jimmybean

Self-serve laundry is completely free (as mentioned above) but can be competitive. Be prepared: you may need wait in a short queue rather than just popping-in and finding empty washers and dryers.

Do arrive back in time to transfer your own clothes from washer to dryer and to remove from dryer or someone waiting his turn will do this for you…

Check your clothes frequently when drying. Other people will open the dryer to see if it is unoccupied and shut it without remembering to push the "start button" again--- <!>

I have met lovely people in the laundry and had many friendly chats. Impressive is the number of capable men who do the washing as well as ironing. (I hope this sounds like admiration, which it is, and not sexism).

We have had several items cleaned and pressed by Cunard services and were well satisfied with results. They can re-press a wrinkled tux in less than 24 hours for an addition charge---well-worth it when boarding after traveling instead of coming on the ship straight from home.

There is also a nice clothesline in the shower, which works well for smalls and my DH's daily work-out clothes. Amazing how quickly things dry in the bathroom.

Have a great voyage with Cunard! Piece of cake to keep your clothes clean aboard!

We also noticed the absence of the tracking/weather/sea conditions on channel 41 and missed this information in the previous format (which was familiar and greatly enjoyed on earlier voyages).

Also, I just hate having to lean over the side of the ship and measure wave height with my ruler : )

Hopefully, as 3rdGenCunarder heard from the purser, this will be reinstated in the near future...

Our 2012 eastbound QM2 changed at 12:00 noon also---the wonderful captain Chris Wells in charge.

Sorry, Rrunner, but we found it brilliant! Much less painful than changing at midnight and trying to adjust the next morning.

On Cunard ships, there is no equivalent to anytime dining---except if you count choosing to eat any time you want in the buffet or make a reservation in a specialty restaurant.

On a Princess ship, in the buffet, one gets one's food and then the drinks (water, tea, coffee, lemonade, etc) are served by waiters, while you are sitting at a table. Aboard Cunard ships, you have to go through a drink-queue after the food line.

On a Cunard ship, the daytime speakers can be quite, quite good. Better, I believe, than anything offered on Princess.

Better libraries on Cunard ships than Princess, in my opinion.

Have a wonderful voyage!

Depending what terminal the QM2 will be using, I believe the taxi from the train station is either 8 or 10 pounds. Ocean terminal is a bit farther "out" accounting for the higher fare...

We have met other QM2 passengers on the train and shared a taxi, halving those amounts.

it is much too far to walk.

The trains run at frequent internals from London. Easy transportation.

Have a wonderful crossing!

Please, please find the clotted cream!

I couldn't agree more. Any pretense of being British without clotted cream is just a hopeless ruse.

This is a small (but important) request!

Are you listening Cunard?

Envoyé de mon iPad à l'aide de Forums

I started this thread and your advice to Cunard was exactly what I was looking for…

Your English is so much better than anything I try to say in French.

I am so glad you posted what you did.

Are you listening, Cunard?

Jane,

Thank you for posting the link to such an interesting article! I appreciate your thoughtful sharing...

I would like to add my "thanks" as well. Wonderful photos. You made me feel like I was right onboard beside you.

Thank you, also, for all your commentary. I think "managing expectations" by starting out well-informed is sage advice. This message board is certainly helpful towards that end.

I felt the same way about visiting on your side of "the pond." I dearly wanted to see England and Ireland and Scotland (and France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands) etc etc. but I was not going to go on an airplane to do it…

Now, I've been to Tahiti and New Zealand and seen the tip of South America! I've been Alaska. All places I never dreamt I would see. All because there were ships for transportation.

Of course, you have been very very frightened. It is natural for you to feel the way you do. It is just so wonderful there is a solution out there so you can both travel and not feel anxious (once you see how pleasant it is).

i hope your visit here is as satisfying for you as visiting your country has been for me.

Thank you for sharing your feelings on Cruise Critic message board. So many nice people post here. So many nice people sail on QM2.

Hi again Beekat,

Sometimes, it is difficult to communicate via message boards without the reassuring facial expressions we all have…. : )

As I have said in earlier posts. I don't fly either. I never crashed but I had one "bad" experience that put me off from flying ever again…

I thought my traveling potential was just very, very limited--until I "discovered" ship travel.

Now, I say "thank goodness I don't fly" because ship travel is so pleasant.

I do think if you tried sailing on the QM2, you would enjoy the ship. You would get to NY and home safely. And, like so many of us, you would be "hooked" forever on the Queen Mary 2.

