Recommendations on QM2 cabin - balcony vs. inside vs. ??

Gratuities Charged on Board Per Person
Grill Accommodation $39
All Other Accommodations $33
This a daily fee maybe?
... gratuities suggested for the different categories.


Actually, more than "suggested", they'll appear on your bill... and they're
per person, per day. [And, of course, bar servers' gratuities are added to
each bar bill, and room service staff are, traditionally, tipped at the time
of service]. I don't recall if the option to not participate in "automatic
gratuities" is available. There have been times I haven't been a fan of
having "who gets what gratuity" be the lines choice, but I felt the QM2
service was more than satisfactory, in fact I gave a bit extra to a couple
of particularly helpful folks. Admittedly I tend to forget certain $
details fairly quickly, but I seem to recall, though, it was $27 pp/pd just
2 months ago.

Mila


"CupCaked" wrote in message
...

No, those are gratuities suggested for the different categories.

"Pokepin" wrote:

On the Cunard site for the cruise I mentioned, it says:

Gratuities Charged on Board Per Person
Grill Accommodation $39
All Other Accommodations $33


Now that doesn't on the face of it, seem very expensive. Is this was you
were referring to? This a daily fee maybe?

"CupCaked" wrote in message
...
"Pokepin" wrote:

Also, the "Princess or Queens grill accomodation"; is that a prepaid
option
for better dining? Any difference/advantage between Princess or
Queens?

Grill accommodations, hence also restaurant seating, is quite a bit
more expensive on both the QM2 and the QE2. There is quite a bit of
an advantage with both ships. Since this is a three day cruise to
nowhere, I'd save the grill class for a longer voyage, but that's JMO.

Karen


__ /7__/7__/7__
\::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.cupcaked.com/reviews
(...and leave off the "potatoes" to e-mail)

Are both "Grill-class" and "standard" dining options buffet-style only? How
is "Grill-class" better?

wrote in message
...
Two types of Britannia-class balconies:

1. Hull [recessed into hull of ship ... metal all around ...only open
from waist-up ... very private but dark on balcony and inside room].

2. Superstructure [projecting out of ship with glass below waist ... but
recessed back from promenade deck and front/rear superstructure ...
limited views down and to bow and stern].

Note: Balconies in Grill-class accommodations are both Superstructure --
as above -- or facing aft or forward.

As to main restaurants, they are associated with your cabin:

Britannia [two seatings]

Princess/Queen's Grill [one seating ... and higher suggested tips].

Note: Inside rooms are all in Britannia-class.

You get what you pay for ... you pay what you want for!

Thanks again for all the advice! Pretty much zoned in on the B4 accomodation
(premium balcony).

Any recommendations for a cruise discounter/agent that can book this a lower
cost than directly with Cunard? Thanks again!

"Pokepin" wrote in message
news
Any recommendations on choosing between balcony cabin types on the QM2?
I'm
researching options for my folks and can't decide whether it's worth
getting
a balcony-type room as opposed to an inside room. It would seem like with
the QM2, one would have alot more to explore than the typical ship and
that
the "level" of accomodations would be not be important as just being on
the
ship.

Are both "Grill-class" and "standard" dining options buffet-style only?
How
is "Grill-class" better?

[None of the dining rooms are buffet-style].
I, personally, have preferred Princess to Queen's Grill on the QE2. Queen's
Grill has always seemed to take itself a bit too seriously for my taste...
come to think of it, I've found the Princess Grill service to seem a bit
"precious" as well. I was a guest in the QM2 Queen's Grill one evening, it
is a very lovely space, but, frankly, the meal and service were not so
spectacularly better than the Britannia's to make me wish I had splurged. I
didn't have an opportunity to try the Princess Grill.

I thoroughly enjoyed, though, the Todd English [which, because our party
involved three cabins, we tried three times] and the Lotus dining options.
[Both are served meals].

