hihilo

I've seen VERY few children on any of the QUEENs in the last 5-6 yrs during my 1-2 sailings per year. Although, none of these were summer sailings.

Overall, I'd have to say CUNARD is the least interesting ship for children that I can imagine.

I've sailed on Royal Caribbean with gr-children and they are F A R more oriented to kids.... climbing wall, miniature golf, basketball/ tennis courts, many more kids on board so the youth clubs have far more to offer.

Various other lines have awesome water slides /pool/ water tunnels.... things kids are crazy about.

Bottom line, I feel CUNARD is divine for adults, but not so much for kids.

Spoke to them, today, and the wait was the longest I've ever experienced, about 20 min. But the agent was AMAZING when we did speak, and she spent a lot of time with me, ironing out the details & logistics of my upcoming 1/2 of the w/c ~~~next Feb>>April on QV.

She broke down various segments / options / stateroom choices / dinner seating preference, & re-confirmed all my data etc.

The configuration that worked out best, was 3 different segments for the 59 days, and I received the e mail statements for the first 2, while we were still discussing the third. That's F AS T & Efficient!

SUMMERGEE,

I think it was very well mannered and polite for your son to write the note, requesting a tour of some sort, ( for what he was interested in --sound + lighting).

Its inexcusable that no reply was sent to him. I think one answer - from, PORT ROYAL was WAAAAAY off base..... your son didn't have the $$$, I am sure, to book the behind the scenes tour, which is not cheap. And, he wasn't interested in ALL of that.

I hope this rude slight / being ignored / won't discourage him from reaching out, in a similar manner, in the future.

My " best deal" was on my first T/A in Nov of '16. Eastbound ( 7 days ) was $1117 for a balcony with me as the solo occupant. The return, Westbound, that trip, was $1317 for a different stateroom, still a balcony, with me as the solo occupant.

Could not " score" such a deal, on the Nov. '17 T/A ( 14 days crossing ) so my travel buddy & I shared a balcony stateroom.

I have had only prompt and courteous and totally helpful service the many MANY times I have called CUNARD in the USA.

Having done many MANY ( happy ) days/ nights on all 3 QUEENS, and being a regular laundry user..... I'm pleased to report

(a) its never crowded at 6 pm-ish

(b) I've never seen any fights or unpleasant behavior from the ( very ) few users around, 6-7 pm-ish.

I never want to WASTE time sitting in any restaurant or café while on a day-tour....so we throw a few slices of cheese on some bread in the kings court in the AM ( @ brkfst) --- throw it in the back pack.....and we are OK for lunch. Before anyone tosses out the idea this is ""CHEAP"".... no-- its for time saving.

On various cruises on QM2... over the past few years--- I often pop into the Commodore Club at various times of the day / afternoon to enjoy the comfortable seating and the great forward views . Its always 90 % empty...….and around 5 pm I'm aware the "Dorothy" group assembles. A tiny portion is occupied...… they smile / wave "hi" and I sit near the windows. Trying to figure out why poster # 1 is feeling stressed over this. ???????????????