... and include QM2 going around Cape Horn again! :)

Thank goodness DH and I took the voyage around S.A. in 2009… I don't believe QM2 has taken that route since then…

We would go again. In a heartbeat. If it was offered. Our favorite sailing ever….

I can't imagine why NY to Caribbean voyages aren't still offered. Doesn't apply to us, but I can't see any shortage of people interested in that itinerary…

Cunard? Are you listening?

What a great, comprehensive, and honest review! Thank you for sharing your experiences.

We will be sailing on the Equinox in one week! First time on a Celebrity ship.

Your review affirms that we made a good choice deciding to try Celebrity. From what you have said, I think we will be pleased.

Thank you, again!

I've never fallen on a ship, but as the ship moves one's path meanders from side to side, walking down a corridor. It is an not unpleasant experience..

The QM2 handles any ocean turbulence much better than other ships. The largest waves we have seen on her were 21 feet and it was nothing! The ship felt very stable --everything normal and comfortable. Nothing that would frighten anyone.

It is a powerful feeling to be in the middle of a huge ocean. You look on all sides and just see water. It is awesome. But, aboard the QM2 you feel very safe and being surrounded by the ocean is lovely.

Honestly, with all the wonderful distractions on the ship--lecturers and entertainment--the time will pass very quickly (and happily) for you.

Hello Beekat,

Actually, we have crossed on the QM2 five times in the Sept/Oct time period---three times going east and twice going west.

I don't want to "fly", but I do want to "go." The QM2 has been great transportation, along with being a wonderful, wonderful sailing experience.

Before our first crossing, I was very nervous about seasickness. (I'm reading between the lines, but I think this might be a concern for you as well)

I read everything I could on Cruise Critic about seasickness potential on a crossing. I'm not "big" on taking unnecessary medications, so didn't want to take anything or wear a patch--if I didn't actually need to...

I learned one was less likely to experience motion-sickness as one becomes older. I had become ill on a ship as a child, but I found this had nothing to do with being subject to motion-sickness on a ship, 50 years later.

I learned the ship's doctor can provide an injection (jab, if you are British) should seasickness develop while on board. I decided to take a wait-and-see approach and have never needed anything.

If the sea is stormy-enough, even crew might become ill---but the ocean is most often not "that stormy."

Plus, the QM2 is now sailing 7 days across, which gives "extra time" for the ship to skirt storms.

Yes, there will be motion. It is a ship. But, motion, in general, is not necessarily illness inducing. Over time and travel, my fears of seasickness have subsided and I actually find the rocking motion gives me a very good night's sleep...

But, just in case, pick a cabin that is midship and low down. Deck 5 is good. If you can't be midship, more to the back of the ship than the front is better (in my estimation). I feel more "roll"--sideways motion--towards the front.

Book well in advance. Last minute might get cheaper prices, but there will be less cabin choice. Midship locations are often booked first.

Getting back and forth on the ship---we have done only that (no flying), but I caution you do have to look at their schedule closely. One year, we accidentally booked two crossings in the same direction! We didn't notice this for a month! Then, we rescheduled...

We are coming from US, so would like to find transportation that would give us an "ideal" 18 days in UK… In reality, we have had to "settle" for just 10 days, because that was when the ship was going… (It was either go back in 10 days or stay a full 6 weeks)…

QM2 crossed the Atlantic in a more frequent pattern in the past. Now, it will go up from NY to Canada and back before re-crossing to Southampton. This varies with time of year. I think (after autumn foliage has stopped being attractive) --like in December, the ship might just turn around and head straight back the same day…

If the Cunard website is too cumbersome to work, call Cunard and ask scheduling questions. Ask them to mail you brochures, if you aren't on their mailing list already. We have found we have to put some effort into scheduling our trips, because we use ship transportation in both directions…But, it certainly can be done. And, it is certainly worth doing.

Pick the time of year which offers the schedule that most suits your needs. If you have to stay for 10 days instead of a week, don't let that stop you. If you have to come in the spring, instead of the autumn, don't let that stop you.

Dear Husband and I are crossing for the first time in the spring this year. While I can't speak from experience, timing of spring crossings might also meet your needs.

You will love the ship. You will love the experience of sailing on her. But, above all that, she can help you travel as she has helped me. QM2 is beautiful and will make you feel safe and comfortable.

First thing, when we board, DH deposits his wallet and I any "valuables" from my purse, including passports--a little jewelry, iPhone. As much to have a consolidated place to store things as to assuage worry about thievery….

