2Oldpeopleinlove

We’ve done a Lido specialty as well as the Verandah. Both were excellent, though way too much food. I agree about the service at Verandah…a bit much.

We don’t use a travel agent, so that dining benefit was from Cunard. We’ll deal with them in the phone, thanks.,

I filled out the email form on Cunard’s site and requested the statement. I admit to being shocked to have received a reply with the required pdf attached! Now, if we can just get them to add the complimentary specialty dining they told us would be included…

I’ve spent an hour trying to locate our basic info about what we’ve paid, what we owe and by when, and what on board benefit we have. The website is driving me nuts! We also have no email with a pdf or link to the information. What am I missing? It’s always been difficult, but this time I cannot find the information anywhere. Can anyone help?

Exciting for us as we will be on the ship a month later! Here’s hoping they get rid of the icky shower curtains.

Another vote for the Commodore Club. Two voyages in 2022 on the QE, and on both, we really enjoyed the CC.

Our westbound TA in December 2023 already shows gala nights: Black and White and Masquerade. While I have a Roaring 20’s dress, I am much better pleased with these themes.

And in early October.

Personal note: We’ve done it both ways, with and without the package. We have just broken even with alcohol, but it’s so much more relaxing not to have to think about it. Also, the bartenders and sommeliers are very accommodating with the package. For example, the package says small pours of wine, but that hasn’t been what’s happened for us and most others, I think. Our next trip is a TA on QM2, and the Godiva drinks will definitely put us over the top. All that said, I wouldn’t try to cheat the system. It probably won’t work, and it would be a real pain to have to be sneaky about it, thus losing the relaxation of just drinking what you want.

We booked a TA (7 nights—balcony) while on QE in early October and received $500 OBC ($250 each), free gratuities, and an upgraded dinner for two. Deposit was $300 each, refundable.

Haven’t seen much in the way of queues, but then many have opted for fixed, and current pax load is still less than 1800. Also seeing a COVID outbreak with closed sections on our deck.

We are almost finished with our Barcelona-Barcelona in QE, and there is open seating on the lower level in Britannia all evening and fixed early and late with assigned tables on the upper level. We tried open, but we ended up preferring fixed on the upper level.

We are on the QE right now, and the Spanish VAT is announced by signs to apply every day of the week we’re on board. That is the main reason we bought the beverage package before boarding.

Many thanks. Now onward to figuring out where our son’s family can easily park and meet us.

We are planning to meet our son and his family, who will drive over from their home in Marseille, on Wednesday (October 5), but we cannot determine which of the two ports QE will use. We need to be able to suggest a meeting point. There are two possible ports. Can anyone help?

Yes, thank you. We’re with ClefDor. Early is too early, and late is too late. As it appears the ship is still not running full, I can’t imagine it will be too difficult to get the two-top we want at a reasonable time. Everything was VERY easy in June, but the ship was at about 50% then. We’re just not too bothered no matter what. At least we won’t be working at the harvest or anything else for a week.

Please do update. My sister is on board with you!

Thanks so much! You’ve given us much more solid information than we were able to get from a Cunard agent on the phone! We’re very appreciative.

Good to know! We’re going out of a Barcelona next week, but we planned to buy the package on day 2 since we won’t be on board all of the first day. Does anyone know whether VAT is charged after leaving port in the Mediterranean?

My sister is on board now, so I am grateful for the reassuring posts here. (I, too, envy them those rough seas!)

The tram ride from the Vieux Port up to Notre Dame de la Garde is cheap, fun and a winding ride through neighborhoods. Once up at the cathedral, you will have a magnificent view of the city (and of my son’s house if you know where to look!). Marseille is certainly not a village, but it is a fun, interesting city. Just beware of strangers offering “help.”

Re the post about QE’s condition being poor: We were on in early June, and everything was in good shape. We’ll be back on in early October, and I only hope that most of the painting will be done by then. The fumes triggered my asthma, but that was the ONLY downside we experienced. I can deal with it to be back on board!

So did we. We hoped it would continue for our trip in October, but it’s not a deal breaker for us.

You are lucky. In QE on June, they didn’t decide to discount the laundry service until more than halfway through the trip (10 days). We packed about half what we’d need because we’d been promised by agents that the self-serve laundries would be open. Ended up doing WAY more hand washing than I wanted to before they finally gave a break on the price. Annoying, especially since we had to learn not to trust information we’re given.

I agree with 57eric. We’re on the same voyage and we’ll stay in Barcelona for three nights before and one after. But then we have an ocean to cross before and after. It just feels safer and more like a true vacation that way.