Cunard the Odd Duck

[jaypo63]

Clearly there is a place for these party ships but I have to say I find them very tacky but I'm an oldie lol we used to sail with P&O and loved oceana,even got engaged onboard Azura but sadly as each cruise passed we found more and more faults,the icing on the cake was a food fight in the restaurant (& I'm sure I actually saw some of that icing fly by me) the staff,sadly,don't know how to cope with this unruly behaviour,Since then,we have travelled with Cunard & there really is no comparison,especially in the suites, really hope QA keeps the tradition going ❣️

[D&N]

I've found what @Catchum was referencing.

 

Princess offer two levels of cruise upgrade. Each of them offers the corresponding drinks package and surprisingly and confusingly are significantly cheaper than the drinks package alone.

For someone that is happy to order a glass of Merlot or Chardonnay without knowing or caring where it was produced or how it tastes, it looks to be an excellent deal.

Their more expensive package does give the wine details and we wouldn't drink most of them.

Whispering Angel Rosé is on list, it's the only one we would drink. Not our first choice as it's a wine that's not widely stocked in France. It tends to go to export markets (a sign of something the French don't rate highly). We'd need to buy bottles to get whites or reds.

 

It's difficult to compare bottle prices as the labels offered are usually different, however the Whispering Angel is $65 per bottle on Princess against $60 on Cunard. Their is a huge difference in Cunard's favour on Pétrus, which could be explained by the vintage but Princess don't bother to state the vintage on their list, and I doubt there are many passengers spend that amount on a bottle of wine, particularly those that are complaining about the price of a package.

 

We know we'll pay more on QM2 than we do here in France but we're happy to factor that into the cost.

[Catchum]

On 12/2/2023 at 3:19 PM, D&N said:

I've found what @Catchum was referencing.

 

Princess offer two levels of cruise upgrade. Each of them offers the corresponding drinks package and surprisingly and confusingly are significantly cheaper than the drinks package alone.

For someone that is happy to order a glass of Merlot or Chardonnay without knowing or caring where it was produced or how it tastes, it looks to be an excellent deal.

Their more expensive package does give the wine details and we wouldn't drink most of them.

Whispering Angel Rosé is on list, it's the only one we would drink. Not our first choice as it's a wine that's not widely stocked in France. It tends to go to export markets (a sign of something the French don't rate highly). We'd need to buy bottles to get whites or reds.

 

It's difficult to compare bottle prices as the labels offered are usually different, however the Whispering Angel is $65 per bottle on Princess against $60 on Cunard. Their is a huge difference in Cunard's favour on Pétrus, which could be explained by the vintage but Princess don't bother to state the vintage on their list, and I doubt there are many passengers spend that amount on a bottle of wine, particularly those that are complaining about the price of a package.

 

We know we'll pay more on QM2 than we do here in France but we're happy to factor that into the cost.

The best wine we ever tasted was in Madeira at a local harvest festival celebration, it was served out of a pigskin and drunk from a communal horn cup. Later we eat whole chicken served from the bbq on a shovel with local wine poured from a two liter Coca-Cola bottle. One of the best travel memories we have. I avoid French wine (except champagne) New Zealand or South African are more to my taste.

[Victoria2]

28 minutes ago, Catchum said:

 

...I avoid French wine (except champagne) New Zealand or South African are more to my taste.

I completely agree apart from champagne. I prefer English sparkling wine and Tesco's Finest to be precise.

[Mudhen]

Wine is just like cruise lines. There’s something for everyone and if you enjoy them, then it’s the right choice!

[maggielou362]

@jaypo63 a FOOD fight? 😮😲 Really? How disgusting.

@Victoria2 and @Catchum glad to hear that. I DO love champagne but after much studying we have purchased the drinks package and I have found several wines by the glass that I am sure I will enjoy. Looking forward to tasting the Gusbourne Kentish bubbles.

