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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 will we find out about life onboard in the present day? Now we have a gaggle of contacts we name our “Cunard Buddies.” These are individuals now we have 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 discuss our current travels they usually share particulars of theirs.
Here’s what now we have discovered about Cunard in the present day.
- 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 couple of dozen instances.
In the present day: Buddies 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. Examine in and boarding took only some minutes.
- The return of enormous tables in Britannia. Bigger tables have been step by step returning again in January. We sailed in Princess Grill and have been seated at a desk for eight. Once we have been planning on Britannia earlier, we needed to be seated with different associates. Arranging it beforehand was harder than we thought.
In the present day: Massive 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 Social gathering. There was no World Membership Social gathering or Officer’s Cocktail Social gathering. Their return was nonetheless into consideration as Covid restrictions have been step by step relaxed. There was discuss of those massive gatherings turning into out of doors occasions for higher air flow.
In the present day: 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 stated each night time you weren’t in a port was a proper night time!) Once we sailed throughout the Atlantic in January, there have been two black tie evenings.
In the present day: I perceive it’s the identical in the present day. A future journey now we have booked solely consists of two formal nights. The passenger composition is dynamic, all the time altering. Though a lot of us wish to costume up, a rising share don’t.
- Meals is nice in Britannia. Now we have heard this reported from a number of of our Cunard associates. This goes again to the time Cunard resumed crusing when pandemic restrictions have been lifted, however inflation had not arrived but.
In the present day: Now we have heard this from quite a few sources amongst our Cunard associates. A pair lately coming back from the Med stated the meals was spectacular. They referenced a courtesy we had by no means heard about: A Britannia class passenger with a restricted food regimen would get the dinner menu delivered to their cabin the night time earlier than, so they might alert the kitchen concerning their selections and the dietary restrictions noticed. (This was rumour, nevertheless it sounds nice!)
- Demand is robust, but values could be discovered. When Cunard resumed crusing, nobody knew precisely what to anticipate. Would Covid testing nonetheless be required? What occurs to passengers who check constructive? Ships had quarantine and isolation cabins. Would most of the people return to cruising?
In the present day: Demand is again. Earlier this yr, UK associates (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 placement and one Queens Grill suite. The ship was mainly bought out! Then again, 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 may select the desk dimension and request your desk be modified if mandatory.
In the present day: Freedom seating is the flexibility to point out up if you select inside an outlined time-frame and ask to be seated. You’ll be able to arrive as a gaggle and get a bigger desk. What you acquire in eating flexibility, you lose within the relationship you may develop for those who had the identical waitstaff workforce for every week, two weeks or three months. Freedom seating is accessed by way of a unique Britannia Eating Room entrance. It may 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 virtually immediately. The ship brings collectively the most recent 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 transferring with the instances whereas retaining the options that carry its loyal following again yr after yr. For my part, 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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