What costs extra?

[curiouscruiser]

This is my first post in this forum so please be kind! I will refrain from any dress code question as my wanderings on this board seem to have taught me that (a) the dress code is enforced, (b) a pre-tied bow tie is almost acceptable and © that to vary from the dress code will result in being ostracized by most passengers for the remainder of the cruise! We intend to follow the dress code.

 

The only cruiselines I have experience with are Seabourn, Regent and Silversea. These lines are all-inclusive, and as such I have no idea what things might cost. We are looking at a voyage on the QMII (dress code not enforced in all areas of this ship after the dinner hour :-)) and would book in Queens Grill. I know of the in suite bar set-up and in-suite soft drinks, but of course we won't be "en-suite" 24/7 so what will we end up paying for and what are the prices like?

 

Thanks so much for your responses - my research on this board has been valuable and entertaining!

[Kindlychap]

This is my first post in this forum so please be kind! I will refrain from any dress code question as my wanderings on this board seem to have taught me that (a) the dress code is enforced, (b) a pre-tied bow tie is almost acceptable and © that to vary from the dress code will result in being ostracized by most passengers for the remainder of the cruise! We intend to follow the dress code.

 

The only cruiselines I have experience with are Seabourn, Regent and Silversea. These lines are all-inclusive, and as such I have no idea what things might cost. We are looking at a voyage on the QMII (dress code not enforced in all areas of this ship after the dinner hour :-)) and would book in Queens Grill. I know of the in suite bar set-up and in-suite soft drinks, but of course we won't be "en-suite" 24/7 so what will we end up paying for and what are the prices like?

 

Thanks so much for your responses - my research on this board has been valuable and entertaining!

 

You will pay for:

 

All alcohol away from your cabin. As for your cabin, you get a choice of two bottles only - but they are litres! (Or at least they are on QE2....)

 

Coffee in bars. Coffee in the restaurant is free.

 

Bingo/Casino/Spa/Shops etc.

 

Shore excursions or (often) transfers.

 

Tips

 

That's a start at least. Bar prices aren't too bad, and from my perspective in England, wine prices are good.

 

Matthew

[pb82]

You will also pay for WiFi internet access, if you want it. Rates, restrictions, and quality of service (or lack thereof) have been mentioned in many different threads so you can "Search this Forum" for the information if you want it.

 

Photographs of you taken by the ship's photographers are an outrageous ~$30. each, bring your own camera.

 

Paul

[curiouscruiser]

I've read that you can buy a "soda card" Don't know if that's the right term for it that's good for the whole cruise. What about bottled water? Is it true that only Q4 and higher have DVD players? We were thinking Q5 since a couple of us have to pay the dreaded single supplement. Other than priority tenders do we lose anything else by going from a 4 to a 5? As to the restaurants I think we'd eat mainly in the grill from what I've read here. We might try Todd English but maybe not. Probably do some of the other restaurants for lunch and such.

 

Sorry for all the questions - I just need to set some expectations about what is and is not included so there aren't a lot of surprises - I'm the researcher for the family! I should mention we're a family of 7 age range 78 to 5. We do a cruise each year as a sort of family reunion. Thanks for the answers!

[lord of the seas]

Sue,

Don't waste your money on the QM II.There are too many passengers on board and most of them are not Queens grill class.You will not do better than Seabourn or Silversea.I have sailed on the QM II and have found that it does not work when you have different class levels and nearly Three Thousand people on board.

[Kindlychap]

I've read that you can buy a "soda card" Don't know if that's the right term for it that's good for the whole cruise. What about bottled water?

 

Speaking of QE2, although I assume the principle is the same, there is free bottled water as part of the bar set up.

 

Matthew

[Kindlychap]

Sue,

Don't waste your money on the QM II.There are too many passengers on board and most of them are not Queens grill class.You will not do better than Seabourn or Silversea.I have sailed on the QM II and have found that it does not work when you have different class levels and nearly Three Thousand people on board.

 

The total passenger numbers are about 2600.

 

Seabourn is a very different animal. Very informal, and therefore a huge contrast to QM2, which is formal.

