WillH

When we were on QM2 this April/May, the Grand Lobby was blocked off for much of the voyage as they had a scaffolding platform up(suspended from the ceiling) to carry out repairs. There appeared to be a water leak. It sounds as though the same problem continues.

Will

It looks like the refit may no longer be in November 2015 as I see in the Cunarder magazine that an additional cruise to the Caribbean is being scheduled then. Disappointing as we are on the 2016 World Cruise and had hoped for a refurbished ship. Anyone know the latest on the timing of the QM2 refit ?

Will

Can anyone in the US or UK confirm whether the Southampton to NYC Jan 10-17 QM2 world cruise 2016 voyage is being sold as a stand alone sector?

Austcruiser84, definitely available on UK website (see screenshot below).

It appears that every possible embarkation and disembarkation port is available in the UK for the 2016 World Cruises.

Cheers

Will

Southampton to New York M603

• 
  
• 7 days
  
• 10 Jan - 17 Jan 2016
  

Ports of call

Southampton, New York

David, As far as I am aware, only QV is visiting Kangaroo Island during the 2016 World voyages.

Will

These summaries don't contain all the ports of call.

For QV, the full Australia schedule (according to a US travel agent site)is as follows:

Monday, February 29, 2016 Sydney, Australia Arrive Early Morning Depart Even

Tuesday, March 1, 2016 At Sea

Wednesday, March 2, 2016 Hobart, Tasmania Arrive Early Morning Depart Early

Thursday, March 3, 2016 At Sea

Friday, March 4, 2016 Kangaroo Island, Australia Arrive Early Morning Te

Saturday, March 5, 2016 At Sea

Sunday, March 6, 2016 Melbourne, Australia Arrive Early Morning Depart E

Monday, March 7, 2016 At Sea

Tuesday, March 8, 2016 Sydney, Australia Arrive Early Morning Overnight

Wednesday, March 9, 2016 Sydney, Australia Depart Evening

Thursday, March 10, 2016 At Sea

Friday, March 11, 2016 Brisbane, Australia Arrive Early Morning Depart Ea

Saturday, March 12, 2016 At Sea

Sunday, March 13, 2016 Airlie Beach, Australia Arrive Early Morning Tende

Monday, March 14, 2016 At Sea

Tuesday, March 15, 2016 At Sea

Wednesday, March 16, 2016 At Sea

Thursday, March 17, 2016 Darwin, Australia Arrive Early Morning Depart Earl

Will

Archaeologygig - Many thanks

So it looks as though QV will be doing a round trip from Sydney in 2016 going round Tasmania. Sounds interesting. The Adelaide schedule now shows Hobart as the previous port, so not sure which Kangaroo island (off Tasmania or off Adelaide) that is being referred to. Maybe just a sail by as it is a fair distance to Adelaide from Hobart.

29 Feb 2016 - Sydney

2 March - Hobart

? March - Kangaroo Island , Tasmania or is the one near Adelaide - a sail by ?

4 March - Adelaide

6 March - Melbourne

8 March - Sydney

Will

Not sure if you have seen this, but the following link shows the views from obstructed view staterooms on QM2 (there is similar info for the other two ships). https://ask.cunard.com/help/cunard/fleet/qm2_obs

For some reason the view from 8096 is missing but you may be able to deduce the view from the adjoining rooms. The view is also likely to be similar to that for 8068 and 8078 which are shown. However as there is a lifeboat rather than tender on the left hand side in 8096, there may be a slightly more open view.

Hope this helps.

Will

SEFlyer - Glad you found this information useful and thanks for the comments. As you say it will be interesting to see the actual full schedules when they are announced shortly. Hopefully there will be some surprises and new ports in the itineraries rather than just a repeat of previous years. I am hoping that it will be possible to do a USA West Coast trip to Australia and New Zealand and then back as this is currently what my wife and I are aiming to book for 2016. However a round South America trip will be very tempting and we do love QM2. It will be good if we are spoilt for choice !

Thanks, Will.

