Detailed thoughts after June 23 QM2 Crossing

[Victoria2]

7 minutes ago, NE John said:

I’ve also read complaints about getting in/out of tubs in higher QG categories. 
The tub situation didn’t distract from our enjoyment in PG though. Just some information to pass along to manage expectations. 

I can easily get in one, just not sure I'd get out!!! ☹️ 😅

[Jack E Dawson]

19 hours ago, NE John said:

Princess Grill Experience:

Thanks NE John for a great review and taking time to share your experience and thoughts. We have a major anniversary coming up in 2026 and have been toying with the idea of a Crossing in Grills. The details you provided will way heavily in our decision. 

Jack

 

[D&N]

3 hours ago, Wonky said:

So are you saying we shouldn’t get on the dance floor unless we can follow the rules?

The rules are quite simple. If you are moving around the floor you travel anti-clockwise. If you don't there is a risk you will collide with others. Be considerate to others and don't barge into them, stop if you think you will hit someone. These rules are there to try to prevent injury to yourself and others.

If you can't follow them then I'm very sorry to tell you; YES you shouldn't be on a dance floor.

 

You may also risk someone taking legal action against you if you caused them to injure themselves.

[Windsurfboy]

25 minutes ago, ballroom-cruisers said:

It has been regularly expressed that the Queen's Room should be more used for party dancing - and yet every time there is a 'party' there with a pop band the floor is hardly ever full, and often there are less passengers who are on the floor disco dancing, than the number of entertainment staff spread across the floor trying to encourage others to join them.  So whilst there is certainly a vocal minority who repeatedly express the opinion that there should be more opportunity for the majority to do disco dancing, or other expressions representing the same thing, the reality is that in fact it is only a minority who want to do so, and on most of the voyages I have been on, it is actually the regular ballroom dancers who are on the floor at various times during the evening. There are certainly some times each evening when the floor is not busy - but even when there is recorded disco type music there are usually only a few people doing disco dancing, and occasionally the music plays with nobody doing disco dancing even when they could and have the floor to themselves.

 

So even if there are folk who feel that ballroom dancing is for the minority, it seems from my experience that the disco dancing is supported by a yet smaller minority on board. There are times when the room is full in the seating area around the tables if there is a tribute band, but most people who are there, want to listen and watch, and not get on the floor themselves. In that case any venue that can accommodate the band and the audience will be fine - such as the theatre, the pub, or G32.

 

I don't know what should be done with queens room, that's  Cunard's problem , but as the biggest public space on ship it should have at least few hundred people in it every night. Which it doesn't have. 

 

 If they can't think of things to attract enough people to fill the space , then that clearly means it needs a drastic redesign, perhaps into more than one venue. 

[ballroom-cruisers]

9 minutes ago, Windsurfboy said:

 

I don't know what should be done with queens room, that's  Cunard's problem , but as the biggest public space on ship it should have at least few hundred people in it every night. Which it doesn't have. 

 

 If they can't think of things to attract enough people to fill the space , then that clearly means it needs a drastic redesign, perhaps into more than one venue. 

 

If there was a drastic reduction in use of the Queen's Room for ballroom dancing, then it is likely Cunard would lose regular passengers who currently stay with Cunard for cruises pury because it it the only cruise line where ballroom dancing is possible every evening over an extended period on a decent sized dance floor. If passengers could no longer enjoy ballroom dancing properly each evening, then they would have a large choice of other lines where they can't ballroom dance on holiday, or they can go on land based holidays aimed squarely at ballroom dancing, and which are increasing in availability and popularity, at least in the UK. Whether Cunard could then attract enough non-ballroom dancers, across a wider age range to their ships is an interesting question.

 

Equally there are some passengers who stick with Cunard because they can come into the Queen's Room, and enjoy a drink and social chat, whilst specifically watching ballroom dancing - some of those passengers could be lost to Cunard too, if the Queen's Room functionality was drastically cut back.

Edited July 2, 2023 by ballroom-cruisers
added sentence

[NE John]

15 minutes ago, Jack E Dawson said:

Thanks NE John for a great review and taking time to share your experience and thoughts. We have a major anniversary coming up in 2026 and have been toying with the idea of a Crossing in Grills. The details you provided will way heavily in our decision. 

Jack

 

Yes, it’s worth it. Any distractions are minor. 
One has to have a certain mindset to do a seven night crossing though. Lots of activities to balance time to relax and pull away from the activities. Grills Lounge is a nice area to chill out and relax. Wonderful service. 

[Victoria2]

10 minutes ago, D&N said:

The rules are quite simple. If you are moving around the floor you travel anti-clockwise. If you don't there is a risk you will collide with others. Be considerate to others and don't barge into them, stop if you think you will hit someone. These rules are there to try to prevent injury to yourself and others.

If you can't follow them then I'm very sorry to tell you; YES you shouldn't be on a dance floor.

 

You may also risk someone taking legal action against you if you caused them to injure themselves.

I'm not sure where legal action comes into it but as long as a couple are enjoying themselves 'slowly turning around ' on the edge of the dance floor then I'm afraid that is their prerogative and if anyone collides with them, well look out colliders.