 

This class system is a myth. It is simply that those who pay for better suites get more. Certainly on Queen Elizabeth 2, there are no distinctions away from the dining room.

 

Cunard runs two liners, and has a history of well over 150 years behind it. Seabourn is just another nice modern cruise line.

 

Each to his own.

 

Matthew

[patwell]

Sue,

Don't waste your money on the QM II.There are too many passengers on board and most of them are not Queens grill class.You will not do better than Seabourn or Silversea.I have sailed on the QM II and have found that it does not work when you have different class levels and nearly Three Thousand people on board.

 

Interesting observation....and what exactly would "Queens Grill class" be pray tell?

 

And as Matthew said, there are 2600 passengers aboard. We sailed virtually full and I couldn't figure out where everyone was most of the time.

 

Plus it's pretty hard to figure out who is who in the "different class levels" as one can go virtually anywhere one wants on the ship...excepting eating in the Grill restuarants, the decor of which leaves me totally bored.

 

I agree...to each his own

 

Cheers, Penny

Penny’s Affair to Remember QM2 Review

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=471053

[guernseyguy]

There are too many passengers on board

 

Well, lets compare how much space those passengers have:

 

Seabourn Pride - 212 passengers, 9,975 tonnes - or 47 tonnes per passenger.

 

QM2 - 2620 passengers, 148,528 tonnes - or 57 tonnes per passenger.

 

I'm surprised you put up with the cramped conditions on Seabourn if you found the QM2 crowded!

[Nitty]

I've read that you can buy a "soda card" Don't know if that's the right term for it that's good for the whole cruise.

 

We are cruising for the first time of QE2 in July this year and we are interested in this package too. When you work out how much my husband and I would spend on soft drinks for 16 nights I think it would be a lot cheaper to do this. Not sure how much or what it is called but I have read somewhere that you need to sign up for it on the first or second day or you cannot take advantage of it. I think they put a label on your card to show the bar staff when you get a drink.

 

Anyone else know anything about this?

 

Nitty :o

[travel-to-go]

Well, lets compare how much space those passengers have:

 

Seabourn Pride - 212 passengers, 9,975 tonnes - or 47 tonnes per passenger.

 

QM2 - 2620 passengers, 148,528 tonnes - or 57 tonnes per passenger.

Yeah, but a couple of tonnes of that is surely what the passengers eat! <G>

[Nitty]

Yeah, but a couple of tonnes of that is surely what the passengers eat! <G>

 

I,m slightly concerned about that. I,m a very fussy eater and normally loose weight on holiday as I dont eat rubbish like I do at home. Having recently had a baby my stomach is not what it once was! However the threads I have read about food on the QE2 I think I will be even bigger when I get back.

 

Nitty :o

[sullaRaffaello]

I know of the in suite bar set-up and in-suite soft drinks

 

The in suite bar also includes beer.

[travel-to-go]

I,m slightly concerned about that. I,m a very fussy eater and normally loose weight on holiday as I dont eat rubbish like I do at home. Having recently had a baby my stomach is not what it once was! However the threads I have read about food on the QE2 I think I will be even bigger when I get back.

Nitty :o

Nitty,

I almost always either lose weight or maintain on a cruise. First, you are much more active (well, I am , since I am not sitting all the time like I am a lot at work) Second, you don't eat in front of the television or a book or something. You eat more slowly, one course at a time. you are not rushing, or distracted such that you are mindlessly shoveling food in your mouth. This tends to satisfy the palate and give your body time to realize it is full. Also, though the food may be rich, it is not the huge portions you get at a restaurant to justify their exorbitant prices! Some say the portions are pretty large. I don't know about across the pond, but over here, everything seems supersized! Think about the appetizers and salads aboard. They are really tidbits. Enough of a taste to satisfy, without being a meal in and of themselves, like most are over here. But then when you are paying 6-9 dollars for an appetizer, you expect more then a tidbit!

If you try to take the stairs, maybe get up and do three rounds on the promenade deck in the morning (just over a mile) and maybe even visit the gym once or twice, you will have no problem whatsoever, I am sure!

