HelloKittysMum

I have a prepaid dollar card onto which I transfer money for spending and get a better rate. Works fine in most places (I give my credit card for security but pay with it when I check out). Didn't work with cunard in the summer though so I have over $1000 sitting on it. Was about to start spending it when my parents invited us to go on QM2 for Christmas in the Caribbean plus 2 days in NY at start as a Cristmas present. I've now got what feels like free spending money as it's already been accounted for. Have used some of it to book Radio City Christmas Spectacular tickets for them and us.

I travel a lot with my work (to unusual places) and I always bring back some cash so I'm not scrabbling round for money for a taxi on arrival (most countries I visit are hard to get currency for in the UK) or as happened on one trip the ATM didn't work at the airport.

If you will have no future use for dollars I'm sure a friend would buy them off you at a better rate than the bank.

You DON'T need a credit card, you can use a Visa card WITHOUT credit.

I have never had a credit card in my life and I have never needed it.

 

Can't remember if this was the case on Royal Caribbean but Cunard require a credit not debit card for onboard account.

I know what I'd prefer but am interested in what others think. Other things being equal, would you prefer a better cabin or a better cruise line. Eg balcony or suite on a midprice line or an inside/outside on a premium line.

I relax. I have a very hectic job with a lot of intercontinental travel in economy class (just traveled for 26 hours to Botswana and in 3 days I'll be doing it in reverse on my way back to uk). All our holidays are planned with military precision (I make itineraries which I issue (cringe) and which my husband's only response is :when do we get to relax and do nothing?")

But on a cruise I change and a cpt that things are outside my control and so I do relax. For me lots of sea days are best becuase either can't be getting everyone up to go and see this port or that port. Did a TA this summer on QM2 and it was total relaxation for me. Yes I did stuff but there was no "if we don't go and see this castle/ monastery/museum/view we might not get another chance".

Off to Caribbean on QM2 for Christmas and while I have read up on the ports there doesn't seem to be much that I will HAVE to see.

Good outcome. I'll remember your technique in case of need.

 

M-AR

Not worked for the children though...

My parents had their Uk address already entered

Will try with a US proxy tonight (or leave the kids at home ;) )

managed to do it on Ipad - first with hotel addres in NY and when that had saved OK I tried putting our home address in and that worked as well.

 

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and help.

 

Not long to go now...

Will do the children and my parents now.

managed to do it on Ipad - first with hotel addres in NY and when that had saved OK I tried putting our home address in and that worked as well.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and help.

Not long to go now...

It doesn't seem to like our UK address. Will need to check with TA in Orlando or will try the hotel we are staying in before the cruise. Don't want to worry my parents with it....

Many thanks everyone for your replies.

I have no problem with waiting until 3pm to board (although cannot wait to get on board and start our cruise!) I was just a little concerned that it was so close to the departure time, and didn't leave a lot of time for any delays with paperwork etc if they arose.

Only 5 weeks to go :)

Not sure what delays with paperwork you might have? You have an eticket, have registered your passport etc in advance. So long as you have a valid credit card and no recent health problems there's not much else to do. And if you don't have a passport or any of the other paperwork then a few extra hours isn't going to help!

Am now back in UK so have tried again.

Still getting same error message. Have tried other browsers, still same problem. Also tried on children's booking which I had not done anything with. Same problem.

Suspect the problem is because we booked through an American TA when we live in UK. Anyone who has booked this way got any ideas? Should we use TA address or the hotel we are staying in immediately before or my mum's cousins address.

We had a 2.30 check in at Brooklyn in August and the terminal was empty when we arrived at 2.15. We were easily in our cabin by 2.45 (maybe earlier) as Ray66 says people who get early boarding have paid more so should get more (we do insides and next month are on deck 6 again) so I'm not saying this from a "I've paid more so expect more" perspective).

We will be travelling with our children who are also on deck 6 and my parents who are in a deck 4 balcony. I assume as we are travelling together we can check in together as we will have one taxi from our hotel. (This will be my parents last time as gold as they hit the level which gives early check in after this trip).

We don't have dollar tree in UK but we have similar so at the weekend I will be off armed with his list.

Like the idea of buying swimwear etc at the end of summer for winter cruises. We've been give a surprise Christmas present from my parents of QM2 NY Caribbean Christmas cruise so we didn't know we'd need stuff. But can't really complain 😉

What is the point in allocating embarcation times if everyone ignores them and arrives at noon? I accept some people may have a long journey and need to add some allowance for delay (I live about 5 hours drive from Southampton) but people who admit to living an hour away are just selfish if they turn up 3 hours early. Should make them wait until after their boarding time to discourage this.

