rog747

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.

My tuppence is that the ship will sail the WC segment from Singapore as normal to Colombo, but from there yes, go on to Cape Town (maybe via a couple of port calls) and that of course leaves out the Dubai call. However, Dubai is a big getting on port for the next lot of WC segment passengers for SOU or NYC, or are getting off there like yourself has booked. So yes Cunard may give you the option of staying on to Cape Town CPT, or that your cruise segment ends in Colombo CMB, but there are alot of folk due to get off and on at Dubai; so Cunard has to decide where to 'break' the next WC segment - be it either at CMB or CPT. I dunno - have to wait and see, but IMHO I think it maybe CMB because the QV is docked there the day before QM2 arrives, and QV is routing back to SOU via the Cape.

Yes sometimes the interior spaces can be a tad cool - and sometimes at lectures in the Theatres. If that is your worry then pack accordingly with some wraps and/or very light jumpers etc, although you are flying right into the heat at Singapore and then cruising the Tropics of SE Asia, so cottons, floppy hats, and light clothing is the order of the day. You can adjust your Cabin temperature. If the Dubai call is altered, then it's quite possible your cruise may end in Colombo (which is very busy, hot and humid (and in early April it can see heavy rain showers from the start of the Monsoon). If you would wish to extend your time in Sri Lanka then a short stay and a Tour up to Kandy and the Hill/Tea Country is blissful. You can take the train to Kandy and on to the Tea Hills, the train ride from Colombo Fort Station up into the tea plantations of central Sri Lanka is a highlight of any trip to Sri Lanka. You can travel on a classic train with a first class observation car attached to the rear. This gives a wonderful rearward view along the tracks, you can see how this wonderful railway was constructed, hugging the hillside under overhanging rocks. Nanuoya is the railhead for Nuwara Eliya, a Colonial-era hill station where the British would spend time away from the heat & humidity of the coast, surrounded by Ceylon tea plantations. Some lovely Colonial country house and Tea Estate hotels are up there. Also a night at the Mount Lavinia Hotel (and take afternoon tea, known as the The Governor's High Tea) is a must do before flying home. The Mount Lavinia Hotel is located in the coastal town of Mount Lavinia, which is just 12 kilometres south of Colombo and 54 kilometres from the Bandaranaike International Airport. The hotel is ideally situated to be easily reachable for ending your Tours, while remaining away from the congestion of the Capital. It is situated atop a rock overlooking the aquamarine waters of the Indian Ocean and with direct access to the beach. MOUNT LAVINIA HOTEL COLOMBO Other nice hotels in the capital are the Galle Face Hotel and Colombo's other famous old colonial pile is the Grand Oriental Hotel. I do digress sorry, LOL, but I think Colombo is going to be the Thread's subject matter quite soon....

Looks cold and very Northern ---- very Viking....

Yes, room service hot chocolate (very nice, served in a classy silver pot) was deffo possible on all of my previous cruises. I had it Breakfast times and also at bedtime sometimes.

The ship is usually ''cleared'' by 7am, and if you want to get off then and carry your own luggage off the ship then that is OK to disembark. As you are a US Citizen then Passport and Customs checks will be very quick for you. If you wish to do this, then just let the Pursers Desk know in advance that you wish to self-disembark, and if you are flying back to Maine then you could easily get a flight before, or around Noon from LGA or JFK. Breakfast starts very early in the King's Court (around 5am or soon after) and also opens for sit-down breakfast in the MDR's around 6am. Edit - I assume you will fly up to BGR Bangor >?

Coughs loudly LOL, Re the OP's post, of which I have great empathy -- A person who has very limiting Health Allergies to eating various Foods, does, as such has to mitigate carefully his risk to eating in a ''mass catering'' confine such as a Cruise Liner. It's very hard, if you get it wrong, you can end up really not well. I have to mention the Poster who expresses their disdain at Cunard's Vegan response to 'modern life'... To eat ''Veggie'' or to eat ''Vegan'', or to 'Go Vegan' (all are purely Personal and/or Lifestyle choices) is not really fitting as Cunard handling the criteria for a Guest here in the OP, who has very limiting acute Food Health Allergies. FYI - The only milk that will nicely foam for your Flat White or a Cappuccino is Full Fat Cows Milk. Just Saying...

