Eating at a Restaurant that doesn't match you cabin grade

[jdl]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone ever managed to eat at a restaurant other than the one assigned from their cabin grade - I'm not talking about sneaking in!

More the scenario where you wanted to eat with friends you had on the cruise who were a lower (or higher) cabin grade. I'm guessing that if this happened at all it would have been more likely on the longer segment cruises or even the world cruise, although cunard must not have liked it at all!

jdl

[Twynkle]

Interesting thoughts, jdl

Well...you couldn't get better than the Mauritania 
So if / when anyone  joined us for lunch - it was open-seating and it all worked out well.
(not that I needed, expected or tried to know any 'better', you understand,   !!)

I have a sneeky suspicion that inhabitants of The Caronia found it a bit tiresome as they had to migrate to The Mauri whenever the QE2 was in port....Not too sure about the 'Guests in Grills' though...others will know more

 

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Amazingly, I never did! But I was quite tempted...

One of my favourite waiters, in the Mauretania Restaurant, invited me during our last voyage to come back for lunch and sit at one of his tables -- he told me that quite a few of his past passengers would come from other restaurants for the occasional lunch, because they got on so well with him. Had I been on my own, I would certainly have done so...

And I remember inviting one of the guest lecturers to our table for lunch on another occasion. It had to be well timed, as someone else had to be known to be away so that she could come and join us -- but it was possible.

At the end of our QE2 times, I had been lucky to have eaten in all the QE2 restaurants, and I liked each one of them. The great thing was that, once you had felt at home there on a previous occasion, it became easy to visit again on another voyage -- even just to take a shortcut through the Queen's Grill or the Mauretania, or to drop in and take pictures in the Princess Grill and Britannia Grill -- all of them had become part of QE2 my "home".

At the end of the day, the only eating places for passengers on QE2 where I never did eat, were the Pavilion and the Golden Lion. Did I miss something essential?

[Malcolm]

Just wondering if anyone ever managed to eat at a restaurant other than the one assigned from their cabin grade - I'm not talking about sneaking in!

At the end of the WC those CCers who'd been aboard since Southampton together with a few people we knew who were just doing the transatlantic leg had lunch together in the Mauretania. The group went up to Princess Grill cabins. We had asked if it would be possible to host this party in the Britannia Grill but were told that, as it was a sea day, there wasn't the space available (we didn't actually think they would say yes).

Friends on the WC did have guests dine with them in the Britannia Grill on occasions. I think the restaurants were quite happy to oblige if there was space available. ie If you wanted a couple of people to dine with you and there was space at your table that was no problem but the Grills did not have lots of empty tables that they could use for a big party.

[cunardqueen]

On the final night at sea on the outward voyage to New York of the Maiden Voyage in 1987 a number of tables in the Mauretania were advised that for the return crossing we would be upgraded to the Caronia.
While l enjoyed the new suroundings l still preferred the late sitting in Mauretania and our table hosts.
 

[QE2_MATTHEW]

On my last cruise aboard QE2, I was dining in the Princess Grill - and one luchtime friends invited me to dine in the Britannia Grill. It was nice, but different. PG was always my home.

[Peter Mugridge]

At the end of the day, the only eating places for passengers on QE2 where I never did eat, were the Pavilion and the Golden Lion. Did I miss something essential?

If my memory serves me correctly, is* the Pavilion the one at the stern open to all at any time during the day?

In which case, I have to say, I fear you missed some extremely well cooked food.  I usually ate as much there at lunchtime as I did for breakfast and dinner combined in the Mauretania...


*Can't bring myself to say "was", you understand...

[bswan]

the mauretania restaurant was the best. It was fun and lively. The best onboard.

[RmsAquitania]

Have to agree Mauretania was the best.

[QE2postcards]

Hi All

I note that someone said that in port the Caronia diners had to dine in the Mauretania.  We had the opposite on a Med cruise, the Caronia was the only restaurant available.

Cheers

[cunardqueen]

and to carry on some six years later after the post...

At the end of the day, the only eating places for passengers on QE2 where I never did eat, were the Pavilion and the Golden Lion. Did I miss something essential?
   

Isabelle

Im stunned you never ate in the Pavillion or the Golden Lion (Basils Bistro) the Pavillion l used to love poping in there for a burger and chips or even just as a top up from Lunch or for the early riser breakfast, The Frozen yoghurt and seeing the chefs cook your meal while you waited, and not forgetting the fruit carvings. If l remember it was always open slightly longer than the lido and was a safe haven if you arrived back and the lido was closed.

The Golden Lion, my thoughts on that are well you never missed much, it was a hell hole of a place and if there was a football match on, it was best avoided like the plague. to be honest l did "dine" ( dare we use such a word for a pub) a few times and the food was usually fish and chips or a curry.  One one cruise they were showing a footbal match, some final or something and as we left the Mauretania after yet another lovely dinner  they had hot pies  etc for the fans...

Lets not forget the joys of an inport lunch when the Mauretania was closed and guests were invited to dine in The Caronia. Those of us in steerage how we loved those days !

Oh and the joys of being intransit when were were homeless for a couple of hours and were invited to take sanctuary for lunch in the hallowed Britannia Grill. Im sure Flagship was there everytime QE2 was in port, certainly on my intransit days he was there , we can assume he was on entirely PR business, winning and dinning....

My last comment on the subject, was on a crossing in the early 90s l had been given an unofficial upgrade (the only upgrade l ever got in my sailings with Cunard, but thats another story )  to a C1 3154 and allowed me to dine in Caronia, But James who upgraded me was in the Pursers Office  and l was assigned Mauretania but on The Hotel Managers Table . For what its worth l was always a lover of the fixed meal times and not the other open dining. For me it was always Mauretania Late sitting   

[Pete Hamill]

Having read all of the marvelous comments about the Mauretania, it is the only place where we didn't eat and now I feel as if we missed out.
However, I can certainly be enthusiastic about all of the other eating venues. My wife made a daily pilgrimage to the Pavilion . . . home of the Frozen yoghurt machine!!! We often ended up in there for a magnificent burger if we got back late from a shore excursion (or maybe just because we could).

