Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Frequent customer here. They do exactly what they advertise in a friendly and efficient manner.

They will collect bags from your home a few days before you sail and deliver them to the ship on the day. On the morning of arrival at the end of the cruise they will text or call you around 8am and let you know where their van is parked, it is usually close to the exit from the terminal, and when you hand the bags over the driver will tell you which day they will be delivered.

M-AR

Hi firsttimewithcunard. I hope you enjoyed your first night on board. Could you give the link to your blog again as I get a message saying page not found. Thanks

Searched in Wordpress and found it.

https://martinandjansjourney.com/

M-AR

With fluid pricing a feature of the travel industry in general not just Carnival UK, l don't see immediately how this can be policed. Will they just lump on an increase to fares which will cover those paying by credit card or otherwise?

I may be in a minority of one, but l like to know what l am paying for, so to have the credit card charge prominently and openly detailed on my quote or mentioned by the vendor l can then make the personal decision to pay, try to negotiate it away or go elsewhere.

If the Scotsman article is true ABTA has advised members to increase prices, in other words that means the recognised industry body is advising members to drive the issue underground.

The consumers' lot is not an easy one.

M-AR

The Cunard website has now been updated with the new bar menu prices, although my Voyage Personaliser still has the link to the old menus.

 

https://ask.cunard.com/help/life-on-board/drink_cost

 

 

 

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Thank you for your efforts to get the updates made, it shouldn't take consumer pressure to ensure the website is current, particularly as you proved in an earlier post that their own customer service team treat it as gospel.

M-AR

This may help.

M-AR

http://www.cunard.co.uk/Global/Images/Ships/QV/QV_refit/Chart_Room_Night_Menu.pdf

Another consideration is stairs. There are number of stairs down to the Victoria Circle Line platforms and also stairs up at Paddington. The Circle Line trains are just about ok with luggage as they are more akin in size to surface trains than the more usual tube trains but nevertheless busy in the rush hour as you mention.

One other suggestion is Cunard bus to Heathrow T5 the Heathrow express to Paddington and leave your bags at Paddington so you are unencumbered for the tube trip. Hex is £25 single per person and takes about 25 to 30 minutes from T5 to Paddington mainline station. You can also take the Bakerloo line to and from Paddington which saves a little time over the Circle route.

M-AR

Yes have done this many times in the past but used a travel agent so don't know how they overcame the address matter. It never caused problems though. I would recommend using an agent so they can guide you through that aspect and also quote you an all in fare for comparison purposes as suggested.

Some would worry about consumer protection etc. in a cross border transaction and potential credit card fees etc for conversion of the fare to Sterling but it never stopped me until the exchange rate became much less favourable.

I've also booked via a German travel agent too but sometimes the faffing about trying to save a pound or two here and there makes the convenience of booking in the UK more attractive.

Good luck.

M-AR

I also have the impression that casino workers are not Cunard employees. But while the casino may be a franchise (or a separate Carnival entity), Players Club membership applies to all ships in the Carnival fleet, including Cunard. https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1146/~/casino-and-carnival-players-club%C2%AE

You are correct in so far as the casino workers are not Cunard employees but are employed by the Carnival casino entity and can find themselves contract to contract posted to Cunard, Princess or one of the other lines. I know this only by talking to one or two of the staff whom l have got to know over the years. Generally speaking Cunard is a less popular posting as the casino is very quiet compared to other lines.

The current difficulties surrounding the players club members may be exacerbated by the fact that the casino is now very much reduced in size, which doesn't allow scope for the occasional player to coexist with these seemingly more serious types. A good manager should ensure there is room for all nevertheless.

M-AR

The next logical step for me would be to continue with Cunard because l like it and cut my cloth accordingly as necessary, l've no desire to eat in the Chart Room anyway and if it means buying one or two less drinks a day so be it.

The notion that there are "hidden charges" is a bit of a red herring, if you are spending the kind of money involved in a cruise who in their right mind doesn't read the small print before pressing the button?

M-AR

Yes the whole area including the narrow section is gated and is closed entirely during a TA if animals are onboard.

M-AR

One last question: Is there any true advantage in taking up the offer of FCD?

As long as you are certain that you will make a booking for another Cunard cruise within 12 months, the cruise will be for 6 days or more and that you will book the appropriate U.K. fare type then the true advantage is the additional OBC on top of any that is on offer at the time of booking as follows:

On Board Spending Money:

6-9 nights on board

Grill Accommodation = $200USD

Balcony Accommodation = $150USD

Inside / Outside Accommodation = $100USD

Sailings of 10 nights or more

Grill Accommodation = $400USD

Balcony Accommodation = $300USD

Inside/ Outside Accommodation = $200USD

M-AR

The future cruise deposit page setting out the scheme for UK travellers has returned and appears to be the same as before.

https://ask.cunard.com/help/before-you-sail/Future_Cruise_Deposits/

Hopefully the page is back to stay and the scheme will remain. (yn)

M-AR

True according to Cruise Critic but over 12 years ago.

http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/news/news.cfm?ID=1252

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=137180

Another historical example but nothing recent when searching.

http://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=273834

M-AR

How far in advance of your BA flight can one do an online check in? I have never felt the need to do this before, but I booked my flights to London for my QM2 crossing through Cunard Air for the first time. But we will be flying to the Seattle airport to catch that flight. Can I check in online 24 hours in advance? 48 hours? More?

British Airways is 24hrs.

