QM2 dining and any other tips

[VPS]

Paging @Pushka and @love_the_life

I was going to DM both of you but thought I might start this so others can benefit.

I'm doing a transatlantic NY to Southampton on the QM2 in December. It's a literary cruise so looking forward to rubbing shoulders with some famous authors.

My options for dining are early or late or anytime.

I don't like early dining and as I'll be travelling alone I don't really want to end up with a fixed table every night especially if it's full of dropkicks

Any suggestions and tips.

Also - if anyone wants to add some quirky things to do in NY then please suggest away. I've been to New York before but always interested in other's thoughts. I've just read a few old TR and have these on my list from them

The Museum of the City of New York; where a great 20 minute film charts the history of the city;
· The Lower East Side Tenement Museum, where by a quirk of city laws in the 30s, a tenement has been frozen in time and you see the living conditions of immigrants from that time;

 

[Pushka]

Paging @Pushka and @love_the_life

I was going to DM both of you but thought I might start this so others can benefit.

I'm doing a transatlantic NY to Southampton on the QM2 in December. It's a literary cruise so looking forward to rubbing shoulders with some famous authors.

My options for dining are early or late or anytime.

I don't like early dining and as I'll be travelling alone I don't really want to end up with a fixed table every night especially if it's full of dropkicks

Any suggestions and tips.

Also - if anyone wants to add some quirky things to do in NY then please suggest away. I've been to New York before but always interested in other's thoughts. I've just read a few old TR and have these on my list from them

The Museum of the City of New York; where a great 20 minute film charts the history of the city;
· The Lower East Side Tenement Museum, where by a quirk of city laws in the 30s, a tenement has been frozen in time and you see the living conditions of immigrants from that time;

Well the Dame and I had great success with one cruise and well, a miserable time with another. Thankfully the longer cruise landed us with the best dinner companions. You must be staying in a Britannia Plus to have the choice of anytime? that wasn't an option for us.

Unless you are the type who likes to eat early then select late. Pop into the restaurant on embarkation and ask to speak to the Maitre D. Explain that you are travelling solo and maybe even request a hosted table for added 'safety.' If you score that then you are in luck on formal nights. But in any event explain what your preferences are and then leave that in their hands.

There may also be the option of a ship tour. Might need to line up earlier one morning. But it's fabulous. Keep asking at the front desk from the start if interested in that. Also enquire at the Spa salon for a package. It's also a good experience.

 

[VPS]

I'm in a pretty basic cabin with restricted view (ie I get a view of the lifeboat) so not sure whether it's Britannia Plus or not.

I'll keep that in mind to visit the Maitre d when I board. I opted for anytime because I think that is harder to get but I can change that.

Is it better to book the spa salon before the trip or when on board

Thanks for the tip about the tour

What does a hosted table involve?

 

[Pushka]

I'm in a pretty basic cabin with restricted view (ie I get a view of the lifeboat) so not sure whether it's Britannia Plus or not.

I'll keep that in mind to visit the Maitre d when I board. I opted for anytime because I think that is harder to get but I can change that.

Is it better to book the spa salon before the trip or when on board

Thanks for the tip about the tour

What does a hosted table involve?

The spa thing is done onboard. They have five visit specials.
On a hosted table on formal nights, an officer attends that table and they select and pay for all the alcohol. And get wonderful service. And the best alcohol.

 

[VPS]

The spa thing is done onboard. They have five visit specials.
On a hosted table on formal nights, an officer attends that table and they select and pay for all the alcohol. And get wonderful service. And the best alcohol.

I like the idea of someone paying for my alcohol because I wasn’t going to get a drinks package. Thanks

 

[Pushka]

I like the idea of someone paying for my alcohol because I wasn’t going to get a drinks package. Thanks

There aren't many hosted tables. Just a few. But we got lucky. Always on the late sitting.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I thought I read Cunard were trying to be more flexible and now offered an ‘anytime’ option for those in Britannia as well.

Having a quick look around some of the cruise boards it seems the second sitting is now classified as ‘freedom to dine any time after 745pm, last orders 9pm’.

Might offer a tiny bit more flexibility for the second sitting I guess?

 

[UP4014]

For a left field NY museum in Brooklyn Heights the Subway Museum at Visit
or The Skyscraper Museum

 

[Pushka]

I thought I read Cunard were trying to be more flexible and now offered an ‘anytime’ option for those in Britannia as well.

Having a quick look around some of the cruise boards it seems the second sitting is now classified as ‘freedom to dine any time after 745pm, last orders 9pm’.

Might offer a tiny bit more flexibility for the second sitting I guess?

That's excellent. Which likely means tables will also be fluid and not fixed. Solves a few issues.

 

[zig]

Not sure about Cunard, but I'm aware that some cruise lines (eg Silversea) have not recommenced hosted tables. Covid restrictions is being cited as the reason.

