ClefsDor

What's to stop someone using an old negative RAT test and displaying it in a photo with a clock and ID? Seems rather silly - either request a supervised RAT test or have no test required for vaccinated and boostered passengers.

Thanks, sfred. "24 hour self administered RAT test" - doesn't sound like it needs to be a supervised one but then how will they know when it was taken? We board on a Monday and only arrive in Perth on Sunday, so if a supervised test is required we better start looking for a pharmacy in Perth we can go to on Monday morning!

This does seem very harsh and it will only lead to people not coming forward to test when on board and feeling unwell.

Does anyone know if a supervised RAT test to board in Australia is 48 hours or 72 hours prior to sailing?

8 hours ago, DCCruiser57 said:

Cruisemapper.com states the Muse is adrift awaiting orders and the Shadow is enroute to Singapore.  Hard to believe that SS has 2 ships that are not operational.

I agree. It's hard to understand the logic behind this decision. However if it means the Muse will be fully staffed, Covid free and spick and span for it's first cruise on December 2, which we will be on then I'm all for it 😃

Thanks for the heads up. Just went online and changed our preference to open dining. We're one of the minority on this board who find early too early and late too late. When I chose open dining however it said that tis would not be confirmed until we board., not sure why? 

I didn’t realise there was such a thing as a free upgrade list. We are on a waitlist and paying the difference in cost for any category that frees up. 

I know this is a question that no one will be able to answer accurately but I’m hoping others experience will allow me to set my expectations realisitcly.

So, we're booked o a short 8 day cruise in November. We are waitlist for all Princess Grill categories and all bar one Queens Grill categories.  My TA was told by Cunad that we are 6th on the waiting list but wouldn’t clarify for which category. Has anyone who has been on a waiting list with this sort of number of people in the queue been cleared? We’re crossing fingers and toes for a QG suite to open up but would be thrilled with PG too.

Thanks, carlmm!

Can you please let me know if late dining on the cruise you are on is fixed or open? Many thanks

On a side note, my TA asked her SS rep about the restaurant closures that were widely reported on the Muse during August/Sept (Atlantide closed for lunch and only very occasionally open for breakfast and Kaiseki closed every lunch time). SS said all restaurants would resume advertised opening hours from the restart in Singapore unless there is a large covid outbreak. I assume that there won't be one for a while as the ship should be covid free before any passengers board on Dec 2.

Yes, I know a silly thing to be thinking about at this stage but it does appear odd that according to the deck plans there are only 2 guest laundries - one on deck 10 and the other on deck 11. I'm hoping the deck plans are not accurate and that they have a guest laundry on each passenger deck. Seabourn made the mistake of only having one laundry when they launched Encore and they soon had to make modifications and increase the amount. Would save a lot of time and money to just put enough in now.

Thanks for the feedback. We will do the drinks package (I think ours is thrown in as part of the booking as we use a TA based in the States). I'm sure there may be times we buy a bottle but if we have the drinks package we will predominantly just use that and it sounds like we won't be the odd ones out if we do. 

Just wondering if many people purchase drinks packages when they travel in the Grill categories or do most people purchase bottle(s) of wine with their meals? I realise wines by the glass that are included in the drinks package are somewhat limited but if one does choose to go this route in the Grill dining rooms will this be problematic for wait staff and/or seen as being a bit out of the ordinary?

This explanation makes no sense. If that is a CDC directive why isn't there a large venue shut on the other SS ships? It makes no sense to have a large venue closed due to Covid CDC guidelines at lunch but then have it open for breakfast and dinner! I believe Kaiseki has also been closed at lunch. I do wish senior crew would be more transparent about the reasons for closures such as these. I am hoping that after the dry dock in Singapore whatever staffing or covid issues are related to these closures are fixed. If they are going to have one of the main dining areas that are advertised as being available at lunch closed then they need to inform their passengers accordingly.

Thanks for the detailed and very useful review. Happy to hear especially that you were pleased with the food in the Britannia dining room. Did you do a drinks package? Also, what is the price for booking a box in the theatre and how far in advance does one need to book? Are there any other benefits when you book a box? TIA

So great to see someone posting from the QE. Looking forward to following along. 

7 hours ago, exlondoner said:

What I'd like at present is more reports on QE, since she left Alaska. Perhaps HH could organise some sort of pressgang? 😀

I totally agree. We are going on our first Cunard cruise on QE in early November and would love to hear from passengers who were recently onboard. I'm reading lots of posts from QV and QM2, which I am thoroughly enjoying, but would love to hear (even post cruise) if all is well and good on the good ship Queen Elizabeth

4 hours ago, Canuker said:

The Britannia club dining room on our recent QE cruise has as exciting as a mortuary.

But then some folk buy in exactly for that reason: quet and (in terms of fellow guests) spacious.

Me, I go for a ten-seat table, second shift,  in the main dining room.

It's interesting to hear everyone's take on the Britannia dining room. I certainly agree that from the pictures and videos I have seen of the dining room it looks very elegant so I am sure the ambience will definitely be pleasing and from what others have said the food should be fine too but maybe a notch down in terms of choice compared to Britannia Club.

Thanks for the explantations. I have a feeling that the QE in November will have the traditional early and late seating times. We are waitlisted for late seating and really hoping it clears as I can not imagine eating at 6.00pm. Our sweet spot is 7.00pm or 7.30 pm so a 7.45pm sitting sounds perfect. I wonder if it's still traditional late seating if we could enter at 7.45 (if we clear the waiting list)?

12 hours ago, lindylooellalouise said:

we were on the QE in April and late sitting freedom dinning was available and we loved it.

Can you explain what late sitting freedom doing means? We are waitlisted for late seating on a November cruise on QE and would love it if we were able to dine flexibly but not sure if that is what you experienced in April? TIA

I was under the impression that casual nights were only on the first and last night of the cruise hence the allowance to wear jeans - first evening one might not have unpacked completely or had a chance to press any items and last night because most people will wear what they are going to wear the next day as suitcases are already packed. Makes sense on these nights for jeans to be worn. 

3 hours ago, elmsliebev said:

there's no menu but one night none of the starters appealed to me so I asked for a prawn cocktail and got it with no problem. I think Cesaer salad and tomato soup are always available. Not sure about mains but I've previously heard that grilled salmon or chicken are.

Thanks - handy to know.

Whilst we're on the subject of menus does anyone know if kippers are available in the Britannia Restaurant at breakfast?

8 hours ago, exlondoner said:

Plus of course the rarely advertised 'always available'.

I don't think there is an always available menu in Britannia restaurant?

4 hours ago, LB_NJ said:

What type of booking do you have?  Guarantee room?

It's not a guarantee room and we didn't opt for the no upgrade option either. My TA spoke to Cunard and the cabin we originally chose was upgraded by one category (not sure why). I saw this change and was aware of it as my TA had informed me but yesterday when I looked on line we were upgraded again by one category and then today it reverted back to the cabin my TA had told me about. Just seemed strange to have the room assignments keep changing.