lissie

Yes I had a Wise card. I'd pre-loaded the US$ whne the rate was better for my home currency so I'd researched this heavily and it worked exactly as it would have with my credit card (without the additional charges and por exchange rate of my credit card). It was nothing like using it for a hotel pre-authorisation which does reduce the balance for up to 10 days after checkout (and is annoying and I don't use if for that anymore)

Sorry not mine to give

Picture of QV coming into Wellington today - not taken by me I have a friend with a good view!

Didn't happen in 2022 - and I was using a debit card. They took a $1 a few days before boarding to confirm the card (I think that bounced back after a few days/weeks). Then they just charged the amount for the end of each sector of the cruise

I've just handed over my room number to the porters so they can take the luggage and then at check in my passport. Everything is a nice to have and frankly near impossible if you are travelling before hand without access to a printer

You don't need to be paying $50 for a SL visa if you are only in port for a day - the transit visa still needs to be applied for but it's free from the official website

Spent many weeks in the tropics on the QE in 22 - through both canals. The air con struggled - the worst was the garden lounge - they had to move the 7pm trivia because it was unbearably hot - felt really sorry for the staff. We also had issues in lower Britannia restaurant not as bad - fine for ladies - but men were all taking their jackets off and many had short-sleeved shirts (shock horror). Some in balconies on the wrong side (POSH port out starboard home) found it really hot - but we had an inside on deck 1 and never had to adjust the a/c

A ship doesn't carry fresh milk - its all UHT - as that's all that will last for the weeks between resupply ports

I've never seen a bible on the QE and I've sailed on her 3 times pre and post Covid

Cunard did for both the Suez and Panama Canals so I assume for Alaska too

I think you are confusing QM trans atlantics to the rest of the ships - plus QM does do normal cruises in the N hemisphere winter. Its a normal cruise line

They did Oman and Egypt on board for free , collected the passports and returned them stamped so need 1/2 page each. Sri Lanka was cancelled before we left so I don't know. I left in Singapore but I believe there was something online with a cost for Indonesia . there was also an online health declaration for Singapore that has probably gone away now. the issue with the later 2 was cunards awful Internet - so try to do these in advance

It wasn't actually 2 for 1 - it was 50% off .. there is a difference. Last week on Zaandam it was only certain bars Ocean Bar and Crows Nest 4-5 and Crows Nest only 10-11 (though they tended to shut up before 11)

Just got off our first ever. HAL cruise Boston - Maritimes- Greenland - Iceland return. We’ve previously only cruised Cunards Queen Elizabeth- we chose HAL for the itinerary overall we had a great cruise . Every port was fantastic with the exception of Bar Harbor . We had a lot of tender ports but we never waited more than 10 min at peak times with the exception of Bar Harbor . Bar Harbor there was nothing to do and I’m glad we didn’t spend the money to go to Arcadia park as those who did said it was crazy busy too . There was nothing to do I town except eat and buy tourist tat . We did have a good lobster roll at the dog and pony pub . the only time we did a HAL excursion was St Antony’s as we badly wanted to go to L’anse drs meadows and we couldn’t find a rental car . We hired cars in corner brook and Sydney . In Iceland we did a couple of local tours . The highlight for me was snorkeling between the continental plates - not for everyone - getting into dry suits is no joke but it was fantastic Iceland has an excellent tourist infrastructure and there is zero reason to pay the premium that Hal charges for the same tours . It is expensive though . Greenland again Hal was charging double for iceberg tours - we went on a small boat - only 4 of us - and our about $100 - cash only - the atm took no fee . Again a fanatic trip We liked the Zaandam in general . Unfortunately the singers weren’t that gear (the musicians were- but the female singers in the ocean bar were the issue) . The dance company was fantastic but under used - only did 4 shows in 25 days . the food was ok - surprisingly the same in the mdr as the lido so we often ate in the Lido . There were some themed nights - which were nice . the drinks prices were as expected the lack of range of cocktails was a big negative compared to Cunard - we didn’t have a drinks package and paid as we went given the number of ports this was cheaper we had booked an inside bar n deck 1 but we were upgraded to ocean view on deck 3 when ch we liked - huge storage bit a small room

That's every port in the USA - not just Brooklyn