bluemarble

Here's a webcam capture of QM2 at Heraklion this morning. This is a distant view to be sure, but it's a chance to feature a port we haven't seen yet on this thread. This is from Skyline Webcam's "Heraklion Live cam" found at "skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/ellada/crete/heraklion/heraklion.html".

Oh, sorry, my fault. I did not read carefully enough what you said about your old UK CWC number. Since that was a nine digit format, then I'm not sure where that leaves us either. I probably should remove the "newer" and "older" designations from my previous summary of UK CWC formats. The "more common" and "less common" designations may not mean much either with such a small sample size. Just to satisfy my curiosity, and if you don't mind me asking, could you put an approximate year on when you last had a nine digit CWC number?

Sorry, I don't really know the comparative ages of the UK numbers. I am only working under an assumption the 9 character format might be an older format since only one person so far in the UK, @PORT ROYAL, has reported they have a 9 character CWC number (with 6 digits rather than 5) and you mentioned you used to have a 9 character number that was switched to 8 characters at some point in the past. Since most people from the UK who have responded indicate they have 8 character numbers and the example on the Cunard website is an 8 character number, I'm supposing that's the newer more common format for UK CWC numbers. That's what was behind the equivocation "based on my interpretation of the feedback here so far" in my previous post, but that assumption could be way off base. I welcome further insight from anyone about UK CWC number formats.

Thanks everyone. For future reference here's an updated summary of Cunard World Club number formats for each region based on my interpretation of the feedback here so far. North America: Nine digits and one letter For example: 654321098B UK: Two letters, five digits and one letter (more common/newer) or Two letters, six digits and one letter (less common/older) For example: RP54321W or RP654321W In some places a "CU" prefix is added. Australia/New Zealand: Ten digits For example: 5432109876

Sorry if I wasn't clear. In those patterns, I was using "A" as a placeholder for any uppercase letter (A-Z) and "9" as a placeholder for any digit (0-9).

Thank you for that correction regarding the Australia/NZ format. My understanding is that in the past for US CWC numbers, the "A" suffix was always assigned to the male and "B" to the female in a couple and then "C", "D", etc. to other family members. Understandably that received pushback for being rather sexist. Hopefully the system now is something more along the lines of "A" for the primary passenger on the first booking and then subsequent letters for additional passengers in the same household.

No problem. I'm interested in seeing how common each of the various UK formats are so all replies are welcome. I have seen posts in the past where members have stated they have seen their CWC numbers listed both with and without the "CU" prefix so that may explain some of this variation. Our original US CWC number from our first voyage in 2005 was in the format "CU9999999A". Then after we sailed Princess for the first time, I noticed the first two characters had changed from "CU" to "61". It wouldn't surprise me to learn there are others in the US with CWC numbers that start with "CU".

That's interesting. So apparently there are two different formats for UK CWC numbers: AA999999A (9 total characters) CUAA99999A (10 total characters) where "A" in any letter and "9" is any digit. Just curious for those of you in the UK, which of these formats are you seeing for your CWC number and are there any other variations?

I don't see a roll call created for your QV British Isles cruise in August either. It is up to someone on each cruise to be the one to create a roll call for their cruise. I recommend you create one in the Queen Victoria Roll Call section to get the ball rolling.

That's my understanding. There are different Cunard World Club systems for the UK, North America and Australia/New Zealand. The format of a North America CWC number is nine digits followed by a letter. My wife and I have CWC numbers that start with the same nine digits. Mine ends in an "A" while hers ends in a "B". My understanding is the format of a UK CWC number is the letters "CU" followed by two more letters then digits. My understanding is the format of Australia/NZ CWC numbers is similar to that in North America (nine digits followed by a letter). I'll be happy to be corrected on any of these details if I have them wrong. Incidentally, our CWC numbers here in the US are identical to our Princess Cruises Captain Circle numbers.

