maybealexislost

Thank you both kindly for the intel/guidance!

Moving beyond etiquette, and assuming there are free machines, does anyone know from experience whether these washing machines only take powder detergent, or if it's possible to use pods or liquid detergent? (And fabric softener, ideally?) Would prefer to use a specific sensitive skin detergent if possible.

While this will not impact all of Queen Elizabeth's cruises while she's based in/around Japan these next two months, the country appears to be lifting some of its Covid testing restrictions for travelers. Via Time Out: "According to Kyodo News, those entering Japan on or after May 8 2023 will no longer be required to present Covid-19 vaccination documents with records of three vaccine doses or proof of a negative Covid-19 test upon arrival." By my reading, this would mean the enhanced requirements Cunard has in place for QE voyages Q318/A/B (embarking May 15) and Q319/B (embarking May 24) need no longer necessarily apply? (Though ofc, it would be entirely at their discretion, and maybe complicated to roll back given the short notice etc.) My husband and I are on the latter voyage, so will keep this thread updated if we do receive any further information.

Yes, we also first booked our trip in 2020! Three reschedules later (with some nice FCC increases from Cunard along the way, haha!) and we're counting down the days — it's a first visit to Japan and later to Alaska for us, as well as our first voyage on the QE. Here's to making sure there's no Covid-related shenanigans!

Hi @alc13 I think we're booked on the cruise following yours (May 24) and have been trying to keep up with Cunard's Covid test requirements — as well as Japan's. Per the March 24 update on Cunard's website (here) it does say that a self-administered antigen test taken within 24 hours of embarking is acceptable with the following "proof" thereof provided on embarkation: For Rapid Antigen (RAT)/Lateral Flow results: One (1) photo which shows all together, the Lateral Flow negative test result, government issued photo ID (such as your passport) a clock displaying the time (e.g. a watch, mobile phone, wall clock) and date of testing written on a piece of paper. That said, I'm sure "official" PCR results from a clinic/testing center would be an even safer bet, and we're currently looking into testing options in Tokyo with that in mind. Please keep us updated if Cunard offer any more specifics!

Thank you both so much for the guidance @LittleFish1976 @WoorimBeachLady — fears allayed!

Hello all, Would love any/all guidance or intel on this: having watched many a "cruise insiders' top tips" YouTube video, I've had it drilled into my head that the "best" cabins to choose to best avoid noise issues are those with another deck of cabins both above and below them. With this in mind, I'd originally booked a suite on deck 7 of the Queen Elizabeth for a Japan—Alaska voyage coming up this summer, but was just offered a category upgrade which I took... only to realize I'd now be on deck 8 (midships) right below an entrance to the Lido Restaurant. Has anyone with a cabin on deck 8 experienced much noise or foot traffic coming from the restaurant areas above? I should note my husband and I are New Yorkers, so we're used to folks stomping about in apartments around us, but we were hoping our vacation might be a change of pace 🙂 Should we be looking to see if we can move back down to deck 7 (or deck 6, even) to be better sandwiched by other rooms above/below, vs. being abutted by communal and dining spaces?