Summer 2025

[paulatsea]

18 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

Hoorah  - I'm going home!!!!! I have a balcony on the QM2 Coronation cruise for £449. I'm so excited.

 

Thanks to everyone who crossed everything for me, clearly the power of the P&O CC forum worked its magic!

Excellent 👌- great stuff.  Bargain . Let us know what it’s like .

[July morning]

5 hours ago, wowzz said:

5 day cruise to Liverpool and back  - late substitution for cancelled TAs due to tech difficulties

 

[Selbourne]

2 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

Hoorah  - I'm going home!!!!! I have a balcony on the QM2 Coronation cruise for £449. I'm so excited.

 

Thanks to everyone who crossed everything for me, clearly the power of the P&O CC forum worked its magic!

Well we have some exciting news too. Within 5 minutes of bookings opening, our excellent TA contacted us to say that we have secured one of the two Accessible Princess Grill Suites for the princely sum of £499 each. That works out at £99.80 pppn for Grill class on Cunard! I appreciate that it’s only a trip to Liverpool and back, but I love Liverpool and have always wanted to arrive there by ship, and we have never cruised with Cunard before, so the whole experience will be a first (as well as our first cruise since Covid).
 

We are booked on Queen Anne in Britannia Club next year (at a hell of a lot more than £99.80 pppn) but would probably never contemplate Grill class given the usual vast cost. Dining is a highlight for us on a cruise though, so hopefully 5 days and nights in the Princess Grill restaurant will be a nice treat, especially at that price!

[Megabear2]

42 minutes ago, Selbourne said:

Well we have some exciting news too. Within 5 minutes of bookings opening, our excellent TA contacted us to say that we have secured one of the two Accessible Princess Grill Suites for the princely sum of £499 each. That works out at £99.80 pppn for Grill class on Cunard! I appreciate that it’s only a trip to Liverpool and back, but I love Liverpool and have always wanted to arrive there by ship, and we have never cruised with Cunard before, so the whole experience will be a first (as well as our first cruise since Covid).
 

We are booked on Queen Anne in Britannia Club next year (at a hell of a lot more than £99.80 pppn) but would probably never contemplate Grill class given the usual vast cost. Dining is a highlight for us on a cruise though, so hopefully 5 days and nights in the Princess Grill restaurant will be a nice treat, especially at that price!

Congratulations!  Hopefully it will be a really memorable event.  I actually like the Princess Grills restaurant more than the Queens Grills on QM2 and the rooms are lovely.  If I recall you've visited QM2 in port so have a good idea of what to expect with all the nooks and crannies.  Hopefully you'll be one of the ones who love her warts and all.  I thought as a single I'd pass on the offer of a suite when it was offered as dining alone in the Grills didn't appeal to me.  Mind you I've no idea what number are going to be on my table, I just said yes to deck 11 balcony immediately!

[Cathygh]

4 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

Hoorah  - I'm going home!!!!! I have a balcony on the QM2 Coronation cruise for £449. I'm so excited.

 

Thanks to everyone who crossed everything for me, clearly the power of the P&O CC forum worked its magic!

Yay! Great news. We snagged a Q5 for £599, first (and probably only) time in QG. Hope to see somefamily while we are in Liverpool.

The cruise sold out very fast, within an hour I believe. That must be a record.

[Mollag]

12 hours ago, paulatsea said:

I agree with Mollag - we went on Saga for the first time last summer and got an upgrade to a deluxe balcony out of the blue !

It was excellent.

Cabin , service , quality and excursions were all top class. 
Private transfer to the ship and back.

Hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

We’ve got regional flights as well for the next one that’s worth quite a bit for us living on a rock, can’t come quick enough. 

[wowzz]

3 hours ago, Cathygh said:

The cruise sold out very fast, within an hour I believe. That must be a record.

I wonder if the accountants are kicking themselves for underpricing the cruise. They could probably have sold out at a 50% higher fare. 

[Selbourne]

3 minutes ago, wowzz said:

I wonder if the accountants are kicking themselves for underpricing the cruise. They could probably have sold out at a 50% higher fare. 

Funnily enough, I said exactly the same thing to my wife earlier. It really was ludicrously priced, especially the Grills. We were asked in advance by the TA what was the maximum price we were prepared to pay (as prices may have risen once bookings opened) and as we were only interested in Grills and knew that it would be a one off opportunity I said £1,000 per person. I’ve never really priced Grills properly but knew that £200 pppn would be a bargain as we are paying more than that for Britannia Club next year.
 

