For the money, you would be better off, buying the Premier Package with Princess, than going on Cunard. I'm booked Reserve Collection Junior Suite, with Premier Package, for Honeymoon Panama Canal Cruise. This sound way better than "Luxury Line" Cunard's meager offerings!
I wish you guys wouldn't feel so bad about being honest and harsh when needed. I prefer the truth over an overly apologetic review. If it's bad it's bad and just say it. You're not being rude you're being honest.
I understand why they feel the need to, RUclipsrs get hated on so much if it even seems like they’re complaining about an aspect of their seemingly awesome life.
@@19airazI agree. Their job as I see it is to show me options so that I can decide how best to spend my money. BUT, there are so many people who are so loyal to their favorite thing if someone said “On a scale from one to Ten I’d rate this is 9.5” would be outraged “How dare you not think my favorite vacation is 100% perfect all the time!” I think a lot of people view a transatlantic cruise about the Queen Mary as a bucket list vacation. Though maybe I could have more fun spending 1/2 as much money on something else. Not so much in the cruise RUclips space but so much other RUclips content feels like being negative for clicks is a business model, and they want to make sure no one thinks that is what they are doing.
Update: I just returned from our July QM2 cruise and felt like I was on a completely different ship from you. The service was excellent - many staff quickly learned our names across the ship. The food in the MDR was wonderful, and the service was outstanding. We had a set dining time and had the same waiter and sommelier each night. They quickly learned our preferences and even our favorite wines, and my glass was barely empty before it was filled again. 80% of the cruisers on our voyage dressed for dinner and dressed to the nines on gala nights. We were in the cheapest cabin on the ship- an inside cabin and in no way felt second class.
@@Jay-vr9ir my assumption is you have sailed on QM2 and were disappointed? I can only speak from the experience I had less than a week ago and we all had a wonderful time
Ben and David are very big in the RUclips reviewing world.. I can't imagine that Cunard would ignore a negative review on the QM2.. Since both of these reviews were after Ben and David's cruise, It's possible changes were made due to some bad reviews.. We were on her several years ago; beautiful ship, lousy food..
Ah!!! I’m so delighted you won and had such a great day. Especially after a slightly disappointing cruise. BTW , you never come off as not appreciating your life. You are both kindly honest. ❤️❤️❤️
@@littlebunnybunny Never. Always on the basis of our status when boarding or our position when standing in line, but yielding to anyone requiring extra help or time
@@SherryAnnOfTheWestThey gave a glowing review of the Yacht Club their last time on MSC. Unfortunately that was the cruise they were told to stop shooting on board. MSC did apologize following that incident so I imagine the guys will give them another try
Me too, cept I was in inside cabin. My cabin too cold, my fault for not setting it right. Also light over bed flickered. Shower drain was slow. Had quiet neighbors but could hear them cough. At least B&D did not catch cough that was going around.
The pizzas and pastas looked like they came out of a microwave telly kit - gag. About as far away from a luxury cruise line as possible. Cunard probably expects you to shovel your own coal and be happy about it.
The quality of service and morale of the crew is a direct reflection of the quality of the officers. Sounds like it's time for Cunard to make some changes.
I think, despite having such a disappointing cruise, this has been my favorite video on y’all’s. It showed such honesty, but with compassion, it showed joy in spite of circumstances (unexpected rain) and just a general love of life. I so enjoyed it. Thank you!
I have been hoping that as Covid recedes into the distance that cruise lines would slowly return to quality again...but obviously they have no intention of getting better as they were in the past. The new mantra is cut, cut, cut baby...while raising prices.
As the cruise is aimed at over 70s people, they probably found that the palate's of people that age were not that good anymore and they could get away with cheaper food as not many people their demographic could tell the difference. So they could buy cheaper food make more profit as most of the cliental will just remember the experience of the cruise the memories made and the photos of the experience. By the time next year rolls around as long as they have fond memories they will book again. I think the people the cruise is aimed at is people that want a more formal dining experience, that is more about the drinking and dancing. I bet the wines, Champagnes were pricey top notch ones.
Some of the people are probably trying to reminisce about the good old days and back when they were kids food was more simple back then. So for them food/entertainment isn't the most important thing as when they were young you had to make your own entertainment. Now that we don't have discos and dances. We have internet and TV and loads of entertainment choices that this type of cruiser didn't have. They probably look at the entertainment and go wow a meal and a dance if say that is on 2 of the nights they have something to look forward to and it is not over done. As nowadays we expect things in a instant where as they were brought up to wait, as there events would have been spread out over the year. This would have bought anticipation of the upcoming event, now we expect entertainment 24/7.
Hello the TA is not aimed at the over 70s. We sailed round trip from UK as a bucket list trip August 2023. We are in our early 60s and young at heart. The demographic was mixed both in terms of age and nationality. The weather was fog fog and more fog but that is the North Atlantic and was to be expected. The ship is yes showing some wear but we regard her as a country hotel rather than a modern glitzy model. She is the potentially last ocean liner so if you get the chance a sail on her is a must. I am not a foodie and have a tiny appetite and my gripe on our voyage was in the MDR cold, uninspired and inedible food. Would I sail again? Yes in a heartbeat a beautiful, sophisticated ship with a mixed demographic, exceptional insight speakers - a trip of a lifetime ❤️
@@JudithWright5 I am new to crusing but would find this trip boring. I am just going off what what was said in the video. I think there is a certain type of person that this cruise would cater for. Is not for Ben and David. I think flying would have been better for them. As I only like certain foods if they did not have those in the trip it would be a no from me. Maybe one day I would do a cruise that is as boring as this one was. Maybe not as I like entertainment and for the price I would want to have loads of entertainment lined up. I can't see a trip to New York on this type of cruise being a bucket list cruise for most people. As it is a very narrow demographic it is aimed for. As a very well travelled person I expect a certain level of excellence, luxury and to be wowed. Sadly this cruise would fall short on all levels for me. Even flying first class is not a great experience as they never do it correctly. I find most travel to be subpar. They have lost the customer experience in all forms of travel these days.
We are not yet in our 70s but heading there and I think the absolute opposite of what you imagine regarding our food tastes - and that goes for everyone we know. Food is hugely important to us and we now have more time to cook and to eat out so we are very critical and selective. Restaurant choice and quality is right up there for us when we choose a holiday or quality. This review and other similar reviews have certainly put me off booking Cunard. I also don’t want to be taking formal clothes although we do “dress up” every night. We now find Oceania cruises ticks our boxes as the food is really excellent.
Hi Ben and David. I'm with you, seems Cunard is not the "luxury" line it once was. Especially the food. I saw the when you were on the Kelly Clarkson show. That was so fun. Congratulations again for being picked. David, your response was perfect. So glad you enjoyed NYC and got an upgrade in your hotel room. As always thank you for all you do ❤️❤️
I love watching your cruise reviews! You are honest and so kind. It was sweet the way you made certain the audience understood that the crew did their best, even though your rating of the service was poor. Glad you had such a great day in New York!
