Queenvee

I was on the Literary Festival in 2019 and am on the 2022 festival which is boarding in 3 days. There are some mis-statements and some accurate statements in the posts above. In 2019, those who booked through the London Times site may have been issued lanyards, but I booked via Cunard and did not have a lanyard, nor did many other participants. Yes, Illuminations was closed due to the number of Literary events (Royal Court and Illuminations were used). This year's literary schedule has fewer daily events so Cunard and the organizer have learned from the 2019 experiences; note that there are events in Illuminations each day, but there are less than in 2019, so the planetarium shows may be offered during non-event times. The vast majority of events were open to ALL passengers, regardless of whether someone registered with the Times and all open events were posted in the daily newspaper so that everyone on board knew when/where/what. Since I am a book lover, I sought out this voyage and quite enjoyed it! However, I've experienced the other side of the coin when it comes to having groups of ballroom dancers (local clubs who bring anywhere from 12 to 40 dancers and hosts) on board. They take over the dance floor, tend to intimidate less "showy" dancers and use up a large portion of the Cunard dance hosts' available time. They also book private lessons and private parties in some of the lounges. Having these groups on board ruins the dance experience for me...so I can empathize with passengers who expect the "normal" on--board experience and encounter a different reality.

FYI...If you're on the December 3-10, 2022 TA which is the Literary Festival crossing, the list of speakers is here.

Update: the agent didn't know why the ship's itinerary was changed but since my friend hasn't been to Bermuda before, she's sticking with this cruise. Thanks to everyone for their ideas!

Good thoughts all - thank you! Once my friend talks to her agent about this, I'll post back here to let everyone know. In the meantime, I appreciate your insights.

I am booked on the QA 3/24/24 voyage - they call it a "Maiden" voyage but it is not the actual maiden voyage; it goes to far north Norway and is "Northern Lights". If there isn't a decent promenade deck - with room for deck chairs - I will consider cancelling. I was just on HAL's Nieuw Statendam and while there were a number of positives, I really missed being able to sit on the promenade deck and watch/listen to the water. At least the prom deck went all the way around the ship, but it was quite narrow in many spots.....

Interestingly, I was on HAL's Nieuw Statendam in July/August and they showed the women's Euro final between England & Germany on the big screen by the pool. It must have been a last minute decision because it wasn't listed in the daily newsletter but they made an announcement; big crowd watching. And I bet they sold a lot more drinks than usual!!

Yes, that's the cruise she chose as her "starter" cruise. It seems odd to me that a scheduled cruise itinerary would be changed. I was just in St John last month on a HAL ship and know it has limited berths, but for a cruise to have been scheduled and then moved to a whole new itinerary seems odd. I have a slight inkling that perhaps some of the Nova Scotia ports are limiting the number of cruise ship passengers allowed per year - I can't remember where I read that and can't find it on internet. If that's the case, then maybe ships/lines with just one Canada port are being denied permission (in order to maximize the tourist dollars coming into Canada; in other words, if a ship is visiting St John, Halifax, Charlotte, they might be granted permission versus one that is only going to St John). I'm just hypothesizing here!

I know they didn't televise any in May but that may be because they weren't playing then. I'm trying to remember on prior Cunard voyages and I don't think I ever saw NFL or MLB games in the pub; they would show soccer, tennis, darts, and some others.

I was on QM2 in May for a trans-atlantic and since the Premier league standings were pretty tight at the top, I thought they would show the games in the Golden Lion pub. No such luck; I asked the bar tender and he said they only get one sports channel and it's programmed from leadership, so he can't change the channel. I guess enough people must have complained so that the next day, they curtailed the scheduled entertainment duo to show the game on all the screens in the pub. The next day, they did the same but actually listed the game in the daily newsletter. There was a large crowd and the games were exciting. I would THINK that the world cup games would be shown, at least in the pub and the theater would be a great idea! But, no guarantees since things appear to have changed from prior years. You might want to start advocating with the Purser's desk as soon as you board!

