D&N

We'd be happy to recycle stuff but like to use as much of her wardrobe as possible over the two weeks. Even so our luggage is easily manageable. We need to fly to and from Heathrow and are allowed 23kg each checked luggage and 2 x 23kg each cabin bags. Not sure what we could put in the cabin bags to get near 23kg! In total last time it all weighed 56kg. That's everything that's in the photo. Next time we'll replace the blue case with a slightly larger one. And my wife has got a slightly bigger version of the handbag backpack. It'll make the space a bit more flexible. I've got lots more camera gear but that will all go in the small black carry on. Since we split everything between the cases and backpacks and carry on everything other than the cases we wouldn't have a problem if the cases didn't turn up. And if we did put our minds to recycling dresses and separates and make more use of the cleaning service we'd easily manage two weeks with just the backpacks.

Exactly. Both still Vista hulls though and cabins E63 and 4063 appear to be in exactly the same place.

I don't think it's acceptable to place feet on any furniture not designed and intended for that purpose, including seats on trains and buses. Unfortunately lots of folk seem to think it is.

We had/will have a substantial breakfast at The White Star Tavern near Room2hometel. We can stay in bed a bit longer than usual since the cats aren't with us, and we'll eat after 9am. After boarding, coffee/tea and a cake/pastry in Carinthia or Chart Room is all we need before dinner. Or possibly Sir Samuel's. It was still Godiva last time. It might suit us now for regular afternoon tea/coffee.

Masquerade night doesn't really need anything. But we wore what we'd wear any other gala night and donned two euros worth of masks for about ten minutes for photos. Had it been a real masquerade night rather than Roaring 20s we might have worn them longer. 🙂 We plan to wear same again next time although the gown has been reduced from size 18 to fit better, and shortened so we don't trip while dancing.

We were on P&O Arcadia when she had only been in service for 8 months. Our cabin was the equivalent of 4063 on Queen Victoria. There were intermittent problems with the flush not working or a lengthy delay to the flush. The technical folk put it down to being near the end of that vacuum circuit and pressures requiring adjustment.

Some of our best pro photos are from QM2's Grand Lobby 3rd floor balcony. One problem there is that the photographers don't seem to appreciate the bright spotlight on ceiling at other side of lobby as shown on this photo between our cheeks. I've blurred us as our expressions aren't great in that one. We haven't used it for anything else. We're to blame for the dance pose, which other than the hold isn't technically correct. I've removed the spotlight from most of the pics that we've used for display. Agree the best staircase ones are of my wife sitting alone. Indeed it's often the case that portraits of her alone look better than those that I appear in! 🙂

You may have noticed the last pages of the wine list where there were wines by the glass. Or of course you might not have seen it if you let the sommelier choose. Currently anything up to $13.50 on that list is included plus other drinks to that value (max 15 alcoholic per day). If you decide to buy bottles as well you pay the list price plus 15% service less 20% discount. We plan to do that with wines in the $60 to $90 range next time, splitting a bottle between two nights with our meal and having list wines by the glass once our taste buds are numbed. Everyone in the room must buy the same package. Sommeliers and waiters will be on lookout for anyone doing what you ask, it's clear in the Ts&Cs.

We got these silvery ones from SHEIN. They went well with the grey gown in our profile pic for a few photos. There was no masquerade ball. We have similar in a gold colour. They were €2.50 discounted to €2.00 (for two) as part of a larger order. They have a large variety including lace ones that have been mentioned.

Britannia Club are the lowest level of priority. We found the biggest benefit was that we avoided a queue for check-in. Not needing seats we initially stood near the priority seating area then occupied seats for a short period after the QG and PG folk had vacated them. We didn't wait very long to be called to the security queue.

The current sample Britannia Club A La Carte menu provided on the website contains the list below. In June 2022 there was a duck dish, along with the lamb and the sole. We both had one of each over the two weeks when there was nothing on the main menu that inspired us. There were other mains but can't remember what they were. We had the Flambé Du Jour several times; Suzette (twice?), Cherries and Pineapples. Most of the mains had to be ordered at lunchtime. That isn't stated on the current sample. Entrées. Grilled Sirloin Steak; Beurre Maitre d’Hotel, hand cut fries, grilled tomato and chestnut mushrooms Classic Coquille Sant-Jacques; Glazed scallops, Gruyere gratin and potato purée Roast Rack of Dorset Lamb; Dauphinoise potatoes and thyme jus Whole Grilled Lemon Sole Meunière; Parsley potatoes and braised orange fennel Side Dishes. Steamed vegetables of the day, roasted vegetables with thyme and lemon, French fries, dauphinoise potatoes, buttered new potatoes and creamed potatoes Desserts. Peanut Butter Semifreddo, Chocolate Brownie and Banana Ganache Hot fudge sauce Flambé Du Jour; Daily tableside theatre from our dessert trolley

Of course. I remember now running through the Pacific and Caribbean on Arcadia (another Vista), where the gym is in a similar location.

We're quite happy for the itineraries to stay the same. The ship is destination for us. It doesn't really matter where it sails although the North Atlantic is probably a more interesting experience than The Med. If the ship calls anywhere we'd not get off unless forced to for immigration or if there was something we could only buy at a shop in that port, which is unlikely when you can buy just about anything online.

