Has anyone been on a Cunard ship.

[Dancing Queen]

I must admit I have always quite fancied going on the QV but like MOB have not yet found the right cruise. I am a little put off now by your story Noddy but anybody who would do that isn't someone I'd want to mix with anyhow. I certainly don't think of fire fighters as lowly but snobs like that most certainly are

Emjay, don't be put off by one persons experience, we have been sailing with Cunard since 1994 and can say hand on heart I have yet to meet a snob on any of their ships although I'm sure there are a few just like on any ship

[noddy10]

Noddy, the only time I've had a problem with firemen was in 1977-78, when they went on strike over pay. A lot of the military personnel who had to provide cover subsequently left the services to join the fire service because the pre-strike pay was higher than the military salary.

Not strictly true but most service personnel whether it be before or after 1977-78 have always joined the Fire Service because it was easy to get a job because of there military history and it was one that suited them because of there past career. Just to put the facts right the strike in 1977 was not only just about pay in fact it was a minor detail but like everything in this country the true facts never get told by any government or newspaper and unfortunately people believe what they are told and read.

[Silver_Shiney]

Not strictly true but most service personnel whether it be before or after 1977-78 have always joined the Fire Service because it was easy to get a job because of there military history and it was one that suited them because of there past career. Just to put the facts right the strike in 1977 was not only just about pay in fact it was a minor detail but like everything in this country the true facts never get told by any government or newspaper and unfortunately people believe what they are told and read.

Well, the guys I spoke to certainly gave that as their reason for jumping ship! One sergeant I was friendly with said he was leaving so he could have the responsibilities of someone two ranks below him for the salary of the next rank above him.

[Boris+]

Good grief Noddy, now that you have explained the whole story I'm at a loss for something to say. That's awful. Anyway, what's with this "only" a firefighter? By gosh, just please where would any of us be without "only" firefighters. Let's not forget that members of the Fire Brigade do other things too, and each and every 'shout' calls for bravery, courage, dedication - call it what you will.

Ok, I have met people who are anything ranging from arrogant, through silly and stupid to downright boring on various cruises; but I have also met some stunningly wonderful people who I look forward to seeing on a regular basis - and that comment applies to all the cruises we have done, not any one cruise line in particular.

Sometimes maybe it's the age-old 'self loading cargo' syndrome - sometimes when people are in an 'alien' environment (such as an airport/plane/ship) they behave differently to how they behave when they are in their own familiar surroundings. I hope that's all it was, and that you can somehow both forgive and forget.

Em

[noddy10]

Alan dont always believe what you are told because I joined in 1975 and went on strike in 1977 and I know for a fact fully qualified fireman with a few years service their children used to get free school meals and government benefits.

[Silver_Shiney]

Alan dont always believe what you are told because I joined in 1975 and went on strike in 1977 and I know for a fact fully qualified fireman with a few years service their children used to get free school meals and government benefits.

Noddy, all I could go on is what my colleagues and friends told me at the time. Obviously, you were there in the thick of it.

You are still all heroes.

[Boris+]

Yes, Alan,

I'll second that - heroes through and through.

Em

[dorsetlad]

I was also a serving fireman at the time, and it was the longest 9 weeks of my life. I was single, so unlike married men with kids, I had no Social Security payouts to keep alive. I ended up selling many personal possessions just to survive. And I voted against the strike, as I felt it was not justified in that profession.

Brian

[Silver_Shiney]

I'm sorry you had to go through that, Brian. It must have been very tough on those who did not want to strike yet had to bear the consequences.

Noddy, just out of moronic interest, what would a middle-ranking fireman have earned in 1990? I can't remember what my salary was in 1977, but when I retired in '90 as a corporal, I was on £15k. Some junior ranks, with families, received what was called "rent rebate" on their married quarters, in addition to any other State welfare benefits being received. Military salaries, at the coal face, weren't ever that good!

[noddy10]

No idea what a qualified firefighter was paid in 1990 but in 1977 they were on approx £40-£50 per week for a 48 hr week with no shift allowances or extra for weekend work. One of the main reasons for going on strike which was lost by the government and the press was to reduce the working hopurs from 48 to 42. By the way a firefighter still today does 42 hrs a week compared to most doing 35-37hrs and has never been paid a shift allowance or weekend allowance the only enhancements they got was for working on bank holidays i.e. xmas day for which they got double time.