The only buffet-style dining is at breakfast and lunch [both as alternatives
to served meals in one's dining room]... and I found the room-service menu
more than adequate [though, obviously, somewhat limited], and the one
evening meal I had in my cabin was fine. The room-service cooked breakfasts,
on the other hand, I usually found only so-so, but the continental breakfast
was always quite nice, and slightly varied.

[By the way, the "inside / outside / balcony" question is a tough one for
anyone to answer... it really is a matter of personal preference. I prefer
inside cabins for winter crossings, balconies for warm waters. I,
personally, don't think an outside cabin without a balcony is really worth
the difference in price, and can be off-putting [for me] in stormy weather.
I liked the QM2 "hull balcony" better than some here... I found it "cozier"
than the [more exposed] glazed balconies I've had. I always take a mid-ship
cabin... primarily for convenience, but also because the movement seems less
sleep-disturbing to me in stormy weather.]

Mila


"Pokepin" wrote in message
. net...
Are both "Grill-class" and "standard" dining options buffet-style only?
How
is "Grill-class" better?

wrote in message
...
Two types of Britannia-class balconies:

1. Hull [recessed into hull of ship ... metal all around ...only open
from waist-up ... very private but dark on balcony and inside room].

2. Superstructure [projecting out of ship with glass below waist ... but
recessed back from promenade deck and front/rear superstructure ...
limited views down and to bow and stern].

Note: Balconies in Grill-class accommodations are both Superstructure --
as above -- or facing aft or forward.

As to main restaurants, they are associated with your cabin:

Britannia [two seatings]

Princess/Queen's Grill [one seating ... and higher suggested tips].

Note: Inside rooms are all in Britannia-class.

You get what you pay for ... you pay what you want for!

Thanks for the great feedback! You mentioned the Todd English and Lotus
dining options. You implied that each cabin party one can only dine there
once. Do you pay for these at the table or can you book these in advance?
How were they better than the standard Britannia fare?

"BTC/TAK on ACK" wrote in message
...
Are both "Grill-class" and "standard" dining options buffet-style only?
How
is "Grill-class" better?

[None of the dining rooms are buffet-style].
I, personally, have preferred Princess to Queen's Grill on the QE2.
Queen's
Grill has always seemed to take itself a bit too seriously for my taste...
come to think of it, I've found the Princess Grill service to seem a bit
"precious" as well. I was a guest in the QM2 Queen's Grill one evening, it
is a very lovely space, but, frankly, the meal and service were not so
spectacularly better than the Britannia's to make me wish I had splurged.
I
didn't have an opportunity to try the Princess Grill.

I thoroughly enjoyed, though, the Todd English [which, because our party
involved three cabins, we tried three times] and the Lotus dining options.
[Both are served meals].

The only buffet-style dining is at breakfast and lunch [both as
alternatives
to served meals in one's dining room]... and I found the room-service menu
more than adequate [though, obviously, somewhat limited], and the one
evening meal I had in my cabin was fine. The room-service cooked
breakfasts,
on the other hand, I usually found only so-so, but the continental
breakfast
was always quite nice, and slightly varied.

[By the way, the "inside / outside / balcony" question is a tough one for
anyone to answer... it really is a matter of personal preference. I prefer
inside cabins for winter crossings, balconies for warm waters. I,
personally, don't think an outside cabin without a balcony is really worth
the difference in price, and can be off-putting [for me] in stormy
weather.
I liked the QM2 "hull balcony" better than some here... I found it
"cozier"
than the [more exposed] glazed balconies I've had. I always take a
mid-ship
cabin... primarily for convenience, but also because the movement seems
less
sleep-disturbing to me in stormy weather.]

Mila


"Pokepin" wrote in message
. net...
Are both "Grill-class" and "standard" dining options buffet-style only?
How
is "Grill-class" better?

wrote in message
...
Two types of Britannia-class balconies:

1. Hull [recessed into hull of ship ... metal all around ...only open
from waist-up ... very private but dark on balcony and inside room].

2. Superstructure [projecting out of ship with glass below waist ...
but
recessed back from promenade deck and front/rear superstructure ...
limited views down and to bow and stern].

