TheOldBear

Too late to edit my earlier post - but on QM2 the 'Terrace pool' is on deck 8 - unfortunately the changing room is right by the outdoor smoking area. The deck 6 'Splash pool' does not seem to have a changing area [it is next to the kid & teen zone - there may be facilities not shown on the deck plans. There does not seem to be any changing facilities for the QM2 'Grills deck hot tub.

I must have been imagining the changing rooms / showers by the Pavilion pool [QM2 deck 12] and port side on deck 12 by the 'Terrace pool'. [I don't know what is available on the QV & QE]

This past November QM2 did a one and a half overnight in Tromso. I did the ships northern lights bus tour on the second night [the ship sailed just after the tour returned]. There was about 50% cloud cover with intermittent showers [more likely to be snow flurries in march?]. There was a problem with ambient light due to a nearly full moon. You never really got dark adapted. A local guide directed the bus to what should be a favorable location - and we pulled over and bailed out when the aurora was visible through the bus windshield. The cloud cover was mostly in our favor, blocking some of the moonlight. After about 45 minutes at the first location, we went to another likely spot. By then there was less cloud cover/more moonlight so it was difficult to see aurora with the naked eye. I would point my camera in a likely direction and take a fairly long exposure. Most of the time on review there would be some aurora colors - other times it would just be a high cloud illuminated by moonlight.

I have only been an in transit passenger for Southampton, but it does appear that the disembarkation / turn around day is very different than a US port [Brooklyn] where the ship must be 'zeroed out' before new passengers board. There still was the vast quantity of luggage staged in lobbies beginning the night before, in the morning many rooms with the doors propped open for cleaning - but life was normal for in transit passengers. We had our normal room service breakfast, then I took the shuttle into town for some minor shopping and a visit to the 'sea city' museum. Mrs Bear elected to stay onboard (it was a rainy day) to read a library book, have lunch and I think use the deck 12 hot tubs [one of the Southampton days the Pavilion pool area was closed while they were working on the roof]. I didn't check, but I don't think that the Britannia had the extra early breakfast hours used for Brooklyn turn around days. I needed to exit the Mayflower terminal via the luggage hall, and that was still about a third full - but there were no lines by the customs desks - the pre-arrival paperwork clearance makes the disembarkation flow quite a bit smoother.

Sometimes schedules are adjusted - this past fall QM2 waited several hours for a delayed English National Symphony Orchestra to arrive. [another caution about possible problems flying in to meet a ship on departure day] In transit passengers were required to be on board at the originally scheduled time.

We drove and parked for our first couple of BCT sailings [5 nights in 2008, 7 nights in 2010]. I cannot think of single reason to try parking there again even for another short sailing.

For something truly silly, how about "Death on the Tyne" ? [IMDB link https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8746310/ ] It's set on an overnight ferry, not a cruise ship, but it does include dress codes, the Captain's table -- and a few murders.

Advantage Britannia class 😉 We usually had a usable signal in room 5194 [just off the 'D' staircase].

We were in 5132 - across from an atrium view room, and took a look in during a 'turn around' day. The window only provided a view of the atrium view windows across the lobby.

One of my regrets on my last cruise was not returning to the ship covered with muddy puppy footprints after a visit with huskies at the Tromso Wilderness Center. There were 8 seven month old puppies, and several dozen adult dogs - all eager to meet visitors.

What paperwork did you receive from the ship's medical center? The 'walk out statement' may contain sufficient detail for the claim - diagnosis codes, procedure codes, medication dispensed, supplies, provider names - and there should be case reference information. Have you checked the fine print on your travel insurance? [e.g. is coverage 'primary' or 'secondary'] Have you contacted your broker? The travel insurance carrier?

On Cunard, in transit guests still have the option of a room service breakfast. There are no special briefings for in transit passengers - there may be shore excursions. Often there are very few in transit passengers - on my recent three segment sailing, I was told that only 179 passengers were booked for the entire 26 night cruise.

How about Stanley Tucci's movie The Imposters? [IMDB link https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120823/ ]

I don't think anyone will be studying your shoes for formal night compliance [I wear my dance shoes]

On our 26 night sailing, I brought my tux (dinner suit) with two shirts, and two ties. Each shirt made a trip to the ship's laundry for wash and press. [formal wear made a trip to the cleaners when we got home, so we are ready for our next formal occasion] For 'smart' nights, I had a blazer and a vest (waistcoat not undershirt) and several dress shirts. I also had one of the few QM2 neckties visible out in the wild. Blue jeans were formally forbidden at dinner (at least under the pre-covid dress code), so I brought black Wrangler jeans to alternate with wool dress slacks. I used the self service laundry about every 10 days or so (dress shirts, t shirts, socks, underwear....) - was surprised to see new machines installed for our westbound crossing.

I don't know how much of a benefit the 'free shuttle bus' actually is. In the ports where I have used the Cunard shuttle (Southampton, Hamburg, Trondheim) no one has looked for cruise cards.

No Amp, no sound box, that would be real quiet. I think there are some practice amps that just drive headphones.

I rarely get any Cunard emails, and the occasional snail mail piece is usually addressed to Mrs Bear. Last year's exception was some post cruise survey emails - for a total of 4 surveys in December.

We have sailed on a number of multi segment cruises [e.g. transatlantic round trips with a European additional segment or two]. A am unaware of Cunard offering any 'back to back' perks other than possible advancement in 'world club' levels if the segments are booked as separate cruises.

Cunard in the Queen's Grill [and the Princess Grill too?] Back in 2019 Mrs Bear had a sinus infection and our Britannia dining room servers served her dinner in our room, but that was not a 'room service' order.

And for cold weather excursions - Cunard had hot chocolate waiting after evening excursions in Tromso Norway this past November.

There are three cruise terminal areas for New York - Carnival usually uses the Manhattan piers, Cunard, Princess and now MSC use the Brooklyn terminal and RCI brands dock across the river in New Jersey. The Manhattan and Brooklyn terminals are operated by NYCruise - including a schedule of planned terminal assignments. As far as hotels go - I have no direct experience, as we are local to the Brooklyn terminal and have not needed to stay before or after sailing. There should be many discussion threads - and someone knowledgeable will provide input. If you are planning on an evening activity (theatre, concert, opera) for the fly in day, you will want to look at Manhattan hotels [$$$]. If you are planning on arriving, dinner than sleep - an airport hotel might be a better fit. [possibly the 'TWA Hotel' at JFK]

If you are dining in Britannia , 'open' dining was introduced for the late seating upper level [and likely there will be other changes in that area] The Wifi and 'my voyage' stuff will likely be no better than what you had on our 'In Search of the Northern Lights' sailing. There is a dry dock 'availability' period scheduled for this fall - there were a few threads speculating about possible changes/upgrades. For example the spa 'thermal suite' was originally due for reworking in 2021.

I don't think there is any distinction based on 'in transit' status - just what pier is available that can accommodate the ship. QM2 will occasionally use the west side piers if there is a scheduling conflict - Princess Cruises 'Caribbean Princess' also used the Brooklyn terminal, and now MSC will be there as well [there were also non cruise conflicts, such as setting up a 'formula E' race track].

I don't have experience with inside rooms, and the port vs starboard transatlantic question is moot. Both rooms are midships, between the 'B' and 'C' staircases, so should have minimal perceived motion. Mrs Bear and I tend to book 'sheltered balcony' rooms, midships where possible - quite near these inside rooms..