Sailing With Cunard Is Always An Event

Cunard Line passengers needn’t get all spiffed up before heading to dinner at sea, a Baxter Media webcast was told.

The company’s Wade Menard said that a company that was long seen as being synonymous with formality has relaxed its dress codes, with the likes of golf shirts and khakis being acceptable male attire for dinners.

An exception would be some restaurants requiring men to wear jackets and ties on “formal nights,” but those who don’t want to don that type of clothing will find that there are “a lot of options for casual wear,” he said.

However, jeans wouldn’t be acceptable for dinner.

Women needn’t wear formal clothing either for dinner as a rule, Menard added.

Menard said Cunard — in business for 183 years — distinguishes itself from competitors in a number of ways, with, for instance, the Queen Mary 2 willing to kennel dogs on trans-Atlantic sailings.

The dogs can be walked on deck and “fresh-baked dog biscuits” are available for them.

Menard said Cunard is the only cruise company whose theatres have opera boxes, and the interiors of the theaters themselves resemble those found on Broadway or London’s West End.

Most ship actors are graduates of New York City’s Juilliard school or London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, with Menard stating that passengers will see “Topnotch” performances.

Another entertainment option for Cunard clients is fencing lessons, prompting Menard to ask, “Who doesn’t want to try something new?”

Menard also reported that Cunard was the first cruise company to offer planetarium shows at sea, enabling people to “watch the night sky go by.”

A reminder of the company’s British heritage are its Golden Lion Pubs, which serve British food and British beer and cider.

Menard noted his company offers “event voyages,” which he said have built a following. “People want to be with other like-minded people.”

Event voyages may revolve around the likes of literature, theater or food and wine.

Meanwhile, CLIA’s Charles Sylvia used the webcast to suggest that travel agents who haven’t joined his association do so,  “We would love to have you aboard.”

CLIA will train agents who join it on “how to become a cruise industry expert,” Menard said. adding they can then “differentiate yourself from the competition.”

View the full webinar on Baxter Media’s YouTube channel.