peteukmcr

Another fan of Emirates economy. We have 3 flights a day from Manchester to Dubai. Most times they are serviced by the A380 (at certain times of the year one is replaced by a. B777).

 

One tip is check out the configuration of the aircraft you are due to travel on.

 

If it’s a A380, and it only offers Business class and Economy seats, then there will be an Economy section on the upper deck.

 

The benefit of this is that the seating is configured 2 4 2 across the cabin, so if there is only 2 of you then you may be able to just sit together and there are bins at the side under the window that are great for storage.

My favorite tuxedo shirt is from M & S when the airline lost our luggage and I had to whip into one of their stores for that and some other things. It only cost $29, can be thrown into the washer and dryer coming out "starched" appearing and perfect! Come to think of it, if I have time, I will see if we can buy another one or two to replace his others.

 

 

 

We love to dress up, but our only problem is we use the Queen Mary as a means of transportation, not just strictly for pleasure, since we prefer to cross the Atlantic by ship rather than by air. That means we have to store the formalwear someplace for over a month and then have Luggage Forward pick it up and deliver to whatever ship we are taking home so that we don't have to lug that suitcase around Europe. Wish Celebrity was the formal ship instead since it is just for cruising and we miss formal nights. So I guess if we can go through the trouble and expense, it shouldn't be a problem for just "cruisers" to pack a suit and tie for a couple of nights.

Just because Celebrity have ‘Evening Chic’ nights doesn’t mean you can’t dress formally, nor does it mean people don’t, many do.

Btw M&S often have an offer where you can buy 2 of the luxury branded formal shirts for £60 (normally £45 each) that’s what I did and take both with me when sailing.

 

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If you do a Google search on "Walmart Tuxedo", you will find that many Walmart stores also sell Tuxedos .

 

However, if I wanted to buy a good quality tuxedo that will last, I wouldn't go to either Walmart or M&S.

Well I disagree about M&S. I bought a tux from a reputable tailor only to replace it by one from M&S in the U.K. that is still serving me well 2 years later.

P&O UK are certainly formal, done 4 long cruises on P&O UK. Aurora, Oriana and Arcadia x 2, including half worldie - Sydney - Southampton. On formal nights 99% Tuxedos.

And if you don’t comply, you are restricted to a very small number of alternative venues. Also after 6pm the dress code applies all evening on formal evenings.

Your sentiment has been expressed by a few people, and I find it interesting.

If the only thing that sets Cunard apart and makes it worth paying a premium is the presence of a dress code, it sounds like there isn't much there. No special service. No special food. No special enrichment programs. No special cabin comfort. No special excursions. No special entertainment. It's really just about having other passengers play dress-up so everyone can fantasize that they are living in a different era.

I would imagine there are cheaper ways to fulfill that fantasy.

P&O are extremely formal too.

You are travelling before the change comes into effect.

Didn't realise that these weren't already in place. When does it take effect?

Sorry, but have to challenge your confirmation that Jackets still are "required".

 

The link takes one to a page which gives "A Guide", "suggest" and "give ideas" wording - The word "Required" dies not appear. Same goes for the VP

Add this to the current published new wording of

 

Dress as you please during the day

We ask

We invite

We request

Please

 

And the removal of the "Required" word.

Obviously inconsistency rules as our VP definitely states Informal (Jacket Required)

Judging by the amount of people who wear ties regardless on informal evenings, I don’t think it will make a huge amount of difference, honestly. More people go the extra mile than try to subvert the dress code in my experience.

I’m sure they do, I know we do.

 

Even on RCI 3 weeks ago we wore formal attire (and so did many others contrary to rumour on the designated formal evenings) and on Celebrity we still do, as well do many others, again contrary to reports of people in shorts and t shirts in the MDR on ‘Evening Chic’ nights.

 

Even though our voyage personaliser only states ‘Informal (jacket required)’ for our upcoming taster on QM2 were are taking formal clothing as ‘Informal’ to us is the minimum required and others have advised that even on these short sailings, there has been an evening where ‘Formal optional’ has been suggested.

Not imposed - suggested

For my part, it is the actual ambiguous wording, and how this could be interpreted, and the lack of an enforcement policy.

