Wonky

20 minutes ago, Host Hattie said:

Most of the quizzes we overheard in the Golden Lion had a bottle of wine as the prize.

Interesting, thanks

On 9/21/2024 at 10:05 PM, Pear Carr said:

Agreed - likely more ($400?) for grills and less for fewer nights. Also not applicable for over (I think) 25 nights when additional 3% discount is applied instead. The onboard additional benefit is always added to the current Cunard offer at any given time for a Cunard fare.

 

Has anyone experience of the 3% off longer cruises? I normally negotiate a reduced fare with TA but then book on board for the extra OBS but I’m guessing the 3% would be negated if for example you had negotiated 5% with TA. Could you refuse the 3% and ask for OBS instead??

@MylesS Have they done away with collecting stickers for prizes at the quizzes etc?

52 minutes ago, MylesS said:

I managed to use my persuasive attitude to my advantage there regarding my partner 🤣

 

The next cruise is a 19 nighter with port calls in Croatia, where I’ve never been - also a few sea days, which I love. 
 

Here’s the full itinerary:

 

Interestingly around this time last year I was doing some work involving the Croatian Ministry of Finance, so it’s nice to go there! 

Almost sounds tax deductible😉

I notice from @Host Hattie on the QA that the deck games appear to be just “meet up” rather than organised games. Is this the same on QV?

Thanks for posting the daily programmes. It would appear the competitive games have changed to “players meet up” rather than organised games?

@bluemarble I think I’ve found QV in Hong Kong on 14/3 which would fit.

7 hours ago, tim_london0 said:

until the TA goes bust, half way through the process of booking your holiday 

 

(and yes, as has already been said the money should be protected by some bonded scheme or whatever, but all that gets you is your money back, not your promised holiday)

This actually happened to me and the cruise line took over the booking.

11 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Well, you e got a lovely day for it, if it is anything like Bournemouth. This is the fourth day of steady rain.

And yet in Southampton it’s lovely……at the moment!

No gossip from the TA call then?

Oooooooh QV worldie, yes please! @bluemarble any port booking you see?

Is it possible I wonder that there was some intent for the Grills Terrace to be “in the way”? To get other passengers to look in and think “ooh that looks nice, I’ll maybe try that next time”? Somewhat subconscious upselling. 

The only downside I experienced was a little smell of smoke from the prom deck. It was only very occasionally though so I think it was from rogue smokers not being where they should have been.

5 minutes ago, NE John said:

One of the only features Cunard should take from Virgin Voyages is to offer a “Bar Tab” with discounts for how much you put on that bar tab. Add $300 to your tab and get $330 in spending.
Then lower US Grills fares and do the same for Grills pax.
Then you’re free to buy what drink you want, buy a round of drinks for newly found travel companions, or whatever you want. 
The current Drinks Packages state is a too confusing and complicated for pax and staff. 

100% this👍

17 minutes ago, NE John said:

Thanks. Are these #’s per person or stateroom?  If pp, that’s impressive. 

Per stateroom

On 8/13/2024 at 9:44 PM, NE John said:

Question please - do UK Cunard pax generally get a very healthy amount of OBC to help pay for drinks, internet, service charges? More OBC than North American pax, even though US Grills pax can a watered down drinks package and service charges picked up. 
 

We have quite a few cruises this winter that have a very good OBC. QV PG in the med $740 per week (3 weeks) and $1700 (+$250 shareholder) on QV PG FLL-SOU. QA a bit less generous. You can currently get $720-$1020 PG/QG on a TA.

Had no joy at all with a couple of VPNs on essentials.

Thanks for posting, will be very interested to see how well it works as could be good way of supplementing the diamond package which won’t be enough to cover whole cruise.

Rest assured you won’t have to keep track of the physical key that you need to access your room, instead you’ll have to worry about remembering a code! Maybe write it on your room key!

ABTA doesn’t regulate TAs. In fact there is no requirement to be a member. They do have a code of conduct. Holidays are protected by the ATOL scheme (run by the CAA) but only if the holiday includes a flight. That’s how I understand it anyway!

The best sail-away location surely? 

So is there anyone hinting on board that there might be a chance of improving storage in staterooms? That (and the Queen’s room) appear to be the main negative feedback. And indeed are there any locations in cabins to allow for adding wardrobes or anything. @Victoria2 I take it plenty of storage in Queens? 

1 hour ago, Craigrlewis said:

Doesn’t have a sofa but a desk chair and a sort of arm chair 

we like the additional window as it makes the cabin really light

we have booked 4061 same layout already for a future cruise as we like the layout a lot

also in a weird way we feel like, after numerous cookie cutter Britannia cabins , that it’s somehow a completely different holiday if that makes sense.

Do you have any pics of the balcony please?

@MylesS I’m on in December, do you think you’ll still be on?!!

Some might say that as returning guests that the staff know very well, by tipping at the end one is in fact tipping (ahem bribing) in advance of the next cruise🤔😉