rsquare

The latter. I'm travelling with a friend who has never been on QM2 and is worried about what she'll do on sea days, so TAs are not on the agenda until she forms a judgment on the Mary.

For those of us on the old system, Wikipedia give an average November temperature range from 27F to 36F (basically what sogne said), with a mean of 32F, and 13.5 days in the month with precipitation (which is par for the course in western Norway). That suggests icy streets, and indeed one of my guidebooks suggests spiked shoe bottoms (ice cleats, traction spikes) which can be attached to non-spiked shoes. Amazon has a range from around USD7 to USD20 a pair. Being on the 2024 Northern Lights cruise puts me in Tromso (as north as we go) part of 6 November and all of 7 November. I suspect that I will have to balance the bulk of a winter coat against the bulk of my tuxedo with all its accessories; I doubt that I can do both in one suitcase. First world problems....

I just learned that the hourly charge for internet is gone, we now must pay by the day. The minimum daily charge is $18 for my 12-day cruise next year. I'm not happy about this. I am not a particularly online person. I really just want to check my e-mail perhaps twice a day, and occasionally look something up in Wikipedia. I don't do social media, and I have never streamed a movie in my life, nor do I buy stuff from Amazon while on a ship. This minimalist internet regime will cost me $216, of which only $145 will be covered by my Diamond-level credit. In the years since I made Diamond, I have typically only used half of the minutes that I got for free. This new pricing approach may work really well for the online-all-the-time among us, but those with low but daily usage like me are getting royally ripped off, paying for access we do not need and will not use in order to download a few messages a day. I would like to see Cunard offer a time-limited alternative, say a half-hour a day of connection time, or 6 hours for my upcoming trip, at a much lower rate than is being charged for 24-hour access. Am I the only one who feels this way?

Deposit paid, but still awaiting confirmation with the booking reference I'll need to log in.

If there are two formal nights on a 7-day crossing, then I would guess 3 for a 12-day cruise. Can anyone confirm this, or provide a more accurate number? Or is there any place on Cunard's website that shows formal nights and galas (are they the same?) for 2024 cruises? I just signed up for M435 which has two sea days, a port day, another sea day, and then a sea day before the return to Soton. I'm guessing that the formal nights would be on sea days, probably omitting either the first or second sea day after embarkation. Does this seem reasonable?

So, no more different-colored and numbered luggage tags, no more "Blue number 3 can now go to the gangway on deck 3," everybody leaves the ship in one mad rush whenever they want to? Or are you referring to QM2 no longer using Verandah as a debarkation lounge for Platinum and Diamond passengers?

Never done a January crossing, but typically do late November or early December, almost always in an obstructed view balcony. Major benefit, for me, is that the cabin is flooded with light. Lack of light is the reason why I stopped booking sheltered balconies some years ago. Yes, I also step out on the balcony even in the worst of the weather just to smell the sea for a few minutes, particularly since Cunard is (to my mind) somewhat over-cautious in closing off the outside decks when the wind rises, but for me it is really the light that matters.

Haven't made a final decision yet, but it seems likely that I will be on a 2024 QM2 cruise with a friend who has never been on Cunard; I'm Diamond. We will each have our own cabin. One of the Diamond perks that I value most is the early debarkation. I'm wondering if there is any formal or informal way for my early debarkation to extend to my friend, given that we will have tight air connections after leaving the ship at Southampton. I typically get more luggage tags than I need, so I could share one with my friend, but I'd prefer to do this in a more straightforward way rather than sneaking around the rules. Has anyone been in a similar situation, or can provide any advice on how far a travelling companion's WC perks can extend (eg, it would also be nice to go together to the senior officer's party, assuming that it is restored; didn't happen on my last TA)?

We had a similar experience with HAL's version of Complete Air, which has the same Carnival plumbing behind the facade. Our TA warned us that contracted flights were much less of a bargain this year, and then told us that she had even seen some contracted fares higher than published fares. Which she unwittingly proved by quoting us $2680 for a PHL-AMS in premium economy when the published rate for the same seat available to all was $2459.