I have just returned from a round trip transatlantic cruise on the Queen Mary 2 (my first ever cruise). I would agree with everything you guys have said, apart from the bit about connecting cabins. Mine was very quiet. The cruise was a world away from how it is presented in the Cunard promotional material. It was disappointing how few people made the effort to dress up. However, you can’t but love the ship itself and the whole being in the middle of the Atlantic experience. My stewardess was lovely and the staff in the dining room were doing their best. I didn’t use the pursers but I was told by people who did that they were short staffed and the service wasn’t great. I think you put your finger on it when you mentioned management cost cutting. Cunard have hyped up expectations and then haven’t given their staff the tools to meet them.
Love that you give QM2 - the ship - a score of 5/5. She really is a very special ship! Also… not to sound picky but your title… you went on a CROSSING gentlemen, not a cruise 😂😂😂 sorry couldn’t help myself.
@@stormythelowcountrykitty7147 not like any huevos rancheros I’ve ever had! This might be the fancy artisanal version. Please give me the standard Mexican family version!
@@stormythelowcountrykitty7147 it looked horrible, but definitely more like huevos rancheros than a frittata. I guess it would be a cruise you'd actually lose weight on.
I totally agree with you. We were on Queen 29:39 Mary 2 from Southampton to NYC end September 2024. Beside the mostly cheap convenient food, most of the stuff did not speak English well. At embarkation only 2 out of 6 elevators were working. The faucet in our bathroom was shaky, the bristles of the very cheap toilet brush were bent and the curtain in the shower and the sofa in the room had stains. Disembarkation was awful organized. We waited over three ours to leave the ship with no information when to leave. Worst of all after leaving the ship the next day we received a succinctly e mail from Cunard, that on our ship occurred legionella . With the advice, if we have symptoms contact a doctor. This has nothing to do with „ it’s an oceanliner“ not a cruise ship. Cunard showed no interest in its guests.
Just got off Queen Mary 2 for a double transatlantic crossing - that's 14 sea days. We had an experience opposite to you. Super food, super service, plenty of activities during the day. Captivating speakers in the lectures. London Theatre at Sea was amazing! Planetarium still down for the count, though - that was very disappointing. Book Britannia Club next time if you can - it's well worth the elevated experience.
"A little bit disappointed." My thoughts exactly. I've moved on from Cunard and discovered smaller, more luxurious ships (600 - 750 passengers) where there's 450 - 500 crew members. On these "ultra luxury ships" with almost 1 crew member to 1 passenger, so many staff get to know your name and always have the time to chat. More costly than Cunard (except during sales / special offers), but, you genuinely get more for your Dollar/Pounds Sterling/ Euro.
Which cruise line? Silver Sea? Oceania? Regent Seven Seas? Crystal? We have enjoyed Viking cruises, especially when we lucked out twice on only 75% full sailings. Really got to know crew members and even upper level officers and managers. We also sail on Oceania. I suspect the lines you sail with would still be too rich for our blood, but that high crew to passenger ratio sounds amazing!
@@marias902 I've now cruised on the Silver Moon and the Regent Explorer. Both Silversea and Regent offer 25% solo supplement surcharge. Occasionally, this 25% solo surcharge can be had with special sale fares. This is when the total price is not much more than Cunard. (Cunard only offer the discriminatory 80% - 90% solo surcharge). This does require me to constantly monitor on-sale offers and specials. from Regent and Silversea. And you have to act quick, because on any cruise itinerary, there's only a few cabins available with 25% solo supplement. Once they're gone, they're gone for good.
Or first cruise was on QM2 back in 2008. Absolutely loved it. Then went back onboard in 2014. Standards had slipped and we spoke to a few regular Cunarders who said the same thing. The service and food quality were nowhere near where they had been. We've done 20 cruises now, trying other lines, and have found a favourite in Azamara. Small ships which feel more relaxed and comfortable. You can dress up if you want, but they suit us as we work hard for our holidays and want to be able to relax and switch off, which we can do on Azamara. We did love being on the QM2 but Cunard are trying to hold onto an image of old style travel that they're sadly not quite managing to achieve.
We finally ditched the sister line, P&O, because the food was just so bland and "meh". You finish eating and think "well, I'm no longer hungry at least". Cost cutting and poor service too. Cheap but there's limits. Moved over to the pricier Fred Olsen and have not looked back.
We spent 68 days on the QM2 arriving in New York early May 2024. You are being honest with your review and I'm going to suggest even generous with some of your ratings. To say it needs an updating is an understatement. Like us, we spoke to many first time Cunard cruisers who stated it was their first and last. This is not a high end ship but no question, it is the best at handling the seas.
I just cruised with QM2. This was my 6th cruise so I can say it was by far the best onboard ship experience. The food was amazing the entertainment was great. I especially loved “be our guest” show. Maybe this specific crossing was a lull.
Funny you mentioned the inappropriate "burger cheese". It reminded me of a funny story. Years ago I attended a good friend's beautiful wedding at an actual wedding venue, and the cheese plate was made up of the same triangles as your "burger cheese" or what's commonly called Kraft Singles/American Cheese in America. Insult to injury, this took place in our home state of Wisconsin a.k.a. "America's Dairyland". We make more "real" cheese of every kind than any other state in America. We love our cheese and good cheese and sausage plates. It was a complete faux paus, but I never had the heart to ask her if she knew that was the cheese being served. Still cracks me up to this day! 😂
Thank you for the honest review. My wife and I like going transatlantic, but over the years the standards have slipped lower and lower. The crew seems to be perpetually in training and as soon as they get to know their trade, they go elsewhere. Anyway, maybe your report will help improve things. If there was some competition, maybe they'd need to pull their socks up, but as things are the standards are slipping more and more.
I'm sorry you were disappointed. I did a crossing on her in 2022 (NY-Southampton) and loved every minute of it! But I think that some of the things that bothered you would not bother me. I don't think we ever turned on the TV, for instance, and the plugs by the desk were sufficient for our needs. It does sound, though, that the food and service have deteriorated since then, as we found the food excellent and the service friendly and helpful. It's too bad, because that trip was what converted me to cruising.
The way you looked at Ben, David in your hotel room was so full of love and kindness, it made me cry, thank you both for being genuine. And Happy Wedding Anniversary xx
YES! Both of them together with such an amazing ending and their genuine love of new experiences and gratitude for all the things in their lives, I was hoping to see a kiss and make me feel like a fairy tale ending to the trip
I recently had the chance to travel on the QM2, and after watching your review, I have to say my experience was quite different. While I understand that experiences can vary, I found many of the services and amenities you critiqued to be quite satisfactory. Most importantly, every crew member we interacted with was not only highly proficient in English, but we were also treated exceptionally well and always addressed by name. (We booked Queens Grill Suites). There’s quite a difference between dining at the Kings Court and one of the formal dining rooms. While Kings Court is more of an American-style all-you-can-eat buffet (still one of the better ones), where you can show up in shorts and shirts, the dining rooms require classy casual attire for breakfast and lunch, and smart attire for dinner. The entertainment on the QM2 is quite different from that on Disney, AIDA, and other cruise lines. If you’re looking for a party atmosphere, the QM2 might not be the right fit. We thoroughly enjoyed the onboard speakers, the pubs and bars, and had a wonderful time overall. I´d personally say they managed to offer something for everyone quite well.
