We had this trip booked for quite a while as it was our wedding anniversary - were originally going to book Princess Grill but after finding a US website, we purchased a Queens Grill cabin for the same price as the PG cabin. This was a Q6 grade (Suite 9013). The Q5 grades were no different ($1000 more expensive) but were nearer midships. We picked the next door cabin to a Q5 (nearer the front of the ship) on deck 9 where most of the suites were.
Left our hotel in New York after a busy 2 night stay and dropped off by the driver. There are lots of porters waiting around the drop off area who take your bags from you - it appeared you weren't allowed to wheel them yourselves - these were put onto a very large trolley (similar to those you see airside loading charter luggage).
You were instructed to complete a form asking if you had been ill in the last couple of days and told to join a snake like queueing section. Advised them we were grills passengers and sent to a different end of the aircraft type hangar to check in. No one waiting in front of us and following the passport formalities and a quick photo (like you get at US immigration) we entered an area where more formal photographs were taken boarding.
Up a couple of ramps (following a lot of very slow people I would guess who were between 70-80)and greeted by white gloved staff. Showed them the credit sized boarding card and advised to go to the lifts above the grand lobby area. There was a very large queue for these lifts but it went down reasonably quickly. Arrived at our cabin on the 9th deck (following directions that were posted around the ship) where a bottle of Perrier Jouet was waiting. Our luggage hadn't arrived so we opened up the letters that were waiting for us and looked around the suite and onto the balcony - great view of the Statue of Liberty. We were on the starboard side - best side for leaving NY as you get to pass by Liberty. The weather was great so we left our hand luggage and went mooching around the boat. When you are a grills passenger you are advised you can board early (we were there for 12.30). As the ship didn't depart until 5pm, we had plenty of time to look around. It was a very hot day and we walked around the decks and took lots of photos - including empty bar areas, theatre etc.
Had a muster drill in the Winter Garden which lasted only about 30 minutes so returned back to the cabin quickly.
Returned to the suite by 3.30 and our luggage had arrived so started unpacking - lots of storage space, a separate walk in closet, plus the wardrobes by the door as you walk in. The bathroom has a whirlpool bath and integral shower and single sink. Only the higher grades of suite get a separate shower and double sinks (ie. Q4, Q3 etc).
Sailaway went really smoothly at 5pm when we opened our champagne and stayed on the balcony as we departed. The soon was on our side the whole time and there were lots of people sitting on chairs on deck 7 below the lifeboats drinking champagne. Ours was free though so tasted even better [:D].
A helicopter followed us all the way out as it was filming a documentary so did my best to wave at it as it circled constantly. The staten island ferry passed by a few times too.
The first night was 'elegant casual' meaing that mean don't have to wear ties but a jacket and trousers are required, so OH had a casual suit on which was satisfactory. I just wore a shift dress which was appropriate too. We ate lunch at 1.30 so knew which was our table so went straight back to the same table for dinner. In the grills open dining (ie, anytime between 7-9pm) is fine, but the main britannia restaurant has fixed dining (6.30 or 8.30). The only thing I didn't like was we had a table for 2 but were virtually sitting on the other tables for 2 either side of us - we did get to know our table neighbours quite well by the end of the trip though.
After dinner had a look around the ship and went to the casino for a little look too, but felt very tired so went to bed by 11.30pm. The clocks are put forward each evening to enable the time change when getting to the UK to be not so noticeable.
Up early the next morning with a slight hangover as had more champagne the night before as it was our anniversary so looked forward to breakfast. Had cold meats, melon, omelette and pain au chocalat - all excellent to soothe a hangover [:p].
Forgot to say, when you are queens grill, you get to choose a bottle per passenger for your suite. I chose Bacardi and OH had Jack Daniels - a nice litre of each was provided with mini fridge of mixers and beers too. Ice was provided twice a day.
The next day we had a blackjack and roulette lesson and tried to get our bearings on the ship. I never really worked my way around even after 6 nights!! Had a relax on the balcony with a drink and just looked out on the Atlantic which was very smooth and the sun was shining again.
The 2nd night was the first of 3 formal nights. After getting ready, we had our photographs taken which are in done in the hallway near the britannia restaurant, so we had to go to deck 3 for this and then back to deck 7 to eat - we needed the exercise after all that lazing around. There is an excellent library on board so you don't need to worry about bringing a book. All tasters are catered for, from Mills & Boon, James Patterson, autobiographies, travel books.
We seemed to develop a pattern by the third day of getting up for breakfast (which was difficult due to losing an hour's sleep with the time change) and having a gambling lesson or playing slots or blackjack. We learned craps and poker too but never really got into them during this trip. We didn't bother with lunch but occasionally had a room service sandwich later in the afternoon or popped to the Kings Court buffet for a slice of pizza. By 5pm the butler came with canapes and we had a drink before dinner and depending on the night, had our photo taken before dining.
We didn't watch the shows but they were apparently very good. We had drinks in the chart room which was nice with a very good jazz trio. We played blackjack everynight - cheap tables $3 or $5 and fell into bed usually by about 1ish.
On this voyage, Bob Hope's daughter travelled with us as there was an auction of some of his things whilst on board. The auction was really interesting and someone got his engraved watch for about $4000 which would have sold for a lot more if it had been at a general auction. There were also several art auctions throughout the voyage.
On our last day we watched a couple of the planetarium shows, 1 was good the other a little boring - it was amazing how many snores I heard as it was dark and the seats were reclined.
The last but one night was semi formal - so a silk cocktail dress was the order of the day with OH in a suit and tie, making a change from a tux - 3 nights formal, 1 night semi formal and 2 nights elegant casual (always the first and last night).
We went to the captains cocktail party and were advised that there were over 1200 crew on board and 2600 passengers, so not a bad mix. The majority of the passengers were US and next UK, with the remainder being from Brazil, Italy, Germany etc. The US contingent was high as the ship was doing a med cruise before returning transatlantic to the US so it suited a lot of people who don't fly.
We never really felt cramped with how many people were on board - there was always somewhere quiet to sit. We were lucky with the weather - hardly any swell and 3 out of 6 days fantastic weather.
I would do it again as it was really relaxing but I'm still not convinced I'm a cruise person as I'm just not into getting on and off at every port we come to. This was a nice compromise - you still get to enjoy the ship without rushing around.
The only thing I can say about the grills is that it seemed to be an older demographic with lots of retired people. We are 32 and 42 and still work, but only really came across a couple of people who worked - thankfully they were at the table next to us. He was an LA cop and she was in commercial real estate. Everyone else had retired. In the Britannia restaurant there was a much better mix of people and ages.
The photographs were laid out each morning in a certain area and these could be purchased at $27.50 each. You can buy frames, albums all sorts really if you want. It was always very busy there and great to view others photos while you were there.
Drink prices weren't too bad - they were certainly a lot cheaper than in NY. $7.50 (plus 15% service charge) for a martini against $14 in NY.
We had a great trip and will do it again.
