Queen Mary 2 - Mauritius Fuel Stop

[Solent Richard]

Just picked up some photographs from a member of one of my facebook groups still onboard Queen Mary 2.

 

She says they are holding off Port Louis taking on fuel and other supplies...

 

 

*****

 

[Solent Richard]

Should have mentioned these are virtually live shots, 15 minutes old.

[rafinmd]

Tanker has now disengaged from QM2.  Her new AIS destination is Durban.

 

Roy

[deck chair]

I wonder what life is like for the remaining passengers on board.

 

Deck Chair

[milkcow]

Thank you. Finally a post on QM2 on the way from Australia to England.

 

I have been watching the QM2 for hints whether our retirement year crossings planned for June, October, and January 2021 have any chance of happening.

 

Are there any USA citizens aboard now?

Is the QM2 continuing to New York?

Were USA citizens forced off the ship at Fremantle and forced to fly or seek Australian citizenships?

 

David

[Jack E Dawson]

Thanks for posting Richard. I was just wondering if your friend has any idea of how many fellow passengers there are onboard. I've seen a few numbers thrown around but nothing other than rumors. 

 

Jack

[Host Hattie]

As Roy posted here there are some posts on the roll call from those still on board

 

 

[milamber]

10 hours ago, deck chair said:

I wonder what life is like for the remaining passengers on board.

 

Deck Chair

 

I can tell you. We had a long email from friends still aboard today. In a word pretty grim. They aren't people who complain, but some of the things they've told us paint a very poor picture. It seems that Cunard didn't want anyone left on board after Perth and were a bit surprised by the numbers who couldn't fly for whatever reason. Seems to be a definite us and them atmosphere between the remaining passengers and crew. It's not good. I have specifics, but would prefer to check with them first for posting anything.

Edited March 23, 2020 by milamber

[milamber]

10 hours ago, milkcow said:

Thank you. Finally a post on QM2 on the way from Australia to England.

 

I have been watching the QM2 for hints whether our retirement year crossings planned for June, October, and January 2021 have any chance of happening.

 

Are there any USA citizens aboard now?

Is the QM2 continuing to New York?

Were USA citizens forced off the ship at Fremantle and forced to fly or seek Australian citizenships?

 

David

 

There are a mixture of citizens of nationalities on board, largely UK and USA. Most people left the ship in Freemantle, but those who couldn't fly, for whatever reason are staying on until Southampton. It won't continue to New York.

[Germancruiser]

milamber- thanks for the information. So the QM2 - as I suspected- does not continue to New York. Therefore sailings after April 18th are canceled, too!. Where did you get that information- since I did not hear a thing from Cuanrd line about the sailings after April 18th. Thanks again!

[tv24]

This is so sad.  We are booked on a June crossing and have not yet cancelled.  But I am increasingly pessimistic.

[milamber]

5 hours ago, Germancruiser said:

milamber- thanks for the information. So the QM2 - as I suspected- does not continue to New York. Therefore sailings after April 18th are canceled, too!. Where did you get that information- since I did not hear a thing from Cuanrd line about the sailings after April 18th. Thanks again!

Just from our friends on board. The are from the USA and need to get home, but have been told the QM2 will finish in Southampton and tie up there for the duration. Personally I can't see sailings resuming before September and suspect that might be optimistic.

[Germancruiser]

Thank you so much- I already canceled my TA from NY- to Hamburg ( April 25th) ! I do hope that in 3 month time- or the end of July we can a deep breath and start cruising agin- if the cruise lines surive that is!

I may be over optimistic- but who can tell at this stage!

At some point the messures to avoid contamination with Covid 19 will be harder to bear then the Virus itself. So let´s all hope they find some stuff or some cure!

[babs135]

10 hours ago, milamber said:

 

I can tell you. We had a long email from friends still aboard today. In a word pretty grim. They aren't people who complain, but some of the things they've told us paint a very poor picture. It seems that Cunard didn't want anyone left on board after Perth and were a bit surprised by the numbers who couldn't fly for whatever reason. Seems to be a definite us and them atmosphere between the remaining passengers and crew. It's not good. I have specifics, but would prefer to check with them first for posting anything.

I've just been reading some of the posts on the roll call and yes, it sounds grim.  DH and I love Cunard, but if this is how they are treating people then we will be thinking long and hard as to whether we will sail with them again.  BTW we are still holding onto a cruise in October, the balance of which is due mid-June but I think we will just cancel and forfeit the deposit.  Didn't help that the cruise is not repeated next year anyway.

[Solent Richard]

While I 'm reluctant to repeat members comments currently being made on the three Cunard fb groups I run maybe suffice to say that there is an  entirely different atmospheres onboard Queen Victoria to that on Queen Mary 2.

