maz48

Very sad indeed.

So has the ESTA application changed in the last 18 months? I have always done mine and my husbands as a group, and then was given a group number, though we had our own individual ESTA numbers too. All that did was in future I was able to bring up both applications/acceptances with that group number if I needed to change anything, like where we would be staying on arrival. Is there a different group system now then? Needing new ones next March.

We usually book directly with Cunard and later transfer the booking to our TA. that allows me to do the fiddly leg work of picked by a cabin, comparing voyages, etc. We would call it tire kicking here in Canada. Once I'm settled I offer it to the TA and she sweetens the deal. For our Canada New England this fall she added in a shore excursion in Quebec City. For our two World Cruise segments in 2017, she threw in paid gratuities for both cabins and will do the itinerary planning for our time in Australia. She has good deals on flights too. If she couldn't add to my deal I wouldn't transfer.

We do this when booking with Disney Cruise Line. Book direct and then transfer to a USA TA. But I haven't seen that ability here. You then get OBC from both sources. I do think that is changing though, not sure.

I was going to put on my original post that I wasn't after any recommendations, but it kind of looked a bit brusque so I didn't. So I am not asking that. I know a few, so don't need any more.

Hi. Apart from our first ever Cunard cruise, which was a last minute cheap booking though a TA, we have always booked direct with Cunard. Are there any benefits to using a TA for booking early? I know some do regularly but not sure why.

We just disembarked the QM2 yesterday and were on deck 5. Plenty of big stains on the carpets and a few leaks from the corridor ceiling throughout the week. They did work on the ceilings a couple of times too. I heard a steward telling a passenger who had a leak dripping in their doorway, that all the pipes were in place but the work needs to be done. Maybe that will all be done prior to the re-fit. The corridor had bad damp smells a few times and they used a large fan at times. I guess new leaks were going on old stained carpets creating the smell.

Though generally everything looked clean, the carpets were very worn in many places but particularly the stairs which I thought could be a bit of a hazard. I managed to hit a few sink holes too! She really is in bad need of this re-fit.

Looking forward to seeing her afterwards, though I hope my favourite places aren't spoilt.

Cunard do have a weight restriction for each suitcases on boarding. I think 20kg but could be more. Someone else will say. I am not sure if they enforce it much though. We have been over weight a few times, not by much, but haven't been called back to re arrange things which is what they say would happen. You can get the empty bags under the bed so just take as many as you need.

If that was the case it would have been easy for staff to obtain a new one before docking in US.

 

David

That is true, you would think so anyway. We were on a transatlantic from Barcelona a few years ago, and though the cruise line had sent out emails to tell us to take a copy of our ESTA's with us, some passengers decided to go with the official ESTA information that you don't actually need one, maybe just the number. So at check in quite a few passengers were hastily on computers bringing up their ESTA acceptance and getting them printed out. A couple of friends couldn't manage for some reason, and were told they were off the ship at Madeira to make their own way home if they couldn't do so before then. They weren't given the chance to keep trying all the way across the Atlantic. Happily they did manage before Madeira. Maybe it is a bit too sticky a situation for cruise lines just in case the passenger is refused.

I do wish we could find out though so we don't ever do the same thing.

As we are all speculating, maybe the gentleman's ESTA ran out during their holiday/vacation, after Fort Lauderdale? So perhaps the security agent and electronic system didn't flag that up in Fort Lauderdale but somehow something happened later. I believe the carrier, be it cruise ship or airline are held responsible for taking someone not legally allowed for whatever reason, into the USA. So a reason for the couple to leave the ship before arriving. But the way it happened seems a mess.

Whatever the problem, it would be nice to know so we don't make the same mistake in the future. But as someone said, the USA security don't have to say why someone is denied entry.

I wish it as an April Fool.

Cue-nard. I never thought others might say it differently but I guess I forgot accents. Coo-nard sounds completely wrong:confused:.

It is rather worrying that someone would even think it is OK to actually wash a tux.

I hope you find another one and also manage to squeeze more out of Cunard.

Excellent, and good to know too. Well done all round.

