rog747

Yes indeed and many thanks, I had already mentioned that the DXB-SOU segment was off sale yesterday in an earlier post, and that the SIN-SOU was still on sale with availability.

With the greatest of respect to new to cruising and rafinmd regarding their posts above... If the ''situation'' continues, then I rather doubt that Dubai could still be included as a Port stop because it may well still be in the Lloyds of London 'Breach risk area'', and thus voids Hull Insurance. Also I think you may have got your alternate routes mixed up - :) The distance from Dubai to SOU via Cape Horn is over 19000 miles and at 25 knots, the voyage takes around 32 days... Cunard would not make a ''dash'' for it sailing at 28-30 knots - Can you imagine the fuel bill...! FYI (and I think this is the routing you got mistaken on) - 10678 nautical miles is from Dubai via Cape of Good Hope (ie: calling at Cape Town) Vessel speed 25 knots Time 17 days 19 hours And yes, as I described in my earlier Post above on Page 4 re re-routing, then this is the way she would go, either from Colombo to Cape Town, or just possibly still from Dubai but don't hold your breath on that. Best R.

The Cunard group coach transfers normally are away around 9am-9.30am so it's only just over an hour to LHR Terminal 5 (closest off the M25) and around another 15 minutes to the Central area for T2 and T3, or round to T4. They will allocate you a coach relevant to your flight time (so let them know on board). Even if the coach does not leave until 10am you will be fine. Minimum (latest) check-in time for your flight is 60 minutes so I would not be too stressed. The alternate is to book a chauffeur driven car transfer. (which is what I would do if my flight was 2pm) The driver will meet you kerbside after disembarking, and bingo you're on your way PDQ. The kind folk on here will supply you with some local SOU Taxi firm names.... You could self-disembark (carry all of your own luggage off the ship) at almost anytime (the ship is normally cleared by 7.30am) and book a car to suit you.

Yes, I think they have taken that WC segment off-sale for obvious reasons, for now... Dubai To Southampton, 21 Nights (M409) 7 Apr 2024 - 28 Apr 2024 Sold Out But Singapore to Southampton is wide-open and has availability in most cabin categories.

Sorry to hear your woes and that you have cancelled your first cruise on Cunard, but I fully understand your predicament with such a fluid and uncertain Security issue in the Gulf Region. As I guess you are in the UK, I would escalate with Cunard your request for your Deposit to be reconsidered perhaps given to you as a Credit, as you clearly wish to go on Cunard one day. They would be daft to lose your business and personally I have always had a positive result from Cunard's Sales and Customer Service at Southampton when I have had to deal with similar refund and voyage change issues in the recent past. Your case will no doubt have more clout for your Deposit to be credited back to you if the Voyage is subsequently changed to go around the Cape...? Perhaps you would like to do that trip ? As I mentioned I always found Cunard (UK) to have decent empathy with such issues and I wish the same to you. Good luck.

A super photo was added on the CC Facebook group by Cunard Officer Paul Edwards who is on board with his wife for the WC, of the lovely sunrise approaching Bermuda this morning, and also some more taken from the ship over to the Heritage Wharf and Spanish Point.

Yes, I just spotted that the QV is almost dead ahead of QM2 when at CMB ! plus the HAL Zuiderdam is 2 days in front of QV, due to go from Colombo via Suez and the Azores to FLL. Colombo would be a good Air 'Hub' for disembarking and embarking DXB passengers, and looking at Port space availability QM2 could overnight at Colombo if needed. Getting Port space booked now especially for an overnight at Cape Town must be at the forefront of Cunard Operations re any changing of the QM2's route. The passage time available (if QM2 is rerouted via the Cape) does allow for a visit to St Helena which would be rather a nice treat for many of the Passengers. Something I would really like to experience. Anyway, all conjecture for now.....

