EuropeanAmericanTraveler

32 minutes ago, bluemarble said:

 

My assumption is different. From past experience with similar offers in the US, all three of the proposed fares "Our Lowest Fare", "Treat Yourself, on us" and "Cunard Fare" ought to have the standard cancellation schedule once the final payment date has been reached. "Our Lowest Fare" differs in that the deposit is non-refundable. But I'm afraid the only way you will know for certain is to call Cunard or speak with a travel agent. It is unfortunate the terms and conditions for each of the fares don't spell that out clearly.

You might be right if this from your own experience but this not clear at all on their website... I wish things would be written more clearly. I feel like the only way to know for sure, besides contacting someone at Cunard, is to cross fingers and book a fare and only after, have access to the details on the Booking confirmation page they send...

9 hours ago, bluemarble said:

 

You would hope the Cunard website would make it clear when a fare is non-refundable. But when the Cunard website doesn't specifically state that, it is best to confirm those details with Cunard (or your travel agent if you use one).

Yes, I regret it is not clearly stated on the Cunard website when a fare is non-refundable or not. As I wrote earlier in this thread, for a cruise of interest, I was proposed 3 fare options and for only one of them it was mentioned "Standard terms and conditions apply". I assume only this fare is refundable according to the terms of Cunard cancellation policy and not the other 2 options.

12 minutes ago, bluemarble said:

 

You would normally only pay a deposit until the final payment date (120 days before departure for US bookings on cruises of 30 nights or less). Once that final payment date is reached, the standard cancellation penalties kick in as outlined in the Cunard Passage Contract regardless of which fare you have booked.

 

Now if you are asking what happens if you choose to pay the entire cruise fare at the time of booking (or at some point well before the final payment date) and then cancel before the final payment date, then I'm not positive how that works. I believe you would still only have the deposit amount at risk if you booked a fare with a non-refundable deposit and would get your entire fare back otherwise, but don't take my word on that.

My understanding is that certain fares are 100% non refundable, no matter the time when you cancel after payment. This is what is written under Cunard's cancellation policy:

If You have purchased a specially priced promotion that is 100% non-refundable from the point of payment, You are not entitled to any refund, payment, compensation or credit whatsoever of Your Cruise or Cruisetour fare if You cancel Your booking.

59 minutes ago, bluemarble said:

 

"Our Lowest Fare" has a non-refundable deposit. It's stated as such when you view the fares near the start of the booking process.

 

Our Lowest Fare.

$1,678Per stateroom/suite

 

• Guaranteed stateroom.*

• Reduced non-refundable deposit.^

• Excludes our current limited time offer and Cunard Fare benefits.

 

 

"Treat yourself, on us" doesn't specifically say one way or the other which normally means the deposit is refundable until the final payment date (120 days before departure for US bookings on cruises of 30 nights or less). But do confirm with Cunard just to make sure if you'd like to book that fare.

Thank you for the infirmation. But I was referring in my question to the total price of the cruise being refundable or not, not the deposit.

Thank you for your replies. I will be careful before booking.  For exemple, for one cruise, I have 3 options: "Our Lowest Fare" then "Treat yourself, on us" and the most expensive "Cunard Fare". Only the last one has "Standard terms and conditions" that apply, wich allows refunds. Nothing is mentionned for the other 2.

Hello,

I'd like to know how is it possible to know if a fare is 100% non-refundable before booking?

I would like to book in advance a QM2 crossing for the end of 2024 but I want to be sure I will be allowed a refund in case I need to cancel.
Is it clearly written online if a fare is 100% non-refundable before booking? I would not like to book a fare and find out later that is not refundable.

Thank you 

25 minutes ago, Bell Boy said:

Why on earth are you worried , you are already guaranteed a stateroom on your crossing ( part of the particular booking you opted for )  I and many other customers have been known not to have been allocated a stateroom until one has arrived at the Check-in desk.

 

Stop worrying , worry more over how many Jackets you are going to pack 😅  

 

Edited to add:  If you have no stateroom allocation on the day of your journey down to the cruise terminal, Attach luggage labels with your Name and Voyage Number 'clearly printed' -   Drop your luggage off to the porters in the usual way - your luggage will find it's way to your allocated stateroom, no problem .       

Thank you for your reply, I won't worry then :) It's not my first transaltlatic cruise on QM2 and I am confident everything will be fine.

26 minutes ago, Winifred 22 said:

Was it a Cunard Fare or saver ? Saver can be allocated up to the day of sailing. 

It was a Saver I believe

34 minutes ago, PORT ROYAL said:

BIL had the identical angst.  However, they were pleased with the resulting upgrade.  Not saying there is an upgrade in the pipeline, but one never knows….  Know of a couple who received their stateroom 7 days prior to boarding, again with an upgrade.  No need to panic “yet”.  If really concerned then give Cunard a call.

Thank you for your reply, it would be nice to have an upgrade!

Hello,

I will be boarding QM2 on July 14th for a Southampton to NYC crossing. When I check-in online and download my boarding pass, there is still no stateroom number ALLOCATED to my ticket and it says instead: TBC. I believe this means "To be confirmed"? 

