Lynnewob

That doorway/cupboard may only be specific to deck 6, as we've never had any issues with noise from decks 4, 5 or 8 (noise from above not opposite) (not been on 7). Look for non smooth lines on the deck plan opposite the cabins, this will indicate that it's not just a flat wall.      Opposite 6098 I think it's the crew stairwell - you will see it open on embarkation day as that's where the luggage is distributed from.    Deck 5 balconies seem a little less deep than deck 6, but only by maybe a couple of inches. Deck 4 are the only ones with any depth. 

Decks 4 and 5 don't seem to have anything across from the cabins, but note that decks 7 and 8 have open gaps on that wall, so not sure what these are.

I agree with the comments above, the QE/QV PG balconies are no wider than a normal balcony - it's just the room that is long and skinny and they do not compare to QM2.   They are the same as deluxe balconies on Azura/Ventura and mini suites on some of the older (flat aft) Princess ships.

I do love the restaurants on QE/QV as they have wonderful views from their location on deck 11. The sun terrace is lovely too, compared to QM2.   Pros and cons for each ship.

I like the deck 4 cabins as the balcony has a little more depth - the downside (if you're concerned) is that people above can see you.   It's great for hotter climes as you get a little more sun, but in Alaska that could mean more rain. 

Don't book 6092 or its opposite number.   The stewards have a doorway opposite and all congregate outside from around 5.30am and they do not speak quietly!   Also, the BA balcony next door is a lot deeper and on our voyage, they had mini parties there so it got very noisy.

Ico Pranic was the Snr Maitre d' when we were on board on 8 Oct.  

Both Raul and Ico usually switch when each is on leave.  On the odd occasion, you may find someone else steps in, but it is usually these two. 

We have never received a call from a concierge before booking, but we tend to book Q6/Q5 suites. I wonder whether it is those booking Q1/Q2 that are getting a call.

Here's a photo of the drinks list offered on board from our recent Northern Lights trip on QE.

We had the same issue in 6092 on QE. We were on for 20 nights - one morning at 5am, I opened our cabin door and asked them to quieten down a little.  If you look at the QV deck plan, it appears that the same indentation is showing so it is probably the same crew area where the staff congregate. It looks the same outside 6097 too.

There is an opening opposite 6098/6103 but this is for the staff stairwell/lifts.  Staff use this to move around the ship but the door is only left open on embarkation/disembarkation as this is where the luggage is brought up to the deck.  I do not know if the door bangs when staff go in and out at other times during the voyage but if I had a choice of cabin, I don't think I'd take a chance on booking this just in case.

Never noticed any issues on deck 5 or 4 for that matter in PG.  Love deck 4 the most as the balconies are deeper than the other decks - overlooked by those above, but worth it for the extra space.

Also avoid deck 8 - 8078  had the noise of catering trolleys overhead, passing between the winter garden and lido on vinyl flooring.

When QV had its refit and the aft was squared off/extended, the deck 8 aft suites were renewed and all 5 became Q4s. They were fitted out in the dark wood style like the Q1s on decks 6 and 7.

Decks 4 and 5 were left alone and just had soft furnishings updated and are still Q5/Q6s and have deep balconies, although those on deck 5 are now much more covered due to the lengthening/extension of deck 6.

QE's deck 8 are still Q5/Q6s.

Agree - as we much prefer the layout of the Q5/Q6 aft on QE/QV.   More open layout which may not suit some and of course more movement at the back and further to walk.

It can certainly hold more guests, even our PG cabin on QE seated people more comfortably than friends who had a Q4, so we tended to host the pre-dinner drinks.

Hope you're having a wonderful time.   I saw a recent weather report on BBC saying the tail end of Dorian may be heading towards Iceland.   Hopefully it's strength will have dissipated by the time it gets there so you don't have any issues.

On another note, is Katarina still one of the Commodore Club waitresses?   She looked after us admirably in the CC previously but she may have moved to QV. 

Can you let me know who the Snr Maitre D' is on this voyage please?  Is it Ico?   If so, will he still be on board on 8 Oct when we join?   Raul switched from QV, so he may be instead of Ico.

A lot of questions I know, but always nice to know beforehand.

