lannp

The Captains on the QM2 generally rotate every two months. I am on the QM2 late October and several months before they deleted the dates for the Captains, Capt. Oprey was listed on my voyage.

I didn't receive an email about that but I did receive one from Cunard with a survey regarding my upcoming transatlantic (Oct.29) and 15 minutes later another stating they had withdrawn the survey due to errors and would contact me again. I didn't see either email until later so I've no clue what the survey was about. Cmon Cunard - get your act together!

I vote for Winchester. The ferry over to Hythe for a few hours is very pleasant (depending on the weather).

There won't be the pink and blue bands in the carpet which tell you whether you are on port or starboard.

You will find on formal nights that people are dressed formally. On my last Princess cruise 2012 formal night was a joke.

It is not a deal breaker for me but I find some Captains have better personalities that others. It is more important that he get me where I am going safely.

I quite often go to the movies in the evening in Illuminations. I really like the tiered seating. Showing movies in a room like the Winter Garden wouldn't entice me.

On a crossing when the weather is bad the Winter Garden is very busy in the daytime with people forced indoors but in the evening it is definitely an empty room.

Being a sometime casino user in the evening, yes when smoking was banned the usage dropped dramatically.

I've often suspected that shoreside didn't have a clue about things but after this I am totally convinced. Thank heavens the crew of the QM2 do:rolleyes:

I believe there are rumours that the Winter Garden is indeed going, and a new bar or intimate show-lounge is being built there instead. But that could just be gossip (which I'm helping to spread :o )

 

I also used to dislike the Winter Garden on QM2, but in 2010 on a cruise, I couldn't find a seat in the Chart Room or Commodore Club one evening, so sat in the Winter Garden. Since then I've been back many times and the place has grown on me (esp since they stopped the auctions of so-called "art").

It is a lovely place to meet for mid-morning coffee.:D

Brigitte, Oct. 30th is supposed to be the one formal night.

Linda

No, I've never HAD to leave the ship. I sometimes do laundry and then go ashore. Usually I am meeting a dear friend for a visit (lunch, sightseeing) and I absolutely have to go shopping at Marks and Spencer in West Quay.

I've done lots of these B2B. British immigration will be on board the eastbound and throughout the week there will be instructions to present yourself with your passport for inspection. It is usually held for a few hours in the morning and again in the afternoon on deck 3 entrance to the Britannia dining room. And if you don't go, they will notify you to present yourself.

Wen you reach Southampton, there is no fuss. Stay on board or simply go ashore to do whatever.

Playing around I came across this site https://ask.cunard.com/help/life-on-board/dress_code_all

 

Put in our cruise and it states the dress code. Those of u on a B2B have a problem, they have not decided yet.

I am on the westbound home and according to the pre-cruise docs there are 3 formal nights but then the docs for the eastbound (Blue Note) say 4 nights - so I guess anything goes:eek:

If you arrive prior to the advised boarding time you will not be turned away. There might be a line-up to check-in. Once checked in if you are in Britannia, you will be given a numbered card and directed to a large waiting room. You will be called by your numbered group.

If you are a Platinum, Diamond member or booked in the Grills you will check in at a separate line and wait in a separate waiting room. These passengers board first, which generally starts approx. noon - 12:15. Once that room is cleared the general boarding for Britannia guests begins.

Possibly there could be a large number of Brits on board who will not need to check-in since they are in-transit guests. That can shorten the wait times. There is just no way of knowing.

I am NOT going to let it affect my trip but Cunard is sending mixed messages here. Don't show the glitzy pictures of passengers in formal wear or publish two dress codes. This is a regular crossing which co-incidentally happens to highlight jazz. Crossings are known for their evening formality.

I just got off the phone with Cunard - what a waste of my time:mad: The Diamond rep fluffed me off to an agent who had to put me on hold while he looked it up. Yes, an emergency notification had gone out regarding this. I said that Cunard needed to get their act together. The pre-cruise docs and the voyage personalizer stated one thing and Cunard was now saying another. Cunard touts their formality and that is why we choose Cunard and why should I pay all this money to Cunard when I could find some cheaper line who didn't have a dress code. These guys have a script and if you detour from it they don't have answers. All he could do was let his supervisor know. I told him to let his supervisor know that I was one very ******* off Diamond member.

Next stop - The World Club office on the ship.

Chilled fruit soups and lamb. Lamb is an expensive meat here and not worth- while cooking for just one.

I received this notification today. Not what I was promised when I booked this last year.

Cunard gets a failing grade for this one since the cruise docs were completely wrong as to dress code as earlier stated. If I want a dress code like this I shall choose another line.

IMPORTANT NOTICES

**Blue Note Jazz at Sea**

We look forward to welcoming you on board Queen Mary 2 for our special 'Blue Note Jazz at Sea' Transatlantic Crossing.

We would like to remind you that this crossing will operate a more relaxed dress code with one Formal night and six Informal nights (jackets

required, denim pants permitted but cannot be torn or have holes in them).

We hope you will enjoy what promises to be an entertaining crossing.

Thank you for your attention to this notification.

I can't find that cabin category he gave. 4037 is a sheltered balcony - BV.

What hotels is he staying in! Lots of them still charge for internet. It is generally the lesser expensive chains which offer newspapers, breakfast and free WiFi.

I guess that explains why I seldom read the reviews.

This poster has 0 posts and only this one review. I'm not sure whether he is a "hit and run poster" or credible. I would compare this to those who complain that I was expected to dress up in the evenings.

Oh dear! I was hoping to see him. Campbell and Cunard took a break from one another for several years but I heard he had returned last year.

My room-mate will be very disappointed.

Thank you for the link. Thank goodness I too shall see "The Lady" soon.:D:D

If you are also concerned about rough seas on a crossing, deck 4 is great! Barely any movement.

From previous experience, what your documents state and what happens on board can vary. I have had this happen several times. I have seen in advertising for the "Blue Note cruise" that blue jeans may be worn in the evening. Blue jeans to me are not acceptable after 6 pm.

This type of discussion came up about a year ago. Last night I checked the Cunard website to add the hotel to my 2016 booking. The only hotel offered was the Crowne Plaza at a single rate of almost $900. Cdn.

I shall continue to book my own hotel, usually at the Hampton Inn because for that $900. Cdn. I can pay for the hotel and my flight to NYC.

Cunard transfers can also be aggravating. The Cunard rep at the airport is not readily available - sometimes you have to go looking for them. They then ask you to wait while they are filling a bus or van (and they stuff those vans full) and you also make the rounds of several terminals. The next day you go to the ship on their timetable.

Since I am able I will continue to control my own destiny. I would definitely monitor the hotel rates for the next few months. NYC in the fall is very pricey and hotel rates for the fall of 2016 are not showing up since usually websites only show a year in advance.

Whatever you decide - good luck.

And the nice thing about all these activities. You can run yourself ragged or do absolutely nothing and call it a perfect day.