Just for fun mind! Voyage distances for alternative route avoiding call at Dubai and transit Suez. (rerouting is not possible via Panama Canal) Port stops are not included. Options shown are to go back from Colombo (on Day 90) to Southampton, and from there she then has to cross to New York (on Day 117) to undertake a R/T B2B TA. Distance 10286 nautical miles via Cape of Good Hope Vessel speed 25 knots Time 17 days 03 hours This gives her more than enough days even at a slower speed, with some Port stops enroute, to be back in SOU on time for the NYC crossing departing 28th April (Day 117). I have used Colombo as the last scheduled Port of Call on the current WC itinerary, because the ship is not going to be sailing from any Australian Ports. The ports prior to Colombo are all in SE Asia. Therefore due to the distances involved, suggestions for her to maybe return via Cape Horn are not tenable. Folk due to disembark Dubai could get off at Colombo. She would definitely stop again at Cape Town (most likely stay overnight as usual) - a St Helena sail-by would be doable as time permits

Further to my post re my Nephew who is V-P at a Lloyd's of London firm in Marine and Rigs Underwriting Insurance - >> He's talked to his colleagues yesterday in Hull's Underwriting, and it's of course a fluid situation that may be resolved in time for the ship to stay on the intended route. However for now though, it must be said, that Cunard at present would not get Insurance to sail into the areas and transit home via Suez as the risks currently stand. Cunard's Broker would have to request Coverage from the Underwriters who would most likely decline Cover, or charge an eye watering additional Premium, but with untenable Exclusions. The Joint Hull Committee at Lloyds would still class this region as a 'Breach Area' and therefore voiding the ships Insurance if they sail in that area, and they could still assess the area as too High Risk for the foreseeable, even if current Hostilities decline soon. plus they have to be mindful of any increase, or sudden uptake in more Hostilities. Cunard know what they are doing, and they, and their Insurance Brokers will be on it as we speak. More news will come ASAP for any affected Cruise segments and Passengers once Cunard make their decisions on the ship's route.

My Sister's side of the family (Her Hubbie, their siblings and his other relatives) have all worked at Lloyd's of London in Marine Hull and Aviation Underwriting Insurance for over 60 years, and I was just asking my Nephew (He is now V-P of a major Underwriters of Tankers, Oil Rigs and Gas Pipelines) what he thought of the current situation. His Dad insured Torrey Canyon, Pan Am Tenerife, Exxon Valdez, Hurricane Hugo, Air India off Ireland, Pan Am Lockerbie, and Piper Alpha which was a turning point for Lloyd’s and the Insurance industry as a whole. BP's Deepwater Horizon and the resulting catastrophe is still considered to be the largest accidental Marine spill in the history of the petroleum industry. As insurers, Lloyd’s paid out over $600m. I await news... He's going to ask one of his mates in 'Hulls' underwriting.

IMO could be Camilla, HM The Queen, or maybe HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne. Is the Royal Diary viewable >?

POL ACK >? My advice, take it home and it goes rather well with a nice Chicken Casserole used as extra 'Stock' LOL

IMPO if I was booked to join QM2 in Dubai for the Suez Passage to SOU and also those staying on to NYC then I would be seriously looking at my Air and Hotel bookings (if I had arranged those independently) to check my Change/and or Refund options should QM2 be rerouted via the Cape. If that change occurs, and it is not for you, then that is usually deemed a 'Major Change' to your Holiday, and as HostHattie says above, you should be able to Cancel your Cunard booking and get a full refund, or take it as a FCC. However, as I mentioned above, if you have booked Air/Hotels independently pre/post World Voyage, then they are what you need to see if you can Cancel/or Amend those bookings without a Penalty. (Cunard has in the past offered Customers compensation in those cases on a case by case on-application where loss is incurred). As discussed above, there is at least a month or so before Cunard should be making decisions on QM2's routing, and of course all this is dependant on HM Govt's advice to Shipping Lines, and as to whether the Red Sea/Gulf Conflict continues apace, or calms down.

I do concur, if you book a Britannia Cabin you can choose to be on the same table (on early or late dinner sitting) then your Maitre'D will sit you on a table with others (you can go for a table of 4, 6 or 8). You can always change if you feel you do not gel with your table-mates. Upon embarkation day the Maitre 'D is always on duty at the MDR podium until 3pm to assist with dining enquiries.

I kick myself for not booking QM2 Late Saver on last Thursday down to Cape Town - but I have a brand new house with a host of plumbing & heating snags, and so I cannot leave it unattended for a month sadly Grrr. This is a Voyage I have wanted to do for many years, since when living in Cape Town whilst working for Virgin Atlantic there, it was always the 'thing to do' at the end of the (CPT) summer season to go down to the Waterfront breakwater and watch the sunset departure of the QE2 leave for Southampton at the end of her annual WC to go home. It was always quite teary, and always something I wanted to be on. The only Caveat now for me (perhaps selfishly, so I do apologise lol) is that any rerouting of the QM2 for her return to Blighty via the Cape may give me the chance to get a berth on her back to Southampton. Otherwise, we wish her safe passage wherever she goes.

