Dennis Dawson the Deck Steward and other special crew members

[Rod]

Twynkle,
I do not know how Carnival picks their crews.
But I do know that back in my day we used to get a lot of pax doing repeat sailings that would enquire whethere Dennis the Deck steward wound be on that trip. Thats an example. Service is one thing and Carnival is good at that,,,class...thats another.

[Louis De Sousa]

Rosie, before Carnival took over the crew had pride to work on QE2 - a not for Cunard.QE2 was special.When i joined roughly every 3 crew member was onboard for at least 5 years.Its was nice to hear stories of from those crew some even had worked on the other Queens.Sadly (or not) Carnival took over and that was the end of service.Of course for the passengers these new crewmembers still gave the service after all they need the money.But down below decks the relation between European crew and and rest of the crew was never the same.For example when i left the ship the Princess Grill staff apart from one or two were alll European Crew - and for sure QE2 crew, there was a handfull of them with over 10 years onboard.One of them was from Singapore he was there for 12 years.Couple of years later this crew were all gone.

I left too only due to Carnival after all why should i be in charge of 2 bars and get the same money like the others that are just in charged of 1?

Louis

[cunardqueen]

 Dennis the Deck steward  

Now theres  a person who was a legend on QE2.. Anyone remember him and the No character club...
I had the great pleasure to met him several times, and boy was he a character  

[Louis De Sousa]

Yes the old Dennis i worked with him during my first Months, what a guy and it was lovely to hear his stories.I remeber doing Captains Party in the Captains Quarters then it was Captain Woodall after all passenger we would all sit with the Captain and have a drink.For me it was a dream my first days onboard and sitting their with the Captain in his Quarters.What more could i ask for at 19?

[Rod]

Not a lot!

[Rod]

Look. I am glad I got out when I did. What I have found from stories and talking to people...Basically times changed. Cunard had to make a choice. Change or die. If they changed, they would lose people like Denis, or the other "Characters" that Cunard had.
Cunards choice.   NO CHANGE! But then I do not run a shipping company! Now you know why! Cunard went under! Wnen the new bosses came in. New rules came in...That made the type ox pax change. When I last visited QE2 in Everglades many years ago.....it was just not the same. The ship was absolutely beautiful! it was the pax! The ones I saw were more suited to Butlins holiday camps than QE 2. I do not wish to upset anybody but ...times change...Cunard did not...neither did I!
QE2 was CLASS!

[cunardqueen]

The ones I saw were more suited to Butlins holiday camps than QE 2. I do not wish to upset anybody but ...times change...Cunard did not...neither did I!
QE2 was CLASS!   

How very true, When l started cruising in 1986 and compared to my last trips in 2008 .You need only look at the line up on embarkation day to see how things changed with the standard of the passengers

But then when fares are droping faster than whores knickers what can you expect.

To quote roughly from Alan Whicker," things are not as good as as they used be, but they are not as good for so many more"

And when you have football matches being showing in the Golden Lion with hot pies at the side  as you leave from Dinner, you know standards havent so much dropped as more crashed through the decks..and that was QE2  some might say its keeping upto date with modern trends.

With the likes of Andrew, Hal,Jamie,Pauline Doris and the likes, you just dont see these characters any more. 
The thought of parading down four deck in a robe and flip flops in 86 was as alien to me then as it was in 2008.

[Chris]

But that was QE2! She did change with the times to remain relevant to a changing market.

Just remember when she first entered service, her tourist class was geared towards a cash-poor, adventurous and party-ready youth market. Discos, drinking, dancing the night away...

Libraries were replaced with Casinos and lounges with shops during her lifetime.

But on QE2 you still dressed for dinner. There was still a level of sophistication that's hard to capture on any ship. I saw glimpses of it aboard the lovely QV in July, where many QE2 passengers have gone as a safe haven from the "modern cruise ship".

That said, one of the most fun days I had on QV was watching the rugby final between Aus & UK in the winter garden on a deck chair with a beer... Live on the big screen... Then heading to my cabin to dress for dinner. It's 21st century meets 1925!


--
www.chriscunard.com

[Willum]

 Dennis the deck steward was Dennis Hardy, ended up running a pub in Dorset.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Now theres  a person who was a legend on QE2.. Anyone remember him and the No character club...
I had the great pleasure to met him several times, and boy was he a character 

We got a message from Roger Gibbons that his name is Denis Dawson. Thank you very much, Roger!

[Alex James]

Hi All

We thought you would all like to know that Dennis Dawson( ex chief sun deck steward) is currently in hospital recovering from a bad fall he had at his home in August.

He has spent a month in Southampton General and is now in Romsey Hospital.

He has quite a few health issues now, but it doesn't stop him cracking the usual jokes and one liners we all love, ie:
One of the health workers assessing his possible need for care at home asked him how he sleeps........
"With my eyes closed like everybody else" was Dennis's answer!

If you have any messages for him please don't hesitate to get in touch.

[amsmith123]

Sadly Dennis passed away this morning, he had not been well for a while, many of us former crew members have been remembering him with posts on several QE2/FB pages out there.

[June Ingram]

Very sad news.  Thank you for sharing the news of his passing.  Our condolences to his friends and family.

[cunardqueen]

Sad news indeed . Thanks for letting us know

[Alex James]

It is with a very sad heart that I have to inform you all that Dennis Dawson passed peacefully away at his home in Southampton yesterday.

He was a great man and will be sadly missed.