Cruise Talk: Onboard QUEEN VICTORIA

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Topic: Onboard QUEEN VICTORIA

eroller
First Class Passenger
Member # 1649

posted 06-11-2008 10:20 AM

Currently sailing through the North Sea on our way to Bergen on the first full day onboard QUEEN VICTORIA. The seas are moderate and there is a strong wind, expected to get a little worse tonight. The ship is rocking and the air is brisk. It's great as I almost feel like I am on a crossing. My brother and I spent some time in London prior to the cruise and it was wonderful. Sunny, 80 degree weather which was a side of London I've never seen before. Had some great meals, hit a couple fun bars, and enjoyed the play Avenue Q which was quite funny. We stayed at the Trafalgar which was a pretty cool hotel in the heart of everything. Can't complain. Took the train down to Southampton on another beautiful, sunny day. First impressions of QV? Very nice ship, with many reminders of both HAL and Princess in the decor, but enough Cunard to make her feel like a Cunard ship which is a good thing. The layout is quite unique so I'm pleased to say I don't feel like I'm sailing on a HAL Vista hybrid, although there are many similarities with the positioning of lounges, stairs, pools, restaurants, etc. At least everything looks different. Passengers are 90% Brits, generally older. My brother and I are without a doubt two of the youngest onboard, which is not a bad thing! Everyone is quite friendly and we are seated at the Chief Engineer's table for dinner (table for 10). The cabin is lovely and extra large (8031) as it's on the end which gives it an extra large balcony, and added floor space as well. Great choice. Bathrooms are small and plain, and drawer space is pretty much non-existant which is odd. Hard to believe with all the experience Carnival has in building ships, they would build a ship that cruises the World with no drawer space. Go figure. Food and service have been very good so far, and I'm happy to say there will be a nice selection of lecturers typical of Cunard. Overall, the ship does have a "Cunard" feel to her so I think the designers and shipbuilders achieved the desired result. Bye for now, Ernie

Posts: 7046 | From: Miami, Florida USA | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

mec1
First Class Passenger
Member # 4287

posted 06-11-2008 12:32 PM

Bon Voyage Ernie!

Shame you didn't let me know you were in London.

Odd thing about drawers - I have just sailed on Arcadia, which was going to be QV, and she too is devoid of them.

Posts: 1675 | From: London, England | Registered: Nov 2003 | IP: Logged

seabourndt
First Class Passenger
Member # 2154

posted 06-11-2008 12:39 PM

have a great time ernie, i was in soton and watched queen victoria leave.
all the best
dave

Posts: 224 | From: london | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

Cunard Fan
First Class Passenger
Member # 7530

posted 06-11-2008 03:04 PM

So overall the ship has exceeded your expectations?
I believe you said previously that your expectations for the Queen Victoria were not very high.

I hope the rest of your cruise goes great!

Posts: 2327 | From: Pasadena just north of Queen Mary | Registered: Sep 2006 | IP: Logged

eroller
First Class Passenger
Member # 1649

posted 06-12-2008 05:34 AM

I would say expectations are absolutely being met, although exceeded may be stretching it. I really am enjoying the ship and she does have that "Cunard feel", but I don't think she is in the same league as QM2 or QE2. None the less she is well designed and passengers really like the ship .... and at the end of the day that is what really counts. For the most part she feels unique, and that was my largest concern. I didn't want to feel like I was sailing on a beefed up Vista or Spirit and I don't. There are some design features that remind me of HAL and Princess but overall the feeling I get is that of Cunard .... which is a great thing! So yes, they pulled it off - taking a Vista and making it a Cunard ship unique to the brand. She is a ship I would absolutely sail on again, extreemly comfortable with very good food and service. Ernie

Posts: 7046 | From: Miami, Florida USA | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

oslo dutch
First Class Passenger
Member # 4669

posted 06-12-2008 06:43 AM

Hi Ernie!

Enjoy mighty Norway!!! shame you are not calling at Oslo.

