt there will be a call to round up the usual suspects.

 

Just curious: where is it popular to refer to jeans as 'jean pants' other than Cunard's web site:confused:

 

BTW, Cunard lists this crossing as a 'cruise deal' ($699 pp inside http://www.cunard.com/cruise-search/book-a-cruise/cruises/qm/1157-m526-nyc1-sou1/ ) - better offers may be found through travel agents. Anyway, it's obviously not a sell out at this time.

 

 

Wishing all bon voyage, and all the jazz :) - Salacia

 

The issue on here and many other cruise forums in the UK was about the reduction of formal nights to informal but also the dress code that informal would allow denim jeans to be worn which on any other Cunard cruise whether it be QM2, QE or QV you would not be allowed to dine in any MDR while wearing denim jeans. Do not understand why you have to wear denim jeans to enjoy jazz music compared to the "normal" Cunard informal dress code which I and many others has been strongly pushed by USA market forces.

[brigittetom]

Considering the atmosphere and demografic on the QM2, I don't really expect to see much change in the dress code on this trip. There may be less formal wear, but overall.....even with the denim code, passengers will still be dressed nicely in the dining room. I simply can't imagine a ship full of Cunarders, showing up for dinner in jeans. It's just not going to happen. :p

 

And if it does....Bell Boy will let you know. :D.