tag1000

Love following along.  Thanks for the menus and the pics.  Must admit I am a fussy eater or rather have limited tastes and this is the first menu on your trip  where I would not be able to chose.  Don’t like lamb, fish or mushrooms!    Not Cunard’s fault but rather mine.  It would be Kings Court in for me with those choices but that’s okay!  
 

Really appreciate the time and effort you are putting in to this and allowing us to travel along with you!

There does not seem to be a lot of transatlantic crossings in 2026 (from my very quick analysis)

The Stefan Batory!  Now that brings back memories.  Sailed on her as a kid from London to Montreal.   Bad storms, icebergs and sailing into Quebec City.  

Yes, yes and yes. 
 

I had to cancel two trips.  Once due to a sudden accident and once to sudden illness of my travelling partner.  It covered the both of us.   It was an easy one page document that the Doctor signed.   In fact the Doctor was surprised at how easy the insurance document was.  Then i fiilled out a form online with the voyage number and booking reference, uploaded the document the Doctor signed and a cheque arrived within three weeks.  Very hassle free. 
 

Is Cunard Care expense.  Perhaps. Insurance is always expensive if you don’t need it.   Very cheap if you do need it. 

Interesting question that I am grappling with.  I have a 12 year old dog who has done 10 crossing and always loved it.  We have a trip planned in the fall.  The difficulty is that my dog has developed congestive heart failure but the vet (a canine cardiologist) says she is healthy enough to go.  Complicating this, my dog has developed a tendency to faint (for lack of better word) if she gets overly excited or stressed or just out of the blue.  Vet can’t pinpoint a reason.

I will probably end up cancelling cause I don’t want to risk her health.  Bad run of luck for me and the QM2: COVID, then had to cancel the past two years due to health problems in the human family and now the dog.   

My dogs always loved the kennels but I have seen dogs who have had a hard time.  

The kennel masters always take good care with the dogs and cats!

2 hours ago, amias said:

Tag1000 (post 82) requested that we report back on what happened about the return cruise we had booked for later in May. Since Cunard couldn't get us over there, we would therefore have to cancel the return trip.  Happy to report that Cunard have waived cancellation fees for that crossing despite it being paid in full and past cancellation date. We are still in the dark about OBC and hotel fees which were including with our original booking.  Have been told to call back next week when the dust has settled a bit and hope for a positive answer.

Thanks so much for getting back to me.   Glad they did that.   It is the right thing to do!

25 minutes ago, amias said:

We are among those affected. Were due to sail from NY to S'Hampton next Sunday.  Thankfully we have been able to make other arrangements for sailing, but are told that we will lose the OBC and hotel charges which were complimentary when we booked almost a year ago.  It was not our choice to cancel this crossing (and not Cunards 'choice' obviously) but why should we forgo the benefits as booked? In addition were booked to return to US later in the month of May but now Cunard cannot get us to the UK meaning that the return journey cannot now be undertaken. Waiting to hear whether or not we will have to pay full price for 'cancelling' the return portion of the voyage. No answer from Cunard rep today. Anyone else in the same position?

That really is an interesting question. I have taken the QM2 to England, vacationed and then travelled back.  If they cancelled the journey to England then the return would be moot.  For personal reasons I can not fly.  
 

Keep us posted as to what happens!

I live in Canada and I would visit the local vet 5 days before travel.  They would give the tape worm and fill in the documents. Then I would drive to a CFIA office (USDA equivalent) were they would review the documents, sign it and then put on the stamp.  They are meticulous in verifying everything.  I would drive to New York (which is only a day away).  At the cruise terminal Cunard then check everything very carefully.   Now here is the interesting part.   In the five times I have arrived in the UK, DEFRA only met the ship once and checked the paperwork once.   Of course this is all before BREXIT and Covid. 

Hello Anne.  I have taken my dogs on the QM2 ten times (five times in each direction).   It  would have been more—but you know—Covid!!   

I could go into a lot of detail—but suffice to say that Cunard and the Kennel Masters do an excellent job.   
 

Lots of visiting time.  Great facilities and the best views of the sea.  
 

Now I do know that some dog owners might not feel the same but it works for me and my dogs!!

The only stressful part is making sure you have the right papers for entry to to the UK.  I had just perfected it and then Brexit happened.   With Covid I have not entered the UK with my dogs since the rules changed.  
 

My big worry is that I travel on the QM2 from NYC to Southampton and then on to Ireland (and then in reverse coming home).  I think the rules of travelling with pets between the UK and Ireland have changed now and what was once seamless is now complicated.   We shall see!

Anyway—I have had nothing but a good experiences with my dogs on the QM2!

All being well—travelling in October 2022.  Covid please go away!!

Yes, yes and yes.  Last year I had two transatlantic crossings booked.   One week before the first one my travelling companion had to have emergency surgery.  Had to cancel this trip.   Recovery went very well and everything was set for the next cruise five months later.  Then days before the second one my travelling companion had a fall and hip surgery ensued.  Hence a second cancelled crossing.  
 

I had purchased Cunard Care(luckily).  Claiming involved a one page form, the Doctor’s signature and uploading it to a website.  The claim was settled very quickly and the fares refunded.  So in my situation or rather situations-it worked very well. 