We are now 12 days away from departure and I still have no stateroom number? I am getting a little bit worried. It's my 11th crossing and I have not encountered this kind of situation before. Has anyone been in a similar situation before? Should I check a gain in a few days and hope to have a stateroom number allocated?

Thank you all

Do you know if platinum or diamond members are allowed to check-in earlier than their official arrival time?

Thank you all for your replies, it's good to know. I also purchased CunardCare protection for myself. Do you know if it would also cover the other guest or would the extra person need to purchase it as well?

Hello,

I booked a transatlantic crossing for this summer on QM2 as a solo guest. I had to pay for double occupancy since I'm travelling by myself. Now, I am thinking of inviting a close friend of mine to enjoy the crossing and experience and share my cabin. Am I allowed to add a guest to my reservation? I would think this should be possible without any extra payment since I have already paid for the price of double occupancy (I paid for 2 guests although I'm travelling solo).

Is there anything that would prevent me for adding someone to my reservation?

Thank you

32 minutes ago, frankp01 said:

I think the issue is CVS is primarily set up to bill insurance. And, therefore, the questions are designed to filter for the conditions under which they can bill an insurance policy. They can't bill for just a rapid test. But a rapid test along with an office consultation can be billed.

I understand what you mean but after you answer no to the health insurance question and CVS knows they can not bill an insurance policy, it would make sense to display all the possible testing options and their price including the Rapid Antigen option, which it does not.

32 minutes ago, frankp01 said:

But if you're paying, there are cheaper places than CVS. In what location are you looking to get tested? In NYC, my London-based friend got a test at Bloom Labs. Here's a chain of COVID testing locations (with quite a few around the country), and they take cash at some of their locations:

COVID-19 Testing Services | Curative

 

If I embark on the QM2 in Brooklyn again, I think I will use Bloom labs as it seems to be fast and convenient. Thanks for the link with testing locations!

On 9/21/2022 at 7:32 AM, frankp01 said:

Just FYI, I suspected the reason, but wasn't sure why. This entry, from a local chain if urgent care centers, perfectly explains it...

 

Why doesn’t insurance cover rapid COVID tests at vybe?

In the eyes of most insurance companies, it’s an issue of medical necessity vs. wellness screening.

Lab-based PCR tests at vybe can be covered by insurance because they typically include a physician evaluation. When someone has COVID symptoms and comes to us because they’re sick, our physician makes the decision if they should get a PCR test.

Rapid tests are usually not covered by insurance because they do not include a physician evaluation – especially if the person isn’t experiencing any symptoms and simply wants to know if they have the COVID virus.

Thanks for the info. It explains why the Rapid Antigen test is not covered by insurance but it does not explain why it is so difficult to book this option on the CVS website  In my case, although I have health insurance coverage in the US, I am willing to pay for a Rapid Antigen test because I find this option faster and more convenient (and also cheaper than a PCR test). But I noticed that on the CVS website, whether or not you answer yes to the question asking if you have insurance, it doesn't offer you the choice of the rapid antigen test. Only when one answers yes to the question you listed above ("Are you seeking a covid-19 test because of high transmission rates..."), it proposes the rapid antigen test. This does not make sense to me.

13 minutes ago, frankp01 said:

Try answering yes to this question and see what happens. I don't think insurance will cover the visit, otherwise.

 

 

 

Bingo! It worked this time, thank you 😉

I have no idea why they make it so complicated to find the Rapid antigen test option and I don't see what this question has to do with it...  It makes no sense at all to me except that they might try to push the expensive rapid PCR tests and consultations...

17 hours ago, frankp01 said:

As was discussed earlier in this thread, the testing options provided by CVS vary dramatically depending upon responses to the screening questions. In particular, I think the insurance question. If you say you have health insurance you get the screens I included above. If you say you are paying yourself, the number of options fall dramatically. I don't know why. When I was last getting tested (at a CVS) I specifically asked if I would have been turned away if I had been a private pay client. The technician said 'No', even though that location did not appear unless I said my insurance was footing the bill.

I answer yes to the question asking if I have health insurance coverage and no to all other questions but still can't see the option of a Rapid Antigen test on-site.

20 hours ago, bluemarble said:

 

I've found I have to answer "yes" to one of the test qualification questions to qualify for no-cost testing in order to get the screenshots @frankp01 provided which include "Rapid test" without provider visit.

 

Checking three major US cities, I happened to find one site offering such tests in New York City, one in Chicago and none in Los Angeles.

Could you please tell us what question needs to be answered yes in order to have the choice of Rapid Antigen test? Personally, the only question I answer yes to is if I have health insurance coverage.

50 minutes ago, frankp01 said:

I interpret their website a little differently. Here's the screen I see. Notice, there is a rapid Antigen test. Now, it may not be cheap, because it has to be part of an 'office visit' that incorporates more than just the COVID test. But supervised antigen tests are still available. For a test with no 'provider visit', like the following, no locations are found (at least in my area. That they make the option available it must be possible to get those tests somewhere).