Anyway, we got into Princess grill for the advertised ‘from’ price of £499 each, so £99.80 pppn, which is half what we would have been prepared to pay. We just have to hope that they get the ship repaired by Tuesday, although TBH at those prices I’d happily sit in the dock in Southampton all week enjoying the Grills dining experience 😂 

[wowzz]

6 minutes ago, Selbourne said:

Funnily enough, I said exactly the same thing to my wife earlier. It really was ludicrously priced, especially the Grills. We were asked in advance by the TA what was the maximum price we were prepared to pay (as prices may have risen once bookings opened) and as we were only interested in Grills and knew that it would be a one off opportunity I said £1,000 per person. I’ve never really priced Grills properly but knew that £200 pppn would be a bargain as we are paying more than that for Britannia Club next year.
 

Anyway, we got into Princess grill for the advertised ‘from’ price of £499 each, so £99.80 pppn, which is half what we would have been prepared to pay. We just have to hope that they get the ship repaired by Tuesday, although TBH at those prices I’d happily sit in the dock in Southampton all week enjoying the Grills dining experience 😂 

I'm glad you got a great deal. It is cheaper than a Premier Inn when you think that all your food is included !

One of the first lessons I was given in negotiating was to start high, as you can always come down, but you can never go up !

Perhaps I should offer my skills as a consultant to Cunard. 

[Selbourne]

1 minute ago, wowzz said:

I'm glad you got a great deal. It is cheaper than a Premier Inn when you think that all your food is included !

One of the first lessons I was given in negotiating was to start high, as you can always come down, but you can never go up !

Perhaps I should offer my skills as a consultant to Cunard. 

Thanks, although of course cruise prices do go up as well as down - often substantial movements in both directions!

[wowzz]

10 minutes ago, Selbourne said:

Thanks, although of course cruise prices do go up as well as down - often substantial movements in both directions!

I agree. But try going to Tesco HQ and negotiating your opening price upwards! 

Edited April 27, 2023 by wowzz

[Megabear2]

40 minutes ago, Selbourne said:

Thanks, although of course cruise prices do go up as well as down - often substantial movements in both directions!

It was never in danger of going up as it was clear it would sell out.  All those currently on board are getting the sailing for free before they get flown home as well.  The website crashed within 2 minutes of it opening and a lot of those who are saying they've booked have never been on a Cunard ship before. 17 minutes in people were getting sold out messages apparently and faceache Cunard site removed all mention of the sailing as people bombarded them for the way it was sold.  Not seen such excitement in a very long time.

 

I'm now busy dragging ballgowns out of storage at the back of the wardrobe and hoping the waistline hasn't expanded too much since 2019!  Will be interesting to see how many of these new passengers turn up in full regalia, I'm assuming that Black and White won't include Newcastle United striped shirts 

Edited April 27, 2023 by Megabear2

[Selbourne]

6 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

It was never in danger of going up as it was clear it would sell out.  All those currently on board are getting the sailing for free before they get flown home as well.  The website crashed within 2 minutes of it opening and a lot of those who are saying they've booked have never been on a Cunard ship before. 17 minutes in people were getting sold out messages apparently and faceache Cunard site removed all mention of the sailing as people bombarded them for the way it was sold.  Not seen such excitement in a very long time.

 

I'm now busy dragging ballgowns out of storage at the back of the wardrobe and hoping the waistline hasn't expanded too much since 2019!  Will be interesting to see how many of these new passengers turn up in full regalia, I'm assuming that Black and White won't include Newcastle United striped shirts 

That chimes with a lot of what I’ve heard, although our excellent cruise specialist TA (more on them later) had said that with all the prices listed as being ‘from’ and demand expected to be exceptional (given how ridiculously low the prices were), they were concerned that prices could rise very quickly after opening, hence why they wanted to know in advance what the maximum price was that we were prepared to pay. Whether or not that is true I have no idea. 
 