Note: Balconies in Grill-class accommodations are both
Superstructure --
as above -- or facing aft or forward.

As to main restaurants, they are associated with your cabin:

Britannia [two seatings]

Princess/Queen's Grill [one seating ... and higher suggested tips].

Note: Inside rooms are all in Britannia-class.

You get what you pay for ... you pay what you want for!

... Todd English and Lotus dining options. You implied that each cabin
party one can only dine there once. Do you pay for these at the table or can
you book these in advance? How were they better than the standard Britannia
fare?

I believe reservations are restricted to one at each restaurant per cabin...
one books as ASAP following boarding, and the charge is added to their
on-board account.

There are actually several evening dining options. Todd English serves "fine
Mediterranean cuisine". English owns the famous "Olives" in Boston [among
others], and many think him one of America's leading chefs. At night the
breakfast / lunch buffet areas of Kings Court are interestingly [and IMHO,
attractively] rearranged into four separate dining venues. Lotus [Asian] is
only one. There are also an Italian trattoria [I forget its name, off-hand],
the Carvery [obviously not meant for vegetarians], and the Chef's Galley.
[The Chef's Galley is an "interactive experience" as diners watch the chef
prepare meals, affording them an opportunity to pick up a few "culinary
secrets".]

Actually, it's not they are "better" than the Britannia, etc., so much as
they offer menus "targeted" to more specific tastes. I was, in fact, very
pleased with the Britannia fare [I especially enjoyed the Canyon Ranch
selections], but it was certainly nice to have options.

Mila


"Pokepin" wrote in message
. net...
Thanks for the great feedback! You mentioned the Todd English and Lotus
dining options. You implied that each cabin party one can only dine there
once. Do you pay for these at the table or can you book these in advance?
How were they better than the standard Britannia fare?

"BTC/TAK on ACK" wrote in message
...
Are both "Grill-class" and "standard" dining options buffet-style
only?
How
is "Grill-class" better?

[None of the dining rooms are buffet-style].
I, personally, have preferred Princess to Queen's Grill on the QE2.
Queen's
Grill has always seemed to take itself a bit too seriously for my
taste...
come to think of it, I've found the Princess Grill service to seem a bit
"precious" as well. I was a guest in the QM2 Queen's Grill one evening,
it
is a very lovely space, but, frankly, the meal and service were not so
spectacularly better than the Britannia's to make me wish I had
splurged.
I
didn't have an opportunity to try the Princess Grill.

I thoroughly enjoyed, though, the Todd English [which, because our party
involved three cabins, we tried three times] and the Lotus dining
options.
[Both are served meals].

The only buffet-style dining is at breakfast and lunch [both as
alternatives
to served meals in one's dining room]... and I found the room-service
menu
more than adequate [though, obviously, somewhat limited], and the one
evening meal I had in my cabin was fine. The room-service cooked
breakfasts,
on the other hand, I usually found only so-so, but the continental
breakfast
was always quite nice, and slightly varied.

[By the way, the "inside / outside / balcony" question is a tough one
for
anyone to answer... it really is a matter of personal preference. I
prefer
inside cabins for winter crossings, balconies for warm waters. I,
personally, don't think an outside cabin without a balcony is really
worth
the difference in price, and can be off-putting [for me] in stormy
weather.
I liked the QM2 "hull balcony" better than some here... I found it
"cozier"
than the [more exposed] glazed balconies I've had. I always take a
mid-ship
cabin... primarily for convenience, but also because the movement seems
less
sleep-disturbing to me in stormy weather.]

Mila


"Pokepin" wrote in message
. net...
Are both "Grill-class" and "standard" dining options buffet-style
only?
How
is "Grill-class" better?

wrote in message
...
Two types of Britannia-class balconies:

1. Hull [recessed into hull of ship ... metal all around ...only
open
from waist-up ... very private but dark on balcony and inside room].

