watsonbeau

They both sound like they would suit. Not too picky with gin - that’s himself so Gordon’s or Bombay sapphire is his usual - for me Pina Colada or Negroni so guessing they are not too tricky to find. No idea about dining, MDR is ok or buffet. I know p&o offer more specialty restaurants so they could be an occasional option. How does anytime dining work for MDR ? Do they use an onboard website like the Cunard thing or is there an app ? Sorry for too many questions! Thank you

They are both similar size to Victoria and Elizabeth so not too huge. I know the bigger ones are theoretically cheaper but I don’t fancy being onboard a monster with 5000+ onboard. Even QM2 has half that despite being large. Thank you.

Thank you. Interesting about the gratuities ! Drinks - maybe - but if a lot of ports perhaps not needed. Good advice. Like the look of both Aurora and Arcadia - any thoughts or preferences? Thanks

Newbie here as have cruised on Cunard but have not travelled before on P&O - looking at some good itineraries on Arcadia and Aurora ( as not too huge) for Med in 2025. So just a few questions if anyone can help - apologies if they are stupid ! Contentious perhaps but are gratuities optional - Cunard add on but you can choose to remove at purser’s if you prefer to do your own. Drinks - are the packages worth it ? As I’ve no idea on individual drinks prices on P&O - for two of us we’d probably each have maybe 2 coffees, plus 3 gin/tonic and 2 cocktail - so times that by two. Any help appreciated! Thank you.

Just heard on a YouTube clip that there was a fire in engine room on QM2 about 4am - hope all onboard ok.

I’m really looking forward to Valletta. Just been watching the documentary on Channel 5 called Malta jewel of the Mediterranean – it featured the cathedral St John’s it looks amazing!

The tunnels sound amazing. If we get up and off early hopefully we can fit a lot in - thank you

I’m looking forward to Valletta, hope to catch the guns firing at Upper Barraka.

Think it was 1979 when I last visited Corfu - remember having a ginger beer at the Liston and attracting wasps while watching cricket - so really looking forward to seeing it again. Thank you

Yes just the one day.

It looks lovely. Should have gone last time on QV but last port was Venice where fog was closing in so QV had to miss it so people didn’t miss flights home. So looking forward to Split. Thank you

Some great and advice and lovely photos. Looks like I’m in for a treat. Valletta - are there any harbour tours that leave by the ship ? Am thinking to do a harbour tour and then go up to Barraka and the city afterwards. The Cunard tour goes from Sliema so if nothing nearby we could do that and go to Barraka afterwards. Thank you

Thank you. Think we might opt for the harbour tour early morning and then when it gets back to the ship do Barrakka ourselves. Or skip the harbour tour and just go up to Barrakks and wander round the old town. Anyone have experience of the harbour tours ? I think the Cunard one might be going from Sliema.

Thank you. Yes Split doesn’t mention tender so guessing we’re down to dock there so hopefully a shuttle running. Thank you

Thank you. Thats a few solved !

We are on a summer QV cruise embarking/disembarking Civitavecchia for 28 nights (can't wait !!). A few ports we haven't visited before so just wondering if any advice on these please ? Unsure how far away the ship will berth but would hope the sights would be in walkable distance, say 30 mins stroll. Or if best to book an excursion at any of them ? The ports I'm interested in are Cephalonia and Kotor (both tender), Corfu (have visited but over 40 yrs ago), Trieste itself (as seen Venice), Split, Zadar and Valletta (again visited but probably 30 yrs ago). We are Cunard fare so if there is a shuttle into town we are ok for that. Valletta I'd like to see the Barrakka gardens and do a harbour tour but Cunard only offer the harbour tour as one trip and a separate one for seeing the city/Barrakka and they are both running at the same time so would have to be one or the other - so just wondering if we would be able to do a DIY job and sort out doing both ourselves ? Any help appreciated - thank you

Thank you - no luggage - we board and disembark in Civitavecchia. Brilliant thank you !

Brilliant thank you !

Thank you will have to look

A long time since I visited ! We are on QV this year with an overnight in Istanbul. Does anyone know where Cunard usually berth there ? Is it walking distance to the Galatea bridge or do they run a shuttle ? We will maybe do a tour the one day but explore on our own on the other ? Thank you

Yes we had 11049 on our last Caribbean round trip from Southampton- very quiet and easy access to my favourite scenic lift - loved popping out into Commodore 😆😆Also the viewing area for a breath of air.

Chilworth Manor.

Thank you. Overnight in LA is good as would probably do a trip over to Queen Mary in Long Beach, if only to photograph exterior if closed and second day maybe go round the Iowa as we did a tour up to Santa Monica/Becerkey Hills last time I was in LA. The Panama transit is what I’m really interested in though. I did hear they are likely building another bridge Pacific end with funding from China - if they do I wonder if they will decommission Bridge of Americas or keep both. Can’t wait for March !!

Is QM2 docking at San Pedro ? Thank you

That’s the one I want - transit Panama on QM2. Sounds fabulous!