Im somewhat sorry to see Cunard going down this route of the e ticket lark.In the past for me the brand Cunard was always a superior brand and you were paying a bit extra for, but you never really minded because it was worth it. The voyage always started when you booked. Money exchanged hands between the travel agent and passenger and "my" cabin was assured, the countdown would be underway, every scrap of paper would be kept from the booking transaction. When the voyage booklet was introduced with your name printed nicely on the front and the name of the grandest ship afloat on the same pages as well, you really were taking part in history and it was another great part of the voyage and a superb souvenir to hang onto. The last voyage info booklets l had were for the final voyages and they were pretty smart & actually l thought impressive.(but maybe thats me)
The tickets, well thats another story, quiet phone calls to find out if the agent had them and when they might be sent out, they never quite told you the truth and the tickets always arrived just before you expected,and with the thud they made landing on the door mat, l was usually off the wall with excitement. the faux leather and spiral bound folder with named bag tags all safely contained within only enhanced the idea l was off somewhere special,well it was QE2 after all.
I still regret the day they stopped the proper bag tags that you filled in and affixed to your cases by the elastic strand, and a further supply was always easy to get. These little things stood out a mile and as they flapped in the wind, any observer knew where you were bound for as you glided down the platforms at Waterloo station.
It was always amiss not to see in recent ones the bit of paper marked "Passenger ticket"granted it serves no useful purpose it just looked good.Even if the checkin staff ripped it out and threw it away l would have been happy, but it was always strange to have the folder and yet no ticket as such.
The earlier ones were like the old airport tickets, the checkin staff removed the top copy and left you with your copy of the ticket. something you never ever let go of.
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This e ticketing l cant quite get my head round, click download and print off your passenger information and baggage labels and off you go to board? somehow it doesnt fit in with the Cunard brand, well its something l would never have done on QE2, she wouldnt have allowed it. And can you really imagine being on the dockside with this bit of coloured paper stuck on your suitcases with selotape for added strength, l fear l would be a laughing stock, then again perhaps its more acceptable to the new breed of Cunardival guest to embark with paper labels. It might be a thing for the easycruise passenger but is this the image that Cunard want to portray, White Star Service indeed
If or when l decide to voyage again with Cunard, l can take some comfort that l do somewhere have a few sheets of conqueror paper stashed away somewhere. It just doesnt sit well me. paying out all this money for a top brand package and yet the company are penny pincing with this eticket stuff. Perhaps they might consider the option for those of use who still want the old fashioned ticket folder and bag tags, l might be even be prepared to pay extra for this...
Whatever next, bring your own booze to the Captains reception...
