njguy_south

Not being in UK, didn’t see that. The US sites main COVID precaution page says NOTHING https://www.cunard.com/en-us/the-cunard-experience/sailing-with-confidence/preparing-to-sail/at-the-terminal#brooklyn One should bot have to hunt for the REQUIRED and VITAL information.

Not that it is Cunard's problem that all visitors to Canada by cruise ship (even for a port stop) and other travel means, must complete the Canadian Government's ArriveCAN within 72 hours of arrival. I called the ArriveCAN help number, and the agent did verify that this is true; my cruise is r/t NYC on July 1 with a port stop in Halifax. If the ArriveCAN application is not completed WITHIN the 72 hour window, the passenger will be arrested and placed into quarantine. I was surprised that the Cunard website -- and even when I was completing all of the Check-In information online -- said absolutely nothing about this. Know that Disney Cruise Line, Princess, Seabourne, etc., ALL tell passengers this on their websites. Cunard does not. I called Cunard and spoke to a very helpful and knowledgeable staff member. She apologized for it not being on their website nor in any of the forms I completed online. She stated that passengers will be told this information WHEN ONBOARD and within the 72 hours of arriving in Canada. We will need to complete it when we are onboard, with the fantastic Cunard wifi. (I am just hoping and praying the wifi works for ALL of the passengers and crew who must upload this information, including passport information and photos of our vaccination cards; otherwise, a lot of people will be arrested and quarantined!!!)

Perhaps then the testing will be coordinated by the cruise ship at check in, as they had been doing. I, personally, cannot understand why Cunard has not already done this. Then, again, perhaps the cruise lines should also stop testing passengers, since ALL are vaccinated!

There was a time, not that long ago, that a luxury cruise line named Cunard used to even allow the steerage passengers in the Brittania Restaurant to order "off menu." I remember in the mid-2000s a gentleman at the next table (a large group) ordered true haggis. (Pre-ordered and brought his own ingredients, one one used to be allowed.) And it was cooked for their table. Yes, those were the days, when the whole of a Cunard ship was considered luxury...

The G32 is one of the many design blunders of the QM2, not only for its location being so forward, but also for the fact that one must pass through a formal setting (the Queen's Room) to access it (especially after a couple of sweaty hours of disco dancing).

Hi. I do drive. Depending on traffic, close to 3 hours. (I am only 2 hours from EWR, but that is not during rush hour or with traffic.) To Brooklyn: Garden State Parkway (GSP) to Perth Amboy/Outer-Bridge Crossing exit (right after Woodbridge), to Verrazano Narrows Bridge into Brooklyn and right up the highway to the pier. I get to cross the widest motor vehicle bridge in the world (by number of lanes the Driscoll Bridge), then cross the 2nd longest bridge in the world (Verrazano Narrows Bridge), all while seeing the tallest building in the US (One World Tower), and then arriving at the largest ocean liner ever built, QM2.

Hi, I forget what the coffee maker in the cabin is like. Is it just a kettle for hot water, to which you add instant coffee?

Hi. My July 1st QM2 sailing is also not showing the room number. (It hasn't for over a month.) I called to verify my cabin, and was assured it was the correct cabin, but it is not listed when I log-into "Booked Quests."

Hi, All. I am sailing with a group of friends for the July 1st cruise on the QM2. What are the current conditions using the spa (specifically the thalassotherapy pool and saunas)? Is there still the 2-hour limit, with specific time? Also, are both the terrace pool and the Pavilion Pool open? And has anyone with a mobility disability recently used the terrace pool? Are they still allowing access through the Verandah Restaurant? Thanks!

This line is the main concern in my post. It implies influencing what someone writes in a review. A question: What are some of the factual inaccuracies you have read? Most of the recent reviews are not favorable. Are all of those reviewers inaccurately reporting on their experiences?

Sorry, an individual’s review is an individual’s review. One can disagree with something in the review, but it remains an individual’s review. That is the POINT of a review, to give ones POINT of view. It is not a collaborative effort. This discussion of controlling an individual’s point of view smacks of “big brother” control. Is that the POINT of Cruise Critic? I think not!!

I also posted this on another thread, but you might also have insight. My main use of the internet is for wifi calling and texting others on my cruise. Has anyone experienced the difference (on Cunard) of the Essential Plan and the Premium Plan? Is the later actually faster? Also, am I correct that now Cunard Club members do not automatically receive wifi (minutes based on level) but must purchase a plan and will be provided credit based on Club level? So, if Platinum and I want Essential internet all week, I pay $15 per each 24 hour period x 7 24-hour periods = $105 minus Platinum Level $80 credit = I pay $25. OR I pay $20 for one 24 hour period, and if wanting only free internet, I can only use 4 24-hour periods — and they are not selling by the minute, but a full 24 hour period PERIOD.

Has anyone experienced the difference (on Cunard) of the Essential Plan and the Premium Plan? Is the later actually faster? Also, am I correct that now Cunard Club members do not automatically receive wifi (minutes based on level) but must purchase a plan and will be provided credit based on Club level? So, if Platinum and I want Essential internet all week, I pay $15 per each 24 hour period x 7 24-hour periods = $105 minus Platinum Level $80 credit = I pay $25. OR I pay $20 for one 24 hour period, and if wanting only free internet, I can only use 4 24-hour periods — and they are not selling by the minute, but a full 24 hour period PERIOD.

