GWAM

Update: 

Members of the two unions involved are now to vote - from today until June 23rd - on a restructured pay deal. Accordingly, the first strikes scheduled for June 24-26 have been cancelled. Union officials have recommended that members accept the new terms. Looking promising that accord has been reached. Here's hoping. Ballot result not likely until June 24, mind, which is awfully close to the next scheduled dates of strikes which are due, as things stand, to commence from June 28-30. Anyway, the following is from today's FT, which puts a more hopeful context on the overall sketch: 

The new offer from Heathrow — which said it was 'pleased' to have seen unions recommend — consists of a 10 per cent pay rise for this year, backdated to January, which would increase by a further 1.5 percentage points to 11.5 per cent from October.

The airport added that it was guaranteeing an inflation-linked pay rise for 2024, with a minimum of 4 per cent. It was previously offering a 10.1 per cent increase for the whole of 2023.

The extra increase from October addresses a complaint from Unite that the previous offer fell short of retail price inflation (RPI), now running at 11.4 per cent.

Heathrow had insisted the increase amounted to a real-terms pay uplift because it exceeded the rate of consumer price inflation, a more widely used measure, now at 8.7 per cent.

The guarantee of an above-inflation rise in 2024 is linked to CPI, which is forecast to fall sharply in the coming year.

[A spokesman] said the new offer had been put forward after “extensive negotiations” between the union and management last week.

“Members will now be balloted on the latest offer and they will decide whether or not it meets their expectations,” he said.

Unite said that if members rejected the offer, the remaining 29 days of strike action would go ahead. The ballot on the pay offer runs from June 13th to June 23rd.

The Public and Commercial Services Union, which represents some other Heathrow staff but had not been planning walkouts, is also recommending the offer to members.

Heathrow has insisted throughout that it can minimise disruption from the scheduled stoppages. The company, owned by a consortium led by Spain’s Ferrovial, indicated on Monday that it still had “robust” plans to handle any stoppages if Unite members rejected the deal.

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2023

Starting June 24 and pretty much every weekend thereafter until August. Terminal 3 as well as 5 now to be affected. The last wave was just T5.

Could have especial disruption potential for Cunarders flying Heathrow-JFK prior to embarkation, especially if same day.

Heathrow say that "disruption" will be "minimised".

IOW, there will be disruption just a question of what "minimised" means.

Hmm.

Anyway, Cunard are aware and monitoring.

Just thought it best to heads-up on here for any TA voyagers who may be – potentially – affected.

BBC News link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65831998

WHO now officially declare pandemic over.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/who-ends-covid-s-global-health-emergency-status-after-more-than-3-years/ar-AA1aMIBj

...and just like that we finally have clarity. Everything to be lifted.

https://www.forbes.com/uk/advisor/travel-insurance/2023/05/02/travel-latest-news/

Very gracious clarification moses0.

Yes, quite baffling all this.

Well, whilst I agree that the whole picture is riddled with ambiguity (and that's rather the point), the basic facts of the matter are that the CDC, even as late as this stage (i.e. post January 8th, and April 9, and just 10 days pre-May 11; indeed the calendar has now tipped over into May since my post a few hours ago) has yet again chosen to review its advice and implemented yet another new round of revised stipulations. If anything was to be expected last week - and frankly nothing was - it was surely that it would have called time on restrictions.

Instead it has gone the opposite way - yet again, as per Jan 8th (or arguably April 9th).

Certainly the TSA expiry date of May 11 is still in force but last week's CDC restatement is at least rum by introducing yet more protocols so late in the day.

As things stand, then, the wording of my original post - which I chose very carefully - is accurate. And the contents of the DM link are, in my view, a fair summation of the mess which is indeed ongoing and seemingly open-ended.

