nightfires

Regarding early/late dining, the early show time on my Alaska cruise was 8:30 so you would miss that if you opted for late dining. There is the late show. I said on another thread I’m considering fixed dining on my next cruise. I like sharing a table and I found open dining meant I was often eating alone. Tables for 2 were much easier to find. This is the opposite of my experience on P & O.

I agree with @MrsPeel55make sure you fill in the form. I have done this since I returned to cruising in 2021. I have found when waiting for assistance other people have turned up and are not on the list. They seem very put out that they will have to wait until those who booked ahead are disembarked. WRT tenders they always invite you to attend a meeting where they explain the process and then test you can step across the gap using a mat on the floor. I braved a tender for the first time in July and the crew were lovely making sure I was ok. @Victoria2 I book assistance even though I can walk around the ship. It is very difficult to judge on embarkation/ disembarkation how far I will have to walk, whether there will be seats to break the journey and how much standing in a queue is required. I will always say if I can walk the distance. Whilst it may look like I am ok walking on board what people don’t realise/see is I allow extra time and have carefully planned routes that allow me to break the journey and sit for a few minutes. They also may see me on a good day or a bad day and if I have taken medication I also go through the wrong door into the Britannia dining room so I can sit on the chairs. I don’t queue jump, I wait for everyone standing in the queue to be seated first. When on excursions I am last off the bus as it takes me longer so I don’t hold people up. There will always be people who misuse the assistance service, but most of us really do need and value it.

@rakkor I know I can eat elsewhere, but I personally feel impolite if I don’t tell table mates which means it limits my spontaneity.

Obviously I was misinformed. Either way it was a nice touch.

😀

Exactly. Breakfast was slightly better as I nearly always got a sharing table. I am torn about my 19 night Japan cruise next year. I may opt for set dining, even though in my view it is more restrictive. I like being able to eat at other venue’s or have room service depending on how I’m feeling on the night.

I did open dining on the QE 7-17 July Cruise. As a frequent solo traveller on P&O I am used to open dining. I also get seated quickly as I am happy to share a table. The wait is nearly always for couples wanting a table for 2. I was disappointed to find on QE open dining very rarely had sharing tables at night. As other posters have said sometimes the table for 2 I was allocated enabled me to chat to neighbouring tables.

@mitch33 A key factor is how popular a cruise is. I am booked on the 19 night from Tokyo in March 2024. If I search this cruise appears to be sold out as it’s no longer appearing. I spoke to one of the entertainment crew ( not sure of title but organising Captains Drinks) and she said Japan cruises are very popular with the Japanese. I think destination and timing are very relevant. I was on the Alaska Cruise (07/07/23) and several passengers I spoke to were from Vancouver and had got a last minute deal. There are bargains but if you want to do a particular cruise you have to accept you may pay for guaranteeing cruise and cabins etc.

Disembarked QE on 17th July. We had a Captain’s welcome in the Queen’s Room with drinks and Canapé’s, apparently it was the first one since Covid. Very nicely done as it was my first one as a Gold member. Our top loyalty member had 690 nights! I felt sorry for the 2nd one who only had about 620 nights. Ot was Masquerade night so lots of people really made an effort.

Thanks for replying. I’m on the ship excursion but can only walk short distances and I wanted an idea of how far to walk to the boat. If there is a bus they should get us fairly close.

Hi For those who have been to Sitka before how close is the Sea Otter cruise departure point from the ship? Thank you

@BertieRulesOKThank you for the link.

@GOQ I have similar mobility issues as I can’t walk far and can’t stand for too long. Firstly, I am quite patient so will sit and wait. For airports I always pre-book the assistance. Gatwick is wonderful as they have call points and will get you to where ever you need to go. Heathrow is more mixed, but with patience they always get you there. A tip is if you are travelling with a partner book them in for assistance too, I have seen couples only book one space and then when the use the Ambulift or electric buggies there are not enough spaces. Partners can still walk along side so aren’t using a wheelchair, it’s where you need seats it matters. On board, I navigate around the ship via the bars which always have seats. This allows me to rest. Using the theatre, I book and get there before the doors open and find the nearest seat - bar or on deck, and wait till the initial queue has gone in. You can’t always see the queue so I pop and check every 5/10 minutes. I then use the allocated rows/ seats near the entrance. If there are steps there is also usually a ramp but this is less obvious going into the theatre. Lifts - after a show I either find somewhere to sit, bar, deck or the casino is often near by or I sit on the stairs and wait. I also will take a lift going in the wrong direction e.g. grow down a floor then go up etc. can be quicker. MDR - I use the app so hopefully can bypass the main queue. I also choose to share a table which can make it easier to be seated promptly. I will also find a seat where I can see the queue or just pop found a corner when it gets to a handful of people in the queue I then stand. Some ships do have chairs by the booking desk, I have sat on those and waited. I would consider by passing the queue and asking for a chair as the staff are usually obliging. Buffet - I avoid if at all possible or use out of rush hour. Staff will help to carry trays etc. I also use the pay restaurants as usually you pre book so no queuing, Excursions - I find the lack of info about how far you have to walk very challenging. I pick the low activity ones which do state how much walking. However, what they don’t include is how far you have to walk to the coaches etc. I do agree seats where you queue would make a difference. Hope that helps.

