3rdGenCunarder

I do the same. I do the research and know what I want before I call. I've had a few issues with the website and the dreaded error messages, but InPrivate has always solved that. (oh no! did I just jinx myself?)

I think we're going to see more and more limits in smaller ports. Ships are getting bigger, but the ports stay the same size.

Yes, sometimes the "narration" leaves a bit to be desired. It probably was mostly from Wiki, since it was a short-notice change. I do like a bit of information about what I'm seeing, but some narrations are too much. I love that a stretch of Endicott Arm (I think that's the one, maybe it's a different one) has a ban on noise, as it disturbs wildlife. The peace and quiet of sailing along a fjord is wonderful.

Cunard's questionnaires contain direct questions about dressing up and some odd ones along with that. In an agree/disagree section, there's always one like "I enjoy dressing up to give the evening a sense of occasion." Okay, that one is easy. But it's often followed by "I would feel at home at the opera." WHAT does that mean and what do they infer from my "agree" answer? I like opera. Does that mean I like to dress up, on the assumption that going to the opera requires formal dress? (Neither the Royal Opera House nor the Met has a dress code that I've ever seen.) The questions can be slanted in a way that give the company the "data" it wants to get so they can justify a decision they're already leaning toward.

Yes, "sets the tone" is a good way to say it. I agree that a second gala night often sees more people dressed up than on the first. Although the dress code is not the same as on Cunard, I've seen people make more of an effort on the second gala night on HAL, too. As for luggage, I think a lot of women who worry about packing formal wear are imagining they need to take ballgowns (think Cinderella). I have seen some gorgeous full-skirted ballgowns on cruises, and my first thought is always how in earth did she pack that! But that is not required. If you shop around, there's a lot of formal wear that's easy to pack, like the items you described.

Did they open the space on the bow?

You really don't hold back!!! It wouldn't take much to make their website better, so grab your phone, a burger, and crank up YouTube and go for it! @atexsix, try Incognito or InPrivate. That has helped when I've had problems with HAL's website.

I must get 2 or 3 cruise brochures every week. Lines I've never sailed and one line I sailed 10 years ago and swore never again. Don't worry about stuffiness. Cunard has been tarred with that reputation undeservedly for many years. It's possible to be classy, elegant, and traditional without being stuffy. Cunard passengers are well traveled interesting people. You will not be in a ship filled with Hyacinth Buckets (pronounced Bouquet).

P&P was confusing because all the performers were women and they looked very much alike. The only way I could keep track of who was who was by the costumes. Kudos for music choice though, especially Elizabeth singing "You're so Vain" about Darcy.

That's unfortunate. On the Northern Lights cruise last fall, everyone at our table commented on how much they loved Haugesund. Nothing extraordinary, but a normal small city with cafes and normal stores where locals shop. After the Arctic Train in Narvik and cable car in Tromso and several nights with the lights, we all felt that we could decompress strolling around a lovely port.

I agree about the fishbowl feeling in the CO dining room (Koningsdam). @fsdj1097, you didn't say if you've got open dining or fixed. I did early fixed when I was on Eurodam, so I didn't pay attention to the open dining queues, but I'm pretty sure there's a separate queue for CO (which includes Neptunes). If you've got fixed dining, check your assignment. There are 2-tops along the rail looking down over the lower section. They give you a feel of not being closed in with a crowd. Perhaps ask for one of those. Unlike the Vistas, the Signatures have Tamarind. Don't miss that!

Good advice. I do spend too much time seeing the world through my camera. When I'm in Alaska (two weeks!!!!), I will try harder to just be there. That said, your pictures are excellent, so the time spent with your camera/phone hasn't been wasted.

@buchanan101, which play did they do? I know that there was a problem with Pride and Prejudice on early cruises because one of the cast members was ill or injured. On the Around Britain, one of the guest celebrities (no, not Ms Imrie) volunteered to step in, so I did get to see both P&P and Brief Encounter. Movies in the theater is a surprise. I thought they would continue to show those in the Pavillion.

It's dumbing down to those of us who have sailed Cunard for a long time and enjoyed a greater number of formal nights. Yes, I can dress up all I want. But there's an ambiance when everyone (or most everyone) is dressed up. I do dress above the minimum every evening. Not formal, but better than what Cunard describes for the casual nights. I know, I know, those of us who have sailed Cunard for a long time are getting older, and cruise lines don't seem to give a rat's about what we think in their quest to attract younger cruisers.

Ah, glad they got a replacement. She did say they'd ordered one. Smart to keep tabs on it. As the saying goes, once burned, twice shy.

Were they glued down? I can imagine those becoming souvenirs. After one of our first ports (Kirkwall) I wanted to send a few postcards, so I went to the purser's desk to ask if they had a "posted on board" stamp as they used to do on other ships. The woman said well, yes, they did have one...but it had already been stolen!

Is the 14-day cruise a B2B? In that case, you can buy the pass for only the first week and then you can buy the second week on board. The pass is good for consecutive days, so you would have to use it every day for the first week.

I just booked QE to the Caribbean 2026 and saved almost 20% off the Cunard fare. (launch fare)

Some categories are all triples. I believe all the Sig suites on Eurodam have a sofabed. All the Neptunes sleep 3 or 4. The PInnacle suites sleep 4. So if the system restricts couples to doubles (which seemed to happen to a few posters above), that means a couple cannot book any higher category than a Vista "suite." I'm sure HAL doesn't mean to make that restriction, but given their IT, if they try to block double reservations in triples or quads, that's what will happen.

I don't think there are any Neptunes for only two people. Blocking couples from Neptunes is ridiculous. If you're looking seriously, not just browsing, call HAL to see if you can get that Neptune.

It's always been true about not using OBC at the casino, but I've always been able to use it for the gratuity/service charge. As someone said above, that charge consumed most of my OBC right away, and that was a few weeks ago. I think that was a wrong answer. @Wedgie Wedgie, ask again. Or check your onboard account to see if the OBC is being used for the grats.

Check on the passport requirement. In the year or two after covid, the train trip was up and back on the train without a border crossing. Before that, some of the excursions did cross into Canada so that they could accommodate more people by offering the train one way and a bus (with a stop to see something along the way) in the other direction. Because the exchange point was in Canada, we had to show our passports to a VERY serious-looking Mountie. The US point going back just waved the bus through.

I agree with you. I love the Vistas and the Signatures feel like stretched Vistas. Don't like the Pinnacles. Never say never, but it would take a special itinerary to get me on a Pinnacle again.

So they're using window tables to entice people to choose open dining?

Does that button actually work??????? Didn't have that on the Around Britain cruise.