 

[RooFlyer]

NY tip: (JP) Morgan Library and Museum
See: RTW to no-where in particular

You probably know the Highline

RTW to no-where in particular

D'oh - all that salty-looking landscape in the 5th and 6th pics was snow, then. :rolleyes:

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Have you done Big Apple Greeter? I had one lined up on my last visit to do architecture, but the guy got crook with 'it feels like a cold' (it was the eve of Covid running rampant there )

 

[VPS]

NY tip: (JP) Morgan Library and Museum
See: RTW to no-where in particular

You probably know the Highline

RTW to no-where in particular

D'oh - all that salty-looking landscape in the 5th and 6th pics was snow, then. :rolleyes:

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Have you done Big Apple Greeter? I had one lined up on my last visit to do architecture, but the guy got crook with 'it feels like a cold' (it was the eve of Covid running rampant there )

The library is definitely on my list. I’ve done the high line but would do it again and will also try to walk across Brooklyn Bridge again.

I will check out the greeter

 

[Must...Fly!]

For a left field NY museum in Brooklyn Heights the Subway Museum at Visit
or The Skyscraper Museum

Subway museum is great, very interesting window in to the past trains that roll under NYC

 

[bPeteb]

The Museum of the City of New York; where a great 20 minute film charts the history of the city;
· The Lower East Side Tenement Museum, where by a quirk of city laws in the 30s, a tenement has been frozen in time and you see the living conditions of immigrants from that time;

We did both of these last time we were in NYC (2019) plus all the rest listed below. Both great. Tenement has a number of different tours. We did two - Irish Outsiders (apt tour) and Then and Now (oustide wlkaing tour). Met Cloisters. The Met. The Met. The Met (ok, we love The Met). A show at Duplex (if that's your thing, it def was ours). Roosevelt Island on the tramway. Go to the baseball (baseball isn't our thing at all but it was such an experience). Wander around Brooklyn. South Street Seaport Museum. New York Transit Museum. Intrepid Museum. Drunk Shakespeare (hilarious, absolutely will go again if it's still operating).

 

[VPS]

We did both of these last time we were in NYC (2019) plus all the rest listed below. Both great. Tenement has a number of different tours. We did two - Irish Outsiders (apt tour) and Then and Now (oustide wlkaing tour). Met Cloisters. The Met. The Met. The Met (ok, we love The Met). A show at Duplex (if that's your thing, it def was ours). Roosevelt Island on the tramway. Go to the baseball (baseball isn't our thing at all but it was such an experience). Wander around Brooklyn. South Street Seaport Museum. New York Transit Museum. Intrepid Museum. Drunk Shakespeare (hilarious, absolutely will go again if it's still operating).

Thanks - I'm planning on at least two visits to the Met. Would love to go to a baseball game but its out of season. I know nothing about it but it's an experience. I'm also thinking about going to a football match in the UK. Will check out the others

 

[love_the_life]

Not sure if the ship's tours are back on yet as I know some lines have stopped them to minimise passenger exposure to crew only areas. Also I loved the concerts, but I think the classical ones were not up Pushka's alley. Lectures were generally excellent too.
For one formal night I had a lovely beaded number - last time it goes anywhere as it was soooo heavy to pack. I have moved to palazzo pants with sparkly or silk tops and feather stole - much easier.
There was a woman on our table (on the second cruise) who had 72kg of luggage - hot rollers, hair clippers, own hair dryer etc - to be honest, they didn't help overall appearance. Another woman had something like 8kg of jewellery.We also tended to have pre-dinner drinks in one bar and so you go to know the staff there - from memory - Chart Room and sitting at the bar is good fun.
I have a 5 day QE coming up but have lashed out and in Queens Grill - just to see how the other half lives.

 

[Pushka]

Not sure if the ship's tours are back on yet as I know some lines have stopped them to minimise passenger exposure to crew only areas. Also I loved the concerts, but I think the classical ones were not up Pushka's alley. Lectures were generally excellent too.
For one formal night I had a lovely beaded number - last time it goes anywhere as it was soooo heavy to pack. I have moved to palazzo pants with sparkly or silk tops and feather stole - much easier.
There was a woman on our table (on the second cruise) who had 72kg of luggage - hot rollers, hair clippers, own hair dryer etc - to be honest, they didn't help overall appearance. Another woman had something like 8kg of jewellery.We also tended to have pre-dinner drinks in one bar and so you go to know the staff there - from memory - Chart Room and sitting at the bar is good fun.
I have a 5 day QE coming up but have lashed out and in Queens Grill - just to see how the other half lives.

I wanted to laugh, agree and be green with envy in one go! Yes, the chart room and having our glasses cleaned with vodka comes to mind.