Joe33472

This web tool is brilliant. I used it to create the link and bookmarked the link so that I can check for price changes. It would be great if the web tool was pinned in the forum.

We’re doing a very similar trip. We’re on a TA from Ft. Lauderdale to Rome in April 2024 and taking the QM2 westbound to NYC in June. We’re on the ground about 7 weeks. There is no way we’re carrying around formal wear for 7 weeks. Our plan is to pack a luggage before we leave the US with our formal wear and send with Luggage Forward. The company has received pretty good reviews from people here. The only hiccup for us is that we can’t give the bag to Luggage Forward before we leave in April, since it’s too soon. So, we’ll likely leave the bag with a family member.

I didn't realize until I was reading something this morning that if we boarded early that we wouldn't be able to drop our bags off in the stateroom. We had been planning a cruise on Celebrity and they allow passengers to drop their bags even if the stateroom isn't ready. Celebrity cancelled the TA cruise we were book on, so it's been a little bit of a learning curve since I did a lot of research already for Celebrity. Definitely agree that it doesn't make much sense to rush to carry on bags just to lug the bags around the ship until the stateroom is ready. Sounds like a bad plan actually. And since we're not in a hotel or have some other time constraint, I think the plan is try to get an appointment around 1:00 p.m. so we can roll the bags to our stateroom once we get through check-in and security. I just wasn't sure if we'd be missing anything by boarding later. Doesn't sound like a later appointment will be a problem.

Exactly! We're on the Odyssey for a TA and really don't need extra time on board. Great to know that there is only one show that is bookable, so definitely no need to rush on the ship. I think we'll aim for a 1:00 p.m. appointment and hopefully be able to bring our bags right to the stateroom. Sounds like a good plan. Good also to know that our 24" bags won't be shunned away by security.

I've been doing a little bit of research about carrying on our bags at Port Everglades, and from what I read in the forum is that as long as the luggage will fit through the scanner that there is no size limit, except for what you can handle on your own. From all accounts the x-ray machine at the port will accept bags 24" wide and 9" tall. The bags we would like to carry on can probably be described as medium checked bag and are 24" long not counting the wheels, the width and height are normal. Just wondering if anyone has brought this sized bag and any experiences. It's difficult to find luggage just a little bigger than 21" and not gigantic. Most of the videos I've watched with people embarking at Port Everglades everyone seems to be carrying on standard 20" or 21" luggage with a backpack. Not sure if the RCI staff or security will turn us away with a slightly larger bag. I understand that we'll have to cart around our luggage until the rooms are opened, so I'm wondering if there is any harm is just requesting a later embarkation time so that we can bring our luggage directly to the stateroom. Originally, I had purchased the UDP, but we decided to just make some individual reservations for the restaurants and times we wanted. Is there anything else we're going to miss by not rushing to get on the ship as soon as possible? We're about 45 minutes from the port, so we're not flying in or staying at a hotel, and could just as easily get there for 2:00 or 3:00 p.m. as 11:00 a.m. From what I read, a lot of people like to get onboard early to explore and have lunch at WJ or another venue. Since we won't be making reservations for specialty dining, and won't be reserving iFly, NorthStar, or the FlowRider, SkyPad or Rock climbing, is there anything else we need to get onboard to reserve? I'm wondering about entertainment. Also wondering about crowds. It would seem like early would be a rush, but later things may ease up, but I have no idea. Any thoughts would be great. Thank you!

Thanks! 2:00 or 3:00 p.m. makes a lot more sense than noon.

Thanks! I thought I read something that on westbound transatlantic cruises that the time change happens at 2:00 a.m., but that on eastbound transatlantic cruises that the change is at noon. It would be way confusing for a noon time change. Thanks again!

I just read online that on an eastbound TA that the time moves forward one hour at noon to 1:00 p.m. on several days of the cruise. I was just wondering if you have a 12 or 12:15 lunch reservation on one of these days how that works.

I've done some calculations about pricing out the lunches and dinners individually and right now it's about 50% cheaper with the plan. I'm happy to hear that you've had no problems making reservations on the first day, that's really positive. We haven't pulled the trigger on cancelling the UDP, so we just may end up keeping it and showing some restraint in our food choices 🤣 Just because they offer three courses, doesn't mean we have to accept.

We'll that's moving in the wrong direction. I purchased the unlimited dining package, but I'm really doubting that decision. It's just a lot of food and a lot of time sitting in restaurants if we try to "get our money's worth". I also don't like the idea of the mad rush to make reservations on embarkation day and not getting what we would like.

