Jump to content

I need to do Transatlantic - advice please


Winchester Ranger
 Share

Recommended Posts

As an expat living in the US I have always wanted to do a Transatlantic cruise instead of flying home twice a year to see the folks back in the UK, and this year I am finally going to do it.

 

So I am a cruiser - we did NCL last year (the Haven is incredible) but I'd be making this journey solo, work schedules tend to get in the way when there are 2 of you and I feel differently about this cruise as I am actually traveling somewhere and not just doing loops of the Caribbean :)

 

Questions - I will cruise one way and then fly the other, and I'm looking at doing it later in the year, probably November so the 11/25 sailing looks good, but if you had the choice would you do East/West or West/East ?

 

Timings - why can I never find boarding times on any cruise website, cunard is no different (at least for me). So what are the embarkation times in New York and Southampton (for both directions).

 

Club Balcony - why are these so much more expensive than regular balconies, is it really worth paying that much more just for open dining and some concierge service ? What am I missing here.

 

Are Princess/Queen suites and the associated private areas worth the extra $ ?

 

Sorry if these have been asked before, I know how annoying that can be - but any advice appreciated !!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Personally, I would choose a westbound transatlantic for two reasons. One, you get the flight out of the way first. Two, five nice 25 hour days on the crossing get you home without jet lag.

 

I was upgraded to Britannia Club on QE earlier this year. It was nice eating in the small dining room but I would not pay extra (especially since I travel by myself so have to pay the solo supplement) for it. I tend to get into a pattern on sea days and go to dinner around the same time, so the open seating didn't make much difference to me. I also found my stateroom right below a public deck much noisier than one on a lower deck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If it were me, I would fly over and cruise back. I have talked to others who have cruised on way and flew home. The hassles of flying after a nice visit tend to ruin the experience. By flying over, then sailing back, you get an extension of the vacation,and arrive rested and relaxed.

 

Your boarding time will be included in your document package that you will receive a few weeks before departure. However, when sailing Cunard, we have never had a problem with arriving earlier than our scheduled time.

 

Whether or not the Brittania Club is worth the extra cost is a personal decision, we have sailed BC twice and enjoyed the trips immensely, same for PG/QG. Although our trip in PG recently was almost decadent.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As an expat living in the US I have always wanted to do a Transatlantic cruise instead of flying home twice a year to see the folks back in the UK, and this year I am finally going to do it.

 

So I am a cruiser - we did NCL last year (the Haven is incredible) but I'd be making this journey solo, work schedules tend to get in the way when there are 2 of you and I feel differently about this cruise as I am actually traveling somewhere and not just doing loops of the Caribbean :)

 

Questions - I will cruise one way and then fly the other, and I'm looking at doing it later in the year, probably November so the 11/25 sailing looks good, but if you had the choice would you do East/West or West/East ?

 

Timings - why can I never find boarding times on any cruise website, cunard is no different (at least for me). So what are the embarkation times in New York and Southampton (for both directions).

 

Club Balcony - why are these so much more expensive than regular balconies, is it really worth paying that much more just for open dining and some concierge service ? What am I missing here.

 

Are Princess/Queen suites and the associated private areas worth the extra $ ?

 

Sorry if these have been asked before, I know how annoying that can be - but any advice appreciated !!

 

Personally I would fly east and sail west. You will board sometime between noon and 3pm regardless of where you start. As a solo traveller you will have to pay a 75% supplement on a Britannia cabin or 100% in PG or QG. I would choose a Britannia cabin if it were me. I don't think that any time dining is worth the extra but others do. Cunard can also arrange the air travel but whether you can get a better price elsewhere needs exploring. You will enjoy the experience of a crossing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would agree with fly east, sail home westbound. No jet lag, you get home rested, and at least you have something to look forward to when the time comes to leave the UK.

 

BC, PG, and QG are all wonderful, and if they won't damage your budget are worth it. However, on a crossing having a set dining time is easier than a port intensive trip, and especially if you are going in the autumn or winter, you will get more use from a sheltered balcony than an exposed one - so I really don't see the need for the extra expense, and Britannia suits me just fine, but that's just my personal experience.

 

One way plane tickets can be expensive, so I have found Cunard air to be a real bargain.

 

The only downside is that once you have done it this way, it is very hard to go back to the round trips by air!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm going to start researching the westbound cruises, you guys convinced me, plus there is something special about seeing Lady Liberty as you enter New York harbor.

 

Great advice - thanks guys !!

 

PS - what's with all these negative reviews of Cunard - I'm seeing lots of "rude crew members, lazy bartenders, bad shows, tired looking ships" type of remarks. I haven't seen so many negative comments since I visited the Carnival forum? Very unusual for Cruise Critic.