The Vacuum loo systems on cruise ships can be a nightmare for the Engineers. As ships get older the issues can increase. Thankfully on my Cunard Voyages on only had 1 or 2 times were it was out of action (someone had ''blocked it'' with a foreign object LOL) So I never had any ''bad drain'' smell issues in the cabins, nor the corridors. Only now and again near the Loos by the MDR and the Pools on a few occasions, I think on QE?. The only nasty whiffs in a few of my cabins has been those on QV and QE on decks 7 and 8 Aft in some rooms where the cooking smells get sucked in from the Lido and Pool Deck Galleys. I really do not like my clothes nor my room smelling of chips and burgers!

Yes, a dark suit is OK for Formal/Gala nights with shirt and tie. It has to be said though that up to 99% of the Gentlemen will be mostly in ''Black Tie''. I see that you live in the UK, may I suggest popping to M&S (one of the bigger stores) and they do some rather nice and inexpensive Dinner Suits, often in their Sales. I just sold some Dinner Suits I had -- cough ahem --- I'm sure the sizes were all wrong LOL 😂 Otherwise he will be fine with what he has. Enjoy your holiday.

Sorry to say that after last night IMO I highly foresee the rerouting of Cruise Liners away from the region, and if I was booked on the QM2 WC heading Westwards back to Blighty later in the winter then I fully expect that Cunard will reroute the ship home via the Cape. Tensions are heightening, and the whole Region is entering and being dragged into a rather serious and woeful situation yet again.

I have never had an issue on bed linen (normally changed every 3 days) and towel changes (Daily) on all of my Cunard ships. On the odd occasion I have spilt say, some coffee drips on the sheets from the early morning Room Service, then my Room Steward has always been more than happy to change my linens; Or has done it without asking. Personally I feel that Bed Linen changes every 3 days is about right for a 4 - 5 star Hotel (which Cunard Housekeeping is, or should be of a similar standard) - in fact some High End hotels will change Bed Linens daily. On shorter 3 - 6 night cruises Linens should be changed once during the trip, and a 7 night cruise I would expect 2 Linen changes. I cannot fathom as to why Posters here would be happy to sleep in the same sheets for 11-12 days LOL, double yuk! Just tell your room Steward when you board ship what your room preferences are (if any). I take this thread with a pinch of salt TBH....

Laguardia LGA or JFK airports are both the closest to the Brooklyn cruise Terminal. EWR Newark is in New Jersey and not really suitable for your needs. There are quite a few local hotels in the area - Booking dot com may be useful for you, and the Hotel Le Blue looks rather nice.....hotel le blue cruise package

Corkage fee: Should you wish to consume your own alcohol on board, outside of your suite or stateroom, you may do so, however a corkage fee will apply. This is in the amount of $25 per bottle, subject to change.

Really enjoyed reading your posts, seeing your meal and menu photos which on the whole looked like the food was pretty good. Thanks for taking the time to share your voyage with us. I noted you're flying back to London this evening, so what did you do after your early AM self-disembark >? I was going on this Voyage, but had to pull out and had planned a Virgin flight back home in the late evening at 11PM from JFK. I was going to early self-disembark from the ship like you, having booked a day room at one of the good Manhattan Hotels and then enjoy some of the sights, with an early dinner at Tony D' Napolis near 42nd St. then grab a limo out to the airport for about 9pm.

This Topic really should be a ''Sticky'' You can take on board a Cunard ship as much booze, beers, bubbly, wines, bottled water, cans of pop that you can carry; No one blinks a proverbial eyelid lol ! The caveat being ''To be consumed in your stateroom''. And, If you want to take a nice bottle out of your stateroom to drink with your Dinner in the MDR then you will be charged the standard corkage fee. Let the Maitre D' and your Sommelier know at lunchtime, and they will gladly keep it on ice for you, and have it opened and ready to pour for you at your Meal sitting. Chin Chin. Ok moving on now.....

Jeans are Ok walking around the ship during the day and on deck, but not OK in the evenings anywhere on the ship.

did not get mine this year oh......