 

But, with provider visit, there are quite a few locations. And notice that it does say 'Antigen' (which is what I've received on every visit). The 'Not accepted for all travel' is simply a disclaimer that Antigen tests usually aren't accepted for travel. But Cunard does accept them.

 

 

 

Thanks for the screenshots. It's weird because I don't get the same webpage when I do a research and there is no Rapid Antigen test options listed (with provider visit or without provider visit). Here is what I have instead:

17 hours ago, frankp01 said:

There are three options when searching for tests: Lab Test with results in 2-3 days, Rapid Test with Provider Visit, and Rapid Test. Searching on just Rapid Test there were no sites within 100 miles. But there are 7 locations that will do a Rapid Test with a Provider Visit. "Provider Visit" gives CVS the chance to take your blood pressure and do a few other rudimentary health checks, meaning they can bill for a more expensive visit in addition to just the test.

Hi, I believe that the 3 options you have listed correspond to the 3 options I had listed previously above:

- the Rapid Antigen test is the cheap and quick test you can do yourself at home but is not supervised and you don't get a certificate with it so you can not use this rapid antigen test at embarkation.

- the 2 other options are both expensive PCR tests, not rapid Antigen tests.

So unless you are fine with a PCR test that takes 1-2 days to get results or are willing to drive far to the few selected locations that offer the Provider consultation + rapid PCR test and pay $208 to $218, there is no supervised Rapid Antigen test with certificate at CVS.  

On 8/30/2022 at 3:58 PM, frankp01 said:

Did you not try the CVS you had in mind, after all?

Is it only me or it seems that CVS minute clinic does not propose on-site Rapid Antigen Testing anymore? The only options I see when I try to book a test are either:

- At-home rapid antigen tests at $9.99 (but I don't think you get a certificate for it and therefore can not be used for embarking

- In-person lab tests at $139 out of pocket for a PCR/NAAT lab test but you'll get your results in 1 to 2 days...

- Rapid-result (PCR) with results within hours but limited availability.

Nowhere I see that CVS is proposing the cheaper and faster Rapid Antigen Test. If I have to travel on the QM2 from NYC again, I think I'll try somewhere else unless you really want to have a PCR test done. But even if you want a PCR, CVS will either give you the results within 1 or 2 days (which can be problematic) or you won't be able to find a location where they give you PCR results within a few hours.

1 hour ago, frankp01 said:

That Philadelphia is only an hour from New York makes it easy. We were tested at 9AM on June 29th. We took the train to NY that day, so we had the 29th, 30th and the 1st in New York. We boarded the QM2 on July 1st, so our test *was* within two days of sailing.

I see thank you. That's where the term "within two days of sailing" would have confused me. I would have thought that the actual day of sailing counted towards the 2 days and therefore a test done on the 29th was withing 3 days and not 2. 

On 7/14/2022 at 7:40 AM, frankp01 said:

They were both in Philadelphia. For the most recent trip, in July, because I was in NYC for a few days before boarding, I considered getting tested in NY. I opted, instead, to get tested at home, because I found a location very close to home.

 

If I were you, I'd concentrate on the testing locations known to accommodate non-US travellers.

Hello, sorry to ask you this but my understanding is that travelers need to get tested within 2 days of embarkation in Brooklyn. So, if you were tested close to home in Philadelphia and then went to NYC to spend a few days before your trip, how could you be tested within the required time period? I'm just trying to understand how this works for a potential future crossing from NYC.

I managed to do it myself but anyway they retook my picture at embarkation in Southampton...IMO, this online check-in is a waste of time and only adds extra confusion and worries to travelers on the top of all other things to prepare for a trip. And anyway, you still have to go through check-in at embarkation, so what's the point of online check-in?

23 hours ago, Guelphist said:

I am traveling home from Europe on the QM II on August 21. I bought CunardCare insurance. I need to make absolutely sure that this covers the travel insurance requirement. Is CunardCare enough, or do I need to buy more insurance. I need to know, because for me this isn't a cruise. This is transportation. My ticket home. I'm basically the equivalent of a steerage guy, if there was still such a thing. And if I can't get on the boat I'm stuck in Europe. Please help me so I know how to proceed 

Hi, I was in your exact same situation, traveling from Southampton to NYC, just arrived on 08/05. I am an American citizen and purchased my ticket on the US Cunard website (.com and not .co.uk) with Cunard Care protection. At Southampton, I was asked by a lady if I had purchased travel insurance for my voyage. I replied yes, Cunard Care. She said it was fine (she didn't verify). From my research before embarking, it seems that you are not required to purchase travel insurance if you booked through the US Cunard website, but it is highly advised to do so. Personally, I always add Cunard Care protection in case something really bad would happen on board. If you can access both US and UK Cunard websites and look at their page for travel insurance, I remember there was different wording about insurance (something like it was mandatory for UK guests - on the UK website- and was encouraged only on the US website). But then, I would double check with Cunard to be sure.