rog747

No, not at all, I am with you, right up there lamenting that a new Cunard ship comes without a true Prom Deck. Sitting on a deck chair, or nodding off in a steamer chair on the Prom deck of a Liner is the one thing that I love...and why I cruise. Sadly it seems the bigger you go, then you fall into the latest Solas Reg's for big new large capacity Lifeboats and where they are placed. The Costa Concordia rescue debacle was partly pivotal in this change too.

We will really have to wait and see, of course. It has to be said that both QV and QE are similar in many respects that are all based around the original Vista Class, of which P&O have Arcadia, and HAL has the 4 ''sisters of the Compass''. Cunard added their 'touch' on the QV and QE with the Grills decks and with other enhancements like the Queens Room, Royal Court Etc. The newer HAL pair being Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam are slightly bigger (known as the Signature Class) and all are still based on the Vista, as are the new HAL Pinnacle Class ships, and of course Cunard's Project Halifax ie: The Queen Anne. Yes, the Vista and Signature ships all have the rather nice Prom Deck, whereas the latest Pinnacle Class of which Queen Anne is a hefty larger version of, adapted for Cunard with the Grills Etc, unfortunately now have the large Lifeboats placed right on the Prom Deck (not hung above) which not just restricts the width of the Deck, but alas, hardly now has any views, nor any deck chair seating. I've not sailed on the HAL Pinnacles as yet (Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam, and the Rotterdam) but in 2017 I was on the Nieuw Amsterdam and we followed the brand new Koningsdam around the Caribbean, and I have to say she probably was not for me. From seeing the Queen Anne's interior decor plans and heard the comments from her Designers, and seen the initial Promo Photos (she is seemingly very fresh, with cool Art Deco, beiges, teals, black, and steel) I have to say she looks very nice inside, and I think many folk could well be wow'ed. I will take a 'taster' Voyage on her once the dust settles, and then decide for myself if the trade off of no real Prom Deck to relax or sit on, versus the cool Deco interior design, wins me over, or not. As a Cunard loyal passenger, just an aside, I never liked nor wanted the name, Queen Anne. I've always wished that the name could have been more of a traditional nod from Cunard's past Liners, say Mauretania or Aquitania. Much more 'sexy'... You could say to the neighbours ''Oh, we're sailing on the Aquitania...'' But that's just me LOL.

Yes, that is so, and Cunard will supply you with a Cancellation Invoice detailing your financial losses to include with your claim. So, If you have to cancel your cruise if you are too unwell to travel (even as late as 'on the day') all you need to do is inform Cunard you will be not now be going (or you will be down as a 'no show'). Then let your GP know you have cancelled your holiday so he/she can note it, and if you are that unwell then they may want to see if you need any treatment. Then call your Insurers for a cancellation claim form, or in the case of my Insurance (Nationwide) there is a Travel Claim Portal to do it all online. Your GP will be required to sign off** your claim form, but he/she would have no issue in doing that for you as any GE or Flu bug will be covered (**you may have to pay for this as some Surgeries charge for form filling)

Not so, it will be your own GP as the one signing off your Travel Insurance claim form. If you are sick before sailing (right up to departure day) especially with Noro, or any GE or Flu Bug, then it's a no brainer that your GP will be able to confirm to the Insurers that you were unfit to travel... Trust me - Had to do it sadly before several times. I didn't even have to go to see my GP, he took my word for it that I was too unwell and could not fly/sail. I just called the Surgery to advise them for my records, and submitted my claim form later. Plus, you don't go toddling off down to the Surgery with a GE or Flu bug unless you need treatment. You do not have to tell Cunard anything except you are not travelling. If you are that unwell then you would not be going down to the ship on the day to try to get on....

