So will CUNARD take the opportunity to redefine their place within the Cruise Industry with the addition of the new QM2? Will CUNARD begin to set new standards of luxury that have dissappeared over the years? IF CUNARD brings in a couple of HAL ships, what do you think the names of those ships will be as CUNARD ships?

Mauretania III

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....Will CUNARD begin to set new standards of luxury that have dissappeared over the years?...

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Barry: If I were to believe the postings here (and elsewhere), and expositions on the websites of the upscale cruising universe, it is my belief that said standards have not "disappeared" but are still extant on such lines as Silverseas, Seaborne, and Crystal, and definitely on the "Deutschland."

A new Cunard approach to luxury should be to first purge itself of the cheapening name of "Cunard Cruise Lines"(Ugh), and once again become "The Cunard Line." Such bespeaks class, and moves out of the motley horde of the good, bad, and unpeakable cluster of "Cruise Lines."

Secondly, it should repackage and redefine "Luxury."

This means more than the difference between a Hershey and Godiva mint on the pillow!

In order to truly market "luxury," Cunard executives and consultants should visit luxury hotels worldwide. They should review the practices of The Cunard Line of the past which, as I have oftime mentioned here, made "First on the Queen," a meaningful, and unforgettable experience.

That feeling could be recaptured - it is definitely lost at this time.

Cunard should poll past passengers and others who partake in luxury cruises. They should identify which "luxury" features are really such, and which are merely for show, or appeal to a minimal number of passengers.

They should take their inspirtations from the really grand hotels of the world, and not, as does too much of the cruiseline world, Las Vegas.

They should check with Management of the restored "Orient Express," "Rovos Rail," and a few others. Luxury on these trains means return to first class amenities and service of the Great Trains of the past.

I believe that reinstituion of "Luxury" is more in management, staffing, and attitude, and, by all means, dining, than in the installation of high tech spas and computer facilities.

Of course, they chould hire me as a consultant! I can offer only so much advice at these billing rates offered on these pages!
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IMHO Cunard "Carnival" is not going to cater to the luxury market at all with the QM2. You just can't... not with that size of ship.

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ocngypz, I fear that you are making the same mistake about the new ship that a lot of others currently make about QE2. That is, categorising the whole ship in a single market segment. 'Luxury', 'Premium', 'Mainstream' or whatever. QE2 does, and I believe QM2 will, operate across all these segments. (It's arguable that the lowest QE2 grades even compete in the 'Budget' market, but I dont expect that from QM2.)

I'm still surprised by the reviews I read, by suposedly experienced cruisers, who have read that QE2 (Queens Grill) is 'Luxury' then go out and book a Mauretania grade cabin at a discount price and are disappointed. "This is Premium?" "I thought this was supposed to be a Luxury line!"

So in a sense you're right. The whole ship can't, and won't, attempt to cater to the 'Luxury' market.

Cunard can't fill the cabins now on the QE2....Seabourn can't fill the cabins on the Goddesses, the triplets and the Sun.

Crystal is even having a hard time.

Sorry.. but when a ship gets soooo big... with so many cabins to fill... even at the "luxury" end.... the ship loses its allure.... especially for the "high-end cruiser. To fill the berths... Carnival Corp is going to have to run the ship to appeal to the mass-market.