As far as "" there are smokers out there" newmexicoNita # 783~~~ I think it depends a L O T on which cruise line you choose to use..... One of the reasons I only sail with CUNARD is that so few smoke. It costs more, its more elegant, and its absolutely worth it if you like clean air to breathe.

~~~~As I posted on similar thread... all of us who live on the Big island are amazed at the thinking of the "Corporate" offices of NCL that they chose to eliminate Kona + Hilo, at all.... from the very start of the eruption. As sad and traumatic as the event is.... ..due to the lava flows, eruption..... ITS ONLY ONE PERCENT OF THE WHOLE ISLAND.

The rest of the island is fine, and functioning "" as usual"". There's tons and tons to do and see and enjoy. Hawaii Volcanoes Natl Park is closed, and that is unfortunate, but no one will lack for enough to do, on your 1 day in each city.

For the pitiful souls, who only leave the ship to take the bus to Wal*Mat and Target...... that service will be flowing well and often.

majortom10 I think you are probably 100 % correct. It gives passengers the " feel" that their opinion counts, but changes are made ( or not ) based on what "C" wanted to do in the first place.

I've loved all my "Q" experiences and sailings, and can't wait for the next one.

We, who live on the Big Island have been beyond perplexed from DAY 1 as to why the cruise ships management / head honchos have made the decision NOT to come to either Kona or Hilo. As sad as the volcano destruction is, its ONE PERCENT OF THE ISLAND THAT IS AFFECTED.

Everything else is fine and comfortable and we are all living life as usual.

We hear POA is returning this TUE, 6/12 and I expect all visitors will have a lovely experience. Hawaii Volcanoes Natl Park is closed, and that is regrettable, but there's tons of other interesting things to do and see, ( and for the pitiful souls who ONLY take the bus to Wal*mart + Target....... yes that's running without a hitch. )

rm3 THKS Loved your photos ! Brings back lovely memories of a few T/A on the QM2.

Never could understand why anyone would NOT be out on deck watching / enjoying it all ~~~~~~~but I hear frequent comments on here... "" don't want to be late to dinner"....... ahhhh wellll.... to each his own. !

durante is correct.......

we were on QM2 from Hong Kong, ( 3/31/18) till Southampton ( 5/10/18) and as we choose NOT to go ashore at the ONE Indian port.... we did not need a visa.

Two years previously, on QE we did need the visa -- for the 2 Indian ports---and it was might expensive.

Both cases....previous to both cruises, there were tons and tons of misinformation and confusion on the subject and CUNARD should be ashamed of themselves for making it sooooooo complicated and convoluted.

Sailed 1/2 of the world cruise on QM2, starting in Hong Kong, 3/31/18 and ending in Southampton 5/10/18... so with this recent experience... here Goes..... drinks are so watered down, and expensive that we hardly drank at all. We were pleased with both the Kings Court food(s) and also Britannia foods ( early seating.) We found the attitudes of the staff to be consistently very friendly + kindly.

walksonwater..... on the QM2 in april '18, we visited a local winery not too far from Civitavecchia. It was a ship sponsored tour, and quite pleasant. I would N E V E R do a trip to Rome when the ship was leaving the same day ( evening). That's just TOOOOO risky, with crazy Rome-traffic and unpredictable trains.

2 yrs ago, on QE we had an overnight at the port of Civit. + we went into Rome, on our own, and stayed the night in Rome at a hotel, therefore had almost 2 days in the city.

Whatever you do---- ENJOY!

I'm fascinated by the news of the treasured items from QE being ''shipped'' via QM2 >>> Dubai.

We'll be boarding QM2 in HK on 3/31..... I'm wondering what sorts of ceremonies/ display/ information/viewing

may be afforded?? Although-- your post does say " packed and shipped " so maybe it'll be a great big nothing for QM2 passengers ( many of whom may not know a snippet of all this.)

sppunk--- my experience on QM2 ( 2 14-day T/A crossings ) is that the dogs in the kennel are kept in that area, their owners can visit them, but its not open to friendly and interested passengers, who may want to just ' drop in'. I never saw any of the kennel dogs '' out and about'' for a walk of any sort. Their exercise area is behind a gate.

Its all about having choices that are right for YOU. Another persons aversion to a country ( for whatever reason) has no impact on me, at all. Thank goodness I visited Turkey several times, and LOVED it, before the safety issues became alarming, and I think no cruise ships go there, now. Ditto Russia + St.Petersburg.......I've been there and enjoyed it, but it does seem many volatile issues will soon result in it being a *thing of the past* as far as cruise itineraries.

You can very easily and comfortably eat at the buffet on "formal" nights. People dress nicely in the buffet ( no jeans and tank tops in the evenings.) But certainly formal wear is N O T required there. I've done a few 1/2 W/C's on QV and QE and T/A several times on QM2 and this works for me. On non-formal nights, the clothing your describe will be fine for the dining room.

Y E S you will get a T O N of feedback on this subject.

Your trip will be lovely, you will become an addict of the "Q's" and the dogs will be in heaven and SUPER well cared for.

Roscoe... enjoyed it greatly---- thks ! Are you back on the QM2 for the last 1/2 of the W/C ? If so, see you then, as we board 3/31 in Hong Kong.

Cats2010 Yes.... agree 100 %. Quite often, I find----Folks tend to want to blame ' others' when things go wrong in their lives... if they get sick--- it someone elses fault.

Well, I certainly wish you and your family well. I think CUNARD is the very last cruise line I would choose if I were travelling with children. I've done a number of QE QV and QM2 trips and L O V E D them all. But I do not travel with kids. Very few kids are on "Q" ships. Maybe the summer is very different. If so----- others will point this out.

Again--- I wish you and your family the best.

There are 3 different issues getting mixed up, here. Responsible owners who want their dogs transported across the Atlantic, pay a ( I think, very large ) fare for them to travel in the kennels. I am sure those dogs DO NOT leave the kennels. The owners go up there to visit them, and walk them in the special area.

Then there are the so-called C O M F O R T D O G S with their Wal*Mart purchased "vests" who stay in the cabin with the owner, and go everywhere, and pee at will.

Then there are the genuine service dogs who are extensively trained for their duties and are WELL BEHAVED and never soil in the wrong places, and are not barking at all, and they are with the owners at all times.

I'm not sure if the O P made clear, the dogs on the QM2 are in the kennels 100 % of the time. They are N E V E R out and about. Their owners can go visit them, walk them in the ' special' area, and attendants are there to manage them, 24/7, but these fur-balls do not mingle with the passengers, ever.