Cruise Talk: Malcolm puts his money where his mouth is!

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»	Cruise Talk » Ocean Liners and Classic Cruise Ships » Malcolm puts his money where his mouth is! (Page 1)

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Topic: Malcolm puts his money where his mouth is!

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 12-14-2002 03:50 PM

I have yet to cruise on the QE2.

A few years ago I toured the QE2 and had an meal onboard. Now I must admit that I was not over impressed, particularly with the décor, although I appreciate that a tour is not the same thing as a cruise.

However, I’ve decided to put my money where my mouth is! On 15th December (tomorrow) I am taking the QE2 from Southampton to New York.

We are booked into steerage (Mauritania grade) although everyone has advised me against it! Maybe I will write a review on my return entitled “The QE2 on a Shoe String?”

I’ll be off-line for a while, but I hope to find the time E-mail you all from the crossing?

Q: Are there any hidden features or places onboard the ship worth exploring?

Q: Has anybody any idea of the shipping forcast across the pond, for next week?

Malcolm

(If anybody is willing, how about capturing a couple of web cam shots for me when the QE2 berths at NY next Saturday morning).

[ 12-14-2002: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

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

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 12-14-2002 06:23 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
I have yet to cruise on the QE2.
On 15th December (tomorrow) I am taking the QE2 from Southampton to New York.
We are booked into steerage (Mauritania grade) although everyone has advised me against it! on my return entitled “The QE2 on a Shoe String?”
[ 12-14-2002: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

Good for you Malcolm!

There's nothing steerage about Mauritania grade - meals in that dining room are just as good as in Caronia Class and at least you will hopefully have dinner companions.

We met several Mauritania class folks when we sailed Caronia class - their cabins were no worse than ours - next time, if ever, we'll go Mauritania providing we can specify the cabin. Where is yours located?

What do you mean "Maybe I will write a review...." You better!

Dress warmly if you plan to venture up on deck, North Atlantic is 'breezy' at this time of year!

Have a great trip!

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Jekyll
First Class Passenger
Member # 1878

posted 12-14-2002 07:16 PM

Malcolm:

Good for you! I hope you enjoy it...Mauretania cabins are - um - cozy...but the rest of the ship - superb...as you know by now I am biased - but she's a great ship to be on.

Look forward to hearing form you upon your return.

If you're able to - check out the Princess Grill bar on deck one forward - not on the deck plan - entance is on the port side ust forward of the shop....just pretend you belong there - it's a great spot!

Bon Voyage!

Posts: 1524 | From: Nowhere | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged

PC
First Class Passenger
Member # 1191

posted 12-14-2002 07:24 PM

Malcolm, have a great time! I (and my partner) only stay in M class cabins and we find the food in M restaurant OK. The menus are the same up and down all the restaurants and the raw mat'ls come from the same stock. If you don't like what's on the menu, ask for what you feel like having, and if the kitchen can do it for you, they will. Any problems, just talk to the maitre d'hotel (forgot his name), but he's very accommodating. Take your lunch in the Mauretania restaurant, far more relaxed. Try the midnight buffet in Lido.

If you like ballroom dancing, take a private lesson from the dance instructor. Ask if he/she will be on forthcoming world cruise, and let me know his/her name. Enjoy the dance music in Queen's Room, and disco music in Yacht Club.

Weather permitting, play paddle tennis, which is outdoors on top deck.

Beds in cabin are a bit soft for me, so ask the attendant for bed boards if you wish a stiffer mattress. And don't bring too much - space is tight in the M cabins.

Other than that, enjoy her, QE 2 that is, rather than QE II.

Posts: 102 | From: Hong Kong, SAR | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Waynaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 3484

posted 12-14-2002 08:16 PM

I was just wondering what is the order of the cabin classes from lowest to highest.

Posts: 6108 | From: Vallejo,CA : California Maritime Academy!!! | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

joe at travelpage
Administrator
Member # 622

posted 12-14-2002 08:47 PM

Malcolm,

Make sure you visit the indoor pool on Seven Deck - especially if the ship is rocking. Nothing like floating on your back as a 70,000 ton ship rotates about you.

Also, make sure you visit the bar tucked up on Sun Deck where the reserved deck chairs are. Look for Anthony and ask him if he remembers the guy from TravelPage.com. His picture is in my QE2 review.

Have a great cruise.

Joe at TravelPage.com

Posts: 29976 | From: Great Falls, Virginia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Ðraikar
First Class Passenger
Member # 1153

posted 12-14-2002 10:03 PM

Mauritania grade cabins I think are the best, I seen photo's and like them over the bigger more expansive cabins.

Hope you enjoy your cruise.

Ðraikar

Posts: 1710 | From: USA, New York | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

BTF
First Class Passenger
Member # 2024

posted 12-14-2002 10:20 PM

I look forward to your review, Malcolm.

Posts: 287 | From: Ottawa, Ont. Canada | Registered: May 2001 | IP: Logged

Deck 9 001
First Class Passenger
Member # 1716

posted 12-15-2002 04:31 AM

Malcolm,

Bon Voyage!!!

Wishing you blue skies and calm seas.
(well, maybe just "enough seas" to let you know you are on a true ship.

Regards,
Mike

Posts: 939 | From: Taipei, Taiwan (originally New York) | Registered: Dec 2000 | IP: Logged

Onno
First Class Passenger
Member # 3071

posted 12-15-2002 04:43 AM

It’s about time, a English man that hasn’t sailed the QE2 yet!

The bookshop is probably the first place where I would go. I hope you have a great time.