E.g. The new wording states one can be free to wear whatever you like in all areas of the ship, during the day. (Speedos and no footware or body covering in the Kings Court or Lido Buffets and Coffee Houses?)

 

 

The wording and enforcement matters are being dealt with by Cunard, with the first 'new wording' casulity being the "Jacket" situation, with the word "Required" replacing the new wording of "requested".

I am going as per the voyage personaliser which states informal (jacket required).

 

As for wearing whatever you want, is that a problem when it states shorts ok in Kings Court for breakfast and lunch, but casual attire in the MDR?

 

Just trying to understand the upset people are obviously feeling seeing as this thread is so many pages long.

Apologies but I don’t have the time to read all 38 pages of this thread so could someone possibly summarise the changes that are causing so much displeasure?

 

I clearly understand the dress code in terms of formal and informal (smart) attire. I also understand that this is imposed after 6pm and that there are only certain areas of the ship after this time where casual attire is acceptable.

 

Is it the fact that certain venues have been added to the ‘casual’ list such as the Golden Lion, Casino and G32?

 

Having not yet sailed on QM2, I cannot appreciate the issues of adding ‘casual’ venues

Thanks for the great review! Love all the pictures and the blog style. You have made me rethink my drink package! And I may have to blog my trip for the folks back home. Sailing in 37 days!

Glad you enjoyed it. For us, the beverage package when it was on sale was a no brainer. We did purchase in advance as I wasn't sure what we'd get it for onboard with our D+ discount, depending on the daily price. As it was, we would have got it for $49.50 per day including grats which worked out around the same as I paid online before sailing (all depends on exchange rate of £ to $ for us).

 

Easily worked in our favour as we'd spend at least $15 - $20 a day on coffee (around $4.50), freshly squeezed juice at breakfast ($5) and soda ($3.25) plus grats before we had an alcoholic beverage. Then a regular cocktail ($9.95) before dinner and 2 glasses of wine at dinner (around $11 per glass) that alone comes to over $56.

Taking into consideration it would appear QM2 will dock in Hamburg at the Steinwerder terminal at 07:00, how are Cunard on letting you disembark a little later, say by 10:00?

 

The reason I ask is that we are staying on in Hamburg and so don't need to be away early, especially as check in for the hotel won't be until later.

As your arrival day in Hamburg is a sunday, the harbour ferries won't run and you will need a transfer to the nearest S-Bahn station Veddel. Buses run about every half hour, price is €2.50 p.p. and you will need to book ahead: https://www.hansetix.de/en/cruisegate

 

Veddel is just a regular S-Bahn station from which you will get to the Hauptbahnhof. Close to Veddel is also the Emigrants Museum (Auswanderermuseum) which is the german counterpart of Ellis Island (though not as big or as spectacular). Its premises are the former emigrant's quarters.

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The 'back of the house tour', as they call it, will not be available on a three night journey. In 2017 they charged $120 for a three hour tour. This is pretty a exclusive event, mainly because many parts of it are done by senior officers (Captain, Deputy, Chief), also you get a glass of paint stripper (i.e. champagne) and an afternoon tea at the Britannia Restaurant.

They don't advertise this tour anymore,they un it once per crossing for about 12 guests.

Many thanks for the information regarding the transfer from the steinwerder terminal. Most helpful.

Have a look at http://www.cunardcruceros.com, the port times published there are reliable from my experience. Vagueness about port times seems to be a Southampton 'thing' but the information leaks out through such semi-official Cunard channels in addition to the well known cruise calendar and port sites.

Thanks for that, I'd already tried my usual reference points, but not this one.

 

The Southampton 'thing' only appears to affect P&O and Cunard, as it is definitely not a issue with RCI, Celebrity, MSC nor Princess (all of whom I have sailed with from this port with the exception of Princess) and all show port departure/arrival times even when planning a cruise.

Once again, many thanks for all the suggestions. Walking around a promenade deck is a favourite for us too.

 

I have noticed from the voyage personaliser, that Cunard are as vague as P&O on publishing port arrival and departure times. Yet if you were to book a ships shore excursion then the tour departure times are specified.