Great video as always guys! Genuinely love your New York content, more stuff like this would be amazing! We are watching for your personalities as much as the cruise vids 🙂
Happy anniversary 🎉. My partner and I were considering the Queen Mary to NYC. You did us a huge favor in pointing out some of the drawbacks of this ship. Like you two we love cruising and enjoy the razzle dazzle and great food. Thank you again!
We sailed QM2 in 2019 and based on your review it seems things have not changed. That cruise was our least favorite in over 20 cruises. The best food we had was in the pub. Glad you guys made it safe!
@@kimc555 That's the real problem. Watch the price line: Cunard's one on lower end classes is barely mainstream. No surprise service the cruise experience would match the segments...
@@kimc555 On Queen Ann, the guys were in Britannia Club Class! I guess with Cunard, you get what you pay for, just like with airlines. Five Star my ass!
Hi Ben & David.... Very honest review..... The food really looked atrocious! ... I sailed on QM2 for her maiden voyage way back in 2003, as an ex Cunarder (Worked on QE2 in the mid 1990's .... Cunard really has lost what they were famous for. A real shame!
This is a lovely vlog and review, I loved the New York segment, don't be afraid to add things like this, I enjoyed coming along with your exciting day!
Same. Actually glad to not have huge expectations. I’m doing it just for the bucklist item of crossing the Atlantic on a boat. I’m just going to relax, play games on my computer, and read.
Absolutely love your videos! I asked my Cunard rep here in Canada about this, they did admit when the Queen Anne Launched they pull the best of the best from all the ships to impress on the new vessel. They did say it should go back to normal soon. I sailed on QM2 with my aunt years ago, it was lovely. Looking forward to your new videos. 🙂
What I’ll always love about the QM2 is I wore my dress blues on formal nights and the captain called me out on that and I was like I’m a U.S. Merchant Marine and he asked me where I was from and i said Long Island and my family had been there since the 1640s and he said you could apply to Cunard. Mainly because you’re from a former colony you can work on a British ship. Fun fact the easiest European captains license an American can get is British if you’re from the 13 colonies or Oregon and Washington State because they were owned by Great Britain at one point.
OMG I am so happy for you guys! I do hope Cunard listens to the customers' feedback; thank you for your unbiased opinion, it means a lot, love your videos!
Sorry the trip wasn’t up to expectations, but appreciate the feedback and honesty especially at that price. Cunard isn’t the only line that’s had issues since COVID
When the marketing declares, the experience is supposed to be luxurious, but it is mid at best, then they need to recalibrate. I'm almost 65, and it seems like that was a near nursing home type of experience. More like a museum, bland food for a stereotype that elders don't eat flavored foods, and tame entertainment meant to promote naps. Their competition will get more business.
Well: Cunard doesn't have competition by themselves. They're sort of a niche market line for a certain mostly British clientele. Whether they're fit for a brand new ship or they should to remain just with the current ones till they eventually finish their prime time that is to be known in the next years to come, but I don't predict their market niche to remain gone their current client generation. Better for CCL group to start thinking on where would they redeploy the Queen Anne in some 5 or 10 years to come. Princess?
Went on the ship in the newer stage of her life. Everything needs to be refreshed. The food in my humble opinion was not top notch even then. Thanks for your honest review guys.😊 Congratulations on the money and of course your Anniversary 🎉
For what it's worth, I have heard that Cunard sent a lot of their experienced staff to the Queen Anne and brought new staff on to the other ships so if you have cruised with them recently, you may have noticed a dip in their usual service. Not excusing anything, but it might offer something of an explanatory note.
Sorry to hear about your trip. I took the QM2 westbound crossing 5/16/24-5/23/24. I had a truly wonderful experience all the way around. I didn’t want to leave the ship after seven days! So while on board, I booked an 18-day cruise on QM2 from Sydney to Hong Kong in March, 2026. My advice to anyone looking at cruises is do you homework, read the info and yes look at reviews, but know that everyone has different tastes and preferences. People will ultimately have their own unique experience and perspective.
Congratulations!!! You must be so excited about the house! So happy for you both. That’s a shame about the cruise. When you are paying that much you expect more. What a nice surprise that you win! Happy Anniversary 💗
that pizza looks like something that you can buy from in the store and cook it yourself. It's just perfectly round and covered efficiently with extras. I wonder...
I love how kind, yet honest, your review is. I wondered how it would be on a transatlantic, and I will be using another line. I definiately want to use you guys to book.
tough to watch, but I can't fault you for appearing to be fair, and allow every opportunity for improvements. I hope this review is received in good faith by Cunard, and proper adjustments will be expediently made. As much as I LOVE Queen Mary 2, things like food and working light bulbs are non-negotiable at her premium.
I wonder... if this is what Ben & Jerry got sailing in an over $5,000 Balcony Cabin, what can we expect when next month we'll sail to New York on this Liner's Steerage class?
From the pictures ya'll showed of the food it looked terrible I've seen better from airline food. It looked like they took TV dinners and put it on a plate.
Im so glad that New York was so magical for you after getting off that floating retirement home. You guys really deserved it. Looking forward to the Disney cruise!
What a fantastic video. Thank you. I have been fortunate enough to do QM2 four times now on the transatlantic route - twice in Princess Grill and twice in a shelter balcony - the last trip in the fall of 2023. You are 100% accurate in your assessments. On my last trip, the crew were harried and rushed off their feet. Prior to that, my Princess Grill experience was awful (except cabin stewards, who have all been fantastic.)}Bland food and several incorrect orders appeared at the table. Cunard management deserves a swift kick in the ass - or arse, as you say in the UK. In the past when I have commented on poor service on Cunard, all I get is excuses.
Hi you two, so look forward to seeing you guys every week. Brightens my day. Sorry you had disappointing times, but hopefully the great bits made up for it. ❤
You both lucked out on the NYC visit, nice! Great choice of shows to see. Cunard def looks different from my crossing in 2016! But even then there was not much to do other than eat sleep & chill! We did buy a spa pass and spent copious amounts of time there daily! I thought food was good but nothing great or over the top!
We have to agree with you guys on this. We took the QM2 round trip from NYC to the Caribbean for our honeymoon over Christmas and New Year’s last year. It was the worst cruise we’ve been on. For context, we’re in our 40s, and we like more mature cruises. Holland America is our favorite line, and we expected Cunard to be similar, if not nicer given the pricing. We couldn’t have been more wrong. The QM2 itself was gorgeous, and we thought the food was fine. We actually did have wonderful service. Our complaint was the lack of any energy on the ship - it felt like a floating convalescent home with passengers dozing in the main atrium and the Golden Lion Pub. Not even music piped into many areas. As you mentioned, most seemed content to sit quietly and rest or read. Our two bright spots were the Commodore Club before dinner, and the trivia in the Carinthia lounge - where the amazing host, Laura, would poke a bit of fun at the low energy on the ship. She was delightful! We would not go back on the QM2, or Cunard, to be honest. Glad it exists for folks who enjoy it, but we plan to stick with HAL and Princess.
I did that journey several years ago. It wasn’t a cruise as such. Ive done cruises and this was a transatlantic crossing. It was one of the best weeks ever for me. So much fun & enjoyment. Great food. I'll never forget it.
Glad you enjoyed your time in NYC at least! NYC won't disappoint, even if the cruise did. Also, I can't help but laugh that you ate at Le Pain Quotidien and Pret A Manger in one day. They're basically the same thing!
