Selkie74

Thanks so much, Pushpit. 

Another gym question, sorry to hijack the thread! Cunard’s website says the gym opens at 0800, but from previous trips I recall it being quite a bit earlier than that. Is this a recent change, or is it flexible? We are travelling on QM2 next week.

It’s a murky situation for beginners, to be sure. I have a resolution, though. After escalating my complaint, and a couple of back and forth emails with the TA, I’ve been offered $150 OBC as a goodwill gesture. I’m pretty happy with that, but I feel that both the TA and Cunard need to provide much more clarity over this situation.

Many thanks to everyone who has commented on here - this is such a great community, and I really appreciate everyone’s help.

Finally got through to the TA, after an hour on hold. They were not able to help at all. Not were they able to give me a rate code, she just said it was a net rate, and there was no code to give me. And that the sales person who sold me the package “could not have been expected” to give me such a level of detail that would have included the fact that it was a special rate and not eligible for shareholder benefit. 
I guess it isn’t worth me contacting Cunard, as my contract is with the TA. 

I would have thought that getting a friends and family discount is a bit different from buying a package in good faith with no perception that it was in any way discounted?

Thanks everyone. I couldn’t get through to the TA yesterday, so hoping for a callback today. 
As NavyPanda has surmised, I booked a cruise/hotel/flight package through the TA. It was in no way sold as a cheap deal - I booked a specific cabin. The Carnival Shares small print does exclude anyone “cruising at a reduced rate” from claiming OBC. But rates go up and down all the time. What constitutes “reduced”? 
I know it’s “only” $250 out of quite a few thousand, but it just seems like sharp practice.

Thank you, I will do that. 

Thanks for that, Hattie.

The only reason I used the TA was because I wanted to add on a hotel stay, and Cunard didn’t offer that. 
There’s nothing in the TA’s Term and Conditions about Shareholder Benefits only applying to some rates.

I’m not sure where to go next.

I’ve been reading another thread on here which seems to say that people using TAs (including those getting discount fares) have had the OBC approved. It’s baffling.

As far as I’m aware it wasn’t a special or discounted fare.

I received some helpful advice on here about CarnivaI share purchase and getting OBC. All good, bought the shares, and emailed Carnival with the details of our forthcoming trip. They’ve just come back to me saying they are unable to apply the OBC of $250 because we “have been given a net rate discount through your travel agent”. 
I’ve done loads of reading up on this, and I can’t find anything to say that booking through an agent means we don’t get shareholder benefit. I’m confused and a bit cross. Can any of you wise lot shed any light on this? I’ll be phoning the TA in the morning to see what they say.

Thank you Hattie! 

I’ve been reading about the benefits of owning 100 Carnival shares. All seems pretty straightforward, and we are planning to do a good number of trips in the future.

One thing I can’t seem to get an answer on, though - is Cunard classed as a US line, or a UK one? Or both? If it’s a UK one we get £150 for a longer cruise, if it’s a US one we get $250, which is a much better deal! 
I’m guessing it’s to do with the onboard currency, therefore we’d get the $250 dollars. I’m certain somebody on here will have the answer, so many thanks in advance. 

Found it, thank you. 
The Portugal section says we still need tests to go ashore, but it seems that’s no longer the case, unless Cunard are requiring them? 

Thanks RCB, that’s really helpful. I hadn’t seen anything about the Spanish PLF not being needed. I need to look at the Port Information A-Z, is that right?

I’ve just done mine, for a departure from Southampton on 13th February. It all worked fine.

Now looking at doing them for Portugal and Spain. What a mission for a one day visit. But it will be worth it!

Our original itinerary was to have given us an 0900 arrival in Lisbon, the remainder of that day in port, overnight, and departing at 1700 the following day. We’ve had a message from Cunard telling us that our arrival in Lisbon is now put back to 1700. Which is fine, these things happen. But my question is, what happens during the hours we should have been in Lisbon? Does the ship just steam very, very slowly from Vigo? 
And do Cunard give passengers any recompense for a change like this? I’m not thinking financially, more on the lines of a free glass of wine! 

