2BACRUISER

Love glass shower door and USB points they do listen lol 😆 Skinny wardrobes hmm 😒 🤔🤔 otherwise pretty much what you'd expect. 👍😊

Thought she looked fab loved 😍 the pirouette 🍾🥂⛴️

We actually spent a day in Livorno itself as we've done Tuscany to death. We took a canal boat tour, then visited the fish and indoor markets, we went to the park. We did use the ho-ho bus which took us up to the finicular tram. Away from the commercial port Livorno sea front is paved in black and white squares and quite pretty. HTH

Ditto no cruise companies in the UK sell cruise via chat. Sorry but think you've ben ripped. I suggest you get in touch with your bank if you paid by debit card (in which case you probably wont have any protection or come back) or credit card company if you used one who will put a block on payment and chase the sods. If its too cheap its too good to be true think twice do more research. DO NOT SEND THEM ANY MONEY. HTH

Haven't done any cruises with friends or family but have done two with "friends" the first was a villa share and we were the youngest couple of 3 couples and were literally abandoned by the other 2 from day one though we did have a couple meals at night together when they remembered we were with them lol 😆 the second time was better we did our own thing during the day and met up at night to go eat. We are happy as a couple and our own company but chat and mingle with others as required on cruises especially when tables for two are like four inches apart in the mdr lol 😆

Insurance works very differently in the US to here in the UK, you basically can't get on a cruise ship without insurance "All UK guests must have cruise specific insurance which included medical and repatriation coverage for 2 million GBP. You will be asked to confirm you have travel insurance and may need to provide proof or you may be denied boarding at your own expense" This is from specifically Cunard but most cruises booked in the UK specify this.

Not Alaska but what I wore on QV to the Norwegian Fjords similar weather cold and rainy https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/2876076-a-cunard-cruise-what-i-wore/?do=findComment&comment=63824857

This what my DH did on QV and on gala nights he wore his dark suit with a dickie bow tie one night and a business tie the other. Hth

Olbia Sardinia Italy 2019 we were on Marella Explorer 2

You would think they could put a bit more effort and imagination into the ports of call, same old same old could have been cape Verde, madeira, morrocco etc 😴

Lots of info on Cruise Fashion and beauty page Cruise Fashions & Beauty - Cruise Critic Community about Alaska wear. Most ships are fairly casual during the day and business casual at night baring Cunard who still have formal and smart attire nights. hth

On the day we are scheduled to be in Juneau in 2025 there are 6 ships due in at the same time 🙄🙈🤔 looks like will need to get excursions sorted out pdq with all those peeps descending on it.

The day we are scheduled in Juneau there are 6 ships due in 🙄🙈 in that case is it preferable to do a ships excursion or just get a private one booked early. Probably looking at either whale watching or dog sled camp 🤔

We are looking to book Virgin for our Alaska cruise out of Seattle June 2025 as they offer direct flights from London, is it best to book as soon as they are available for best price or wait a bit, ive been watching the same dates for 2024 and to me it looks like they get more expensive as you get nearer departure date? we'd be looking to book Economy Delight or possible Premium (business) if we can get a good deal. thanks in advance 🙂

We have,Alaska booked for next year and I pretty much plan to take what I took on our QV trip to the Fjords though slightly pared down due to luggage weight restrictions. I have crepe navy dress and some black silky evening pants that will dress up with blingy tops that will be for smart attire nights. I'm sure you'll be fine. There's lots of Alaska attire suggestions on the fashion board in cruise discussion forum hth

This was on their face cloth page. 😊 "It’s less than one month until Queen Anne’s momentous inaugural season, including her sold-out maiden voyage sailing on 3 May, and the official naming ceremony in Liverpool on 3 June. On Monday 3 June, all eyes will be on Liverpool Pier Head, which will be alive with activity in the lead up to a dazzling naming ceremony set to start from 4pm. Emma and Matt Willis will host this incredible event, and we’re proud to announce that they will be joined by Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, with a unique, one-of-a-kind celebratory performance. Later in the evening we’ll be keeping the celebrations going as we’re joined by more special guests, leading up to what’s likely to be one of Queen Anne’s biggest sail away parties ever. Special guests for the voyage itself include legendary musician Midge Ure and West End and Broadway star Rachel Tucker, who will be performing live. Whilst former World Champion boxer Frank Bruno and Olivier award-winning actress Celia Imrie will be hosting captivating Insight talks. If you are not able to join us in Liverpool, be sure to follow our social channels for exciting updates!"

I believe Cunards Queen Elizabeth is to be home ported in Miami winter 24/25 to do Caribbean sailings this is due to the New Zealand banning of cruise ships where she would normally before winter.

A lot depends on whether you are going West to East or East to west? Layers is the name of the game there's no such thing as bad weather only bad clothing choices so go prepared for all eventualities. Regardless of where we're going we always pack a light wind/rain mac being Brits we're used to 4 seasons in one day lol 😆

This is exactly what our OBC is used for our next 11nt trip.in Brittania works out at $29 a day for 2 of us so we got $330 each OBC so one lot of it will cover gratuities and the rest go towards our drinks bill cheers 🥂🍾

Didn't get an email but saw it on face cloth and agree tad pretentious a buffet is a buffet lol 😆

I just wish they'd stop sending advertisement emails almost everyday and answer a question i asked on their website contact page on Monday!!

all very well if youve got the time and inclination to put it all together, going on holiday for us is akin to a military operation due to work, caring responsibilities, animals etc and having to do all that work building a holiday just adds to it so Marella for us ticks all the boxes for convenience and that for us is the deal maker.

it dOes but its a balcony wouldnt be caught dead in an inside but as i said it called choice and it depends what you want nd what you are prepared to pay for it. .

Price like food is always subjective. Its depends on your outlook. We are going with Marella end of May for 7nts cost £3498 for 2 of us and yep it stung a bit £££😲 as we could have done 11nts with another cruiseline for the same money but when we factored in having to schlep to Southampton the day before a hotel and parking plus diesel from northern England and drinks to pay for the marella price from.our local airport wasn't so bad. If you think it's a good price go for it, it's only a deposit now anyway and if u find something better so long as you cancel.before 90 days you get your deposit back.

Here in the UK there are quite a lot of specialist cruise TAs and a lot of people use them and swear by them. So far we have always booked direct as we feel more in control and we saw when covid appeared that the cruise lines looked after their own clients whilst those who had booked thro TAs were pretty much left to fend for themselves having to get in touch with their TAs as their contract was with the TA not the cruiseline. As someone mentioned it depends how much confidence you have in DIY and I find it's mainly first timers who use TAs.