Big sigh of relief… Nothing to lug around.

We feel the safe is "safe" and a great convenience.

We have traveled on the QM2 westward in September and October.

It was lovely. Hurricane season not withstanding, no storms while we sailed. Warm air and calm waters.

Fall is (or used to be--who knows with climate changes) a drier (less rain) time in the US. You could also enjoy fall (aka "autumn") foliage --colorful leaves, if you have time to travel beyond NYC.

If you travel later in the year (December), the price for a crossing decreases, but the weather probably won't be as favorable.

Crossings aren't available most of the early part of any year, because the QM2 will be off "somewhere" on a World Tour--a yearly event…

Hope this information helps...

Happy Sailing!

..is the CC Celebrity forums.

 

 

Luckily I have the roll call to observe, and the Port Everglades webcam.

And, you have your bags to pack very soon!

Have a wonderful voyage! Happy Sailing!

Jimmybean

If you could tell Cunard one thing they could do to improve passenger experiences on their vessels, what would it be?

My suggestion to Cunard would be to have a plan to fix broken washers and dryers in their self-service laundries in a more timely manner. Ever been on a longer voyage and had one of the washers, or dryers, non-functioning for over two weeks? We have---twice.

I'm not saying chaos reigned, but it added an unnecessary inconvenience for a large number of people for an extended period of time.

There must have been repairmen in ports where we stopped. There could have been spare parts or equipment kept aboard for repair or replacement. The Maytag repairman could have been invited to cruise (he would have had the time).

I see a number of possible solutions, but (from our experiences) the problem just seemed to be ignored.

I would like Cunard to have a better plan to keep all washers/dryers functioning.

Anyone else have a suggestion for how Cunard could improve any part of their passenger services (if they are listening here)?

I was onboard when she departed Fort Lauderdale in 2010 :) I presume Fort Lauderdale & Port Everglades are one & the same?

Yes, Ft Lauderdale and Port Everglades are basically the same.

We were on the QM2 2009 departure from Fort Lauderdale also, Dancer11, I believe. Going around the Horn? Best voyage ever!

Great video!!! No one gives a send-off like the people alongside the "exit canal."

oops.. (5) should have been "desserts" I mentioned no-sugar desserts, but of course there are desserts made with sugar as well on the menu every night...

We were on the Queen Elizabeth last year for 36 happy days. Our waiter was JoJo. He was terrific.

The menu doesn't list a la carte items as such.

It's format is: (1) royal spa selections (healthier/lower in calories) (2) appetizers and soups (3) salad (4) entrees (5)

There are about six entree choices each night.

It doesn't say so on the menu, but you may make special requires to your waiter. Some people doesn't like the offerings and request something else (simple) like a steak. Your waiter can also bring "extra vegetables" if you like. I understand shrimp cocktails are available, even when not listed on the menu.

There are always vegetarian selections. There are no-sugar desserts every night.

A cheese plate is offered every night, instead of or along with dessert.

We have always found items on the menu that were appealing to us.

At the end of the voyage, your waiter will give you a pile of menu from your entire voyage, if you ask.

The QE is a great ship. Have a wonderful voyage!

Going up, or down, in the outside glass elevators---best view of the lifeboats (aka tenders) and much of the body of the ship while at sea.

Any seat in the Commodore Club, but particularly those facing forward.

I think the three of you will do fine in an inside cabin. Why wouldn't you?

There is space under the bed/beds to store four large suitcases. If you have more suitcases, you might put a smaller one inside a larger one, when emptied. For a week, there are enough drawers and cupboards for clothes you three will be using onboard.

Self-service laundry is free on the ship (and they supply the laundry soap), in case this information is helpful.

There is no limit to what you can bring onboard, but you do need to be able move about the room and walking space is very limited in an inside cabin.

The handicapped rooms have a good deal more floor space (so wheelchairs can maneuver around). You could try to book one of those. They are no more costly, just larger.

I think you will create wonderful memories on your crossing "home." Your child may be the start of another generation of Cunard lovers….

Did I miss something..........Your answer was exactly right in my opinion.......but then we all know about opinions...:D

Thanks for your moral support, Brigitte.

I'll come in from the plank now. (Although the view of both the bridge and those outside elevators has been pretty good from out here ; )

I can see Carolene has only 12 posts and is new to Cunard.

Welcome Carolene! You will have a wonderful on the QM2. You will meet nice people. We always have.