luckymal

On 3/16/2019 at 8:11 PM, Elephant1151 said:

We have annual insurance with a bank account which covers us for trips up to 45 days. I have a pre existing condition which  is not covered with our insurance but is controlled with the medication and I am content with that. We shall continue with this insurance as it covers my husband until he is 80.

 

Last year we took out additional insurance for Around South America 75 days with cruise cover and excluding my medical condition at £525 which was reasonable.

 

I am looking to insure for the same trip next year 78 nights and quotes are coming in at £1050 and more with medical exclusion but with cruise cover. I know we are one year older but cannot understand the hike in premiums.

 

We are UK residents and would welcome any advice.

 

 

Even if you are not covered by your controlled condition, I think you should inform your 

Insurance Company about them.  Sorry to say the increase in your premium will only get more each year, why we are all one year nearer to meet our maker?  🍷🥃

3 hours ago, Jack E Dawson said:

This is very interesting to hear about trip insurance through one's bank. Is that aUK thing or is this available in the US? I don't recall hearing about it from my bank.

 

Thanks

Jack

Quite common for some Banks in England to give free Holiday Insurance for people who have Current Accounts with them.🍷🥃

20 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

I believe the costs of Indian visas are reciprocal. It is very expensive and complicated for Indians who want U.K. Visas, so the reverse applies. And why not? 

, 

I can understand why people want to come to Britain from Asia, but I can not understand why the cost of a visa to India is so expensive, people are going to India are mainly going for a holiday and spend money which would help there economy, not wanting to settle down there.🍷🥃

22 minutes ago, bluemarble said:

 

Almost all the fares offered in the US would be considered equivalent to the UK Cunard fare in terms of providing a confirmed selection of seating time and presumably priority over those that have chosen UK Saver Fares for requested table size.

 

This is not well known, but one exception I know of in the US is something Cunard introduced a couple years ago called Value Fares that are available for a few months after new itineraries are announced. Those Value Fares in the US are similar to Saver Fares in the UK in that they do not offer the choice of a specific cabin and the selections of both the dining time and table size are on a request basis only.

 

The latest round of Value Fares was introduced in the US along with the release of the summer 2020 itineraries in September 2018. Last year those fares expired February 28, but this year it looks like they are being extended through April 30 on certain 2020 voyages.

 

But since the OP indicated they are guaranteed on second seating, that's a good clue they have booked a standard fare in the US and that does improve their chances of receiving their requested table size.

Thank you for the information.

One  thing I cannot understand,  why the difference in booking conditions in Australia, America and Britain.🍷🥃

On 3/9/2019 at 3:26 PM, jimdee3636 said:

My wife and I have booked a 21-night roundtrip from New York on the QM2 for this summer (July 7-28). Although we are experienced cruisers, it will be our first time on a Cunard ship. We have a guaranteed late dinner seating in the Britannia dining room. We have requested a table for two for all nights, but neither we nor our travel agent can get a definitive answer as to whether a table for two can be guaranteed (in writing) in advance, or whether we have to wait until the first day of the cruise and ask the maitre d' (with no assurance the request can be accommodated). This is a major issue for us, and we may cancel the booking if we have to eat each night with a table of strangers. Any information from prior QM2 guests with experience in this matter will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I am not sure if you have the SAVER FARE in America, but if you have paid the full Cunard fare I am almost certain you will get your table for two if not, it can be good fun sharing a table, we have had many a good laughs and conversations, the only downside on sharing if some of your fellow travellers go for pre dinner cocktails and do not bother if you are kept waiting, to me that’s rude and bad manners.

Also I think you will love Q M 2 it is so different than any other cruise ship you will have sailed on, we have found the staff great, and for us it is the only ship to cross the Atlantic on

Looking foward to your post cruise follow up.🍷🥃

I am amazed how long it has taken for the press to get hold of this story, to me it tells you how serious it  was. The lawyer/solicitor who is taking action against Cunard, is making a mountain out of a mole hill. These things happen in real life, I wonder if a fuse as blown In her home or what about a bulb packing up, would she contemplate taking action against the company who supplied the electricity. 

If I was Cunard I would BIN IT or give then $5 o.b.c. If they sail with Cunard again,

Perhaps it would be a good idea to make a film  “Pirates help the QM2 to break down in the Carib”

Theonly thing I hope she gets is a acknowledgement from Cunard.🍷🥃

1 hour ago, MarkBearSF said:

According to posters on other social media, the complainants were "known" throughout the ship long before the incident and, if they had the drinks package would likely have needed  to pay extra for exceeding the daily maximum.

