CynthiaRI

We were transferred to Brooklyn from our hotel last year and arrived at 12.30 to find that everyone else had the same idea. Boarding took over two hours. The staff blamed it on people ignoring their assigned time.

Thanks. I think we're going to plan to stay at hotel till one (with late check-out) and then transfer over. Then I can feed the kids (and myself!) before we head over. And hopefully the "early rush" will be complete!

Thanks for posting. This was a helpful thread! I received our boarding time of 3:30 today, out of New York. Our plan will be to stay at the hotel as long as possible, and grab a light lunch. Then head to the dock. With a group of 7 including 4 kids and my mom, preventing hypoglycemia in case there is a wait is the most important. I figure we will still probably arrive by 2 or so. My excitement is palpable now that I have embarkation details! Our balcony is starboard, so hoping we have some fun views right from the room, although we plan to go up to for embarkation!

As first-time Cunard cruisers, we have received our embarkation time of 3:30 pm. I have seen conversations on other threads, but how strict are these times? Our hotel check-out is 11 am. Our plan would be to stay as late as we can (hoping for a late check-out), and then having a light lunch. It's about a 30 minute drive from the hotel to the pier. Will it be a problem if we arrive a little earlier? I'm thinking 2 or so? Any advice is appreciated! We're getting VERY excited now!

You may want to comsider taking some extra hangers with you or asking for some on the ship.By the way bath robes and slippers are provided so no need to pack those. Room service is very good and it is not a golden rule to tip for room service like other cruise lines.

Thanks for all of the helpful tips! These are so appreciated!

You can use coffee bags just like tea bags- Maxwell House and Folgers do them. They are the best to bring.

Perfect. Thank you! Neither my DH nor I drink coffee, so I wouldn't know where to even start. This will be just what my mom needs.

we went under the V bridge b4 dawn ….

 

I recommend you watch it on the webcam!!!!!

 

http://www.nyharborwebcam.com/

 

 

 

 

Nice pics! I suppose that is what we will do. While it would be amazing to see, the thought of travelling over 1 hour one way from our hotel and back, for the CHANCE of seeing the QM2 is probably not the best use of time. We'll do the best we can! And relax that morning!

"Sorry, Johnny, but you are banned from the children's pool on deck 6"

"But why, Miss?"

"You peed in the pool"

"But all the kids pee in the pool".

"Yes, but not from deck 7"

Excellent!! :-):'):')

Seen here:

 

www.flickr.com/photos/pepperrn/6075998448/in/set-72157627503155752

 

But this has a depth of approx 2 inches!!!

 

I've seen adults in the Minnows Pool many times when it is not being used by children (who seem to much prefer the Deck 12 Pavilion Pool, being covered with a (sliding) glass roof for an echo, they much prefer to make lots and lots of noise there :mad: ). Given that there are five pools on board I'm sure the OP should find one that suits them. In the Spa pool

(here: www.flickr.com/photos/pepperrn/6075985696/in/set-72157627503155752 )

there is a large underwater bench to sit on for example.

 

Hope this helps :) .

To be clear, there is no discount for children who cruise other than the 3rd and 4th passenger. So yes, children enjoy swimming in the pavilion pool, which is significantly warmer, especially during a TA cruise. Children do have a right to enjoy themselves at some point during their cruise, and a pool is a likely location. Especially considering there IS an adult pool elsewhere on board.

Hello

 

I just returned from two trans-atlantics. The so called MINNOWS pool on deck six aft was covered for both crossings. I have been on the QM2 17 times at this point and never saw it being used to any great extent. The kids seemed to take better to the larger aft pool on deck 6. I wonder if Cunard plans on removing this Minnows pool during the next refit.

 

Deck Chair

I guess I'm confused. The aft pool on Deck 6 IS the minnows pool.

Cunard are not very good at announcing their arrival and departure times - even to people who have booked a passage!

I am sailing on the QM2 on July 6 and so far, after reciving various docments about the booking from Cunard, I have yet to recieve anything official about when we sail!

Anyone else agree, or am I not looking in the right place (yes, I know I can get this info. from third party websites, but that's not the point here).

 

 

To answer your question, MOST of her arrivals into Brooklyn (= Red Hook) are scheduled for 6:30 am, Eastern Time. She is pretty reliable when it come to sticking to the offical arrival time, as New York is a "turn around" port so there is loads to do at the berth, before she sails later in the day with a whole new cargo of passengers, food and supplies, TYPICALLY at 5:00pm.

 

PS: anyone reading this should NOT assume that their particular voyage will stick to this timetable, please. In the end, there is only one person who decides when the ship docks and sails....

Thank you! That is the most helpful reply I've received about this question. If docking around 6:30, should pass under the Verrazzano Bridge around 5:30, which will have some daylight! Now to determine if I risk going to Brooklyn to view or try to view from the Staten Island Ferry!

What is the average time the QM2 actually docks at Red Hook? I know the time can be variable, but there is an average time. Hoping to get there to watch its arrival. Thanks!

I found it much better than a normal balcony. Yes, it is true that you cannot see the water but when I wanted to I just pulled the table over a bit and sat on that of course I put a towel on it first. It is like having an extra room. The first night out of New york last November I was sitting out in the balcony about 10 PM I probably would not have done that with a regular balcony. You are sheilded from wind and rain. And great for hanging up any clothes you want to wash by hand. It is very private I just cannot say enough good things about it. I will always go for one now that I have experinced them. I will make a suggestion to you if you want to make coffee in your room bring some coffee bags with you the instant coffee they provide is so disgusting. Maybe some Air Freshener also to freshen the room up a bit. I sail for thirteen days again this year and those things are on my list. I hope you enjoy your cabin as much as I know I will enjoy mine.