Recently flown to Tenerife and on check in was asked about lithium batteries and I said does my electric toothbrush (Braun electric) count. The response was “yes it must go in your hand luggage not the hold”. Thankfully it was a fairly simple switch as it was near the zip but even the assistance person was shocked it went in cabin baggage.

I agree, I can’t imagine someone not wanting to post because they were “only” a Britannia passenger. People chose their entry point based on many factors and it is not always about budget.

Hi exlondoner, not press ganged. I joined QE in San Francisco and disembarked in Barcelona on 22 August. I was in a Britannia balcony so happy to answer any questions. The embarkation process in San Francisco was lengthy and took a long time to get on board. I do prefer the register with your muster station and watch the video in your cabin safety briefing. No listening to the please don’t put on your life jackets watch the crew demonstration followed by rippppppp as everyone ignores the instruction. I think QE was at about 50% - 60% capacity which meant you always got a seat in the theatre and dining venues. I once had to wait a couple of minutes to get a table in the Golden Lion but other than that it was very pleasant on board. I even used the lido buffet, I tend to avoid it as a single traveller it can be difficult when busy, and there was no issue getting and keeping a table. We were initially required to wear masks for the first few days but this ended up being enforced for the full cruise. There was Covid on board and I caught it and whilst isolation wasn’t ideal I still had a good holiday. During isolation I was given that days lunch and dinner menus to chose from so I was able to have the gala meals etc. The rest of the time I tended to do Breakfast and Dinner in the Britannia restaurant, I prefer the table service. I was on a shared table at early sitting and we had a good table making for lively conversation. We were always out in plenty of time for the show. There was a good selection on the menu and despite being a slightly fussy eater I always had a nice meal. I find the soups in particular are very good. Hope this is useful info.

Finally got to Europe so I’ve now got 5G and can update. After the 2 days eating in my room I was allowed to rejoin my table. Since then it’s been fine for me. Im on a B2B with about half of the passengers. After we left Fort Lauderdale we were not allowed into Bermuda then we had another round of increasing Covid infections. So throughout the full cruise masks have been worn, laundrettes shut for the last few days, lifts were restricted to 4 people for a few days but this has now been lifted. This is my fourth cruise post Covid and I will definitely be cruising again (already got 2 booked and planning a further 2). Overall I have had a good holiday and it was only really the unusual decision to allow me out and about but not to eat in MDR that left me fed up for a day. QE has been about half full which makes cruising so nice, no queues, always able to get a seat, even the buffet (a place I avoid) has been quiet with no problems taking your time and getting a table. My view is that Covid is here to stay and, like norovirus and flu, there will be times on board that stricter measures are put in place. If you are not planning to cruise until the potential of face masks and all measures cease I think you may already have had your last cruise. If you are happy to wear face masks and accept that you may have some restrictions and, like norovirus, may catch Covid then go for it.

I accepted the risk and had no issue with isolation. The point I am making is I can run around the ship breathing on all the surfaces, I can go in the spa, the pool, the theatre etc. but I cannot sit and eat a meal.

As the title says I’m in Covid isolation and despite 2 negative tests I’m not allowed to eat in the dining room for another 2 days! I started feeling unwell on the night of the 27/28 July so asked for a test which was negative. They asked me to isolate for 24 hours, which I did. On 29th I tested positive so as of today (6th August) I’ve spent 9 days in isolation so far. I had negative tests yesterday and today but apparently whilst I can go anywhere on the ship or ashore I can only eat in my Cabin. How ridiculous. As a solo traveller I look forward to the chat at dinner. I’ve already lost so much of my holiday already why add on another 2 days?