CateW

23 hours ago, Scrapnana said:

Some final thoughts…

 

…The Rotterdam.  She is a beautiful ship and I enjoyed being onboard.  Since I normally take longer cruises with few children, it was nice having the Sea View pool as adults only.  Please note I have nothing against children (I was a teacher for 38 years) but it was nice to have a quiet pool where I did not have to dodge playful children.  On the topic of kids, all the ones I saw were very well behaved and polite.  My one negative is storage.  It’s fine for a short cruise but anything longer it would be difficult for two (or more) in a cabin.  

 

…Entertainment.  It was a mixed bag.  The steel drum band (Island Magic) and Chris Bannister (John Denver) put on amazing shows.  

 

…Have it All (HIA).  I found this well worth the money with the included excursions, drinks, dinners, etc.

…Club Orange.  I enjoyed the dining room and the ability to go when we wanted.  Elena and Monique were wonderful and very attentive.  There were small perks (fancy robes, dedicated lines at Guest Services and Shore Excursions, priority tendering and embarkation, etc.) which didn’t amount to much for me.  The change in cabins didn’t help me since I needed a handicapped cabin. Unless I was cruising with friends that had it (like this time), I probably wouldn’t get it again

 

…Internet.  This was the best internet I have had on a ship.  I had the Surf package as part of the HIA.  I had no trouble logging in or staying online.  The speed was great.  It was much easier to change devices than I remember from before.

 

…Food.  All the food was good.  Dinners in the Tamarind and Pinnacle were amazing.  We ate one meal at the NY Deli (the pizza was extremely good) and I ate lunch at the Grand Dutch Cafe which was also very good.  The Gelato was excellent and not that expensive (4ounce for $2.95 plus gratuity).

 

…Crew.  As usual the crew was fabulous.  
 

…Fellow cruisers.  As I mentioned in one of my posts, I couldn’t believe how nice people were whether offering help, making space for my rollator and me, or a dozen other things.  With all the negativity we hear on a daily basis, it was heartening to meet people that are caring.  You really do meet the nicest people on a cruise.

 

…All of you.  I appreciate all of you who read the posts and those who responded. It was fun hearing from those who I have met in person (brings back great memories of past cruises).

 

….Results of my test cruise.  The excursions I took went well.  I didn’t get off the ship at some ports but was prepared for that.  Things took me longer than they would have BC (before cancer) but I was able to do most everything I really wanted.  Knowing I won’t be able to do many things I liked to do BC ( wander around on my own, take longer excursions, do walking tours, etc.), I am planning to go on the Pole to Pole cruise next year.  My TA got me the handicapped cabin on deck 3 of the Volendam which is also in a location that is convenient to the Promenade deck.  So, barring any unforeseen problems, I will be writing another Live report in 299 days (according to my countdown clock).

 

Smooth sailing until next time!

Thanks for taking us all along with you.  I just wanted to say that in 2018 I had the same cancer that you had.  I did 4.5 months of chemo and 17 rounds of radiation.   I'm still cancer free and my oncologist used the "cured" word.   I now have the sweetest 3 year old puppy who I can't bring myself to leave to start cruising again but that's okay, I did 40+ cruises with my husband before he passed away in 2021.  It took some time to get back to some kind of new normal but  I do pilates 5 days a week and walk at least 5 miles a day with my sweet girl.  I am thrilled that you are doing Pole to Pole and will be following along.   Enjoy every minute!

On 2/18/2022 at 5:02 PM, PhD-iva said:

I have only sailed once on O as a solo, so I'm not the best expert, but I have used the search function to review postings on this topic. Based on that, I'd tentatively say that the are at least a few hosted solo get togethers. A port intensive cruise might have fewer....not sure....

 

I found my original post briefly describing the solo experience. I never did post more than this, as life caught up with me!!

I'd be happy to answer any questions...