Now I know my credit card has travel insurance but I always hear stories about how it can be hard to claim.  
 

In my experience Cunard Care was very easy to deal with.  Hopefully I never ever have to use it again!
 

Of course I was really really really looking forward to a trip I booked this year.  Of course that did not work well.  
 

Fingers crossed for 2021!

No cars or vans. 

Although I knew it was going to happen, seeing my May transatlantic get cancelled  was still sad  (and with C19 I would not have gone should have gone ahead anyway)
 

In time I am sure everything will return to relative normal and I can’t wait for the rush of excitement that comes with that first step off of the gangplank and onto the QM2!    

It appears that this indeed is the case. 
 

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.businessinsider.com/leaked-audio-cunard-cruises-queen-victoria-has-cases-of-covid-19-2020-4%3famp

Ah rust!  A couple of years ago I did a transatlantic and I had a balcony cabin on deck 11 towards the aft.  Now “the wall” (for lack of a better word) that divides the back open decks from the superstructure  was a brilliant white (and of course punctuated by the black “stripes”).   Over the course of the 7 days you could see the rust forming and tarnishing the white.  By the time of arrival in Southampton you would have thought it had not been painted in years yet only 7 days before it was perfect.  Travelling back a week later it had all been touched up.  So all in all “rust” happens!

Hi!  Those little guys eating the chicken are mine (the gluttons)!

You do not need to walk your dog on a lead(you can if you want to).   They have the whole side and back deck to run around.  The back part is great for running up and down with your dog.   The nice thing is that all the excitement tends to make the dogs tired and by 8:30 pm they are ready for bed!   I have always noticed that for the first two days all the dogs are pretty excited as they get used to the new routine but after a while become super "chill" and relaxed.

Hi Zoe,   I have taken my dogs on the QM2 a total of ten times.  The kennels ...in my humble opinion ...are excellent.  First of all the Kennel Masters are excellent.  I have had Kennel Master Oliver each time and I can not speak more highly of him.  There is also a second Kennel Master now. They take such good care of the dogs.  There is plenty of space to exercise and play with your dogs.  There are lots of visiting hours throughout the day. 

Here is a great video (in French).  At the 16 minute mark there is a tour of the kennels(small disclaimer:  my little dogs are in it!)

https://youtu.be/kTnihBslQZQ

Hi.  The automatic tip does not include your dog.  I always tip the kennel masters at the end of the voyage.   They are remarkable!

I have done this several times.  The last was in June.    In NYC they usually funnel the passengers with dogs to a special booth.  There you go through the normal customs/immigration.   I am Canadian and this part is very quick.   A USDA will be hanging around to look at the rabies certificate and that is it.  Total time to look at the rabies certificate is perhaps 30 seconds.   I had two dogs the last time I went through and the agent only looked at one certificate for one dog.  I went to show him the second certificate but he said something along the lines of “I am sure that if you have one certificate then you have both” which of course I did.   On previous times they did check both rabies certificates.  There has never been any ask to see a fit to travel certificate but I always have everything.    One thing: I know you can’t bring dog food in with you. The one time I did have food I let the agent know I only had enough for one meal and they said “ok”.   Always found the USDA agents very pleasant. 

On 12/26/2018 at 7:01 AM, luckymal said:

It is not always the children’s fault for creating trouble, but their parents failing to check their problems.🙄

This reminds me of one time I was having lunch in the Britannia Restaurant.   Two children were emptying the salt and peppers shakers on to the table cloth while their parents simply watched.  The waiter came by and took the salt and pepper shakers and said “that is not done on Cunard”.  The parents just shrugged while the children were speechless.   I had a silent chuckle!  

Thanks for the updates of your trip.  My favourite so far is the mention of the sausage rolls.  They are so good!!!

Question about this:  is the requirement that each person buying a package mandatory?  I always bought the soft drink package but the person I travel with would not benefit from any of the packages as they really only drink tea. 

My two dogs absolutely agree with the lovely staff and would like to add another one to the list:  fantastic deck facilities!!

Food is so subjective.   I was on the QM2 this past June and I found the food perfect in Britannia.  That said, there was a couple next to me who hated absolutely everything that was put in front on them.  Seriously everything went back to the kitchen and their behaviour was vile.   Made everyone around them so uncomfortable.  What was particularly awful was the way they spoke to the waiters.  To their credit the waiters were so professional- not even blinking an eye.   How they held their tongue was beyond me.  Even the head waiter got an earful but he was also so professional  Again for me I found each meal was wonderful!!

Hi! Yes you can bring toys and bedding for your pet. I also bring their food bowls but they always have lots on board. Also: they have lots of bedding as well. I am not sure about litter boxes and litter cause I have dogs. The reason I bring bedding, toys and bowls is due to the fact that my dogs will be familiar with them. Do they really care? I am not sure!! I do bring their favourite treats-that they care about!

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Absolutely gorgeous!

For me part of the allure of a transatlantic is getting to see such amazing sights. The moon across the water is something to truly see.

Leaving Southampton this year the sunset was incredible. The sky was red and the water was an incredible shade of pink. It was absolutely intoxicating.

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