 

[jaypo63]

1 hour ago, maggielou362 said:

@jaypo63 a FOOD fight? 😮😲 Really? How disgusting.

@Victoria2 and @Catchum glad to hear that. I DO love champagne but after much studying we have purchased the drinks package and I have found several wines by the glass that I am sure I will enjoy. Looking forward to tasting the Gusbourne Kentish bubbles.

 

Yes,sadly some brits just don't know how to behave. Ha, have a friend in McLaren Vale and my favourite wine is from there too 😀

[Mudhen]

OOO! Bubbles! I love bubbles, but must confess I've never heard of Gusbourne Kentish.....sounds, ah, sort of British...giggle!

Can you tell me more?

[maggielou362]

All I know @Mudhen is that I love champagne, and other DRY sparkling white wines (except moscato and prosecco) and I have read that the English sparkling can hold its own. I think it's very proudly British, I will let you know how it tastes in February 🍾

[exlondoner]

16 hours ago, Mudhen said:

OOO! Bubbles! I love bubbles, but must confess I've never heard of Gusbourne Kentish.....sounds, ah, sort of British...giggle!

Can you tell me more?

Why giggle?

[exlondoner]

7 hours ago, maggielou362 said:

All I know @Mudhen is that I love champagne, and other DRY sparkling white wines (except moscato and prosecco) and I have read that the English sparkling can hold its own. I think it's very proudly British, I will let you know how it tastes in February 🍾

Certainly in every test tasting I read, the best of the English sparklers stand comparison with Champagne:  geography and climate very similar, in Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, even, whisper it, Dorset.

[Mudhen]

4 hours ago, exlondoner said:

Why giggle?

Too many bubbles??!! Most certainly didn't mean any disrespect....

Not many Americans are familiar with British bubbles, basically because we just don't get it here.

Will look forward to testing it in December.

[TouchstoneFeste]

On 12/5/2023 at 5:37 AM, maggielou362 said:

@jaypo63 a FOOD fight? 😮😲 Really? How disgusting.

 

We belong to a group that has large multi-course feasts, and one tradition is a "Polite Food Fight". One table will send a bit of food of food to another table with a (verbal) message, like "Whatever celery they're giving you, it's too much." (Not always a rude comment, just a food pun.) The second table is obliged to respond. I've seen them go on for hours.

[JT1101]

The rowdier behaviors I think tend not to happen on Cunard ships because of the more formal atmosphere and the imbuement of history and tradition into everything. It sort of leads to self selection by guests. 

[jaypo63]

2 hours ago, TouchstoneFeste said:

We belong to a group that has large multi-course feasts, and one tradition is a "Polite Food Fight". One table will send a bit of food of food to another table with a (verbal) message, like "Whatever celery they're giving you, it's too much." (Not always a rude comment, just a food pun.) The second table is obliged to respond. I've seen them go on for hours.

Ha, just don't expect it in what used to be 5* fine dining and food whizzing past my head isn't what I want,also on the main news a few years back,it showed thugs scrapping on the top deck of Azura (I think) great how cruising is evolving isn't it?

I do like the sound of your food fight though lol but I'm sure you wouldn't do it on a cruise ship 

[jaypo63]

3 minutes ago, JT1101 said:

The rowdier behaviors I think tend not to happen on Cunard ships because of the more formal atmosphere and the imbuement of history and tradition into everything. It sort of leads to self selection by guests. 

I absolutely love Cunard and hope it sticks to the traditional old style cruising,not once have I ever witnessed bad behaviour ☺️

well,apart from when I've had one too many Singapore slings 😆
 

Edited December 6, 2023 by jaypo63

[BlueRiband]

6 minutes ago, JT1101 said:

The rowdier behaviors I think tend not to happen on Cunard ships because of the more formal atmosphere and the imbuement of history and tradition into everything. It sort of leads to self selection by guests. 

Agreed.  The dress code and formal atmosphere act as a filter.    Potential passengers who see the ships are a mismatch for their preferred vacation style won't book Cunard.