 

I'm back from solo cruising on Riviera 17NOV Rome to Miami TA. I’m slammed w lotsa stuff going on right now, but before I get a chance to post more broadly about my solo experience on Riviera I wanted to let you know that O does a GREAT JOB taking care of solos! We had an associate cruise director, Cristina Hill, who hosted our Solo Traveler get togethers. The first one was early in the cruise and she hosted us 4 or 5 times throughout the cruise. We’d get together in Baristas at 6:30 and talk (open bar, but limited to barista’s limited alcohol). Cristina would organize our GDR table(s) for 7:15 and most would stay w the group to eat dinner together. Two bottles of wine were provided for each table. We had a group of about 15 each night, and the group would meet up at other times as well. I met some really nice people! I’m really appreciative of the solo experience provided by O and by Cristina!

 

 

Thank you for posting this.   I lost my husband in November and am thinking about a cruise in February 2023, my first solo.   This is great information.    Now if I could only get past leaving my puppy (with my niece, not even boarding).  She's my baby!

In the past, we have arrived between 11 and 11:30 and have been on board by noon.  The current environment may change that though and it might be too early to say (if it even sails).

My Christmas mask.

15 hours ago, BigMac1953 said:

We normally take half a dozen bottles of Veuve. Others take more.

 

As we normally travel QG, so don't need spirits, but others take enough for the whole trip.

 

The only caveat is that the drinks must be consumed in your room, or you pay $20 corkage in a bar or restaurant.

 

 

If you are sailing on a longer trip, it's worth it to pay the $20 corkage.  

We booked the Grand Mediterranean Voyage July 2022, round trip NY.  This is the only way for us to get back to Europe since my husband won't fly anymore and I'm not going to lie I won't miss it either!

One word about getting the cabin that you want; I booked this online and then transferred to our travel agent.  The first cabin that they assigned was NOT where I wanted to be.  I abandoned the booking and went in and did it again, and by some miracle the deck and the location was there.   Maybe it was just luck but I'll take it.  

I love that QM2 is doing a long cruise to the Med and back in summer 2022!   I hope we'll be on board.

Thank you for reminding me of the wonderful times that we had on QM2 and the start of your adventure.  I too can't wait for the next installment.   We aren't sailing again until November 2021 and I am waiting to book summer 2022 next week but your blog is so exciting and uplifting.  I love your pictures.    I can't wait for more!!

5 minutes ago, Host Hattie said:

As @CateW mentioned, it's good to see QM2 going to the Mediterranean.

It sure is HH, I have already been in touch with my travel agent!

2 hours ago, david,Mississauga said:

Cunard is teasing me by promising information about 2022 but will not allow me to view anything. Despite attempting with three browsers I get the same message: "We are sorry; no voyages can be found ..."

I received an email yesterday where I could view the voyages, although I just tried the Cunard website and I can pull them up there as well.  Is there something in particular that you want to see, I can see about posting it here.

The 28 night Grand Med round trip New York looks wonderful.  I've never seen anything like that from New York before in summer!

I would really like to see them extend the Caribbean cruises from 12 days to 16 days like they did for a few years.  Although sailing down the Hudson is a wonderful experience, which we have done many times on other cruise lines, Brooklyn is so much easier.

On 10/16/2020 at 1:25 AM, snaefell said:

Thanks again for your help guys,looks like it's not going to happen sadly,the cruise we were looking at on June 23rd 2021 was a return TA with a visit to Halifax,an overnighter in Boston & two visits to New York,all places we really want to see & without flying,sadly the only balcony cabins left are sheltered ones & we both feel,having looked at a number of videos & photos,that they are not for us given how much time we would likely want to spend on the balcony on a 20 night cruise.

Thanks again guys,happy cruising!

 If the transatlantic you are looking at is in June, I don't really think that it is going to be that warm during the crossing.  Don't get me wrong, you might get a good day here and there but not that many.   We did a round trip crossing a few times in August; the first time we had 12 good days out of 15 and spend lots of time outdoors.  The second time, also in August, we had 2 good days out of 14.   Crossing the Atlantic, you never know what you are going to get. 

