BoisDore

It's impossible to carry everything without a tray. My tray would be full at breakfast with:

- 2 glasses of iced water

- 1 cup of coffee

- a bowl of fruit

- a small plate with a slice of banana bread

- cutlery

 

You can picture how many trips backwards and forwards I had to make on QM2 recently without a tray. If I could not get a seat near the food and drink, I ended up dehydrated.

 

Bring back the trays!

When I was aboard a few weeks ago there were servers for drinks and cutlery wrapped in a napkin on the tables.

After coming to terms with the $60 cost, I was quite disappointed when I was told that QM2 was completely sold out of nice embroidered commemorative crossing sweatshirts. Anyone have any idea how I might be able to get one?

And on a related note: The flea market/car boot sale they unpack on the mezzanine above the grand lobby is far less than elegant. And I can't fathom the logic of offering rotating merchandize there without the ability to buy it anywhere or anytime else.

$50 seems really expensive when you consider that its really just a supplement above eating in your normal dining room. We have to burn through a good amount of OBC but I think I need to hear that the Verandah is OMG fantastic before dropping $100 (plus wine) for it.

I'm inclined to agree. For the money you could have 3 of the rotating speciality dinners, and still come out ahead.

The food was lovely, and certainly copious, but nothing was extraordinary. And frankly I found the room to feel cold - nearly sterile. (Side note: they didn't bother to remaster the artwork in there, leaving the clown paintings out of context. Among the white-on-taupe-on-beige decor, and it almost starts to feel like the waiting room to a pediatricians office in Palm Beach.)

That said, I paid $35/per, and it was my birthday, so I have no regrets.

From my previous experiences of dining in both the Verandah and the former Todd English on QM2, when I reserved a table whilst on board, the bill was based on the price of each of the items that we selected from the menu as you would expect from a shoreside restaurant. From what I can gather from the FAQ's, Cunard seem to be imposing a minimum spend hence the reason why BoisDore didn't get a refund for spending less. If your choices add up to more than what you have paid when booking, expect to pay the difference.

I'm quite sure that's not the case. QM2 Verandah charges a fixed "cover charge", which was $35/pp when both the OP and I booked our tables, but has since gone up to $50. There were no prices listed on the menu at all.

I did not receive a refund because I was not due one. It is my understanding that the OPs inquiry is asking if they refund they issued will mean that he will now be charged $50 per person for a service he booked (and paid for) at a lower cost.

That Cunard is running not only different pricing but also different pricing policies in alternative dining venues across all three ships seems needlessly complicated.

Good morning from Newport Rhode Island!

 

A beautiful sailing. Lovely ship and perfect in everyway except for one problem in trying to solve. The night before our sailing I got a refund notification for the verandah. I didn't cancel my reservation but got $70 charged back to my credit card. When I asked on board they say I still have my reservation. However in the cruise guide you get in your room it says it's now $50 per person for the verandah. I'm going to try to confirm but I'm afraid they'll charge me the full $100 for the dinner. Will update when I find out what's going on.

Strange indeed.

For what it's worth: I disembarked yesterday, and ate at the Verandah with a reservation made online via the voyage personalizer a month prior to the trip (at $35 per person). No mentioned was made of the increase. (Nor was it refunded to me...)

We are going on the QM2 next week for the transatlantic crossing. As we will be in a cabin on deck 6 how noisy will it be if there are people jogging above us? It's something I have been worrying about but it's too late to move now. We will be in a sheltered balcony cabin if that makes any difference.

Looking forward to it nevertheless as you all seem so enthusiastic about Cunard.

I'll try to tread softly on M619 ;)

The FAQ section of the Cunard website gives some advice.

 

https://ask.cunard.com/help/cunard/fleet/run_jog

 

I believe anti-clockwise is the norm but not compulsory.

 

M-AR

Thanks, M-AR. For all that times I've clicked through the FAQ I must have either missed that or glossed over it.

Here's a clear answer to the first question: no. Nothing is prescribed and one can progress round it either way. There may be a "traditional way" but everyone can exercise free will. There will be people going in both directions and it is the responsibility of all, whether jogging or walking at a different pace to others, to be suitably considerate.