My friend has never cruised before but has been inspired by my cruising so she booked a short voyage on the Magic from NY to Novia Scotia and back in July 2023. She just got an email that the voyage is now going to Bermuda!! I've never heard of entire itineraries being changed, except for hurricanes, wars and other catastrophic events. Anyone have any thoughts about why it was changed? since she really wanted to go to Canada (and NY is a convenient departure), I've suggested that she work with her agent to find a replacement voyage. Curious if anyone has any insights - thanks!

Thank you both for the speedy and helpful response. Good news about the deck chairs and not so good about Lincoln Center...I guess I could arrive early and get a spot on one of the sofas, or at the back of the room.

I was just on the Nieuw Statendam and am considering the Oosterdam, Westerdam and Zuiderdam for my next cruise in 2023 (TA or Japan). I know they're a different ship class than the NS and not as new. After many cruises, I know that two very important things for me are: (1) sitting on a deck chair on the Promenade deck reading and watching the water go by and (2) the Lincoln Center stage performances. I've watched various videos of these 3 ships but I figured I'd come to the experts for info!! Re: #1, do all these ships typically place deck chairs on the Promenade deck (weather pemitting)? Re: #2, the NS had a great space for Lincoln Center that provided seats in a lounge format (e.g. groupings in different areas of the room, set up for 2 or 4 people) but I saw a video for one of the other 3 ships that showed seating for Lincoln Center as rows of lined up chairs - like a meeting. That would be reason for me to choose another of the ships, so I would be very interested in your information about the Lincoln Center venues for these 3 ships. Thank you very much!

FYI... The Nieuw Statendam sailing from Copenhagen to Boston (7/16-8/3) was about 50% full - 1500 pax.

I guess it all depends on timing! I walked off the ship at 7:50 am and was in a taxi by 8:30, so quick and easy for me.

I think prices will come down over the next several months due to the economic situation so I will wait.

Cunard asked passengers to upload a head shot of themselves; they provided detailed directions about how to do it, could be a phone photo, don't wear masks, take it against a light-colored background, etc. This replaced the photo that they keep in their system so that staff can confirm it's you; they used to take the photo as part of the terminal check in process. I was a bit skeptical since I'm not tech-savvy but it worked just fine.

Hah! I was at SOU airport in plenty of time, but they had overbooked the flight and because I hadn't checked in online (due to QM2 WiFI issues), I was bumped to the 4:00 flight. Sigh. The good news is that due to a European Union regulation enacted in 2004, I will receive £220 as compensation since my new flight is more than 3 hours after the original one; plus £10 food voucher for use in the airport. While it's a nice airport, it's tiny and I didn't want to spend 5 hours there; the LoganAir rep was extremely helpful and when I suggested that I might go into Southampton, she looked up train schedules for me and told me where I could check my backpack at the airport (£10 fee). I took the train - station is right across the street from the airport entrance to Southampton Central Station and trip takes less than 10 minutes - and walked about 10 mins toward the center of town. The Titanic museum has a new location and name (SeaCity Museum) and a good cafe, so that was a great way to pass 90 minutes or so. Then I wandered through a park, along the pedestrian shopping street and the old city walls & gate. Took the train back to the airport where my flight was delayed twice and eventually left at 4:55. This created a bit of a scramble at the Glasgow end since I had to catch the last ferry to the Isle Bute at 8:00 but I made it. Just another travel adventure!

