LittleFish1976

I had a brief encounter with a different cruise line not so long ago that uses the large above the pool screens and found they played very loud movies on them even during the day. Put a new spin on spending a port day enjoying the spa and pool area largely to myself (almost alone but for the company of a mega-decibel film of questionable quality!). If Cunard plan to do it differently, so much the better. I hope that's the case.

Can this price be correct?! 'Full-day rentals at $349 on sea days and $249 on port days...' for the Seabourn Retreat areas? You'd be right to expect constant deliveries of food and drinks to your sun lounge for that amount of money. And I'd rather not have a screen outside or have to be sitting near anyone else viewing a large screen. That's one of the issues I have with the new Queen Anne - the outdoors super-screen over the pool area. A noisy intrusion.

As for smaller ships; I had thought I would find them all claustrophobic but having recently been on a Ponant ship with around 150 other passengers I can safely say that the experience was wonderful and extremely well suited to the type of trip I was on (Antarctic Expedition). I think the design of the ship makes a huge difference. I had lunch on a Silver Seas ship a few years ago which I think was Silver Spirit at around 600 pax capacity. I toured the ship and decided I would find that very claustrophobic.

I also had it in my mind as a classic Groucho Marx line. Loved their films.

The Wintergarden was extremely well used when I was on board QE 12 months ago for all sorts of events - music, trivia, even a talk as well as being a very pleasant place for a drink. Perhaps it depends on the itinerary. I'll be on board very soon in a different part of the world so will be interested to see how well it is utilised, but it will undoubtedly be one of my go-to areas during the day and sometimes the evening as well.

Not to worry. It's not a problem for me. These threads jump around and I have to confess I don't re-read every post again prior to posting a comment so the topic may have drifted in a particular direction lending an unintended slant to a post.

Well spotted, buchanan. I was referring to the QE.

They may have some spare Q which they can sell and shuffle around on the cruise you're interested in or have booked. Quite possible. The one I'm booked on which they were inviting bids on in the many thousands of dollars has no available cabins at all and is now 21 days out from sailing. As of yesterday, I could have put in a bid for any grade of cabin from P2 to Q3. It will be a rather interesting cruise - I don't think I've ever been on a truly 'full' Cunard ship.

Yes and in my experience they take the amount for the entire voyage on around the second day from your account.

But remember they are not offerring you a cabin. They are offerring you the opportunity to pay for one should one become available. They are happy to have your/our bids up their sleeve just in case. They have nothing to lose by doing so. It's a shame if people feel the cabins are available and it's just a matter of bidding the right price to obtain one. It's a commercial insurance policy for Cunard to maximise income.

Prior to the 'bid-for-upgrade' system having been introduced, I once received an upgrade (free of cost and unasked for) from a Q5 to a Q3 which occurred a couple of weeks, from memory, prior to sailing at which point I was assigned a new cabin number. Because I had allowed for automatic upgrades I was not consulted about the change and the first I knew of it was when I saw the new cabin number. I have recently made a 'bid-for-upgrade'. I received an email from the company mentioned above and after a week or so put in a bid which I then revised after a day or so and had almost immediate confirmation that my bid had been successful. This occurred about 5 weeks prior to sailing. The links for bidding to upgrade were also visible to me via my booking page via My Cunard on their website. It seems some people are not being invited to bid and no-one seems to have deciphered the logic behind who does and who doesn't receive the invitation.

I recently had a bid to upgrade accepted from a particular (i.e. not a guarantee class) Britannia balcony to a Q3 on a 9 night cruise on QE. Mind you, these bids that are being requested and given and not cheap. I paid a bit less than if I were to purchase at the current fare, the higher cabin class. The bid I put in was almost at the bottom of their suggested range though. I notice for the cruise prior to this one I refer to, which I am also sailing on, that the sugggested bids are in the truly ludicrous range. I think this is because there are no cabins available in higher classes and their thinking seems to be that they don't really need any bids but if a cabin should happen to become available and you've met their crazy bid range (something like $15,000 - $20,000 for two for a Q6 from BD grade) then it's a win for them. I had my bid accepted at least five weeks from sailing.

Driving from Melbourne to Perth (return) is something you tend to only do once in your lifetime. Mine was in 1978 or thereabouts and I don't remember a border check but then again, it's such a long time ago I could well have forgotten it.

I read this morning that the cruise line involved was reimbursing the tardy passengers for all their expenses. I suppose this is a goodwill gesture as the fault is with the passengers.

Seems logical. Good argument.

I just love the way people in the US always state which country they're talking about if it's not in the US for example 'London, England' or 'Paris, France'! For most of the world, it wouldn't need stating.

Am I alone in my aversion to the sage and plum colours? It vibes 'aged care facility' to me.

I had assumed this to be the case; there seem to be so many lines, so many ships going to Alaska that it makes sense there is an over-supply of cabins and regular discounting of fares across all categories. This makes it even more curious for Cunard to have made the decision to base Queen Elizabeth in Alaska for a full season each year. Anyone suggest the reasoning behind this?

I book Cunard through them and have the membership. Do they still provide additional OBC beyond what Cunard are offering and get you a small discount on the fare without membership? That's what I've been getting. Also, 15% discount with travel insurance.

Personally, I would jump at the upgrade at that price! Apparently the dining options are more extensive in Club compared to straight Britannia. Were you in the Barents sea on the Hurtiguten ship by any chance, as I would consider that pretty rough. The H ships are also an enormous amount smaller than the QM2. I've sailed up the front on deck 10 on the QM2 and barely felt it rock at all crossing the Tasman (with its reputation for being pretty rough). I've also sailed on the Spitsbergen - you can't compare them at all. Take your upgrade and have a lovely time. (Stemetil works well for seasickness!).

That's amazing! Well done and congratulations. You'll be so glad of the extra space and that couch on such a long journey.

Does Princess have a chat function via their website or app? That way you could have it in writing. I also struggle with some of them; recently had a call with someone from another cruise line and her English was so limited that she didn't know the words in English for the things I needed her to explain (issues about the rules for particular types of FCC). Unbelievably bad customer service. And yes, the accents often made them difficult to understand on the phone.

I've just checked my future booking for Queen Anne and I must say it is not clear whether there is a charge for the Golden Lion. There are four restaurants (the Asian, Italian and steak house) which are labelled 'Additional' but they are grouped under a particular category - 'Flavours of the World'. Under 'Traditional tastes' they have the pub but no mention of it being included in the fare. The next section is 'Traditional Afternoon Tea' and it includes the text 'Included in your fare' whereas the Champagne afternoon Tea's description avoids any mention of additional charge or inclusion in fare (as per the description of the pub). I'd say they're either going to charge for it or there's just been no eye for detail on the descriptions. Both options I would suggest are equally likely having seen the way the website is managed (I use the term loosely).

Always good to have a couple of credit cards on you when you travel overseas I think in case there's an issue with one. I won't be paying for much off the ship hopefully so should not be a major issue (except for hotel pre and post cruise). I really liked travellers' cheques! It really felt like travelling was something so out of the ordinary and special.

Thanks very much for sharing your personal experience with doing that. Good to have confirmation that it's not asking too much of them to accomodate the different payment method. I'll be doing a b2b so will zero out the account mid-voyage and at the end.