Ah, yes. Thank you both. Don't know how I managed to miss those obvious venues on deck 9. I'm figuring the venue starboard midships on deck 9 next to the Gelateria simply named "Grill" is probably the "Deck Grill". So I think we have now come up with these 16 candidates for the 15 venues Cunard is counting as dining venues on Queen Anne. Queens Grill Princess Grill Britannia Club Britannia Restaurant Buffet Golden Lion Carinthia Lounge Steakhouse & Grill Mediterranean Indian Pan-Asian Wellness Cafe Gelateria Deck Grill Al Fresco Dining Queens Room (Afternoon Tea)

You may be thinking of this post on the "New Ship" thread when I was counting the dining venues on QM2 where it is possible to come up with 12 dining venues on that ship as a comparison. One travel agent site lists these 13 dining venues on Queen Anne. Queens Grill Princess Grill Britannia Club Britannia Restaurant Buffet Golden Lion Carinthia Lounge Steakhouse & Grill Mediterranean Pan-Asian Wellness Cafe Gelateria Deck Grill Let's compare notes since I don't happen to see "Mediterranean" or "Deck Grill" listed on the QA deck plans although I might have missed them. Several sites mention both of those will be on QA.

The charge is for the kit. I wouldn't know, but by most accounts it is well worth it. Here is what was included in the kit Mrs. Bluemarble received. Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolour Sketchers' Pocket Set Paints 3 Winsor & Newton Cotman Brushes: • 19mm Series 666 One Stroke • Size 8 Series 111 Round • Size 2 Series 333 Rigger Winsor & Newton Watercolour Pad (11in x 14in, 140lb, 12 sheets) Winsor & Newton Medium Kneaded Putty Rubber Colart Small Rectangular Palette Conté à Paris 2B Graphite Pencil Conté à Paris Pencil Sharpener

Just to muddle things further, the Cunard FAQ continues to be ambiguous about alcohol limits. There is the place you quoted later in your post above that mentions limits (for wine/champagne). (Q) Can I take a bottle of wine/champagne on board to drink in a restaurant and would a corkage fee apply? (A) ... Please be advised that guests are allowed to bring on board one bottle per person for special occasions. ... Then there is this second place that mentions beer, wine and spirits with no limits. (Q) Can I bring alcohol on board to consume in my stateroom or in restaurants? (A) You may bring beer, wine or spirits on board (subject to the age limit law of the port of departure) to celebrate special occasions. ...

Here's a webcam capture of QE's departure from Auckland a few minutes ago. This is one of Skyline Webcam's cameras found at "skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/new-zealand/auckland/auckland/hauraki-gulf.html". It's hosted by HaurakiGulfWeather.com.

Just read elsewhere that QV is indeed doing a helicopter evacuation to St John's.

As far as I know, it only matters toward earning Cunard World Club status. If you have completed one voyage with your UK number and one voyage with your Australia number, then you only have "Silver" status with each separate account. If they were combined, then you would have "Gold" status on your combined account. Now if you have already achieved "Diamond" status with your Australia account, then it doesn't really matter. But if you'd like to have that voyage with your UK number count toward your Cunard World Club status, then it may be worth pursuing further.

QE is spending the night in Auckland instead of proceeding on to Bay of Islands today as scheduled (January 17th local time). I saw a post on social media a couple days ago which I can't find anymore indicating they were unable to complete the hull cleaning off Tauranga and will have to miss Bay of Islands as a result. I'm hoping someone can confirm the details of what passengers have been told.

There are separate email addresses listed for Cunard World Club UK and Cunard World Club Australia/NZ. @samarai27, it might be worth contacting both of those departments if you haven't already. UK: ukworld.club@cunard.co.uk Australia/NZ: loyalty@cunardline.com.au

The prices I have for the Verandah restaurant (fleet wide) are $25 per person for lunch and $45 per person for dinner. There are additional charges for a few of the items on the Verandah menu. Wagyu Beef: $30 supplement Grand Platter Fruit de Mer for Two: $20 supplement Add Two Giant Tiger Prawns: $10 supplement

Dressing to the themes is entirely optional. As long as you adhere to the Gala Evening dress code you will be fine. If you would like to dress to the "Ice White" theme, here are Cunard's attire suggestions for that theme. "Formal WearGentlemen – White TieLadies – Evening GownAppropriate white, silver, blue gowns and accessories"

Yes, that's QE from here recent call at Wellington on December 28th, 2022. I figured RNZB would be a giveaway if nothing else was.

Here's a webcam image of QE's arrival at Tauranga today. This is from the webcam page on the Port of Tauranga website found at "port-tauranga.co.nz/cargo-and-shipping/tauranga-web-cams/".

Here's a webcam image showing a Cunard ship departing a port I'm anticipating won't be too difficult to identify.

During the November Caribbean cruise on QM2, there were watercolor classes at 10:00am and 2:00pm on sea days on the port side of the Britannia Restaurant upper level (deck 3). Mrs. Bluemarble participated most days.