2. Superstructure [projecting out of ship with glass below waist ...
but
recessed back from promenade deck and front/rear superstructure ...
limited views down and to bow and stern].

Note: Balconies in Grill-class accommodations are both
Superstructure --
as above -- or facing aft or forward.

As to main restaurants, they are associated with your cabin:

Britannia [two seatings]

Princess/Queen's Grill [one seating ... and higher suggested tips].

Note: Inside rooms are all in Britannia-class.

You get what you pay for ... you pay what you want for!

So, unless you book a P class room, you cannot dine in other than the
Britannia dining room? There's no "dining upgrade" available for B class
rooms, for example?


"CupCaked" wrote in message
...
"BTC/TAK on ACK" wrote:

I, personally, have preferred Princess to Queen's Grill on the QE2.
Queen's
Grill has always seemed to take itself a bit too seriously for my
taste...
come to think of it, I've found the Princess Grill service to seem a bit
"precious" as well. I was a guest in the QM2 Queen's Grill one evening,
it
is a very lovely space, but, frankly, the meal and service were not so
spectacularly better than the Britannia's to make me wish I had splurged.
I
didn't have an opportunity to try the Princess Grill.

This is interesting. We had planned to book Princess category for
next year's crossing, but if I keep hearing that the Princess Grill
onboard QM2 is not better than Britannia, we won't do it.

I liked the QM2 "hull balcony" better than some here... I found it
"cozier"
than the [more exposed] glazed balconies I've had.

I agree ... "cozier."

Karen


http://www.cupcaked.com/reviews/pic.html

Thank you - great description!

I've pretty much decided on accomodation, now looking for a place to book.
Looks like CRUISE.COM is very popular and offers a decent discount. Any
negatives about them?

"BTC/TAK on ACK" wrote in message
...
... Todd English and Lotus dining options. You implied that each cabin
party one can only dine there once. Do you pay for these at the table or
can
you book these in advance? How were they better than the standard
Britannia
fare?

I believe reservations are restricted to one at each restaurant per
cabin...
one books as ASAP following boarding, and the charge is added to their
on-board account.

There are actually several evening dining options. Todd English serves
"fine
Mediterranean cuisine". English owns the famous "Olives" in Boston [among
others], and many think him one of America's leading chefs. At night the
breakfast / lunch buffet areas of Kings Court are interestingly [and IMHO,
attractively] rearranged into four separate dining venues. Lotus [Asian]
is
only one. There are also an Italian trattoria [I forget its name,
off-hand],
the Carvery [obviously not meant for vegetarians], and the Chef's Galley.
[The Chef's Galley is an "interactive experience" as diners watch the chef
prepare meals, affording them an opportunity to pick up a few "culinary
secrets".]

Actually, it's not they are "better" than the Britannia, etc., so much as
they offer menus "targeted" to more specific tastes. I was, in fact, very
pleased with the Britannia fare [I especially enjoyed the Canyon Ranch
selections], but it was certainly nice to have options.

Mila


"Pokepin" wrote in message
. net...
Thanks for the great feedback! You mentioned the Todd English and Lotus
dining options. You implied that each cabin party one can only dine
there
once. Do you pay for these at the table or can you book these in
advance?
How were they better than the standard Britannia fare?

"BTC/TAK on ACK" wrote in message
...
Are both "Grill-class" and "standard" dining options buffet-style
only?
How
is "Grill-class" better?

[None of the dining rooms are buffet-style].
I, personally, have preferred Princess to Queen's Grill on the QE2.
Queen's
Grill has always seemed to take itself a bit too seriously for my
taste...
come to think of it, I've found the Princess Grill service to seem a
bit
"precious" as well. I was a guest in the QM2 Queen's Grill one
evening,
it
is a very lovely space, but, frankly, the meal and service were not so
spectacularly better than the Britannia's to make me wish I had
splurged.
I
didn't have an opportunity to try the Princess Grill.

I thoroughly enjoyed, though, the Todd English [which, because our
party
involved three cabins, we tried three times] and the Lotus dining
options.
[Both are served meals].