 

I am used to the other lines I've sailed with on having specific port arrival/departure times published well in advance of sailing (in all cases at the time of booking). I have done searches including the port of Le Harve, but cannot get any times.

 

Do Cunard only provide this in the Daily Programme?

I understand what those travelling through Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale are saying regarding a slow and rather torturous process for US immigration as we have experienced this ourselves (Tampa is also pretty bad too). However, it is not the same at all arrival points in the USA.

 

Last year we were on a transatlantic crossing where our first port of entry into the US would be Boston. There had been horror stories of the previous experiences of waiting in line for hours to meet the officials and as a result a long delay on being able to go ashore.

 

However, we were allocated a time to present ourselves to the officers who had come onboard and stood in line for a short while, presented ourselves to one of the numerous sets of officials seated at several tables and we were processed swiftly and efficiently and were soon on our way ashore.

 

Again on 22nd of this month, 7 days ago, we ended our sailing in Port Canaveral and as it had been a few years since we disembarked there we were expecting to join a long line of non-US citizens to be processed. The cruise line had advised we also needed to present a copy of our ESTA's.

 

However, we disembarked, retrieved our bags and just joined 1 long line that was constantly moving to present ourselves to the officers. The officer checked our passports, asked how long we were staying in Florida and wished us an enjoyable stay and waved us on. We've experienced longer waits to get back into the UK!

You will have 3 Formal nights so not completely informal as you believe.

Actually no, it is listed as ‘informal, jacket required’ on the voyage personaliser and I checked this with Cunard and it shows on the website this too.

Thanks for all your suggestions, as it is only a short sailing we’ll have to be selective in what we do regards dining, but will be exploring as much of the ship as possible, although I doubt we’ll have the budget for the all access tour! Would leave that for a longer voyage.

 

 

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As we enjoy in transatlantic crossings (having done 3 to date and have 2 more booked), but not with Cunard, we are considering Cunard for future voyages to New York.

 

Therefore, to try and experience the onboard ambiance, we are sailing on M818E in May 2018 from Southampton.

 

Now we know that this will not be totally representative of a transatlantic voyage, but hopefully will give us a flavour of how life onboard QM2 is conducted.

 

We understand the dress code on this sailing is only informal (jacket required) which we have no issue with as even though dress suggestions on the lines we have sailed on most frequently (RCI and Celebrity) have become more informal we still dress in tuxedos and so have no issue with this at all on any line.

 

I’m looking for any tips or suggestions that we should consider in advance of sailing.

 

Thanks

We’ve sailed twice with MSC and found them good value for money. Reasonably priced drinks packages and adequate food.

 

Our only negatives would be the fixed dining times and the limited number of speciality restaurants on the 2 ships we sailed.

 

Loved the touches of complimentary ‘tapas’ at the wine bar, the nuts in another and all the benefits of being status matched in their loyalty program.

 

 

 

 

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Great job. I really enjoyed this format without all the comments in between the posts and days and days of waiting to get the full review. Can't wait to cruise again on Oasis in September. This will hold me over for a little while. Have a safe trip home.

 

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.

 

 

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Cool review..thanks for sharing...we captured you in the background in one of our Central Park photos just after boarding on day 1.

My son and I were hit with the Norovirus....he was taken to the hospital by ambulance in Cozumel...it was horrible...glad you didn't get it too.

Sorry about catching me in your photo, that needs editing out [emoji1]

 

As for noro, again so sorry you got sick. Such a bad end to the cruise.

 

 

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Love the blog reviews! Thank you!

You’re most welcome

 

 

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Great cruise blogs. Beautiful pictures! Hope you had a good time at Disney!

 

 

 

We did thanks. On our way to the airport now.

 

 

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Pete sorry we never met up.Due to the rain when we were leaving we didnt go to deck 5 to see if you were there nor did we go to the sky bar.

 

I wanted to have a drink with you in honor of Gay's husband

 

We were even on the same deck # 8 & I was at park cafe a lot

 

well there is always next time

 

Sharon & Stan

 

 

 

Sorry we didn’t meet up. We did get to deck 5 but escaped the squall as soon as it hit, so just returned to the cabin to watch sail away with our champagne. Yes, there’s always a next time.

 

 

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