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This is all extremely interesting re MDR water and bottled water. I'm going on the Euribia in just over 2 weeks from Southampton (first MSC cruise) and I'm booked through MSC USA. I had noticed that on my cruise ticket right at the top under "SERVICES ADDED TO YOUR CRUISE" is "MINERAL WATER AND COFFEE IN DINING ROOM". I found that very strange as we always got coffee and water (not necessarily mineral water) in the MDR on my other cruises. I now understand why. As it happens, we also booked the drinks pkg + wifi promotion so I presume we can get whatever water/coffee/drinks we like anyway. Maybe some of the people the previous posters saw with bottled water had drinks packages, rather than an extra amenity? In any case, we are cruising with family in another cabin and in order to be able to sit at the same table we all have to have the same drinks package. Maybe when matching 6 tops and 8 tops they only match cabins with the same drinks packages and/or amenities, so that's how the waiters know ?

Exactly......we get in the car to go to the airport, and before leaving we all check that we have our passports. So sorry it happened to you (OP).

Thank you everyone 😊

Hi - I'm an MSC newbie, cruising at the beginning of April on the Euribia, round trip Southampton. Can anyone please tell me which pier the Euribia uses for embarkation in Southampton? I need to book parking !!

I made it last week - not bad!!

I'm afraid so.

Yeah, the question was specifically for Britannia balcony class, on QE. She who must be obeyed asked me to find out.

Thank you 😀

Could anybody please tell me if there is a magnifying mirror in the bathroom ?

You can order a brochure by going into the site and clicking on "Request a Brochure". I live in Israel and I'm always directed to the UK site - so when requesting a brochure you have to have a UK address, otherwise it tells you to look at the digital one. I don't know what happens re the US or Australian sites. I just edited my address "et voila".

Basically, everyone has to work out for themselves if the package is worth it depending on how much you drink. Less than $500 for 26 nights for 2 people works out as less than $10 a day per person - not even the price of a cocktail!! So obviously a drinks package isn't needed. Me too. My kids range from 19 yrs old to mid 30s and they would all want a drinks package !! Chips off the old block 🙂 . My wife and I are on the Tokyo - Vancouver crossing in May (first time Cunard). I would easily justify a drinks package but not my wife, so I have the same problem as GeorgianGal100. My wife does drink, but only a little - not enough to justify the package. I look at it this way. A package would cost us $2,240 for the cruise - so all we have to do is spend less than that and we're out on top 🙂 .

Apologies for the scare. I had relied on everybodies experience so much that I had never actually read the "rules". Thank you for the reassurance 🙂 .

I see from the UK site there is a new 1 bottle wine/champagne limit for personal stateroom use. It says : You may bring one bottle of wine or champagne on board to enjoy within your stateroom. You are welcome to buy alcohol ashore as a gift or souvenir, which will be held for the duration of your cruise, and returned to you when you disembark. Here's the link: https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/the-cunard-experience/what-to-pack#seadays Look under "What not to pack for a cruise". I will be a first-time Cunard cruiser in a couple of months and I have understood from many past posts that there was virtually no limit to the mount of wine/champagne and/or spirits that one could bring on board for personal use. Any ideas anyone?

Just to say "Hi" - I'm also on the Japan/Alaska/Vancouver trip (very excited) and I also chose a deck 7 cabin for the very same reason - balcony in my case, although the upgrade fairy never visited 🙂 . Hope it all works out for you.

Marvellous !!! Bon voyage and enjoy 👌

The T&Cs on the US site also quote $13 - so apparently it's just the blurb on the US "My Cunard" site that says $12.

The UK site advertises the full drinks package as $70 pre-cruise with drinks up to $13 - https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/activity-types/bars-and-lounges/a-world-of-drinks Beers, wines, and spirits. $70 per person, per day inclusive of 15% service charge(On board price is $75 per person, per day, inclusive of 15% service charge)Enjoy an incredible array of beers, wines by the glass, spirits, liqueurs, and cocktails up to $13 per serving, as well as all the benefits of the Premium Soft Drinks Option. The US site advertises the full drinks package as $70 pre-cruise with drinks up to $12 - https://my.cunard.com/en-us/mycruise/QU/AIB_PDP Beers, Wines and Spirits Option Adults $70 per day An incredible array of beers, spirits, liqueurs, cocktails, and wines by the glass up to $12 per serving as listed on our menus Which is correct ??

What brand of tea do they serve in britannia cabins?

I think that the main gripe is the exclusive use of the Queens Room. That is what is specifically advertised on the TA's site. You have to book through the TA and pay a premium to be part of the group in order to participate in the "private vintage events". All you need to do is search 'vintage dance cruise' in google and it immediately pops up. Another quote from the site: "Bookings are exclusively through through **********. Our intimate vintage parties and performances are private. Regular passengers on the ship will be turned away at the door so be sure to book directly with ****** here at ****** to avoid disappointment." As per my previous post, they are advertising a Glen Miller Orchestra Crossing departing April 30th 2023, a Matt Tolentino and his Singapore Slingers Crossing departing May 26th 2023 and an Alex Mendham and his Orchestra Crossing departing July 14th 2023. These are private group crossings. Exclusive use of the Queen's Room for 5+ events.

I think you may have misunderstood. The crossings I mentioned above with the performers are the dates and bands for the private dancing groups.

Agreed !!

Do they have crumpets?

According to the TA's website: Matt Tolentino & His Singapore Slingers will be on the 26th May 2023 - 2nd June 2023 crossing. Alex Mendhem and his Orchestra will be on the 14th - 21st July 2023 crossing.

Hi, I think it's worthwhile phoning up Cunard and explaining your situation. You are a family group booking 2 cabins, and in each cabin only 1 person drinks. Ask if it's possible to buy a pair of packages and assign it to the people that drink. Cunard will still be getting the income from 2 packages, and they might be lenient because you are a family group. They can only say no.

Thanks for the review - very interesting and well-written. Especially so since there aren't that many reviews from the QE. We are booked on the Tokyo-Vancouver crossing via Alaska in May 23 on the QE. First Cunard cruise after 3 Crystal cruises a number of years ago. Very much looking forward to it but unfortunately the impression I have got from reading these boards over the last few months is that Cunard is not what it was. I'm hoping that things will improve post covid over the next 6-8 months. Interestingly, I came back last week from a short 4-nighter on RCL out of Haifa, and there are no covid restrictions at all. RCL are also taking unvaccinated passengers. The only thing you need is a negative test 2 days before embarkation. BTW - service was fine on RCL. Everyone very friendly and only too willing to help.