I was on the May 1 TA from Brooklyn to Southampton and my embarkation process went very quickly and smoothly, contrary to a lot of peoples', so I wanted to pass along my tips of what worked for me. It took me less than 30 minutes from the time that I arrived at the Brooklyn terminal to getting on the ship. I read and completed all the instructions that Cunard emailed well in advance of the crossing. I uploaded a photo; did on-line check in which included providing credit card info; uploaded a photo of my vax card; PRINTED MY BOARDING PASS; and brought the Covid test results (printed out). At the terminal, everyone was standing in a long line outside the terminal; as I was moving toward the line, I asked an embarkation rep what I needed for that line and she asked if a had a printed Boarding Pass, I said yes, and was directed to a much shorter line (about 4 people). I heard the rep going up and down the long line asking people if they had Boarding Passes and directing them to the shorter line but the majority of people apparently had not printed their Boarding Passes. Once I got through the two embarkation stations (one that checked my Boarding Pass and Covid results and one for security where I put my luggage and carryon bags through the machine), I was directed into the main terminal room where there was a LONG line of people waiting to check in. Even though the Cunard communications had indicated that there was no priority embarkation for Diamond level passengers, and there were no signs, I asked an embarkation rep who checked with a colleague and I was directed to another line with 1 person in it. The check in process itself was very quick since I had done the on-line check in and they don't give you your key card at this step (it's placed in the mail holder outside your stateroom). Doing all the on-line check in steps was crucial, as was following Cunard's checklist instruction to print the Boarding Pass. And keeping my eyes & ears peeled to hear any guidance from the embarkation reps plus politely asking them if something seems questionable (like the Diamond level priority embarkation). My experience with embarkation reps is that they are unfailingly polite and helpful. Naturally, I know that if I wasn't Diamond level (and hadn't asked), I would have stood in the terminal line but at least I would have bypassed the outside line and my time at the two stations was very quick. I admit that I felt like I got a lot of messages from Cunard with links to "what to bring to the terminal", checklists, "have on hand", updated health info, etc. but for me, it was definitely worth reading them all and following their steps. Hope this is helpful to future Brooklyn embarkees!

I've returned from my TA (May 1, NYO to SOU) and wanted to provide an update on the disembarkation process and timing. I opted to do "Fast Track" (which used to be called Self-Help and means that you have to carry ALL your luggage off the ship yourself - no putting it out the night before and collecting it at the terminal but you are the first group to disembark, at approx 7:30 am). Note that where there used to be an option on the "Disembarkation Transfers" form to select Fast Track, that disappeared so I told the Purser's Desk and they updated my record. I had to select either 7:15 or 7:30 am as my disembarkation time (and they told me I could go a bit later, but no later than 7:45 since the large groups of disembarkation start at 8:00 am). The announcement that the ship was cleared came at about 7:00 am so I wheeled my luggage off at about 7:30. No line to disembark from the ship itself, just wheeled through the gangway tunnel into the terminal, took the elevator down to ground floor, walked through the area where they were organizing luggage and out the door. Took a taxi to Southampton airport which was a flat fee of £28 (strikes me as very high but no other option). So, as long as you can handle your own luggage, and have made your own forward travel arrangements, Fast Track/Self-Help can be a great option.

Just got off the QM2 (May 1 TA) and was told by member of entertainment staff that they are facing serious staff shortages since many people in the hospitality industry (a) got other jobs while cruise ships were idled; (b) don't want to deal with the hassle of wearing masks and weekly COVID testing; and (c) can get higher paying jobs in other fields.

Yes, all staff are wearing masks even though masks for passengers are now "recommended", as of the May 8th crossing.

I was on the QM2 2019 Literary Festival crossing and have booked the 2022 and 2023 Literary Festivals. There were a few events held in ConneXions that were only open to people who had booked through the Sunday London Times, however 90-95% of the literary events (e.g. lectures, book signings, meet the author, literary quizzes, etc.) were open to ALL passengers.

I'm hoping that anyone who has recently disembarked in Southampton can provide some input on this. I am doing the May 1st TA, reaching SOU on Sunday, May 8th. Typically, I disembark as an "independent" so I carry my luggage off the ship and independents are usually the first group to be allowed off, approx 8:00 am. Since I carry my luggage, I usually go straight through the cruise terminal to the taxis so it is a very quick process. On May 8th, I am flying to Glasgow from SOU and would like to take the 10:55 am flight; before I make the reservation, I'm trying to find out if there are new COVID-related processes either on the ship or in the terminal that will slow down disembarkation. The next flight isn't until 4:00 pm, so would prefer the 10:55!! Any insights will be appreciated!