The only buffet-style dining is at breakfast and lunch [both as
alternatives
to served meals in one's dining room]... and I found the room-service
menu
more than adequate [though, obviously, somewhat limited], and the one
evening meal I had in my cabin was fine. The room-service cooked
breakfasts,
on the other hand, I usually found only so-so, but the continental
breakfast
was always quite nice, and slightly varied.

[By the way, the "inside / outside / balcony" question is a tough one
for
anyone to answer... it really is a matter of personal preference. I
prefer
inside cabins for winter crossings, balconies for warm waters. I,
personally, don't think an outside cabin without a balcony is really
worth
the difference in price, and can be off-putting [for me] in stormy
weather.
I liked the QM2 "hull balcony" better than some here... I found it
"cozier"
than the [more exposed] glazed balconies I've had. I always take a
mid-ship
cabin... primarily for convenience, but also because the movement
seems
less
sleep-disturbing to me in stormy weather.]

Mila


"Pokepin" wrote in message
. net...
Are both "Grill-class" and "standard" dining options buffet-style
only?
How
is "Grill-class" better?

wrote in message
...
Two types of Britannia-class balconies:

1. Hull [recessed into hull of ship ... metal all around ...only
open
from waist-up ... very private but dark on balcony and inside
room].

2. Superstructure [projecting out of ship with glass below waist
....
but
recessed back from promenade deck and front/rear superstructure
....
limited views down and to bow and stern].

Note: Balconies in Grill-class accommodations are both
Superstructure --
as above -- or facing aft or forward.

As to main restaurants, they are associated with your cabin:

Britannia [two seatings]

Princess/Queen's Grill [one seating ... and higher suggested
tips].

Note: Inside rooms are all in Britannia-class.

You get what you pay for ... you pay what you want for!

Looks like CRUISE.COM is very popular and offers a decent discount. Any
negatives about them?

I really don't know... frankly, I've always used a local travel agent.
Somehow she's always managed to figure a deal resulting in my always paying
far less than brochure rates. It also makes me more comfortable to do
business face-to-face... and I like the notion that, on the off chance
something goes wildly awry, there's an "advocate" only a phone call away
whose business it is to fix things to my advantage.

Mila

"Pokepin" wrote in message
t...
Thank you - great description!

I've pretty much decided on accomodation, now looking for a place to book.
Looks like CRUISE.COM is very popular and offers a decent discount. Any
negatives about them?

"BTC/TAK on ACK" wrote in message
...
... Todd English and Lotus dining options. You implied that each cabin
party one can only dine there once. Do you pay for these at the table or
can
you book these in advance? How were they better than the standard
Britannia
fare?

I believe reservations are restricted to one at each restaurant per
cabin...
one books as ASAP following boarding, and the charge is added to their
on-board account.

There are actually several evening dining options. Todd English serves
"fine
Mediterranean cuisine". English owns the famous "Olives" in Boston
[among
others], and many think him one of America's leading chefs. At night the
breakfast / lunch buffet areas of Kings Court are interestingly [and
IMHO,
attractively] rearranged into four separate dining venues. Lotus [Asian]
is
only one. There are also an Italian trattoria [I forget its name,
off-hand],
the Carvery [obviously not meant for vegetarians], and the Chef's
Galley.
[The Chef's Galley is an "interactive experience" as diners watch the
chef
prepare meals, affording them an opportunity to pick up a few "culinary
secrets".]

Actually, it's not they are "better" than the Britannia, etc., so much
as
they offer menus "targeted" to more specific tastes. I was, in fact,
very
pleased with the Britannia fare [I especially enjoyed the Canyon Ranch
selections], but it was certainly nice to have options.

Mila


"Pokepin" wrote in message
. net...
Thanks for the great feedback! You mentioned the Todd English and
Lotus
dining options. You implied that each cabin party one can only dine
there
once. Do you pay for these at the table or can you book these in
advance?
How were they better than the standard Britannia fare?