Thanks, L x

OMG Doug, it would have been hilarious.  😂

For others querying the age range, we're obviously not in our 20s but certainly on the younger age range for Cunard (most commonly 65-90) and have been approached by people thinking we are crew.  We are usually in the casino until late and when we go to bed, there's no one around except the odd crew member cleaning.  It's a great time to get photos though.

Lovely review, thanks for posting.

DWhit - your profile photo.  You look like my doppleganger in my facebook profile pic.

Princess Grill suites on the QE/QV are the same as the Grand class ships mini suites on Princess as far as layout is concerned, although the balcony on Princess is deeper.   QM2 Princess Grill balcony and cabin are much bigger.

That's where the similarity ends.  Cunard's Princess Grill offers the Grill lounge,/sunbathing deck and the best of all dining in the Princess Grill dining room which offers a la carte dining on top of the set menu and tableside flambes on request the day before from the Head Waiter.   You will have anytime dining betweeen 6 and 9pm and the table will be yours throughout for breakfast, lunch and dinner with the same waiters.  Afternoon tea used to be served in the grills lounge but this is now done in the restaurant.   You get bottled water, but no other drinks offered as you do in QG. There is a cofee pod machine in PG as there is in the QG cabins.

Club class dining on Princess does not compare, they offer an additional 1 or 2 items on the menu each evening, anytime dining in a part of the dining room allocated for Club. The waiters are split into 3 sections so you may not get the same ones every evening.  You will get to know them though as if you are on board for longer than a week, you tend to move around the smaller dining area.

Hope this helps.

I do not know about the latest time for departure but be aware that this is not allowed at certain ports, Venice and Athens are two off the top of my head, as we enquired about this as we had a late afternoon flight home. 

We were offered a sightseeing tour instead where our luggage would be left on the coach but decided against it as we didn't want to be hot after the excursion before the flight, so just caught a taxi to the airport and hung around instead as we had been to the port before and seen most of sights anyway.

Hopefully someone will come back to you about times soon.

I've booked a couple and managed to get the cabin I wanted, so it's worth booking early with the  £1 deposit. 

I had a 1030 flight between HAM and LHR with BA and definiitely worried if it would work.

I chose to self disembark with my own luggage so got off the ship as soon as they allowed passengers to.  I was in a cab (not booked, there were plenty available) at 7.45 and got to the airport around 8.15am and was surprised to find the BA desk was not even open, it opened 2 hours before departure time.   

If it's a long haul flight, 3 hour check in is required, but as you can see it is doable but definitely get off the ship as soon as possible.  If it docks late, then all bets are off.

Brianl

Thank you.  I booked the parking a long time ago before the terminals were granted to the ships so my booking confirmation still has the "you will park the car yourself" showing on it.

I didn't think to do a dummy booking, as you have done, and now see they have changed it to valet parking which works as CPS usually does on longer cruises when they keep the keys.

Perfect - query now resolved.

Thanks everyone.

1 minute ago, BrianI said:

We had a similar thing. We were on a Celebrity cruise which left from City terminal and returned to the QEII terminal. We parked at City terminal with ABP, who always operate with self parking. On our return to the QEII terminal ABP had a shuttle coach which took us back to the City terminal car park.

 

i am sure that CPS will have something similar in operation but only they will know.

 

Brian 

I thought this might be the case. I have used ABP before and returned to the same terminal, again on another short trip and retained keys, so this wasn't an issue.  It's the different terminals (and the distance between them) that are the problem this time.

We plan to self disembark early - I have a feeling there won't be any coaches when we disembark so may well have a long hike!

24 minutes ago, Bazrat said:

hi they move the car to the next terminal they did the same when we went on a 2 night cruise we walked off the ship and the car was less than 5 mins away.it was cps

From what you say, they keep the keys then?

This goes against what was said when I booked for the 2nt in that you retain your own keys.  I am aware they keep your keys on longer trips and move your car to whichever terminal you return to with a short walk.  

Perhaps it will be different on this trip due to the terminal changes.  Let's wait and see.

We have booked CPS on a short 2 nighter on 15 Nov and know that you keep your car keys when booking with CPS on these short trips.  

However, we are leaving from Ocean terminal, but returning to Mayflower terminal, which is quite a distance apart if walking. 

