Question about Queens Grill

[Colin_Cameron]

6 hours ago, Solent Richard said:

Ah yes, those were the days when all Queens Grill guests were escorted to their suite.

Now you’re really making me feel old. For most of my cruising career ALL guests have been escorted to their cabins.

 

As @exlondonersays, it can be quite amusing when you know the way better than they do, even when you’ve never been on the ship before.

[Bigmike911]

I have done 18 voyages in QG 15 on Queen Mary2 and 3 on Queen Victoria. My butler experience has been good except for two occasions. My first voyage on Queen Mary 2 in 2004 the butler was a woman who thought that we needed to meet her schedule, I ignored that request.

 

About voyage ten or so in the Holyrood suite we had a butler, whose face has graced the pages of some of the brochures. I guess he fancied himself a star and told me I could not have Johnny Walker Black as my spirit choice. I told him I had it on a number of voyages and asked him to look into it. He brought a bottle and then told me I would have to pay for replacements.

 

I called the hotel manager, had a friendly chat and we were given a new butler. On two voyages on Queen Victoria we had a delightful young lady named Santa. She was great. She even served dinner to six of us one evening, and did it with great aplomb. 

 

Even when JWB was not on the selection card (it is now), I would write it in and always got it. Thanks for those who answered the questions about wine replacement. 

[Covepointcruiser]

Q4 and above are still personally escorted on their cabins.   At least this was pre Covid and I expect we will see changes to this process.   In NYC, the Q4s and above have a separate boarding room/area.

[Solent Richard]

17 hours ago, exlondoner said:

 

That must have been a very long time ago, probably before we started in 1997, as it has only happened to us once, in 2004 on QE2, when the man had no idea where our cabin was, and instead of taking us to the highest deck tried to take us to the bowels of the ship for our Q2. When we told him where our cabin was, he did not really believe us. It's so much easier not being escorted.

 

Leaving Queen Mary 2 aside, the last time I well recall it happening for us was in 2008 onboard Queen Victoria when we joined her at Civitavecchia. This very same butler, an excellent chap...

 

 

Maybe time for a little anecdote. In 2015 we sailed with Silversea across the Pacific in a butler attended suite. I wasn't over impressed with the butler service and on my 'end of cruise' comments I suggested they may wish to send their butlers to Cunard for training. Knowing what I know now I'd change the advice to read MSC Yacht Club. For pure attentiveness and 'additional' services, their butlers are hard to beat.

[Windsurfboy]

It doesn't worry  me not being escorted to the cabin, as I  have selected cabin and have a very good picture of deck plans in my head, never get lost.

 

I do hate queuing when I have been promised priority embarkation. 

 

Reading Solent Richard above ,  will have to try Yacht club if ever MSC ever offers an intinerary we like, unfortunately we like longer cruises (3 weeks plus) especially out of Southampton 

[BigMac1953]

14 hours ago, Covepointcruiser said:

Q4 and above are still personally escorted on their cabins.   At least this was pre Covid and I expect we will see changes to this process.   In NYC, the Q4s and above have a separate boarding room/area.

Only on QM2, not on QV or QE where it's only Q1 & 2's that get the escort.

[orchestrapal]

5 hours ago, Solent Richard said:

 

Leaving Queen Mary 2 aside, the last time I well recall it happening for us was in 2008 onboard Queen Victoria when we joined her at Civitavecchia. This very same butler, an excellent chap...

 

 

Maybe time for a little anecdote. In 2015 we sailed with Silversea across the Pacific in a butler attended suite. I wasn't over impressed with the butler service and on my 'end of cruise' comments I suggested they may wish to send their butlers to Cunard for training. Knowing what I know now I'd change the advice to read MSC Yacht Club. For pure attentiveness and 'additional' services, their butlers are hard to beat.

The worst butlers we have ever experienced were in Queens Grill for three weeks. 
They changed several times and went from fair to poor….Crystal has the best butlers we have had but of course it’s a LUXURY line.

[Mudhen]

Since we're doing anecdotes...I've got another re: Cunard QM2. It may have been our first in Queen's Grill class cruise. We had a very tall, very large woman as our butler. She was not the most pleasant person, but I learned a never to forget lesson from her. I had started to go out onto that huge and wonderful balcony ( or as John would call it "the porch") Since it was breezy, the door to the balcony started to swing closed and I grabbed it, as she was following me. I was totally mortified and dressed down like a child for doing that by our butler. She then explained to me how dangerous it was, to do just what I had done. The doors are heavy and if not on the "catch" they slam with great force and could cause serious injury. She was no sweetheart, but taught me an invaluable lesson which I remember to this day.

[Nick&Simon]

After regular QE2 trips, I took my first QM2 crossing with some trepidation. I really didn't like it and couldn't understand what the Butler was there for, so on my third day I asked the Butler very politely "what's the difference between a Butler and a Steward ", the Butler clearly wasn't impressed and replied very abruptly "I don't clean the toilet" turned around and stomped off.