If true, who needs these type of passengers?🍷🥃

1 hour ago, thinfool said:

She should read her cruise contract when it comes to lawsuits.

Out of curiosity, would the lady have been American?

No doubt she will not travel with Cunard again, lucky Cunard.🍷🥃

On 2/24/2019 at 4:29 PM, Elephant1151 said:

The wardrobe space might be rather limited  for 3 adults depending on which ship you are travelling. The best cabins for 3 adults are the deluxe insides on QE and QV as they offer more room space than the balcony cabins  as they are square not rectangular.  The third bed can either be a sofa bed or come down from the ceiling at night.

 

 

I am in complete agreement over wardrobe space, we nearly always have a inside cabin, but many times we find it a struggle with the space we have.🍷🥃

21 hours ago, ew101 said:

I was studying the recent "Special Value Selection" flyer that came in the mail.  Pages 12 and 13 had the "Full World Voyages."  I was struck at how few places the ships actually stop.  So for Africa, you get South Africa and Namibia.  That's it.  I understand you could encounter crime, poverty, malaria and even Ebola, but Morocco is on my bucket list.  Taking a shore excursion to Marrakech involves meeting rich people mostly I think.   The Financial Times had a recent section talking about resort and golf course development there.  I have students in my class this semester from seven different African countries and they do not seem menacing.    I see the ship does not stop in India.  Remember POSH?  Nor Turkey.  I get the whole passenger safety thing.  And the problem of people being disappointed and demanding refunds on Twitter if you have to cancel a port.   In contrast, the South America voyages, like V003B, seem to stop absolutely everywhere.  

 

I see some smaller, upstart lines in this same market segment being more edgy on ports.  Even a tiny bit.  This all reminds me of those bus tours where you drive by all the major sights- but in this case at high speed and with the shades pulled down.  

Times have changed,  a World Cruise now with Cunard. Is so different than a few years ago, our last world trip we called at ports on the East and West coast of India. Now the three Cunard ships seem to cover a certain area.🍷🥃

We have American friends who travel regularly on the QM2 to England then transfer to the QV or QE for a trips into Europe and then sail back home  to America on the QM2,  what the lady likes about these sort of trips, she loves to bring one case of shoes and not having to worry about  the weight if they had flown.🍷🥃

5 minutes ago, Underwatr said:

 

I solve most of those issues by not booking in Grills.

Brill reply, Most expensive not always the best.🍷🥃

8 hours ago, mostlylurker said:

My husband and I have sailed on princess, celebrity, Royal Caribbean, norwegian and..ahem Carnival. We're looking at QM2 trip. Its so hard to get a feel for what Cunard and The Queen Mary are like. Can someone perhaps offer some insight. If it helps, in comparison and contrast to these other lines.  Thanks so much in advance to anyone who can assist.

I always think Princess and even more so Royal Caribbean are funships, On Cunard you will not have a big screen blasting out all day, fewer children on ship, and the children on ship are well looked after by trained staff. And yes Cunard IS more formal, but only after 6.00pm. If you travel on the QueenMary 2  I do not think for one minute you would be disappointed.🥃🍷

17 hours ago, Jack E Dawson said:

Luckymal, I take you at your word that your comments are based on fairness. I also understand your logic; if those people who bring their own spirits onboard instead drank in the bars and restaurants, the added volume of business might result in lower prices by Cunard. However, to your point let me make a few comments.

1. This is a hard number to quantify, but I would bet that less than 10% of the passengers bring on more than one bottle each of wine or spirits. 

2. In comparison to any fine restaurant or hotel bar, Cunard's spirit/wine prices are competitive. I doubt that even if carry-on restrictions were imposed and unit sales went up that Cunard prices would go down. Why would they do that instead of making their stockholders happy.

3. Allowing passengers to bring on spirits and wine generates a lot of good will for Cunard. In comparison, just look look at what the airlines are doing. In both cases, once you step on board you become a captive audience. The airlines have chosen to hit their passengers with never ending fees. I really appreciate Cunard's attitude and try to show it by being a loyal customer.

 

I guess my wife and I are two of those people that PORT ROYAL refers to as Cheapos and would like to see "blocked". He's probably right about me but my wife is a really nice person and I wish he wouldn't say that about her. On our last crossing we brought on board three bottles each, a mix of wine and champagne. It was very easy to do. We bought the wine at the wine store two blocks from the Cunard bus terminal in London before boarding the bus and slipped them into our bags. A transAtlantic crossing on the QM2 is very special for us. One of our favorite things to do is take an hour and a half or more to dress for formal nights and enjoy a bottle of wine while doing so. We also enjoy a glass or two of champagne while dressing for the non-formal nights. We are retired and live on a budget. If we had to buy these six bottles of wine/champagne on board, we probably wouldn't. Even with bringing our own liquor on board, we still drink in the restaurants and bars. Typically we each have a pint of London Pride with lunch at the Golden Lion. There is always a drink while dancing in the evening and usually a nightcap in the Commodore's Club. 