"BTC/TAK on ACK" wrote in message
...
Are both "Grill-class" and "standard" dining options buffet-style
only?
How
is "Grill-class" better?

[None of the dining rooms are buffet-style].
I, personally, have preferred Princess to Queen's Grill on the QE2.
Queen's
Grill has always seemed to take itself a bit too seriously for my
taste...
come to think of it, I've found the Princess Grill service to seem a
bit
"precious" as well. I was a guest in the QM2 Queen's Grill one
evening,
it
is a very lovely space, but, frankly, the meal and service were not
so
spectacularly better than the Britannia's to make me wish I had
splurged.
I
didn't have an opportunity to try the Princess Grill.

I thoroughly enjoyed, though, the Todd English [which, because our
party
involved three cabins, we tried three times] and the Lotus dining
options.
[Both are served meals].

The only buffet-style dining is at breakfast and lunch [both as
alternatives
to served meals in one's dining room]... and I found the
room-service
menu
more than adequate [though, obviously, somewhat limited], and the
one
evening meal I had in my cabin was fine. The room-service cooked
breakfasts,
on the other hand, I usually found only so-so, but the continental
breakfast
was always quite nice, and slightly varied.

[By the way, the "inside / outside / balcony" question is a tough
one
for
anyone to answer... it really is a matter of personal preference. I
prefer
inside cabins for winter crossings, balconies for warm waters. I,
personally, don't think an outside cabin without a balcony is really
worth
the difference in price, and can be off-putting [for me] in stormy
weather.
I liked the QM2 "hull balcony" better than some here... I found it
"cozier"
than the [more exposed] glazed balconies I've had. I always take a
mid-ship
cabin... primarily for convenience, but also because the movement
seems
less
sleep-disturbing to me in stormy weather.]

Mila


"Pokepin" wrote in message
. net...
Are both "Grill-class" and "standard" dining options buffet-style
only?
How
is "Grill-class" better?

wrote in message
...
Two types of Britannia-class balconies:

1. Hull [recessed into hull of ship ... metal all around ...only
open
from waist-up ... very private but dark on balcony and inside
room].

2. Superstructure [projecting out of ship with glass below waist
...
but
recessed back from promenade deck and front/rear superstructure
...
limited views down and to bow and stern].

Note: Balconies in Grill-class accommodations are both
Superstructure --
as above -- or facing aft or forward.

As to main restaurants, they are associated with your cabin:

Britannia [two seatings]

Princess/Queen's Grill [one seating ... and higher suggested
tips].

Note: Inside rooms are all in Britannia-class.

You get what you pay for ... you pay what you want for!

Well, considering all options, I decided and booked the the trip with
cruise.com. They knocked $110 off the early booking price of $1399, so I'm
happy. I have an actual agent there with an actual extension number which
I've called (successfully) to follow up. I booked a room in the middle of
the ship on deck 5, although rooms up front were also available. Reading QM2
accounts of "ocean spray" scared me off from picking one of these
front-of-ship balcony rooms.

Again, thanks to all for their useful advice and pointers!

"BTC/TAK on ACK" wrote in message
...
Looks like CRUISE.COM is very popular and offers a decent discount. Any
negatives about them?

I really don't know... frankly, I've always used a local travel agent.
Somehow she's always managed to figure a deal resulting in my always
paying
far less than brochure rates. It also makes me more comfortable to do
business face-to-face... and I like the notion that, on the off chance
something goes wildly awry, there's an "advocate" only a phone call away
whose business it is to fix things to my advantage.

Mila

"Pokepin" wrote in message
t...
Thank you - great description!

I've pretty much decided on accomodation, now looking for a place to
book.
Looks like CRUISE.COM is very popular and offers a decent discount. Any
negatives about them?

"BTC/TAK on ACK" wrote in message
...
... Todd English and Lotus dining options. You implied that each
cabin
party one can only dine there once. Do you pay for these at the table
or
can
you book these in advance? How were they better than the standard
Britannia
fare?