 

 To this day I find that to be the basic difference.

[Victoria2]

2 hours ago, orchestrapal said:

The worst butlers we have ever experienced were in Queens Grill for three weeks. 
They changed several times and went from fair to poor….Crystal has the best butlers we have had but of course it’s a LUXURY line.

I think your distaste for Cunard QG  [was it just the one cruise?] has been quite well documented. We choose to travel only with  Cunard and couldn't care less if the product is considered luxury or not.

 

We travel well, air, land and sea and know how extremely lucky we are and like to think we have a bit of experience in the little luxuries out there so I'm not talking without experience. We  could travel top end of Crystal should we want to do so but we have found our niche on QE and QV and we love it. I can't 'pit it' against any other line as I've not travelled on them and so I would say luxury or not, if the product suits, which it does for many, many repeaters, why change? We are so well looked after I would say we're cossetted by all the staff we meet; we dine well and have a very comfortable and roomy cabin.

 

Just because the ships as a whole aren't considered  up to 5* standards doesn't take away the fact QG, on QV and QE, is pretty special. Luxury or not, it suits, and that's the bottom line.

Edited June 6, 2021 by Victoria2

[tv24]

Not overly impressed with the butlers.  We had one on the QM2 who seemed to be always in a hurry to get his rooms done.  On disembarkation day, having received the standard letter telling us we had to be out of our stateroom by 8:00, we were scurrying around with the last, last minute check to make sure we had not forgotten anything.  Our butler came into our room at exactly 8:00 informing us we had to leave immediately.  Kind of rude, since we would have been out by 8:05.

[Solent Richard]

6 hours ago, Windsurfboy said:

It doesn't worry  me not being escorted to the cabin, as I  have selected cabin and have a very good picture of deck plans in my head, never get lost.

 

I do hate queuing when I have been promised priority embarkation. 

 

Reading Solent Richard above ,  will have to try Yacht club if ever MSC ever offers an intinerary we like, unfortunately we like longer cruises (3 weeks plus) especially out of Southampton 

Just for you Sir, 😁...

 

https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2020/03/25/msc-preziosa-yacht-club-experience/

 

 

[Windsurfboy]

Thank you Solent Richard have read all your reviews , they are my go to choice for information . 

 

All I  can say is I  cannot  wait for proper  cruising to start again, to try out more of the many ships you have been on.  Our only constraint is we are getting lazy so look for cruises of two weeks minimium but Ideally longer. 

[Windsurfboy]

3 hours ago, orchestrapal said:

The worst butlers we have ever experienced were in Queens Grill for three weeks. 
They changed several times and went from fair to poor….Crystal has the best butlers we have had but of course it’s a LUXURY line.

 

Are you implying Cunard is not luxury , some  regular  contributors believe QG is the ultimate venue for people with private jets .

[Nick&Simon]

7 minutes ago, Windsurfboy said:

 

Are you implying Cunard is not luxury , some  regular  contributors believe QG is the ultimate venue for people with private jets .

 

I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. There are plenty of people who regularly travel on Cunard who are exceptionally wealthy, but that doesn't make it is a luxury cruise line.

 

I would describe it as niche. Or to be kind classic cruising, with the ability to upscale at cost.

Edited June 6, 2021 by Nick&Simon

[ClipperinSFO]

15 minutes ago, Nick&Simon said:

 

 

I would describe it as niche. Or to be kind classic cruising, with the ability to upscale at cost.

 

I would agree.

 

We have crossed a few times in QG (Q5/Q6) and find it underwhelming.  The cabin is by far the best part.  The QG food is good but not great, although the service is wonderful. I find the breakfasts especially disappointing. We dined in the Verandah a couple of times before it was turned into a steakhouse, and thought that was wonderful, and was more the caliber we were expecting in QG.  The butlers are hit and miss. We are trying PG this December to see f that might be a better balance. We look longingly at the BC dining room, as it so clubby and intimate and close to the water.  One day perhaps.  

 

To us, its all about the ship, QM2, and the route.  7 nights and 6 glorious days at sea.  No stops, no distractions.  Heaven.  

[Victoria2]

On 5/29/2021 at 5:26 PM, SimonM said:

we are thinking of going on one of the short UK cruises this summer in the Queen Elizabeth.  Can someone please tell me how the drink etc arrangements work. I know one gets some free drink in the room - but in the restaurant and bars does one have to pay for drinks ? 

also is there free wifi ?

Basically, give it a whirl and go for it!  🙂

 

[Nick&Simon]

2 minutes ago, ClipperinSFO said:

 

I would agree.

 

We have crossed a few times in QG (Q5/Q6) and find it underwhelming.  The cabin is by far the best part.  The QG food is good but not great, although the service is wonderful. I find the breakfasts especially disappointing. We dined in the Verandah a couple of times before it was turned into a steakhouse, and thought that was wonderful, and was more the caliber we were expecting in QG.  The butlers are hit and miss. We are trying PG this December to see f that might be a better balance. We look longingly at the BC dining room, as it so clubby and intimate and close to the water.  One day perhaps.  