Our TA (that many on this site use) have managed to secure our last few bookings (both P&O and Cunard) within 5 minutes of them going on sale, and that was also the case yesterday. When they called me, the lady said that she secured us a booking in the grills within the first minute, but she couldn’t initially book an accessible cabin (which we can’t cruise without 😱). The system then crashed and she went back in to switch us to an accessible cabin and was then battling against 400 other live bookings being processed at that precise moment! Thankfully she managed to secure us one of the just two accessible Princess Grill suites 😓 

 

I’m pleased that those who were on the aborted planned cruise were offered the cruise for free, as I’ve read all the comments on the Cunard board and many of them are understandably very unhappy. I’m intrigued as to how so many ‘new to Cunard’ passengers managed to book the cruise, given that it was only announced 24 hours before it went on sale. I wonder how they knew about it? Although we will ourselves be newbies, we received the email as we have a future booking with Cunard so are on their database. I guess it must be down to a combination of those who had opted in to marketing emails (although never cruised) and the fact that no priority was given to higher loyalty tiers, so everyone had exactly the same chance?

 

Like you, we now need to see if our 2019 cruise wardrobes still fit and I promise not to let the side down by doing my Sir Les Patterson impressions in the Grills lounge or restaurant 😂 

[Leomins]

I got an email from a cruise travel agent I’d used for other cruise lines, although I’ve not sailed with Cunard.

I would have been tempted if I wasn’t already away.

[Fionboard]

1 hour ago, Selbourne said:

That chimes with a lot of what I’ve heard, although our excellent cruise specialist TA (more on them later) had said that with all the prices listed as being ‘from’ and demand expected to be exceptional (given how ridiculously low the prices were), they were concerned that prices could rise very quickly after opening, hence why they wanted to know in advance what the maximum price was that we were prepared to pay. Whether or not that is true I have no idea. 
 

Our TA (that many on this site use) have managed to secure our last few bookings (both P&O and Cunard) within 5 minutes of them going on sale, and that was also the case yesterday. When they called me, the lady said that she secured us a booking in the grills within the first minute, but she couldn’t initially book an accessible cabin (which we can’t cruise without 😱). The system then crashed and she went back in to switch us to an accessible cabin and was then battling against 400 other live bookings being processed at that precise moment! Thankfully she managed to secure us one of the just two accessible Princess Grill suites 😓 

 

I’m pleased that those who were on the aborted planned cruise were offered the cruise for free, as I’ve read all the comments on the Cunard board and many of them are understandably very unhappy. I’m intrigued as to how so many ‘new to Cunard’ passengers managed to book the cruise, given that it was only announced 24 hours before it went on sale. I wonder how they knew about it? Although we will ourselves be newbies, we received the email as we have a future booking with Cunard so are on their database. I guess it must be down to a combination of those who had opted in to marketing emails (although never cruised) and the fact that no priority was given to higher loyalty tiers, so everyone had exactly the same chance?

 

Like you, we now need to see if our 2019 cruise wardrobes still fit and I promise not to let the side down by doing my Sir Les Patterson impressions in the Grills lounge or restaurant 😂 

It was advertised on social media.

[Megabear2]

1 hour ago, Selbourne said:

That chimes with a lot of what I’ve heard, although our excellent cruise specialist TA (more on them later) had said that with all the prices listed as being ‘from’ and demand expected to be exceptional (given how ridiculously low the prices were), they were concerned that prices could rise very quickly after opening, hence why they wanted to know in advance what the maximum price was that we were prepared to pay. Whether or not that is true I have no idea. 
 

Our TA (that many on this site use) have managed to secure our last few bookings (both P&O and Cunard) within 5 minutes of them going on sale, and that was also the case yesterday. When they called me, the lady said that she secured us a booking in the grills within the first minute, but she couldn’t initially book an accessible cabin (which we can’t cruise without 😱). The system then crashed and she went back in to switch us to an accessible cabin and was then battling against 400 other live bookings being processed at that precise moment! Thankfully she managed to secure us one of the just two accessible Princess Grill suites 😓 

 

I’m pleased that those who were on the aborted planned cruise were offered the cruise for free, as I’ve read all the comments on the Cunard board and many of them are understandably very unhappy. I’m intrigued as to how so many ‘new to Cunard’ passengers managed to book the cruise, given that it was only announced 24 hours before it went on sale. I wonder how they knew about it? Although we will ourselves be newbies, we received the email as we have a future booking with Cunard so are on their database. I guess it must be down to a combination of those who had opted in to marketing emails (although never cruised) and the fact that no priority was given to higher loyalty tiers, so everyone had exactly the same chance?

 

Like you, we now need to see if our 2019 cruise wardrobes still fit and I promise not to let the side down by doing my Sir Les Patterson impressions in the Grills lounge or restaurant 😂 

I know someone who's onboard as they were on the WC and meant to go home to NY last Sunday.  They seem to be getting well looked after.  I do feel a bit sorry for those who flew in to join what was effectively a separate sailing but unfortunately we've most of us had something similar at some time.  The problem with QM2 is the number of people like myself who use her as a "bus", she is after all doing point to point work and not really cruising.

