tommy k

Thanks for the video. I did a NYC - Southampton back to back TA in Sept.’17 and I am doing it again this Easter Sunday. It was so nice to relive the crossing by way of your great video and wheted my anticipation for April. Tom 

       I am doing a TA back to back in April NYC - NYC. I will have to do the math on the new drink package. I have done just the soft drink package in the past. I do like the combination of soda and liquor/wine. I don’t like that one can not buy a round of drinks. I am a Jack Daniels on the rocks drinker, so I will have to price the drink per oz. against the $11 cap. A beer or two with lunch,  club soda throughout the day, a cocktail before dinner, a couple of drinks with dinner and maybe a nightcap in Churchill’s. At $67 a day I am on the fence about purchasing a hard drink package. Any sage advice?

I traveled solo a year ago September on QM2 and requested and assigned a table of 6 that included me and an American couple and three Canadians, one couple and one single lady. We all agreed that we were seated together because we were round trippers. The couples, and we singles were strangers on the outset but we had a great time every night at 8:30 in the MDR for 16 nights. I am doing it again this April, sailing on Easter Sunday out of NYC for another round trip.

One of NYC’s major opera donors said what he liked most about the “new“ Met opera house is that if you are late they escort you to a separate room where you can enjoy comfortably a simalcast of the opera until an intermission. What he hates most is that if he is late they escort him———.

I have always enjoyed complimentary gratuities. That should not be equated with taking the auto gratuity option off. My gratuities are covered by the ship. I hand out envelopes on each leg of a TA round trip to the wait staff and wine steward on the 2nd. or 3rd. night after I get to know their names. My stateroom steward is tipped weekly, thus doubling their tips. How the gratuities are divied up is their concern. “ No one ever got rich stiffin a waiter”. Liz Smith

The staff works hard, extremely hard for our enjoyment.

I have used the luggage tag holders sold by Cruise Critic with great success. I am still using some purchased in 2006. Go to “more” in the Cruise Critic menu then to Cruise Critic Store. They offer two sizes.

I just got back from a concert at Carnegie Hall NYC and a single shot of Jack Daniels on the rocks was $16- a double $ 32 + tip. I am ok with QM2’s pour and prices.

I hope that menu stays through April when I board. I think all the choices are appetizing.

I totally agree Cubans are overrated, but they are fun because they are forbidden and always make for good conversation onboard. Living just outside of Manhattan I get to run to the Nat Sherman store and lounge frequently and enjoy their better than Cuban selections.

On my last TA round trip crossing last September Churchill’s offered no Cubans but had a nice selection and competitively priced. I am off to France in October and will pick up some Cubans for my TA round trip this April. We cannot buy Cubans here in America.

The Pol Acker is just fine to enjoy while unpacking. After the embarkation line it just hits the spot, and it is a nice touch to start off the voyage.

Growing up in the early 50’s—grandmother and grandaunt had their daily hot toddy precisely at 4pm.- nibbles for the kids were put out- parents cocktails at 7pm - we had our Shirley Temples and Roy Rogers- dinner at 8. QM2 is like being home. I am glad not everyone desires the late seating, my first choice.

Proof that “ TIME AND TIDE WAIT FOR NO MAN “.

Those three deck 10 cabins have their own mini corridor so you do not have the main corridor traffic to listen to and you are super close to the launderette. Outside of people conversing while attending their laundry there was no noise from the launderette. I had tried to book one of those cabins for April and I had to go up to deck 11 for an inside cabin.

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QM2 — I was in 10009 for a round trip crossing last Sept. and I am booked in 11051 for a round trip in April. Both inside and no complaints or worries, I am a solo traveler but found that any cabin fever was allayed by a quick trip up the nearby staircase to the observation deck or a run down stairs one flight to the Commodore Lounge and Churchill’s or down one more flight to the library. I find the inside cabins most comforting and tranquil, and a VERY even trade off view for money. She is a grand and beautiful ship with wonderful public spaces, but my little space is my refuge.

The reply should be for all for all future revelers. Sorry I did not keep current.

Hi socialdancer. GO to the masquerade ball. If you do not wear a mask you will have a great time. If you do wear a mask you will have a great time and those watching will enjoy your efforts. It is all for fun, FUN! ENJOY the evenings! Go to them all. It is all there for you to enjoy, to be masked or not, to be B&W, or not, to be roaring 20ed, or not. It is fun. I too pass on the mask because I wear glasses. I do put in some effort on the other ball nights. I am IMPRESSED with the effort many women put into the evenings attire. Men get away easier. Just don’t worry.

I think that it reinforces the dress code visually.

The Spa has a great web site. I called their At Sea reservation number to ask about purchasing a Spa Passporr for an April sailing on QM2. I was told it was too early to book and to call them back in February.

KatieG73- My first voyage was on the Volendam out of Vancouver to Alaska. What a first sailing! I was hooked. I did not want to leave the ship to visit the ports but I had to. The QM2’s TA round trip voyages make me happy. I have to work hard at doing nothing. I enjoy the slow pace, the lectures, daily Mass, the library, meeting new travel mates, cocktails, and dining. Viva la difference. Enjoy the sea!

Chacon à son goût. I think the bars come in at about 14 or 15. That is plenty. At 66 I am sailing with smaller numbers and fewer free range children. Cunard and Holland America.

I too favor the Observation Deck. It is a great place to see both port and starboard views of NY harbor. On a TA voyage Sept. 2017 a young man got down on one knee and proposed to his lady as the ship passed under the V Bridge with its horn sounding and applause from the voyagers present. I will be up there again in April 2019.

I have just started reading The Only Way To Cross, put wise to by Kohl57. In chapter 3 * Olympic-Titanic* John Maxtone-Graham states that space was of importance and planned out with great thought. “ There should never be a need to get anywhere first or, God forbid, to line up”.

I cannot believe all the trials and tribulations people are going through just to have a glass of water or a glass of wine onboard. These problems never occurred to me. I keep a couple of glasses filled with tap water in my fridge and have a bottle of wine ordered with dinner poured at dinner. The bars provide the extra libations.

I am getting my copy off of eBay. It will be arriving next week. My back to back - NYC - Southampton- NYC sails on Easter Sunday. M909A. I am looking forward to the book, read it now or save it? I am trying not to start packing my bags as yet. Antsy.