13_jane

I have just got off Harmony yesterday, and can also confirm it is definitely not a construction site - but Starbucks was closed! maybe they had an issue with something inside - but that was the only thing that was closed - yes there are a few guys going around doing maintenance, but every cruise i've ever been on you have on going maintenance :)

I did see two guests going around all the deck sides and "nooks and crannies" taking photographs - obviously trying to show that masking tape hadn't been used correctly whilst painting!! lol why don't these people just enjoy the cruise instead of trying to pick fault! Surely a small paint smudge in a corner isn't going to ruin your cruise and warrant a refund! I'd love to see the insides of some of the complainers homes! :-)

Great ship :-)

 

Food was excellent, we never saw Windjammers busy at all apart from when we got on.

 

I have to disagree with this statement! did you not attend breakfast in here?? Manic!! Very hard to find a table - and lots of queues for all the hot stations! We arrived at about 10am each day thinking it would have been less busy! I did love the hand wash station as you arrived at the restaurant - brilliant idea to keep the germs at bay :-)

Not liking the plastic plates and bowls during the day though! But this was my first Royal Caribbean cruise so don't know if this is the same on all the fleet. Personally prefer china/ceramic :D

But yes gorgeous cruise ship and staff and entertainment was super :-) Agree food was lovely too :-)

I too found the internet amazing compared to other ships I've been on.

Booked onto Harmony in May - so looking forward to comparing :-)

xxx

I was speaking to one of the staff on our QE christmas/new year cruise 2015/16, and she actually said to me that if someone has a heart attack on board here - they have more chance of survival than having one at home! She said the response to an emergency is something like 3 minutes - so I think I'd take my chances on board any day :-)

xxx

Ours have us "possible anchor" on the 1st but no mention of anchoring for 30/31st which we have taken to mean we may get pushed off the berth for the fireworks and overnight before we sail.

 

Last there some years ago on P&O so the fireworks may be even better than then!

I'm sooo looking forward to NYE and all the fireworks!! :D All the youtube vidoes just look amazing!

xxx

hi there

looking at my pre-voyage documentation - it states that QE will be an Anchor Port in Madeira - so looks like we are tendering in :-)

jane x

We've booked QM for Christmas and New Year. Six of us going (my parents, me, husband and teenage (15 &17) children). Staying two nights (me daughter and parents) in NY and going TO radio city Christmas spectacular. Husband and son arrive day before. We've done New York a lot (last time was in august before we did a TA) so we're not bothered about having long.

hi there

we spent a few nights in vegas first, then back to NY before we went off on the christmas and new year cruise last time and it was amazing! NY was soo busy around the rockerfella centre and radio city building - we didn't realise what was happening - and the policeman told us that everyone goes down to see the christmas tree - we thought some superstar was making a guest appearance it was so busy - the most festive I have ever felt - just fantastic - our boys were the same age almost as your two and they had the time of their lives - we never seen them! lots of children that age were on board - infact two of the friends they met are coming on QE this christmas - so I guess we wont be seeing them for 2 weeks!

Have a super time - you will just love it :-)

jane x

Hi there

We did that cruise a couple of years ago and just loved it! But when we got off in Brooklyn we were met with a couple of feet of snow! :eek: So no trips into NY for us. I know Cunard provided us with transport back to the airport, and if it hadn't snowed, they were taking us on a Free Manhattan tour with time for lunch etc... and our suitcases would be in the coach that was providing us with the tour - so check with Cunard as this may still be the case, and no need to worry about sitting in an airport for hours :-)

there's also a mall right next to the airport - Jersey Gardens - you could spend a few hours there - New Year Sales!! :D:D:D Maybe even book a room at one of the hotels close by, leave the suitcases there, even if you can't book into the room they will hold them for you, and you can freshen-up after your shopping-frenzy in the room, before heading to the airport :-)

But I would definitely give Cunard a ring to see what the procedure is :-)

jane x

Hi there

We did QM2 Christmas and New Year around the caribbean in 2013 and it was just magical for the children. We have two teenager sons and they loved it as much as all the smaller children.

Christmas eve there was a carol service in the grand atrium - the entertainment team did a great job - they enlisted lots of guests to join the choir - and i'm pretty sure we even had false snow! (....that might have been the alcohol!:D)

Christmas Day, the captain comes over the ships loud speakers that they can see Santa on his sleigh on the ships radar and he will be landing shortly! you can imagine the children getting SO excited. They tell all the children to head to Kings Court to wait for him. They then come over the speakers again that he has landed with his reindeer and is heading to see everyone! honestly its just so wonderful. Then once he arrives, he walks in a big convoy with all the children down to the ballroom - they also have all the staff dressed as elves and a walking band playing all christmas music in the parade down to the Ball room! Once in the ballroom - he has a big santa chair! and he sits and gives every single child a gift and they have their photo taken with him too - they start with the little tots, and shout the children out in age groups going up in age, so they all get a gift relevant to their age. Its so lovely seeing all the children rip open the wrapping paper and play with their gifts.

We then had a Christmas Day Ball in the evening - it was just super! We have booked for the Queen Elizabeth this christmas and new year - and just hope its as fun - our sons are older now! (only one will get a santa gift!! lol) but they still can't wait - I just hope its as good as QM2.

the funny story that we always remember is our 14 yr old at the time, telling a group of girls that he was 15, and when he realised they shouted out your age he was mortified having to get up to the 14 yr olds! we sat and laughed so much.

We also got a very nice Wedgwood Mug that was waiting for us on Christmas Eve when we went to bed - our sons were really disappointed that they didn't get one as they didn't realise they would get a gift the next day!! Our sons got wifi speakers or something like that - really good gifts :-)

New Years Eve was brilliant too!!! 3 parties going on in different venues - and balloons all dropped at midnight - and lots of free "bubbly" going around too!

I know I am really looking forward to this year :-)

jane x

We were on board last year - and we found the best time to go was around 6pm - half of the passengers are then on the early sitting in britannia - and since we had a late sitting - we were able to get lots done then :-)

I love the little bags of detergent they leave for you! we managed to wash everything before we disembarked so went home with nice clean clothes :-) which was brilliant since we are a family of 4!!

x

Brilliant review :D

I'd forgotten how lovely she is :D

x