Scarlet debonaire

And a very Merry Christmas to you all from me too.

It has been one of my great pleasures of 2015 to discover this site, and I look forward to contributing again in 2016.

My TA was everything I had expected thanks to the many hours spent reading all of your contributions, I shall put together a review once I return home in the new year.

Scarlet x

Hi

If you do decide to fly:

My suggestion would be to look at Southwest Airlines for any internal flights because of the 2 free checked bags. Having just got off a cruise in New York and flown to houston hobby with southwest I can highly recommend them. They don't come up on many searches in the UK, you need to go to their website. They do fly San antonio to houston hobby, I had a look and two one way flights first week of April was about $225 which is a real bargain if you have checked luggage to think about. I also paid about seven dollars for priority boarding as they have an open seating policy so I had a good choice of seats.

Scarlet

Well, here I am in Southampton, drinking coffee, bags packed and ready to go. I can't beleive the day is finally here. It's nearly 8 long months since I booked this crossing, my first, and subsequently stumbled upon cruise critic.

So, firstly, I'd like to say THANKYOU so much to all of you for sharing your thoughts and experiences. Pretty much anything I've wondered has been resolved by use of the search button on this site.

So, armed with all my theoretical knowledge, it's about to become real at last. I plan to take some notes as I go along and attempt to fashion them into something readable to share with you when I get to the other side.

Scarlet

Thanks so much for a.l the suggestions. We are embarking on the qm2 today (now there's a lovely phrase to be typing!), and I shall pass on all your wonderful suggestions.

Thanks again

Scarlet

Ah that's great news

Scarlet

Don't know if this might help, but I had problems when I first tried to log in to the VP, said my info was wrong.

The way I got round it was to try getting access from the link in the confirmation email cunard sent me when I booked with them. There was one email headed THANKYOU FOR BOOKING and within it was a link to YOUR VOYAGE PERSONALISER. When I clicked that link, my surname and booking ref were already loaded, and I just had to fill in my first name and DOB, and that link worked fine. Might be worth a try

Scarlet

Good morning all you wonderful CC PEOPLE! Two lovely friends of mine have just bagged a last minute TA, arriving NY 22nd dec and flying back to the UK on Dec 26th.

So, I'm asking on their behalf for your suggestions of what makes the quintessential New York christmas?

What would you do for 5 days in NY over Christmas? Where would you eat on Christmas day, what show or sights would you put on your bucket list?

Thanks

Scarlet

Oh dear, I can't stop picturing a sort of dogger in a box in the hallway, I've been giggling for at least 5 minutes

Scarlet

Did your own bag have any contact details on it or in it? If there has indeed been a simple mistake, not yet noticed due to travelling etc, then there is a good chance you may be contacted by the person who has your bag when they discover their mistake.

Hope this works out for you. If you had travel insurance, perhaps the insurance company could discover more details from the cruise line on your behalf, such as the contact details on the bag left behind, as the cruise line might be reluctant to share this with you as an individual.

Scarlet

I'm sure you are settled into that champagne bar by now, have a great trip and take good care of her.

Boarding in just under 3 weeks..........frocks at the ready

Scarlet

Hi Winchester

Well done love!

My solo inside for which I paid £1399 solo is now less than half of that, which again I will put down to life and learn. I did call a few days ago, and they were very sad but there was nothing they could do.

I shall enjoy myself whatever, but I shall call again in a few days and just ask, in my politest voice, whether that might have changed. If you don't ask, you don't know! I was happy with what I paid this first time, but if I were to contemplate the same winter crossing again, I too would wait till much later to book.

I am almost bursting with excitement now, have been buying frocks like a madwoman

Scarlet

Hi

I just had a quick look at Norwegian for you, 1st June 2016, just under us300 per person direct flight

Enjoy your planning

Scarlet

Another vote of thanks from me, reading along over my morning coffee

Scarlet

Hi, I don't have any suggestions for your day in New York, just wanted to congratulate you on booking your cruise. I'm sure you will have a wonderful holiday

All the best

Scarlet

Hi hellokittysmum,

Here is a link to the dress codes on board, just scroll down to the voyage you are looking at, I think it's M601

https://ask.cunard.com/resources/carnivaluk/life-on-board/qm_dresscodes14.pdf

There's loads of info around on this area of the website if you poke around!

Scarlet

Qm2 TA DEC 15th and Jan 3rd currently have no single SUPPS on some insides and balconies. Here in the UK insides are £699 balconies £729, including one way airfare, fees and taxes etc

I'm booked on the 15th dec southampton to New York, it will be my very first crossing, solo, can't wait

Scarlet

Hi,

If you have a look in the roll call section, there is quite an active thread for the qm2 Xmas cruise, and also over on the 15 dec TA thread there are lots of people who are doing the full 26 day including the Xmas carribean. There's lots of good information people who have done the cruise before and who are returning this year.

Scarlet

Hi, you should let your friend know that the single supplements are very much reduced at the moment, might be worth looking at it soon!

Scarlet

Hi

Tampa girl

I think if you are happy with the gatwick express service and it suits your needs, it's a good way to go. The discussion above was looking at trying to keep costs very low for somebody's Young relatives visiting London. Really, if you are coming in and simply transferring to a coach at victoria then the gatwick express is going to do you as well as anything else will.

One thing to bear in mind, if you book a first class anytime return ticket on gatwick express, you get free access to the no 1 traveller lounge at gatwick airport, which is a useful perk.

Scarlet

Hi, on one UK site whose name is french for good travels, this is showing at576 inside, 672 balcony, including flight for solo passenger

Scarlet

Having never flown Business class on BA before, I was wondering also about what seating arrangement is best for couples.... window/aisle or the 2 seats together in the center 4 figuration? We won't be choosing our seats until check-in so have no idea what will be available.

I've done a few trips LHr to Hou, and .have been in both configurations, travelling with my dad. I would say that the two in the middle feels more together somehow, you are sitting/lying side by side and it's easy to chat quietly. it does feel a bit like a little private oasis in the middle.

The face to face combo also works well, especially if one of you likes the window or the aisle, or if you prefer to look at each other and chat! My dad got a bit hard of hearing later in his life, so the face to face became much easier for him.

access in and out I found to be fairly easy, but again my dad preferred an aisle more as he got older, no worries about stumbling or disturbing anybody in the low lights at night etc.

I think you will enjoy any of them really, especially once you are sitting down with a lovely glass of champagne waiting for everyone else to board and settle down. No waiting till after take off for a drink in business class, happy days!

Well done on your flights, I was just reading about your story on the other thread

scarlet

Hi all,

Thought I would update you on my search for formal clothes for my QV cruise. I was walking past a store in my local shopping centre yesterday when the announced a sale on last seasons formal clothes.

I purchased 1 dress, not long but in between in a lace fabric, 1 sparking red top and jacket, and 1 long black skirt. The amazing thing was the price! All reduced dramatically to about 10% of their original price! I asked why and was told, their HO told them to clear because summer stock was about to arrive! Can't believe my luck!:D So now with my other cruise clothes I am ready to go!

What a great result!

Scarlet

Today, I found the most beautiful fifties feather cap which was just crying out for a transatlantic crossing.

I also became the latest custodian for a truly ancient and lovely silk velvet opera jacket, also destined for New York.

What could I do, I had to oblige!

Scarlet

Well well Winchester, sounds as though congratulations are in order!

Enjoy your crossing

Scarlet

This is a great read, and is feeding my anticipation for December. Thank you very much for posting, I shall be following along with you.

Scarlet