[Silver_Shiney]

I've just found something from a senior aircraftman who said he got £280 in October 1977. That would be for a 40-hour week actually in the "office" but he'd be on call 24/7 with no extra money for weekend/antisocial hours/Bank holidays. If you really wanted a weekend off semi-guaranteed, you had to apply for leave. A week off in civvie terms, ie Monday to Friday, finishing the previous Friday evening and going back the following Monday, took nine days out of our holiday entitlement.

Anyway, I think we've succeeded in taking this thread WAY off topic!!

In an effort to get back, we've been twice on the QM2 and no-one looked down their nose at the Lady C who, basically, cleans toilets for a living.

[Boris+]

Morning Alan,

I'm still trying to 'learn to like' QM2 - I keep on trying, but QV just remains a firm favourite, QE somewhere in the middle. This snobbery thing which people go on about - sometimes small hiccoughs occur due mainly to something being lost in translation, and this is quite often the case where not all the passengers are British. I'm sure I've put that badly, but you know what I mean.

As far as attitude to other passengers being coloured by what people do for a living, my 'take' on this is that when you are on board - we're all in the same boat, we're all just passengers; for us it's as simple as that. Providing people don't behave badly we certainly have no problems.

Em

[noddy10]

I have always been brought up to believe as a person nobody is better or inferior to me just that we all do different jobs that are needed to make the world go round.

[Boris+]

Hi Noddy,

We're sort of on the same page - I just think that everyone is different (I don't take jobs into account).

Em

[Mervyn and Trish]

We've been on Cunard a couple of times and the "class" thing never bothered me. 99% of the ship is open to everyone from steerage upwards. If the "grills" passengers get a different restaurant from me and the other peasants, and private access to a handful of sun loungers, who cares. I still get service you can only dream of on land and get to see all the same places and have paid a lot less. If you pay more it seems reasonable you get more.

Let's face it, it's the same as the rest of life. I can buy a Ford Focus for £15,000 and get from A to B at 70 mph. The wealthy can spend £200,000 on a Rolls Royce and very nice too, but it still only gets from A to B at 70mph.

I can buy a house for £200,000 and it keeps me safe warm and dry just as well as a £5,000,000 mansion.

If they have the money and choose to spend it that way, it's up to them. Am I bovvered?

[Lincoln18]

Cruised several times with P and O, then Cunard a few times.
Thought that the food on PandO was better than Cunard, but when we switched back to PandO, found that was a lower standard IMHO. Have never tried Grills.
People on board, no problem. Did not experience snobbery, came across a few on Cunard who had wealth but not class. I say a few. Came across a few on PandO, well that's another story.
Entertainment was the main difference. PandO - theatre, singer, comedian. Cunard - theatre, ballroom dancing, string quartet. There are pianists on both.
Do you like ballroom dancing? Cruise Cunard, PandO has postage stamp dance floors. Do you like an excellent singer followed by a sometimes blue comedian? Cruise PandO.
To the moderators, administrators of this site, my humble thanks for good design.

[oldbluefox]

We've been on Cunard a couple of times and the "class" thing never bothered me. 99% of the ship is open to everyone from steerage upwards. If the "grills" passengers get a different restaurant from me and the other peasants, and private access to a handful of sun loungers, who cares. I still get service you can only dream of on land and get to see all the same places and have paid a lot less. If you pay more it seems reasonable you get more.

Let's face it, it's the same as the rest of life. I can buy a Ford Focus for £15,000 and get from A to B at 70 mph. The wealthy can spend £200,000 on a Rolls Royce and very nice too, but it still only gets from A to B at 70mph.

I can buy a house for £200,000 and it keeps me safe warm and dry just as well as a £5,000,000 mansion.

If they have the money and choose to spend it that way, it's up to them. Am I bovvered?

My thoughts exactly Mervyn.

Also Lincoln18 makes a good comparison between P&O and Cunard. They both have their differences but the class distinction to me is so minimal as to be irrelevant.

BTW welcome to the site Lincoln18.

[easyliving]

We have not long returned from our first Cunard Cruise on the Queen Victoria. It was wonderful. We had pushed the boat out (pardon the pun) and booked a Getaway Princess Grill... We were upgraded to a Penthouse suite (P4) in Queen's Grill much to our delight. The suite was amazing - - free in-suite bar fridge which was kept stocked with beer, soft drinks and mixes for the free Whisky and Gin we had chosen (we could have had wine instead). Free champagne (full bottle) on departure. A brilliant Butler and Assistent Butler. Canapes each night before dinner. Dined in the Queen's Grill with the same table companions but could dine anytime up to 9.00 pm. Waiters and restaurant staff superb and brilliant a la carte menu as well as daily specials. Good entertainment - singers, comedian, dancers, etc. As good as (and better in some cases) than P and O. We enjoyed the private areas - excellent sunloungers (no 'bagging' with towels either!) and the staff came round regularly with free soft drinks, sandwiches, fruit kebabs, etc. Oh! So civilised. We have nothing but praise for Cunard for our first cruise with them. Problem now is could we settle for anything less? Looking at Caribbean cruise for early 2014 with P and O Ventura.... might have to be a suite though!
This cruise on The Queen Victoria was certainly the bargain of the year!