As fully outlined further by our kind other Posters here after my earlier post-----> The Maitre D will be at his podium/lectern just outside the MDR entrance doors, probably on Deck 3 (the upper tier of the MDR, but just maybe by the deck 2 entrance doors) and he will be there until around 3pm; So, unless you do get a confirmation from your TA and Cunard that you now have First Dinner confirmed prior to sailing, then get yourself up to the MDR on embarkation day PDQ and join the line to see him. He will help you, and you can reconfirm the special dietary and Allergy needs, although on the first night you may have to go 'Open seating' I have every confidence you should get a table for First seating eventually. They will handle the food allergy needs, and ensure you also fully outline them to Cunard in advance. Apart from the Maitre D, you will also have your Head Waiter too who will look after you, along with your 2 waiters. As mentioned in other posts, First Dinner on Alaska cruises (and on some others, location dependent) seems to open earlier at around 5.30/5.45pm. If your parents need constant grub then obviously the Lido Buffet is open all day, plus there is afternoon Tea served there, and in the Queens Room, plus there is the all day room service menu. We used to go up to the Lido Dinner Buffet as soon as they opened (before our Late Seating dinner) and grab some nice hot and cold nibbles to take back to the Cabin to have with some drinks on our Balcony, if we did not want to go to the Commodore Club for pre-dinner drinks and canapes. I am sure all will be OK.

Obviously if you are unwell and unable to travel on any day up to your embarkation day then your own Travel Insurance Cancellation Cover will kick in surely >? Regardless of what ailment you have that would prevent you from travel.....

Top Tip - if you cannot get Cunard to confirm an early sitting for you and your parents prior to sailing. On embarkation day go straight to the MDR podium and see the Maitre D before 3pm and ask for a table on first sitting. You may not get one on the first evening, but they will do all they can to get you seated for the rest of the cruise. I recommend that you do this rather than have the stress for your parents of not knowing their own table or at a set time, or not having the same waiters know about any food allergies.

Yes, on both QE and QV the Deck 4 Balcony cabins are around a foot or so deeper. Also the very forward 17 cabins on each side of the ship on Deck 4 have a metal fronted balcony but are very nice and sunny.

I think lucky folk will see both the QV and QM2 docked together at Cape Town this April. Cape Town Thu 11 Queen Victoria arrives for an overnight stay Fri 12 Queen Mary 2 arrives for an overnight stay, Queen Victoria departs Sat 13 Queen Mary 2 departs

Thanks, Yes what a lovely read, and I loved the photos. I think I've mentioned in the past here, that when I lived in Cape Town when working for Virgin Atlantic, we, at the end of the 'season' used to go off down to the Waterfront breakwater to see the QE2 sail out of Cape Town harbour on the last leg of her winter world cruise sailing back to Blighty, with very jealous eyes, wishing we were on-board too. Brought a tear to the eye... I think lucky folk will see both QV and QM2 docked at Cape Town this April. The writer did make a small error in the size of the Union Castle Line ship, RMS Windsor Castle, she was actually over 37,000 GRT, and she was the largest passenger and cargo liner operated by the Union-Castle Line on its Cape Mail service between Britain and South Africa. She sailed the route until 1977, alongside the Pendennis and Transvaal Castles (she became SA Vaal) being the last trio of new large Ships built for the line. If you're in Cape Town on the Cunard ships docking there this Spring, and if you would like a taste of the past then do try to take Afternoon Tea at the famous Mount Nelson Hotel which was built over a Century ago to accommodate exclusively for the Union-Castle Line’s First Class passengers before they continued their onward rail journeys across Africa. Now, a Belmond Hotel, (with eye watering room rates) she became known as the 'Pink Lady' having been painted in this colour in 1918 to celebrate peace at the end of World War One. There was a trend for luxury hotels throughout the World that could be said to emulate the ‘Mount Nelson Pink’ and Reid's Palace Hotel in Madeira was one, and The Royal Hawaiian at Waikiki, known as the “Pink Palace of the Pacific'' was another, along with The Beverly Hills Hotel, Los Angeles. Afternoon Tea, Mount Nelson Hotel

LOL No need to 'sneak'... Cunard do not 'frisk' for booze... No corkscrew? wow, that's a very poor show, never had an issue for off-piste 'in-cabin supplies' ie: extra Ice, bigger ice bucket, more glasses and....dah dah a corkscrew... I think as you say, the slightly uppity, nee lazy Steward (which is very rare in my experience on Cunard) was not a happy bunny. Same sheets for a week - yikes! Note to self, pop a corkscrew in my luggage if taking the clinking stuff and vittles aboard LOL.

