exlondoner

Much less risky than trying to get into town.

If I had a 4 pm plane, I wouldn’t risk leaving the airport to go into London. I think I would resign myself to a long and leisurely lunch and watching the planes.

Precisely my point. You used a travel agent, so they had the hassle, not you.

I think it was updating their system that has caused all the problems. It worked much better ten years ago. Incidentally, your experience is an excellent illustration of why it’s a good idea to use a travel agent.

How infuriating, but not atypical. As you are not going until next year, I should leave the thing alone for several months, after which it may have sorted itself out. In any event don’t worry, it is their problem not yours, and I’m sure they can do it at the port, though why it should work then, if it hasn’t been working previously I can’t imagine.

Surely that depends on the itinerary, and the ship often arrives quite early so you miss the arrival. Also, you never know which way round the ship will dock.

They certainly have. It has happened to me more than once.

So, ideally, you’d want to leave the ship at about 11, to allow for the vagaries of the M3, and I’m afraid I don’t think they’ll let you stay that late.

What time do you have to reach Heathrow by?

Ah, I was interpreting pre in its chronological sense. I have been in both BC and PG so know what is available. I thought it might mean that, after BC, people booked PG next.

What is a pre grill experience?

I think it may depend where the cruise is. Last summer on the QM2 in the Med, when it was very hot, most gents nonetheless seemed to be wearing jackets in QG, but I have no idea if that is universal.

Cunard do often offer dancing lesson sessions on the daily programme, though these are not always well timed. On one cruise I was in, they had Charleston lessons after the roaring twenties night. However, attending a couple of early sessions, along with, it seems, quite a number of others who are not expert, might make you feel relaxed about taking to the floor and enjoying the evening dancing as an agreeable social activity.

As a non-dancer I find all this pretty terrifying, and it certainly does not encourage me to learn to dance a little so I can join in. It also seems miles away from my parents youth, when, because it was the custom of the time, with barely a lesson, they took to crowded dance floors and managed to enjoy themselves without crashing into too many people.

I have looked in the paper brochure in operation when I booked the latest cruise. It explains about hotel and dining charges on page 183, and does not mention the rates are liable to change that I can see. Admittedly, it is no surprise in the circumstances.

That surely depends on the length of the cruise. Anyway, $3 on €11.50 is a 25% + increase, which doesn’t seem negligible to me.

Every night? I thought it used to be on Gala Nights only.

I agree, for a slightly different reason. Having sunny evenings going back helps mitigate the inevitable depression caused by the thought of the end of the cruise. Incidentally, although my experience of the sheltered balconies was not at the best time as we were quarantined in one, I was very impressed be the cabin and the balcony. If you are fairly tall, you can see the sea, just, while sitting down.

So the thing unlocks as you approach. What does it do if you choose not to go in? And 8 feet seems much too far, if you are trying to get away from someone. I’m sure this is a rare phenomenon, but it must happen even on Cunard ships. I should imagine that I qualify as a ‘not so young lady’, and can’t imagine what there is about my age that would make it useful. I always (nearly) carry a bag with card and phone in, and have never had a problem, so I think you are doing a bit of mistaken stereotyping here. As I decrepit dinosaur, I am hoping to remain in the dark ages. I for one was very glad when Cunard reintroduced signing bills. It meant I had a copy to keep track from.

The doors unlock as you approach? What a complete dystopian nightmare. What if you just happen to be walking past on the way to somewhere else? More excitingly, what if your cabin mate is standing naked within line as it opens itself? And do you actually have to wear the thing? Keycards sound a much less anxiety-inducing device. And why put it near a mobile phone if you know it doesn’t like it? Actually I’d quite like to go back to actual keys.

Yes, there will be a National Express Coach to London Victoria Coach Statiom, which isn’t very convenient for Eurostar, hence the benefits of the Cunard transfer. I doubt there is any direct connection to the Eurotunnel terminal.

By the way, the Eurostar is very nice, once you’ve caught it.

Car is a ghastly drive. The least unpleasant way would be M3, M25, M20. As to train, I think Cunard offer a coach transfer to St. Pancras, which will be expensive but convenient.

By car or by train?

Well, the only answer is to book and not tell him, then he’ll have a lovely surprise. Would I dare do this? No, of course not, because I’m too cowardly, but it’s the best course of action. 😀