Indeed Host Hattie, and Good Morning to you all, This is an emotive subject, and not knowing what will happen is quite worrying to many who are expecting to travel, and to those who are already on board the QM2. To attempt to clarify, MSC's ships attract, and very do well on the 'local' South African market for these short local cruises. That is why MSC send their ships down there in 'our' winter. The three voyages MSC have cancelled back from SA via Suez, two to Italy, and one to SOU, are purely Re-positioners. They sell the Cabins off on these usually pretty cheap and (This is just IMO) perhaps bookings for the 3 Voyages did not warrant compensating the booked Pax who were expecting to sail back via Suez. Also the 3 ships had a number of Port calls booked at various Islands and places in the Eastern Med, so those calls would not be possible if coming back through the Straits of Gib. Thus I guess it was simpler and more economical to cancel them all, and Position back empty. One point worth to mention, is that there a still a fair number of Expats who sail down to the Cape from UK & Europe on the Positioning Voyages (and also on Cunard) to spend the Winter VFR (VFR = Visiting Friends and Relatives, we called it in the Travel Industry) and then like to take a ship passage home again in the Spring. Thus, should Cunard run both QV and now also QM2 home via the Cape then there maybe a fair number of these folk trying to get Berths, if they do not want to Fly home. If QM2 does run home via the Cape, I am certain she will take Passengers back to SOU (and for those booked on the full WC, who also those who have to get back to NYC) because many of those will have booked not wanting to do any Air Travel. I cannot see Cunard cancelling the WC cruise after Colombo and then running for home empty. Also folk mention about claiming on Travel Insurance ----- > This should not be needed, as Cunard, if they drastically change your holiday then they should be in a position to ''look after you'' and refund you accordingly. It should be noted that I have previously mentioned that you cannot usually claim for 3rd party losses from your Travel Insurers, such as fees for cancelled Hotels and Air tickets that you have booked Independently, but it is always worth submitting a Claim to them. If no avail, you can try and seek that recompense from Cunard, upon application for their consideration to cover your losses. Your Travel Insurers should cover you (as long as you have that Cover added) for any Delay/Travel Disruption and any losses, once you have commenced your outward journey to join your holiday, as long as you are not traveling against any FCO advice. If in doubt just check your Cover and speak to your Travel Insurance Co.

For UK bookers - If the voyage is diverted via the Cape (ie: fails to call at Dubai and then sails back via Cape Town with a totally different Itinerary) then that is classed as a major change of your holiday, and I would fully expect that the options will be: Take the new cruise itinerary if offered. Cunard may offer guests some incentives to keep your booking. Cancel and take a 100% FCC + maybe with some extra FCC offered too. Cancel and take a Full Refund. NB: if you have booked flights and hotels Independently then Cunard may or may not cover any losses for changes/cancellations if that affects your booking if you need to amend or cancel. You should apply to Cunard on a case-by-case basis for their consideration if you suffer any unrecoverable 3rd party loss. If you booked in another Country I am sorry I cannot be 100% sure.

Apologies for staying OT re QM2's speeds and her performance. I had it back in my mind that the QM2 was actually designed and capable for 5 night crossings, then once in service, this was increased to 6 nights, and now 7 is the norm. The 5 day crossing necessitated an average 28.5 knots service speed, and required using both the main Diesel engines, and the Gas Turbines. QE2 was a 5 night crossing IIRC. I'm pretty sure QM2 did 5 night crossings at the start of her career - Yes/No ?

IMHO I think that once, and perhaps this may still apply to this day, many Cunard Pax are not the type of folk that live all-day on their phones and would want to access everything on Apps. However, todays Boomers (of which I am one hehe) are of course much more Tech Savvy, but I do believe Cunard has purposely not gone that way (yet). I for one, can cope with ordering my bar cocktails by calling over the very nice waiter or waitress and asking for what I want, or I would rather pop down to the Tours Desk to book my Excursions. TUI Holidays (who was until last year the UK's No.1 Tour Operator) have an App for Bookings, My Bookings, and getting holiday extras, I do use it, but it's clunky and often crashes. Once opened on your phone the TUI App then diverts you to a Webpage on your Browser. Notwithstanding that, yes many folk today would may now like to have an App. Perhaps a Cruise Critic Poll on the subject would give us an idea if Cunard Guests want an App or not?

Yes, indeed I would imagine the SE Asia ports of call will be OK for you (here's hoping LOL) If Cunard do plan to operate QM2 from Colombo CMB sailing back to SOU via Cape Town CPT (following the Queen Victoria by a day) then I would be really hopeful to be able to get a booking on her either from CMB or CPT. I missed out on getting on the ship down to CPT last week.

A couple of Cruise Lines have just announced (on 19th Jan) they have cancelled Red Sea Suez passages and their Dubai calls for March and April cruises. In addition MSC have cancelled their Grand Voyage Cruises back from South Africa to the Med and SOU via Suez (end of season repositioners to get the ships back to Europe; the report said 3 ships) and will now sail them empty and without passengers, via 'the other way home'....ie: up from The Cape and past West Africa. My sincere apologies but I cannot find my source links which appeared on my newsfeed on my phone re the other cruise lines who have now cancelled. HAL's Zuiderdam is sailing a day ahead of Queen Victoria.... Singapore - Colombo, Sri Lanka, Mumbai (Bombay), Fujairah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Salalah, Sharm el-Sheikh, Aqaba (for Petra), Suez Canal Transit, to the Med, the Azores and Fort Lauderdale - Be interesting to see what they do.

The recommendations are of course to be at check-in 2-3 hours before departure, but the very minimum (close-out) time is 60 minutes on most International flights, and on some Domestic and European it can be 45 minutes as mentioned above. PLEASE PLEASE do not even consider taking the trains unless you really know what you are doing as Pushpit says - These days we are plagued with daily events of delays and cancellations on this line from SOU, plus constant Strikes and work to rule - NO NO NO LOL !!!