DadTheBigKid
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Posts posted by DadTheBigKid
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The only time we have ever shared any wine was on a formal night on another cruise line. Our table companions offered us a glass of champagne from the bottle they had ordered, which was very generous. Mr HH signed our bill without his glasses and it was only when we got back to the cabin we realised that we had paid for the bottle !!
I am not sure what normal etiquette is but we have never offered to share.
Thanks Hattie.
Unfortunate tale about the champagne!!
I bet you checked the next bill or two 😀
I'll have a look at the wine packaged later , I'm thinking 6 bottles will do our evening meals. Be nice to bring a bottle back too I think
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Hi
This is a bit of a silly question and excuse me for that
But
It's our first crossing / cruise and we are on a table of 8.
Is it acceptable to offer your wine to others or just keep it to ourselves initially?
With friends you would share the drinks bill and I am happy to think that after one or two evenings we will be make some friends and share drinks but for the first night or two what is "normal etiquette"?
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DTBK I enjoyed the beginning of your blog. Happy anniversary and have a fantastic time on your crossing. :)
Thank you very much.
I have a strong feeling we will have a fantastic time :)
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Many thanks, I'm just starting to plan our trip now. Will let you know what we think of the New England cruise. Like the look of the hotel you have booked in New York!
Planning is the exciting part, enjoy that.
Cathy sourced the hotel and it looks good. CASA also have one on Times Square.
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Hope you have a fantastic trip, what a lovely way to celebrate your 25th wedding anniversary.
Look forward to reading and following your blog. I'm thinking of combining a few days in New York with a New England cruise on QM2 next year (to celebrate my 50th) so look forward to reading all about New York!
Well we will do our best with New York News.
I haven't looked at a New England Cruise ( or if I do I have forgot!) , Cathy has mentioned looking at New England a few times. Let us know what you think after your cruise please.
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Probably best to start a savings account now. We went on our first Transatlantic crossing in 2012 to celebrate a special year. It was our first ever trip on Cunard, and only our third ever ship-trip. Like Pepper, this was to be a once in a lifetime trip. Happily (though perhaps sadly for the bank balance!) it didn't work out that way. We went again the next year, and I believe that following our round-trip to New York in October we will become Platinum. You have been warned....
I appreciate the warning.
It seems a common affliction on this forum!
Family "anniversary" weekend September 2016
Our "current" plans are family holiday in Malaga August 2017. Our eldest was in Malaga for his languages degree for 5 months and we joined him for a week. Lovely town and not very tourist / English.
October 2018 ( Cathys 50th!) transantlantic round trip. We liked the idea of a round trip where the QM2 went up to Halifax I think , and we could get 4 days in New York but can't see that option anymore?
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I have no doubt that you and the misses will have a wonderful time. You have done your homework and will arrive a newbie but well seasoned Cunarder.
This will not be your last voyage on Cunard. It is very addictive.
Thank you , we think we've done our homework and agree without having done a cruise or crossing we believe we will be smitten!
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It's often the way here, there really is no issue with either drinking your own tipple in the privacy of your own cabin or drinking beer with a meal in the MDR.
We travelled with friends at New Year and he isn't much of a wine drinker. After the first evening our Sommelier had his Doombar on the table whilst I was still reading the wine list !
Have a wonderful trip.
Yes Hattie
I accept peoples opinions and forums are a vehicle for expressing them.
We are going to enjoy every second, drink, film, show, book, and dance.
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Hi DadTheBigKid,
May I also wish you both a huge Bon Voyage and a very Happy 25th Anniversary.
Have the most wonderful time on board, do lots of exploring (there is a lot of ship to explore!).
One tip; take a marker pen to note on the invaluable Daily Programme (delivered to your cabin evenings ready for the next day) what you wish to see/attend each day (I take mine to breakfast and have a good read). There is so much to do that it is easy, unless you make a note, to miss things you really wanted not to miss (this is the voice of bitter experience talking here :( ).
As jimmybean has wisely said, internet access is erratic and expensive. Posting large picture files especially so :eek:
However I am very much looking forward to reading all about your voyage when you've finished your blog and added all your photos.
My first crossing (September '06) on QM2 was supposed to be a "once-in-a-lifetime/once-only" trip.
Queen Mary 2 so got under my skin that I'm now a Diamond member and as well as QM2 I added cruises on QE2, QE & QV. My next QM2 cruise is in November in the Caribbean to celebrate my ten years of sailing Cunard :)
Again, have the most amazing, wonderful, fantastic time on board the astounding QM2 :) .
As with jimmybean thank you for your words of wisdom and kindness. We have said when we booked it this was a once in a lifetime holiday....that feeling didn't last long :)
I look forward to hearing more words of wisdom in the next few months and years.
10 years on Cunard... Nice :D
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Great start to your blog, D-T-B-K!
Just want to mention that internet on a crossing can be expensive and, sometimes, extremely slow. After a few Cunard voyages, you start getting some free internet time, but on your first, it's a little shocking how much it costs, considering how poorly it can be working.
Please, don't feel obligated to blog frequently, while on the ship, if you find it frustrating. It is also lovely to read people's after-voyage summaries and opinions.
Excitement has always been high, whenever DH and I have boarded QM2. It never gets old. Maybe, thrilling is another word to describe the experience…
But, it's also one of the nicest place to truly relax and become renewed.