I thought it pertinent to let CC Cunarders know the very latest, especially given that last week's update was yet another one that was very quietly released (again as per Jan 8th). Put it this way, given the last two review stages, Flytrippers (below) is being equally circumspect and not ruling anything in or out. The only thing now certain about May 11 is that it's the day before May 12th. Watch this calendar space.

https://flytrippers.com/usa-vaccination-requirement-travel/

US is now to continue with its vax requirements, despite declaring that the national emergency will end on May 11.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12025279/CDC-RENEWS-Covid-vaccine-requirement-travelers-coming-US.html

On 3/27/2023 at 9:35 AM, ace2542 said:

Ironically vaccination is needed to enter the USA so how can Cunard drop the vaccination requirements for April 23rd sailing

True, but there are three, potentially overlapping, elements to consider in what is now a pretty quick-moving picture, likely to be clarified pretty imminently. Firstly, the US block on un-vaxxed travellers was extended in January – to most people's surprise, certainly the US travel industry, who'd expected it to then be lifted – but only until April 10th, theoretically another review. The take-away point, though, was that it was the shortest extension yet, possibly indicating that restrictions will be lifted immediately after Easter. It just sounded like a final belt on some last braces and the US keeping a really cautious weather-eye on the Chinese new year and the period thereafter, just in case another major wave reared up. It hasn't mercifully. Secondly, the House voted on Feb 8th (HR 185) to immediately scrap the whole ban on un-vaxxed travel anyway, not even wait until spring. The bill, though, hasn't yet reached the Senate. In any case, the White House, meantime, has declared that all Covid emergency measures – literally everything affecting the US internally and externally – will cease on May 11 regardless. So, essentially Covid-over-and-out, certainly in terms of pandemic status. Even Djokovic has basically been given the hint that he'll be okay to participate in the US Open later this year, whereas he had to miss Indian Wells.

So, it's just a case of what comes first now: the House bill reaching the Senate before April 10 (unlikely) thus immediately ending the restriction; or the ban being lifted by the CDC on April 10 (likely), and I think this may be what Cunard is expecting; or the whole sketch finally ending anyway on May 11 (a certainty). I really wouldn't be surprised, though, if the WHO declaration confirming the end of the whole emergency also comes in May, choreographed emblematically around the US ending everything. Tellingly, the DG at the WHO briefed only last week, following a first communique in September, that the pandemic will certainly be declared over in 2023.

The direction of travel (pun intended) is heading only one way, just a case of very soon, quite soon or soonish.

Hello GWAM, like me you obviously take a pride in your appearance, rest assured you can never be overdressed on a Cunard crossing. ;) go for it !

 

I'm sure on your return you'll be browsing your Cunard brochure again, so you might be interested in the 'Transatlantic Fashion Week' crossing 2018 . I enjoyed last years TFW crossing, so much so, I booked again for this year, departing August 31st, there is something of interest for everyone and every age group. This year, Cunard will be featuring presentations from Iris Apfel for the ladies and Savile Row for us guys.

 

In the mean time I've just gone and booked an extra cheeky little crossing for the 'Judy Garland clothes Auction' departing NY August 12th, however, I guess I'll be out bid for those ruby red slippers.:')

Thank you Bell Boy, very good to hear. Appreciate your advice and intel. We'll certainly do our little bit to keep the QM standards up. Yes, food for thought indeed about future voyages, especially the idea of mixing travel with fashion.

Now, about those red slippers: a few unintended heel kicks could turn the voyage into a very tricky TA to Kansas!

Thank you Bell Boy, very good to hear. Appreciate your advice and intel. We'll certainly do our little bit to keep the QM standards up. Yes, food for thought indeed about future voyages, especially the idea of mixing travel with fashion.

Now, about those red slippers: a few unintended heel kicks could turn the voyage into a very tricky TA to Kansas!

Thank you all for the good advice, fun and participation in this thread. I've been watching the board for a few months now, wondering whether "Cunard is for us" (but really knowing, deep down, all along, that it's certain to be) and have been more than re-assured by the good tone on here (though serious when necessary). It really has been a valuable resource trawling through all the various threads; can't state that enough. Also Solent Richard, yes, I'd read your review much earlier in the year and although we'd already well booked our voyage at that stage, it was so very welcome to a read a hot-off-the-press review of life on the post-refurb QM2. Your blog is an immeasurable help for newbies. So, it more than re-assured us, if that were possible, that we've made a great decision. In short: "What should we do for our silver wedding to really celebrate?"; "Well, I've always fancied a longish stretch in NYC to do all those NYC things, you know, not just three or four days, but long enough to go downtown, midtown, uptown, Coney, up-state and round the back of whichever Battery and Bowery we want to go to..."; "Yeah? Well okay, let's do it, but to make it even more memorable, let's sail there in grand style and turn two weeks into three and do the whole shebang in style."; "Right, ah...but there's only Cunard..."; "Even better!"