I'm just wondering if the individual restaurant specialty dining ever goes on sale for more than 10% off? Or if that's a pretty good deal.

Yes, will definitely keep an open mind as far as times and restaurants. I originally thought we'd be eating only at steakhouse and the Italian restaurant, but looked at the menus again, and we're really open to all of the specialty dining.

Thanks everyone for the great information. I've decided to purchase the unlimited specialty dining package and will make a list and make sure we make our reservations right away on embarkation. Thanks again!

I realize that this will probably vary from cruise to cruise, but I’m wondering how difficult it is to make speciality dining reservations when purchasing the unlimited speciality dining offer. We generally like to eat early around 5:30 or 6:00 p.m. and I’m just wondering if since you can’t make the reservations until your on the ship, if those time slots will already be taken and if only later times will be available. I’m just wondering about experiences about using the unlimited dining package.

Thank you for the live updates from the QM2, this is great! Do you happen notice any improvement in the WiFi now that Starlink is installed? In a recent thread it was mentioned that even though Starlink was being installed that the system of routers and relays will probably still limit how good WiFi in staterooms. I’m not an IT person, so I have no idea, but it would seem a better connection overall would have a help a little in the staterooms too.

Thanks for the info! I figured that Luggage Forward wouldn't likely take our bag so far in advance, or if I trusted the luggage to be eventually delivered if I deposited it with them so early. I'll have to figure out who we can leave our bag with while we're traveling. Thanks again! Thanks for the heads up about the weight limit, but it's good to know that they don't check.

I guess it only took a day. The cruise just came back as available and there appears to be a lot of rooms in all classes. I looked at the itinerary and don’t see any changes🤷‍♂️

Thanks! This is reassuring!

I'm not too worried either. Part of me thinks that they want to fill up the Ascent which is also doing a TA in April. The cruise before ours and the cruise after ours are still on the Celebrity website... It's just strange.

Thanks for the heads up about Sea Scanner, cool website. I see lots of other possibilities of TA cruises around that time that could possible work for us, so I'm not going to get too worried yet. This is what I'm wondering about. Strange thing is that the cruise before this TA is supposed to arrive in Ft. Lauderdale on 4/22 and another cruise from Rome on 5/6. Our trip is 4/22 to 5/6, so any change in length would also effect these two cruises, I would think.

I tried searching for prior post, but couldn't find anything on a couple of questions I have regarding luggage for QM2 out of Southampton. I wonder if there is any size restrictions for carryon luggage by Cunard and/or the port of Southampton. I've read that in Ft. Lauderdale, nothing can be wider than 24" to fit through the scanners, but I can't find anything about Southampton or Cunard having any restrictions. I'm also wondering if there is a limit to the number of bags. There are two of us traveling, so I'm anticipating 2 medium sized luggage 24" and a duffle bag, and probably two large backpacks (not those huge things, but good sized). The other question I'm having is about the luggage service partnered with Cunard. One post I read says that the earliest you can have the bag picked up is 12 days prior to the trip, but I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with longer advanced notice and how that worked out. We're leaving late April 2024 and don't need the luggage we'd be sending until late June 2024. I'm wondering if it would be better to pay extra for the storage or potentially leave the luggage we want to ship with a friend or family member or pickup in mid June. My gut is saying sending too early is just too many chances for things to go wrong. We'd be only shipping formal clothes.

The April 2024 TA repositioning cruise on the Beyond is now longer showing up on Celebrity’s website. Does this mean that the cruise is sold out or is it just an IT problem? Someone on the rollcall noticed yesterday that the cruise was no longer showing up and it’s still not there this morning. The Apex and Ascent crossings are still listed and the Edge appears to be going to the pacific region next summer. The TA is part of a larger trip we have planned for next spring, so I was wondering if this is anything I should be worried about?

I'm seeing a wash and press option under "gifts and gears". At first I did the 3 bag special. Then I cancelled and did three wash and fold ($15 more in total). Now I'm wondering if I'm better off with 2 wash and fold and 1 wash and press. Or even 1 premium dry cleaning.

Thanks for the helpful information. So, how did it work? Did they just give you five tickets and five laundry bags when you started the cruise?

Is this for an upcoming cruise or a cruise that you’ve already taken? If for the later, did it work out that way that the customer service rep told you? When I spoke with customer service this afternoon, the representative put me on hold for a good amount of time. She told me that she checked her supervisor about the offer so that she could provided the correct information. The wording is poor and I was thinking I could probably “argue” on the cruise to have the three bags submitted at different times, but at this point in my life, it’s just not worth a few extra dollars.