ddgarner1

On 11/3/2023 at 6:45 AM, exlondoner said:

You are going to cancel a whole month’s cruise(s) because of a slight over boarding, which is a pretty small part of the whole experience. Isn’t that a little disproportionate? However, for you, as there is scope for so much more unhappiness over minor episodes, particularly on a new ship, it may well be the right thing to do.

If a group of people did this, it might send Cunard management an apparently needed message. 

I wear a similar wide shoe and purchased a patent leather shoe at Harrods in 2018 for the Last Night of the PROMS at RAH. I've since replaced them and can't recall the brand. 

https://www.harrods.com/en-gb/shopping/christian-louboutin-greggo-patent-oxford-shoes-16592670

13 hours ago, Pushpit said:

13 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

 

That's a relatively well known mental health set

I can't imagine that if you are candid with the Maître d', not only will you get your requested table, but you are likely to regularly get the same waiter/staff. They've seen it all, and in my experience (a serious Garlic allergy), the staff will do their best to ensure you have a great dining experience. I was at a large table with a number of solo professionals (including the UK immigration officer and the scheduled concert pianist.  At both lunch and dinner the waiter would quietly whisper in my eye what he recommended or what the chef was prepared to make just for me and one other person somewhere in the dining room with a similar issue. 

5 hours ago, Host Hattie said:

Not loud music but you can hear furniture and sun loungers being moved

And it's a real drag when your ceiling begins to leak... 
(I've never noticed any noise during what I'd describe as an "inconvenient" time throughout the day/night. When I'm in the room, I usually have classical music playing softly in the background and rarely notice any extraneous sounds. A bump against the wall to the adjoining cabin is more frequent and noticeable.)

Maybe he should just wear scrubs with a bow tie.  At least there might be some genuine laughter at his appearance rather than disdain from some stalwarts for his being under dressed. 

Full disclosure:  I travel on Cunard specifically for the opportunity to dress formally. We are also members of a private club where formal dress for regular events is mandatory. 

An amazing woman, born to duty, who lived her best life for her country and the Commonwealth.  As a profoundly respectful Anglophile, I'm deeply saddened today.  

In my adult life I have never known any other words to the UK National Anthem than "God Save the Queen."  I don't know that I will easily adjust my natural inclination of instant respect for Her Majesty the song inspires.  Nonetheless:  

God Save the King! 

My complaints are only with the passengers.  The cheek of those who wear a clip on bow tie with their rental tux.  The real thing is not expensive;  you're not too old to learn to tie one.   It's embarrassing when some of the crew even tie their own bow ties.  

We've been exploring our options for an early Fall cruise/crossing, but until Cunard has one policy for all ships operating in international waters, we'll opt for a Month in London and again enjoy the BBC Proms.  Since there is consistently more info here than is available from Cunard's TAs or on their website, it's not yet time for us to return to the high seas.  

14 hours ago, Lakesregion said:

There is nothing more intimidating to a casually under attired couple than having to dine with a traditionally attired solo male. Scares them silly.

I was about to book my first solo transatlantic since the onset of COVID, but I'm glad I read your post before doing so.  I have no interest in being a head waiter's afterthought nightly at second seating.

During my last crossing I happily found myself at a second seating table with the most interesting collection of solo travelers including a concert pianist, and incredible well read international tour bus driver (and retired banker) from Glasgow, a highly successful real estate agent, a professional ballroom dancer and the absolutely delightful UK Customs & Immigration Officer who efficiently processed all of us entering the UK -- without having to stand in line with all the other passengers...  They made the voyage one to remember. 

My last experience was motivation to do it all again on route to a few weeks in London attending PROMS events, including a great seat at Royal Albert Hall for the Last Night of the Proms.  Now I have to decide if that quick overnight flight from the US to Heathrow isn't better than rolling the dice for dinner companions nightly.



 

Thanks to all for your comments.

