QM2 Quebec to NYC: Quebec Overnight

[sonoma03]

I am considering booking my first Cunard cruise on the QM2 7-night sailing from Quebec City to NYC.  The itinerary starts in Quebec City with an overnight there before sailing away on day 2.  I was wondering how this works.  Do we go through the usual embarkation formalities on day 1, drop off our luggage, and get off the ship again to enjoy the city for the rest of the day before returning in the evening for dinner and other activities, essentially treating the ship like a hotel?  When would we be able to embark?  On most of my past cruises I usually show up before 11 am and I'm usually on board by noon.  Since we don't sail away until day 2, when do they do the muster drill?

[princeton123211]

5 minutes ago, sonoma03 said:

Do we go through the usual embarkation formalities on day 1, drop off our luggage, and get off the ship again to enjoy the city for the rest of the day before returning in the evening for dinner and other activities, essentially treating the ship like a hotel? 

Yes- you board at the time Cunard asks you to. Drop off your luggage like normal. On trips like these we've been on you might want to either check larger items you may have normally carried on in case the stateroom isn't ready on embarkation and you would like to get right off the ship to go back into Quebec. The ship functions as a floating hotel your first night. 

5 minutes ago, sonoma03 said:

When would we be able to embark?

It usually follows the normal times. There will be a lot of in transit passengers staying on so its not quite as hectic as say a transatlantic where most people turn over. 

5 minutes ago, sonoma03 said:

On most of my past cruises I usually show up before 11 am and I'm usually on board by noon.  Since we don't sail away until day 2, when do they do the muster drill?

The drill is usually about 30 minutes prior to departure although its at the discretion of the master. They try not to eat into your time ashore so it wouldn't be on the first day. 

[sonoma03]

Thanks princeton123211!

[Underwatr]

25 minutes ago, princeton123211 said:

in case the stateroom isn't ready on embarkation

I can't speak in absolutes of course, but as a general rule (14 voyages) Cunard staterooms are available at embarkation.

[princeton123211]

2 minutes ago, Underwatr said:

I can't speak in absolutes of course, but as a general rule (14 voyages) Cunard staterooms are available at embarkation.

Thats been my experience too but at the same time on a trip like this I wouldn't want a big backpack or something to hold onto all day if it wasn't and I wanted to get back into Quebec as soon as possible. 

[navybankerteacher]

You’ve gotten some good advice. The only thing I’d add is the suggestion that you get up to Quebec at least one day before boarding. It is a lovely old city, worth the time. Just make sure you book your hotel in the old city (inside the w@lls).

[Canuker]

Endorsing navybackerteacher.
In some ways, Quebec City (confusingly often just called 'Quebec') is, visually, more French than France, since it did not suffer the wholesale destruction of multiple world wars. So architecturally, it is somewhat unique - and very old, at least by North American standards. Be sure to look up as you stroll.
La langue c'est très francais et tout le monde la parle là.
In the tourist areas you should be fine with english but do try to make an effort to speak, even if only the tiniest amount, of french. It goes a long way, as they appreciate your effort to be a 'local' quand vous êtes chez ils.
And you'll feel much more at home there too.

Alors, bon voyage.

[sonoma03]

Merci beaucoup a tout le monde!  😊

[PRIORY ROAD]

 

From memory when we did this trip 2016 (roundtrip Southampton), those disembarking in Quebec got off the ship on the 2nd day enabling them to have a day in Quebec and overnight on the ship before disembarking.  therefore those embarking did so on day 2 before we departed.  

[sonoma03]

10 minutes ago, PRIORY ROAD said:

 

From memory when we did this trip 2016 (roundtrip Southampton), those disembarking in Quebec got off the ship on the 2nd day enabling them to have a day in Quebec and overnight on the ship before disembarking.  therefore those embarking did so on day 2 before we departed.  

 

The cruise from Quebec City to NYC that I'm considering is the second  half of a 14-day round-trip cruise that starts the week before from NYC to Quebec City, so in this case, the ship arrives in Quebec City the day before my cruise starts for their overnight.  Those who are doing the NYC to Quebec City portion only will disembark the same morning when we embark, so only those staying on for the back-to-back will be there by the time we embark.

[david,Mississauga]

21 hours ago, sonoma03 said:

I am considering booking my first Cunard cruise on the QM2 7-night sailing from Quebec City to NYC.  The itinerary starts in Quebec City with an overnight there before sailing away on day 2.  I was wondering how this works.  Do we go through the usual embarkation formalities on day 1, drop off our luggage, and get off the ship again to enjoy the city for the rest of the day before returning in the evening for dinner and other activities, essentially treating the ship like a hotel?  When would we be able to embark?  On most of my past cruises I usually show up before 11 am and I'm usually on board by noon.  Since we don't sail away until day 2, when do they do the muster drill?

 

We have embarked twice in Québec City: in 2016 and 2017.  The priority embarkation time we were given was 12:30.  We decided to embark later than that, approximately 2:30 p.m. both times. On each occasion there was no waiting at all. Porters took our two suitcases from the taxi, we proceeded up the escalator (there is also a lift) to the security area and after that a number of check-in clerks waved us forward as if to say: "Please choose me."

 

I have some of the daily programmes. Muster drill took place at 5:00 p.m. of the embarkation day - not the sailing day - on the first voyage and at 4:30 p.m. on our second trip.  For the 2016 trip we had a friend who was flying in later than the usual embarkation time so I enquired as to the arrangements.  Because the ship is in port a full night and day after the usual embarkation time, passengers can board at any time. The check-in desks closed at 6:00 p.m. and the terminal security area closed shortly after that. Passengers arriving after that time will have a slight delay.  Some passengers arrived on later flights and trains and embarked close to midnight and some arrived on the departure day.

 

The security guard phoned the purser's office after checking the manifest. A purser's staff member came ashore, checked some documents then escorted the passenger(s) on board. Security is done at the entrance to the ship at this point, as it is for in transit passengers. The purser's office completes the documentation.

 

After embarking, passengers can come and go any time they like.

 

Prior to departure there will be another muster drill for those who embarked too late to attend the one on the previous day.

Edited January 17, 2020 by david,Mississauga

[sonoma03]

Thanks David; I appreciate the additional details.