Life is too short, and I am certainly not agonizing over this issue. But taking the World Cruise is impressive and certainly does not compare to 3, 4, 5-day jauntlets.

My mistake, meant to say Diamond.

That is my concern with Cunard status when shorter 3, 4, and 5 night cruises count. That means some teach status faster, but have invested less time on the ship and less money for Cunard. Using short cruises, one could reach Platinum having only sailed 15 3-day cruises, or 45 days. While those who sail longer cruises, say 15 7-day crossings, will have sailed 105 days. There is a disconnect in how this program awards loyalty.

I am with you on this. Cunard CANNOT continue to call itself a luxury line if it is cutting so many corners to save a buck. Bars of soap?

To whomever has recently been on -- particularly the QM2 -- what were the actual L'Occitane bath items in the Britannia level cabins? At the bathroom sink -- bar of soap? In the shower -- only the body/shampoo dispenser? Anything else? Thanks, Robert

In my experiences with set seating and the same table mates and same wait staff, more often then not, the arrangement was fine. However, there have been some disasters and some disappointments. 1. One cruise, the waiter asked my travel partner what dressing he wanted on his salad. He wanted blue cheese. The waiter left to get the blue cheese. Five minutes later, the blue cheese arrived. OK. First night -- but this continued EACH night for out longer 8 night crossing. And every time someone at the table ordered meat, he asked again each time how they liked it cooked. So much for have the same waiter. 2. On one Christmas Cruise, I was seated at a great table of six (all singles), but two of the seats were not filled. The next night (and for the next 11 nights) two ladies sat down and continually criticized everything, including what and how the others ordered for meals. This went on for the entire cruise. Once I ordered 2 appetizers ("starters" they called them) and the one lady commented that she cannot believe that I would dare order two starters! Thankfully they left the table each night right after they picked at their main course, allowing the rest of us some peace. The other 3 guests were wonderful. I could have moved, but enjoyed the other's company. And can one really request that annoying table mates be removed??? 3. On another cruise, my friend and I were seated with a mother and daughter (great company) and a man and his girlfriend. The man was good company, but on the third night, they had a fight at the table. Each night she came to the table, she let us know how much they had fought that night. At one point, my friend tried to speak to her about the weather, and the woman turned to him and hissed like a cat and stated that she should not be spoken to unless she speaks to him!!! Again, we endured because of the lovely mother/daughter. So it is not always sunshine and lollipops when one has assigned seating with people one does not know!!!!!

My post was an example for those who dislike flexible time. They can choose the same time nightly if they choose, but one can cone whenever it suits them. And one can sit alone, with friends, news acquaintances, same people each night, whatever suits their flexibility.

I have enjoyed flexible dining on may cruise ships, some even rather large (at least passenger size), and in my experience, one can dine at the same time each evening AND request to be seated at the same table (with same staff), as long as one arrives at the same time each evening. There are pluses to more flexible dining -- even on Cunard! For one, the bars and lounges will not be as packed, for one thing, with everyone trying to have a cocktail at the same time everyone else at the same seating is trying to do the same thing. There were many nights I was without a seat in the Chart Room before the seat dinner. Additionally, a whole dining room of people are not moving about en masse. Readers must remember a time after dinner, trying to get an elevator, while a horde of people waited to jump onboard, sometimes causing long waits. And further, there are those who cruise and enjoy eating when they want and with whom they want, especially when meeting new people as they sail. Cunard is offering set seating. They will offer to seat you during the more flexible time if one arrives at the same time each evening and even seat one at the same (or adjacent table).

True about security. But one always had to send a photo for the passport, at least in the US. But that is not the same as a cruise line that considers itself the height of luxury to keep placing more and more on their customers. First they dropped the mailed tags/boarding passes in the Cunard wallet. But for us to take our own selfie and submit it? When does it stop unless there is some push-back.

Wow, that seems a breach of security (uploading a photograph that will be used for identification purposes), as someone could be pretending to be someone else just because they sent a photo of themselves -- or someone else. I wonder what happened if one came without the photo uploaded? Cunard seems to be passing more and more work back to the consumer: print your own items for boarding, take your own photo. Maybe they could save more by having a microwave in each cabin and providing a week's work of microwavable meals -- that way they can save on the cost of staffing a dining room. ALSO, they could provide a broom to each cabin, cleaning supplies, and require us to maintain our own cabins, which would save them even more! Cunard: The new do it yourself luxury cruise line of the 21st century!

What photo did you have to upload?

I do hope that you were dressed appropriately (lol), according to the standards of Cunard, when the waiter asked you if you wanted your "lunch platter." Amazing that Cunard still touts itself as luxury and a step above (and still expecting a man to wear a Tuxedo, when they are NOT worn anywhere but at weddings or seriously formal state dinners), and asks a question like that at lunch.