The views aren't great. You have the heavy fairing protecting the walking track immediately in front of the windows then the cufflinks, and the bow raises a bit. Depending on where you are you might see the horizon move now and again.

On the assumption that you mean that you had a dress/gown suitable for a Roaring 20s theme. Perhaps with beading and tassels. Then why not choose to wear that on any night you like? It won't look out of place. We wore masks for photos on one of two Roaring 20s nights as the first one had originally been designated masquerade but Cunard changed it because they didn't think folk wanted masquerade while wearing Covid19 masks was still being advised. I'm hoping you weren't making the mistake of thinking that the theme refers to gangster outfits!

We wouldn't be tempted to leave the ship in Southampton unless we wanted to shop for something particular. However if you were intent on taking the Highclere tour then you need to ask the organisers what the driver will do if a particular route is blocked. There are many other alternative routes, which might take two hours or more. The A34 and M3 are not the only routes albeit they are the shortest and quickest if nothing is wrong. Having worked in the bus industry you find drivers that think they need to stick to the specified route and possibly don't know any others. Or you have some drivers that know every possible alternative route and rat-run that will allow them to avoid all the traffic. The important thing is that the driver is aware of the dimensions of the vehicle they are driving and don't attempt to drive it under a bridge that is too low for the vehicle.

The current train timetable is available here: https://ter-fiches-horaires.sncf.fr/publish/-Fiche horaires V4 PARIS-LE HAVRE du 10 décembre 2023 au 5 juillet 2024.pdf Those labelled KRONO+ are direct services. Unusually, times for October are not available yet due to major tunnel works on that line. Generally trains to Paris are about every 2 hours and journey time is slightly more than 2 hours. I believe the actual trains were renewed in 2020. I had intended to use the line that year until Covid19 cancelled our sailings. First Class prices were not too much more than standard and probably worth paying for extra space for passengers and luggage. When the timetables are released for after 5th July, they should appear on this web page: https://www.ter.sncf.com/normandie/se-deplacer/fiches-horaires

As Bejay219 are spending 9 days in London it might be best to use 173 Oxford St or 458 Oxford St (Marble Arch). Both have quite large gents departments and if an ordered item doesn't fit there is probably more chance of those two stores having a suitable size in stock. And as we often do if one doesn't have a size or colour we want, it's an easy walk to the other store.

I would be surprised if QM2 follows that route without a modern warship capable of identifying and shooting down any likely incoming missiles as an escort. It's unlikely that the most advanced stuff will be used as some of the nations that own it either won't part with it and or have a greater need for it in their own conflicts.

Marks and Spencers have been mentioned. They do some jackets up to "extra long". And supposedly some trousers up to XX long, although I've not seen any with that option. Extra long is shown for some lines. Here's their size chart.

Not sure if I was the only one to use the "Comply with the dress code" phrase. Obviously toy guns and hats don't. That's just an example of folk not reading or understanding what is suggested. The guidance on the daily programme is clear; "embellish their Gala Evening attire". Gents don't need to do anything other than wear a dinner suit to fit a Roaring 20s theme. Ladies at most should wear a tastefully discreet headband and/or a cocktail dress or gown that resembles "flapper" style dresses. The first part of the guidance still applies. Of course Cunard's website and brochure guidance may not be as clear, which is helpful to those that would like it to be Halloween every night. My personal preference would be for the guidance to be dark jacket and tie every night with encouragement to dress formally as often as possible. And we'd be quite happy without the themes. Meanwhile we'll not be getting ourselves worked up about what others wear. But we will continue to amuse ourselves in private conversation about some of the more unusual sights we observe 🙂.

I'm sure that would look smart, but doesn't comply with the dress code, which only suggests a "dark suit" as an alternative to formal wear: What puzzles me is that in five or six weeks you won't get an opportunity to wear a dinner suit on Celebrity or Viking. I've never sailed with either but didn't realise they were quite that casual. Perhaps you don't plan to see an evening show in London. It's a long time since we've been to one, but do folk not wear dinner suits to West End shows any more? And I wouldn't visit a decent London restaurant for dinner unless wearing a dark suit (I don't have any light coloured suits anyway). There are alternative venues available on Gala Evenings if you don't wish to comply with the dress code:

Would that not be better for red and gold night?

Sorry this isn't YES or NO, but an explanation. The theory behind the optional bit is that some passengers may be disembarking at Hamburg the morning after the first of your sea days. On the basis that they may have packed all their formal wear and left it outside their cabin for collection it is acknowledged that they may only have smart attire available. For those passengers it's accepted that they might not meet the dress code for that night. The same applies the night before you arrive at Southampton. Goodness knows how all venues know which passengers are disembarking the next day! If we ever did four nights we'd have carry on luggage only and would have formal wear to put in our "carry off" luggage (we'd have hardly anything else). But there could be Germans or others disembarking at Hamburg who have been onboard for several weeks and they could have lots of cases.

It is possible to book Southampton-New York but board in Le Havre if the sailing calls there. Our first Covid19 cancelled booking was arranged like that. There was a version of the itinerary embarking at Le Havre but it was not available to UK agents on release day. Our agent booked the sailing from Southampton and confirmed with Cunard that we could board at Le Havre. The Cunard Guest Invoice showed M019 but embarkation at Le Havre. I'd have been annoyed if they'd sold the first night to someone else after we'd paid for it. Just in case we needed to change our plans and board at Southampton due to travel difficulties in France.