Author Topic: The Lido!  (Read 5011 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Twynkle

The Lido!
« on: Oct 03, 2010, 08:10 PM »
The noise, the colour, the convenience, the food...
What did you make of it?

The midnight buffet was busy with people from the theatre,
Young people - it was their 'coffee shop' and more -well into early morning
Then the celebrations...Ice carving, the 'last night' buffet etc etc
Some passengers that we met hated it - others met there for lunch or afternoon tea
The service was less formal than in the other dining places
and yet the staff seemed to be a bit impersonal....
Was it a pre-training area?!
I used to read/write there on sea days, in-between times!
There can never be a Lido that is remotely like the one we knew on QE2!

This mural is at the 'inside' entrance
https://www.flickr.com/photos/watch_keeper/3900962905/in/set-72157622187778695/
 
« Last Edit: Oct 03, 2010, 08:16 PM by Twynkle »

Offline cunardqueen

Re: The Lido!
« Reply #1 on: Oct 04, 2010, 01:26 AM »
I loved it, great for breakfast if your in a hurry, you could sit anywhere you wanted, as  a solo traveller all you had to say was "Do you mind if l join you"and  all the years it was always a yes! and from that chance encounter many friendships were formed, the singles gatherings for the morning coffee, or the nice buffet lunches, A safe haven if the Queens room was full for afternoon tea, there was the odd time l used it for Dinner, Once our whole table arranged to dine there for dinner and we had a superb night and great service and as always loads of laughs.

 Now the evening buffets, Im first to admit l could always be found there at midnight, having a cup of tea and just a small selection of something to eat. The Gala buffet while it was still grand, it wasnt as grand as the good old days,
But my lasting memory was on the 11th November l went in there to have only a little something to eat and one of the waiters recognised me from the round UK voyage and asked me did l want my usual, l of course replied that im only a visitor and cant sign for anything, and away he went, only to return with a glass for me, Now that small gesture ment such a lot and really did nothing to help my state of mind that day.

 Oh and there was the time l had a bone in my chicken mayo sandwich, afternoon tea that day did seem much busier than normal and thankfully the 3 of us were having tea with Glynn Christian and l discovered this bit of bone, normally such things l would have hit the roof, and casually mentioned to the waiter on his next visit about the bone, well before l knew it the Lido supervisor was across full of apologies, which l accepted with grace and added of course you realise that l can never sail QE2 or  ;)Cunard again and that lm completely traumatised by such a thing and l can never have any more chicken mayo ever again, it was all very light hearted and that was it or so l thought. I returned the cabin late that night and there in the cabin was a bottle of bubbly from the Lido supervisor, Now how he knew who l was l have no idea, But l for one was and still am a Friend of the Lido, and l loved it!!!   
From the moment you first glimpsed the Queen,
 you just knew you were in for a very special time ahead.!

Offline Chris

Re: The Lido!
« Reply #2 on: Oct 04, 2010, 03:15 AM »
I liked The Lido.

It is the best buffet layout I've seen aboard a ship sans the Royal Caribbean ships (where the Buffet is simply amazing). The QE2's Lido worked far better than Kings Court (QM2) or The Lido (QV). Too many buffet's give WAY to many ways to access the food. QE2 had an in - and an out - and it was easy to follow, logical in layout and timely.

I doubt QE2 would have remained competitive had an alfresco dining option not been included. I couldn't see myself going to the main dining room for a sit down breakfast / lunch every day - just too rich and too much food. The casual, help yourself offer made it easy to eat light during the day and indulge at dinner!

The post 1994 interior was it's best. Wicker furniture and tiled floors. I realise this wasn't practical on the North Atlantic but it certainly looked nice. The carpets and heavy furniture added later weren't as attractive, but worked better.

The best Lido experience I had was in August 2008 after returning to QE2, the chef remembered me and Rachelle and also remembered how we liked our eggs cooked - we didn't have to tell him. Absolutely superb, that's what it was to be aboard QE2. Personal, memorable and special.

Chris.
🎥 Check out my QE2 & Cruise Ship Videos: https://www.youtube.com/chrisframeofficial/

Offline Louis De Sousa

  • QE2 Crew member
  • Queens Grill Diner
  • *****
  • Posts: 3845
  • Total likes: 3849
  • QE2 The Greatest Ship Ever
Re: The Lido!
« Reply #3 on: Jan 12, 2012, 07:33 PM »
The Lido had its team most of them were new crew,also you had the ones that didnt fit in the Restaurants and also you had the ones that were bad boys/girls and go sent to the Lido as punishment.During Breakfast/Lunch/Afternoon Teas staff members are pulled out of the main Restaurants to help out, a situation that none of them liked.

Offline Twynkle

Re: The Lido!
« Reply #4 on: Apr 14, 2018, 08:25 PM »
The noise, the colour, the convenience, the food...
What did you make of it?

