Judyrem

44 minutes ago, c-leg5 said:

If you are familiar with diving in Cozumel you will know that most the offshore reefs are quite deep to be visible snorkeling and most of the near reefs have suffered damage through bleaching and storms although there are efforts to restore them.
 

Most group boat snorkels do go to several locations and others may be able to recommend specific operators or book through a broker.
 

I am not too familiar with organized group snorkels from shore. Most popular places like Money Bar, Sky Reef Buccanos are simply entered independently although you will find several people there. Playa Uvas offers group snorkels but I am not sure it will be of the standard you are looking for. 
 

Beach clubs like Nachi Cocom (popular safe venue for singles) or Palancar offer add-on short boat snorkels from the beach.

Thanks for recs about Palancar and Nachi Cocom.

I was just in Bonaire a few months ago with my  son and daughter and we  snorkeled constantly from shore.

On 6/7/2024 at 3:50 PM, txtechmk said:

It may not be offered, but if you ask nicely, you can get almost anything from any other restaurant.  My DIL got a seafood bisque that was on the Blu menu, but Luminae went and got it.  And another night my husband and DIL wanted the Wedge salad that was offered at Blu, and Luminae went and got it.  The filet was not on the menu on one of the nights, but I asked for it. My husband likes spicy pasta, and he asked for it twice, and it was not on the menu.  

Was it spicy seafood pasta?  That is my favorite.

On 6/8/2024 at 11:17 AM, NE John said:

I’ve had wonderful experiences in British places of worship: Evensong at Westminster, sung Eucharist at Bath,  and just being in Winchester Cathedral and the underrated Southwark Cathedral. Maybe these cathedrals like the wow factor of the Italian/Spanish ones but they offer a different type of wow factor. 
Bon Voyage!

I did  Evensong in Westminster, Wells Cathedral and The Minster in York.

I cried through the whole thing, it's a an incredibly moving experience.

I have been drift diving in Cozumel for years,  I don't have my dive buddy anymore therefore my  question about snorkeling  solo.in a group tour.  I am not doing  shore snorkeling alone unless it's in a safe and secure beach club.

I am doing my first solo cruise on Beyond and we are in Cozumel as our fist port.

What would you recommend for a solo snorkeler?

BTW my husband and went diving in Cozumel for years, so I am familiar with the Island,

7 hours ago, wrk2cruise said:

Isn't this more a by product of the second passenger 75% off stupid "sale".  Don't 3 passengers in a cabin have the same issue?   I agree it's not right, that they should just put a real price on the product.

I haves been doing a lot of research and I found some deals and booked two cruises solo in a  sky suite.  4700$ for a 6 day Caribbean on Beyond, 4800$ on Constellation 7 days southern Caribbean.

I think that's a very good deal.

14 hours ago, retired dude said:

the quality of the food on this ship has gone downhill in the last two years and it is no secret..The recent refurb did nothing to the balcony cabins on deck 7 and 8 that we normally book. The old sayin' if it aint broke, dont fix it holds true as this ship continues to sail with full capacity now and corporate is ok with that and will not upgrade the cabins or food quality.

I was thinking of doing a similar cruise in January on the Beyond but the Constellation is very port intensive and has unique  and varied ports which makes it a better fit for me.  I won't be in the room very much.

The Beyond was also a 1000$ more.🤔

On 6/3/2024 at 12:47 PM, Lastdance said:

I am a “why” person, so for me trying to understand things is very important.  Rather than constantly being inconsistent, why not just spell it out and be truthful?  Is that too much to ask for by those of us who are trying to understand this situation?  As customers paying their hard-earned money, transparency is very important.  Why are we governed by those who continually cause issues leading to the exclusion of items that cruisers love and want to have because this has been the norm, or is there something else driving the removal of loungers from balconies then just safety?  I feel very sorry for those crew members who have to listen to passengers tying to understand why they cannot have loungers for their balconies.  That is why I have chosen not to book sunset suites; the loungers were a very important part of my cruise experience!

 

 

I love taking a nap on my lounger, nothing beats it!

On 6/1/2024 at 7:19 PM, tigerfan75 said:

I have a QM2 departure from NYC later this year.  Although I have not stayed there, I have made reservations at "New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge", on Adams Street.  It was mentioned favorably in another thread for the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, so you might evaluate it.  Good Luck... 

We are staying there pre cruise QM2 in July.

On 6/4/2024 at 1:23 PM, Clewgarnet said:

I think it was November 22 that I did the bus excursion, too, but we were less fortunate than you. Even driving all the way to Sweden, we didn't get to see the Lights.

 

I didn't find it particularly cold, but I'm a northerner and we're well known for scoffing at coats.

 

There were facilities on the bus. We didn't get hot chocolate but we did get a nice fruity drink, almost like a non-alcoholic mulled wine, and a chocolate biscuit.

 

Because ours was the Cunard excursion, there were no issues with getting back on board.

 

I'm another who wouldn't bother with the Cunard bus again. Then again, by this stage, I've accepted that I'm just never going to see the Northern Lights, because I keep sleeping through the blooming things! (But I did see the Southern Lights while sailing a brig from Tasmania, so that was nice.)

I am going NEXT November 22, thanks for the info!

On 5/21/2024 at 4:25 PM, Victoria2 said:

Caesar on the menu comes pre prepared. Off the menu and as a special would probably be what you would order.

