Thread: Cunard newbie - please be gentle!

Greetings, everyone!

Cunard has made me an offer I can't refuse, so I need to see what I'm getting myself into.

Does anyone have hints, tips or suggestions for a HAL girl who's about to cruise Cunard? From what I gather, dinner seating is fixed and traditional (Yay!!), and dress is more formal in general, not just on formal nights.

What are the average/preferred standards of dress for daytime and non-formal dinners, please?

What cultural differences should American cruisers be aware of (e.g. I've heard that British are not fond of the American custom of asking what people do for a living in casual conversation?)

Most likely, I will be on the QM2 for a transatlantic crossing this summer, but details are still firming up.

Thanks!

Dia

Originally Posted by Diotima

Greetings, everyone!

Cunard has made me an offer I can't refuse, so I need to see what I'm getting myself into.

Does anyone have hints, tips or suggestions for a HAL girl who's about to cruise Cunard? From what I gather, dinner seating is fixed and traditional (Yay!!), and dress is more formal in general, not just on formal nights.

Yes seating for dinner is on a fixed seating basis, which I like as it means you get to know the waiting staff and they got to know what you like. For breakfast and lunch in the MDR you speak to the head waiter and are escorted to a table. There may be a short wait but the line moves quickly.

On QM2 you have a choice of Kings Court which is a buffet, but also has "alternative" dining on some nights with a choice of American, Indian or Aisan. There is also Todd English. There is a charge for the alternative dining and Todd English.

What ever you do, be sure to leave space for afternoon tea on at least one day.

What are the average/preferred standards of dress for daytime and non-formal dinners, please?

During the day the dress standards are pretty relaxed; however, shorts are not allowed in the MDR. During the day, I wear a shirt and slacks with a jacket in the MDR as it tends to be a little chilly.

On a transatlantic the first and last night will be eligant casual, so a nice top and skirt or dress for ladies, and shirt and jacket for me. Most men do put a tie on, however, this is not required.

Semi-formal nights is jacket and tie or suit and tie for men and dress or top and skirt for ladies.

Formal nights dark suit or tux for men and long dress or ball gown for ladies. There will not be that many ladies in ball gowns unfortunately.

What cultural differences should American cruisers be aware of (e.g. I've heard that British are not fond of the American custom of asking what people do for a living in casual conversation?)

Yes it is true that we British don't really like talking about what we do for a living. On a transatlantic you will find there is a good mix of people from the UK and US and a few other places. When chatting to British people I would recommend sticking to vague things like have you had a nice and and the weather. We British love to talk about the weather.

Most likely, I will be on the QM2 for a transatlantic crossing this summer, but details are still firming up.

Thanks!

Dia

If you do book a transatlantic, I am sure you will love it.

Hi I'm British and I don't think the average Brit would mind saying what they did for a living but would take a very dim view of being questioned about their income. This would include being quizzed about their lifestyle (cheap or expensive car ec), it would be a good idea to keep well away from money matters entirely, also resist mentioning the cost of your cruise in the presence of British passengers. Stephen is correct we love talking about the weather and previous cruises. We are by nature fairly reserved, and are reticent to initiate conservations with strangers but most (hopefully) are polite, well travelled and once a conversation has started pleasant company

I agree you shouldn't talk about money, and I would add religion. I think prety much everything else is Ok. politics, monarchy , sports........

Welcome to the Cunard group. Stephen posted some excellent answers.

Britannia : First seating is at 6 pm and final dinner orders must be in to the kitchen by 6:30.
Second seating is 8:30 pm. with final orders by 9 pm.

You will be assigned a table and will dine there every evening. For breakfast and lunch it is open seating usually 8:00 - 9:30 pm and 12:30 - 2 pm. You may choose to dine alone or share a table with others.

Britannia Club and Grills : open between 6:30 - 9 pm for dinner and you have an assigned table but may dine at your chosen time. Breakfast/lunch have similar hours to Britannia.

The evening shows are usually around 8:30-8:45 and last approx. 1 hr. and then repeated around 10:30 but occasionally they will have a show instead at 7 pm for 2nd seating dinners.

On a TA the dress code in the evening is
1. Elegant casual (first night and you are settling in)
2. & 3. Formal
4. Semi-Informal
5. & 6. Formal
7. Elegant Casual (last night you are packing or packed)

During the day, casual clothing (even jeans) are acceptable and for formal nights I generally wear a long black skirt with a variety of fancy tops.

On a crossing you can do as little or as much as you choose. They don't make announcements all day long and except for the Captain or Commodore's noon report you might not hear anything all day. But there are lectures, demonstrations, the Plantariums, movies, concerts and of course Afternoon Tea.

Anymore questions - please ask. Some of us love to talk about the QM2

Linda

Originally Posted by lindaann

Welcome to the Cunard group. Stephen posted some excellent answers.

Britannia : First seating is at 6 pm and final dinner orders must be in to the kitchen by 6:30.
Second seating is 8:30 pm. with final orders by 9 pm.

You will be assigned a table and will dine there every evening. For breakfast and lunch it is open seating usually 8:00 - 9:30 pm and 12:30 - 2 pm. You may choose to dine alone or share a table with others.

Britannia Club and Grills : open between 6:30 - 9 pm for dinner and you have an assigned table but may dine at your chosen time. Breakfast/lunch have similar hours to Britannia.

The evening shows are usually around 8:30-8:45 and last approx. 1 hr. and then repeated around 10:30 but occasionally they will have a show instead at 7 pm for 2nd seating dinners.

On a TA the dress code in the evening is
1. Elegant casual (first night and you are settling in)
2. & 3. Formal
4. Semi-Informal
5. & 6. Formal
7. Elegant Casual (last night you are packing or packed)

During the day, casual clothing (even jeans) are acceptable and for formal nights I generally wear a long black skirt with a variety of fancy tops.

On a crossing you can do as little or as much as you choose. They don't make announcements all day long and except for the Captain or Commodore's noon report you might not hear anything all day. But there are lectures, demonstrations, the Plantariums, movies, concerts and of course Afternoon Tea.

Anymore questions - please ask. Some of us love to talk about the QM2

Linda

Linda , I didn't realise there would be four formal nights !

You didn't mention acting class and dancing

Tony - Dancing and RADA classes didn't occur to me since I don't usually attend. Since TAs are now 7 nights the extra night is Formal.
Somedays I ask myself what did you do today? I managed to spend a whole day aboard and accomplish very little - that's what I call Heaven.

Linda

Originally Posted by lindaann

Tony - Dancing and RADA classes didn't occur to me since I don't usually attend. Since TAs are now 7 nights the extra night is Formal.
Somedays I ask myself what did you do today? I managed to spend a whole day aboard and accomplish very little - that's what I call Heaven.

Linda

You didn't accoplish nothing, you achieved Nirvana

Having been on HAL twice and dreaming of doing Cunard, I think you will love it. From everything I have gathered, Cunard is what HAL was during the 90's but with a British rather than a Dutch influence. Lots of activities and they do not try to "dumb things down" or cut corners like HAL has been doing lately.

I am a bit envious of you. I keep showing my wife the TA's, maybe I will be able to convince her to do one this year (At the current price of a balcony set to that of an inside cabin......)

Good luck Neal, I am sure you will love Cunard I know I do, but you might have noticed that already