 

It's a bit off-putting, but to be honest not that much ;)

Edited by Winchester Ranger
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We have done both easterly and westerly crossings and both have pro's and con's (mostly pro's in either direction, though : )

 

Going easterly, the time going under the Verrazano Narrows bridge is more predictable than when coming into Brooklyn in the early morning (with a veritable arrival time). Being up on deck, swooshing under the bridge, is a memorable experience.

 

Going westerly, the time change can make staying up for the shows a bit challenging for me (after about the fourth hour change my bedtime becomes 8 p.m.). ...You would think doing an hour a day would be easier than all-at-once jet lag, but day-after-day it's wearisome to lose or gain so many hours….

 

The staff has to work more hours going east--the time changes might be more difficult for them in that direction (which could affect service). Going west, I remember having a staff safety drill, assumedly because there was an extra hour for this activity. ("For exercise. For exercise. For exercise" announced over the loudspeaker --nothing for passengers to do)

 

You do have some longer days going west and some shorter days going east.

 

Going east, the British handle passports at sea, during the voyage--quick and easy, but a requirement while onboard to go through this well-organized queue. Going west, you need to show your passport at the terminal in Brooklyn--maybe slows the exiting process a little.

 

IMO, Britannia restaurant "class" is fine. The majority of passengers travel with these accommodations--happily. There are opportunities for grill-passengers to intermingle in a few exclusive settings (aft deck 8, their own dining rooms and a lounge), but they share the same entertainment, gym, and walking-around-areas with passengers who have less expensive quarters.

 

Have a wonderful crossing, whichever direction! QM2 is a great ship. Lots to do and very enjoyable experience! Happy Sailing, Winchester Ranger!!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A Britannia Club cabin will look identical to a Britannia balcony cabin. It is higher up which could be a problem if motion bothers you. You are on an ocean crossing so there is no predicting how the seas will be.

Britannia club has dining between 6:30-9 pm. You go anytime between these hours.

Britannia dining room is first seating at 6 pm and second seating at 8:30 pm.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ok, I'm getting really excited about this now, that old cruise "twitch" has returned to my left eye.

 

So I'm afraid it's going to have to be Eastbound on 11/25 because the Thanksgiving break buys me 2 extra days of vacation and that makes it work with a nice break in the UK before flying back - but I would have preferred to do westbound, oh well, the dates just didn't cooperate (I really need to retire - work gets in the way of cruising).

 

So working on the basis that I'll just be cruising in a regular non-fancy balcony stateroom what will be my assigned boarding time slot in New York - I'm trying to figure out some flight options.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, you will be assigned a time to board, but we have always just showed-up and joined the boarding queue --- no earlier than 11:45 and no later than 1:00

 

If there are many others boarding at the same time, there will be a queue and you will be given a boarding card with a number or letter. Then, you wait until your group is called to board. There are seats and all is quite orderly. No one questions your assigned time...

 

Coming from a distance, sometimes the assigned time and travel arrangements just don't gibe. Twelve to one seems the most popular time, so there can be a wait, but eventually everyone is on-board with opportunity to explore the ship before departure.

 

On Cunard, when you board, you are allowed to go straight to your cabin --- no time being stalled in the buffet, waiting for your cabin to be cleaned. You will find a little 1/2 bottle of something bubbly in your room (unfortunately, reviews on CC are negative about this drink, but it is complimentary).

 

If you want to choose a different drink, go to the Commodore. Lovely pre-departure venue. Deck 9 forward.

 

There are great views from the ship both before sailing and while going toward the ocean. Climb to the top of the ship for sail away. What fun!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am going to go against the stream and suggest you sail EASTBOUND that way you will be able to absolutely enjoy more time with your UK family. You'll arrive with no jet lag and you'll be awake to enjoy the first day you arrive. You won't be falling asleep at tea time, and waking up before the milkman does his rounds.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Has anyone ever sailed this route solo before, this will be my first "loner" cruise. Are you allowed to sit at a 2 person table in the MDR or is it the big circle ?

 

To be honest between the bar, casino, and spa I'll be pretty much set.

 

The painful part is that I'm flying over for 2 weeks next month - why didn't I think of this earlier :rolleyes:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ordinarily a westbound T/A is best - we are taking our sixth on Nov. 5 (our second one on QM2) - but given your reasons - enjoy. I urge you to book a starboard balcony - giving you the sunny side- a huge difference that time of year. I would suggest you request assignment to a large table - dining alone for a week can get dreary, and we have always enjoyed at least a few of our table mates every cruise.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Has anyone ever sailed this route solo before, this will be my first "loner" cruise. Are you allowed to sit at a 2 person table in the MDR or is it the big circle ?

