Can't keep a good Dame down. Encore trip on the QM2.

[Pushka]

Thank you for the trip report - most entertaining and we can live vicariously though your words and pictures.

But a question if I may. We have enjoyed cruising on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. We would (or at least think we would) love to experience Cunard, but our impression is that it might be a bit "stuffy". We don't mind formal nights, but not every night. How does it compare to the more "mainstream" lines in terms of a relaxing holiday and feeling comfortable on board?

Cunard isn't stuffy as such but it does have dress standards if you want to dine in the main dining room or go to different venues. On formal nights it's basically black suit minimum and semi formal it's a jacket. No jeans/thongs after 6pm. When not wearing a jacket you can eat in the buffet or lounge in Carinthia lounge but nowhere else.

While MrP is working and wearing suits each day he prefers a more casual relaxing style of Celebrity. That may change when he's retired. Celebrity ships are 'cleaner' - modern luxury whereas Cunard is old style luxury. I wouldn't worry about stuffiness - we don't see it. Maybe try a 3-4 day taster when the ships are in the Australian region?

 

[Melburnian1]

Pushka, thank you for the marvellous, increased size photos of the food. Most looks great.

In post 122 at the top, there are four or five cakes in a row (one is purple if I recall.) What is the last one - does it have Corn Flakes on top? (I couldn't really see it well.)

I have relatives who probably have been on almost as many cruises as you. I keep forgetting to ask: you say that Cunard allows you to bring wine and spirits on board? Is there a limit in the number of bottles or millilietres in size?

I have stayed at Galle Face Hotel: it was great, but as you saw, the sea is fairly rough.

Hope you both get well as for those of us who have not been on a cruise, there seems to be a lot of 'nonovirus' publicity these days affecting some lines that call into Oz.

 

[Pushka]

Cunard treats passengers as adults and allows spirits and wine in reasonable amounts (I brought on 2 Moet, Dame O the Tanqueray and Bolly.). Yesterday the shop onboard was selling spirits at insanely cheap prices. In the teens for quality spirits.

They do look like cornflakes but I suspect some kind of crumble. Too many cakes later I can't recall. I tend to take photos quickly and move on.

 

[Pushka]

Sunset over Colombo

 

[Pushka]

Enough. I woke up early today - 5.30am and that was the end of sleep. Had a slight headache - I think from the heat yesterday and my cure for that is toast with Vegemite and a cup of tea and 2 nurofen. Pfaffed around for a while until it was time to head for the buffet that did stock Vegemite. With the buffet blissfully quiet I enjoyed my recovery meal in peace. Then decided to join the walkers on the deck.

There is a particular direction to walk and woe betide anyone who walks the wrong way. There are joggers, power walkers and me!

It's quite tricky as people start to come out to the area with cups of coffee to get to a deck chair. Negotiating different speeds is also tricky.

A lady my age was jogging. She looked hot as it was steamy on deck and sunny starboard and blowy at the pointy end of the ship. She had done 9 laps which is about 5kms. So that was my benchmark but walking.

I counted my laps by the number of times I passed the group of smokers at the aft of the ship. So their smoke blows away not towards the bulk of the ship. I'd hold my breathe as I passed them each time but as more joined the group I was holding my breathe for ages.

Finished my laps and it was still 8.45am and I was not catching up with Dame O until 10am to plan the day.

There is tug of war at 11am. We saw this last cruise but it was on much earlier in the world trip so it has been delayed - probably due to weather which works for us as it's great fun.

I filled in some time going up the viewing elevator and into the library. It's too slow to post pix currently.

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>
There is tug of war at 11am. We saw this last cruise but it was on much earlier in the world trip so it has been delayed - probably due to weather which works for us as it's great fun.
<snip>.

Will you and Dame O be pulling on the same sides, or opposing?

 

[Pushka]

Will you and Dame O be pulling on the same sides, or opposing?

Our services were not required as we did not meet girth requirements.

Not as well planned as last time. No seats. Only a couple of teams. The most interesting bit was seeing whether the passengers who were seated at the far end of the rope got pole axed. They were told not to sit there but they knew better. Even the Cap'n didn't bother to show unlike last time. Officers have been pretty much invisible actually but Dame O and I and a whole bunch of interlopers are invited to a coughtail event as gold cruisers.

