Cunards response to letter re QM2 criticisms

Mr & Mrs Crawford. I would like to firstly agree with your comments regarding people dressing appropriately 100%. That it would even enter someone's head to dress in Jeans etc., for dinner aboard any ship is baffling to me. I honestly think that there are (thankfully few) people whose sole purpose of travelling aboard is to "test" these thing out, to the annoyance of the masses. I too can be referred to as "working class" (although some would say lower !) and can say that there is nothing I like more when aboard QM2 than dressing up on the fomal evenings - it is in fact one of the reasons that I like to cruise aboard her. Now then, here's the bit you may not like. All of our opinions aside, I do agree with Cunard's response and join them in wondering how they can ENFORCE a dress code on someone when monies have already changed hands - unlike the example you have given. To draw an accurate comparison, your example would have to say that you visited the Ritz for Afternoon Tea, paid the £50 (or whatever cost it is) AND ONLY THEN were refused entry unless you altered your attire. If this were the case, I'm sure that your reaction would differ from becoming a rueful onlooker from the outside. The point being that while it is easy to refuse entry to an establishment for a variety of different reason when no financial committment has been made by the customer, it becomes a different proposition if the customer has already paid. Once again, I agree that it SHOULD be possible for Cunard to insist on the minimum standards but surely you must accept that there is no possible way to tell someone who has paid say, £4000, that they are unable to eat this evening because that are inappropriately dressed?

With you 100% p.s. let's see what the imminent review from our intrepid Cruise Reporter Richard Okill brings.

Lets not confuse standards with snobbery. I am definately no snob and am going on a QM2 taster cruise as a grill passenger expecting Cunard to be at the forefront of traditional standards so am surprised they don't enforce standards. Cruise liners are one of the only places you can dress for dinner and not feel overdressed these days. We like dressing up and my wife loves her collection of ball gowns but on a recnt RCI cruise noticed a definate drop in standards on formal nights making us feel over dressed in dinner suit or ball gown. So keep complaining to the companies about dress codes smoking policies and their sometimes poor management of sun lounger towels. There are informal cruises for those who are totally against this and yes I've done OV cruises too but these days I holiday on cuise ships to escape the lack of etiquette society has allowed in the UK.

Hi Derek, this comes to you from QM2 mid-Atlantic, heading home from New York. We are in Princess Grill actually and I can assure you that Jamie our Maitre 'd is either enforcing the dress code or, more probably, the customers, paying for this level of service, adhere to it anyway out of character and sense of mutual responsibility. I will leave the rest to my review on our return home on monday, but rest assured, here this week all is exceptionally well. Regards Richard

You actually have stated the solution yourself - if you are concerned about standards including dress codes then you have to fork out for Grill level even if this means you might go less frequently. Those that are not worried what others wear or how they behave can get away with paying less in Britannia level or by going on P&0 etc. The above is not a snobby comment but a reality and is the same in ones choices of hotel, transport, restaurants etc You expect a certain level of behaviour at the Ritz (as you say) but you wouldn't at MacDonalds - that I am afraid is life in Britain 2008 !!

Thank you for publishing your reply from Cunard I suspect others have had a similar letter from them and other cruise lines.We both enjoy the formal nights but do not have a problem with how other people dress,and would much prefer the Head Waiters to ensure we are getting a proper level of service than being Dress Code Monitors.Catering for the masses has ensured a massive investment in new ships for us all to enjoy,It is a changing business the dress code and smoking policies are being amended to meet expectations at the end of the day the cruise lines have to make a profit or there will be no ships? hope you succeed in finding a cruise line enforces its recommend dress code.

I didn't mean you Robertson from Falkirk !!! Sorry - Meant to say my old friend Byers from Irvine who took exception to our initial remarks... Cheers from one scot to another !!!