[exlondoner]

3 minutes ago, BlueRiband said:

Agreed.  The dress code and formal atmosphere act as a filter.    Potential passengers who see the ships are a mismatch for their preferred vacation style won't book Cunard.

And then there is age and infirmity…

[Winifred 22]

9 hours ago, exlondoner said:

Certainly in every test tasting I read, the best of the English sparklers stand comparison with Champagne:  geography and climate very similar, in Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, even, whisper it, Dorset.

British Chapel Down is as firm family  favourite with us and wins many awards. 

[D&N]

British sparkling wines have been beating Champagnes in blind tastings and wining awards at wine fairs for many years.

It has been suggested that the climate in Southern England has become very similar to that of the Champagne Region 50 years ago.

I've never tasted British sparkling but would be more than happy to try if I found it on a wine menu.

 

Personally I prefer Crémant or Blanquette de Limoux to most Champagnes.

[Winifred 22]

27 minutes ago, D&N said:

British sparkling wines have been beating Champagnes in blind tastings and wining awards at wine fairs for many years.

It has been suggested that the climate in Southern England has become very similar to that of the Champagne Region 50 years ago.

I've never tasted British sparkling but would be more than happy to try if I found it on a wine menu.

 

Personally I prefer Crémant or Blanquette de Limoux to most Champagnes.

I remember working with a French lady years ago who came from just outside the official Champagne vineyards. She told me

 that Cremant was as good as champagne the only difference in some cases was that grapes grew in a vineyard the “other side of the road” so couldn’t be officially classed as Champagne. I have drink it ever since . Always stock up when I am in France. 

[Victoria2]

3 hours ago, Winifred 22 said:

British Chapel Down is as firm family  favourite with us and wins many awards. 

Back to back tastings last NY Eve with Tesco Finest Sparkling wine [Hush Heath Estate's product] and Lanson, Tesco was voted by our fellow diners as the winner. It's brilliant anyway but at its price point, fantastic. However I say this as a non wine connoisseur.

 

[jaypo63]

On 12/6/2023 at 4:41 PM, exlondoner said:

And then there is age and infirmity…

Hey, I bet some golden oldies on Cunard could sort out a few of the thugs on P&O 😂

[Thaxted]

On 12/6/2023 at 8:09 AM, Mudhen said:

Too many bubbles??!! Most certainly didn't mean any disrespect....

Not many Americans are familiar with British bubbles, basically because we just don't get it here.

Will look forward to testing it in December.

I've certainly never seen English sparkling wine in shops in our neck of the woods, but you can find a bottle or two in some places in New York; e.g., Astor Wines. Some online retailers offer a larger selection at more reasonable prices.

[Myrtle Ave. Mayhem]

Queen Mary 2 is in the top five ships I've sailed aboard in over 30 years of cruising. Love the decor & design. That being said I'm not impressed with Cunard food(Britannia class) or some of the service. Nothing bad, just not particularly memorable. Anyone interested in cruising should try Cunard for the experience of sailing aboard a grand ocean liner.

 

My favorite cruise line of all time is hands down Viking Ocean. Although I enjoy the traditional ocean liner feel to Queen Mary 2, at this stage, I prefer the Scandinavian Modern design & oh-so Zen at sea onboard atmosphere of Viking. Every space on the cookie cutter similar ships is for the comfort & enjoyment of passengers. No revenue production casino, art sales, ect. Perfect sized ships. Chock-a-full of floor-to-ceiling windows in most public rooms. My only real gripe with Viking(not their fault whatsoever) is the penchant for many of my fellow Americans to take liberal interpretation of "resort casual" dress code guidelines. 

 

The mainstream lines with the giant condo/theme park look aren't an option. Thank goodness there are options, so different cruise experiences please different clientele. Princess, Holland America, & Celebrity used to be my go-to premium middle market lines, but sadly their product presentation is a shadow of it's former self.