Did you take your own Ikea blind with you LOL..😅

Yes, its GIB of course, but the lovely Caleta Hotel on the headland there, built over 60 years ago and a Fav with Brit Holidaymakers, got pulled down sadly. The Caleta Hotel, an iconic Gibraltar landmark which has dominated the Eastern cliffs by Catalan Bay for nearly 60 years, is now gone. The Hotel, owned by the Callaghan family, closed its doors in January 2022 ahead of its demolition in order to make way for a new five star hotel and residential development. My photo taken here in NOV 2015 when visiting GIB on QV sailing from Rome to SOU. Our first Grills experiences which was rather nice. We took afternoon tea at the other icon, The Rock Hotel before going back to the ship.

Hi there This is not that far away from the docks where our cunard liner was moored up This view is not possible today

Cunard is all about the ''experience'' which is in the main, a Cruise Line that still offers their old-fashioned English Traditions (loved by most Cunard customers) as well as sailing to the amazing destinations you will visit - so folk even on an Alaska or a Med fly/cruise will be 99% dressed in formal wear (for men a Black tie/tuxedo) for the Gala nights (as they are now called). but, a dark suit and tie is totally fine if you do not want to invest, or perhaps borrow a Tux. The Gala nights are THE reason so many choose Cunard. It's not snobby but it's just great fun, and chance to embrace a period in time that is getting long forgotten. The HAL 'of old' was once, very much more formal like Cunard, but since IMO the Noughties, they have sought a far more relaxed and casual affair on their ships, and whilst I like HAL very much indeed, the dress code on their ships, especially sailing out of the USA is way more casual than Cunard, both at day and night times. Not a bad thing at all, especially in warmer climes, but as long as you know in advance as so to pack accordingly for your Cunard voyage. On the non Gala evenings (for men) a smart sports jacket and slacks (not chinos or jeans) with a collared shirt, no tie needed (but not a Polo shirt) is the norm for Smart Casual. I'm sure you will have a super time.

There are beaches close to the town and one opposite the station (pebbly?), but better ones are pretty and a bit further down the Coast santa marinella Santa marinella beach is one,and nearby Santa Severa. You can go by train (a couple of stops) Its AUG so expect beaches to be busy.

If you have never been to Rome and wish to see it, then it's a no brainer... But it's a long ''boot camp'' kinda day on the Ship Excursion, and if you have just done Livorno (Florence) they day before, and perhaps Naples on the next day you will be knackered LOL, but it's what you do on a Grand Tour Voyage to see the sights ! The Ship's Tour maybe more comfy but subject to traffic conditions. Or, My other suggestion for Rome is you could do it on your own and go there by fast early train to the Rome San Pietro Station (the stop nearby for the Vatican and St Peters) and of course, a good place to start is at St Peter's Square & The Vatican, and then later, go and see what other sights are on your Rome wishlist. Some suggestions: The Roman Forum and The Colosseum: The Pantheon: The Monument to Victor Emmanuel II and Mussolini's balcony, both on the Piazza Venezia: Via Veneto: Trevi Fountain and The Spanish Steps: You get the train back from Rome Termini. The faster InterCity and Frecciabianca express trains which carry a £Supplement are quicker and worth getting to go back on, especially if you are tired. The Ship usually sails later in the evening when on Rome calls. The ships docks at Civitavecchia and sometimes it's not walkable to the Town, nor to the Railway station. The shuttle buses go to a point in, or near the town centre, then the Station can still be quite a walk from there. If you see Taxis at the Port then grab one for the Station. Day Rail Tickets can be bought that include the Bus and Tram in the City. If you choose to go it alone then do pre-book a Vatican Museum/Sistine Chapel/St Peter's Basilica Guided Tour in English - well worth it, and a small group tour costs around 30e pp.

correct me if I am wrong but Food Poisoning, is not Norovirus

Outrageous - Cunard should offer you a full refund if you cancel. If you are in the UK then it should be a no-brainer (under the strict Industry rules) for qualifying for a full refund for you if you choose not to go on the new itinerary. It's not a good read here to see that everyone are not being treated the same, which then becomes unreasonable. Put pressure on your TA to get a full refund and cancel. Other Pax have posted on social media they have been offered full refunds. If no avail call your Credit Card Bank and discuss a chargeback. IMO frankly I think it's unwise to book QA's WC next year via Dubai and Suez and expect that trip to go to plan as Exlondoner says too.