I never seem to see a solo cabin availability when I book the QM2.  Curious if the cabins are always booked by the time I search or if anyone has had luck finding their availability?  Is there a secret hack to find their availability (Kb particularly)?  I usually end up booking a "normal" cabin and paying double.   TIA

A PCR test is a "rapid test" but previously the test needed to be sent to a qualified lab for processing.  Some pharmacies like Walgreens now have the equipment or nearby contract entity available to process the test in 15-30 minutes.  It's the same as the old test, but without the time required to send it to the lab and then have the results uploaded to the originating locations and customer, covering about two days of waiting time.

As the Pentagon's former Chief of International Science and Technology, I keep up on the logistics associated with testing.  I'm not surprised that Viking's staff may not all be aware of the latest information, although they clearly should be.  

Solo dining is a deal breaker for me.  It's not worth it paying twice the fare and eating for one...   When Cunard and the governments involved make some sense of it all, I'll be back for a yearly crossing and a lovely month in London. 

My fondest memories of Cunard TAs are the evenings getting to know nine interesting people.  Each one remains memorable to me, even the lady from Florida who expressed disappointment that there were so few ballroom dancers amongst our table.

On 1/10/2021 at 7:42 PM, Austcruiser84 said:

So I am looking at booking a Sept 2022 TA and the current deal offered is very good, including very good OBC.
 

Problem is (and I had this confirmed by phone) that under current rules, as a solo passenger I must eat alone and I cannot socialise with anyone on board at any time. The agent seemed surprised I’d sail solo (disappointing that Cunard isn’t being proactive about us solo travellers - we are a sizeable market). 
 

That’s really putting me off booking. While I hope that that will totally change by then, I just don’t know if it is worth taking the risk. I expect some degree of COVID measures in place on board in 2022 as a lot of the world still won’t be vaccinated. I’m fine with more spacing etc, but to basically isolate solo passengers? I may as well stay home. 

Lots of interesting, cogent replies above, and I've expressed concerns somewhat similar to those of the OG in the past.   I travel solo across the Atlantic because, whole I love that experience on the QM2, my wife finds the experience boring -- she's a social animal who loves exploring every stop.  She can do Alaska cruise with a friend or two while I enjoy ballroom dancing, the QM2 choir and exploring the bars and lectures.  

We're both planners, so rather that guess that Cunard will do its best to meet my solo interests -- eventually -- we're planning an extended land stay and back-to-back Viking cruises instead for 2021/2022.          


 

45 minutes ago, Lanky Lad said:

I am sure a lot of solo travelers will feel the same.  

 

The only way round that I can see, would be to link up with someone before you travel so you can sit with them for meals. 

Well, if you can recommend a currently solo lady of wealth and intellect, I'm in...  I'd probably be a great disappointment to her, though.  LOL

4 hours ago, oskidunker said:

You would rather take chance and dine with people you do not know? Seems like a reasonable rule. Get another couple to travel with you and then you can eat at their table. 

No, it is not an unreasonable rule, but it is one, that now as a solo traveler, would render the experience valueless to me. 

Since my first cruise with family in the early 1980s, multiple European river cruises, and transatlantic crossing on the QM II, the most pleasurable experiences have been in meeting and getting to know people with whom I dined -- from concert pianist to long-haul bus driver from Glascow, to owners of one of two stop light manufacturing companies in the USA, to a very, very senior person at the CIA.  The prospect of being confined to a solo cabin and then dining solo, well, I may as well stay home.  Cunard will offer me nothing of particular until things return to normal, otherwise, my cruise days are likely over.

Hoping my next cruise will be across two months so that I can have a whiskey, neat, at departure and another on the evening before departure.  (I only get one drink a month, thanks to my blood pressure meds.) 

It's simply a serene experience. Once you are out of sight of land, the world simply seems to stop.  Having been on numerous cruises a couple of decades ago with family and friends, I find I prefer the quiet elegance of the QM 2 experience.  The only advice I really can offer is that if you do not now regularly negotiate the dance floor, then take a few lessons before you leave home -- and please dress for dinner. A quality tux and and elegant evening gown make a statement about your world view, and the QM 2 is the perfect place to enjoy the life you have built.  