I believe reservations are restricted to one at each restaurant per
cabin...
one books as ASAP following boarding, and the charge is added to their
on-board account.

There are actually several evening dining options. Todd English serves
"fine
Mediterranean cuisine". English owns the famous "Olives" in Boston
[among
others], and many think him one of America's leading chefs. At night
the
breakfast / lunch buffet areas of Kings Court are interestingly [and
IMHO,
attractively] rearranged into four separate dining venues. Lotus
[Asian]
is
only one. There are also an Italian trattoria [I forget its name,
off-hand],
the Carvery [obviously not meant for vegetarians], and the Chef's
Galley.
[The Chef's Galley is an "interactive experience" as diners watch the
chef
prepare meals, affording them an opportunity to pick up a few
"culinary
secrets".]

Actually, it's not they are "better" than the Britannia, etc., so much
as
they offer menus "targeted" to more specific tastes. I was, in fact,
very
pleased with the Britannia fare [I especially enjoyed the Canyon
Ranch
selections], but it was certainly nice to have options.

Mila


"Pokepin" wrote in message
. net...
Thanks for the great feedback! You mentioned the Todd English and
Lotus
dining options. You implied that each cabin party one can only dine
there
once. Do you pay for these at the table or can you book these in
advance?
How were they better than the standard Britannia fare?

"BTC/TAK on ACK" wrote in message
...
Are both "Grill-class" and "standard" dining options
buffet-style
only?
How
is "Grill-class" better?

[None of the dining rooms are buffet-style].
I, personally, have preferred Princess to Queen's Grill on the
QE2.
Queen's
Grill has always seemed to take itself a bit too seriously for my
taste...
come to think of it, I've found the Princess Grill service to seem
a
bit
"precious" as well. I was a guest in the QM2 Queen's Grill one
evening,
it
is a very lovely space, but, frankly, the meal and service were
not
so
spectacularly better than the Britannia's to make me wish I had
splurged.
I
didn't have an opportunity to try the Princess Grill.

I thoroughly enjoyed, though, the Todd English [which, because our
party
involved three cabins, we tried three times] and the Lotus dining
options.
[Both are served meals].

The only buffet-style dining is at breakfast and lunch [both as
alternatives
to served meals in one's dining room]... and I found the
room-service
menu
more than adequate [though, obviously, somewhat limited], and the
one
evening meal I had in my cabin was fine. The room-service cooked
breakfasts,
on the other hand, I usually found only so-so, but the continental
breakfast
was always quite nice, and slightly varied.

[By the way, the "inside / outside / balcony" question is a tough
one
for
anyone to answer... it really is a matter of personal preference.
I
prefer
inside cabins for winter crossings, balconies for warm waters. I,
personally, don't think an outside cabin without a balcony is
really
worth
the difference in price, and can be off-putting [for me] in stormy
weather.
I liked the QM2 "hull balcony" better than some here... I found it
"cozier"
than the [more exposed] glazed balconies I've had. I always take a
mid-ship
cabin... primarily for convenience, but also because the movement
seems
less
sleep-disturbing to me in stormy weather.]

Mila


"Pokepin" wrote in message
. net...
Are both "Grill-class" and "standard" dining options
buffet-style
only?
How
is "Grill-class" better?

wrote in message
...
Two types of Britannia-class balconies:

1. Hull [recessed into hull of ship ... metal all around
....only
open
from waist-up ... very private but dark on balcony and inside
room].

2. Superstructure [projecting out of ship with glass below
waist
...
but
recessed back from promenade deck and front/rear
superstructure
...
limited views down and to bow and stern].

Note: Balconies in Grill-class accommodations are both
Superstructure --
as above -- or facing aft or forward.

As to main restaurants, they are associated with your cabin:

Britannia [two seatings]

Princess/Queen's Grill [one seating ... and higher suggested
tips].

Note: Inside rooms are all in Britannia-class.

You get what you pay for ... you pay what you want for!