sfred

willjan,  the excursions I've bought through voyage personaliser (now called "manage my booking" on the Cunard AU web site) are charged in US$ and incur currency conversion fees if you use an Aussie credit card with a surcharge.  Cards like 28degrees or Bankwest zero have no fee for foreign transactions.  Anything you buy from the Australia call centre on 132441 is processed by Cunard Australia, in A$, and therefore without surcharge.

HI willjan.  As BigMac says, anything purchased onboard is in US$.  Unless your Australia credit card is free from foreign currency surcharges, you'll incur a currency conversion fee.  Anything purchased prior to your cruise through the Australia call centre (for example, wine packages or the cost of the cruise itself) is in A$ and does not incur currency conversion charges.

I share your disappointment, MelbTone.  The only straightforward payment method (card) is the one that attracts surcharge. 

Are you able to share the BSB/account info you received from Cunard?  How do they associate the funds transfer with your booking?  Booking reference number?

On 9/26/2019 at 8:14 AM, Underwatr said:

Americans are charged gratuities, it's just that in many booking promotions it's charged and refunded.

 

Aren't many Australian fares gratuity-included? 

In my experience, it is relatively rare for Australia fares to include gratuities.  There is the occasional sale promotion that is gratuity inclusive but only on selected voyages that Cunard is particularly flogging.  Even then Cunard IT can interfere.  I took two short 3 and 4 day QE trips in Australia earlier this year, both booked at the same time on a gratuity inclusive promotion deal.  Upon disembarkation on the 3 night voyage the gratuities were appropriately credited back (ie, charged to my account and then paid back by Cunard), but on the other 4 night they were charged as usual with no corresponding Cunard credit.  I asked at the pursers office before getting off, but they had no record of my promotional fare and had no ability to apply a credit other than removing the gratuity entirely.  I did not want to disadvantage our cabin steward, who was very good, so I left the gratuities in place.

I concur with the general sentiment in this thread that it is unfair to have one policy for some geographies and a different policy for others.

As of today 25 September, there is no change to the gratuity policy on the Australia site:

"From your waiters and stateroom stewards to the many more people supporting behind the scenes, every Cunard crew member puts their heart and skill into ensuring you experience Cunard's legendary White Star Service.

To ensure crew in these areas are rewarded for the service they provide to you, and to eliminate the need for tipping, a hotel and dining service charge is added to your on board account and every dollar collected goes directly to the crew members.  There is no administrative fee.  Of course, should you wish to individually reward any other crew member who has made your time on board particularly memorable, please feel welcome to do so."

North West Newbie is correct.  Last year on the 4th of July 2018 cruise the shuttle was also at Clinton St/Surface Road adjacent to the Dock Square car park and Faneuil Hall market.

I don't know about this year, but we were aboard last year in 2018.  The excursions were the usual Boston activities; nothing unique to Independence day.  We watched the fireworks from the Cambridge side of the Charles  river near Kendall Square, and made our own way back to the ship afterwards. 

Hello AzureGreen23.  In my experience, the Victoria and Elizabeth have European UK and US sockets, but the Mary has only UK and US. 

And none of the Cunard ships has Australia/NZ sockets.  Perhaps on the new ship.... 

Sort of...   I booked the QM2 Christmas/New Year voyage NY-Caribbean-NY, starting 22 Dec 2020 and ending Jan 2021.  Should be great!  The new web site crashed at the payment screen, but the booking went through anyway.

It has been open when arriving into Sydney Australia.  Wonderful experience coming in through the heads at dawn.