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Very Good

Queen Victoria

Queen Elizabeth

Kusadasi

I must first say that we enjoyed the Cruise. The Queen Victoria is a fine, comfortable ship, and our cabin was excellent. However there were so many irritations, some of them avoidable, that we will think twice before going with Cunard again.
The primary complaint was the price of everything on board. The cheapest wine at dinner was $30 + 15% service charge (all drinks attract a service charge of 15%) . Photographs taken by the ever hopeful ship photographers were $24.95 each. A tour of the ship was on offer at $120. To join a wine tasting was about $50. I don't know why Cunard charge these silly prices, it just puts people off, and there were a lot of unclaimed photographs at the end of the cruise. We probably spent less than we would have if the prices had been reasonable.
Entertainment was we thought of a high quality, but often spoiled by being over-amplified. The theatre is excellent. However the timing of some of the daily events was strange - there were often 3 talks in the morning and none in the afternoon. Cinema shows started about 1230 when people were having lunch.
One of the problems of the ship is that it has only one theatre. Other functions have to take place in the Queen's Room, which is not an enclosed space. It was not therefore a good place for the Piano Recitals given there, as there were stewards and passengers moving along the passageways, and the noise of the air conditioning almost drowned out the performers. Also the seats are badly arranged for that type of event, and for the cinema which was held there.
The penny pinching extended even to the Passenger Choir for which no music was provided - even the pianist had to play by ear.
The food we found was mostly pretty good, not though as good as we had with Fred Olsen on Braemar a few years ago. Service was sometimes a bit slow.
We enjoyed our trips though they are expensive. We were disappointed at the lack of shuttles - particularly in Istanbul where there was quite a walk to the centre.
The ambience of the ship is supposed to be traditionally British. If that is so then it seems odd to have everything priced in dollars. Nor were the entertainments staff particularly British in attitude - everything was hyped to the maximum degree, and a bit of British restraint would have been refreshing. Incidentally the Captain (Commodore) was a perfect gentleman!
Despite the above we did enjoy the holiday, but much preferred the Aurora on which we travelled round the world a few years ago.

Expensive Queen Victoria

Stayed in the Meon Valley Marriott the night before good quality hotel and a good deal including parking for the duration of the cruise and efficient inclusive transfers to terminal.
I called this review very English because the vast majority of the passengers were English predominantly in the age range 60 plus. The atmosphere and the ethos of the ship was very English although all prices were in dollars on board.
Ship
The overall ship was clean and well maintained although there was the odd bucket collecting leaks from I assume the air conditioning system. Furnishings and decor although reserved in a English way was high quality and comfortable. It was great that films were shown in the ballroom or the theatre so there were no shortage of seats.
Food
Food was excellent and the waiting staff friendly and accomodating. My wife has an onion allergy relating to migraines and food was especially prepared for her with her making menu choices the day before.
The Lido being the self service was a bit of a scrum to find tables at busy times but you always had the restaurant as an alternative. The Verandah as one of the alternative eating options was excellent and well worth the supplement although was often quite empty.
Unsure if is Carnivals influence but they were charging a $10 dollar supplement to eat outside at the back of the boat for bistro food and $14 to eat in the Lido waiter service on themed nights. Neither gave additionality against the restraurant and was counter to the spirit of the ship. Its in the same spirit as charging a $55 supplement to sit in one of the boxes when the singers and dances were performing you get champagne and nibbles and a photo just seemed counter to the culture of the ship.
Room service was good and breakfast came in the time span requested.
Entertainment
If you like ballroom dancing the Victoria is the ship for you. The ballroom was a good size and the band and vocalist a very high standard. The band Synergy for more pop type music should be re booked they were great. The concert pianists were superb. The quartet and harpist gave lovely background presentations around the ship. The theatre massive and the singers and dancers put their all into it but sometimes they were not polished in final performance and some the shows could have better written. In some of the shows there was to much "Land of Hope and Glory" and its a pity they have not moved on from this. The speakers were good but they all seemed to be on the cruise ship merry go round with little really fresh speakers coming through. The ships choir were very good every congratulation to the entertainment team. I was unclear why they had instrumentalists in the theatre programme the ships musicians could have matched anyone. Also there was great jazz.
Ports trips.
We went on about five organised trips and they were all value for money and the guides were good. The organised trips were good if it was your first time in the port. What annoyed me immensely was the lack of complimentary shuttle buses into the nearest town. There were three ports that needed such a service.
In Lisbon due to passenger pressure one was laid on for which a charge was imposed. In Istanbul we were there for two days it was a forty minute walk into the centre and I had to pick up one passenger when they fell and saw another fall. It was a rough surface. There is a large group who do not want to pay for a trip and do not trust or fear local transport. This is a stupid cost cutting exercise and Cunard/Carnival should be ashamed. I wrote two written complaints and received no explanation. This was not in accord with the quality service received in other aspects of the trip. The Commodore made some good decisions about coming into port early re weather etc and gave overall a relaxed atmosphere on the ship wandering around talking to passengers.
Disembarkation
A complete shambles the manager controller let of to many groups at the same time. The approach was jammed with passengers coming from different directions therefore you were feeling that passegers were pushing in. As I said a shambles pity because its the last imprint you have of the ship.
Summary
A wonderful high quality holiday Cunard you will lose this overall imprint if Carnival or others make budget reductions on service or try and introduce additional fees for what should be standard service.
 

A Very English Cruise

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