Best, Onno

Posts: 3583 | From: the Netherlands (Berenbotje ging uit varen...) | Registered: May 2002 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 12-15-2002 07:51 AM

You must have left home by now Malcolm, but hope you and Mrs M have a fabulous time! along with some of the roughish weather we had

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

flotsam'n jetsam
First Class Passenger
Member # 2712

posted 12-15-2002 11:50 AM

Malcolm,

I am especially interested myself since I am planning a similar crossing either on Maury or Carony suites!!!... You gotta write a review and show photos.

Enjoy the grand lady.

ata

Posts: 121 | From: New Hampshire, USA. (Originally Istanbul, Turkey) | Registered: Jan 2002 | IP: Logged

DAMBROSI
First Class Passenger
Member # 100

posted 12-15-2002 03:54 PM

All I can say is, you go Malcolm. Wish I could come with you. Got room in your suitcase for little ole me?
I won't ask for much, just a filet mignon, potatoes, chocolate mousse. You know, all the good stuff.

Posts: 2554 | From: Florida, USA, Where the Legend SS NORWAY sailed from. Moving back to FL next yr. | Registered: May 99 | IP: Logged

Barryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 33

posted 12-15-2002 07:36 PM

See if you can get a crew member to show you how to get down to the PIG...crewbar...and just forward of the Queen's Grill is bay of evevators and then forward of that is a door that leads into the officer's lounge...a must see because of some of the memorabilia...I think they still have the Mauretannia's bell on display there right near the entrance. On deck's four and five all the way aft and in the middle of the deck you will find an intersting escape hatch that goes all the way down to where the Propeller shafts are located. Ask the cruise director if you could be escorted down to see the onboard stores which are interesting to see because of the wooden decks down there. Deck two forward has a room which use to be used as computer center??? Deck three forward has a chapel...check that out. Check out the Cruise Director's office...ask someone where it is...maybe they still have a piece of the QE2's hull from when she ran aground in 1992...used as a paper weight.

Love to hear a review from you!!

Posts: 1851 | From: Bloomington, Minnesota (Home to the Mall of America) | Registered: Mar 99 | IP: Logged

claudio
First Class Passenger
Member # 1214

posted 12-16-2002 12:43 AM

am intersted in an aussie sailing in feb but someone told me a glass of wine is 2.75 pounds on board, is that true? it works out close to 9 bucks australian

Posts: 468 | From: melbourne australia | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

PC
First Class Passenger
Member # 1191

posted 12-16-2002 05:00 AM

claudio, for the 2003 Round the World cruise, the Australian segments from Melbourne to Darwin are almost fully booked, probably for the Caronia and Mauretania cabins; don't know about the Queen's, Princess, and Brit cabins. About 3 weeks ago, I was able to book a 2 for 1 special, Darwin to Hong Kong for M1 cabin, but on a "guarantee" basis, meaning as least an M1 cabin, but maybe better; won't know until a week or two before boarding at Darwin. As for cost of wine, a menu from year 2000 had a price of US$32 for a bottle of 1998 burgundy, and US$35 for a bottle of 1995 cabernet sauvignon. So I think your price of 2.75 pounds for a glass may be overstated. A price of US$2 - 3 per glass may be closer to mark.

Posts: 102 | From: Hong Kong, SAR | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

vikingcrown
First Class Passenger
Member # 3437

posted 12-17-2002 07:44 PM

Bon Voyage!

Posts: 341 | From: California | Registered: Oct 2002 | IP: Logged

PC
First Class Passenger
Member # 1191

posted 12-18-2002 12:16 AM

claudio, Cunard has announced some 2 for 1 pkgs for Honolulu/Melbourne segment Jan/Feb next year. See the link < http://www.cunard.com/index.cfm?method=specials&lang=us&ActiveSpecial=330>

Posts: 102 | From: Hong Kong, SAR | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 12-26-2002 12:25 PM

MALCOLM!!!! - are you out there?

How was it?

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

joe at travelpage
Administrator
Member # 622

posted 12-26-2002 03:43 PM

Green,

I don't think Malcolm is scheduled to get back until next week.

Joe at TravelPage.com

Posts: 29976 | From: Great Falls, Virginia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Ðraikar
First Class Passenger
Member # 1153

posted 12-27-2002 08:18 AM

quote:
Malcolm puts his money where his mouth is

Don't worry I think Malcolm will put his money where his mouth is !!!
I do wander where in the world is he, unquestionable I wander is he still on QE2 LoL ?!?

Ðraikar

[ 12-27-2002: Message edited by: Ðraikar ]

Posts: 1710 | From: USA, New York | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Vaccaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 465

posted 12-27-2002 09:08 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Ðraikar:
I do wander where in the world is he, unquestionable I wander is he still on QE2 LoL ?!?

Perhaps (probably?) a clue
here.

Posts: 1193 | From: France ...where the greatest liners ever are born, ...by far! | Registered: Feb 99 | IP: Logged

eroller
First Class Passenger
Member # 1649

posted 12-27-2002 09:43 AM

I had the pleasure of sharing my dinner table with Malcolm and his wife during our recent QE2 crossing. It was purely coincidental and just goes to show you what a small world it is!

Ernie - back from a lovely trip to Amsterdam.

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

joe at travelpage
Administrator
Member # 622

posted 12-27-2002 11:34 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Vaccaro:

Perhaps (probably?)a clue here.

Interesting theory Vacarro, or should I say Mr. Hercule Poirot...

Posts: 29976 | From: Great Falls, Virginia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

eroller
First Class Passenger
Member # 1649

posted 12-27-2002 11:41 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Ðraikar:

I do wander where in the world is he, unquestionable I wander is he still on QE2 LoL ?!?
Ðraikar
[ 12-27-2002: Message edited by: Ðraikar ]

I believe Malcolm is in Las Vegas for a week or so.

Ernie

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

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