onehappystudio

Thanks for sharing the Golden Lion pub menu - I'm looking forward to eating in there on my trip on the QM2.

Thanks, Hattie & @tv24:

In Martin & Jan's blog, Martin mentioned another gangway exit for those visiting Sydney versus those disembarking Sydney in his blog, which is what prompted my question.

Thanks for your responses!

I'm taking a TA crossing from NY to Hamburg, stopping in Southampton.

If I want to leave the ship at Southampton for the day, do I need to disembark with all the other passengers who are not continuing on to Hamburg (in other words, do I need to wait for a special disembarkation time), or is there another gangway for those who are are continuing on?

Do passengers go through immigration after they disembark, or is it done prior to leaving the ship?

Thanks for the recommendation on this! I'm taking a TA to Hamburg, and had no idea what to do there; was planning on staying a night, and then flying out to either Paris or London for 3 days before flying home.

Thanks for sharing your notes, Harold (aka Jack!) - some great points here.

I didn't think about the time difference when choosing to take a NY > Hamburg route (rather than visa versa).

bad WiFi

I don't have any insight into any of the reviews - I'll be doing my first crossing this August, but the bad WiFi is actually a plus for me - I'm looking at my 9 days at sea as a good opportunity to disconnect - I haven't been on vacation where I haven't taken my computer with me, and worked (in addition to having a full-time job, I also own a small online business). I don't plan on accessing the internet at all for those 9 days. If our teenage son (age 18) needs to reach us in an emergency, he can call the ship's satellite number (but it would have to be a true emergency).

Doing a transatlantic "crossing" has always been on my bucket list. Taking a "cruise" has never appealed to me. Since the QM2 is the only ocean-liner still still in service, that's the only ship I've ever considered sailing on.

I'm not considering any other cruise line (& for the same reason I won't consider QV or QE either).

Karen:

Thank you so much for that comprehensive list! I really appreciate the thought that you put into writing it! It will help immensely!

You're right - I'm asking these questions because I don't want to be unprepared before I go, or second guessing myself :)

Be forewarned - you may not open your books. After a few crossings with well-traveled but unread books, I've left them at home.

 

A couple more first time tips:

1. The Planetarium shows are worthwhile (if for no other reason than a nice little nap after lunch ;)) However if, one morning, you forget to pick up a ticket for a showing that afternoon, just let a staff member know when they open the doors. Inevitably quite a few people grab tickets and don't show. You should have no problem getting in.
   
2. There's an unpublicized behind-the-scenes tour of the anchor area, engine control room, bridge, galley and backstage areas. It takes three hours and costs about $160 per person (you get some souvenirs). It's fascinating and we found it worthwhile. Once. Mechanical engineering geeky types will especially enjoy it.
   Sign up is at the excursions desk when they open the first morning (9:00?) It's first-come-first-serve and always sells out, so plan on one of you getting in line down there an hour early. (You can reserve 2 places for about eight? slots - some slots also go to the concierge lounge for Grill passengers)
   

- Mark

Thanks for the tips, Mark!

be sure to bring along a high-lighter pen for marking the ship's Daily Programme which will be delivered to your stateroom the night before.

Thanks for the suggestion! I will definitely do that!

 

WARNING: You probably will not get seasick on an airplane. On the QM2 you will be at sea in the open North Atlantic (known for waves) for 7 days. The North Atlantic is especially rough in winter. Unless you have cruised before you may not know if you will get seasick. Being seasick for seven days would not be my idea of a fun vacation.

 

FYI, I assume you have considered the cost of getting to the port of embarkation from your home and from the port of debarkation to where you are traveling to in Europe.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to get seasick at some point - I got motion sickness every time I flew in an airplane up until the age of 18 (and I flew a lot!). I get carsick if I sit in the back seat, and I've gotten seasick sitting in a rowboat on a flat Lake Michigan. I think that is what has stopped me from taking a crossing before now, but I will plan on visiting my doctor before I go, to get something to help (like a patch, or some other medication). I will also be traveling with ginger candy.

Airfares to New York, and home from Hamburg have been paid for using frequent flier miles.

Yeah, I'll have the expense of buying some evening gowns, but I'm looking forward to shopping for them.

