mandranuc

Just back from the QV Christmas cruise (full review will be posted soon). Couldn't disagree more. All passengers I met were courteous, engaging and happy. The ship was decorated beautifully, they did Christmas very well IMO.

Food was exceptional (I was very disappointed on QE last year) but food on this cruise (Britannia ) was really very good. No complaints from me at all.

Hi,

thinking of booking the first leg of QV world cruise - Southampton to Fort Lauderdale on leaving 10/1/16. We wouldn't fly out of Fort Lauderdale until 23.00 on 22/1/16.

Does anyone know if we'd be able to do a tour of some sort on that day before going to the airport. We wouldn't be booking direct with Cunard.

Thanks in advance

I would suggest car hire for the day may be the best idea.

 

I would gladly bring a bottle (or three) to share with any true mixologist on board, but alas, Cunard will not allow this.

 

!

I do not think there is a problem in bringing your whiskey on board.

I may be wrong but this sounds more like a scheduled flight on BA and therefore BA rules of seat booking will apply.

You can put a boat on a ship but not a ship on a boat.

 

A ferry is a ferry.

 

A liner is not a ship.

 

Gosh. Wish I was on anything today as long as it was balmy:D

I think a liner or Ocean Liner IS a ship but a ship built to a certain specification.

The overhead street instructions will say which gate to take for each ship. All you need to say to the taxi driver is the name of your ship. Unless you are his/ her first fare of the day they will know which terminal.:) As they will have been back and forth all day. Just got this off of my ticket we get off on the 10th

Ocean Terminal

Berth 46/47, Dock Gate 4

Southampton, England

You do not say which ship you are one!!:confused: Presumably QM2?

All booking regardless of who books them have to go through Cunard!!! Now Cunard/Carnival do NOT allow anyone to undercut their Prices. Do that & they Blacklist you from any further business Cunard give Agents between 5 & 15% commission , So to get between 35/66% discount on a cruise is not possible you may be able to get better deals on a Package Flights/Hotels Excursions but the Cruise part of the Package will NOT be discounted.

Obviously the first part of your statement is correct BUT with regard to the second part I would have to disagree. This is why I ask is it fair - my example is the same cruise (in Grills), same return flight - 50.88% discount.!

Was the offer of £1999 for grills also? There are some excellent offers to be had which are packages made up for TA's and they sometimes include hotels too. Just keep eyes peeled and check the press adverts and compare with Cunard website.

Yes for Princess Grill - exactly the same journey PLUS the hotel for 2 nights and £1200 cheaper!!

Very often these days we see hotels, through their own websites, guaranteeing the lowest prices for their rooms and there is a certain confidence in booking on that basis.

I have just seen a Cunard fare, on the Cunard website, in Princess Grill for £3199 per person, yet in a brochure just received from a travel agent the same journey is offered at £1999 - and that includes hotel accommodation prior to return flights. I am a believer in doing your homework before booking but these sort of differentials just do not seem fair.

Ted (Theodore) Scull - pleased to see he is on the first sector of the WC on QM2 in January 2016.

When we were on board in February/March the Champagne Bar would serve any drinks requested not just Champagne. This was pre-dinner but I would assume that it would be the same during the day.

 

On our sailing, Sir Samuels was packed during the day with people drinking tea/coffee so it definitely would not have been suitable as a venue for a gathering.

 

We had a small gathering in the Commodore Club but it also coincided with a wedding on the port side and a Friends of Dorothy meeting on the starboard side so lucky we were a small group. Perhaps the Wintergarden is the way to go!

Isn't this why it may be better to arrange things through the official channels?

One comical point I would like to share with you.In Lisbon I walked along the dock to take some pictures of another vessel.It was very hot so I took off my shirt,not a brilliant sight but I have seen a lot worse.From behind me I could hear a voice shouting.I did not think it was relevant to me so did not turn around.The shouting got closer and more urgent.I turned to see a short but rather round and flustered lady,in a uniform, telling me in Portugese to put my shirt on ?.Maybe my body did offend.Ah well

Maybe she thought it was a Portuguese Man of War ?!