Yay! I've been waiting eagerly for this episode and when I saw the Disney cruise last week I thought you'd forgotten about me ;) I googled the voyage and was shocked at the cost for what, in reality, is a fancy, slow, expensive ferry to New York. Now I know your experience I'd rather take a flight to NY then cruise for a week from the states. Thank you :)
Call that a cheese plate! The food was pretty awful. Congrats on the house and anniversary. It's a capital city and all capitals are.expensive unless you really look.
The State Capitol is Schenectady, NY. NYC is the largest city (population-wise) in the USA. It is a magnet for all, it is very densely populated that is why it is so expensive!
@@billgracey6369The state capital of NY is Albany. As a native New Yorker, things are usually more expensive in the city (Manhattan) and especially in the tourist areas and business districts. Usually though, if you walk a street or avenue over from the busiest streets, you can find some real gems of restaurants, delis, etc. with good food at cheaper prices. There are always bargains to find in NY.
We love your pure honesty and that's why we subscribe and watch you both. It's these type of video's that are enjoyable to watch. Getting to see the good and the bad. Cruise lines need to get more staff and improve, your videos should help highlight the errors so they get fixed for the future. Thanks boys
Sailed a few Cunard cruises and their food was always amazing...sorry to hear its joined the general ranks.....and no planetarium on a trans Atlantic cruise...come on Cunard...QM2 was once a jewel.
Oh my! The scene of the NY skyline through your sheltered balcony looked like a framed professional picture. It was SO beautiful! I really appreciate y'all's honesty. I watch your channel because I know you aren't going to sugar coat the experience. We work hard for our money like y'all and want to enjoy ourselves on our vacations. I have been curious about the QM2 for some time, but I think I'll hold off unless they have a really good sale for booking early or something.
I didn’t know what “quotidien” meant in English, much less French, so I looked it up. It means “everyday” and can mean “ordinary.” So the name of the cafe is probably an encouragement to eat there regularly (not likely for $30 😅) or a signal they aren’t stuffy.
So thankful that your first day in NYC was fabulous! Thank you for the very best reviews and content. I look forward to your post each week. Great work guys!
Thank you for your review and your candidness. It must have been a difficult critique to give but I am sure Cunard will acknowledge the criticism in good faith and work on these areas. The food did not look like the food I have had on prior Cunard sailings and the cabins quite disappointing. Well done on your sensitivity and I look forward to your next cruise critique.
Thanks for your frank and honest review, guys. I honestly hope Cunard takes a hard look at this an ups their game. A transatlantic crossing on the QM2 would (and should) be a dream trip.
Sad to hear. We took the QM2 12 years ago and it was magnificant. The crew were so good. Our room attendent made our trip so special. I guess things have changed for the worse.
Britain - Trainers, America - Sneakers, Canada - Running shoes. I love formalwear and fine dining. If I'm going to spring for Cunard and they fail at this one thing, I would be miffed.
Holy crap! I can't believe what a strong internet signal you were getting. I'm taking a transatlantic on RC in October and I can only hope the internet will be half as good. Thanks, as always, for giving us your brutally honest opinions. It's so appreciated. Congrats on the sale of your old house and purchase of your new house. Btw, that pizza on the ship looked positively vile.
So glad you found Le Pan Quotidien! It’s wonderful and has been a personal favorite for years (used to be Au Bon Pain but they went down hill fast several years back!) if you’re ever in NYC later in the day, I do believe they still sell remaining breads and pastries for 50% off before closing.
We were on the Queen Mary in May 2023 and it was lovely. A neighbor told us that a friend of theirs was on it around the time you sailed and was very disappointed. And he has sailed it quite often. He theory was they sent all the experienced staff to the Queen Anne for her initial sailing. Glad you loved New York!!!
Happy anniversary and welcome to the US!! Thanks for giving us an HONEST review of the QM2. That is much more useful than hearing a Cunard advert. Wishing you fun and safe sailing!
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For the money, you would be better off, buying the Premier Package with Princess, than going on Cunard. I'm booked Reserve Collection Junior Suite, with Premier Package, for Honeymoon Panama Canal Cruise. This sound way better than "Luxury Line" Cunard's meager offerings!
Just met you guys in the Orlando airport. Thanks for what you do for the cruise industry!
I wish you guys wouldn't feel so bad about being honest and harsh when needed. I prefer the truth over an overly apologetic review. If it's bad it's bad and just say it. You're not being rude you're being honest.
they're British boys, they'll literally apologize if you crash into their car
I so agree! And this does not mean other cruises are the same. I believe you give viewers very great opinions and content, which is useful to all.
I understand why they feel the need to, RUclipsrs get hated on so much if it even seems like they’re complaining about an aspect of their seemingly awesome life.
@@19airazI agree. Their job as I see it is to show me options so that I can decide how best to spend my money. BUT, there are so many people who are so loyal to their favorite thing if someone said “On a scale from one to Ten I’d rate this is 9.5” would be outraged “How dare you not think my favorite vacation is 100% perfect all the time!”
I think a lot of people view a transatlantic cruise about the Queen Mary as a bucket list vacation. Though maybe I could have more fun spending 1/2 as much money on something else.
Not so much in the cruise RUclips space but so much other RUclips content feels like being negative for clicks is a business model, and they want to make sure no one thinks that is what they are doing.
Agreed. They are so positive. When they say something not so positive, you know it’s real.
Update: I just returned from our July QM2 cruise and felt like I was on a completely different ship from you. The service was excellent - many staff quickly learned our names across the ship. The food in the MDR was wonderful, and the service was outstanding. We had a set dining time and had the same waiter and sommelier each night. They quickly learned our preferences and even our favorite wines, and my glass was barely empty before it was filled again. 80% of the cruisers on our voyage dressed for dinner and dressed to the nines on gala nights. We were in the cheapest cabin on the ship- an inside cabin and in no way felt second class.
RUBBISH!!!
@@Jay-vr9ir my assumption is you have sailed on QM2 and were disappointed? I can only speak from the experience I had less than a week ago and we all had a wonderful time
Ben and David are very big in the RUclips reviewing world.. I can't imagine that Cunard would ignore a negative review on the QM2.. Since both of these reviews were after Ben and David's cruise, It's possible changes were made due to some bad reviews..
We were on her several years ago; beautiful ship, lousy food..
Ah!!! I’m so delighted you won and had such a great day. Especially after a slightly disappointing cruise. BTW , you never come off as not appreciating your life. You are both kindly honest. ❤️❤️❤️
A solid 2nd that!
Yes, Lovely & Honest Gentlemen! Congratulations on your sale & purchase. Thanks for all you do.
Guys, that Italian dessert is cannoli. Canneloni is a kind of pasta
These two are clearly massive plebs. There's no fncking way my give a sh1tometer is ticking over zero fncks for either of their opinions.
I am older but not dead. Like good food, good service, and good shows. I think that I will spend my money elsewhere.
Me, too.
hope you dont queue skip!!!
@@littlebunnybunny Never. Always on the basis of our status when boarding or our position when standing in line, but yielding to anyone requiring extra help or time
I'm not sure Ben and David would agree, but I spend my money in the MSC Yacht Club. I've NEVER had bad service or bad food there .....