Thankfully the re-emergence of Norovirus on cruise ships and in normal life, has been minimal since the Pandemic, hopefully in the main, that hand washing/sanitising routines are being kept up by Pax and Crews (at least one good thing came from it LOL). Keep on washing your hands and it's kept at bay. But as our immunity to it nowadays must be fairly weak then if you are unlucky to get it (it is a nasty GE bug) your symptoms might knock you back... I'm not a Virologist (obs) but our exposures to these and other bugs in the past 4 years has been miminnal.

Thanks for this, seems to concur with general consensus we had of the expected change; Cunard seemed to have acted as swift as possible and just may have been reading the many Posts on CC here during this past 2 weeks. Would have been a nice treat for many that a St Helena visit, either a call, or just a sail-by was added. There was enough time to have done this. Do I assume that the WC Segment passengers who are booked just to join from Dubai to SOU (and likely also some going on to NYC) will just be cancelled and get a full refund, or will they have their Segment now offered as CPT - SOU >? EDIT: from a Cunard Facebook group a post from an American Guest -- I have just had an email from Cunard saying they have canceled our cruise booking from Dubai to NYC. I understand why we are not going through the Red Sea but they have not given us any other option other than cancellation. I’m waiting to hear from my TA as to what to do now as we would like to join cruise in Cape Town. Has anyone else been cancelled ? Also, P&O have done the same with the Arcadia world sector. They are not offering the option of joining in Cape Town.

RE bed time Hot Choc in your Cabin - I just called up Room Service and kindly asked for it and it came, also sometimes came with some shortbread biccies - never seemed an issue for them, but I've not been on board since pre-C.

To echo the other posters, Embarking at SFO you will have no issue in taking on board in your luggage (either in the checked in or your carry on to the ship) your bottled water and your milk cartons. Bottle water is fine to be taken on anywhere, but milk just may be an issue at some Foreign Ports if you get checked. Top Tip : (although am sure many of you do the same) Just to mention if you do not want to use the horrid milk spattering sachets on the Kettle Tea Tray then just pop up/or down to the Lido Buffet and grab a jug of fresh milk and pop it in your fridge.

Both QV and QM2 need a nightstop in Cape Town, that's normal on these WC segments. For QV it is a booked WC segment change, and I guess QM2 could do the same to disembark and embark new segment Pax (which is likely to be a lot) The HAL Zuiderdam is a couple of days ahead of both ships at Colombo, so she will be ahead all of the Cunard pair all of the time. The ship was due to go from Colombo to Fort Lauderdale via India, UAE ports and Dubai, Oman, Jordan, Egypt, Suez, Turkey and Eastern Med calls, Athens, Naples, Malaga, and the Azores to Florida. Her rerouting could likely be from Cape Town to the Azores via some port calls but nothing like what her current itineraires are. Her Pax will not be too happy to lose so many wonderful Ports and visits to Antiquities on this Grand Voyage. No announcement from HAL as yet; As mentioned above (and I also pointed this out last week) both the Colombo and Cape Town Port schedules seem to show 'space available' and QM2 could also overnight at Colombo if Cunard choose to use this Port as the WC segment change instead of Dubai. There is also plenty of time for QM2 to sail via the Cape and stay on schedule for her SOU arrival on 28th April, and then her same-day departure on to NYC. The issues are for Cunard to now look to book the port calls for QM2 on the rerouting via the Cape if she sails from Colombo (and does not call at Dubai). Bunkers and provisions will definitely be done at Colombo and Cape Town.

You probably know that BA Avios flights can be cancelled up to 24 hours before departure for a small fee of £35pp, and your Avios is returned to you in full, plus any other cash you used to offset Avios miles. You can also change the dates/times, but not the Routing. Cash Fares where you have used some Avios to get money off, and Book with money and upgrade with Avios, all have different T&Cs IIRC.