M-AR

Clearly a very stressful experience, but I'm confused how it's possible to have a "British Air[ways] print out" if no booking was made and no ticket bought. I always double check I have a definite booking reference for every flight I make, and ensure I know all about check in, no matter who has made the booking.

The print out itself is just a notice from the airline that a seat has been booked. The agent has to send a separate confirmation that the seat has been paid for then the airline will issue a ticket. From reading so far it looks like the confirmation step has been missed by the agent (Cunard) and the seat hasn't been ticketed.

M-AR

The apology isn't necessary, like you l'm fond of numbers. A further observation is that it is quite clever to introduce a single and double choice for spirits. The bar crew now have a very easy way of up selling by offering a double as part of their sales pitch in addition to pushing the more expensive Fever Tree mixers.

On a related point, they were also said to changing the wine list concurrently with the bar offerings, it would interesting to learn about the changes in choice and pricing but as usual the website is lagging a long way behind what is happening on board.

M-AR

Why? What is their reasoning behind this?

A response to previous customer complaints or observations that the buffet lines were slow moving.

No trays means no lingering, once your single plate is full you are forced to move on.

M-AR

How odd. Those ceiling mounted bunks are physically part of the room, so I can't imagine they will actually remove them. It's not like the sofa beds in the balcony cabins, where you might just replace the sofa with one w/o the bed.

 

 

 

 

 

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Suspect you are right they will leave the extra berths in situ but not sell them.

Since remastering, the ship carries more guests and more crew so perhaps it is a capacity based change? Ultimately capacity is not the number of berths but the number of spaces in the survival craft.

Looking at it on a purely financial basis it will be better to have a strategy to sell out all premium space and retire some of the less expensive berths, in other words if all or many of the current 4 person cabins were already sold at maximum capacity on a voyage it may reduce what they can sell further up the price range. So maybe a marketing driven adjustment of available inventory? Looks like they are readying deck plans for the spring 2019 and onwards programme.

I've no insider knowledge so just based on my thoughts on the changes to the deck plan.

M-AR

I also believe a reduced amount is better than nothing if financial circumstances dictate. It is quite a long cruise you are on so perhaps it will be possible over the piece to contain normal personal spending to make tips more affordable?

If you go down the route of handing over cash tips instead l would not sweat over the right amount, l would base it on what you can afford as mentioned above. Your tip will be accepted graciously no matter the amount by the crew member without comment other than a simple thank you and perhaps a hand shake.

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This is a link to the company that provides sports coverage to Cunard.

http://www.sport24-tv.com/

They only show the schedule on line for a few weeks ahead but while l am a soccer fan as opposed to NFL, l'm fairly positive l have noticed in passing NFL on the TV in the public rooms from time to time. Fingers crossed you will see some coverage. The Golden Lion pub is usually the venue where the sport is featured it may be on cabin TV too when other activities are ongoing in the pub but l have never checked.

Hopefully someone can add that info for you.

M-AR

Hi DreamflightPat and ExpatBride and 3rdGenCunarder and Eleteace and Camgirl (phew!),

 

I totally agree with the "sniff test", and nothing goes "off" the day after the "sell by" date, or even one day after the "use by" date. Of course it doesn't :) . I regularly eat things that are a couple or more days past their "date". I hate the waste that modern shopping encourages in many ways "throw it out the day it goes out of date" is total nonsense. The only things I am very careful with is shellfish (mainly prawns/shrimp) and poultry.

 

However, I was making a suggestion to someone who was about to spend some time on holiday when they surely wouldn't want to be ill by taking any risk at all. So I made what I thought was a sensible suggestion, and something I now do each time (check the date). It is also a waste of money if can't enjoy it all the way across.

 

In my one case (where the "eat by" date was a day after sailing) I continued to eat it until it failed the "sniff test" half way across. And I certainly wouldn't have shared it with fellow passengers (I couldn't live with myself if they had fallen ill :eek: ).

 

Hope this explains :) .Sorry I wasn't clearer.

Please forgive me for sounding like an old killjoy, but l would be wary of taking dairy products on board and even more wary of sharing with fellow guests in the public rooms. Given that occasional gastro outbreaks on cruise ships are high profile and attract much scrutiny and comment would Cunard be comfortable that guests increase risks, no matter how remote the possibility, by handing round and consuming self bought and stored dairy products while onboard?

In date or out of date l would worry about bringing unwanted attention on myself should the worst happen. Not meant as a critisism but merely an alternative view of how the cruise line may view the subject.

M-AR

Thanks for everyone's reply.

I also realized that we will embark at Southampton for the return trip -

So any comments on tipping at Southampton?

There certainly isn't an expectation of tipping in my experience, but if you decide to give a small tip it will be accepted and appreciated.

M-AR

You can get them washed & ironed for you on board at around $6 or $7 each

Yes l do that, I have 3 shirts which l send out on the last day of the westbound and they come back washed and pressed in time for the eastbound. Usually l've eaten through my OBC by then so there is also a small reduction on cost via my world club status.

M-AR

Both West Quay Cars and Smith's for Airports have delivered me to Heathrow in time for a post 1pm flight, it will be worth getting guidance from either firm for your planned schedule as suggested above. Both firms provide modern, clean vehicles with smartly turned out and helpful drivers who will get you to your destination safely.

From previous experience of the Cunard bus, while it works well enough for a post 1pm flight, I believe that your schedule is too tight to risk it, which concurs with the advice Cunard has given.

M-AR

I see she is underway destination Palermo. l have never been on board perhaps the refit should be a catalyst to give her a try.

M-AR