@@SherryAnnOfTheWestThey gave a glowing review of the Yacht Club their last time on MSC. Unfortunately that was the cruise they were told to stop shooting on board. MSC did apologize following that incident so I imagine the guys will give them another try
I was on this same cruise and the same class cabin. Your review is spot on! Couldn’t agree more with your assessment.
Me too, cept I was in inside cabin. My cabin too cold, my fault for not setting it right. Also light over bed flickered. Shower drain was slow. Had quiet neighbors but could hear them cough. At least B&D did not catch cough that was going around.
The pizzas and pastas looked like they came out of a microwave telly kit - gag. About as far away from a luxury cruise line as possible. Cunard probably expects you to shovel your own coal and be happy about it.
The pizza topping looked like ham and ananas...Don´t tell the Italians, they'll boycott Cunard, lol.
was on that crossing also. Pizza tasted like sandwich bread.
I agree totally about the grub. But, it's not a cruise, it's a posh ferry to New York and grossly overprice imho.
The food shown looked appalling,
That thing they called hash browns looks like it was a refry from Wendy’s- no thanks. Hash browns that was NOT.
The quality of service and morale of the crew is a direct reflection of the quality of the officers. Sounds like it's time for Cunard to make some changes.
"Sounds like it's time for Cunard to make some changes"?... more like... "Sounds like these are the results of Cunard making some changes"...
I think, despite having such a disappointing cruise, this has been my favorite video on y’all’s. It showed such honesty, but with compassion, it showed joy in spite of circumstances (unexpected rain) and just a general love of life. I so enjoyed it. Thank you!
Well said!
Exactly! It’s not what you say it’s how you say it and Itink they give constructive reviews. I would be very disappointed by that level of service too
I have been hoping that as Covid recedes into the distance that cruise lines would slowly return to quality again...but obviously they have no intention of getting better as they were in the past. The new mantra is cut, cut, cut baby...while raising prices.
I thought your review of QM2 was very fair. After spending more than $5,ooo you should expect 5-star food, service and entertainment.
As the cruise is aimed at over 70s people, they probably found that the palate's of people that age were not that good anymore and they could get away with cheaper food as not many people their demographic could tell the difference. So they could buy cheaper food make more profit as most of the cliental will just remember the experience of the cruise the memories made and the photos of the experience. By the time next year rolls around as long as they have fond memories they will book again. I think the people the cruise is aimed at is people that want a more formal dining experience, that is more about the drinking and dancing. I bet the wines, Champagnes were pricey top notch ones.
Some of the people are probably trying to reminisce about the good old days and back when they were kids food was more simple back then. So for them food/entertainment isn't the most important thing as when they were young you had to make your own entertainment. Now that we don't have discos and dances. We have internet and TV and loads of entertainment choices that this type of cruiser didn't have. They probably look at the entertainment and go wow a meal and a dance if say that is on 2 of the nights they have something to look forward to and it is not over done. As nowadays we expect things in a instant where as they were brought up to wait, as there events would have been spread out over the year. This would have bought anticipation of the upcoming event, now we expect entertainment 24/7.
Hello the TA is not aimed at the over 70s. We sailed round trip from UK as a bucket list trip August 2023. We are in our early 60s and young at heart. The demographic was mixed both in terms of age and nationality. The weather was fog fog and more fog but that is the North Atlantic and was to be expected. The ship is yes showing some wear but we regard her as a country hotel rather than a modern glitzy model. She is the potentially last ocean liner so if you get the chance a sail on her is a must. I am not a foodie and have a tiny appetite and my gripe on our voyage was in the MDR cold, uninspired and inedible food. Would I sail again? Yes in a heartbeat a beautiful, sophisticated ship with a mixed demographic, exceptional insight speakers - a trip of a lifetime ❤️
@@JudithWright5 I am new to crusing but would find this trip boring. I am just going off what what was said in the video. I think there is a certain type of person that this cruise would cater for. Is not for Ben and David. I think flying would have been better for them. As I only like certain foods if they did not have those in the trip it would be a no from me. Maybe one day I would do a cruise that is as boring as this one was. Maybe not as I like entertainment and for the price I would want to have loads of entertainment lined up. I can't see a trip to New York on this type of cruise being a bucket list cruise for most people. As it is a very narrow demographic it is aimed for. As a very well travelled person I expect a certain level of excellence, luxury and to be wowed. Sadly this cruise would fall short on all levels for me. Even flying first class is not a great experience as they never do it correctly. I find most travel to be subpar. They have lost the customer experience in all forms of travel these days.
We are not yet in our 70s but heading there and I think the absolute opposite of what you imagine regarding our food tastes - and that goes for everyone we know. Food is hugely important to us and we now have more time to cook and to eat out so we are very critical and selective. Restaurant choice and quality is right up there for us when we choose a holiday or quality. This review and other similar reviews have certainly put me off booking Cunard. I also don’t want to be taking formal clothes although we do “dress up” every night. We now find Oceania cruises ticks our boxes as the food is really excellent.
Not all of us in our 70's like bland food and a nursing home atmosphere. Nor do we make a habit of cutting in line. Very enjoyable video. Thanks
thats the americans dear!
@@littlebunnybunny no its not but thank you for the slam.
@@littlebunnybunnyI'm American and I don't act like that silly bunny
@@littlebunnybunny You're as rude as someone who butts in line.
😂
Hi Ben and David. I'm with you, seems Cunard is not the "luxury" line it once was. Especially the food. I saw the when you were on the Kelly Clarkson show. That was so fun. Congratulations again for being picked. David, your response was perfect. So glad you enjoyed NYC and got an upgrade in your hotel room. As always thank you for all you do ❤️❤️
I love watching your cruise reviews! You are honest and so kind. It was sweet the way you made certain the audience understood that the crew did their best, even though your rating of the service was poor.
Glad you had such a great day in New York!
I have just returned from a round trip transatlantic cruise on the Queen Mary 2 (my first ever cruise). I would agree with everything you guys have said, apart from the bit about connecting cabins. Mine was very quiet. The cruise was a world away from how it is presented in the Cunard promotional material. It was disappointing how few people made the effort to dress up. However, you can’t but love the ship itself and the whole being in the middle of the Atlantic experience. My stewardess was lovely and the staff in the dining room were doing their best. I didn’t use the pursers but I was told by people who did that they were short staffed and the service wasn’t great.
I think you put your finger on it when you mentioned management cost cutting. Cunard have hyped up expectations and then haven’t given their staff the tools to meet them.
Love that you give QM2 - the ship - a score of 5/5. She really is a very special ship! Also… not to sound picky but your title… you went on a CROSSING gentlemen, not a cruise 😂😂😂 sorry couldn’t help myself.
Looks like they gave you the huevos rancheros and not the frittata.
That’s what i thought
I think you're right.
I like huevos rancheros but that one didn’t look great.
@@stormythelowcountrykitty7147 not like any huevos rancheros I’ve ever had! This might be the fancy artisanal version. Please give me the standard Mexican family version!
@@stormythelowcountrykitty7147 it looked horrible, but definitely more like huevos rancheros than a frittata. I guess it would be a cruise you'd actually lose weight on.
