LittleFish1976

I can't speak to the 'two-hour pass' although it presumably exists but the day, and multi-day passes certainly *do* exist. I don't see that the existence of one precludes the existence of the other. They would be the prices you see on the screenshot you've posted although (from memory) they have special rates advertised sometimes in the daily programme. Either way, you can go to the spa desk and book it once you're on board. I've used the multi-day pass and for me it was acceptable value. It depends how much you like being in a spa and how much use you'll get out of it. The day passes allow you to enter the spa area at any time they're open on the day or days for which you have the pass and spend as long as you like there. The two hour pass does what it says on the tin, I guess.

I've found that opening the maps app on my i-phone will show me where in the world I am. I only thought of this now as I discovered the function while I was at sea off the coast of Norway a few years ago. It's absolutely fascinating to see exactly where you are especially along that particular convoluted coast line. By the way, Bergen is a lovely city. I hope you enjoy your visit there.

A decent mask will very much protect the wearer!

I also ditched most make-up as a consequence of all our prolonged lockdowns here over the last couple of years, along with certain foundation garments! 😌

So glad your big trip is finally here. Don't forget those of us looking for vicarious adventures - we're looking forward to reading all about it!

I'm pretty mystified as to why doing the washing brings out some people's worst selves. 👿 Maybe the newer, larger laundry rooms will be big enough to each have a Machine Marshall who can keep a close eye on the bad manners on display there.

I was just about to suggest this, Lissie. It's more efficient in some ways to have fewer, larger laundries albeit a bit inconvenient to not have one on the same level as one's cabin.

I have to disagree with you about the food on Cunard. It's a matter of taste, and what you're accustomed to. I much prefer the Britishness of the Cunard cuisine to the American-style food on lines which I believe are (or were) considered 'luxury' by the industry, such as Crystal. I shan't go into much detail as I have no wish to insult anyone but one small example was Crystal's inability to cook a decent crepes suzette (fat, mushy pancakes have no place being called crepes suzette). There's no room for individual preference in that example - it was just poor cooking.

You just need to speak to the maitre d' if you have any request to change.

The booking confirmation you receive always shows your age at the time of sailing.

Must apply at least 3 weeks prior to sailing according to their most recent advice.

Think you'd better change the status of the idea to 'really something', Roscoe! If I'm understanding your post, you believe you can only use the benefit once per financial year? This is not the case. It may be this sentence that got you - ' Only one onboard credit per shareholder-occupied stateroom. I take that to mean that if two passengers are occupying the one cabin, there will only be one shareholder benefit of OBC applied to that cabin/those passengers on that particular booking. Suppose they get off the ship and travel around Sth America for a few weeks then get back on board a Carnival - or preferably a Cunard 😉 - ship, then they will have applied and received their OBC for their next adventure. They (Carnival) renew the approval of the benefit, as a company to their shareholders, every financial year so I believe that is why they state that 'applications must be received by 23rd February, 2023'. That would be for this current (US) financial year which I understand runs 1st May to 30th April (?) in the USA. So if you make two separate bookings for B2B, you can request OBC for each of them, as another example of how it works. This, at least, is my understanding of how it all works. I think it's a nice little perk - as if we needed any further encouragement to jump on a ship!

Australia here; I purchased through ANZ bank sharebroking. I don't believe any companies issue share certificates any more! The broking platform you use will enable you to log in and view your holdings - use a screen shot or whatever to send to Carnival to prove your ownership of same. The shares are certainly in your own name - to address your 'holding account' query. I faxed my requests through to them when I had bookings pre-pandemic with proof of shareholding. I believe now there is the possibility of emailing the request. There's a comprehensve thread regarding the logistics of buying and requesting OBC on the Australian and New Zealand cruisers board on this platform - a different one from the link posted by Host Hattie, above. Best of luck.

I had to fill out a form on one of the new government apps to return to Australia after being in New Zealand a few months ago. That was okay but then as part of the process, it was expected that I take a printed, hard copy of the form to the airport with me! Not only did I not have a printer where I was staying but printing from an app?? I ended up just taking a screenshot and showing that instead.

If you are using an app, you could just take a screen shot of a page in the app showing your holdings (number of shares and your name) and as previously suggested, blank out any details not required and send to Carnival Corp.

That's why I sail on Cunard - because it's not 'other cruise lines'.

No, sorry. I just went through the process of doing a dummy booking for such a cruise and it will allow me to get up to making the payment (which I don't want to do!) but as you say that's where your problem is. I like Cunard but the website is the one area that people complain most about.

QG on Cunard is very comfortable. As far as wifi goes, it's definitely not their strength. Compose a message before logging in and then post in one go would be my advice. As far as luggage goes, you can send a suitcase or cases on ahead. You could send a case from Australia to be delivered to the ship in Barcelona. I've done that in reverse, sending a case home from a ship in Portsmouth to be delivered to my home in Australia. I can recommend 'Luggage Forward' as a company. Just read your later post and feeling a bit concerned for your 37 days on Cunard when you resent taking a jacket for hubby and some tops to coordinate with trousers for yourself for wearing to dinner. That's a lot of days to be feeling resentful about dressing for dinner! The standard is really not that onerous. Some people really enjoy dressing up and making an ocassion of dinner but as long as you tick the boxes, no-one will send you packing from the dining room.

Thanks very much for clarifying that, John.

My understanding was that is a drink is more expensive than the $12 limit, there is a discount of 20% applied to the charge for he drink, as opposed to them charging you for the full price. Happy to be corrected if I have misunderstood the Cunard drinks package. People on this board regularly post that bookings made in the US usually or often have drinks packages included as part of the deal. Sounds like the package in the US is gratis anyway. Is this correct?

Thanks for your answer. I can understand the attraction if they're less expensive than double for single use. You say they're a little community - are they clustered together in one part of the ship/s? As a solo traveller that does sound rather nice.

That does look very cosy!

Go to the Cunard website in the US (presuming that is where you made your booking) and open the 'Legal Information' link (look at the bottom of the home page for the link - NB it may be in a different place on the US site). From there you will find 'Booking Conditions'. Read that in conjuction with the consumer law in your State (or country if consumer law is under Federal/National jurisdiction). If you have booked through a travel agent you should contact them also as their booking conditions would form part of your sales contract (not with Cunard obviously but for the purposes of any recourse you may have). It's my belief that Cunard are well within their rights to cancel the booking of any passenger for operational reasons. Best not to take this personally if you can help it; language like 'throwing overboard' won't help your case if you do take this further.

I think the OP will find that their conract with Cunard will include Cunard's right to alter or cancel the voyage at their discretion. As to the information they require, looking at their home country's Cunard site will provide legal T&Cs and their own State government's website could assist them regarding local laws (assuming it's USA). The pandemic has resulted in many disappointments and tragedies and it's far from over.

Yes, I read the same explanation for the naming - interesting, isn't it. As I said, I'm sure it's not always done that way but it would make sense for there to be a convention as to which side of the ship was against the quay. I've arrived at Sydney's OPT only once in my adult life and would swear we tied up port-side to the quay. Just checked the deck plan and would just about put money on it. That was QM2. Maybe it varies by ship?