3rdGenCunarder

Definitely the Commodore Club for me. I also love it at night when there's music. I did not like the Gin and Fizz bar. They couldn't make a champagne cocktail. 🙄

Not on Cunard, but on another line, I've seen lots of scooters on board, and some rented by people who weren't lazy, but rented one "just in case" because they were concerned about the distances to be walked on the ship. I saw someone who had never used a scooter before nearly back down a flight of stairs! I think Cunard's requirement of booking only certain cabins is to make sure the mobility device can be parked in the cabin and not in a hallway. It may also be a move to limit the number of people who might need special assistance in case of an emergency.

I was on the Canada cruise, Britannia early seating. Our waiters were terrible. They would give us menus and disappear. One night, we sat with our menus for 25 minutes, waiting to give our orders. Because the waiter station was far away, we couldn't even wave to a waiter to get his attention. Some nights, the only way to get to the show was to skip dessert. We spoke to the Maitre d' and things moved along better, but there still were mistakes in orders, waiters not sure what sauce to offer--I was offered gravy (meant for the beef) when I had lamb chops. I got the feeling they were still understaffed and had many new/poorly trained servers. On the way out of the dining room, I always saw a queue of people waiting to be seated. Often just a few people, but one night, the queue stretched back to the middle of the elevator area.

Thanks for taking us along with you, Roy! I'll be on Eurodam this winter, my return to HAL after my last pre-covid cruise in early 2020. I'm enjoying all of your pictures, but what got me most excited was seeing the day of the week carpets. Love those!! I agree with you about the dance programs. I find the electronic backdrops annoyingly bright. I sat with my eyes closed for a minute, and then it struck me that there was NO point in staying if I couldn't keep my eyes open to watch the dancers! As with many cruise ship shows, I think the talents of the performers were above what they were given to do.

Thank you for the review, sfred. I'm glad that it was mostly good, and you didn't catch any respiratory illness. I had to laugh at your comments about Cunard's IT system. We all seem to have low expectations regarding embarkation and it's lovely when things work better than expected. I agree about the new wifi plan. I could get through 10 days, sometimes more, on my diamond minutes. I don't need to be online all the time, so the unlimited plan feels like poor value for money, even if I'm not paying for all of it. Wishing you safe and smooth travels home.

Sounds like you have a good attitude about the guarantee. Alaska excursions tend to be expensive, so spend your money on those instead of a balcony. Go whale watching!!

I cut down your post because I want to comment on just these two points. I have been cruising for a long time and I have seen the changes you talk about all too often. For example, I was in St Kitts on a cruise in 2006 or so, and then again 10 years later. I got off the ship and NOTHING was familiar. It wasn't until I walked past Diamonds International, Del Sol, etc that I recognized the place I had been to before. In any port, I make an effort to get past the chain stores and enjoy a good wander, look for a local market, stop for coffee or a beer. Sometimes I wonder if I'm the only one who does try to see something local. So many cruisers WANT Diamonds International and Del Sol and all the rest of that. I remember being on a HAL cruise to the Caribbean and going to the shore info desk to get a local map. The woman ahead of me was worried her tour wouldn't get back soon enough for her to go to Diamonds International. Like there wouldn't be one in the next port... As for ship size, I go to whatsinport to see what other ships will be in port with my ship to get a sense of how the day will go. St Maarten can take so many ships that sometimes I just make it a stay-aboard day. I remember before the megadock and shopping development, only one ship would be there, at anchor and tendering into Phillipsburg. It will be interesting to see what happens if more ports limit visitor counts. The cruise lines with Behemoth of the Ocean Edge tout the ship as the destination. It's a floating resort with 15 restaurants, shopping mall, bumper cars, a 4-deck high water slide! Who needs ports, anyway...

Thanks. That's an awfully short day, but at least I'll definitely get to see sunrise! 4-5C is brisk, but not so cold I need the thermal undies.

How lovely--both your picture and that they held a Remembrance Day service. It's Veterans Day in the US, and it doesn't get the attention I've seen in the UK. I'm enjoying the posts from this cruise. I just booked it for next year. I have a few questions. How short are the days? Geographic karma says if you've got "midnight sun" in summer, you're going to have short days heading into winter. And how cold is it? Fall jacket? Winter coat?