And now, with all the macro arrangements of the last year or so sorted, I'm happily scouring the micro-details of how to take my suits aboard!

All very enjoyable indeed.(y)

"newbies" are recognised by the Red stripe on your Cunard Cruise Card. :D

What, as well as the paper hat we have to wear and the Veuve we have to buy for all our table mates on night one?!

:')

Have a wonderful time.

Thank you. Here's hoping and expecting!

Nothing wrong with paying for quality, but four suits for one TA sounds excessive. I'm bringing two (one black for formal nights, one gray for informal nights) and seriously considering only bringing the black suit and wearing it with non-white shirts on formal nights.

I dare say abefroman329, and sincere thanks for the advice.

But remember we're still in the first flush of all things Cunard and as happily naive as it gets (this site has been invaluable though for advice). In fact, taking four suits is actually one less than I originally intended! I know! Actually, though, we do have 12 nights in NYC after the voyage and I plan for two of them to be at least "posh" enough for lounge suits, so it will be good to have the choice.

I'm generally comfortable in suits and formal wear but I do take and appreciate your substantive point and well intended advice.

More than likely that when it comes to our second voyage (for one thing I am absolutely certain of is that we'll get hooked on Cunard), my four will become three or two.

"Oh, look, there's a guy bringing four suits aboard - must be a newbie!"

Thank you camgirl. That really is super news. Yes, we're really looking forward to it. Quite a thrill. Thanks again.

Hello, first post, first time Cunarder this autumn (westbound TA).

Major anniversary for my wife and I. We're fully on-board with all the dress-code regs of the QM2 etc. (in fact that's a major part of the reason for our trip - to dress up and live it up). Basically the stricter the dress code the happier we'll be.

My query concerns my suits. I'm taking four which includes my tux. The tux ain't expensive. But two of the other three suits are what you could call quite expensive (over £500). Another, though, is, well, very expensive and hand-made. I know that may sound a bit snobby, but hey. Naturally, I'm really protective of them.

As I'd always been a bit concerned, pre-booking, about the general transportation of my clobber, I turned down the Cunard option of travelling from the north of England to fly from Manchester to Soton; instead I've booked a one-way hire-car the day before we sail, purposefully so that all of my hanging gear (and my wife's dresses) can be easily stored and still hanging in the back of the motor. Sure, a big benefit of the car journey is that we'll be able to relax a little the night before sailing and just make our way to the Soton docks on the lunchtime of embarkation in a relatively easy manner (we're staying pretty close to the dock). However, THE major reason for the car hire is to keep hanging stuff still hanging all the way on to the boat.

I know that at some point when we leave New York that I'll eventually have to grin and bear things by finally putting my suits into a case (already budgeted for the extra luggage charge and all that - and indeed have bought an extra size case for the suits only). But I really do want to keep my suits hung-up and within my sight and control for as long as possible.

So, what happens when I check in at Soton?

Am I allowed to keep my suit carriers (four; and probably two for my wife) at my side and carry them on board myself, over my shoulder? Or do I have to hand them over – and therefore out of my sight and control – and just have to trust judgment that the porters (and from what I've been reading on here for the last few months, they do sound like they're very, very good at their job) will treat my threads with care?

Probably sounds pedantic, I know, but it's a big issue for me all the same. So I'd just like to know well in advance. I don't want to go to all the trouble of hiring a car to keep everything hung up right to the point of checking in, only to then see my suits just folded up onto a luggage carrier or whatever for a few hours. But at the same time, I appreciate that Cunard might not allow me to carry bulky stuff on board myself and I might have to lump that.

Any info will be most appreciated.