We have done about 21 cruises of which only one was on Celebrity in 2012. But it still stands out as being superb, and apart from our recent QG experience on QV, the food was the best. It sounds like standards haven't dropped either like other cruise lines.

Sailaway, here is a link to the very very small, as yet, cruise meet thread.

http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2156264

From my experience it should be warm enough for shorts after the first couple of days.

 

The ship will be trimmed up for Christmas as well :)

 

I am seriously thinking about booking this voyage so I may see you on board.

It wasn't as warm as we expected and what we saw in the temperature guides last December, so hoping it will be warmer this time. Canaries could be very nice index though.

Hi. We are also on this cruise. We booked it onboard the QV on her pre Christmas trip to southern Spain last December. I think this one will be warmer eventually being so much further south and I would take some shorts. Many Brits go to the Canaries at this time of year and can be just lovely. Of course it could be windier on board when sailing but you can get out of the wind easily. I think layering is the way to go, items of each kind of clothing.

Now for the sail down and back it probably will be cooler. We had swells too going through the Bay of Biscay(I was seasick which is rare for me) but not on the return, so that is just luck I guess.

For the dancing they do offer classes onboard, though probably only1 kind of dance a day, so if you really want to be enjoying the dancing from the go then classes before you go might be an idea and also a lot of fun. Then of course the nightclub will follow!!

There were only a handful of little children last year but the cruise was slightly earlier.

Last time we were onboard(last May) I think it was Lavazza. It seems to be quite a mild blend and is a bit too mild for me. Plus they make it a bit weak for us. Also on longer trips, not sure of shorter ones, they use 'longer' life milk which we can taste. We do ask for an extra shot but they charge unless you get a particularly nice barista. I used to use the normal Lavazza coffee in our cappuccino maker and it never was so mild.

Thank you for taking time both on your cruise and afterwards to produce this great report and comparisons. We have been on the QM2 a few times on transatlantics and love the ship. We took our first cruise on QV just before Christmas and fell in love with her but have booked QE for this coming December, so it has been great to see the differences. She certainly is on the ugly side in appearance, but for sure, you don't notice that when enjoying the beauty inside. Looking forward to seeing things for ourselves.

Enjoy your cruise across the Atlantic.

I have been on the QV in the middle of winter with no problems. I bought long-sleeved tops especially for the cruise but didn't really need them. I wear short-sleeved tops all the time at sea now. However, it can be too hot or too cold on port days. Think about it. The doors are open continually to the outside air to let passengers in and out. The air conditioning cannot deal with that amount of outside hot or cold air coming in. It always takes a few hours after we've left port until the ship returns to normal. It's a good idea to keep wearing the clothes you had on outside, until the temps return to normal.

Having said we had no problems this does remind me that on port days with the open gangways there was often cold breezes close to those areas on a couple of decks. Not a general problem though.

Those partitions look cheap and nasty.

We were onboard just before Christmas and heard that someone prior to our cruise had said the ship was cold. I packed a couple more cardigans but never needed them. The ship was a perfect temperature. In fact everything was perfect.

Most if not all of those close to the terminal or in town are closed on a Sunday. I have been looking too. Seems a taxi to the airport locations will be the way to go. Not too far but annoying when there are all those close to the terminal on all the other days.

I'm sailing on QM2 on Sunday. I'll go to the purser's desk and ask if they can enlighten us. Of course, it won't be as much fun as all this speculation. :D

I guess if you ask 6 different people they will give you 6 different replies, as usual!!

Obviously red is the new black this season along with silver stripes worn either straight or diagonally. Green is popular among some of the more daring youthful travellers, whether used with the popular diamond ensemble or the much more restrained and traditional square.

 

We have seen some fabulous creations in delicate red edging worn with the very new orange which seems to change to red occasionally: a nice touch if not over used.

 

Purple seems to be confined to the cheaper ranges and we would not suggest wearing this in the higher rated establishments.

 

It will be interesting to see how these very new radical changes are accepted in the coming season.

 

David fashion notes.

The new way for the fashion police to spend their time! Excellent post.