Indeed. If only people were so considerate in hallways, elevators, subways... ;)

I saw this question asked in another forum and the many replies lacked clear answers but were abundant with snark. Hopefully you can help:

Is there a prescribed direction around which to jog QM2's promenade deck? Clockwise or anti/counter clockwise?

Related- I heard mentioned that jogging was either discouraged or prohibited after a certain hour. Can anyone shed light on that for me?

Thanks, all.

Yes, iPads are known to have strong wifi radios. Perhaps I'll log on early to download the news and email for offline reading & replying, and then quick moments here and there later to upload.

The cabin attendants might find it strange that I'm standing in the hall waiting for them to being my coffee while the NYTimes downloads.

Might anyone have tips for times or locations to get the best speeds out of the wifi connection aboard a QM2 TA?

I think I'd rather wait and travel to a good signal than get frustrated where ever I may be when the fancy to connect strikes.

Apologies for re-posting the topic, I'd missed it previously.

Yes, standard deposit is 25%, but Cunard often makes 'reduced deposit' promotions. I have cabins this fall that were booked over the winter with deposits of just $150 per person.

I know the policy states:

"All bottles of wine or champagne brought on board by passengers for consumption in any of the ship's restaurants, bars or lounges, are subject to a corkage fee.

Please be advised that passengers are allowed to bring on board one bottle per person for special occasions."

My question is this: what about public consumption somewhere other than the ship's restaurants, bars or lounges?

What if we were to take bring a bottle to some deck chairs on the Promenade Deck, for example?

Heads up!

It appears that Cunard is changing their cancelation policy to one less generous. (I expect this would end up effecting cancel/re-book for fare changes, as well.)

http://www.cruisemaven.com/new-cunard-cancellation-policy-2017/

http://www.cunard.com/legal-information/?view=17455#tabbedModule1986

It will work IF my credit card company doesn't see it as a cash item and add its fee - hence my question/uncertainty. I currently have only a few USD and may need more before I can get to an ATM - arriving at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal where I understand there is no ATM (or is there?) and may be taking a taxi to Manhattan. So I can either try this or get some $ before leaving the UK, which will cost MORE than charging them to my on board account if I avoid the fee, but LESS if there IS a fee. So exactly how the $X appears to my credit card company is key!

If the cab at Red Hook is you only/immediate concern there are cashless solutions:

-Yellow and Green cabs are required to take cards, and have readers in them.

-Uber would bill to your card automatically (but then you might have a data roaming fee issue on your mobile.)

My wife and I are staying at Aloft for two nights before we sail back to Southampton. How easy was it to organise the car service? It sounds very convenient.

Car service will be simple. The front desk should know who covers the area best, and call for you. 15 minutes tops before you're in the car.

We love Brooklyn, and the rest of the world is discovering it. Downtown Brooklyn has lots of places to dine and more and more hotels. We have stayed at the Aloft before boarding the QM2 and were happy with our small but chic room & good service. In October we will stay at the Dazzler, which looks good on the Web. We will return in December on the QM2 and will have a day before we fly to a family Christmas from JFK Airport, so we will probably stay in Brooklyn again. Haven't yet shopped for that hotel. There is great subway service to downtown Brooklyn, so friends may meet up with us for dinner that night. Hotel prices in Brooklyn are lower than Manhattan, and travel times via cab much quicker to and from the Cunard Red Hook terminal.

Heads up on the Dazzler: Its location is on a very trafficked bridge off-ramp, and backed up by a very busy urban highway.

The options a touch further south are better: Aloft, Sheraton, the new Holiday Inn*, and the new Even (a IHG brand). Small difference, but I prefer that are over where the Marriott is- close to more shops, restaurants and see what on at BAM the night you're there.

*NOT the Holiday Inn Express on Union.

Specific to US/CA residents: You can book the cruise, and go back to add the flight later. Cunard's ChoiceAir program offers two rate categories and counterintuitively the more flexible of them is usually cheaper. It can be changed until 45 days before departure, and does not have to be paid for until the cruise's final payment (90 days before sailing). What I do with my clients is book a flight option with the cruise (if available), or when it becomes available. These fare deals can fluctuate, so I check every couple of months, and again before final payment. Tracking this way allows me to catch drops in fare, saving money. Then pay in full at time of final payment.

