Has anyone been on a Cunard ship.

[Mr-big-bits-mk2]

We're thinking of transfering the flag once our current batch of booked cruises are done and thought about giving Cunard a go.

Has anyone sailed with them, i'd be especialy interested in hearing from anyone who's been onboard in a Suite.

Finaly why do they refer to the suites as 'Grills' ?

[Meg 50]

We're thinking of transfering the flag once our current batch of booked cruises are done and thought about giving Cunard a go.

Has anyone sailed with them, i'd be especialy interested in hearing from anyone who's been onboard in a Suite.

Finaly why do they refer to the suites as 'Grills' ?

because it's a prison ship and they have grilles on the windows?

As you will see, I haven't any idea, but that sounded plausible.... lol

[GillD46]

Because of the Queen's Grill and the Princess Grill.

We haven't been in the Princess Grill, but have travelled in Queen's Grill, and I have to say it is wonderful - albeit at a cost! The accommodation is spacious, many of them similar in size to P&O suites, many consideraly larger but the food is truly exceptional and cannot be compared to anything P&O offer.

[noddy10]

Wouldnt touch Cunard with a barge pole while I agree the food in the "grills" is good so it should be for how much they charge but for any other restaurant the food is no better than P&O and a lot of snobs and snobbery on Cunard ships because the regular Cunarders think they are above P&O even though they are part of the same company.

[GillD46]

We have found no more snobbery on any of our Cunard voyages than we have on any other cruise line we have travelled with. The food in the Britannia is far better than P&O in our opinion, but food is always subjective and it just means it suits us better.

The only way to judge is to try for yourself.

[Boris+]

At the moment we enjoy our cruises on Cunard, and have our favourite ship - QV. We have only travelled in Queens Grill. I think that if you look on the Cunard website there is an answer to the Grills question - something to do with the fact that a long time ago there was a restaurant for 1st class (and maybe one for 2nd class) which had the word 'Grill' in the name - and it has continued to be used today. Well, something like that.

The suites are varying in size, our favourite has to be Q1 on QV - because the depth of the balcony is absolutely superb. The Q1 suites on QE don't have the same depth of balcony, although like the Q1s on QV you have the benefit of half the width of the ship. The Q2 tends to be a bit smaller, and the balcony size is obviously restricted. The problem with the Q3/Q4 suites is that in the middle of the night if you have 'enjoyed' the bar a bit too much you may try to head into the dressing room instead of into the bathroom!!!! That's caused quite a few giggles.

The other Q grades are really nice, however the aft suites on QE and QV are smashing, especially on QV.

You've just got to try it and see. On QM2 some of the suites are duplex, and it's sliding down those curving bannisters! Just because you are in a suite you don't have to behave or be stuffy!!!

The other thing with a Q1 - if you like that sort of thing - is that when you do check-in you get given a red card - and when you step off the gangway and into the ship on embarkation day they make a fuss of you and a Cunard red-uniformed Bellhop will grab your hand luggage and escort you to your suite. On a QV Q1 balcony you get 2 double sunbeds, 2 single sunbeds, 2 armchairs and several coffee tables, and also a patio dining table with 6 patio dining chairs.

The bigger the suite the more flower arrangements you get throughout, you get nibbles to go with the drinks, and the daily paper arrives on an ipod.

Sounds like fun - you bet it is!

Em

[gfwgfw]

Corr Em

I think that you lubs the QV more than you lubs the Giant

Graham

[Dancing Queen]

There you go Mr BB you should find all the information you want here.
http://www.cunard.co.uk/

Any specific questions just ask away and I'll answer them if I can as we have been on all three queens but they cover pretty much everything in the FAQ section.

[oldbluefox]

I've been on Cunard and all this talk of segregation and snobbery is a load of bunkum. It's only there if you go looking for it.

[Dancing Queen]

Exactly Foxy, they let me on so they can't be that choosy

[Boris+]

Morning Graham,

Well - it's a tricky situation that! We've had several outings on all three of the Cunard Queens, and we have tried to discover as much as we can - except that there are still things we haven't done yet. We keep on making a list of what we must do on the next outing - and fail to follow the list.

Anyway, going back to who I love more - that is so difficult, because quite simply I've met the Cunard Queens, I haven't met you ..... yet.

When we first went on Cunard we always would notice other passengers being warmly greeted and welcomed by staff, and a bit wistfully we thought - how lovely, they must be special, wish that was us. Now we know that when we are on a Cunard ship we are greeted like old friends, it is lovely and we appreciate it so much. On P&O we were just passengers, on Cunard we are Cunarders - it just feels different. Nothing to do with snobbery or anything, just a lovely feeling, and I can't wait to be back.

Last year the majority of our outings were Q1 trips, this year is more of a mixed selection.

I'll be down in August then!

Em

[Meg 50]

When we first went on Cunard we always would notice other passengers being warmly greeted and welcomed by staff, and a bit wistfully we thought - how lovely, they must be special, wish that was us. Now we know that when we are on a Cunard ship we are greeted like old friends, it is lovely and we appreciate it so much. On P&O we were just passengers, on Cunard we are Cunarders - it just feels different.

HOGWASH!

It must be you - we've been greeted by name and like long lost friends by staff and crew on P&O - and we only cruise in alternate years!

[GillD46]

We have been greeted just as warmly on P&O ships as we have on Cunard ships. Often we have been offered little extras from crew members we have had a lot of contact with on previous voyages, with both lines.