For what it's worth, Rick Steves says that the Naeroyfjord, which comes off of the Sognefjord, is Norway's most scenic fjord. There's a ferry that goes from Flam to Gudvangen, and there are tour operators that will take you down the fjord.

Does anyone have any idea why HAL's May 25 2024 Norwegian fjord cruise has dropped Geiranger and the Geraingerfjord, substituting Flam and the Sognefjord? Gerainger was a tender port, so presumably no issues of multiple ships in port. Seems to have been a last-minute move, since no shore excursions for Flam are shown on HAL's website, although at the same time there seems to have been some ongoing problem with Gerainger, since no shorex were shown for that port, either in late July.

I have what I suspect is the same light from Ikea, called Ljuster ($4). They also have Morkradd, ($9 for two). Both products plug into a standard US outlet, and have light sensors that keep them off when the bathroom light is on, and on when the bathroom light is off. Both draw miniscule amounts of power, so easily used in a shaver outlet.

I found myself a little confused by this website (https://en.rotterdam.info/locations/cruise-terminal-rotterdam-en/) which presents the Cruise Terminal as an event venue. Same address as appears on other websites for the Cruise Terminal, 699 Wilhelminakade, but of course no way of knowing how long it has been since a website was updated. Leads me to wonder if this is a former cruise terminal that has been recycled into something else, or if it is still the terminal but now also a dual-use building. If the latter, hard for me to imagine the bustle and confusion of an embarkation coexisting somehow with a business meeting or convention. Other web sites talk about the old Holland-Amerika HQ, now the Hotel New York, as being "across the street" from the cruise terminal, and there is indeed a Port of Rotterdam building right across the street from the hotel. Can anyone unconfuse me?

I suspect that the later boarding times are facilitated or even caused by the elimination of formal lifeboat drill. There is no longer a fixed time to assemble, at least on QM2. Instead, the drill is to show up at your assembly station and have your ship card scanned by someone. Life jacket instruction appears to be left to the program running on the room TV when you first enter. Also BTW, Covid testing was available at Mayflower Cruise terminal in early November, in spite of dire warnings that it would not be.

Having worked in that industry, more often surveys suggest topics for intensive probing in focus groups or one-on-one interviews. It can be difficult to express your opinions when a survey has poorly-worded answer options, or lacks a "not applicable" option, although Cunard's tend to ask you to explain your rating when asked to judge some aspect of your voyage.

I was also able to get a "just in case" script after substituting one of my usual drugs with one that does not interact with Paxlovid. I also discovered that there are two versions of Paxlovid, one for most people and one for people with compromised kidney function; in the US, the boxes are printed in different colors and clearly labelled. Lagevrio seems to have about a 30% effectiveness rate, which is about what you normally see with placebo in clinical trials (I used to work in the pharmaceutical industry).

Experienced Cunarders at my table on M236 agreed that the quality of the food has improved compared to previous crossings. Seemed to me that we had one less entree to select from, but I can't swear to it. And the low-sugar/sugar-free ice cream or dessert option has gone, although another CCer has said that they are still available on request.

I was on the same crossing as neeuqdrazil (although we managed to not meet) and was one of the crowd of freezing loonies up on deck 13. I noticed that most people focused on looking ahead as the bridge approached. For me, the "money shot" is to turn around and look at the mast and funnel as they approach the bridge (you're sure they are going to scrape the bridge). Unfortunately, now that the funnel and other topside works are no longer illuminated at night, it is difficult to get the dramatic photos that I have done in previous years. BTW, if you're going to take pictures with your phone, turn off the flash; it only illuminates a small patch in front of you, and causes the lens to stop down, impairing the picture you're trying to get. Photo below was taken around 5:20a on 20 November 22.

Internet wasn't bad in the public rooms, just in peoples' cabins. I often had to stand in my cabin doorway halfway in the corridor in order to log on. Diamond members get essentially unlimited internet for $5 ($135 WC credit toward a $140 unlimited package), which isn't a bad deal. The downside, for me, was that internet access wasn't terribly stable; sometimes I could log in and have connectivity for an hour or two, sometimes I would get logged off and have to keep logging on in order to send individual e-mails.