Reint

Posts: 349 | From: Oslo | Registered: Apr 2004 | IP: Logged

desirod7
First Class Passenger
Member # 1626

posted 06-12-2008 09:10 AM

Ernie,

Having priced out just about every cruise line for the upcoming Med cruise, is the QV worth 2x the price of Celebrity?

Posts: 5727 | From: Philadelphia, Pa [home of the SS United States] | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

zotzer
Just Boarded
Member # 6703

posted 06-13-2008 09:25 AM

quote:
She is a ship I would absolutely sail on again, extreemly comfortable with very good food and service. Ernie[/QB]

So glad you are enjoying the cruise, Ernie! It's so nice to be able to follow along.
Tracy

Posts: 1 | From: Northern Virginia | Registered: Jun 2006 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 06-13-2008 02:08 PM

Thanks for the feedback Ernie, glad that you enjoyed the cruise. Your 'Bump' obviously paid off!

Much of what you said is in agreement with my ship review here.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

eroller
First Class Passenger
Member # 1649

posted 06-14-2008 07:29 PM

quote:
Originally posted by zotzer:
So glad you are enjoying the cruise, Ernie! It's so nice to be able to follow along.
Tracy

Hey Tracy,
I wish you and Molly were along! I could use some good drinking and dancing buddies! Well, SOLSTICE will be soon enough!

Even though the typical passenger on this QV cruise is rather senior, there is a smattering of younger folks and we seemed to have found each other. Just finished up Abba night in the nightclub which was fun. It's so strange that it's completely light out at 1.30am.

Tonight we (six from our table of 10) had dinner at Todd English. It was excellent.

All in all the cruise is going very well and Cunard is doing an excellent job.

Ernie

Posts: 7046 | From: Miami, Florida USA | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

eroller
First Class Passenger
Member # 1649

posted 06-14-2008 07:30 PM

quote:
Originally posted by desirod7:
Ernie,
Having priced out just about every cruise line for the upcoming Med cruise, is the QV worth 2x the price of Celebrity?

David,
QV is really a lovely ship and I would sail on her again, but I would not pay double the price of Celebrity! Stick with what you have got and enjoy Celebrity ... they are excellent as well.

Ernie

Posts: 7046 | From: Miami, Florida USA | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

eroller
First Class Passenger
Member # 1649

posted 06-14-2008 07:32 PM

quote:
Originally posted by oslo dutch:
Hi Ernie!
Enjoy mighty Norway!!! shame you are not calling at Oslo.
Reint

Hey Reint,
I was thinking of you today. We were docked next to OTR!! She still looks wonderful and regardless of what is written on her hull, she will always be ROYAL PRINCESS!

Ernie

Posts: 7046 | From: Miami, Florida USA | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

desirod7
First Class Passenger
Member # 1626

posted 06-17-2008 12:11 AM

quote:
Originally posted by eroller:
David,
QV is really a lovely ship and I would sail on her again, but I would not pay double the price of Celebrity! Stick with what you have got and enjoy Celebrity ... they are excellent as well.
Ernie

Me thinks that the QV is brand new and overhyped. When the novelty wears off she will come down in price. Celebrity is often called the American Cunard.

Posts: 5727 | From: Philadelphia, Pa [home of the SS United States] | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

JOhnB
First Class Passenger
Member # 7049

posted 06-17-2008 03:50 AM

Hey there eroller
Anyone who looks now at the Finnmarken's webcam will see the QV in Trondheim
http://www.webcamsinnorway.com/webcams.php?viewcam=747

Posts: 17 | From: London | Registered: Aug 2006 | IP: Logged

KenC
First Class Passenger
Member # 6341

posted 06-21-2008 05:50 AM

Methinks this ship has more conversions than the road to Damascus

Newish video link below

We are Cunard

[ 06-21-2008: Message edited by: KenC ]

Posts: 353 | From: Brighton, UK | Registered: Mar 2006 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 06-21-2008 06:10 AM

....well it's a fun video Ken, but I don't belive that all the crew are 'happy'! Captain Wrights a nice down to earth bloke.

Thanks for sharing.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

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