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Tons has occurred with Cunard since we sailed on the primary leg of the Queen Victoria world cruise in January 2023. It’s all good.
Our subsequent journey is months away, so how can we learn about life onboard as we speak? We’ve a gaggle of contacts we name our “Cunard Pals.” These are individuals we’ve got met on varied voyages over the previous 15+ years. Earlier than the pandemic, we’d e-mail as soon as 1 / 4. When Covid imposed lockdowns, we upped the frequency to each different week. We speak about our current travels and so they share particulars of theirs.
Here’s what we’ve got discovered about Cunard as we speak.
- The boarding course of: Again in January 2023, embarkation took about an hour. Despite the fact that we maintain Diamond World Membership standing, it concerned standing in lengthy traces, exhibiting Covid testing documentation and having your ticket stamped, ticketed and checked a few dozen occasions.
Right now: Pals sailed from Southampton to the Mediterranean onboard Queen Mary 2. In addition they maintain World Membership standing permitting them to make use of the precedence line. Verify in and boarding took just a few minutes.
- The return of enormous tables in Britannia. Bigger tables had been progressively returning again in January. We sailed in Princess Grill and had been seated at a desk for eight. Once we had been planning on Britannia earlier, we needed to be seated with different pals. Arranging it beforehand was harder than we thought.
Right now: Giant tables are again in Britannia! If you wish to meet new individuals and get to know them over a number of days, merely request to be seated at an enormous desk. This may imply the Captain’s Desk has returned to the Britannia Eating Room too. (I don’t have a firsthand report but.)
- The massive events are again. Again in January 2023, there was no Captain’s Welcome Cocktail Occasion. There was no World Membership Occasion or Officer’s Cocktail Occasion. Their return was nonetheless into account as Covid restrictions had been progressively relaxed. There was speak of those massive gatherings changing into outside occasions for higher air flow.
Right now: The “Huge Three” events are again! The highest sailor is awarded their bouquet of flowers on the World Membership occasion. These are indoor occasions, held within the Queens Room.
- Nonetheless staying with two formal nights. My spouse and I are used to 3 black tie evenings on a seven-night crossing. (Within the Golden Age, it has been mentioned each evening you weren’t in a port was a proper evening!) Once we sailed throughout the Atlantic in January, there have been two black tie evenings.
Right now: I perceive it’s the identical as we speak. A future journey we’ve got booked solely contains two formal nights. The passenger composition is dynamic, all the time altering. Though a number of us need to gown up, a rising proportion don’t.
- Meals is nice in Britannia. We’ve heard this reported from a number of of our Cunard pals. This goes again to the time Cunard resumed crusing when pandemic restrictions had been lifted, however inflation had not arrived but.
Right now: We’ve heard this from quite a few sources amongst our Cunard pals. A pair lately getting back from the Med mentioned the meals was spectacular. They referenced a courtesy we had by no means heard about: A Britannia class passenger with a restricted food plan would get the dinner menu delivered to their cabin the evening earlier than, so they may alert the kitchen concerning their selections and the dietary restrictions noticed. (This was rumour, nevertheless it sounds nice!)
- Demand is powerful, but values will be discovered. When Cunard resumed crusing, nobody knew precisely what to anticipate. Would Covid testing nonetheless be required? What occurs to passengers who take a look at optimistic? Ships had quarantine and isolation cabins. Would most people return to cruising?
Right now: Demand is again. Earlier this 12 months, UK pals (again from their World Cruise) determined to take one of many Cunard voyages visiting Iceland. They might not get a reserving! Technically, there was one inside cabin left, however they didn’t like the situation and one Queens Grill suite. The ship was mainly bought out! Alternatively, there have been loads of “crusing quickly financial savings” in areas just like the Med for vacationers able to go in the summertime or fall.
- Freedom seating has been embraced. Cunard was identified for having two seatings within the Britannia Eating Room. You dined at both 6:00 PM or 8:30 PM. Your desk was assigned, though you can select the desk measurement and request your desk be modified if vital.
Right now: Freedom seating is the flexibility to indicate up once you select inside an outlined timeframe and ask to be seated. You possibly can arrive as a gaggle and get a bigger desk. What you achieve in eating flexibility, you lose within the relationship you may develop in case you had the identical waitstaff crew for per week, two weeks or three months. Freedom seating is accessed by way of a special Britannia Eating Room entrance. It might need been beginning to be launched in January 2023, however it’s in place now.
- The Queen Anne is the large story. Cunard is including it’s fourth ship to the fleet in Spring 2024. There’s enormous pleasure, for apparent causes. I imagine the inaugural voyage bought out nearly immediately. The ship brings collectively the newest know-how with the standard options loyal passengers come to anticipate. (All Cunard vessels have sure venues just like the Chart Room, Commodore Membership and the Golden Lion Pub aboard each ship.
Cunard faces the challenges of each shifting with the occasions whereas retaining the options that carry its loyal following again 12 months after 12 months. In my view, it has managed to succeed at each in a aggressive market.
See voyages All Cunard Ships
Queen Anne
Queen Elizabeth
Queen Mary 2
Queen Victoria
Browse All Cruise Ships and Cruise Traces
Sea Tales 2023 Household Cruise Journey Planner (flippingbook.com)
Shore Excursions – Ports, Day & Weekend Journeys
Cowl photograph: Cunard Queen Anne, credit score Cunard
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