 

To be honest between the bar, casino, and spa I'll be pretty much set.

 

The painful part is that I'm flying over for 2 weeks next month - why didn't I think of this earlier :rolleyes:

 

I have done two transatlantic crossings solo but I actually like a larger table. No reason why you can't request a two-top though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Has anyone ever sailed this route solo before, this will be my first "loner" cruise. Are you allowed to sit at a 2 person table in the MDR or is it the big circle ?

 

To be honest between the bar, casino, and spa I'll be pretty much set.

 

The painful part is that I'm flying over for 2 weeks next month - why didn't I think of this earlier :rolleyes:

 

Going solo is no problem at all. You will find that you will meet many interesting people, and that you can spend as much time or as little time socializing as you want to.

 

They do have tables for two, but sitting at a larger table can be fun. I was at a table for 8 on my most recent solo trip, and they were an extremely interesting bunch of people, and they really enhanced the experience. If you do not like your table mates you can always ask the maitre'd to switch you to another table.

 

Although I definitely do prefer westbound, my first crossing was an eastbound one back in 1962, and I still remember the beautiful sight of the Statue of Liberty as you sail by. Now you also get the excitement of sailing under the bridge. It is also wonderful to wake up on the final morning and watch as you sail by England's green and pleasant land (usually in the rain and mist)- much superior to trying to gaze out the window from a middle seat as you get ready to land at Heathrow!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Last year went over to NY on QM 2 stayed in Canada for 6 weeks and returned on QM2 even with the bother of American arrival, no problems, Great way to travel.

Go Britania hull balcony if possible.

Eat in the alternative dining room the asian is great and the italian is also great, for $ 15, I think now, it is WELL worth it the BEST food on the ship.

Yes you can book a table for 2 and will be alone if that is what you prefer.

I eat breakfast and lunch in the main dining room alone, will share if I feel like it,

Evenings hubby and I will eat in the buffet area choosing a table far away from the madding crowd and from 7 pm onwards, deal is we cruise and he does not have to eat in the POSH dining room:) On Victoria in Dec we ate with the captain, well 3 or 4 tables awy:D, on more than one occasion, as that is where the 2nd best food is 3 best is main diningroom

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you talk to cunard direct, ask about the cunard fare ie the full undiscounted fare, because they have quietly dropped the solo supplement to about 10 percent on a few winter crossings. I was lucky to pick one up here in the UK, maybe you can do so in the usa. I looked at your crossing on their UK website and it came up about £1400 with the return airfare, and £1100 without. Hope this might be useful for you

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you talk to cunard direct, ask about the cunard fare ie the full undiscounted fare, because they have quietly dropped the solo supplement to about 10 percent on a few winter crossings. I was lucky to pick one up here in the UK, maybe you can do so in the usa. I looked at your crossing on their UK website and it came up about £1400 with the return airfare, and £1100 without. Hope this might be useful for you

 

Great advice - I used a proxy server to access Cunard's UK website to get pricing in sterling and it was a bit of an eye opener. The cheapest DC class balcony on the US website quoted $1,349 (for double occupancy), while the cheapest DC on the UK website was £1,359 which is roughly $2,065 ?!?

 

Due to the proxy restrictions I couldn't do a full fare comparison (for me travelling solo) but it does make you wonder.

 

Just so I can do a true apples to apples comparison, could I presume on you to price a DC class Brittania balcony for me as a solo passenger - with no flights, the US price on that is $2,422.75 (roughly an 80% solo surcharge).

 

If the UK surcharge is only 10% it will be quite a bit cheaper, and I'll just book it when I'm over there in June.

 

Many thanks !!

Edited by Winchester Ranger
Link to comment
Share on other sites

PS - what's with all these negative reviews of Cunard - I'm seeing lots of "rude crew members, lazy bartenders, bad shows, tired looking ships" type of remarks. I haven't seen so many negative comments since I visited the Carnival forum? Very unusual for Cruise Critic.

 

It's a bit off-putting, but to be honest not that much ;)

 

Nobody seems to have answered that part of your question, so I will.

 

We cruised on all 3 Queens in the last 12 months, with a Med cruise coming in July. I am quite demanding on the level of service and ‘customer experience’ overall, and frankly I noticed nothing whatsoever that would substantiate any of that nonsense. Staff is universally professional and diligent, polite and and friendly. I suspect that those people who complain about bartenders etc. are misguided in thinking they are cheap slaves put at their disposal by Cunard, that one can use and abuse as part of the cruise fare.