I totally agree with you. We were on Queen 29:39 Mary 2 from Southampton to NYC end September 2024. Beside the mostly cheap convenient food, most of the stuff did not speak English well. At embarkation only 2 out of 6 elevators were working.
The faucet in our bathroom was shaky, the bristles of the very cheap toilet brush were bent and the curtain in the shower and the sofa in the room had stains. Disembarkation was awful organized. We waited over three ours to leave the ship with no information when to leave. Worst of all after leaving the ship the next day we received a succinctly e mail from Cunard, that on our ship occurred legionella . With the advice, if we have symptoms contact a doctor.
This has nothing to do with „ it’s an oceanliner“ not a cruise ship. Cunard showed no interest in its guests.
Just got off Queen Mary 2 for a double transatlantic crossing - that's 14 sea days. We had an experience opposite to you. Super food, super service, plenty of activities during the day. Captivating speakers in the lectures. London Theatre at Sea was amazing! Planetarium still down for the count, though - that was very disappointing.
Book Britannia Club next time if you can - it's well worth the elevated experience.
We so appreciate your honesty. You aren't there to cheerlead, which is refreshing! ❤
Love that your reviews are honest!!
"We're even seeing Crocs!" This may be the most surprising revelation in the whole video. 🤭❤️
"A little bit disappointed." My thoughts exactly. I've moved on from Cunard and discovered smaller, more luxurious ships (600 - 750 passengers) where there's 450 - 500 crew members. On these "ultra luxury ships" with almost 1 crew member to 1 passenger, so many staff get to know your name and always have the time to chat. More costly than Cunard (except during sales / special offers), but, you genuinely get more for your Dollar/Pounds Sterling/ Euro.
Which cruise line? Silver Sea? Oceania? Regent Seven Seas? Crystal? We have enjoyed Viking cruises, especially when we lucked out twice on only 75% full sailings. Really got to know crew members and even upper level officers and managers. We also sail on Oceania. I suspect the lines you sail with would still be too rich for our blood, but that high crew to passenger ratio sounds amazing!
@@marias902 I've now cruised on the Silver Moon and the Regent Explorer. Both Silversea and Regent offer 25% solo supplement surcharge. Occasionally, this 25% solo surcharge can be had with special sale fares. This is when the total price is not much more than Cunard. (Cunard only offer the discriminatory 80% - 90% solo surcharge). This does require me to constantly monitor on-sale offers and specials. from Regent and Silversea. And you have to act quick, because on any cruise itinerary, there's only a few cabins available with 25% solo supplement. Once they're gone, they're gone for good.
Or first cruise was on QM2 back in 2008. Absolutely loved it. Then went back onboard in 2014. Standards had slipped and we spoke to a few regular Cunarders who said the same thing. The service and food quality were nowhere near where they had been. We've done 20 cruises now, trying other lines, and have found a favourite in Azamara. Small ships which feel more relaxed and comfortable. You can dress up if you want, but they suit us as we work hard for our holidays and want to be able to relax and switch off, which we can do on Azamara. We did love being on the QM2 but Cunard are trying to hold onto an image of old style travel that they're sadly not quite managing to achieve.
We finally ditched the sister line, P&O, because the food was just so bland and "meh". You finish eating and think "well, I'm no longer hungry at least". Cost cutting and poor service too. Cheap but there's limits. Moved over to the pricier Fred Olsen and have not looked back.
@@marias902Oceania for us too. I haven’t found anything that tempts us away from them. Viking maybe? Those ships look gorgeous.
We spent 68 days on the QM2 arriving in New York early May 2024. You are being honest with your review and I'm going to suggest even generous with some of your ratings. To say it needs an updating is an understatement. Like us, we spoke to many first time Cunard cruisers who stated it was their first and last. This is not a high end ship but no question, it is the best at handling the seas.
I just cruised with QM2. This was my 6th cruise so I can say it was by far the best onboard ship experience. The food was amazing the entertainment was great. I especially loved “be our guest” show. Maybe this specific crossing was a lull.
That Kelly Clarkson thing was amazing! How cool was that!x
Funny you mentioned the inappropriate "burger cheese". It reminded me of a funny story. Years ago I attended a good friend's beautiful wedding at an actual wedding venue, and the cheese plate was made up of the same triangles as your "burger cheese" or what's commonly called Kraft Singles/American Cheese in America. Insult to injury, this took place in our home state of Wisconsin a.k.a. "America's Dairyland". We make more "real" cheese of every kind than any other state in America. We love our cheese and good cheese and sausage plates. It was a complete faux paus, but I never had the heart to ask her if she knew that was the cheese being served. Still cracks me up to this day! 😂
Thank you for the honest review. My wife and I like going transatlantic, but over the years the standards have slipped lower and lower. The crew seems to be perpetually in training and as soon as they get to know their trade, they go elsewhere. Anyway, maybe your report will help improve things. If there was some competition, maybe they'd need to pull their socks up, but as things are the standards are slipping more and more.
I'm sorry you were disappointed. I did a crossing on her in 2022 (NY-Southampton) and loved every minute of it! But I think that some of the things that bothered you would not bother me. I don't think we ever turned on the TV, for instance, and the plugs by the desk were sufficient for our needs. It does sound, though, that the food and service have deteriorated since then, as we found the food excellent and the service friendly and helpful. It's too bad, because that trip was what converted me to cruising.
Stick with it. We were on Cunard Queen Victoria recently and everything was superb
Absolutely love you two. So refreshing to listen to such honest reviews of these cruises! X
The way you looked at Ben, David in your hotel room was so full of love and kindness, it made me cry, thank you both for being genuine. And Happy Wedding Anniversary xx
YES! Both of them together with such an amazing ending and their genuine love of new experiences and gratitude for all the things in their lives, I was hoping to see a kiss and make me feel like a fairy tale ending to the trip
I recently had the chance to travel on the QM2, and after watching your review, I have to say my experience was quite different. While I understand that experiences can vary, I found many of the services and amenities you critiqued to be quite satisfactory. Most importantly, every crew member we interacted with was not only highly proficient in English, but we were also treated exceptionally well and always addressed by name. (We booked Queens Grill Suites).
There’s quite a difference between dining at the Kings Court and one of the formal dining rooms. While Kings Court is more of an American-style all-you-can-eat buffet (still one of the better ones), where you can show up in shorts and shirts, the dining rooms require classy casual attire for breakfast and lunch, and smart attire for dinner.
The entertainment on the QM2 is quite different from that on Disney, AIDA, and other cruise lines. If you’re looking for a party atmosphere, the QM2 might not be the right fit. We thoroughly enjoyed the onboard speakers, the pubs and bars, and had a wonderful time overall. I´d personally say they managed to offer something for everyone quite well.
Great video as always guys! Genuinely love your New York content, more stuff like this would be amazing! We are watching for your personalities as much as the cruise vids 🙂
Happy anniversary 🎉. My partner and I were considering the Queen Mary to NYC. You did us a huge favor in pointing out some of the drawbacks of this ship. Like you two we love cruising and enjoy the razzle dazzle and great food. Thank you again!
We sailed QM2 in 2019 and based on your review it seems things have not changed. That cruise was our least favorite in over 20 cruises. The best food we had was in the pub. Glad you guys made it safe!
Your reviews are just plain excellent. Thank you.