The Golden Lion was a fairly late addition to the places to eat list as it never used to serve food, but as long as you accepted it for what it was, it was OK for the odd lunch - usually to the accompaniment of the Hot Rhythm Orchestra. (Never football)

However, on to the main story of our first experience of the Queens grill . . . .

We were on the first full day of a cruise to the Caribbean and were in a Caronia cabin almost as far forward as you could go on 1 deck. There was a door at the end of the corridor which led to crew accommodation.
My wife and I were coming out of the cabin and the door at the end opened and we literally bumped into Robert Cheadle, the Maitre D' of the Queens grill whom we had got to know after previous trips in the Princess grill where he was officiating.

He greeted us warmly - as so often happen with the crew of QE2 - and said we may be able to help him resolve a tricky situation he found himself in.
He told us he had two passengers in the Queens grill who were travelling with friends in the Caronia who wanted to dine together - the rules only permitting the QG passengers to go down to the Caronia, but he couldn't find space for them in the Caronia - unless we wouldn't mind making space for them . . . . He said to leave it with him and we went our separate ways.

Later in the afternoon we were back in our cabin and the phone rang. It must be a wrong number! It wasn't. It was Mr Cheadle again telling us to report to the Queens grill that evening for dinner and that would be our restaurant for all meals for the rest of the trip.

That evening, we walked through the Queens grill lounge to the restaurant with some apprehension. That was short-lived and we were warmly welcomed and shown to our table for two.

We didn't know it at the time, but it wasn't to be the last time we would dine in the Queens grill. But that's another story.

 

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

What a superb story, Pete! I am so glad you shared it here.

Just shows how often the QE2 crew went out of their way to find solutions for passengers (in this case, several passengers were helped!). Did you enjoy the Queen's Grill?

[Pete Hamill]

Indeed we did. It was a bit strange at first, but we got used to it!

When it came to the first visit in the evening we were presented with the wine list by the head sommelier Tommy Gallagher who came from Glasgow, so since that wasn't too far away from where we lived we got talking. I wasn't particularly fussy about having wine with my meal and to make us feel completely at ease Tommy suggested having a beer instead. Beer at dinner in the Queens Grill? "You can have anything you like" . . .  and a bottle of Bass was duly delivered.

We returned to the QG on several more trips and made some very good friends - whom we still keep in touch with. So much so, that on one cruise we were all "rounded up" into a group of tables which became known as Scotch Corner!

[holynougat]

I really enjoyed the Officers Mess on QE2 - it was essentially the same food as main restaurants and waiter service, something that carried on to the QM2 (although the mess there is not nearly as good). QE and QV do not have waiter service, indeed most ships are now buffets in the Officers Mess.
The other good thing about the Mess on QE2 was that it had the best view of any restaurant onboard!

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Thank you, holynougat, for news of another restaurant! Where was it located, giving you those great views?

Did you have your own regular seat in the Officers' Mess? And did you order off a menu?

[nyanks1]

I'm surprised no one mentioned "Hamburger Haven" Located One Deck aft, One Deck aft cabins smelled like burgers/onions. I beleive it served 11 A.M.- 4 P.M. This was in the early days when the Theatre Bar was the disco, and probably survived the Club Lido conversion.

[Peter Mugridge]

I don't remember coming across that when on board in September 2002 although we did gorge ourselves at the Lido nearly every day.  Maybe it was removed by then?

[Pete Hamill]

I think nyanks1 is referring to the Pavilion Café.

A classless (classic?) dining venue. I made good use of it anyway 

[Peter Mugridge]

Hmmm... I'm still surprised that I missed sniffing out a burger on board...

[Louis De Sousa]

The Hamburger Haven was removed during the 1994 and replaced by The Pavillion

[Pete Hamill]

Thanks Davina. I didn't know that. The name Hamburger Haven doesn't sound in line with other QE2 venue names - perhaps an attempt to sound attractive to younger passengers?

In any case, whatever it was called the burgers, skinny fries and onion rings were magnificent - and of course, it had a bar to serve cold beer with the burgers.

Anyone feeling hungry?

[Peter Mugridge]

The Hamburger Haven was removed during the 1994 and replaced by The Pavillion

Ah.  That explains why I never noticed it then.  At least I now know I didn't miss out when on board! 

[Tony]

The best dodge of all was passengers who asked for Kosher food. You got bumped up to the first class restaurant in the 70's/80's until it went away

[Chris Thompson]

On my first Contract on the QE2, Casino staff could eat in the Officers Mess, loved it up there, excellent food although we were not allowed to order certain dishes (Lobster etc), loved the fact that it was the only dining area with a view over the bow, especially interesting in rough weather. After the 1990 refit we were re-located to a staff dining room that was sectioned off from the Mauritania Restaurant. Particularly remember Christmas Day 1990, all of the staff were very late getting served dinner, when it did arrive it looked rather pathetic, a tiny piece of turkey and 2 potatoes..... The Casino Manager marched into the Main restaurant and lodged a quiet protest to the Maitre'd, a few minutes later a trolley of full dinners arrived!!

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Thank you for the memories! I love reading about what happened behind the scenes .

As regards kosher food, was that only served in the first class restaurant? I wonder how many special types of food were served over the years... but that is for a different topic...

[Tony]

Yes, first class only. Regular wait staff and all the dishes and utensils were kept separate of course.