 

To us, its all about the ship, QM2, and the route.  7 nights and 6 glorious days at sea.  No stops, no distractions.  Heaven.  

 

I think Verandah is horrendous. I don't even use the free option.  It's reminds me of the QM2 inaugural when in the QG the waiters would arrive with a platter with a big steak, grilled tomato and stack of chucky chips. That didn't last long.

 

I actually like the QG, but Osman knows my quirks by now (Chinese take away night midway thing a b2b,  paella on the second night, oysters on a port day). My only disappointment is that the cheese trolley is not as good as it used to be, too cold and poor selection. Christmas Pudding flavoured cheese did it for me! 

 

 

 

 

[ClipperinSFO]

24 minutes ago, Nick&Simon said:

 

I think Verandah is horrendous. I don't even use the free option.  It's reminds me of the QM2 inaugural when in the QG the waiters would arrive with a platter with a big steak, grilled tomato and stack of chucky chips. That didn't last long.

 

I actually like the QG, but Osman knows my quirks by now (Chinese take away night midway thing a b2b,  paella on the second night, oysters on a port day). My only disappointment is that the cheese trolley is not as good as it used to be, too cold and poor selection. Christmas Pudding flavoured cheese did it for me! 

 

 

 

 

Love Osman -- he does a great job looking after us.  And yes the cheese trolley is a major disappointment. Anglophile that I am, I just stick to the Stilton.  But really.  How hard would it be to have a proper cheese trolley?

 

I am assuming you mean the current incarnation of the Verandah as a Steakhouse.  It is such an insult to the beauty of that room.  

 

 

 

 

[ExArkie]

23 hours ago, Bigmike911 said:

... On two voyages on Queen Victoria we had a delightful young lady named Santa. She was great. She even served dinner to six of us one evening, and did it with great aplomb. ...

She was also our butler on our one QG voyage on Queen Victoria. I definitely agree with your assessment - she was very good.

[BigMac1953]

I think we must be the people that go on the "other" Cunard ships, because we've always had great butlers, had great food, wonderful cocktail parties and got whatever drinks that we wanted, none of which were on the official list (which was extended two years ago).

 

One butler has since been promoted to Deck Manager, so last time on QM2, she sent flowers for the room and had them replaced for fresh ones after one week.

 

We acknowledge that they are not servants, they're just people like you and me, and if you treat them well they will respond well.

 

We've done about two dozen QG holidays and crossings and have yet to meet a problem butler.

 

[Jack E Dawson]

2 hours ago, BigMac1953 said:

I think we must be the people that go on the "other" Cunard ships, because we've always had great butlers, had great food, wonderful cocktail parties and got whatever drinks that we wanted, none of which were on the official list (which was extended two years ago).

 

 

We have also had the good fortune of sailing on your "other" Cunard ships, although not yet in QG. How fortunate we are. Perhaps QG on our 50th. Regardless of when that happens, I will call upon you BigMac for proper Butler protocol. Until then, we are booked on a May 2022 crossing and will be sure to take your lead and order a late night snack of Champagne, cheese and biscuits. Unless it's snowing, we will partake of it on the balcony (yes, we had snow this May in Chicago).

 

Jack

[Victoria2]

8 hours ago, BigMac1953 said:

I think we must be the people that go on the "other" Cunard ships, because we've always had great butlers, had great food, wonderful cocktail parties and got whatever drinks that we wanted, none of which were on the official list (which was extended two years ago).

 

One butler has since been promoted to Deck Manager, so last time on QM2, she sent flowers for the room and had them replaced for fresh ones after one week.

 

We acknowledge that they are not servants, they're just people like you and me, and if you treat them well they will respond well.

 

We've done about two dozen QG holidays and crossings and have yet to meet a problem butler.

 

We literally DO travel on the other Cunard ships, and have had exactly the same experiences.  Whilst acknowledging problems must have occurred for some board members here, I have never come across them.

 

As I previously stated, we are cossetted by all the staff, who can't do enough for us. Can't say fairer than that.

Edited June 7, 2021 by Victoria2

[exlondoner]

2 hours ago, Victoria2 said:

We literally DO travel on the other Cunard ships, and have had exactly the same experiences.  Whilst acknowledging problems must have occurred for some board members here, I have never come across them.

 

As I previously stated, we are cossetted by all the staff, who can't do enough for us. Can't say fairer than that.

 

Nearly always cosseted, and, on a couple of occasions, when not feeling well, I have been treated with very great kindness. Not as part of their job, it seemed, but because of their genuine concern that I wasn't feeling my best.

[North West Newbie]

11 hours ago, BigMac1953 said:

......they are not servants, they're just people like you and me, and if you treat them well they will respond well.

 

Absolutely, and that goes for the entire crew in all departments across the ship.