 

I must confess to being a little bit in trepidation as I know from my visits to see her that she's looking a little tired around the edges outside (as does Arcadia) but it's what's on the inside that counts.

 

Not only did four t/as contact me before Cunard put it on the website but the news was all over the local paper and radio. QM2 is very big news locally and a large number who say they are on as first timers are reporting it here.

[SarahHben]

Mum & Dad, sister, brother-in-law, my husband and I are all booked on Britannia B519, all of us got the cabins we were after. I have got an F deck wake view (not a suite) for me & my husband 😁 Only 826 days to go 🤣

[paulatsea]

1 minute ago, SarahHben said:

Mum & Dad, sister, brother-in-law, my husband and I are all booked on Britannia B519, all of us got the cabins we were after. I have got an F deck wake view (not a suite) for me & my husband 😁 Only 826 days to go 🤣

Book early 👍

[SarahHben]

Just now, paulatsea said:

Book early 👍

Absolutely 😄 Because we have to go in the school holidays it seems to still be cheaper to book early. Our Ventura one this summer is a lot more now than we paid near launch.

[happy v]

11 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

It was never in danger of going up as it was clear it would sell out.  All those currently on board are getting the sailing for free before they get flown home as well.  The website crashed within 2 minutes of it opening and a lot of those who are saying they've booked have never been on a Cunard ship before. 17 minutes in people were getting sold out messages apparently and faceache Cunard site removed all mention of the sailing as people bombarded them for the way it was sold.  Not seen such excitement in a very long time.

 

I'm now busy dragging ballgowns out of storage at the back of the wardrobe and hoping the waistline hasn't expanded too much since 2019!  Will be interesting to see how many of these new passengers turn up in full regalia, I'm assuming that Black and White won't include Newcastle United striped shirts 

Do people wear ballgowns on Cunard? That would be nice to see 

[Megabear2]

20 minutes ago, happy v said:

Do people wear ballgowns on Cunard? That would be nice to see 

They do indeed, particularly on the transatlantic crossings.  I note there is to be a grand Celebration black and white  ball, so all the Cunarders will be breaking out their finest.

 

Thankfully having just tried a whole load from my 2019 world cruise on, mine still fit.  I was panicking as I've built my supply over 15 years on shopping in NY before boarding to come home.

[happy v]

11 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

They do indeed, particularly on the transatlantic crossings.  I note there is to be a grand Celebration black and white  ball, so all the Cunarders will be breaking out their finest.

 

Thankfully having just tried a whole load from my 2019 world cruise on, mine still fit.  I was panicking as I've built my supply over 15 years on shopping in NY before boarding to come home.

Wow. You will have a fantastic time 😀. I'm going to look at ballgowns now. I don't even know where to buy one.

[majortom10]

11 minutes ago, happy v said:

Wow. You will have a fantastic time 😀. I'm going to look at ballgowns now. I don't even know where to buy one.

Actual ball gowns are in the minority on QM2 TA. We have done a few roundtrip TA's and never seen that many women wearing actual ball gowns, elegant formal evening dresses are more common.

[AnnieC]

57 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

Actual ball gowns are in the minority on QM2 TA. We have done a few roundtrip TA's and never seen that many women wearing actual ball gowns, elegant formal evening dresses are more common.

+ 1. In fact, cocktail length dresses and dressy trousers for formal nights were becoming increasingly prevalent pre-youknowwhat and I doubt things have become more formal since then, though haven't been on a Cunard ship since June 2019.

[Megabear2]

1 hour ago, majortom10 said:

Actual ball gowns are in the minority on QM2 TA. We have done a few roundtrip TA's and never seen that many women wearing actual ball gowns, elegant formal evening dresses are more common.

Then I shall be in the minority as I've always worn ballgowns on formal nights on Cunard.  It's part of the fun and I've no intention of stopping now.  I haven't sailed on QM2 since my 2019 world cruise so if I'm out of place so be it. I love my fishtail trains along with my long evening gloves and they will be as ever having an airing in the Queens Room!  Elegant formal evening dresses and I don't mix very well as they're extremely hard to buy in both my size and I tend to look like a sack of potatoes.   

 

Now that I can't even dress formally for Royal Ascot I've every intention of carrying on regardless. It's all part of the fun, each to their own.

Edited April 28, 2023 by Megabear2