So sorry about your disappointment with the cruise but huge Congrats on switching houses and for David winning some money in New York.
I'm surprised it was that bad. Gary is always so positive about Cunard, but I guess he does upgrade to the grills for a reason!
Yes I was trying to think of who has posted videos on the lower tier classes on Cunard. No one. lol
@@kimc555 That's the real problem. Watch the price line: Cunard's one on lower end classes is barely mainstream. No surprise service the cruise experience would match the segments...
His most recent post was not glowing. As he noted lower standards and noise between cabins etc. He questioned sailing cunard v other lines
@@kimc555 On Queen Ann, the guys were in Britannia Club Class! I guess with Cunard, you get what you pay for, just like with airlines. Five Star my ass!
@@bodyloverz30 ya the line is def pushing ppl to pay more. Which is fine. They should lower the cost of the bottom tier classes tho.
Congratulations on your new house. Congrats that you finally got a decent meal at that coffee shop. Loved the NYC part of this video. Thanks
Thank you both for such an honest and enlightening review. I've considered a Cunard cruise many times, so glad I've not committed to this one.
Hi Ben & David.... Very honest review..... The food really looked atrocious! ... I sailed on QM2 for her maiden voyage way back in 2003, as an ex Cunarder (Worked on QE2 in the mid 1990's .... Cunard really has lost what they were famous for. A real shame!
After this review, I might aswell book my trip to New York on Steerage... it can't be worst than that...
This is a lovely vlog and review, I loved the New York segment, don't be afraid to add things like this, I enjoyed coming along with your exciting day!
Your honesty is helpful. I'm doing my first QM2 crossing in a few months, and this helps me manage my expectations.
Same. Actually glad to not have huge expectations. I’m doing it just for the bucklist item of crossing the Atlantic on a boat. I’m just going to relax, play games on my computer, and read.
Absolutely love your videos! I asked my Cunard rep here in Canada about this, they did admit when the Queen Anne Launched they pull the best of the best from all the ships to impress on the new vessel. They did say it should go back to normal soon. I sailed on QM2 with my aunt years ago, it was lovely. Looking forward to your new videos. 🙂
100% agree with your QM2 review.
We felt exactly the same.....
Happy Anniversary and I'm so glad you had such a lovely day in NYC!!!
Thanks guys, you’ve saved me thousands…
I’m so glad your New York adventure was so fabulous, what a day!
What I’ll always love about the QM2 is I wore my dress blues on formal nights and the captain called me out on that and I was like I’m a U.S. Merchant Marine and he asked me where I was from and i said Long Island and my family had been there since the 1640s and he said you could apply to Cunard. Mainly because you’re from a former colony you can work on a British ship. Fun fact the easiest European captains license an American can get is British if you’re from the 13 colonies or Oregon and Washington State because they were owned by Great Britain at one point.
OMG I am so happy for you guys! I do hope Cunard listens to the customers' feedback; thank you for your unbiased opinion, it means a lot, love your videos!
They don't listen. I wrote and got no response until months later someone called and acted indifferent
Sorry the trip wasn’t up to expectations, but appreciate the feedback and honesty especially at that price. Cunard isn’t the only line that’s had issues since COVID
When the marketing declares, the experience is supposed to be luxurious, but it is mid at best, then they need to recalibrate. I'm almost 65, and it seems like that was a near nursing home type of experience. More like a museum, bland food for a stereotype that elders don't eat flavored foods, and tame entertainment meant to promote naps. Their competition will get more business.
Cunard doesn’t have competition lol
@@Lkb5555sounds like they should! Or…they may find they do now.
@@Lkb5555they do. That’s why Queen Anne exists.
Well: Cunard doesn't have competition by themselves. They're sort of a niche market line for a certain mostly British clientele. Whether they're fit for a brand new ship or they should to remain just with the current ones till they eventually finish their prime time that is to be known in the next years to come, but I don't predict their market niche to remain gone their current client generation. Better for CCL group to start thinking on where would they redeploy the Queen Anne in some 5 or 10 years to come. Princess?
@@Lkb5555 Luxury lines!
Went on the ship in the newer stage of her life. Everything needs to be refreshed. The food in my humble opinion was not top notch even then. Thanks for your honest review guys.😊 Congratulations on the money and of course your Anniversary 🎉
💡And that's why I love you guy's so much! You're always truthful. Thank you!
For what it's worth, I have heard that Cunard sent a lot of their experienced staff to the Queen Anne and brought new staff on to the other ships so if you have cruised with them recently, you may have noticed a dip in their usual service. Not excusing anything, but it might offer something of an explanatory note.
We noticed this also and concluded that the staff were sent to Queen Anne!
We watch you for your honesty. We appreciate it. Thank you. Blessings to you.
I thinkj Daniel and Jonathan both won Tony's for that show! Greatly appreciated your honest review! Thank you!
Oh my gosh, congratulations on your win, David!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉 And congrats to you both on your anniversary!!! ❤🎉❤
Sorry to hear about your trip. I took the QM2 westbound crossing 5/16/24-5/23/24.
I had a truly wonderful experience all the way around. I didn’t want to leave the ship after seven days! So while on board, I booked an 18-day cruise on QM2 from Sydney to Hong Kong in March, 2026. My advice to anyone looking at cruises is do you homework, read the info and yes look at reviews, but know that everyone has different tastes and preferences. People will ultimately have their own unique experience and perspective.
Our exact experience on Queen Elizabeth. Service was so cold, no connection at all
Congratulations!!! You must be so excited about the house! So happy for you both.
That’s a shame about the cruise. When you are paying that much you expect more.
What a nice surprise that you win!
Happy Anniversary 💗
that pizza looks like something that you can buy from in the store and cook it yourself. It's just perfectly round and covered efficiently with extras. I wonder...
Yes…
I love how kind, yet honest, your review is. I wondered how it would be on a transatlantic, and I will be using another line. I definiately want to use you guys to book.
Congratulations on winning $1000. BTW gents it’s Clark-son. She won American Idol.
Came here to say that. :-)
She is THE American Idol.
Guys, I’m glad that you enjoyed your time in NYC. Thanks for a as always great video blog.
As a former New Yorker, you made me miss NY!! I need to go soon! So glad you had a fabulous day in my hometown!
tough to watch, but I can't fault you for appearing to be fair, and allow every opportunity for improvements. I hope this review is received in good faith by Cunard, and proper adjustments will be expediently made. As much as I LOVE Queen Mary 2, things like food and working light bulbs are non-negotiable at her premium.
I wonder... if this is what Ben & Jerry got sailing in an over $5,000 Balcony Cabin, what can we expect when next month we'll sail to New York on this Liner's Steerage class?
From the pictures ya'll showed of the food it looked terrible I've seen better from airline food. It looked like they took TV dinners and put it on a plate.
Im so glad that New York was so magical for you after getting off that floating retirement home. You guys really deserved it. Looking forward to the Disney cruise!
Thank you for your honesty, we save for over two years to take a cruise so your reviews care how we decide what to go on.
