Canuker

OP: book a table for 6 or 8 people for supper in the main dining room, with seating at the same time each night. You'll soon make friends, who will be dying to know what you did all day! Should someone at your table not be to your liking, just ask the maitre d'hotel to move you to another table - do it sooner, rather than later- it's your vacation. After a couple of nights, invite your table-mates to join you in one of the bars before supper for drinks. Have fun.

Can anyone suggest a name / email address of someone to contact at Celebrity about making onboard enrichment presentations, please?

Any tutored beer tastings?

If you're going on a cruise in which scenery, including wildlife, is a big part (e.g. Alaska, Panama Canal, etc.) then a good pair of binoculars is almost a must. If you are at all interested in the night sky, the low ambient light pollution out at sea plus a pair of binoculars makes a huge difference to the amount and clarity of what is visible in the heavens.

At the risk of stating the obvious, all cruise ships are the same when you get out at a port. So any differences have to be while you're on board - let's say 16 hours. Of that, about half is spent asleep, leaving 8 hours. So eating, drinking and (weather permitting) outdoor enjoyment account for much of that time. Secondly, despite what is written on this subject, cruise ships are far more remarkable for their similarities than their differences. The big differences are not found on board - they are the ports of call that an itinerary visits. The Caribbean is very different to the Baltic, for example. Lastly, there is one big variable that neither you nor the cruise line has control over: fellow passengers. Luckily, cruise lines offer so many alternative things to do (including doing nothing!) that if you don't care for something, move on to the next thing. In a word, choice. Virtually limitless choices.

Answer to OP's question; always. Show up around 40 minutes before sailing time to an empty (of passengers) check-in shed and you may not need to tell them your name - they may well tell you! "Ah, Mr & Mrs. Jones. Yes, we've been expecting you ('tick'). Here's your on board key-card. Sign here. Bon voyage!". VIP treatment. A great start to the cruise.

We have used various style cabins in the past, including ones with a fully obstructed view - they are called insides.

We prefer the east-bound TAs over those westbound. The reason is that the weather conditions on deck are generally much better. Why? East-bound you are traveling with the prevailing SW winds. With the ship's speed and direction the wind is relatively light. Westbound you are against the prevailing wind so the perceived wind speed on board is that of the wind plus the speed of the ship. Very different. Some of the best sea days we have ever had have been on east-bounds from Florida; day after day of blue skies, calm seas and light breezes. Gorgeous. Make the most of them as once the ship sails north of Africa, the weather cools quite a bit. And if you are sailing across the Bay of Biscay (off western France) be prepared for some rolling seas. Oh, and if you like the sun and are thinking of a balcony, book one on the starboard (right) side of the eastbound ship. Lastly, and this goes for any cruise, if it seems too breezy outside, wander around a bit; there are always nooks and spaces out on deck that are protected from the elements, even on the highest decks.

Thanks, guys. Seems reasonable.

Just booked the Silhouette. I'm researching an old (2017) daily program online and it does not list lunch in the MDR. 1. Is this still the case? 2. What other options are there, if any, for table service at lunchtime, please?

Thanks, all, for your input.

We're booked on the Silhouette and would like to know the start times of the evening theatre shows, assuming there are two performances each night? The reason I ask is so we can choose a dining time that means we do not have to rush the meal or cut it short in order to get to the theatre (or other special event) on time. This has been a issue for us on other cruises in the past. I'm aware that Silhouette has "Any time" dining as an option. We would prefer a fixed time, though, in order to meet each evening with our fellow dinner guests; we have always found this to be a special part of the day, with people we have come to know and like each evening. Thanks.

While none is big in terms of sq ft., some have more washers and driers than others. Port days are your best bet to beat the crowds.

On our recent QE cruise the internet (and TV reception) was dreadful to non-existent for several days. We used free wifi at the ports of call - much better and more predictable. Plus you pay for blocks of time - 24 hours. So one email a day gets to be very pricey. They do not sell it based on usage.

A while back, the QM2 captain announced that instead of sticking to our planned course which would have skirted alongside the storm, we would be turning to go straight through the middle of it. This resulted in us pitching (bow to stern) rather than the worse option of rolling side to side. Well, it turned out to be a force 13, the worst the captain had experienced in the North Atlantic. The pitching was so severe that the waves broke right over the bridge and it was decided prudent to switch off the bridge cam! In typical understatement, announcements were made recommending that passengers not go outside on any of the decks. Well, if they had, they might have lasted about 15 seconds before being tossed into the lashing Atlantic. In contrast, the following evening the sea was like glass, with a beautiful gold sheen around sunset. After we reach NY, the ship was found to be damaged (not sure what) and was not allowed to sail again until the damage was repaired.

http://www.oceanssouthampton.com/ Used them myself. Good outfit. About a kilometre from the port.

Another option (way less £) would be the hourly train from Southampton Central station (5 minutes by taxi) than change at East Croydon to take you right to St. Pancras (allow about 2.5 hours for the journey time. Then, as you know, St. Pancras is right next to Kings Cross station. Pick the right trains and it'll cost you less than £20 per person.

No, TOB, it's not the glitch that needs work...

The Britannia club dining room on our recent QE cruise has as exciting as a mortuary. But then some folk buy in exactly for that reason: quet and (in terms of fellow guests) spacious. Me, I go for a ten-seat table, second shift, in the main dining room.

Pick a nice quiet regular inside, with cabins above & below you. It'll be among the least expensive aboard.

Walk the few yards from the ship to the East River ferry dock. Hope the ferry, for the price a subway ticket, to East 34th Street Pier, then take a 10 minute taxi to Times Square. Or if you're inclined enjoy the 30 minute walk up East 37th street, turning right on Broadway. Now you're a New Yorker!

Yep, a tux suit, formal white shirt (with cuff links) and black bow tie (learn to tie a proper one) and black socks & polished shoes are all you need for any & every formal night. Oh, suspenders (UK: braces) are better than a belt. Without adding much extra weight to the suitcase, you might consider a selection of ties to match the theme and maybe a red handkerchief for the red & gold night, for example. Keep it straight forward, guys, with simple accessories: the ladies'll love ya. I always find it a pain getting all the garb on for the first formal night; a glass of wine helps, though. But after that, it's a breeze (keep it all on one hanger).

Not so on Cunard's Queen Elizabeth recently on the NAm Pacific coast. Those not in formal wear were a minority. Tip for the ladies: if you want to stand out on the "Red & Gold" formal night, do not wear a bright post office red dress...

I endorse the suggestion of heading to Portsmouth. Take the train to Portsmouth Harbour station and you are right in the thick of much of the extensive maritime heritage there. Frankly, Southampton, as a tourist destination is a bit weak, compared with other easy-access locations such as Winchester, Portsmouth and (for the beaches) Bournemouth. Salisbury for the Cathedral (don't bother with Stonehenge unless you're really keen on it; the only thing to be said is it is that it is pre-historic). How's this for a circular day out tour: Take the frequent train to Poole. Stroll through the old town down to the quay. Take the scenic ferry to Swanage. If the wx is good, lunch on the beach, else a local fish & chip meal in a nice pub. Then take the Swanage Steam railway to Corfe Castle (a steep but fascinating Norman ruin). Refresh at The Fox tavern.Then the bus to Wareham, where you take the frequent train back to Southampton. Now that's lots to do and see.

A notice posted on the QE for its last Alaska cruise of the 2022 season (departure July 11) mentioned a 70% complement of passengers, which it intimated was a in line with an equivalent staff reduction. Interesting that 70% would have been pre-planned, not the result of weak demand, as the cruise was announced as all but "sold out" prior to departure. FYI.