It’s called Fairway Market. Easy to find if you head South on Van Brundt. Enjoy Brooklyn!

Just back from our QM2 trip, which took us from Southampton to Quebec and back. It was all pretty good, with some highs (the Sea Days) and some lows (Sept Isles). Thanks to everyone who gave advice before we went,  so now time to give a little bit back.

If you have a day in NYC, and don’t want to book a tour, or have already had some visits to Manhattan, simply walk off the ship and into Red Hook. It’s not the most beautiful place, but it’s on the way up, and the locals are proud of their community. There’s a smokehouse restaurant which gets rave reviews, a fantastic distillery called Widow Jane, a Lobster pound, a great bakery cafe called Baked, and a key lime pie shop. Then there’s a couple of art gallery type places,  an amazing supermarket to buy all those wonderful things you can only get in the US, some old warehouse buildings, and some fantastic views of Manhattan, Liberty Island and the QM herself. And it’s all within a fifteen minute stroll. It won’t take you a whole day to look round by any means, and it won’t be to everyone’s taste, but we loved it. 

If you feel a little more adventurous and want to see more of Brooklyn, take the bus from outside the 1811 auto repair shop on Van Brundt Street, and get off at the 7th Avenue and 9th Street stop. It costs 2.75 each, and you need the exact coins. A friendly launderette opposite the bus stop will help out with change. The area round Park Slope is really great, and worth it for the beautiful brownstone houses alone. Cafes, shops, markets, Prospect Park, just a great place to wander about and no crowds at all. 

We walked back to the ship through more interesting streets and through Gowanus, which is another area on the up. It took about 45 minutes at an easy amble, and all downhill. And no worries about missing the ship, because no bridges or ferries to worry about!

The Americans certainly had a better time. They were smart enough to stay on the ship!

But Saguenay is great!

Still on the QM, and loving our extended stop in Quebec. But Sept Isles was really truly awful. It was interesting to be somewhere so remote, and we were lucky enough to see a presentation from Atlantic Rower Mylene Paquette. Those who went on excursions found them poor, apart from the visit to the Aluminium Smelter! But everyone on board was baffled as to why we stopped there. Does anybody know how ports are chosen?

We’ve been across the Atlantic, missed Hurricane Helene, had a passenger evacuation to Newfoundland, a dodgy gas turbine, a late arrival in NYC, Donald Trump’s visit causing road closures, and customs staff going to lunch as everyone left the ship.

Apart from that, Mrs Lincoln, how was the play?

From our point of view, it’s been great. Lots of people had a really awful day in New York, both arriving and leaving the ship, and Cunard could have been better at communicating with everyone ashore and on board. We got off fairly easily and had an interesting afternoon in Red Hook. Up and coming area, lots of small artisan businesses, and amazing views. And all five minutes walk away!

The Veranda is still a steakhouse, the wine is still extortionate, the staff in the Commodore are still snotty if you don’t have a cocktail, but all is pretty good.

And we are in Rockland Maine today, for the QM2’s maiden visit. It’s delightful, lovely old style Main Street and great clam chowder. Bring on Quebec!

And let’s not even get started on how to pronounce the word!

Is it SKON to rhyme with gone, or SCONE to rhyme with cone?

And the great Scottish Stone of Scone is pronounced SCOON. Baffled? So are we.

This topic is potentially more divisive than Brexit.

You split the scone first. Ideally with fingers if it’s a proper scone, but suspect you’ll need a knife on QM2 ones.

I’m a fan of Cornish style, jam first, then cream. If you put cream on first it slides about too much and you can’t get an even spread of jam.

Put the whole lot on, rather than bit by bit, and don’t try and break it up with your fingers. Just munch away and relish the mess!

I will be on board next week, so there will be a covert test. If you spot a figure with a clipboard peering out from behind a pillar as you are taking tea, you will know who it is...

Are these menus likely to be on QM2 now? Fingers crossed...