I've compared the QA deck plans to HAL's K'dam. except for the arrangement of public spaces--theater, Queens Room, etc--they're the same. I don't see how they can widen the "promenade deck," as it's called on the K. The narrow space and the many turns make this deck barely suitable for a promenade, and impossible for running. In fact, the K has a sign that says "no jogging." The only place to sit on this deck on the K are a few lifejacket locker benches.

Our first Cunard crossing was 1988, and a dark suit was included as a formal night option. The ratio of tux to suit was higher in the grills and Caronoia restaurant than in steerage (can't remember what the main dining room was called back then). Our rule was tux/gown for formal, suit/cocktail dress or LBD for semi- formal and dress slacks and sportcoat/dressy pants and top for the very few nights that were casual. And often, we wore our semi-formal attire for the casual nights. By the time we cruised around Australia in 2012, they had lowered the dress code to make a tie optional for semi-formal (or whatever they called the second level then). I recall our first semi-formal night on that cruise, DH wore suit and tie, and the Australian gentleman at our table did the same. He said, "Ah, I see you think a suit deserves a tie, too."

Oh, I've seen the "I don't wanna, you can't make me" posts. I have to keep my hands off the keyboard for those! The thing I love about Cunard's formal/gala nights is that (almost) everyone participates in the dress code. Other lines say that you may dress up as much as you like, but it isn't the same when you're dressed to the nines and surrounded by those dressed to the fours. So dress up and have a great time!

That's harsh. If a poster said "I intend to wear such-and-such on formal night and I don't care what anyone thinks" THAT would sound like being above the rules. OP simply asked what actually happens on board. It's a reasonable question, given the variation in dress code from one line to another. For years HAL pretended to have formal nights, but I saw very few tuxes and gowns. If I had packed for HAL what I typically pack for Cunard, I'd have been overdressed.

I haven't received anything beyond the first email. Is there a link to take you to the special sale?

I haven't heard anything today. The original email said it starts at 4 PM eastern (US) time.

It's usually 175% unless you're in the Grills.

I asked my TA about it. She hadn't received any advance info. I agree it's probably a reduced single supplement. I'd love to see it reduced to zero, but O think the chances of that are nil.

I had booked that one, too, as much for a winter cruise as for the new ship. It might have been fun to see if anything special was done for maiden calls, but it is what it is. I don't know that I'll bother to book something else on Queen Anne. Not sure what my next Cunard voyage will be.

I always buy the pass for the whole cruise. I find the hydropool and ceramic loungers relaxing. On one cruise, I walked off mild sciatica by slowly walking around the pool in the mornings when it was quiet and the splashy jets weren't going.

I know what you mean about having a lifeboat blocking your view. it's impossible to guess what your odds are of getting one of the midship OVs. There are a few OV cabins on 4, and they appear to be just ahead of lifeboats, so not fully obstructed. There's nothing blocking the windows on deck 1.

I agree. They say "Don't worry. If there's a problem, we'll contact you." But I'm not online all the time at sea, or even when I'm traveling on land, so I may not get a text or email for a day or two. I would ask the Front Desk what's going on and check with my credit card company asap.

They caution that email isn't secure, so I still fax. However you send it in, take hard copy with you just in case there's a problem. On my last Cunard cruise, the credit didn't come through, although I had requested it far enough in advance. I had to argue with the front desk to get them to do anything about it. So far, it has always worked with HAL. Cunard, about 50%.

I've done a partial transit in an aft corner and it was great. This time, it will be a regular balcony, but aft. I do go out and walk around, but it's a long day, and room service breakfast on the balcony while you watch the locking, is pleasant.

There is no form. Just write an email message with your information--name, ship, date of sailing, cabin number, reservation number and request the credit. Attach the proof of ownership to the email. I use a fax service, fax zero, because faxing seems to be their preferred method.

Friends were on the WB that arrived in NY on Tuesday. They were confirmed for late sitting, large table, and were disappointed to discover that it was all open seating for late dining. They prefer to eat later but changed to the first sitting in order to have the same table every night. They were very happy with their companions for the week.