.......This mural is at the 'inside' entrance
https://www.flickr.com/photos/watch_keeper/3900962905/in/set-72157622187778695/

This mural - Love it or otherwise, it seems as if it's been there since 'graffiti' was invented!
Very much hoping that it remains in situ now.

Offline Thomas Hypher

  • Queens Grill Diner
  • *****
  • Posts: 2879
  • Total likes: 5605
  • QE2 started a dream to go to sea - now a reality!
Re: The Lido!
« Reply #5 on: Apr 15, 2018, 02:12 AM »
This mural - Love it or otherwise, it seems as if it's been there since 'graffiti' was invented!
Very much hoping that it remains in situ now.

Hello Rosie, sorry to go off topic! I just realised (from your Flickr page) that your voyage on QE2 to Norway and Iceland in July to August 2008 was the voyage directly after me and my parents last voyage on QE2 (a voyage to the Mediterranean). We may have passed each other in Southampton on July 31st 2008! Did you travel on QE2 before this voyage to Norway and Iceland? Thomas
First sailed on QE2 in August 2003 aged 6 years old. Last sailed on QE2 in July 2008. Last saw the seagoing QE2 in person from the decks of QM2, on QE2's last Transatlantic crossing (Eastbound tandem) in October 2008. Visited QE2 in her new life, in Dubai, in January 2020 and August 2022.

Offline skilly56

Re: The Lido!
« Reply #6 on: Apr 15, 2018, 02:52 AM »
July 2008 - there was never anything wrong with the food in the Lido!
Biggest problem was trying to get photos without someone in the background.

We always headed to bed via the Lido for a hot drink. Amazing how many pax were still in there at 0200 - 0300 when there was a sea day next day.

The presentation (referring to attached photos) was better than any other ship I have ever been on (well, one Xmas, a seismic ship I was on may have run a close second - the catering staff really surprised everyone with the offerings & presentation).

Skilly

Offline skilly56

Re: The Lido!
« Reply #7 on: Apr 15, 2018, 03:05 AM »
And for anyone feeling homesick for their favourite diner - a couple of photos taken at 0200, 05.07.2008, enroute from Lisbon to Cagliari. Enjoy.

Skilly

Offline Thomas Hypher

  • Queens Grill Diner
  • *****
  • Posts: 2879
  • Total likes: 5605
  • QE2 started a dream to go to sea - now a reality!
Re: The Lido!
« Reply #8 on: Apr 15, 2018, 04:59 AM »
I agree, the Lido was very special! We never had issues with the food and the service was equally excellent (the best service onboard in my opinion). I remember the presentations and did attend some of the famous Midnight Buffets when older on my later voyages. Curry night in the Lido was my favourite! We tended to have afternoon tea in the Lido too which was perfect even if it wasn't the Queens Room (something that isn't the same on QM2 in Kings Court and is missed)!

Thank you for the trip down memory lane, Skilly, the room is so familiar and is home to happy memories from the past so seeing photos is poignant for me at least and it makes me wish to be back in the Lido when back onboard despite it's likely refreshed appearance (new carpets etc) in keeping with the rest of the refurbished interiors  :)
« Last Edit: Apr 15, 2018, 05:25 AM by Thomas Hypher »
First sailed on QE2 in August 2003 aged 6 years old. Last sailed on QE2 in July 2008. Last saw the seagoing QE2 in person from the decks of QM2, on QE2's last Transatlantic crossing (Eastbound tandem) in October 2008. Visited QE2 in her new life, in Dubai, in January 2020 and August 2022.

Offline Thomas Hypher

  • Queens Grill Diner
  • *****
  • Posts: 2879
  • Total likes: 5605
  • QE2 started a dream to go to sea - now a reality!
Re: The Lido!
« Reply #9 on: Apr 15, 2018, 05:16 AM »
This is a photo record of one of the happy but poignant memories (photo taken by my Dad on our first voyage in August 2003):

Dad's QE2 August 2003 digital photos by Thomas Hypher, on Flickr


And one of my Dad's night photos from our second voyage in October 2004:

Dad's QE2 Mediterranean cruise digital photos, October 2004 by Thomas Hypher, on Flickr

And for anyone curious about how the Lido looked from One Deck aft (and the Pavilion for that matter among other things!) - another of my Dad's photos from October 2004:

Dad's QE2 Mediterranean cruise digital photos, October 2004 by Thomas Hypher, on Flickr

Would be interesting to see the above view/photo in an up-to-date photo from Dubai to see what's changed minus the pools (and as a night shot) when standing in the same place on One Deck aft!
« Last Edit: Apr 15, 2018, 06:07 AM by Thomas Hypher »
First sailed on QE2 in August 2003 aged 6 years old. Last sailed on QE2 in July 2008. Last saw the seagoing QE2 in person from the decks of QM2, on QE2's last Transatlantic crossing (Eastbound tandem) in October 2008. Visited QE2 in her new life, in Dubai, in January 2020 and August 2022.