I order a Caesar with dressing on the side, sometimes they add to much dressing and it's not acceptable.

On 11/20/2023 at 11:43 AM, tacticalbanjo said:

The pools have been drained since the rough seas earlier in the voyage and the doors from the Winter Garden to the Pavillion Pool have been closed since it got very cold but the hot tubs are open and there were several people braving them this afternoon. 

OMG, I can't wait to go next November!  

Your trip report is wonderful and I loved you including your little girl!😀

1 hour ago, buchanan101 said:

UNESCO world heritage fjords may have ban from 2026. It was going to be 2025 and whereas supposedly it was electric only cruise ships (there are none) I read something about source of fuel used or offsets. I can imagine a big push back from affected economies (eg Flam). 
 

Your TA should at least know there is a possible issue and should know what the current status is. Poor show. 

I finally booked the November 2025 cruise Search for the Northern Lights on Queen Victoria.

I know it's not technically a fjords topic but close enough.😉

This is on my bucket list and I may have to go solo as the sailing is over Thanksgiving and I can't see anyone else willing to join me.

49 minutes ago, Winifred 22 said:

I am weighing up the QV one but might be a bit rough that time of year 

I  never know about the weather anyplace.  I just like that time of year nothing major going on for me, plus I will spend a few days in London!  I really do like round trips much better, easier to arrange flights.

It's all good.😀

12 hours ago, Judyrem said:

I was looking for the buy one get 75%off  second passenger type of sale, silly me🤪

 

I was lucky to get that deal for next year's Madeira and Azores cruise in October with Princess Grills and 1000$ shipboard credit!

 

Now that's a deal!

OMG, too many cruises and I am getting mixed up!  That was Celebrity Infinity around Greece.

The Queen Victoria Azores was the itinerary that I found very reasonable PG, 1000$ OBC  and TA major comp.

Sorry for misinformation..

I was looking for the buy one get 75%off  second passenger type of sale, silly me🤪

I was lucky to get that deal for next year's Madeira and Azores cruise in October with Princess Grills and 1000$ shipboard credit!

Now that's a deal!

10 hours ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

 

I did the lights cruise on QV last fall in November. There was snow on the ground at our northernmost ports, Tromso and Narvik. Not a lot, but some. As for the lights, we are in a maximum period, so you have a good chance. We saw them on three nights. 

 

You mentioned Viking in January. And advantage to November is that days are longer for doing some sightseeing. Sunset is still early. IIRC, it was around 3 PM in Tromso. But not as early as it will be in early January. Also, it isn't too cold. In the north it was around freezing plus or minus a few degrees. And in the south, it was still autumn. We saw some pretty fall colors in one of the southern ports. So a nice mix of experiences. 

I have been to Fairbanks Alaska in November for ten days to see the Northern lights and we did not see many  at all and the weather was bitterly cold with not much snow..

I understand the sunlight  as we did have  not much light in early November.

I really love winter weather (for a short time now😉)  and I just wanted the sweet spot of snow and lights and understand if snowing no chance for auroras.

I do like having a larger ship and more things to do would be  than the Viking verandah

I thought about Hurtigruten but it seems to visit very small town on Norway coast

26 minutes ago, e&mcruise said:

I cannot find any mention of this sale on the Cunard website.....do you have a link please?

I don't see it now but I have been seeing on Cunard's site it for a week now.

I thought I would wait until May 16 to check.

Thanks MCC retired.

I will try but I am not sure if it will work the way I want it to.🤔

I want snow and lots of chances to see the Northern lights.

Viking has a veranda cabin for  around the same amount of money with an early Jan sailing.

Does anyone have an inkling if it will truly a SALE?

I really want to do Northern lights tour in November next year.

It is priced  about 12,000$ for PG suite.

10 hours ago, Poole Boy said:

No Canapés in the grills lounge, you were lucky if you had a bowl of crisps 

That is wrong on so many levels, not even bar mix?

3 hours ago, buchanan101 said:

This is the view from QG on QM2 . PG would be a bit better, but it was fine 

I think I like my PG 10072 view better.  I just can't seem to commit!🤪

It will be late July and hoping for a mild crossing. 

I don't know if that view  is worth the 1200$ extra.

First world problems once again🤔

2 minutes ago, david63 said:

I would suggest that you escalate this above front line staff to as high up the chain as you can get.

Spot on, I would be hopping mad!

I hate to say this but be the squeaky wheel, in a reasonable way😉

I didn't realize PG had separate showers.   I thought there was just a tub and shower combo.

I am still keeping the bid because this is a special year for me and I might as well splurge.

I am still not fond of the lifeboats being so easily seen,  however but I can make do.😉

Ahhh first world problems!🤪

19 minutes ago, NE John said:

I too called about getting emails I am receiving to upgrade and I called and was told a third party administrators the program and Cunard has no more info to add. I’m offered a Penthouse Q3/4 on QE for about the same price as you are seeing (from recently upgraded Q6!) and I’m going to pass. 

Question @Judyrem - did you book direct with Cunard or with a travel agent? I wonder if TA bookings get these upgrade communications. I’m not a newbie (nor a veteran like many here) but this is the first time I booked directly. 

Yes, I booked directly through them.  I thought it was the right thing to do.

In some cases booking direct is helpful others not so much.🤔