Jack E Dawson

We stayed in Southampton overnight before departing on our TransAtlantic last year. We took 4 cabs, train station to hotel, hotel to dinner, dinner back to the hotel and hotel to the ship. In all cases we paid with a credit card and never had a bit of trouble. For what its worth, we found the fares very reasonable. Hope this helps, Jack

I spoke with Sealy U.S. customer service directly and was told that the Cunarder model mattress is not available here. However, the agent did look at the mattress' components and said that the Posturepedic Plus Hybrid Firm would be the closest match here in the States. The "Hybrid" means that it is a combination of foam and (individually pocketed) springs. He also said that the only component that mattress didn't have that the Cunarded had was the hand tufted top. Jack

I second Cruise NH's recommendation about economy bulkhead seats on long-haul flights. Also, is there a possibility of buying a economy ticket and then using points to upgrade to business? Most of the major airlines have significantly upgraded their premium economy in the past 2 years. On some airlines Premium Economy today is almost equal to what Business Class was 10 years ago before that class got lay-flat beds. If Business Class is out, Premium Economy is a very good compromise. See the flight as a chance to indulge yourself. Bring that book you have been trying to get through or a stack of magazines, maybe there are some letters you would like to write. This is also a good time to organize your pictures and chronicle the trip while it is still fresh. Hope this helps, Jack

We have sailed BC on the QM2 on a Crossing and very much liked it. The anytime dining with a dedicated table and staff was nice. Although a form of anytime dining is now available in the MDR, the upgraded dining experience in BC was worth the additional cost for us. There are also other subtle enhancements to BC. Yes, the BC cabins are on decks 12 & 13 towards the front but we didn't notice significant movement even in rough weather. While the BC cabins are on the small size (exact same size and layout as Britannia class), the sitting area is perfect for two and the glass front balcony provides for a lot of light and an open feeling. We think BC is a good value proposition. Hope this helps Jack

These are the candied ginger that we take. Important to note that the first ingredient listed is ginger, not sugar. Jack

I checked with Dee on this one and she says that she was very glad she had brought the appropriate dresses for the color theme galas. Said she would have felt more disappointed rather than uncomfortable had she not. Dee also said that a "40's" era dress for the Roaring 20's would be fine as that seems to be the least followed gala theme. The Roaring 20's was also the theme that caused her the most pre-cruise stress but she did participate and said it turned out to be a lot of fun. We have also had gala themes change prior to sailing during COVID. The Masquerade Gala is the easiest. Dee used a hand held mask and I have always chosen not to mask. However, in the Queens Room there will be some very extravagant masks. Hope this helps. Jack

We also encountered force 10 winds and very rough seas on a May crossing. Even under these conditions the ship was amazingly stable. Champagne was still poured to near the top of the glass at afternoon tea. While you should be OK in the July time period, it is the North Atlantic. I strongly suggest bringing a bag of candied ginger. Pop a piece an hour before you first board and then every morning. If you do run into heavy seas you can add an additional piece in the afternoon. It never fails. Jack

Ah. Thanks chengkp75 Jack

Thanks chengkp75. Your link is excellent. I tried to Google this but with no success. My Mom and Dad sailed on the QM in the late 50's but I have no idea which class they were in. In the picture below, taken by my Dad, my Mom is centered. The second picture is of their cabin but I can't tell which level it is on. Both pictures were taken on embarkation day. Jack

I know this is a long shot but would anyone knows if the passenger cabins on the Queen Mary (not the Queen Mary 2) ALL had en suite bathrooms? Thanks Jack

We sailed this past May (westbound TA) after a 4 year hiatus and found the food to be as good or better than previously. There was no cutback in menu offerings. Service in all of the food venues was slightly off because there were so many new staff members but it wasn't from a lack of trying. The entertainment seemed even better and there was more of it. I'm thinking they may have booked additional entertainment in case of COVID cancellations. The Cunard Singers and Dancers were were outstanding. We only used the laundromat once but all three washers were open. Never had that happen before but we were sailing with a reduced passenger load. No charge and laundry soap provided. The insights program was excellent, as usual, with good diversity in their lecturers. Finally, Cunard continues to maintain their usual standard of internet, -D I'm sure that Cunard is trying to offer the same consistent product experience that they did pre COVID but this is hard to do in the hospitality industry right now. We had a wonderful Crossing. Jack

In 3 crossings I've never seen anyone turned away bluemarble. On our May Crossing there were quite a few people on the first day but a lot of people thought it was a one and done program and class size drops about 1/3 on the second day. I really like that if you have a scheduling conflict with the morning class you can drop in on the afternoon class for that day and vice versa. Jack

You do not need to register, just show up. They will definitely happen on a transatlantic. The classes are progressive and cover all 6 sea days. All (or no, in my case) skill levels are welcome. Enjoy. Jack

So how did the Crossing go kshannon? Would love to hear your feedback. What was the best advice you got and where did we miss the boat. What was your biggest "ah ha" moment? Thanks, Jack

Can't wait to hear all about your adventure. There is just so much to do that it is very easy to over schedule your day. Take time to explore all of the nooks and crannies of this amazing ship.