[oldbluefox]

And a warm welcome to you too easyliving.

What an upgrade that was and a good example of living the high life. Must go and have a look at Cunard's Getaways now.

[Boris+]

Easyliving - well done on what sounds like a smashing outing on QV. Beware - booking a Q4 can become quite addictive!

Enjoy your next cruise - hope it's every bit as nice.

Em

[Dark Knight]

much cheaper than I thought
a Queens grill suite for just over £2000 for 11 nights?, hardly expensive

[GillD46]

We love the Queen's Grill and have 24 nights booked on QV next September - I'm really looking forward to that though my waistline may not be

[Lincoln18]

Ventura, Arcadia, Oceana, Azure we thoroughly enjoyed, and would sail again on any one. Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria are IMHO a better choice, though PandO still shades it on entertainment in the theatre.
Queen Victoria IMHO wins by a head.

[Frank Manning]

I was very interested in this post oiginally because some friends are encouraging us to give Cunard a try. As with everything else there seem to be conflicting views.

We have found P&O to be very variable, cruise on cruise. Never bad, but sometimes a bit indifferent. Some of the entertainments teams do remember us by name, and it is nice to be reembered. Its cleanliness of the rooms and standard of food we mostly judge them by.

Interesting to read about Cunard snobbery. Many years ago when I was at sea mostly on the North Atlantic, Cunard did not have a brilliant reputation among the crew of their cargo ships. Some crew came aboard our humble ship in New York looking for a few loaves of bread, because the food was not to good on their proud Cunarder.

[melsea]

Hello Folks

We got back a few days ago from probably one of our best holidays ever. Briefly we sailed on Cunard Queen Elizabeth 12 nights, Venice 2 nights then two days on board Orient Express home to UK.

We have sailed on P&O a lot, as many of you well know. Mainly Aurora but we have been on Oriana, Oceana & Azura.

Yes I read many of the reviews about Cunard and thought it would be as some of you have said it would be, ie snobbery, food not as good etc.

Well hogwash to all that. There was no snobbery what so ever to be honest I wasn't thinking it until I read this thread, the food was outstanding way beyond P&O and what's more it came out hot!!!, we dined in Britannia. The buffet had more varied food on offer even the orange juice, lemonade and cranberry were on tap beyond midday (P&O) shut theirs off at this time. An abundance of choice of teas on offer. Plenty of room to sit even at busy times. What was really noticeable was there was no push or shoving which is one of the reasons why I don't like the buffets on P&O, I seem to be invisible to everyone.
As to the meeting & greeting from members of staff, having sailed on P&O so much we do get greeted by staff from across the board by name, we make a point of finding out their names too during a cruise and in fact I make it a habit wherever I go now on land or on board. I find they have a thankless job and asking their name or looking at their name on the badge they wear brings a smile to them. By the way I too have done some of those thankless jobs. On Cunard or at least on this ship QE every member of staff we came across whether it was your steward, general staff around the ship or even the maintenance staff they all said hello to you. It was so noticeable that I realised this does not happen all the time on the P&O ships unless you say hello first.
As to snobbery there wasn't any. Also it wasn't obvious that there were places that only Grill & Queen grade cabin passengers can go as there was so much room for everyone you didn't need the space that is reserved for others, I noticed this more on Azura as you could not get to somewhere unless you went the long way round or paid the extra for the Spa area. On the QE this area did not impinge on your space or of not being able to get anywhere. Everywhere else was available to all. Having said that there was the Britannia club restaurant that was reserved for the higher grade cabins as an alternative dining experience, but there were plenty of others for all to use. Quite frankly it's almost invisible and does not alter the enjoyment of the ship. There is so much more I could add and I will be doing a report of our trip and suffice to say we were very impressed with Cunard, not sure if the extra cost would entice us again but never say never.
One more thing on embarkation we had in our cabin a bottle of sparkling wine and we had the lowest grade! Everyone got one! Like our table companions we had not drank ours well into the cruise so we all decided to bring them to the table on the last night and we all agreed that it was the most delicious drink we have had in a long while on a cruise.

So, if anyone dares to try cunard, do so, it was for us a very enjoyable experience.