Correct that the fares are usually (but not always) restricted from upgrades. There's really no way to know, so best assume the worst here. The program allows for Premium Economy(where available), Biz, and First. And those fares can be great.

I've recently seen as low as $250 JFK->LHR in economy, and just booked the same route in first for $2,200.

Yes, I understand most if not all cruise lines keep part or full deposit payments if the booking is cancelled with the time frame stipulated by the cruise line - and it seems each cruise line has different terms and conditions in that regard. But my understanding is that all cruise bookings in made in the US have a period during which the deposit is fully refundable, except for special rate offers which most often require non-refundable payment in full at the time of booking.

That understanding is incorrect. Some lines do charge cancellation fees from the time of booking, regardless of rate offer, although the fees are not always the full deposit amount.

Because these policies differ, I make it a point to read the appropriate passage contract prior to booking, and I ask my travel agent prior to finalizing the booking what the rules are regarding cancellation (and that info is shown on my invoice).

Always good advice.

Just to mention, regarding Disney's policy on suite and concierge staterooms - your deposit is refundable if cancelled 90 days or more prior to vacation starting date:) - at least that's the way I read their passage contract https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/contracts-terms-safety/terms-conditions/united-states/

We must be reading that differently :) I understand that cancellations 90 days or more incur a fee equal to the deposit amount.

Suite and Concierge Staterooms: All Sailings

Days Prior to Vacation Commencement Date Fee Amount

90 days or more Deposit per Guest

89-56 days 50% of vacation price per Guest

55-30 days 75% of vacation price per Guest

29 days or less 100% of vacation price per Guest

I'm not certain you are correct in stating "Most other lines' deposits here [united States] are not refundable, at least not in their entirety." As just one example, I cancelled a r/t NY Bermuda cruise that I booked with Holland America prior to final payment date, and my deposit was fully refunded. HAL cancellation policy can be found here: http://www.hollandamerica.com/pageByName/Simple.action?requestPage=Cancellation

 

Suggest further research regarding US cancellation policy on other cruise lines.

Thank you, Salacia, for pointing that out. Indeed, I shouldn't have used "rare" and perhaps should have said "many" instead of "most".

Without research, but off the top of my head regarding lines which I have recent experience: MSC, Oceania, Silversea, Seabourn, Viking, AmaWaterways, Uniworld all keep some portion of deposits when canceled in certain periods before final payment date. Some of those lines allow the cancellation fee to be carried over as a future cruise credit. Disney's suite and concierge categories are are completely non-refundable from deposit.

One thing I did research was HAL, because the anecdotal experience cited didn't sound complete to me. They, do keep deposits, in their entirety, when canceling with the 30 days prior to final payment, though that is limited to their Grand Voyages.

I've two additions to this conversation:

1) Cunard is rare in the US for their refundable until final payment deposit. Most other lines' deposits here are not refundable, at least not in their entirety. (Insurance coverages aside. That's not a refund, it's a reimbursement.)

2) Cunard has no restriction on US TAs booking non-US passengers, and the use of a US address is not required. I have seen many travelers take advantage of this, saving loads of money. [The booking do forfeit two things: CunardCare Insurance, which is only available to US residents, but is overpriced bad coverage. And CunardAir, which is only available to/from a North American gateway, but a clever agent should still have access to decent airfares.]

Brooklynite here, just chiming in to add that the Choice near the ship is not near much else.

The central/downtown Brooklyn options would have more to offer nearby, both for dinner and a breakfast, morning stroll, or shopping before embarking. They'd be a cheap taxi to the ship, and a $30-ish taxi from Penn Station. (Likely you could do it on one subway, but presuming you have luggage, I'd spring for the cab.)

Thanks all. Good points on the use of OBC.

While I doubt anyone of my thirsty friends will have a credit balance to use, maybe I'll suggest they check on our last morning at sea, and if so, rounds on them!

Great. Thanks.

Hiya-

Quite a few members of my group are traveling as singles, sharing cabins with friends. In such a case, is it possible for them to have separate on board accounts, avoiding the need to divide up one bill at the end of the crossing?

 

And there's the key - $5,000 should be a available credit for credit cards. But for debit cards/checking accounts could be a sum high than most people want to risk playing with holds/authorizations/3 week delays.

 

TL/DR - Leave Credit Card for incidentals. Settle final as you wish.