What a fantastic video. Thank you. I have been fortunate enough to do QM2 four times now on the transatlantic route - twice in Princess Grill and twice in a shelter balcony - the last trip in the fall of 2023. You are 100% accurate in your assessments. On my last trip, the crew were harried and rushed off their feet. Prior to that, my Princess Grill experience was awful (except cabin stewards, who have all been fantastic.)}Bland food and several incorrect orders appeared at the table. Cunard management deserves a swift kick in the ass - or arse, as you say in the UK. In the past when I have commented on poor service on Cunard, all I get is excuses.
Hi you two, so look forward to seeing you guys every week. Brightens my day. Sorry you had disappointing times, but hopefully the great bits made up for it. ❤
I am a new sub from the USA and I love your channel! You both are so lovely and honest. Enjoy this thank you!
You both lucked out on the NYC visit, nice! Great choice of shows to see. Cunard def looks different from my crossing in 2016! But even then there was not much to do other than eat sleep & chill! We did buy a spa pass and spent copious amounts of time there daily! I thought food was good but nothing great or over the top!
Great to watch both of you!!!
Thx's for the great truth.
Always share your true thoughts- really appreciated!
We have to agree with you guys on this. We took the QM2 round trip from NYC to the Caribbean for our honeymoon over Christmas and New Year’s last year. It was the worst cruise we’ve been on. For context, we’re in our 40s, and we like more mature cruises. Holland America is our favorite line, and we expected Cunard to be similar, if not nicer given the pricing. We couldn’t have been more wrong. The QM2 itself was gorgeous, and we thought the food was fine. We actually did have wonderful service. Our complaint was the lack of any energy on the ship - it felt like a floating convalescent home with passengers dozing in the main atrium and the Golden Lion Pub. Not even music piped into many areas. As you mentioned, most seemed content to sit quietly and rest or read. Our two bright spots were the Commodore Club before dinner, and the trivia in the Carinthia lounge - where the amazing host, Laura, would poke a bit of fun at the low energy on the ship. She was delightful! We would not go back on the QM2, or Cunard, to be honest. Glad it exists for folks who enjoy it, but we plan to stick with HAL and Princess.
I did that journey several years ago. It wasn’t a cruise as such. Ive done cruises and this was a transatlantic crossing.
It was one of the best weeks ever for me. So much fun & enjoyment. Great food. I'll never forget it.
Glad you enjoyed your time in NYC at least! NYC won't disappoint, even if the cruise did.
Also, I can't help but laugh that you ate at Le Pain Quotidien and Pret A Manger in one day. They're basically the same thing!
Yay! I've been waiting eagerly for this episode and when I saw the Disney cruise last week I thought you'd forgotten about me ;)
I googled the voyage and was shocked at the cost for what, in reality, is a fancy, slow, expensive ferry to New York. Now I know your experience I'd rather take a flight to NY then cruise for a week from the states. Thank you :)
Call that a cheese plate! The food was pretty awful.
Congrats on the house and anniversary.
It's a capital city and all capitals are.expensive unless you really look.
The State Capitol is Schenectady, NY. NYC is the largest city (population-wise) in the USA. It is a magnet for all, it is very densely populated that is why it is so expensive!
@@billgracey6369The state capital of NY is Albany. As a native New Yorker, things are usually more expensive in the city (Manhattan) and especially in the tourist areas and business districts. Usually though, if you walk a street or avenue over from the busiest streets, you can find some real gems of restaurants, delis, etc. with good food at cheaper prices. There are always bargains to find in NY.
We love your pure honesty and that's why we subscribe and watch you both. It's these type of video's that are enjoyable to watch. Getting to see the good and the bad. Cruise lines need to get more staff and improve, your videos should help highlight the errors so they get fixed for the future. Thanks boys
Sailed a few Cunard cruises and their food was always amazing...sorry to hear its joined the general ranks.....and no planetarium on a trans Atlantic cruise...come on Cunard...QM2 was once a jewel.
Oh my! The scene of the NY skyline through your sheltered balcony looked like a framed professional picture. It was SO beautiful! I really appreciate y'all's honesty. I watch your channel because I know you aren't going to sugar coat the experience. We work hard for our money like y'all and want to enjoy ourselves on our vacations. I have been curious about the QM2 for some time, but I think I'll hold off unless they have a really good sale for booking early or something.
I didn’t know what “quotidien” meant in English, much less French, so I looked it up. It means “everyday” and can mean “ordinary.” So the name of the cafe is probably an encouragement to eat there regularly (not likely for $30 😅) or a signal they aren’t stuffy.
It means “the daily bread” in French.
Congratulations on the house and winning the money! And happy anniversary! Love you guys xxx
So thankful that your first day in NYC was fabulous! Thank you for the very best reviews and content. I look forward to your post each week. Great work guys!
Thank you for your review and your candidness. It must have been a difficult critique to give but I am sure Cunard will acknowledge the criticism in good faith and work on these areas. The food did not look like the food I have had on prior Cunard sailings and the cabins quite disappointing. Well done on your sensitivity and I look forward to your next cruise critique.
I do not think that modern cruise lines have any intention of improving things. The new mentality is just to cut cut and cut.
Thanks for your frank and honest review, guys. I honestly hope Cunard takes a hard look at this an ups their game. A transatlantic crossing on the QM2 would (and should) be a dream trip.
Sad to hear. We took the QM2 12 years ago and it was magnificant. The crew were so good. Our room attendent made our trip so special. I guess things have changed for the worse.
I appreciate the candor about all the aspects of your trips you provide.
Britain - Trainers, America - Sneakers, Canada - Running shoes.
I love formalwear and fine dining. If I'm going to spring for Cunard and they fail at this one thing, I would be miffed.
America also has areas where they’re called tennis shoes, specifically in the Midwest
@@rebeccawright5987 Canada is also large and diverse. I'm sure there are variations here as well.
Depends on where in the US. for me in California, Running shoes are specific things and Sneakers/Tennis shoes. Also depends on demographic
@rebeccawright5987 Can confirm! Grew up calling them tennies.
And in australia we flip back and forth between runners and sneakers
Filming in front of the Queens room sign just made me chuckle out loud. You two are, by far, my favorite trip reviewing duo😊❤
Holy crap! I can't believe what a strong internet signal you were getting. I'm taking a transatlantic on RC in October and I can only hope the internet will be half as good. Thanks, as always, for giving us your brutally honest opinions. It's so appreciated. Congrats on the sale of your old house and purchase of your new house. Btw, that pizza on the ship looked positively vile.
I love your reviews as they are so honest thank you and Happy Anniversary 🥂🥂
Happy Anniversary! So glad your day was magical.
So glad you found Le Pan Quotidien! It’s wonderful and has been a personal favorite for years (used to be Au Bon Pain but they went down hill fast several years back!) if you’re ever in NYC later in the day, I do believe they still sell remaining breads and pastries for 50% off before closing.
Congratulations on your new home! Way to go on the win on the Kelly Clarkson show!!!
We were on the Queen Mary in May 2023 and it was lovely. A neighbor told us that a friend of theirs was on it around the time you sailed and was very disappointed. And he has sailed it quite often. He theory was they sent all the experienced staff to the Queen Anne for her initial sailing. Glad you loved New York!!!
Definitely looks like one to miss. Also, being in my early 60's, I think I'm too young. 😅
Happy anniversary and welcome to the US!! Thanks for giving us an HONEST review of the QM2. That is much more useful than hearing a Cunard advert. Wishing you fun and safe sailing!