QG and PG are wonderful but it really isn't a ship within a ship concept like the Haven is on NCL, the rooms are larger and you do have the private lounge and restaurants.  We've done the Caribbean and transatlantic on Cunard and totally love the experience.  Would do it again.   Seabourn is a luxury cruise experience with far less passengers and totally all inclusive.  Definitely a different experience.   I can't comment on P&O.   I can't imagine that you would go wrong with any of those choices though.

We have been on deck 8 a few times (aft) not in an obstructed view which is mid shift.   I love that location; zero traffic noice and it is very convenient to the pool as well as to the aft and mid aft elevators.   We did a transatlantic in one of those cabins (and a couple of other sailings) and I never felt any movement.    I would book a cabin there in a heartbeat.  I've never been on deck 11 so I can't comment on that but those cabins go quick so if there is one available, I would grab it.  

No

Our cruise isn't until October of 2021 (21 nights - NY to San Juan).   I am happy to see what they are doing to make things safe.  I'm not really concerned about the dining because we normally eat on the later side and I don't expect it to be that crowded.  I plan to spend much of the time at the beach(es) so none of this is a big problem (for me).  

I loved the Canyon Ranch Spa on all of our cruises, but we haven't been on Queen Mary for several years now.   I recall that Canyon Ranch was out and it was going to be refurbished but maybe that changed?   I would do it again in a heartbeat once we can get back to cruising again.

We booked our first Windstar cruise for October 2021, New York to San Juan; 21 nights.   I hope we get to go.   We live on the east coast we'd only have to fly back from San Juan.  I hope it goes.

This place is fabulous!  https://www.cathysresortwear.com

I only priced Cunard air once and it was more expensive than what I could book on my own so I didn't use it.

We hav sailed in Brittania, Brittania Club and QG and have found the food to be quite good in all venue's.   (We've sailed almost every cruise line).  I always go with either a seafood, fish, or the vegetarian option, I never order meat.  We also like to go to the alternative dining ($15 pp) in the Kings Court (Italian, Asian, Indian etc.). We will also try Verandah since it has changed since the last time we've been on Queen Mary.   There will always be another meal and when we're on a ship I'm thrilled that I don't have to cook.

On 1/16/2020 at 2:41 PM, CabinC said:

Just booked a 21 night Cruise on the QM2 in a Balcony Cabin. It was an additional $6,000 for Club Balcony and an additional $14,000 for Princess Grill. Think I'll stick with Britannia Balcony and save that money for another sailing 🙂

 We did the same thing.  BC was sold out but PG was $16,000 more.  We can enjoy alternative dining for way less than that (and will some nights).   One one Caribbean sailing we were upgraded to QG for less than $1000 for both of us because the sailing wasn't that popular I guess.  I loved the experience but not so much that I would pay an insane amount of money for it.

We have no problem with a dress code, I actually like dressing up when we cruise because we certainly don't do that at home.   We are doing a 21 night transatlantic sailing on QM2 this summer and I am surprised to see that there are only 7 gala nights.  We've done 14 nights before and there were more than that.   That said, I'm likely to wear a cocktail dress most nights and at a minimum my husband will wear a jacket on smart nights and his tux on gala nights.   I would love to see them move the late seating dining time to 8:00 - early is definitely too early but 8:30 is a little bit too late.   Brittania Club is sold out on our cruise but for the difference in price we can eat at the Verandah and the alternative specialities and the MDR only a couple of times in each of the 7 days.   Interestingly, when I booked this we were automatically put on the wait list for early seating (maybe because of our ages) so I had to call and change that to late.   We don't eat at 6:00 at home so definitely don't want to do that on holiday.

They will probably add $100 to the $229 price but honestly, I wouldn't bother with Vibe on a transatlantic cruise in April that is taking the northern route across the Atlantic.  It will probably be too cold for Vibe or any outdoor space at all.  I would put that money toward a spa pass instead but that's just me.