We did score a great table, in the dead center of the dining room, after one dinner at a window tabl

Well, it's about time I wrote a report on our June trip to England, (If for no other reason than that I had so much help from regulars on this Forum in planning the QM2 part as well as the gardens in Oxford, etc.)
The major part of the week we spent in England was with old friends who live in Cheshire, but we did take one overnight up in Wharfedale at the Devonshire Fell in Burnsall. driving rental cars in seattle Heaven, even when it rained!!
We were quite excited for a couple driving rental cars in seattle of reasons. This was really our first cruise (which we soon learned to call a "transatlantic crossing" , NOT a cruise, but you get my drift.) Basically, we had never experienced this form of travel, except for a very minor 3 day trip around islands in the Aegean several years ago.
Also we were joined by very dear old friends, who have retired up to Maine, so we don't see them very much. (Long time friends and Canasta rivals!) (well, actually, we women always play the men, and usually we win!)
We LOVED our cabin from the first moment. I use the word moment deliberately because this was "momentous" for me. I am the one who always covets a different room, larger, driving rental cars in seattle smaller, wider, more light, bed facing better driving rental cars in seattle way, wrong color, wrong floor, you get what I mean. But not this time. I still dream about it.
We had a cabin on the Deck 8, with a "see-through" balcony. The cabin was incredibly well designed, with more than enough storage driving rental cars in seattle space, and too many hangars (another first) very comfortable bed, side table, driving rental cars in seattle lights, couch, bathroom driving rental cars in seattle excellent, with what I considered a big shower. Couldn't have been better, and I would ask for the same cabin again!!
We enjoyed virtually everything about the 7 day crossing, except we thought the food was disappointing. That surprised us all, since my MOST sophisticated international friends (a retired Ambassador, and an English architect who is a gourmet cook) did the same crossing a year ago, and they loved the food. Go figure. We ended up dining in the Todd English room twice, and liked that a lot. Not too bad a surcharge, as I recall, maybe about $30 each.
We did score a great table, in the dead center of the dining room, after one dinner at a window table. No need of a window, because everyone driving rental cars in seattle around wants the curtains closed, and that first table was at the highest dining driving rental cars in seattle room level, and felt a little claustrophobic driving rental cars in seattle to me.
The dining room is in at least three tiers, driving rental cars in seattle and the center part is really the most elegant, with a superb chandelier and the most interesting huge tapestry of the ship, superimposed with elements of its structure, beams and the like. Fascinating.
We enjoyed life on board, and had plenty to do. It really did suit our different temperaments well, so Jim could stay and read on the balcony, and I could wander the far corners of the ship and try to dampen my curiosity about everything. I needed my map ALL the time. It is a big ship!
As to dress for dinner. Yes, they required it, but our guys just wore dark suits, nice shirts and ties. I felt OK about them doing that, because the Sophisticates had just brought nice blazers, which they wore each night, avec shirt and tie. (Of course, they said, our blazers and slacks were of the highest quality!!) I must confess I love to see men all dressed up in black tie, but these days, I'll settle for what they wore. (I would put up a photo if I knew how!)
Enewell: Friend and I wore a variety of evening attire. driving rental cars in seattle I brought with me items I already owned, consisting of one floor length black silk skirt and one pair of black silk dress slacks. I wore those two items with peach silk sleeveless blouse, tan silk jacket, coral silk blouse, black silk mandarin jacket, all interchangeable. (does anybody care about all this? Don't want to bore you needlessly!)
driving rental cars in seattle The ladies seemed to like to dress up, and many were even more formal than we, but what I wore is what I would wear to any formal driving rental cars in seattle occasion driving rental cars in seattle at my age ( e.g. only long sleeves so my "wings" don't show. LOL)
Cathinjoetown: I want to hear about the Queen Victoria, anxious to see how these two ships compare, cuz I think we are both sold on this form of travel to Europe. We have more time than money now in our semi-retirement years. driving rental cars in seattle QM2 transatlantic is a relative bargain, if you compare summer airline rates, esp. Premium driving rental cars in seattle Economy. And I learned from Fodorite Florida1 that you can fly tp Paris from Southampton!!!
Tacon, This is like re-living my experience. Regarding dress, my husband opted for his best dark suit, purchased for daughter's wedding, and I thought he looked great. For casual, he took a good navy blazer.
We dined in the Queen's Grill, probably 60-40, black tie to suits. driving rental cars in seattle Our table mates were Scottish, he wore the full formal kit, very handsome. My clothes were virtually the same as yours although I took black velvet trousers.