Can any cruiser tell me if you can take drink on American cruises when starting in America? I personally have no idea.

On 2/9/2019 at 6:28 PM, BigMac1953 said:

Bring on board as much as you like.

 

We usually take 6 bottles of champagne.

 

Top up at the ports if necessary without any problems.

 

Stewart

I think it is about time Cunard fell in line with other Carnival ships, and stopped passengers taking drink on board, I can not understand why people want to lugg around bottles of drink. Yes I do have a drink in the bars, and true they are not cheap, but while passengers are bring their  own drink on board  prices will never drop. It amazes me, people spend thousands of pounds, dollars or whatever on a cruise for the sake of trying to save  a few pounds etc. If you Could buy drink in the duty free shop to drink on board, that would not work,the profit would go to Harding Bros Ltd, who run the shops.

I do not doubt  for one minute that this comment will be poplar, but I do think it would fair.😇🥃🍷

We was give a upgrade, only found.out when checking in.🙄

I suppose we all have different opinions on what we think is or not smart?

During the day anything seems to be o.k. Evenings, I think apart from trainers and sandals,   Flat or high fine. Just enjoy the experience I think most women enjoy being dress up and they look good, and the men,some may not enjoy, but at they  look like they have made an effort. What I like about the dress code all us men look like penguins.😉

1 hour ago, newjoisey said:

we put on a little less than 5 pounds each ........whatever that is in DR who measurements 

If you both enjoyed the cruise who cares?

15 hours ago, cougaraz said:

29 December is St. Maarten

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 

After all thos greats meals, did the waist line suffer?😉

14 hours ago, Jack E Dawson said:

You can pretty much bring on as much of any type of liquor as you want. We typically bring on 6 bottles of wine and a fifth of Gentleman Jack Daniels for a transatlantic crossing. I know that sounds like a lot and I'd like to tell you that we do a lot of sharing but we don't. Feel free to judge

I wonder how the people who bring bottles of spirits and wine on board would feel it they ran a Restaurant or Bar would  feel if customer brought their own drink in?

12 hours ago, Neuhoftraveler said:

This thread may already have died of its own weight, but I'm pleased to report that on our 15-22 December QM2 westbound crossing, we had no difficulty carrying on 7 assorted wine bottles in an innocent-appearing carry-on shoulder tote bag.  At dinner on the first night we turned them all over to our wine steward.  Each night we "ordered" our chosen wine when giving our food order, except that on the nights we wanted one of our white wines we asked at lunch for the wine to be chilled before dinner.  All requests were cheerfully complied with.  Corkage was $20 per bottle.

 

To those who ask, "Why bother?" -- The quality of the wine we brought on board was far superior to anything on the wine list at the same price point (c. $50 including corkage), and would have cost hundreds of dollars each night for the Cunard-supplied equivalent.

If Cunard management read these postings, I wonder if they think how much money they are missing out on, an  odd bottle

or two  yes, but surely there must be limits?

You both have sent fantastic reports while on this cruise, having cruised quite a lot with Cunard myself, Ican close my eyes and visualise the parts of the ship you are in and enjoy. That was a true statement when you mentioned about the free Champagne, *You get what you pay for*. I hope Cunard have given you some FREE time on the internet, for the good P.R. You have done with these comments. I would think your journey is almost over so once again THANK YOU and have a great New Year.🍷😂😂

2 hours ago, Captain-John said:

When we go back, I really don't know what St Petersburg tour to do. All the other ports we managed to DIY. I think the only things we missed the last time in St Petes was the Faberge museum and a canal trip - but it's unlikely there will be a tour just waiting for me that sweeps up all the things we didn't see last time round.

 

Do you always take the same tour in SPB or have they been sufficiently different each time to keep you interested?

I find with Cunard you have a fair choice, but I would assume all other cruise lines do the same tours. I fear what if we did arrive back to late, what would the cost be, to get back on ship. On one of the world cruises we did one couple got back to the ship to late and it took them three flights to get back on ship due to bad weather at other ports we should have called at. The only time we have done our own travel is when going to Rome from Civitavecchia.🙄

Thanks again for promt reply. We are going to the Baltic at the end of May, this will be our 4 trip to the Baltic, we have always gone on the  Cunard organised trips no complaints, but they are not cheap.🙄