Victoria2

Golly, I live in jeans of some sort [not ripped, I'm too old for that🙂] during the day when onboard. No problem whatsoever.

Most coaches we've been on have luggage space underneath and that's where the wheelchairs go. However, some tours are undertaken in smaller coaches, say seats for up to twelve and there would be no or little room for a wheelchair on those. If I were you, I'd hightail it down to the tour office as soon as it opens and enquire there on the coach size for your booked tours and if it says wheelchair 'friendly', then that's what it should be. I would put far more faith in them than a lady on the end of a phone in a Cunard office. You can always cancel the tours if needs be and rather than forfeit any deposit, argue a wheelchair enabled tour should in practice, be able to take wheelchairs and if it doesn't do what it says on the tin, you want the whole lot refunded.🙂

Of course, there are always 'the scenic' coach tours where wheelchair users can stay on the coach at 'scenic photo opportunities' and just get off for the often coffee and cake stop but they are a bit bland. However, bland is better than nothing if no other tours are available and these are the excursions where extra tours are added if called for Another way of doing a tour is to book a private one through Cunard and that will involve a car. driver/guide and an itinerary tailored to your requirements but I can tell you now, they will be expensive. Worth it though if in a port you really want to explore. We take this route when a 'set' tour doesn't appeal and we want to explore, wheelchair or not.

Wear the dark suit. I have not cruised QM2 for many, many years and never in QG so can't speak for 'her' but as far as QE/QV are concerned I will admit a Dinner Suit will be worn by the majority of chaps in QG but by no means, all in our experience. He will be fine.

All my bookings on QV and QA use the term 'sea days' on the calendar. The term 'cruise by' is often used on a scenic but non port day.

Just for clarification and having no experience of QM2 Grills, the Grills' concierges on both QE and QV have been for the most part, excellent at their jobs and there is no need to go down to the front desk for most things if the concierge is on duty. When I habitually compromised my room card, one concierge got her cardio work out when insisting on running down to get me a new one. The next time, I went down myself. 🙂 Concierge port days' hours are less than sea days. I can only recall one who although her manner was delightful, wasn't as competent as her fellow concierges. I haven't seen her since.

You are quite right. People who have 'complicated' travel plans can't always comply with arrival times without some degree of forethought. Those who do choose to drive down on the day and are 'in danger' of arriving early can rest up at a convenient stop before continuing on to the port. Mass/public transport is a different matter and unfortunately, if too early could be 'wait casualties' if it the terminal is deemed to be in danger of overcrowding, This is obviously a new strategy and may be open to revision but it would seem at the moment, they will just have to wait until they will be admitted to the terminal. Last August, the Mayflower terminal was unpleasantly crowded with standing room only in the embarkation lounge after check in. Maybe the strategy is to avoid that. Some passengers will win [less crowding] some might lose out waiting].

You're very welcome. 🙂 For reference, I keep an eye on S'ton Cruise ship schedules. The terminals can change. https://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/Live_Information/Shipping_Movements_and_Cruise_Ship_Schedule/Cruise_Ship_Schedule/

No backlash from me Winifred 22. 🙂 Thank you for getting back to us with an up to date experience.

Winifred 22 any update from your daughter re embarkation timings/ deferred terminal entry for early birds?

Very similar to mine. The ability to plug into US and UK plug sockets is useful.

M&S or Tesco Petis Pois, Finest, of course. I'm obviously a food pleb but at least I'm a sophisticated one! 😁

It's so long since I ate anything Bird's Eye, I couldn't tell you what was in them or the ingredients other than the fact I remember enjoying them.

Or, how many youngsters, now enjoy fish due to being introduced to fish fingers. 🙂 I put the original ones eaten as a child, in the same category as well known franchise burgers and not to be confused with those from my fishmonger or my butcher. We have seafood sticks over here but they're not battered and are eaten cold. Not my cup of tea, especially when the ingredients are read.

As do I ever since we had a bit of a hiccup on the account. I find popping down after the late show a very quiet time at the front desk. No queuing involved.

If you're talking next month, QV is Ocean terminal on the 6th June. Mayflower on the 25th May.

It does, but if two of you have multiple devices to charge, it's more convenient to take a Universal multiple USB adapter.

I don't recall a specific area for Grills' folk to wait after check in but maybe we were in it and didn't realise. I find the Mayflower embarkation lounge a tad claustrophobic when it's crowded as it was last August when boarding was put back to 1pm. Masks 'r us in crowds like that.

No questions are dumb and newbies have no idea what's onboard. Yes, one can trawl and trawl through past comments but far quicker to ask. 🙂

I have two Universal travel adapters with 4 USB ports in each, Very handy and no, no actual ports in the cabins.

I guess that's one 'shop' the cruise terminal won't ever have! 🙂

and let's see if this new set up is here to stay or just temporary. If it's here to stay then Cunard need to alert everyone to it.

No boarding papers to refer to but an email gave new instructions or instructions I had taken no notice of before. The emboldened text is Cunard's. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Please proceed directly to your ship’s departure terminal at the ‘arrival time’, stated on your boarding pass.

Please report back. It will be interesting. We are occasionally the first onboard so it won't affect us other than a more pleasant atmosphere but it will affect many others and they deserve to be in the picture. 🙂

Oh don’t get me wrong. As an early boarder, I’m all for a less crowded environment especially as I felt the terminal last August was claustrophobically crowded but I feel for those who have no choice as to their arrival times and have to wait outside and slightly sorry for those who ignore times because historically, they have been allowed in the terminal. If this is a new policy, then I think it should be highlighted on Cunard's web site.