So, blog as you wish, but with so much else to do, don't feel guilty about having us wait a little for your story, if that is the way it works out.
Relax! Have fun! Meet and mingle! Circle the promenade. Read a book. Have a drink. Take a nap. Visit the gym. Play some cards. Stare out the window. View the bridge. Count the lifeboats. Learn all the ships nooks and crannies. Ask for lunch seating with others. Ask for lunch seating alone. Enjoy your anniversary !!!! That is what is all about :) A love story...
Thank you very much for your wisdom and kind words.
All duly noted.
It all starts in a fraction over 2 weeks :)
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Wow
I think we have gone off thread a bit.
I feel a bit uncomfortable with some opinions here.
I see no issue with having a drink from our own supply in our cabin before dinner? This is our first cruise and our 25th Anniversary and we intend to take a spirit onboard. We have ordered champagne for our arrival on board and wil be spending plenty of money on food and drink , it is the largest part of our to spend budget.
Also Boddingtons at the table being an issue, really!!
I do not intend to have a pint with our evening meal but have no issue with anyone who does.
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Have a wonderful trip. We'll try to leave her ship-shape for you - we're on the previous crossing from Southampton.
Thanks Mark!!
Let us know your suggestions for the crossing.
I've had Commodore club is a good place.
Happy Crossing
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How exciting! Thank you for sharing. My husband and I will be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary on the 1/3 crossing from January. Can't wait to read about your trip.
Well Happy Anniversary to you both too :)
This is a great place to read and share
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I hope you update it daily as I'll be checking in. I'm doing a NYC stay and TA in November so your experiences may be useful :)
We aim to update as much as we can.
We feel a bit prepared after reading posts here and watching videos on you tube.
I hope at least something we blog will help you.
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Oh how exciting! I will be following your journey, I am sure it will be absolutely wonderful! Have an amazing time, I am looking forward to reading more about it.
Nicky
Well I hope we keep it fresh for you. I already feel the first posts are a bit plain.
Cannot wait and I love the idea of the countdown on the blog!
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You will have a wonderful time - we did a May crossing in 2014 for TheMr's birthday - just before we left we decided to get married so it turned into a honeymoon as well. It was fabulous - and the reason I still look at cruisecritic almost daily just to get my Cunard fix.
Well happy anniversary to you both.
We cannot wait and like you I think it will be Cunard only for us, that's a bit unfair as I have no experience of other lines...but :)
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I will certainly read with interest! Your enthusiasm is infectious. Thank you for your willingness to share your adventure with us. I hope you have a wonderful voyage.
Jimmybean
Thank you Jimmybean. It was this site that gave us the initial idea so its only fair! Also it is a great tool for us to look back on later.:)
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How exciting, I look forward to reading all about your trip.
Thanks Hattie.
We will squeeze in as much as we can while away and thank you for building our enthusiasm on this site :)
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Hi all,
we are three weeks away from our 25th Wedding Anniversary adventure.
We have started a blog and aim to update it with pictures and comments while we are away when we can and ensure it is completed soon after we return.
If anyone is interested follow this link.
Main reason for this blog is the memories long after we have returned
http://dadthebigkidonqm2.blogspot.co.uk
:)
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I'm in my early 40's, it' mostly older age group but all age groups are represented.
Celebrating your Anniversary on QM2 is a good choice. Breakfast in bed in your stateroom, lunch/dinner in The Verandah Restaurant, Champagne afternoon tea, romantic walk on the promenade deck, a theatre show in the evening etc...
Gary
Hi, my Wife and I are celebrating our 25th starting 17th May in New York. The 18th is our Anniversary and we have the Bon Voyage package so will have breakfast in bed on that day, then a light bite at lunch and champagne afternoon tea :) The evening meal is 8.30 and who knows what after that.
I am 54 and my wife is 48. We look forward to great conversation with a table of 8.
Cannot wait!!!
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Hmmm, we have our first ever cruise / crossing in 4 weeks on QM2. I read the thread with interest and the majority opinion seems that the QM2 is better for rough conditions than any other?
Really looking forward to this and I do feel all future atlantic trips will be with QM2
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Have a great trip. I am sure you are going to love Cunard. Do please put some posts up so we can see how you are enjoying yourselves.
we will do and thank you :D
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We found the lessons to be entirely suitable for beginners and managed to pick up a few steps.
thank you Gill....
4 weeks and on Virgin atlantic to NY
Then 4 days and on QM2.....
:D:D
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Me too!
And if you had told me pre our cruising days that we would ever have gone to ballroom dancing classes I would have laughed you off the planet! Yet there we are. And we really enjoy it too!
Well Camgirl we have a lot in common as 1 year ago we had never considered cruising. 6 months ago I had never considered ball room dancing!
Worried now that we have built this up soooo much that it may not be what we expected!!
I think really though that will not be the case :)
Wine Packages
in Cunard Line
Posted
Dear Experienced Cunarders
We will be ordering a wine package of red and white. I see we will get a book of tokens.
If we decide we will have fish one evening , how long usually will the Sommelier take to get a bottle in the Brittania Restaurant normally?
Also , if we are chilling in the Commodore club for instance , could we give the bar staff a token and get a bottle of wine there? ( obviously this would not be before 10am :D )
Thanks in advance.
Just over 2 weeks till we board........