There may be 'rules' of the floor but this is a holiday venue and rules are not posted on the door  before entry,

[NE John]

3 minutes ago, ballroom-cruisers said:

 

If there was a drastic reduction in use of the Queen's Room for ballroom dancing, then it is likely Cunard would lose regular passengers who currently stay with Cunard for cruises pury because it it the only cruise line where ballroom dancing is possible every evening over an extended period on a decent sized dance floor. If passengers could no longer enjoy ballroom dancing properly each evening, then they would have a large choice of other lines where they can't ballroom dance on holiday, or they can go on land based holidays aimed squarely at ballroom dancing, and which are increasing in availability and popularity, at least in the UK. Whether Cunard could then attract enough non-ballroom dancers, across a wider age range to their ships is an interesting question.

 

Equally there are some passengers who stick with Cunard because they can come into the Queen's Room, and enjoy a drink and social chat, whilst specifically watching ballroom dancing - some of those passengers could be lost to Cunard too, if the Queen's Room functionality was drastically cut back.

You’re right and I fully see your point. Cunard needs to find that balance of dance programs so everybody feels included, including the Ballroom dancers. I enjoy watch you guys with envy. 

[Victoria2]

5 minutes ago, ballroom-cruisers said:

 

If there was a drastic reduction in use of the Queen's Room for ballroom dancing, then it is likely Cunard would lose regular passengers who currently stay with Cunard for cruises pury because it it the only cruise line where ballroom dancing is possible every evening over an extended period on a decent sized dance floor. If passengers could no longer enjoy ballroom dancing properly each evening, then they would have a large choice of other lines where they can't ballroom dance on holiday, or they can go on land based holidays aimed squarely at ballroom dancing, and which are increasing in availability and popularity, at least in the UK. Whether Cunard could then attract enough non-ballroom dancers, across a wider age range to their ships is an interesting question.

An interesting thought. Judging by the number of dancers on the floor some nights, I would have though this would impact the dancers more than Cunard revenue.

[Wonky]

18 minutes ago, D&N said:

The rules are quite simple. If you are moving around the floor you travel anti-clockwise. If you don't there is a risk you will collide with others. Be considerate to others and don't barge into them, stop if you think you will hit someone. These rules are there to try to prevent injury to yourself and others.

If you can't follow them then I'm very sorry to tell you; YES you shouldn't be on a dance floor.

 

You may also risk someone taking legal action against you if you caused them to injure themselves.

Wow, I honestly did not know there were “rules”. Perhaps these “rules” should be displayed at entry to the venue🤔

[D&N]

2 minutes ago, Victoria2 said:

I'm not sure where legal action comes into it but as long as a couple are enjoying themselves 'slowly turning around ' on the edge of the dance floor then I'm afraid that is their prerogative and if anyone collides with them, well look out colliders.

There may be 'rules' of the floor but this is a holiday venue and rules are not posted on the door  before entry,

I'm not sure how your comments apply to my post, which was a direct response, and quoted, post #15.

'slowly turning around' seems like someone who is not moving around the floor to me.

[ballroom-cruisers]

We can all find some times when the Queen's Room is not full. But equally we can also all find some times when the G32, the Yacht Club on QE/QV, the Commodore Club, or the Carinthia Lounge are also not full, as well as the shops on board - it's normal. There are times when lots are in the theatre and most other venues sparsely occupied. There are times when I have seen two people in the pub, or in the casino. There have been times when we have been on our way to the Yacht Club, come out of the lift, and heard some nice pop music, and seen one couple boogieing on the dance floor with half a dozen couples sitting having a drink - so we have gone in and boogied for a few songs, and had the floor to ourselves. Lovely - and then retired to the Commodore Club for a nice cocktail.  Would that suggest the Yacht Club needs to be re-thought for its use by Cunard?  I doubt it.

[Victoria2]

1 minute ago, D&N said:

I'm not sure how your comments apply to my post, which was a direct response, and quoted, post #15.

'slowly turning around' seems like someone who is not moving around the floor to me.

You mentioned legal action and colliding. I replied.

[ballroom-cruisers]

8 minutes ago, Wonky said:

Wow, I honestly did not know there were “rules”. Perhaps these “rules” should be displayed at entry to the venue🤔

 

The rules are basically common sense - and dancers who dance regularly understand they are there intrinsically to prevent injury and maximise enjoyment. Rather than being 'rules' they are really sensible 'etiquette',

Edited July 2, 2023 by ballroom-cruisers
add sentence

[Wonky]

Maximise enjoyment or expect litigation🤣

[D&N]

It's not really any different from corridors, staircases etc.

Folk who charge around with no consideration for others are potentially dangerous.

When you look at the other dancers you can see what direction they are moving in.

 

I'm not suggesting people shouldn't come on the floor by any means, just don't be reckless.

 

BTW. I've seen extremely good competition dancers come on a floor and barge their way about. It doesn't really have any place in social dancing.

[D&N]

7 minutes ago, Victoria2 said:

You mentioned legal action and colliding. I replied.

