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15 hours ago, grapau27 said:

We often got the train from Durham to Southampton or flew Flybe from Newcastle and stayed in a Premier Inn at West Quay.

Last time I decided to drive down and booked a stay at Meon Valley hotel with breakfast and a taxi to the cruise terminal and a taxi return to pick up our car.

Next time I will drive down and look at a hotel in Southampton offering parking and taxi return.

Graham.

We usually drive down from just north of Newcastle (Cramlington) the day before and stay at a local Premier Inn. After a leisurely breakfast then drive to the terminal and drop off the car after the luggage. On return, it's straight to the car and on the way home. Its a long journey but this way, no stress involved. I dont mind the the driving.

The Cunard USP is the formality. But do not confuse that with people being "stuck up", as they are not. 

Cunarder's love dressing up, that's why they choose the brand sort of speak.

But it does not have to be a tuxedo. No, no way, but at the same time jeans and t shirt is disrespecting the brand and your holiday mates.

Dress smartly and no one will have an issue, If you dont want too, then no problem therr are plenty of cruise lines who are happy with that. 

Just respect the fact that cunarder's do not want that and enjoy the "pomp and ceremony" its wonderful.

I got into this in my mid--life and love it. It totally contradicts the fact that im a biker who loves heavy metal festivals !!!!!!! oh even worse... a geordie LOL

I have been in 8059 and 8061 on QV.

Whilst there can be some noise from above, mainly in the morning, it by no means affected our cruise.

We really enjoyed these cabins. So go ahead and book unless you really are extremely late to bed and want to sleep vey late too, which is just missing the pure enjoyment of cruising.

Get up and meet some wonderful people

Some people just like to complain about, well anything ....... 

interestingly my wife and I drink what we want, which includes some very nice pre-dinner cocktails, lovely bottles of wine at diiner, glasses of champainge and very nice whiskey afterwards etc.

We do not deprive ourselves. 

However, the overall cruise cost works out less than the price of the drinks package.

So it a no from me.

6 minutes ago, Roger Ackroyd said:

We are due to take a leg of the QV world tour in February - San Francisco to Brisbane - which leaves Southampton in January. 

In all honesty I don’t see this happening for various reasons.

A) the ongoing and increasing prevalence of the pandemic in the States

B) The unwillingness of the US authorities in allowing cruise ships to dock in any US port

C) ditto the various ports en route across the Pacific might well be unwilling to let in cruise ships

D) the likelihood that onboard facilities will be highly regulated and curtailed

E) the likelihood that passenger numbers will have to be limited, i.e. 50% of capacity

F) and following on from E) who will be turfed off and how that would make any cruise financially viable.

G) who would want to take the risk at any time before 2022 and a vaccine is widely available

H) Insurance. 

This las point may be the killer for many travellers over the age of 70.

Am in a similar position and feel the same. Have a 26 night cruise booked for December and TBH am hoping it is cancelled as dont really want to go on it now. 

What's is also being overlooked is that this pandemic has devastated many peoples finances and they may no longer have the finances for cruises for which they have paid their deposits. These can be fairly hefty sums of money too. 

On 5/17/2020 at 11:52 AM, majortom10 said:

Hoping my booking in October on QM2 is going to be cancelled before balance due and my next cruise will hopefully one we have booked in May 2021.

its quite likely now. P&O just exteneded their "pause" date yesterday upto and including 15th October. So my 12th October cruise is cancelled (prior to paying final balance).

I also have a QM2 cruise booked in this December and TBH am hoping that is cancelled too.

21 hours ago, Glenndale said:

Looking forward to boarding QV on Sunday 😀

🎄🎁🎄

me too 😀

wonderfull, we have a 26 night cruise booked from 15th December 2020. 😀

My bill is paid for by the business. But that's doesnt mean its an open cheque.

So I make sure data roaming is switched off but that phone calls or texts are enabled with the maritime network. 

But when we have a few consecutive sea days then allow data roaming every other day just for work related emails. That ensures costs are not excessive. 

4 hours ago, brian1 said:

They've started selling my favourite,Moretti, over here,over a quid a bottle in supermarkets.1.80 euro for a 3 pack in Italy.5 quid for a pint of draught Peroni here,that's a joke.

A pint of Peroni in my favourite local pub is £4.25. Pint on Oceana last month was £4.80. Not much difference really. But in Newcastle city centre I can pay £5 for a pint.

I found the drinks prices on my last P&O cruise to be very acceptable and compared with my local well.

Now Cunard, well that's a different assesement altogether !!!!! 😡😡

Our first ever cruise last year was on QV in BC. The restaurant was very impressive. Eventually the staff were ok.

I have to be honest though in that the service on P&O Oceana last month was better !!! 

Anyway, will be on QV in BC in December and looking forward to it.

There are loads of tables for two and some little alcoves with tables for two. We had table 216 last year which was a perfect location. 

tend to use the premier inns. About £70 B&B for two. Then with P4C at around £115. Altogether the cost is very reasonable.

11 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

But as long as we get on and make the most of it then Cunard will carry on treating US cruisers better than those in the UK and nothing will change.

as i said, agree with you. They seemingly have many more beneficial terms than the rest of us. Good for them. However, we still sail with Cunard despite the inequality. Doesn't stop us voicing our discontent when the opportunity arises though, which I do in feedback to Cunard. But its not worth losing sleep over.

