Vera123

We sail in May on our first cruise, on the QE. You certainly make a good case for choosing Cunard and we are really looking forward to this and many more cruises to come. My OH wants to do the TA to New York, can't decide whether to do one way and spend time in New York, (I have been before but he hasn't), or do the return trip.

Pleased I avoided Deck 8 now, and also a good tip regarding the interconnecting cabins. I suppose there's always a chance of noise wherever you are- earplugs at the ready !!

Check out cruisedeckplans.com

Just saw a thread on the general forum regarding advice on which cabins NOT to pick for whatever reason.

The thread shared mainly american cruises and couldn't see any Europe/Cunard comments, so thought it might be fun to have a Cunard one on here.

As I am a cruise virgin, I can't offer any tips on previous cabins as I haven't had any (!!!) but as with hotel rooms, I know to avoid cabins above or below public spaces such as restaurants as the noise of chairs scraping is soooooo annoying. My OH uses earplugs at night but I just cant seem to get on with them so I get annoyed pretty quickly.

For my upcoming cruise, I very nearly booked a balcony cabin on Deck 8 but luckily checked the deck plan last minute to find that the cabin would have been below the pool area. So quickly changed it to a Deck 7 cabin where there are cabins above and below and opposite! Hopefully I made the right choice.

So if any of you have any advice on cabins to avoid on the Queens, it would be really helpful for fellow passengers.

We have sailed in 2011 on a Nile river cruise but our upcoming Hamburg cruise on the Cunard QE will be our first 'taster' of cruising to see if we like the open seas!!

Just as I only have swim up rooms in hotels (for the loungers mainly), so I would only book a balcony cabin on a cruise. This limits us in that the cost is a factor, but our reasons are that we like to get away to enjoy our own company, shame that the balcony wont have a lounger but we like to sit out, feel the breeze, read and relax. We don't want to sit around the bars but if we do, that's all good too, just we want to have our own personal space to have room service, enjoy the views and be ignorant lol.

I would feel really uncomfortable if a crew member entered the cabin without being asked in, never mind staying for a 'chat'. If they are there to let you in the cabin, they should stay in the corridor and if they are there to fix the door, once its done they say so and leave. When I've stayed in good hotels, the staff ask permission to enter your room and then leave as soon as they need to, never staying to hold a conversation, and I don't see why cruises should be different. If you encourage it then that's up to you but the OP clearly did nothing to encourage the interaction.

I think seeing the crew in public areas is fine, I just find the idea of them attending get togethers in cabins to be inappropriate- just my view :)

:D:D Well sort of the same as a Hotel. Your Stateroom will be serviced twice a day ...usually in the morning when you vacate the room to go out for breakfast and later in the evening from about 7pm or later when you leave for the evenings entertainment.

 

Yes there is a 'Do not disturb card', however, most importantly a 'Service/make up the room card'.

 

To ensure you have a good relationship with your Cabin Steward/ss, don't forget to make use of these cards. Amazing how many folk complain that their steward either disturbed their rest,never changed the towels daily or didn't provided turn down service.

 

Oh and by the way, never refer to them as Maids or Room Boys ;):D

I knew 'maid' wasn't the right terminology but couldn't think what it should be lol.

Not having cruised before, is the housekeeping service similar to a hotel, in that the cabin is cleaned daily by a maid with a trolley?? and is there a 'do not disturb' card if you want a lie-in or nap?

Can't you treat it as a 'significant change' to the booking?

1.11 CAN I MAKE CHANGES TO MY BOOKING AFTER IT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED?

Should you wish to make any changes to your confirmed holiday, you must notify us in writing or by telephone as soon as

possible. Whilst we will endeavour to assist, we cannot guarantee we will be able to meet any such requests. For guests wishing

to make a significant amendment to their booking outside of 56 days from departure, such as changing the ship, sail date, flights

or brand, please note that a booking transfer fee is applicable. Please note that any amendments for hotels, transfers and flights

may result in the loss of the amount that was collected at the time of booking for these additional components. The transfer

fee is £75 per guest which is limited to the first two guests on a booking, therefore any additional guests on the booking will

not be charged.

well done, these things make us smile :)

I definitely think its worth it.

Sea days probably more than the average drink amount, port days less, but it evens out, plus speciality coffees and water, you can easily have five plus drinks most days, cocktails get knocked back super quick- three of those $36 !!

And you don't have to budget for it with your spending money as its paid for in advance, just turn up at the bar and order :)

First cruise booked next year for Navigator.

Still trying to get my head around the dining arrangements.

I selected the 18.00 traditional dining option. Does this mean we have a table reserved every night in the MDR at 6? How fixed is this time? i.e. can we be half an hour either side of it? Do we have to cancel it on a nightly basis if we intend to eat elsewhere?

Can we still try the Windjammer buffet and if so do we just turn up or can we book a table even though we have the MDR table booked?

I'm sure it's a lot easier than I imagine but not having been on a cruise before I'm just not sure how these things work. Any help appreciated thanks

240 till Navigator :)

The full list of included drinks is available on the RCI website, the coffees are listed as:

Illy

Lavazza

Seattle’s Best

We have booked our first ever cruise- the Navigator of the Seas Northern Europe and Baltic trip, balcony stateroom, 12 nights out of Southampton on 14 June 2017.

We got the BOGOHP plus drinks package plus WiFi plus $100 onboard spend.

Hoping to get lots of tips and help on here.

Haven't got a clue about the dining protocol, we picked 18.00 seating for something ?? Not sure where breakfast and lunch fit in, also does room service cost extra for delivery? Can drinks be ordered in the room or taken back from the bars? So many questions lol.