Thanks for the rec. Added air freshener to the list! Now to work on coffee for my mom. :-) What size coffee machines are in the room?

I was just reading a review that posed another question. I know there are irons in the laundry rooms. But am I allowed to bring a steamer with my to use in my room? Or is that against the rules? Also, I assume I may bring a hair straightener? So for the questions! Thanks!

These photos aren't great but they might give you some idea of how close the stack gets to the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

Wonderful photos! I can't wait to have some of my own! Less than 6 weeks! Now to figure out a safe place to view the QM2 arriving in NYC early Friday morning!

What about taking an early morning round trip on the Staten Island Ferry?

 

Roy

That's a good idea!

There is a strip of parkland near Fort Hamilton - on the Brooklyn side of the Verazzano Narrows, just north of the bridge.

 

This shows on Google maps as 'John Paul Jones' park right next to the bridge & 'Shore Road Park' adjacent to the Belt / Shore parkway. Getting there in the morning, then to Red Hook terminal when encumbered by luggage might be an issue.

Thanks. Plan would be to cab to Brooklyn to view arrival, then back to hotel to finish packing up and gather up everyone else.

If you are staying in Manhattan the closest view you will get is just above the Staten Island Ferry terminal. You would otherwise have to travel to Brooklyn about 5 - 5:30 AM because that is when she usually passes under the bridge. It takes about an hour for the ship to come up to Redhook, turn, and tie up. You would only see the ship at a distance as it's about five miles between the bridge and the tip of Manhattan. (Alas, the last time she used the Manhattan pier was September 2014.) Cunard has a 2011 video of her NY arrival:

.

 

If you are adventerous at that early hour, the best viewing place is a fishing pier on the Brooklyn side: American Veterans Memorial Pier. First light will be illuminating her starboard side. However it's not a busy place at that hour and getting into a situation that might involve the NYPD or an emergency room is not something I would choose to risk on embarkation day.

 

If you have your laptop and internet at the hotel, the Harbor House web cam will show the ship's arrival:

Harbor House Web Cam. I think they are fans of QM2. Overnight they normally point the cam to Manhattan but on days where QM2 is expected the cam is pointed at the bridge.

Thanks! I was worried about the safety issue. :-( We'll have to decide what to do. It may be fun just to see it arriving from Manhattan.

Are you sailing this Sunday? High tide will coincide with the ship's scheduled departure. It always gives the illusion that she'll be scraping the rust off the girders.

The Narrows Tide Chart

Unfortunately, no. We don't depart till July 20.

Thanks for asking this question! We are travelling next month with our 4 children, 6 to 12. They are beyond excited. We have 3 rooms booked, with an adult in each room. Our 11 and 12 year old will be in a the same room once we board, and the 6 and 8 year with their grandmother. We have had repeated conversations about manners with the 11 and 12 year old. If they lose the privilege of their own room, they can expect the wrath from their parents! Since we are "officially" split, we will be asking for an additional room key so my husband and I have access to all 3 rooms. Our travel agent checked with Cunard and they said to just ask for the additional keys on check-in. We have pre-paid gratuities, but I do plan to tip our room steward/s a little extra at the beginning of the trip. :-) Our rooms are not side by side, but very close together. And the children all have interior rooms, mostly for safety!

My children love traveling and excited (mostly) about dressing up. We plan to let them attend dinner with us as often as they'd like. But I also fully expect to have a few child-free nights! The only time I worry about behavior is while in they're in the room. Alone. But I know they'll be okay. Most likely quietly playing their video games away from the harassment of their parents!

I would love to receive feedback from people who ACTUALLY travelled with their children on the QM2. I will be travelling with my 4 children, ages 6 to 12, next month. I've heard there are a fair number of kids on summer crossings. If anyone has experienced that, what advice do you have. Do they do a kids tea? Any other special kids events/activities? I know about the Kids Clubs, just wondering about other events. Thanks!

We leave for our first cruise aboard QM2 next month, departing from NYC. After reviewing the posts, I have 2 new questions.

1. What is the best place on land to view the arrival of the QM2 in the morning? I would love to be able to view from land that morning. Ideally, it would be great to get views of the QM2 passing under the Verrazzano Bridge. (Yes, I realize this will be very early in the morning.)

2. What is the recommendation for the best way to travel from a Manhattan hotel (near Times Square) to Red Hook. We were planning on Uber, but some other posts have me second-guessing that choice.

Thanks!

Reviewing posts and saw this. Now I'm nervous! We were planning to use Uber from our hotel near Times Square to Red Hook. Hoping it goes well. I may look into car services now. The problem is the cost with 7 people. Two Ubers seems the most logical.

What I usually do is go in at the start of dinner to let them know not to wait for me, get an entree in Kings Court, and join my table after we clear the bridge for coffee and desert.

 

 

Roy

Great idea! I think our plan is the same. I will inform them we won't be at the table. With a party of 7, I'm not sure if we will even have others at our table. Then we'll join them the next night. Thanks!

I don't think I want to know how much it has cost me. But it was worth every penny.:D

I love that! Yes, I bet it is! We will be taking our first TA on QM2 next month. And just that will be worth every penny! I have already informed my husband that our inheritance will be spent on a World Cruise when we retired in another 20 years!

We are travelling with our children on the QM2 next month. I am very excited about the theme nights, but honestly for selfish reasons. We have fun travelling and absorbing the moment. We will all dress up and take some wonderful photos of our family in the theme. After that, who knows! I full expect the masks to be forgotten shortly after the photo. But I want the children to be as excited as me, and they definitely are with their costumes for roaring 20s and their masks. As far as mask types, my mother and I will have the ones with a stick. Since we don't plan on wearing them long, it's just perfect.