 

All 3 ships are very well maintained, certainly not tired-looking. The Cunard shows are what they are, not to everybody’s liking (not to mine, mostly), but there is enough choice between all the musicians performing in various bars and public areas to compensate for that.

 

I concur that a Westbound TA is a better choice, if possible. My impression is that on QM2, there is no compelling reason to splurge for expensive grade staterooms. Naturally, bigger is better, but restaurant-wise, Britannia Club is a relatively unexceptional part of the MDR, and PG and QG are not quite the special places that their counterparts are on the other 2 Queens. For a winter crossing, even a balcony might be overkill. A simple outside, with daylight, might be all you need, especially if you are on your own.

 

But naturally, it is a case of value for money.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Morning, I have had a quick look for you, and unfortunately the supplement is alive and well for all classes except the inside, so the DC balcony is about £2260 so of no use to you whatsoever!

 

I think you get a better deal often in the usa on the standard fares, with the dollar and sterling figures being not so far apart, but you seem to get less of the specials.

 

 

Anyway. Happy to look stuff up, if price is important you might want to consider how much time you are likely to spend on your balcony in mid adlantic mid November? What with weather and the fast speeds of the crossing, it's liable to be not very much

 

Cheers

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Morning, I have had a quick look for you, and unfortunately the supplement is alive and well for all classes except the inside, so the DC balcony is about £2260 so of no use to you whatsoever!

 

I think you get a better deal often in the usa on the standard fares, with the dollar and sterling figures being not so far apart, but you seem to get less of the specials.

 

 

Anyway. Happy to look stuff up, if price is important you might want to consider how much time you are likely to spend on your balcony in mid adlantic mid November? What with weather and the fast speeds of the crossing, it's liable to be not very much

 

Cheers

 

Thanks Scarlett - that UK price is almost 50% higher than the US price, or put another way "us Americans" get about $1,100 of extra onboard credit !!

 

I agree about the balcony, having breakfast out there is a hilarious thought at the end of November, but I'll still enjoy spending some time wave watching albeit wrapped up like an arctic explorer.

 

Thanks again for checking that price for me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nobody seems to have answered that part of your question, so I will.

 

We cruised on all 3 Queens in the last 12 months, with a Med cruise coming in July. I am quite demanding on the level of service and ‘customer experience’ overall, and frankly I noticed nothing whatsoever that would substantiate any of that nonsense. Staff is universally professional and diligent, polite and and friendly. I suspect that those people who complain about bartenders etc. are misguided in thinking they are cheap slaves put at their disposal by Cunard, that one can use and abuse as part of the cruise fare.

 

All 3 ships are very well maintained, certainly not tired-looking. The Cunard shows are what they are, not to everybody’s liking (not to mine, mostly), but there is enough choice between all the musicians performing in various bars and public areas to compensate for that.

 

I concur that a Westbound TA is a better choice, if possible. My impression is that on QM2, there is no compelling reason to splurge for expensive grade staterooms. Naturally, bigger is better, but restaurant-wise, Britannia Club is a relatively unexceptional part of the MDR, and PG and QG are not quite the special places that their counterparts are on the other 2 Queens. For a winter crossing, even a balcony might be overkill. A simple outside, with daylight, might be all you need, especially if you are on your own.

 

But naturally, it is a case of value for money.

 

Thanks Normandie, and that is really good info on PG and QG even though I didn't plan on splurging on this trip, because if it goes well I could be tempted in the future.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Scarlett - that UK price is almost 50% higher than the US price, or put another way "us Americans" get about $1,100 of extra onboard credit !!

 

I agree about the balcony, having breakfast out there is a hilarious thought at the end of November, but I'll still enjoy spending some time wave watching albeit wrapped up like an arctic explorer.

 

Thanks again for checking that price for me.

 

Could you do one for me please? Obviously without naming any agents......solo inside TA 3rd January no flights etc

 

Many thanks

 

Scarlet

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Could you do one for me please? Obviously without naming any agents......solo inside TA 3rd January no flights etc

 

Many thanks

 

Scarlet

 

Absolutely, it's $1,816.13 all inclusive for class IF (Inside Forward - the cheapest) for a solo on Jan 3rd - NY to S/H.

 

At the current exchange rate I make that about 1,200 sterling.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

I agree about the balcony, having breakfast out there is a hilarious thought at the end of November, but I'll still enjoy spending some time wave watching albeit wrapped up like an arctic explorer.

 

 

Having done several northern route T/A's in November I am aware that the breeze might be strong, but the Atlantic keeps its summer warmth through November - making that tine of year most likely to give you a warmer crossing than one in May or even June. If you are on the right side of the ship (port westbound, starboard eastbound) and there is any sun at all the balcony will be a valued asset.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...