rog747

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......

A small island in the Caribbean >?

Awesome - Castries Airport; Code (SLU). St Lucia. This airport is the secondary one on the Island - the other one is for the big Jets at UVF, Hewanorra International Airport, located near Vieux Fort. Back in the 1970's UK's Court Line bought into the local airline LIAT and actually flew large BAC 1-11 500 Jets into and out of SLU Castries. 3 or 4 1-11's were leased out to LIAT to fly the peak Caribbean routes. A great gig for the Pilots who were UK based with Court Line. The local LIAT girls were the Hosties... Court Line also built/owned some Hotels on St Lucia, Antigua and in the Bahamas. The Halcyon Hotels Group, most of which they remain open today. Court Line had 2 big Lockheed L-1011 400 seat Tristar planes which flew from UK to the Islands for the Package holiday makers getting their first taste of exoctic trips. Court Line went bust spectacularly in summer 1974, along with Clarksons and Horizon Holidays.

Oh...scratches head....

Thanks! Yes you got it - She is the QM2 facing forward. A pre-Xmas 12 night voyage (2013 or 2014?) down to Lisbon, Madeira and Canary Islands on the one occasion when Cunard offered Zero Single Occupancy Supplements, so the 4 of us all had a Sheltered Balcony Cabin each for a Bargain at £499! We had a super time, with super weather. The photo I took (as noted by sfred) was taken up by the statue of Charles I of Austria, in the Monte gardens of Funchal, Madeira. An enchanting place to visit, as are the Gardens lower down. Charles, House of the Habsburgs, The Austro-Hungarian Empire, was exiled for a second time to the Portuguese island of Madeira, where he soon fell ill and died in 1922.

Apologies, and sorry for going Off Piste down memory lane LOL, but it was quite enjoyable... Back OT: How is everyone's opinion on their cruises on the newly refitted ship this past 3 weeks from SOU-NYC-to the Caribbean and back to NYC? I kicked myself for not booking this 19 nighter trip 😑☹️ (I had a super Last Minute Deal on a Inside Single Occ) TIA

Yes indeed, and today you are quite correct, both GWR and Caledonian Sleepers refer to their night train accommodations as 'Cabins or Rooms', the 'Shared Berth' option is still AFAIK available to book, but I reckon that will go soon as 'Solo' options are the way they are going. Belmond Orient Express refers to Cabins or Suites. On my recent trip though to Venice on the Belmond my Attendant (Steward) always said Compartment to me, and asked me if I wanted both Berths made up, or just the lower one - He was a Traditionalist I think LOL. However, historically, Railway carriages always had 'Compartments', both for Corridor seated, and Sleeper ones.

Always a great movie to watch on a Sunday Afternoon after a Roast lunch, and/or before your next Cunard Voyage/Cruise to get you in the traditional 'Liner' mood.

These Stars at that time along with Mr Bogart certainly did....Play it again Sam.

Nevis, or maybe Virgin Gorda or Tortola, BVI's...? The prop is a Cessna Grand Caravan flying for DHL.

May I have my first go at WITW please>? There is much history surrounding the chap in the statue. If you look very close you can just see the Cunard ship...an extra point if you can name her.

Quote: I would apply that to rooms on sleeper trains as well. On a Sleeper, historically (even noted on the most historic Venice Orient Express, or on the London Victoria-Paris 'Night Ferry' train) you have a ''Berth'' in your 'Compartment'. It's quite nice using these old terms. Just watched the old 1942 movie 'Now Voyager' where Bette Davis plays the dowdy Miss Charlotte Vale (one of the lesser Vales) travelling as Miss Renee Beauchamp, and embarks on a Liner for a pleasure cruise from New York to Nassau, and on to South America to recover from her Nervous Breakdown...It was where Paul Henreid as Jerry Durrance (Charlotte's lover) lit two cigarettes before handing one to Charlotte, making women everywhere swoon, and Bette spoke the iconic line, “Don’t let’s ask for the moon, Jerry. We’ve got the stars.” Now she definitely had a nice Suite LOL

Thanks for the latest post re the chaos continues at the Brooklyn terminal for arrivals from QM2! It sounds worse than a 3rd World arrival point.