I know on longer cruises, CPS keep your car keys and move the car for you, but on this short trip, this will not be the case.  

Has anyone else had the situation before?  If so, how was it handled by P&O/CPS. 

Lovely to meet you again and interesting to you read your running commentary.   Yes, we were the "guilty" people you met on deck 8 (along with our friend JD-J) and it was lovely to have a catch up. 

I am pleased you managed to have breakfast, we didn't wake up in time to do this on both days, after hubby boarding the ship straight after coming off a night shift with only 1hr sleep. Having our first inside cabin may have helped as it was very dark. We didn't need breakfast though as our waiter gave us double portions of main course and dessert on the last night, so we were still very full in the morning. We woke at 0745, showered and were off ship at 0815 to catch the train home and then had to work from home in the afternoon due to lack of annual leave days.

We did manage to stay up on both nights until 1am and got our usual casino fix.   We were on deck 14 (the soft area above the Club cabins) at that time when the ship arrived into Liverpool and it was lovely to get night photos. 

I would stay with the Q6 unless it is the one close to Churchills (9001 I think) as the smoke can carry along the corridor a little and you may get some smells. 

We have had 9013 a couple of times (the last Q6 before they move to Q5s) and 9019 and there was no difference, except 9019 had an adjoining door). They were both over lifeboats with no view downwards whereas those nearer to the front don't have that issue, neither do those aft QG cabins (which in the past were Q6's but changed to Q5s when cabin numbers got reclassified).

As long as you are not prone to seasickness, I would stick with the Q6.

We have just returned from Pursuit and about 8-10 turned up for the meet and greet.

We had a CC suite on deck 8 - 8064 - and found it quiet the majority of the time.  What I thought was an airplane taking off a couple of times above us happened, the most notable times at 5.30am and again at 11.45pm.  We were below windows cafe which is not the issue as it is capeted but it is the staff area above, which I assume is the galley for the buffet.  Looking at the deck plans I think it overlaps the inner edge of the cabin so would be above the one side of the bed and bathroom area.  I heard occasional footsteps but it was the rumbling noise overhead which was the most disturbing, presumably from heavy trolleys.

We had priority boarding and took this photo in the Steinwarder terminal on the upper level walking to board the ship after check in.  The queues were horrendous and we were thankful for priority.

Re: Embarkation on 10 June

This has been put on Azamara's website about the change of embarkation terminal in Venice.

This notice is to confirm a recent change regarding your embarkation of Azamara Pursuit in Venice Monday, June 10, 2019.

After a closer review of the guests’ experience, and ease of access, at San Basilio-- without shuttle service-- a decision was made to change the embarkation terminal.

Therefore, we have moved the embarkation dock for Azamara Pursuit to Terminal 18 in the Marittima Port.

Securing the dock at Marittima will ensure a better experience for you on Monday. While we apologize for the last-minute nature of this notice, rest assured it was necessary to meet our commitment to your safety, convenience, and enjoyment ashore.

Once again, this change does not impact your voyage or travel arrangements in any way. It’s simply a new embarkation location.

Below is a map highlighting the new embarkation location at Marittima, relative to San Basilio.

Should you have any questions please contact us as soon as possible at 1-855-AZAMARA, and press option 3.

Thank you for your kind understanding and for choosing Azamara.
We look forward to welcoming you aboard in Venice.

We booked a short trip on QM2 on Sat 25 May for a 14 July sailing.

You will need to go onto the voyage personaliser and complete all details, ie. passport number, emergency contact, insurance details. 

After this, I looked again and we had received a cabin allocation - I don't know if completing these details made a difference.  This is the earliest we have had an allocation. I was very surprised 

We don't have etickets or luggage labels yet and the VP states this will be 5 weeks before embarkation.

In the past, Cunard have usually done gty allocations anytime between 6 weeks to 2 weeks before sail date, sometimes even up to 2 days before - more often than not, it has been 2 weeks before   Keep checking the VP.  They do send an email via my travel agent occasionally, but the VP is the best way of finding out.

We did this in reverse, ie. LHR to HAM. 

Cunard gave us a Eurowings flight from LHR.  I presume they would do the same from HAM.

I also have done this trip when I arranged my own flights with frequent flyer miles and used BA as they had a direct HAM to LHR flight.