SEFlyer, the 2016 World Cruise schedules should be announced around 25th August (based on last year) with actual sales starting in first week of September.

Following on from Auscruiser84's information about Sydney, I did some more searching online for port schedules and this is what I have pieced together. I also assumed that the end date in January 2016 of the last cruise currently announced is the start date for the World Cruises.

Queen Mary 2

10 Jan - Southampton

10 March - Sydney

11 March - Sydney

16 March - Cairns

29 March - Hong Kong

Queen Elizabeth

6 Jan - Southampton

12 Feb - Freemantle (Perth)

16 Feb - Adelaide

18 Feb - Melbourne

20 Feb - Sydney

21 Feb - Sydney

26 Feb - Cairns

Queen Victoria

3 Jan - Southampton

29 Feb - Sydney

4 March - Adelaide

6 March - Melbourne

8 March - Sydney

9 March - Sydney

17 March - Darwin

Based on this information, and looking at the sailing times to Australia/order of ports I am guessing the routes are:

QM2 is going round South America, across the Pacific to New Zealand and then Australia and then back via the Far East (ie Singapore/Dubai). The ship is taking 2 months to arrive in Sydney, so this seems plausible.

QE is going to Cape Town via Madeira/Walvis Bay and then across to Australia. It them may be going back across the Pacific to Los Angeles/San Francisco and via the Panama Canal home. It could be going back via the Far East , but no mention in Hong Kong port schedule.

QV is going across the Atlantic/Panama Canal and then across the Pacific to New Zealand/Australia and then back either by the Pacific or more likely the Far East to the UK. Again no mention in Hong Kong port schedule so maybe the Pacific route is more likely.

I couldn't find any more 2016 port schedule information for N America/Asia/Middle East to verify my speculated routes. I am also assuming that even if the new Panama Canal is open in Jan 2016 as currently projected, QM2 will not be able to pass through on the return due to the height of the Bridge of the Americas.

Obviously this is pure speculation and we will know for certain in the next few weeks. We are planning a retirement half world cruise in 2016 hence my interest in this.

Will

I couldn't agree more as the smell of sewage in the photo gallery was pretty disgusting when we were last on QM2 in April/May this year. I am sure that this must affect photo sales as you don't really want to search for your photos with that smell around!

We also noticed this same smell in some other parts of this ship on occasions such as the main corridor outside the MDR on deck 2.

Interestingly, the exact same smell was noticeable on QE a couple of years ago outside the Queens Room and this was explained as being due to a leak in the plumbing.

I received the same response from Cunard UK today that no decision had been made regarding QM2 and Safaga. In fact they didn't seem to know about QE. However they confirmed that P&O Adonia had cancelled Safaga so it was certain that Cunard would do likewise.

It certainly be helpful if Cunard issued an official notification soon to hopefully confirm Aqaba

Jim

I can confirm that you can now walk all the way round the promenade deck on Queen Victoria just like Queen Elizabeth.

Runners - Many thanks.

I'll update based on our experience of the trip starting this Friday.

William

Hello one and all!

 

 

A NEW CONTROVERSY OVER PARTIES: This needs to be said: As I noted I have sailed with Cunard many times and am at a DIAMOND level. On every previous voyage I have recieved an invitation to the World Club Party and the SENIOR OFFICERS PARTY even when on board for connecting voyages. NOT SO THIS VOYAGE!!! I received an invitation to the World Club party and Senior Officers party for the Eastbound sailing and a World Club party but not the Senior Officers party for the westbound which I found to be very odd. When I inquired, I was told those on the connecting voyages would only be going to one Senior Officers affair. When I softly complained, did find an invitation in my cabin. BUt why should I have to complain? Of course, I realize this change was initiated to cut costs but at what loss?

DECK CHAIR

Does anyone know if this restriction still continues ? We are just about to embark on a 3 segment QM2 voyage and wonder if we will be invited to 1 or 3 rounds of World Club and Senior Officers parties ?

Many Thanks

William