When we sailed in Club on the QM2 we selected a table for 6 and met 4 wonderful people (1 couple and 2 singles). While we greatly enjoyed these new found friends we preferred to have a window table for breakfast and lunch, which we did not have in Club. So every morning we had breakfast in the MDR and requested a window table. This request was alway granted and there was never a wait although the table size varied each day, which we liked. We did the same thing the one day we had lunch in the MDR. We never identified ourselves as Club passengers but I really don't think they cared. In the MDR you only eat at your assigned table in the evening. So, for at least Breakfast and Lunch, you and your friends should be able to eat together. Just show up as a group and request the approbate size table. Hope this helps Jack

Thanks everyone for your responses and excellent information. We have made the decision not to take this cruise. On the PLUS side, the fact that Enchantment of the Seas is an older, smaller more "traditional" cruise ship actually appealed to us. The price of the cruise pretty much made it a risk free investment and the itinerary really looks interesting. But the deal breaker is the current resurgence of COVID. If the voyage were scheduled during the June - September time period, we probably would have risked it. As I follow various cruise line Boards here on CruiseCritic, it seems that protective measures have been relaxed while flu, COVID and RSV are surging. Our only bout with COVID, the past summer, was very very mild but we are in our 70's and don't want to push it. Thanks again all, Jack

Wow, thank you very much bluemarble. So interesting and beautiful. Jack

tizwiz, I thought your review was excellent and very informative. Thank you for taking the time to post. I also hope that the family dog is well. On our last crossing (May of this year) I had a small issue for which I requested a refund. After a couple of unsuccessful calls to Customer Service I was given other contact information. The refund was then handled quickly. The contact I was given is guestrelations@cunard.com. Hope this helps. Jack

You are correct gumshoe958, I am a huge fan of Cunard having done 3 TA'a on the QM2. The formality and British flavor is unique and special for my wife and I. However, what I most enjoy doing on board is just watching the ocean go by or strolling around on the deck. We try to get at least 3 miles in every day. While we don't ballroom dance, we do make one afternoon tea each crossing because the scones are so delicious. In the evening we are looking for good food and good live music (NOT classical). The comments from the posters above have given me exactly the information I am looking for. We would probably fall into the group that enjoys the older smaller ships. Also, it's been our experience that crossings attract an interesting group that fun are to get to know. Not sure what we will do but I feel like we can make a much more informed decision now. Thanks Jack

We have been invited to join friends who are sailing on a 15 night TA on the Enchantment of the Seas next April. Have very limited cruising experience, none with Royal Caribbean (RC). 1. Over all, is RC considered a budget, middle of the pack or luxury cruise line? 2. How does Enchantment of the Seas compare to other RC ships, big/small, new/old, crowded/spacious more family or mostly adults? 3. Looking at an outside view cabin but they appear very small on this ship. How do they compare to other cruise lines? 4. At that level cabin and being new to RC will we have limited or no access to certain areas on the ship? 5. A crossing in April could get rough, how stable is the Enchantment of the Seas 6. Is the drinks package a good deal. We probably have lattes at breakfast a pre-dinner drink, 1-2 glasses of wine at dinner and a couple of cocktail/wine in the evening. 7. What other extras/upgrades are worth paying for? Right now all higher grade cabins are sold out. Anything that is unique to RC or thoughts on their onboard culture would be appreciated. Thanks Jack

So, how did boarding go? Jack

What is "lower berth capacity"? I was under the impression QV held 2000plus passengers. Thanks Jack

We had the exact experience in May. So easy. Jack

Unfortunately, I suspect there will be rows of tables for 2 close to each other on the QA. However, because Club is anytime time dining, our experience has been that people arrive at staggered times. So the problem of being close to the next table is not as big a deal as you might think. On the other hand, if you find that you do enjoy the company of the next table, it is possible to easily carry on a conversation. Jack