30 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

Also if you do not use the Future Cruise Voucher then you lose the money for some reasoning in the US Cunard give them 4 yrs to book a cruise unlike 1yr in UK and if they dont use it they get it refunded. Unfair or what.

Agree Majortom, unfortunately many things in life are unfair. Just have to get on and make the most of it. Life's too short to worry about these things. Maybe we will be rewarded on day..... LOL

1 hour ago, PORT ROYAL said:

 

Agreed FCD's only valid for bookings within a year of purchase, but we take 5/6 cruises per year and book cruises up to 18 months in advance.  Therefore, for us it's a no brainier.

 

Addendum 

Your Carnival Shareholding can be made part of your Pension Portfolio.

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately, can't manage 5/6 cruises a year. But working up to it for when we retire........

I have bought the carnival shares and they are in a stocks and shares ISA so protected for when I retire...LOL

Will look to buy the future credits when next on bought in December. As will no doubt book another one before the 12 months is up.

7 minutes ago, Host Hattie said:

No, part of the Terms and conditions is that they can only be used for new bookings.

Ok thanks for Host Hattie

Guess will use it as an excuse to book another cruise when on board then 😉

May seem a little over optimistic. However, can you buy the future cruise credits on board during your cruise and then apply them to another cruise in the future which you have already booked ?

thanks

22 minutes ago, BrianI said:

Emirates fly from Newcastle to Dubai non stop according to their website. 

Brian

They do and flight times are ok but get into Dubai at midnight so would be interesting about when board the ship. However, Newcastle was never offered as an option when we booked. Think it would be a case of making your own arrangements and of course canny extra cost ? 

2 hours ago, happy v said:

Thank you for your reply.

There are no flights from Newcastle at the moment so we would have to travel to Manchester or Gatwick first. Then having to wait for a cabin has just made me think this is far too much hassle. Maybe when I have ran out of other options I will think again.

We are flying from Glasgow instead. Don’t fancy Manchester and we’re quoted different London airports flying out and back which was just mental. Glasgow is a good place to fly from and canny travelling from Newcastle. 

just booked Grand Carribean over Christmas and New Year from Southampton and back. 26 nights. The business is quiet at that time, well it normally is !!!!

interesting though that even with Cunard fare was unable to book preferred dining choice. although the booking confirmation stated first sitting on table for 6. So see if can change when voyage personalised is up an ready. 

The boss is already planning it....LOL

13 hours ago, lebreos said:

Just read this section on the cruise personaliser - if your on a P&O organised flight you would be met the other end and put onto the transfer bus. If you are making your own way you wont be met. the detail is under flights in your booking - mine was for caribbean thou... so worth checking your own page.

just checked my cruise personaliser and it makes no reference to how we get to the ship from the airport.

However, the holiday itinerary does. Its a scheduled flight but organised by P&O. So I would have thought they are aware as to which flight we will be on since they have booked it. The following information is now there which is much more informative.

GROUP TRANSFER AIRPORT TO PORT 
ON ARRIVAL AT DUBAI AIRPORT YOU WILL NEED TO FOLLOW THE ARRIVALS SIGNAGE TO PASSPORT CONTROL. CONTINUE ON TO COLLECT YOUR LUGGAGE, BEFORE MAKING YOUR WAY THROUGH CUSTOMS; AFTER WHICH P&O CRUISES REPRESENTATIVES WILL MEET YOU AND GUIDE YOU TO THE VEHICLES FOR YOUR TRANSFER TO YOUR SHIP. (DUE TO SECURITY RESTRICTIONS, OUR REPRESENTATIVES ARE UNABLE TO MEET YOU AT THE ARRIVAL GATE.) SHOULD YOU REQUIRE ANY ASSISTANCE WITH YOUR TRANSFER, PLEASE CONTACT OUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES ON 00971 56 418 3651.

16 minutes ago, zoe sproodle said:

We're flying from Gatwick but I'm guessing we've got similar info about transfers which is a little ambiguous isn't it?

i did ask them about this when I paid the balance and they said we'd be met and didn't have to call, but I guess it's worth double checking about your own arrangements, I was planning to give them a call a few days before we fly just to confirm.

Hi Zoe

yes think that would be the best thing to do. As you say their wording is a bit ambiguous to say the least. 

Thanks 

going on our first fly cruise in a couple of weeks time. So after some information please

for anyone who has flown from Glasgow to Dubai, are you met at the airport (if so where are you met ?) and then taken direct to the ship or do you have to make arrangements by calling P&O direct before the flight ?

thanks

Graham

well, I'll be taking advantage of it, if it's still available next month. I don't smoke myself but my wife does and as the cost is charged to our on board account with my card attached to it, I always seem to end up with the cost.

So happy days..... 😀

21 hours ago, Lanky Lad said:

Yes there should be some up when you board, but more may appear overnight as the cruise continues.

Hope so as am on this cruise too. But given it ends so close to Christmas would have expected it to be a given that decorations would be up. Even if it’s the latter half of the cruise. 

A great start to Christmas 👍👍