Just off M236, my first time on QM2 since January 2020. There have been changes, most not for the better. Here’s a list for anyone contemplating their own return to the Mary: Bathrooms now have big pump bottles of hand soap, shower gel and skin conditioner instead of the little containers of stuff and bar soap. Contents continue to be provided by Penhaligon’s Quercus brand. The pump bottles deliver a frustrating quarter-inch of their contents on each squirt so trying to put shower gel on a washcloth to use for soaping up in the shower is an exercise in frustration. Bar soap is available from your cabin attendant, but in my case, took two days to show up. The Daily Programme has shrunk down to about 4 x 11 inches, with each activity or show allocated a single line with name, starting time and a little color block to reassure you that watercolo(u)r lessons are not stage shows. Down at the bottom, in another box, is a single line of what the Insights speakers are presenting, with no bio material. It is still usable, but not as usable as its full-sized predecessor. For diabetics dining in Britannia, there are no longer sugar-free (years ago) or low-sugar (more recently) desserts. Other than that, I will say that the consensus at my table of experienced QM2 passengers was that the quality of the food has significantly improved, although the annoying “landscape mode” menus remain, awkwardly dueling for space with the menus of those seated on either side of you. At breakfast in Britannia, there is no longer a server circulating with a basket of breads and rolls; these have to be ordered from your waiter, thus effectively curbing the impulse to have that second croissant. If the food in Britannia has improved, the service has deteriorated. Either they can’t find serving staff (possibly because the former 6-month contracts have now been extended to 9 months), leading to the sight of section managers (or whatever the guys in dark suits are called) waiting on tables alongside the waitstaff, or the bean counters at Carnival House have squeezed down dining room headcount. The Duty Free shop is gone; you can still buy bottled booze on the ship, but there is no pretense that you are getting a bargain on name brands. Room steward namecards stuck in the mirror are gone; not just my experience, but that of everyone I asked. No more use of Verandah as a private waiting room for debarking Diamond passengers. I used to look forward to picking up the day’s New York Times there on my westbound crossings. No Queens Room parties for World Club members, or Senior Officer parties for senior members (I am Diamond). I admit to having mocked these in the past, but I found myself unexpectedly missing them. And saving the best for the last, apparently we won’t have Pol Acker to kick around anymore. My DC cabin was furnished with a blanc de blancs called Duc de Valmer Brut. Whether this is an improvement on or a step down from Pol Acker, I leave to others to say (see, for example, https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2894578-good-news-and-bad-news/); I took the unopened bottle with me for use on New Year’s eve. I should also note that two tablemates at Platinum level reported receiving Pol Acker, so we may be in a transition period.

Is the new Elizabeth Line considered a Tube, or a rail line, ie which strike affects it?

Also for future reference, there is a lovely half-timbered 16th century mansion called Speke Hall (https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/speke-hall-garden-and-estate) that sits literally next door to Liverpool Airport. We walked from QM2 to the small Liverpool ONE (Canning Place) bus terminal about three blocks away and took a city bus to the airport, and then a short and inexpensive cab ride from the airport to the site. Nice tour of the building, and then fun in the maze in the garden; we actually got to the end without cheating, but it wasn't easy. You can easily spend the best part of a day on-site and travelling to and fro.

I got caught up in this situation a while ago, and discovered that a little after the telephone number entry field, there is a place to indicate your country; for me (in New Jersey!) it was preset to the UK; when I changed it to US, the 10-digit/no hyphens/no spaces phone number was accepted.

Does anyone have any idea what distinguishes TAs that do not require testing, like M234, from those which do require testing, like M236? Bluemarble's list (thank you for posting that!) seems to be a mix of eastbound and westbound voyages, so I assume that it is not being driven by either US or UK landing requirements. Possibly how crowded the crossing is?

Thanks for the noon bell ringtone. I didn't know about the announcement chime ringtone, so I searched it out and downloaded it. I definitely want it as my ringtone, but am uncertain about whether it will keep cycling back if I don't pick up the call on the first ring, or if I need a longer version. I rarely use my cellphone, and since all my friends know this, I'm more likely to get emails than calls or texts, so I sometimes need to spend time figuring out how to answer without dropping the call.