 

And I am a very plus sized person. So if this can work for me, who has a very very depressed metabolism due to medication, then a person with a normal metabolism should do fine! I even eat the occasional (sometimes every night!) desert on a cruise which I rarely do (even in a restaurant) at home.

 

This should be the least of your worries, honest!

 

Karie

[Nitty]

Nitty,

I almost always either lose weight or maintain on a cruise. First, you are much more active (well, I am , since I am not sitting all the time like I am a lot at work) Second, you don't eat in front of the television or a book or something. You eat more slowly, one course at a time. you are not rushing, or distracted such that you are mindlessly shoveling food in your mouth. This tends to satisfy the palate and give your body time to realize it is full. Also, though the food may be rich, it is not the huge portions you get at a restaurant to justify their exorbitant prices! Some say the portions are pretty large. I don't know about across the pond, but over here, everything seems supersized! Think about the appetizers and salads aboard. They are really tidbits. Enough of a taste to satisfy, without being a meal in and of themselves, like most are over here. But then when you are paying 6-9 dollars for an appetizer, you expect more then a tidbit!

If you try to take the stairs, maybe get up and do three rounds on the promenade deck in the morning (just over a mile) and maybe even visit the gym once or twice, you will have no problem whatsoever, I am sure!

 

And I am a very plus sized person. So if this can work for me, who has a very very depressed metabolism due to medication, then a person with a normal metabolism should do fine! I even eat the occasional (sometimes every night!) desert on a cruise which I rarely do (even in a restaurant) at home.

 

This should be the least of your worries, honest!

 

Karie

 

More good food, less chocolate and then pushing the pushchair around the deck and I should be fine then.

 

Nitty

[Wadadli1]

More good food, less chocolate and then pushing the pushchair around the deck and I should be fine then.

 

Nitty

 

Correct! Last Christmas, we walked and walked, took tours, and still ate until we were full (but not overly so) and everyone weighed in just fine afterwards.

 

I am unable to overeat, no matter what is being served. Ok, I may have pushed the envelope on the Night of Two Foie Gras, but on balance, no. I appreciated the smaller courses with some time inbetween for digestion and reflection, and was able to pace myself. No course was left untasted, but some were left unfinished.

 

So as a lover of food, I would suggest have some of everything, and you will know when you've had enough.

[Wadadli1]

This is my first post in this forum so please be kind! I will refrain from any dress code question as my wanderings on this board seem to have taught me that (a) the dress code is enforced, (b) a pre-tied bow tie is almost acceptable and © that to vary from the dress code will result in being ostracized by most passengers for the remainder of the cruise! We intend to follow the dress code.

 

The only cruiselines I have experience with are Seabourn, Regent and Silversea. These lines are all-inclusive, and as such I have no idea what things might cost. We are looking at a voyage on the QMII (dress code not enforced in all areas of this ship after the dinner hour :-)) and would book in Queens Grill. I know of the in suite bar set-up and in-suite soft drinks, but of course we won't be "en-suite" 24/7 so what will we end up paying for and what are the prices like?

 

Thanks so much for your responses - my research on this board has been valuable and entertaining!

 

© You won't be ostracized, but we will talk about you here for weeks on end.....Kidding!:D

 

The only other thing I can think of is the Todd English restaurant is $20 per person extra for lunch, $30 for dinner. Some say it's worth every penny, esp those who are crazy for the chocolate cake served there.

[Kindlychap]

© You won't be ostracized, but we will talk about you here for weeks on end.....Kidding!:D

 

The only other thing I can think of is the Todd English restaurant is $20 per person extra for lunch, $30 for dinner. Some say it's worth every penny, esp those who are crazy for the chocolate cake served there.

 

 

And if you overeat severely, the hospital is also something that charges!

 

Matthew

[Wadadli1]

And if you overeat severely, the hospital is also something that charges!

 

Matthew

 

Oh! How they take advantage of their captive audience! If that's the case, then make sure they earn every penny.

[judy&steve]

I,m slightly concerned about that. I,m a very fussy eater and normally loose weight on holiday as I dont eat rubbish like I do at home. Having recently had a baby my stomach is not what it once was! However the threads I have read about food on the QE2 I think I will be even bigger when I get back.