 

[RooFlyer]

Watching a program following the QM2 from New York to Southampton. Quite the effort 'below stairs'. Do they offer tours of the 'non public' areas?

 

[Pushka]

Watching a program following the QM2 from New York to Southampton. Quite the effort 'below stairs'. Do they offer tours of the 'non public' areas?

Yep. We did this last time and posted a full review of it in our trip report in my signature. It was fascinating. It's a limited tour only offered once per sector and not advertised. There's a queue to sign up and only 15 allowed on. It ends up on the Bridge to meet the Captain.

Internet slow. We are heading into the Arabian Sea. There's a full 'Piracy drill' involving most of the crew today. Our friend who has another friend who is on the security patrol saw a very large container of 'security gear' today including bullet proof vests for key players who 'drive' the ship. Cunard insurers make full security a requirement.

 

[Pushka]

Library




Titanic anyone?


Commodore club



As we chug towards Northern Africa the weather is becoming sunny and hot.

 

[drron]

I do enjoy cruising with your TRs,or CRs as it should be, but I still don't think I would be comfortable with a Cunard Queen.
I am surprised the 2 of you aren't doing this cruise-
Cunard Three Queens 2018 Sovereign Sojourn - Cruise World Holidays

 

[Melburnian1]

Dames, my guess is that the average age of passengers on a Cunard Line vessel would be 65 - 70. Am I on the money or way off judging by your observations? (I realise you can't go around asking everyone's ages - by the way, your photo earlier doesn't look like you are old at all.)

May I also please ask do you get charged a 'compulsory' gratuity fee each day, billed at conclusion? Can you (as my relatives have done numerous times, although I don't know how often with each operator) request that this bill be removed and therefore either not tip at all, or tip say your room attendant and no one else, discreetly by way of an envelope at the cruise's end?

 

[Pushka]

This cruise seems to be much younger. Kids. Teenagers etc. I'm currently in the solarium and three kids doing bombs. Supposed to a be a quiet area but their numpty parents are watching them smiling at their antics while everyone else suffers with the noise. Plenty of other pools for them.

Weather is hot and sunny. Drill this morning dispelled the pirates. Crew walking around with binoculars trained on the horizon. We've been given instructions on what to do if there is an attack.

Dame O got a pamphlet this morning on 2018 cruises

Can't believe how much energy I've lost in 2 years. Back then I was up to the early hours and then hitting the gym in the morning. Now I can barely stay awake for the 10.30 pm show.

You can take the tips off but I've never done that. And I give extra as well to the cabin attendant and the two waiters.

 

[Pushka]

Afternoon tea is a very kultured experience.










Last night at the Commodore Club the Captain donned his finest and had pre dinner drinks with this lady whom we were told at the loyalty event that she had traveled 850 days with Cunard.



It's only 5 am but every night we've been turning our clocks back an hour or so. And I realise I've had 8 hours straight sleep. I never do that at home. So wide awake to enjoy the speedy internet as everyone else is still asleep.

 

[GarrettM]

Lunch was one of those snacks in the Carinthia lounge and was excellent.
View attachment 95442

A snack you say?

Loving the report. I'm not sure I'm the cruising type, although we have discussed it as a possibility in the future. Afraid I'd spend too much time eating and laying about, doing nothing for my waist or lifespan.

 

[Pushka]

Somewhere in the Arabian Sea. Very exotic.


Happy Easter. (We have Christians, Jewish people, Muslim people and umm, me but everyone is enjoying everyone else's traditions)

 

[Pushka]

Dame O and I just returned from Fencing. There will be photographic proof shortly.

 

[Pushka]

A snack you say?

Loving the report. I'm not sure I'm the cruising type, although we have discussed it as a possibility in the future. Afraid I'd spend too much time eating and laying about, doing nothing for my waist or lifespan.

Well, there were two of us.
We've cut back now. Skipping a meal. But there were Easter eggs this morning....

 

[Pushka]

Tada. En Garde
(For some reason Dame O does not take photos of feet.)

 

[Pushka]

Et La Grande Dame. Voila.




Beautiful sunrise this morning.