GREAT choice & decision!! A balcony IMO is much more important than the hotel stay in Barcelona...you will get more days & better views from your balcony PLUS salt air, wind, waves, coastal views, moonlight, sunsets, etc...it's your cruise vacation- go for it!!

 

Big Al

Save money elsewhere (cheap meals etc) and don't miss paid for attractions in Rome. You will miss so much if you do.

Hey, no fair rubbing it in about you Brits getting more holiday time than us here in the States,lol...I know- I have friends in London, Brighton, Liverpool, Oxford, Bristol & few more...before I was released by MERCK 5 years ago, I was up to 20 days vacation, which for here is a lot, but now as a cruise agent, I have no more vacation & wife is self employed, so no more paid holiday time for us...ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT to get a balcony to make the cruise SPECIAL...we are NOT spending a week in a broom closet for our only cruise vacation of the year!1 Next time off..MAY 2016 to Alaska..until then, only a few holidays ( X-Mas & New Year's & that's it for DW..)...

 

Big Al

But you have far more choices of ships etc you can drive to (and usually much better prices) 😉

Other things being equal (ship, itinerary etc) would you rather:

Cruise every year in an inside or cruise every other year in a balcony.

(You can adjust for your budget / vacation time - cruise twice a year inside or once per year balcony)

What about trying ipad

Not sure how ipad will help as I can access the vp but am getting error messages when I try to save our address. Suspect it is to do with being in Dubai on business.

That's more than likely the problem.

 

For example, when in the UK, if you try and access cunard.com it always takes you to cunard.co.uk. So I'd guess if you try cunard.co.uk from wherever you are it will re-direct you to that country's site and when you enter your booking details it does not tie up with that country's site and so it gives an error.

 

That's my guess anyway.

Will sort it when I am back in UK then. Just wanted to start planning while I am stuck away on a business trip esp as I have two more overseas work trips before we go away for Christmas cruise and am not home much for next 2 weeks. Could get husband to do it but I'm the holiday planner...

Maybe it's because I am overseas with work. Will see if husband can access it from home or I'll wait until I get back home. Just not home very much before we travel in 4 weeks.

Anyone else getting error messages on VP?

Hit the sales all along the 5th Avenue shops?

Maybe shopping in the morning and then a great lunch somewhere?

Top of the Rock in the afternoon? (wrap up warm!)

How about visiting a world-class museum or art gallery?

As you'll be up very early do doubt, shopping, lunch and then book a hotel room for a few hours sleep before heading for the airport (no-one will notice/bother if you don't stay overnight)

Skating outdoors in the winter snow (several venues I'm sure)?

One the world's greatest cities, a million things to do! (Most of which wouldn't even occur to me, but I bet someone here will think of them!)

 

Let us know what you end up doing, thanks :)

It will be my 9th trip to NY and our 3rd in 18 months so we've pretty much done all the must sees. We're also having 2 days before we join the ship so will do iceskating at Rockefeller Centre and Radio City Christmas spectacular then. Am more interested in transport to airport and storage of luggage (we will have about 18 bags - mixture of hold and hand luggage - between 6 of us).

take at least ONE good vacation every year & but don't be cheap on your vacation"...I try to do that always...

I live for my holidays (vacations) but always balance more holiday with quality of hotel / cruise cabin etc. We have just booked for Christmas on QM2 but as this our third vacation this year (4 weeks in New England /QM2 TA in summer, a week in Italy in autumn) we are having insides (my parents are having a balcony though so we will join them some of the time). It's different for us brits becuase we get more vacation time (I get 35 days plus public holidays) and I'd rather have an extra holiday!

Cunard have been known to supply Day rooms at a Hotel for Guests flying out on late flights.

Is this only for people booked on flight inclusive. We have a late (10pm) flight from newark and are wondering g what to do in January after the Christmas caribbean voyage.

And the flight inclusive is from London only so another £150+ supplement for flights from local airport.

Having read numerous postings about formality of attire I was surprised at how undressed up most people were especially during the daytime on out eastound TA in August. I took nice tea dresses for afternoon tea and having seen everyone in t shirts and shorts (and often not the nice knee length khaki's and we'll cut stylish t shirt or pool shirt). Similarly on I formal evenings I felt over dressed in cocktail dresses. We're on the QM2 for the Christmas / NY caribbean cruise and I'll be taking more casual wear (maxi dresses rather than evening gowns). Husband and son are still taking tuxes and ibwill get my mum to go to MDR on formal evenings (she'd noreally only do one or two on an 18 day voyage whereas I'd dress for dinner every evening if I could).