 

Nitty :o

 

Don't know about the QE2, but we were on QM2 in november and I am very fussy about what I eat. Nothing fried, no butter, no sauce, no sugar, the whole no white food thing. After the first disappointing lunch in the Princess Grill, our head waiter was mortified to find that there was nothing on the menu that appealed to me. He sent me the next day's menus at 10:30 each evening so I could pre-order my meals for the day. I was able to have anything I wanted prepared in any way I required. This was the first cruise I have been on that they went above and beyond to make sure I was fed and happy.

--Judy

[Wadadli1]

:p

Don't know about the QE2, but we were on QM2 in november and I am very fussy about what I eat. Nothing fried, no butter, no sauce, no sugar, the whole no white food thing. After the first disappointing lunch in the Princess Grill, our head waiter was mortified to find that there was nothing on the menu that appealed to me. He sent me the next day's menus at 10:30 each evening so I could pre-order my meals for the day. I was able to have anything I wanted prepared in any way I required. This was the first cruise I have been on that they went above and beyond to make sure I was fed and happy.

--Judy

 

No butter? No sauces? No fried? Please don't say No bacon!?

[lord of the seas]

Well, lets compare how much space those passengers have:

 

Seabourn Pride - 212 passengers, 9,975 tonnes - or 47 tonnes per passenger.

 

QM2 - 2620 passengers, 148,528 tonnes - or 57 tonnes per passenger.

 

I'm surprised you put up with the cramped conditions on Seabourn if you found the QM2 crowded!

 

I think it should read QM2 all berths 48 tonnes pp Seabourn Pride all berths 47.09 tonnes pp

I did say people on board not passengers,there are 1254 crew on QM2 and 160 on Seabourn Pride. I did not say that I found it crowded but the point was that I prefer a smaller more intimate space where you can converse with like minded people who appreciate quality.This is definately not what happens on the QM2.You also get to know most of the staff who remember the passengers names,something that would be impossible on larger ships.I was for years a regular on the QE2 and have taken eight world cruises with her,but the QM2 is really something else entirely.

[Betsy's Mom]

We have also been on on the QE2 and we love the QM2. Looking forward to uor September cruise to Canada and booked for 23 days in 2008. Stick to Seaborn, it must suit you .:)

B.

[David2115]

Sue,

Don't waste your money on the QM II.There are too many passengers on board and most of them are not Queens grill class.You will not do better than Seabourn or Silversea.I have sailed on the QM II and have found that it does not work when you have different class levels and nearly Three Thousand people on board.

That post must be tongue in cheek surely, I hope I come across people like you on my cruise on 20th November, any person that calls himself LORD OF THE SEAS must be a 2 bob millionaire(as they say in yorkshire). I forgot people like you exist.

[msk68]

You've gotten some good replies here. We just disembarked from Mary on Thursday and I did want to mention that the DVD thing in Q4 and above isn't strictly enforced. We were in a Q5 and called on the first day and our DVD player was there in 10 minutes fully installed. You can expect to have your menus in place by early morning for the full day.

 

There are also wine tasting experiences - one American one 'premium' (our sommelier, 'Captain Morgan' (squeal with glee if you get him - he is awesome!) explained that was wines that ranged in the 40-50 dollar range) that is $25 and $35 extra respectively. That also goes for a martini and scotch tasting if there is enough interest. There is a creative arts class that will cost $35 which is purely the cost of supplies.

 

If you are in the Queens Grill, your Butler will be delighted to put on a wonderful cocktail party for you and you will only pay for any additional spirits you order. We had one in celebration of our traveling companions' 51st wedding anniversary. It included the canapes which, IMO, are simply dreadful but also some delightful skewered meats, shrimp etc, also some vegetables with dip and some shrimp cocktails. Really a perfect prelude to the wonderful meals that you will get on board. We skipped Todd English on board since I love about 20 minutes from the Mohegan Sun Casino and Todd English has one of his Tuscany restaurants there - didn't see the need to pay the upcharge for that.

 

Hope you have as great a time as we did!