You have to bear in mind that a TA on the QM2 isn’t like a normal cruise, where you have lots of port days

That's what's always appealed to me - my life is too busy, too rushed, and I'm too connected. I want 9 nights where there is nothing to do but relax. A regular vacation ends up not being relaxing for me.

We plan on bringing some of our favorite games on board. That, together with some books to read, will be bliss. We'll be celebrating our 30th anniversary on board (well, our anniversary is on the last day - we have booked the Park Hyatt in Hamburg for our anniversary night - our wedding night was spent at another Park Hyatt...)

Are you sailing 3rd August?

 

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Yes, we are sailing on 3rd August, from New York to Hamburg. Neither of us have been a cruise before (never had the urge to do a cruise, but doing a TA crossing on Cunard has been on my bucketlist since I was a child - it's the second-to-last bucketlist item to be checked off!)

First time cruiser - doing a TA New York to Hamburg this August, and I have some questions about the various restaurants on the ship, and about the dress code...

What are the Golden Lion hours? Do they serve dinner, or just lunch? Are there any charges to eat here?

I have the same questions about Sir Samuel's.

Most of the dinner options in the Britannia restaurant that I've seen online look too "frou frou" for my husband. Can he order just a regular steak or do you have to be in one of the Grills to order something which is not on a menu?

I understand the dress code ship-wide after 6pm (& I'm looking forward to the opportunity to dress up!) If I attend a movie at 5:00pm, am I expected to be dressed up for that (since the movie will end after 6:00pm)?

Yes, I will likely just suck it up and pay the exorbitant fee for decent drinking water - a basic human requirement - while onboard the QM2, but I won't be happy about it.

How much does the cost of a cruise/crossing on Cunard compare to any other ship you have been on? I've never been on a cruise myself, so don't have a point of comparison, but the other ships I'd have any interest in traveling on are significantly more expensive than Cunard.

For me, the cost of a 7 day TA crossing and then a return flight is cheaper than just purchasing an airline ticket to & from Europe, so the cost of the crossing is a bargain.

The savings I have made will more than cover the cost of gratuities, drinks, and any other "incidental" onboard purchases.

Men with knee length tailored shorts and sneakers with white socks: Americans

:p

That describes my (American) father-in-law to a t!

@slamt3 - which crossing are you taking? I'm taking my first Cunard TA crossing on the QM2 to Hamburg this August (M829)

You can find the roll call for your cruise by searching here: https://www.cruisecritic.com/rollcalls/?cruise_line_id=13&ship_id=294

Would that be a hat with corks attached to repel flies? I find your post rather insulting.

 

 

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Bless your heart - I'm sorry that you feel I was insulting you.

I was merely making an observation based on my own personal experiences as an Australian who no longer lives in Australia...

Just off QM2 and we are Australian.

First, until someone speaks - how could you possibly know their nationality and therefore judge their dress?

Ha! Last year, I met up with a schoolfriend who was visiting the US from Australia. II hadn’t seen here in 40 years. She was traveling with her husband, brother and sister-in-law, whom I had never met.

My eyesight isn’t what it used to be, but I knew it was my friend and her family approaching before I saw her face, purely based on the clothes they were wearing. Their clothing screamed “Australian”.

I can pick an Australian before they speak, if they are wearing a certain type of clothing...

Just saw the 2020 QM2 itinerary-Cunard will probably do the same thing between Brisbane and Fremantle-Buyer Beware!;)

Well, that's disappointing. I've never taken a cruise (Cunard or otherwise), but I'm doing my first crossing this August, and I have my eye on the 2020 Hong Kong > Fremantle segment of the world cruise, and would be disappointed if the ship is full of people who don't care to dress up.

I'm taking my first ever "cruise" this August, with a TA from NY to Hamburg.

Is there an advantage to boarding early? I'm one of those people who don't mind waiting to be last to board a plane; I'd rather sit in comfort than stand in a line, so I'm thinking I'd rather not arrive at the terminal to board until absolutely necessary. If I'm given a specific boarding time, and show up at that exact time, will I still need to stand in line for an hour?

I'm just not sure what to expect...

So cute! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks so much @TheOldBear

I've read posts about how long the boarding process takes at each of the ports prior to departure. If you get off at Southampton (I'm on a TA crossing which continues on to Hamburg), will I need to get back in line with those joining the ship in Southampton? Or is there a "special" line for passengers who've already been on the ship for the crossing from NY?