MelbTone

I've just spent the second of two nights aboard the QE2, fulfilling a long held ambition. I never sailed on her in service so have nothing to compare my stay with.

There are chunks of the ship closed off but plenty to see - lots of pics, memorabilia etc. I'm in a Captain's Room, up high and in A1 condition. Food in the restaurant is excellent and by Australian standards reasonably priced, given that they've got a captive audience. Ship's tour by Craig was excellent. 

Location: QE2 is in the back of nowhere - nothing nearby. Taxis are cheap. I nearly got scammed by a dispatcher at Dubai Mall who wanted to put me in an unmarked black car. Drive wanted AED120; I told him to forget it and got a yellow taxi, AED36.

In conclusion would I recommend staying here? Yes, but if you're making a longer visit, perhaps just two nights and the rest in  centrally located hotel.

Spending two nights on the QE2 in a hot and steamy Dubai

15 hours ago, Winifred 22 said:

I remember the Clitheroe Kid on a Sunday as a child

Relive your childhood: it's currently being repeated on BBC Radio 4 Extra https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001ngb9

I'm saving my medallions as souvenirs but some public spirited individual should send one to Big Clive whose electronic YouTube videos are the best. https://www.youtube.com/@bigclivedotcom

On 5/13/2023 at 6:09 PM, cruiser3775 said:

For anyone on a budget, have a look at the Great Southern Hotel, a nice old fashioned three star place in the Haymarket.  The rooms have been well modernised, especially the bathrooms,

+1 - I stayed there in February before my cruise and was very comfortable there. Cost me $169 for the night

Make sure you express your appreciation on the after-cruise survey.

For the first time today went to the Melbourne dawn service - since living here I've always felt that it was something I should do at least once but it's taken me 15 years to do it. Coming from UK it is notable how important ANZAC Day is treated here - shops closed etc, the huge numbers attending the dawn service and march - compared with Remembrance Day in UK where life goes on as normal for most people, though of course there are ceremonies at local war memorials. 

17 hours ago, cruiseaholic78 said:

I know they are expensive but has anyone looked at Oceania or Azamara ( preferably the latter for some night life!) for cruising Australia?

Lots about Azamara + Australia on Paul and Carole's recent YouTube series

I'm booked on a Princess cruise next year which includes Phillip Island, arr 0700 dep 1800. But it also has Penguin Parade on the list of available excursions. So presumably the actual departure time is much later?

10 minutes ago, NSWP said:

Like Eden, mystifies me why ships call in there. Very limited shorex attractions.

Nice area though.

I enjoyed Eden, walking around, lunch in town, Killer Whale and Mary McKillop museums. Beautiful weather helped.

Did it in March both ways for a cruise out of Sydney. For me a good chance to unwind and I enjoyed the trip. I paid $139 each way, first class, daytime service. Much prefer it to the hassle of airport transfers, queues, security checks etc.

When I was on Eclipse in March we were anchored a long way off shore with a 40 min tender ride to shore. Total lack of organisation and general chaos waiting to board tenders. In fairness to Celebrity they'd got their act together for Port Douglas a couple of days later.

10 hours ago, arxcards said:

Follow this for a live link at noon today (AEDT), and then it will become a Youtube video after that

A few random thoughts from someone whose preference is relatively short round trips from Melbourne

• As I write this (1710) the YT video is showing just 156 views - I would have expected a much larger number
• Good to see lots of choice from Melbourne - at this rate Princess may become my preferred line over Cunard
• A bit mystified as to the emphasis given to Crown's +230% interior and obstructed staterooms - are they targetting cost conscious cruisers?
• Crown is being sold as something so much better than what we've had before yet my Berlitz shows passenger space ratios of Crown: 37.2, Royal: 39.9, Diamond 42.8 and, for comparison, Grand: 41.8, Celebrity Eclipse: 42.7, Queen Elizabeth: 43.2

Your thoughts?

I can live with the way that gratuities are done save that I disagree 100% with the pool being shared fleet wide. IMO it should be on a ship basis, so that if the crew see a full ship they know that they will see it in their pay packets. With (say) ten ships sharing the pool there's really no relationship between effort and reward.

Perhaps get Cunard to sign up Sven Raphael Schneider from YT Gentleman's Gazette as guest speaker?

36 minutes ago, xxpinksaltxx said:

We have Dominic Crosby - I haven't seen Eddy at all, but I assume he is lurking in the background.

I was on for the Barrier Reef cruise which finished last Friday. He was very present for most of the cruise then we were told he was sick

I'd love to be told that I'm being impatient or misreading the schedules, but is Cunard giving up on Melbourne? In past years Queen Elizabeth has been homeported here for most of the summer, offering a whole assortment of cruises. Now for 2024-25 I'm excited to get a new cruises just released email and all I'm seeing for Melbourne is the Oct 16th circumnavigation and Nov 5 5-nighter to Sydney. Of course what's offered is a reflection of perceived demand and it may be that Cunard think that other itineraries will be more profitable, but it would be sad to lose a flagship vessel just when the Spirit vacating Station Pier gives us scope for more.

6 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Something tells me the OP's "Starlink" Basic internet package has issues logging onto CC. 

Very possibly: for me on Eclipse last week, basic internet, CC was unreadable on my phone - it looked like a style sheet was being blocked.

As you're a Cunarder you could, if time permits, travel via Dubai and have a short stay on the QE2. I've yet to do this myself - pencilled in for July - so am open to feedback from anyone who has.

Just come off the Eclipse, my first Celebrity cruise. Generally I thought the staff were outstanding. What got delivered in response to my menu choices wasn't always what I expected but ok. Theatre shows were mixed: Will Martin A++, the bigger up 'Topper' left me underwhelmed. Full marks to Celebrity for the super clear signage round the ship, so much better than Cunard and Princess.

I took the Princess Art Deco tour and guided walk round Napier when I was there in January - worth every cent.

On my last pre-Covid cruise one of the dance hosts was assigned as co-host of the solo traveller meets.

For the most accurate information the port may publish a live arrivals and departures schedule. For example here in Melbourne the cruise ship schedule shows Pacific Explorer arriving 0700 tomorrow; the port schedule, updated hourly, shows an arrival time of 0545.

https://www.vicports.vic.gov.au/cruise-shipping/Pages/cruise-ship-schedule-1.aspx

https://www.vicports.vic.gov.au/operations/Pages/ship-movements.aspx

Any OBC or FCC being offered to compensate for the changed itinerary?

Yes, after all the expectation management I was amazed to pull back the curtains and find us docked. Just had a bridge announcement but it the usual don't take food off the ship and shuttle bus reminders.