Therefore a couple 'slowly turning around' who are seriously injured by movers who don't pay any attention to them being there might try to claim for their injuries.

[Victoria2]

7 minutes ago, D&N said:

Therefore a couple 'slowly turning around' who are seriously injured by movers who don't pay any attention to them being there might try to claim for their injuries.

You might note the phrase is in quotation marks insinuating a slight skepticism  in the actual slowly turning around bit.

Your comment also implies it would be the colliders who would take action and not the innocents 'slowly turning around'.

Whatever, this is a venue for all. if there are experienced dancers, they should know to avoid the less experienced.

If there are those with less experience, hopefully, they will try and keep out of the way of others, hence 'slowly turning around'!.

 

Either way, the floor should be open to all and quite frankly, I would be terrified of even trying to venture on the the floor after all the comments I've read over the past year or so from those who would seek to tell others 'how it should be done'!

 

 

[ballroom-cruisers]

There have been many occasions when there is a wide mix of beginners, early level dancers, and experienced ballroom dancers on the floor. The considerate experienced and considerate dancers will never collide with anyone else. But what they can do on the floor in terms of movement of course depends on how the other dancers are moving, as well as how many are on the floor.  Yet I have been on the floor where it is relatively busy, and yet been able to move through the spaces and go around the floor several times where early dancers have moved only a small distance along one side. It's normal. At other times if the room has more early dancers then the experienced dancers can only move small distances, but they can still be fluid and do static 'line figures' that can look beautiful.  So what is possible for experienced dancers depends on how the others on the floor are doing their thing. If the others, including beginners are on the floor but moving with some consideration of others, then the experienced dancers can still do some great dancing. Equally it takes a long time to become an experienced ballroom dancer and it it easy to not realise that experienced dancers were all beginners once.

[Victoria2]

 ballroom-cruisers a most considerate comment.🙂

[exlondoner]

14 minutes ago, Victoria2 said:

You might note the phrase is in quotation marks insinuating a slight skepticism  in the actual slowly turning around bit.

Your comment also implies it would be the colliders who would take action and not the innocents 'slowly turning around'.

Whatever, this is a venue for all. if there are experienced dancers, they should know to avoid the less experienced.

If there are those with less experience, hopefully, they will try and keep out of the way of others, hence 'slowly turning around'!.

 

Either way, the floor should be open to all and quite frankly, I would be terrified of even trying to venture on the the floor after all the comments I've read over the past year or so from those who would seek to tell others 'how it should be done'!

 

 

This all seems so different from what happened in my now deceased parents’ youth, where ballroom dancing (or the cinema) was a way of meeting girls, and they all danced happily on very crowded dance floors without apparently any difficulties and little disdain or showing off.

[NE John]

For the record, my DW and I practiced Rumba, ChaCha and waltz via YouTube instruction sites and prepped as much as we can. DW loves Latin dancing. 
We tried very hard but found the arrangements and, as @D&N mentioned about identifying varying speeds of dances, were awkward. 
 

[ballroom-cruisers]

25 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

This all seems so different from what happened in my now deceased parents’ youth, where ballroom dancing (or the cinema) was a way of meeting girls, and they all danced happily on very crowded dance floors without apparently any difficulties and little disdain or showing off.

 

True indeed - but ballroom dancing has changed and evolved over the years - have a look at some videos online of the top ballroom champions dancing at Blackpool in the 60s - the dresses the ladies wore are totally different to today's dresses, and the style of dancing very different, and equally in those days men did not do Latin dancing.  You're right ballroom dancing with little technique is how men met ladies - these days the equivalent is not even the disco, but the raves and the pop concerts with tens of thousands camping in a field!

 

NE John - it is really hard to learn ballroom or Latin dances from videos alone - if you get the best dance teacher you can to teach you over a period of time allowing you to develop slowly with good dance habits you will enjoy it much more and become higher level dancers.

Edited July 2, 2023 by ballroom-cruisers
added paragraph

[Victoria2]

26 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

This all seems so different from what happened in my now deceased parents’ youth, where ballroom dancing (or the cinema) was a way of meeting girls, and they all danced happily on very crowded dance floors without apparently any difficulties and little disdain or showing off.

I think the main issue on Cunard is there are the serious ballroom dancers who cruise to dance; there are those who cruise and enjoy a dance and then there are the inexperienced who want to give it a go.

 

There should be room on the floor for all as everyone has paid to enjoy all facilities.

[ballroom-cruisers]

Yes, Victoria2, the floor can accommodate all as you say - it just needs people to feel a nice atmosphere with the music playing, and be considerate of others there with them. 

 

A little story - there are some couples who went on Cunard cruises, not many years ago, who were on their own, having lost their wife or husband, and who met on the Queen's Room dance floor, and became good friends during a voyage. They kept in touch after disembarkation, and in time romance blossomed, and they married - and returned to a Cunard voyage as a married couple to enjoy the Queen's Room again.  It is a story I have seen more than once. Indeed I also know of a couple who danced, and on a future voyage got married on board a Cunard ship, doing their wedding dance in the Queen's Room. I have seen that a couple of times now. Some will have loving memories of that ballroom dance floor.