Personally, I never sailed on the Queen Mary but am pleased that it has been "preserved" and I was happy to be able to visit the ship a few years ago.

I did sail on the SS Rotterdam (latterly the Rembrandt) and it was amazing that it was finally saved and rests in it's home territory. I have not visited her yet but will do shortly. Will I be disappointed - I doubt it - I am just pleased that she is still there to be visited.

It looks to me that the United States is a real "rust bucket" when I last saw her and if it has not been saved by now, after all those years in dock, there is little hope.

QE2 is of course the most recent ICON of passenger ships and it will be a terrible day if she is lost - was Dubai a sensible place for her to rest? - I don't really think so - her iconic status is somewhat Anglo American and my gut feeling is this is where she would best find a resting place - but in these economic climates I am somewhat suspect.

There are so many room types in hotels and package deals within the hotel that I do not think I would ever book a Cunard package. The Waldorf is a typical example of so many different room types and sometimes some excellent packages for free breakfasts or a daily sum toward hotel extras etc that it would be difficult for Cunard to beat.

Also in my opinion there is nothing more convenient that just getting (or booking) a cab/taxi/limo/stretch and departing/arriving when you want. But that is me.

 

It's an idea. The only thing is that I recall the Todd English on the QV a few years ago and I don't think the menu changed during 14 nights. But I might be wrong and it may be different now.

 

But either way, it's a whacking saving !

Queen Victoria has had The Verandah (replacing Todd English) for some time now.

We just book on the internet.. I think using agents doesnt really happen much in the UK anymore however to answer your question.

It is always worth checking travel agent deals and prices - they can be a considerably better deal than Cunard's own website offers.

Does the menu always remain exactly the same? Is there an outside area to eat as well? Are men required to wear a tie? How long should one allow for having dinner?

Our experienes of the Verandah have been great. The evenings for us have been a gastronomic Event. I would consider it worth leaving Queens Grill for an evening.

Well I'm totally blessed!!! Not sure I should be telling this. I didn't care much for where our room was situated (although content just to be onboard). Noticing that Cunard were offering 175 years Specials I called to see if I could get an upgrade to a balcony at the reduced fare. Well not only did I get the stateroom I wanted I got it for no extra charge!!!:) Not sure if I have ever heard of that before! Answer to my wife prayers!

That really is great for you - just don't tell your tablemates at dinner!!

Thanks for the helpful replies :)

 

Do you think the pricing looks about right? Would hate to think I'm paying over the odds.

Compared to the "list" price on the UK site you have a good deal.

The nice advantage with a QG suite is the space for the use of the sofa bed.

I have been looking at a cruise going to New York in October I am just wondering what is the crossing of the Atlantic like at that time of year.

 

Thanks

I guess you are thinking of the weather conditions and the simple facts are that one never knows what is in store. We have crossed in January and had some glorious sunshine - G&T's on the balcony! You can be sure that QM2 is the best ship to cross the Atlantic.

Hope you go for it and enjoy the journey.

Does booking directly with Cunard make a difference?

I do not think it does. Seen many upgrades either way.

Reading comments on this board however leads me to believe that TA's have some unbelievable price deals that you never see on the Cunard site, proving, as usual, that shopping around can be of enormous benefit.

Does anyone know where the smoke goes (exhausts) from the Churchills Cigar Lounge on QM2. Cabin 9001 is available and I wondered if there was a risk of smelling smoke. I know there are double doors into the room from the corridor to help eliminating smoke into the corridor.

Apologies - this may work

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/FC8iZgJGqYd5r3cObIlk8KdnFLgreJsAhoCPFgy99R4=w1315-h740-no

Is this a new cruise terminal under construction?:D

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipMKDVwgGflWQYZU2k_U2ykT9_CiP2sH4I-AWht_