walksonwater

What is a reasonable amount of time to allot between arrival in port and train departure in Southampton? Does QE (Sept 14th cruise, return 28th) generally arrive early am? I would like to reserve seats on train to London unless just showing up is more advisable. Thanks in advance.

Thank you, Hattie and tv24. One of us drinks nothing alcoholic and one of us booked this cruise just for French, Spanish and Italian wines. And cuisine of course. And the chance to relax among civilized, refined Cunard guests.

Am I to understand that we can purchase a bottle of wine in each of the fabulous Mediterranean ports we visit and bring it on board to our cabin with the intention to drink it there without difficulty on any level from anyone anywhere, security to cabin steward? Can we purchase more than one? Thank you.

Thanks for the info wenlyn. Helpful and goood to know I can relax now about details I choose not to worry about.

Bill, I'm hoping these 2 retired grandparents who seem never to have a day alone have wisely spent the extra for a suite in order to experience quiet on the sea. And some attention paid to us for once!

Hello All,

Two weeks Mediterranean, QE, September, Princess Suite.

1. What is the absolute minimum we can wear during the day and for dinner and not feel underdressed?

2. What parts of the trip can we comfortably and safely wing? Transportation to and from Southampton/ excursions? What is essential to book/reserve/pay for in advance?

3. We arrive in England from the States several days before the cruise and remain a few days after. What if anything will this affect?

4. Will a cell phone and "Tablet"with an international calling and data plan added suffice for emails and emergency only calls from family or is the ship's internet usage essential?

4. What have I missed for important information and super helpful hints before we travel?

Thank you all in advance.

hihilo: Thanks for your response. Went to Rome years ago (over Thanksgiving, when I filled my suitcases with all the fixins that defrosted on the red eye), saw the sites with our daughter who was studying there. I have no need to go back. A winery tour sounds good. I also saw a tour that goes to a town 20 minutes north of Civitavecchia and visits catacombs and such. Sounds interesting.

Is there anything worthwhile to see or do in Civitavecchia?

What I mean is I want a cruise longer than a week, since I think it'll take us that long to unwind. I also think cruises longer than a week might be on ships that are set up for and cater to those who are "cruising". I might be wrong.

You're right, I probably haven't looked hard enough so off I go to check those out. My other thought was through the Panama Canal. That looks like a "relaxing adventure" with some fabulous historical perspective thrown in.

There seem to be a few cruise lines that do the Panama Canal trip.

Thanks!

I cruise on a variety of lines, some are mass market but others are not. My favorite two lines are Voyages to Antiquity (one ship; holds about 350 passengers when fully booked) and Swan Hellenic (Minerva, about same pax load). The average cruise on these two lines begins at around $4000.

 

 

 

My only point to the OP was that the cruise lines of the 1970s (still some of the same ones in operation today) are not the same now as they were then.

Cruisemom42, Your last sentence sums up the responses, I think, of all the previous experienced cruisers. That is, the bar has been set higher today and met by all cruise lines, even those which were low end back then. There still might be low end lines, but it all is relative and even those achieve a level of comfort not offered by all lines decades ago.

It also hadn't occurred to me that ports of call might matter! For example, if a ship is docked only for 5 or 6 hours, what can passengers reasonably do? When I was young, all I wanted to do was go to the beach, never too far from the dock. I remember happily snorkeling off a small dock waiting for the tender in Cozumel, the colorful fish were so plentiful.

Well that's what I was wondering. We didn't have a lot of money back then, the 70's, so I can't imagine we paid a lot for a cruise. Maybe more money relative to inflation still will feel like not a lot of money these days. I don't know. If that's what it takes to get the same aura of civility I remember, then so be it.

I remember tendering to Cozumel because even though the cruise ship was relatively small, the port was not big enough to accommodate us. Is that still the case?

I also remember truly made to order dinners. What level of service is that now?

Thanks for the updates and suggestions.

I think super large ships might be overwhelming for me.

I recall cruising back then on a Holland Am ship that went to South America from FL. It was gorgeous and looked like it was at the end of its decor life. Can't remember its name. If I could find a ship like that I would be content. The cruise was 14 days, not too many passengers, one dinner seating, hit some nice Caribbean ports before it ended somewhere in Venezuela.

That's what I want.

Lulu,

I am considering Disney, NOT during a holiday or school vacation week. Possibly the Wonder for a Panama Canal Cruise.

Also, Celebrity for the same thing.

They both are cruises of a desired length but if I could find a good 10 day Caribbean cruise or elsewhere that didn't require me to fly to or from Europe and mess up time zones I'd give that a good look.

I don't recall balconies in those days, honestly. And I would love one.

Thanks for the quick response.

WalksonWater

Greetings,

My husband and I last cruised in the late 70's, always out of Miami or Port Everglades. Those were the days when we could drive to the dock, negotiate a fare and off we'd go. Cruised 5 or 6 times, always to the Caribbean. We were kids without kids.

Grandparents now, we're thinking about a 10-15 day cruise that leaves and returns to an American port, not necessarily the same one.

I recall (at my age that is subject to correction) a wide disparity in cruise line quality back then. There were some ships on which I wouldn't set foot again now that I'm older and not quite as flexible (mentally and physically). Others were in need of refurbishing but one could imagine their glory days.

My questions:

Is huge quality disparity still the case?

Has the rising tide lifted all boats? That is, are the lower end ships today of higher quality than the lower end ones of 3 plus decades ago?

I know many ships are bigger than yesteryear's. What does that gain/lose?

I do remember, even as a young adult, that no matter what the ship's quality, there always was an air of civility and wonder. We were heading to foreign ports not often visited by our peers that now seem to be bachelor party destinations.

I think we want a relaxing cruise where ports of call are safe but not vital to add to our travel resume' to break up endless days of "at sea"; good entertainment (live music or shows) but not a lot of party noise after midnight; decent sized cabins, consistently good food (we're not drinkers) and an air of cruising like I remember the old ships to offer.

Thanks,

Walks on Water