We so lucked out, found a great deal on a Princess Suite (2,000 pp). When we checked in in New York, we were upgraded to a Queen's suite which was amazing. Check-in was at the 57St pier in Manhatten which was an added bonus as our hotel was 5 min away.
The best thing about booking a Princess or Queen suite was the private lounge/bar and deck on the same level as the Queen's and Princess Grill. The Victoria is much smaller than the QM2, I think with fewer dining options. We tried the Lido self-service and the pub for lunch, both were fine. Although self-service, was impressed by the staff in the Lido, tables cleared immediately, staff directing people to open tables, etc. Overall, we thought the service was excellent.
Meant to add, the ship is beautifully maintained, about 1,900 capacity driving rental cars in seattle so 2/3 the size of the QM2. I would guess the decor is about the same, quasi art deco, lots of beige tones. Not remarkable but not awful.
Funny you found the food not up to snuff. We enjyed a wide variety and all well prepared.Our wait staff was exceptional,the night they served lobster tails my DH said he'd like to order that but 1 tail didn;t satisfy him. No problems they said and brought seconds to the whole table, You were lucky not to have high seas, we did but hardly noticed then as the ship is so stable.The decks however had to be closed!
This is so interesting to read. I think I'll print it out for my husband to read. He NEVER travels but has forwarded me email offers he's rec'd from Cunard. And my daughter would absolutely SWOON if she saw men in kilts at dinner! Thank you for sharing and if any of you would post photos (photobucket!) I'd be so grateful
taconictraveler--- How much fun to go with old friends on a transatlantic crossing! I did two crossings (NY-Southampton and back on the QM2 in July 2009) and your writing about places driving rental cars in seattle like Canyon Ranch, King's Court, and the Commodore Bar brings back great memories. driving rental cars in seattle Unquestionably up there as one of the most amazing driving rental cars in seattle trips I've taken in my life!
I keep looking at doing it again, but find myself balking a bit as the price has gone up considerably (2009 was a promotional year I believe) for a summer crossing and also since the crossing time has increased from 6 days to 7 days. Sorry to read that you found dining in the Britannia disappointing; I'm hoping that that it's not gone permanently downhill.
taconictraveler, I am so enjoying your trip report! We had such a good time at our mini GTGs with you and your friends. We too loved our time on the QM2. Can't wait to read more! My job this week is to start our trip report!
driving rental cars in seattle By the way, the QM2 was spotless everywhere! That's one of the things driving rental cars in seattle we loved about our cabin: spotless at all times, great service by our steward, Ferdinand. He was Johnny-on-the-spot! never took more than minutes to fulfill driving rental cars in seattle any of our few requests!
And the service in the dining room was also just terrific also, with the wait staff wanting to please and bring you anything you wanted. So that's another thing I think we could have done to improve the offerings. I think one can pretty much order whatever one wants.
We had men in kilts in our dining room also. I'd love to hear people's impressions of joining a large table. We were four friends and had our table of four. Some people love to join others, and one friend who travels alone, driving rental cars in seattle said he had a table of people with whom he had nothing in common. Thoughts?
I forgot to mention driving rental cars in seattle the great thrill we had as we left New York Harbor. I keep forgetting that it is one of the world's most interesting driving rental cars in seattle harbor, or maybe that's because I know most of the landmarks and have been on the land all around NYC, having lived most of my life in the 90 mile radius of NYC - Connecticut, New Jersey and New York.
It was a lovely sunny day, and the excitement was palpable as we sailed down the harbor. It was difficult driving rental cars in seattle to leave the Deck 7 spot which was just below our balcony, and looking forward to several days of indolence and pleasure.
We did our walking around the Deck 7, as part of the daily routine, but we never really got in to a routine, because we kept trying new things: the swimming pool, the whirlpool, the library, playing canasta in down time, taking tea in the Queen's Room, listening to the jazz before dinner, etc.
Slight tangent here: We went to several lectures: the absolute driving rental cars in seattle best being P.D.James, who was marvelous. At age 92, she spoke for almost an hour without any notes, describing her life, how she started writing at a later age, and how she wrote one of her most current books: driving rental cars in seattle The Private Patient. As luck would have it, I just happened to buy that book in the ship's bookstore the day before! It was one I hadn't read, and since she was going to speak, driving rental cars in seattle I thought it appropriate.
This is one amazing driving rental cars in seattle woman, let me tell you! She writes in longhand, then READS it to her secretary (of 32 years,) who simultaneously types it into the computer. She started writing at age 38, when her husband, a mentally wounded WWII veteran died in his early 40's.
We did decide we liked eating breakfast in the dining room. We are all inveterate driving rental cars in seattle morning paper readers while eating breakfast, with hardly any conversation, and are very comfortable wi