Planning to cruise

Shows dont bother me either. I dont think I went to any on our last 2 week VO Venus cruise this summer other than a local entertainer. I was happy with the classical duo and pianist or my book with a drink.

In Britannia, Club and PG I have found it possible and acceptable to ask for, and be provided with, always available staples such as salmon, ice cream or fresh fruit platter (as starter or dessert) if not much else appeals.

On Queen Anne our steward asked if we could have our bags ready and to one side before 8 30. I did think, well the room is ours until then, but as it made little difference to us we obliged. On return from breakfast we found the double bed had been made up as two singles with bedside tables moved. That made the room even tighter on space. The corner of one bed was very close indeed to the corner of the tall desk unit. You would need to try to pass between the two with care.

I suggest you look at street maps and London tube maps online. Also consult the Transport for London web site. There is no direct link from Tower Bridge to LHR. Changes are involved, not necessarily advisable with luggage. Changes at Underground stations may mean transferring lines on different levels by long escalators and central London stations can be very busy.

Our sentiments exactly. I am aware from posts on this site that the new Cunarder hits the spot for many but definitely not for us. I ll stick to the other 3 Cunard ships as and when they are in Southampton.

Thanks for the explanation. It didnt register with me and I passed it a fair few times. It ws just something in the way!

I wasnt too keen on the statue / fixture by a corner of the Pavilion Pool on QA. To me, it was like a pile of lego that seemed more appropriate in a nursery school and just got in the way of circulation.

I agree. We have just been in Copenhagen and our activites and transport cost little as once we were in the centre we walked and visits did not justify the cost of a card. It was different in Oslo. I calculated our planned transport and admission costs and discovered we would more or less break even against the cost of a card. We bought cards for the convenience on the transport system, using them on ferries and buses, and for museum entries. We were not out of pocket but neither did we save much if anything. There is only so much you can do in the time. We bought 24 hour cards that sufficed for a 48 hour stay as they start from the time of first activation and end 24 hours later.

I have enjoyed Isafjordur twice and will be there again next year. Surrounding scenery is wonderful. There were a couple of shops and small museum on our visits, pre Covid Be aware this is northern Iceland, a fairly remote town where good footwear and weatherproof clothing may be sensible.

No show is compulsory!

Just bear in mind that Sunday rail travel in the UK can be less reliable. Ubiquitous "Engineering Works" can mean delays, cancellations or part of rail journey being on replacement buses. Any works and timetable alterations are usually scheduled and advertised in advance.

On both cruises all day during all port calls one of the crew stood on the ship by the exit to the gangway holding and offering bottles of water to passing passengers, goingboff or returning. Alongside him was a large refrigerated bin full of bottles. Another crew member gave out towels to passengers returning on board.

We have done 2 VO cruises this year on different ships. On both the bottled water was available by the gangway throughout the day.

I tell the steward not to bring any ice and remove the bucket!

When we first went on QM2 in 2007 you could have an audio guide to the memorabilia and art. I enjoyed it. Referring to an earlier post, my uncle was always proud that he had sailed on Queen Mary even if it was as a wartime army private.

I think all the cruise ships now go to Kai Tak terminal at HK. Some way out. I have been there on QM2 and QE. No doubt its where QA would be also. The Singapore terminal that Cunard uses is out of town but very close to a rapid transit station where we and many others accessed the excellent and easy transport system to start independent exploration.

The carafe of water is there but we often take the offered bottle water when returning from a tour as we head to the room. Certainly no need to buy any. I concur that the Living Room is the go to place for hot drinks. Also available in the Explorers Bar.

DJ as we Brits say for gala nights. DH always wears a jacket on other nights. We have crossed some 8 or more times at all times of the year. On our first, in May, I was sorry that I had not taken something warmer for outside. I also pack a woolly hat and gloves. As has been said, its the wind. If, like us, the pax like to get outside at some point in the day its useful to have a waterproof for wet times - there are sheltered parts on the promenade deck.

