naturelovergirl

@tjsmama That is the berth code for the Broadway Dock

Thanks for this very recent article @JT1962 It explains quite a lot

I always book the Cunard Fare. The drink package is not worth it for me. We pay as we go. (FYI On Cunard you have a drink price limit with the drink package… and unlike some other lines where if a drink costs more you can pay the difference… if the drink costs more on Cunard than the package limit you pay for the drink.) Enjoy your planning!!!

We purposefully book forward cabins- because we like ship movement very much. We sleep like babies. BUT I would say that if someone is sensitive to the movement, they should consider if they feel the cost savings is worth it.

The dress code is after 6pm. Have a good time! 😊

Cunard goes to Glacier Bay

Yes https://claalaska.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SKG-Skagway-2023.pdf The berth codes are beside the ship name and those codes can be found on the CLA Alaska site.

Just absolutely incredible @ronpes Stunning!

I don’t have the dress code actually… I’m on the next Alaska voyage that leaves on August 7-17. 😊 Hopefully someone on the one which sails on July 27th can chime in and get you the dress code for that sailing. I would also assume you are correct.

@bluemarble I do not have the dress code (as I am on QE the next week) But The itinerary for Q 325 to Alaska (leaving on July 27) is changed and different than it used to be You may want to adapt your list for the ports on that sailing Thanks for all you do to help others on this site!!!

@jhuntermartin I can’t speak to the Grills as we stay in Britannia… which is always very nice. We love the Britannia dining room. Hopefully you will get some Grills aficionados who will chime in for you. I can address some of your other questions though. 3- There is a dress code after 6pm Some nights will be “smart attire” (which on Cunard is much more dressy than other lines) Then some nights are Gala evenings- those are your formal nights. The dress code for men on those evenings is either tuxedo or dark suit with tie or bow tie. Honestly the dress code makes everything so lovely and special in the evenings. 4- We met such wonderful people on Cunard. You meet people from all over the world and from all kinds of careers and backgrounds. We found so many people to be extremely well traveled- which we appreciated both in camaraderie and in reaping knowledge from fellow Cunarders for future travel. Also, Cunard is very good with enrichment programs, so I have found that many people who love Cunard were also interested in being lifelong learners. Personally I love Cunard- I have the opportunity to embrace traditional cruising, to relax in the beautiful ambiance, to hear good music, and to learn new things as I visit amazing ports. Cunard is special.

Some people do not like forward cabins because of ship movement… we do like ship movement and often book forward cabins because we love it. We were on Queen Elizabeth in the North Sea in August/September in 2019, and there was one night where we were really feeling the North Sea for sure. Personally we loved it so much- but many people on board were not enthusiastic about the ship movement.

Current CLA Alaska schedule for Haines (for the Cunard Alaska cruise leaving July 27)

We are indeed still scheduled in Skagway for the August 7-17 voyage. Docking at the Ore Dock (From the current CLA Alaska Skagway schedule)

We are planning kayaking in Ketchikan: Specifically the Tatoosh Islands Sea Kayak Tour offered through our ship in the morning. After we get back, we plan to walk through Creek Street and see what we see. I would like to go to some of the museums in Ketchikan… particularly the Totem Heritage Center and the Tongass Historical Museum.

Skagway may have some challenges this next season because of the rock slide last year. But Who knows.

Yes… Alaska for Hubbard and Glacier Bay in Alaska are your best bets for seeing spectacular glaciers from the ship. I love Olden… the Lovatnet Lake in Loen (which has an excursion from Olden) is magical with scenery.

Thank you @bluemarble We require internet due to the necessity of our business and our family. We don’t have the luxury of going off the grid when we travel. This allows us to know what to expect this summer.

I have a silvery gown for the Ice White night in Alaska… with a bit of blue in the silver… not quite the brilliance of a glacier blue… but an ode to it.

I would also choose the itinerary which goes to the Lofoten Islands… we went to the Lofoten with Cunard in 2019- it was magnificent!

I do not believe that we are allowed on Cruise Critic to specifically name the travel agencies or travel products we use… they don’t want promotion on the boards. So you usually see more cryptic or general descriptions. In the US- If you are part of any membership big box stores you can look into their travel programs to see what they can offer.

The fact is… some people will say a TA is the ONLY way to go… while others will tell you the opposite. The truth lies in the middle. The answer is what is best for you and your comfort level of being a savvy traveler. A good travel agent or a good travel agency can be wonderful for people who want ease or help in the booking… and yes sometimes there might be some perks too. A good TA or travel company is worth it. But they are not all good. In this modern age, you don’t have to use a travel agent. You can do your own research and deal with the cruise line directly. Personally I use a mix. With Cunard, I use a big travel company here in the US because I can get perks. They have done me well before the pandemic, dealing with cancellations during the pandemic, and after the restart have been helpful. With another large line we use, I tend to book direct with that line because they are super easy to deal with and I like their booking interface. Then… A large family line I took with our extended family, they wanted to use a TA they knew… and she was not worth it at all… we would have been much better to book directly… which my brother in law chose to do on a subsequent sailing on that family line. So pick the choice best for you.

For our New Year’s celebration here in Central Florida we have friends coming over for dinner… an annual tradition get-together. We are smoking a beef brisket on our Big Green Egg… normally we smoke pork shoulder, but we are attempting brisket for a change. Hopefully it will be yummy. It will be a proper Southern BBQ with homemade macaroni & cheese, baked beans, and homemade rolls. Then after we eat, some friends will watch the University Of Georgia Peach Bowl football game… I’m not a huge football fan, but some of my friends are and want to see the game. We will also do a fun gift exchange every year with my friends on New Year’s Eve. So, it should be a nice laid back evening. Happy New Year, fellow Cunarders! 2023 means a return to Cunard for me! That is something to celebrate, for sure!

Our excursions for Alaska are rolling out piece by piece... There will be more offered in a few months I'm sure.

That is too bad… sorry about that I would probably say then you will be happiest with the cocktails in the Commodore Club, for sure That said, Cunard does a good job on their drinks everywhere.