 

 

 

 

[majortom10]

2 hours ago, babs135 said:

I've just been reading some of the posts on the roll call and yes, it sounds grim.  DH and I love Cunard, but if this is how they are treating people then we will be thinking long and hard as to whether we will sail with them again.  BTW we are still holding onto a cruise in October, the balance of which is due mid-June but I think we will just cancel and forfeit the deposit.  Didn't help that the cruise is not repeated next year anyway.

We are in the same position have a cruise booked in October and balance due in June. Dont want to pay the balance of nearly £6000 but equally cannot afford to lose the deposit of £350 if we cancel prior to final balance payment.

[babs135]

2 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

We are in the same position have a cruise booked in October and balance due in June. Dont want to pay the balance of nearly £6000 but equally cannot afford to lose the deposit of £350 if we cancel prior to final balance payment.

There were a number of reasons why we booked the cruise, apart from the itinerary Which appeals the deposit was only 5% and we were offered a nice amount of on board credit.  We can just about stand the loss of the deposit but really dithering over whether or not to pay the balance.  It's a substantial amount that Cunard will be sitting on for an unknown length of time.  Still, there is three months before due date  - who knows what the situation will be by then.

[navybankerteacher]

53 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

We are in the same position have a cruise booked in October and balance due in June. Dont want to pay the balance of nearly £6000 but equally cannot afford to lose the deposit of £350 if we cancel prior to final balance payment.

Is it a matter of cannot affording, or simply not wanting, to lose a deposit?   

 

We cancelled out March 14 flight to our Spring few weeks in Florida.  We can apply rental deposit to a later-in-2020 booking, and air fare to a flight booked within 12 months of original booking (meaning flying somewhere by mid July).  Neither option is good — no point in just going somewhere at a time you do not want to go just because you have money on the table.

 

There are times you just need to bite the bullet and take a loss, rather than throw good money after bad.

[majortom10]

1 hour ago, navybankerteacher said:

Is it a matter of cannot affording, or simply not wanting, to lose a deposit?   

 

We cancelled out March 14 flight to our Spring few weeks in Florida.  We can apply rental deposit to a later-in-2020 booking, and air fare to a flight booked within 12 months of original booking (meaning flying somewhere by mid July).  Neither option is good — no point in just going somewhere at a time you do not want to go just because you have money on the table.

 

There are times you just need to bite the bullet and take a loss, rather than throw good money after bad.

Cannot afford to lose £350.

[navybankerteacher]

9 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

Cannot afford to lose £350.

Can you better afford to risk the balance of the fare?  There is a difference between being willing to accept a (perhaps unavoidable) loss and being unable to afford it.You have already paid the GBP 350 - so you were clearly able to afford it — not to mention the balance of the fare you obviously felt you could afford at the time you booked.

 

It’s sort of like people saying that flying in a day early is “not an option”  rather than just saying it is something they strongly prefer not to do.

[majortom10]

The deposit was made onboard QM2 over 18 months ago and there is a lot of difference between being able to afford £350 and losing £350.

[2behappyatsea]

On 3/23/2020 at 9:25 AM, milkcow said:

Thank you. Finally a post on QM2 on the way from Australia to England.

 

I have been watching the QM2 for hints whether our retirement year crossings planned for June, October, and January 2021 have any chance of happening.

 

Are there any USA citizens aboard now?

Is the QM2 continuing to New York?

Were USA citizens forced off the ship at Fremantle and forced to fly or seek Australian citizenships?

 

David

Everyone was forced off, except those with medical reasons that would keep them from flying. There are approximately 250 passengers still on board. The ship is now sailing as a merchant ship. All guest services are closed (unless it’s something they can make money on, like spa & casino)

[navybankerteacher]

1 hour ago, 2behappyatsea said:

Everyone was forced off, except those with medical reasons that would keep them from flying. There are approximately 250 passengers still on board. The ship is now sailing as a merchant ship. All guest services are closed (unless it’s something they can make money on, like spa & casino)

     I suppose those 250 must all have boarded in Southampton back on January 11 - otherwise they most likely would have had to fly to board anywhere else.  

 

That must be a pretty grim cruise now.

[Solent Richard]

2 hours ago, 2behappyatsea said:

Everyone was forced off, except those with medical reasons that would keep them from flying. There are approximately 250 passengers still on board. The ship is now sailing as a merchant ship. All guest services are closed (unless it’s something they can make money on, like spa & casino)

 

I'd personally want to know what compensation package may have been offered to those remaining, bearing in mind they remained of their own choice,  before I blanket criticised Cunard.

[2behappyatsea]

1 hour ago, Solent Richard said:

 

I'd personally want to know what compensation package may have been offered to those remaining, bearing in mind they remained of their own choice,  before I blanket criticised Cunard.

I didn’t criticize, I answered the persons question.