....summer and winter.

It is in summer, or at keast was when I was last on Hurtigruten pre covid. I have done the whole coastal journey in both summer and

We are fairly active 70+ year olds. We have done a number of river cruises, many (and now only) with Viking. I think you will find they are a good choice. We (I!) too are planners and I do much research before going anywhere. We did the Viking Rhine Getaway AMS to Basel last year. We were happy to just eat on the ship. No complaints. We prefer to use time in ports to see the places rather than spend precious time in restaurants. Lunch is often skipped when docked, when wandering ashore ‘coffee and cake’ or a light snack suffices. This is our experience of each port, what we did. You interests may differ. We are not interested in cheese making, wine tasting, war etc etc. but prefer to see the places, their art, architecture, history … We did not do any bicycle tours, are not that active. May I suggest that if you are a group of 8 you may not need to do the same thing throughout if interests differ? Having been to Amsterdam several times our pre extension was to the Hague. No complaints, only praise for our Viking provided transfer and hotel. Other than the transfer tour on the final day we skipped the included tours there preferring to do our own thing by visiting art galleries, a walk around and taking the tram to Delft. The ship spent the first day of the cruise in AMS. We spent it in the Rijksmuseum, having pre booked tickets and getting there by tram. If it is your first visit, either do what interests you after researching or take one of the ships tours to suit. I went to Anne Franks House many years ago when it was less commercialised. Judging by the crowds outside now it looked to be chronically busy - I would agree with the view that unless you have a specific interest it may not be worth it. We did the canal cruise as it was part of our transfer but I felt you didn't see much, the canals are low down giving limited views. Kinderdjik a morning. The choice is to do a tour or stay on board, it is not near anywhere. We did the included walking tour. It is an interesting sight, worth seeing. After entering with the guide, thus not having to pay admission, it was not long before we went off on our own and saw more, returning later with the group. The guide was too slow and uninteresting. Cologne we did our own thing all day walking the city after researching what we wanted to see and working out a route. Koblenz we did the included walking tour. It was Sunday morning, much was closed. Rudesheim an evening call. Had a quick walk around, found it very busy and touristy and returned to the ship. As with other places on the Rhine, we had been decades ago when things were quieter. The restaurants seem geared to the tourist market. Speyer the ship is docked about a 15 min walk through parkland to the town. We did our own walking tour of Speyer and its cathedral. We had been to Heidelberg. It is an interesting place and of course you get to see more of Germany en route with the tour but whether a tour with lunch at the university is worth it, I’m not sure? Strasbourg started off with the included tour which starts by touring the outskirts of the city before stopping in the centre to do the guided walk that finished by lunch time. There, we soon broke away from the guide to do more on our own and returned to the ship later in the afternoon by shuttle bus. When we are in Strasbourg again next year on a different Viking river itinerary we hope to see more of the European diplomatic area under our own steam, using trams. Being from the UK that will of more interest to us than to Americans. Breisach we did the Black Forest Tour. A scenic drive through countryside and a visit to a wood working / cuckoo clock making centre. Thought this one worthwhile. Basel no sooner had we docked (outside Basel) than we were transferred to the airport. Disappointing. We saw nothing and were sorry that we had not arranged to stay for longer. As we begin the next VRC there next year we have already booked a hotel in the city for a couple of nights to see the city on our own.

We had an A1 Club room on QV deck 8 last year. I dont remember any noise issues. A1is more midships, mostly under the Winter Garden.

Yes, why? I dont have a sweet tooth and a pet hate is icing sugar thrown over desserts. Cunard is a serial offender. I usually forget to mention it before it is too late.

As I am not keen on jam I only ever put cream on scones (as in scones not scowns). I once read something that made sense. Cream first then jam as you never put marmalade on toast with the butter on top.

When I was aboard I witnessed a deck steward asking pax to move their chairs and loungers for him to get a towel bin through.