[Boris+]

Hi Meg,

No - not hogwash, thankyou. It is our opinion of the way we are treated. We were there at the time, and it is how we feel. You can feel how you feel - and the same applies to all.

We just feel more at home on Cunard nowadays.

Em

[davecttr]

You don't have to cruise on Cunard to be greeted warmly by crew. Try Thomson. They show you to your cabin on boarding and I find crew members greeting me by name even when i havn't been on that ship for some time.

Anyway crew interaction with the passengers is all part of the 'software' side of the cruise experience and need not cost the company any money at all. IMO it is all down to the management ethos.

[Dancing Queen]

Very true Dave, it never ceases to amaze me how the crew remember you, I also try to remember little things about them too.

Em I hate to burst your bubble but all suite passengers on Cunard get the same treatment, when you embark and they swipe your card they are instantly aware of which accommodation you are in, if you hadn't had a steward escort you before it was probably because they were all busy with others who had embarked before you, by the same principal your butler appears within a very short time .. they too are alerted that you have boarded.

The funniest thing that happened to us was when after a 10 year absence from Cunard we went on QM2 in a suite, we had also retained our Diamond membership tier level, as a result of both we were invited to just about every cocktail party going and each time the Captain greeted us in the same " How lovely to see you onboard again" he didn't know us from "Adam" he just assumed now some would probably feel flattered by that ... I wasn't.

What did flatter me was the Maitre'd on our last cruise remembered us from the QE2 ( 13 years since we last sailed on her ) and not only did he remember we had a really nice "catch up" about people we all knew, no swipe card required all done from memory and very genuine so it's nice to know you can be remembered for all the right reasons .. in those days he was but a young waiter and hadn't elevated to the Grills but then neither had I.

[HK phooey]

If I am ever rich/daft enough to pay the outlandish prices for a Q1 suite on Queen Vic, you can forget about 'being greeted like old friends' - I'd expect to be carried up the gangplank on a sedan chair whilst having peeled grapes fed to me by my own personal slave/butler.

[GillD46]

If I am ever rich/daft enough to pay the outlandish prices for a Q1 suite on Queen Vic, you can forget about 'being greeted like old friends' - I'd expect to be carried up the gangplank on a sedan chair whilst having peeled grapes fed to me by my own personal slave/butler.

[suespud]

If I am ever rich/daft enough to pay the outlandish prices for a Q1 suite on Queen Vic, you can forget about 'being greeted like old friends' - I'd expect to be carried up the gangplank on a sedan chair whilst having peeled grapes fed to me by my own personal slave/butler.

Ohhhh just think if you missed two cruises in a Q1 you could buy a top of the range caravan for about 35-40k....

[Boris+]

Tell you what - you have it your way, I'll have it my way.

I feel more at home with the way we are treated on Cunard, and that suits me fine.

I will go on hopefully and try out other cruise lines - but not this year.

Em

[suespud]

Not been on Cunard..so cant comment about the greeting.
But on a similar note, we had been staying in a hotel in Windsor for over six months (OH mostly, me not as much) and because he was an Elite member, the staff bent over backwards to greet him/ us, almost stood in line to shake his hand, take luggage, etc.
I got lots of freebies (coffeeand cake ) and flowers changed every few days in our suites..
and of course all the trimmings that come with being an Elite member.
My point being...the receptionist on the desk was new to me and when I went to ask her something she was very polite, but not gushing. Then a receptionist I knew saw me and said something to her and it was as if the new girl hadnt seen me before... Gushing isnt a strong enough word for her reaction.

Its all about money and how much you spend....they want your business no matter it be on a cruise ship or a posh hotel and they will be as nice as it takes to get a repeat..especially at the top level of spend.

I must add its very nice being made to feel special, but I was under no illusion what was behind it.

[Boris+]

How lovely that you had an enjoyable time Sue, and I'm glad for that - it's always smashing to hear that someone has been happy with their experience.

Personally, I am always singularly appreciative of kindness and thoughtfulness - little things just stick in the back of my mind, and are always remembered with fondness.

Silly old me.

Em

[suespud]

How lovely that you had an enjoyable time Sue, and I'm glad for that - it's always smashing to hear that someone has been happy with their experience.

Personally, I am always singularly appreciative of kindness and thoughtfulness - little things just stick in the back of my mind, and are always remembered with fondness.

Silly old me.

Em

Nothing silly about remembering kindness at all.
All I am saying is in the Hospitality industry, kindness or thoughtfulness is part of the job,which you are paying big money for.
Not all I guess, but must be most of it .IMO

[davecttr]

If I am ever rich/daft enough to pay the outlandish prices for a Q1 suite on Queen Vic, you can forget about 'being greeted like old friends' - I'd expect to be carried up the gangplank on a sedan chair whilst having peeled grapes fed to me by my own personal slave/butler.

I would maintain the nautical theme and have my chair hauled up to the suite terrace by crane. Accompanied by bevies of waitresses feeding me anchovies, olives and pints of bitter!

[Gill W]

I don't know about Cunard, because I've never been on Cunard.

But I can confirm that we have been greeted by name on P & O ships by waiters from previous cruises, and we've had cabin stewards come over to say hello when we pass because they remember us from previous cruises when they serviced cabins adjacent to ours.

I'm always very comfortable with the welcome we receive on P & O, and we never even had a suite, just a common balcony cabin.