It's just about impossible not to make new friends for life on the liner.   

I did the NY to Southampton crossing solo and in an interior cabin 2 years ago on the QM2.  I found myself at a table for 8 which included a classical pianist who would be performing during the cruise, the UK customs official for the cruise and her friend, the most interesting man on the ship from Glascow, who had retired to become a long-haul bus driver, a lady who was "her for the dancing," a rather flamboyant real estate agent from the Northeast USA, and  a rather rotund older gentleman from the USA who was taking his first cruise after the passing of his wife.   Each of us had interesting stories to tell and all were polite listeners.  By the third evening, we all felt like old friends. 

Being solo is what you make of it.  There is the solo travelers meeting mentioned above that I attended once and found I preferred to use the spa, participate in yoga, join the volunteer chorus and hanging out at the bar as the best place to meet people.  There are so many activities aboard ship during the day that you will find your "dance card" full, if you choose to do so. 

Solo cruising is really all about choice.  I joined an older couple at lunch on day who were delightful and exceedingly shy.  The said I was the first person in three days to engage them in a conversation.  After that point, I realized I was going to invest the next hour in getting to know their children, grandchildren and family pets in addition to learning all about how the local government in some small place in Essex was not up to snuff.  I lost my parents years ago, and with these two, I felt right at home. 

DG

9 hours ago, dodger1964 said:

I don't know why they would have arrested the captain of the viking ship if the other ship did what you say...

 

Viking hasn't been great on safety...at least I haven't read about other lines having 2 deadly crashes...maybe there have been others, but Viking really needs to figure out what needs to be changed. 

It's Europe. In some countries they arrest (or pre-arrest), then they investigate.  

Two crashes in three months is only significant if there is a nexus between the incidents or it can be demonstrated that there is a systemic training deficiency within Viking.  If the 70 yr old sightseeing vessel turned to port immediately in front of the Viking longboat, then the challenge for authorities is in determining if the Sigyn had time to reverse engines, had room to turn hard to port to avoid the smaller vessel, or if the Sigyn was "following" too closely for safe operation with pax aboard. Then, there are the political realities of the South Korean government's expectations which may or may not have a relationship to the facts as they evolve from the investigation.   

Whatever the outcome of the investigation may be, it a tragic event with the loss of like among so many of the South Korean tourists. Perhaps not of equal weight, but not to be forgotten, is that there likely are many on the Longship, both cast and crew, who will carry the emotional scars of this disaster for years.

In addition to most of the others mentioned, we enjoy the Mandarin Oriental which is reopening very soon, at GBP 1850 for a suite, and Rosewood, London, 252 High Holborn St, (the former Marriott Renaissance, and my "home" in London for nearly two years in the late 1990s) at GB  P 1400.  Both provide personalized "Queens Grill" level service.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g186338-d193108-Reviews-Rosewood_London-London_England.html#photos;aggregationId=&albumid=14&filter=7&ff=281915632

Personally, if the ship were boarded by pirates, I'd go to the bar.  I wouldn't want to miss the party. 

It would not be pleasant sharing a table for a week with such passengers. 
Greedy snowflakes at that...

Ferry to Pier 11/Wall Street and walk to the September 11 Memorial is the way to go.  It's an 18 minute walk via Wall Street from the ferry to the memorial.  Why?  You never know from day to day if the commute by taxi will be 30 minutes or 1.5 hours, both ways.  Walking and ferry times are predictable which is important given that you don't want to miss QM2's departure from Red Hook.       

On 1/13/2019 at 6:04 AM, notamermaid said:

Koblenz does not have a cathedral. I assume you mean Cologne?

 

I agree, May is a nice month for going on a river cruise.

 

The Other Tom,

you could join the roll call where you will find tips by many cruisers. It will likely be a roll call for this itinerary rather than your individual sailing but that gives you enough enthusiasts you exchange information with.

 

notamermaid

 

Yes, Cologne.  At my age, I'm lucky to have any memory at all... 

Thanks for the correction.