watsonbeau

As the currency on board is USD - what’s best to leave for personal staff tips if the ship is in European ports where it’s mainly the Euro - Euro or USD or GBP - we are on QV summer 24 on a 4 week Rome to Rome trip, so will have GBP as am in UK and Euros, but wondering about whether I should order some USD as well ? Thank you.

Returned 15th after the round trip to Caribbean departing Southampton Sun 19 Nov so onboard for what was in effect a 3 in 1 trip, in Britannia class. No complaints to be honest and found staff as always fabulous and the food lovely - we were open dining and also used Kings Court for dinner a few times and went in Verandah one night, but didn’t try the Coriander etc in evenings so can’t comment on those. Enjoyed Boardwalk in afternoons while in Caribbean. Did a few afternoon teas in Queens room which we enjoyed and fits in well with open dining - we always used to go 1st sitting so usually missed teas as times too close together. Thought there were good choices in buffet - minor issue was the ice facility in one or two water machines stopped working on occasion - ice bucket with cubes/tongs provided though. When you think of food prices/eating out prices in UK, I thought the cruise was excellent value for quality/quantity provided. Only thing I missed were toasted muffins - didn’t see any about but maybe just didn’t spot them. We avoided Britannia on departure days from Southampton and NY and used KC buffet - around 7pm as 6pm seemed busiest time. One recommendation would be to book your evening meal for every night in advance at start of trip - can always change or cancel later - as we started off booking daily and found there were no early slots around 6 - 6:30pm in Caribbean sector once all had boarded in NYC for that part of the trip. Not an issue as we either ate a bit later or used KC. Captain Hall was excellent in his broadcasts and did a great job at Halifax - QM2 did not berth as no there were no fenders at dockside, so to avoid any damage he manoeuvred in close in the harbour and the passenger was taken off by tender across a short distance. Some good Insights lectures - Bill Miller and Derek Tedder very good and some up to date films in Illuminations - Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning, Barbie, Oppenheimer. First week was the Literature Festival so that was very busy for those into authors etc. Saw a few shows in Royal Court but did find the band/singers sometimes very loud and seemed to be fighting each other. Quite a few people were I thought rude coming in half way through or leaving part way through - disrupting others in the process. Spent most evenings in Commodore usually after show/theatre if we went and had good service in there from staff. We didn’t catch Covid and never heard it mentioned but there was certainly coughing in theatre and lectures, and a few wearing masks. I did think the cabin stewards were overloaded - apparently Britannia ones had 18 cabins to do twice a day - previously they had 12 - nonetheless ours was very good and cannot fault. So no complaints overall from me but appreciate we all have different experiences and expectations. Sadly have now got three more now booked onboard, QV and a round trip on Queen Anne !

For the QM2 call at Los Angeles - is that likely to be Long Beach ? Or San Pedro ? Thank you

I’m guessing I will just get the $80 but also OH has $80 as well. That will give me about a weeks worth as he won’t use his at all so I will spread it out and add to it if needed. Thank you

How does it work on QM2 if booked as one 26 nt cruise but comprises - Southampton via New York - Caribbean-NYork - Southampton ? Do you get 3x$80 (so $80 per “sector”) if Platinum ? can’t find anything about this. Thank you

Thank you. The outward flight looks to be charter but not the homeward. Will get onto TA/Cunard and find out. Thank you PS - dog and bone is UK slang for - phone - all the best to you all in 🇺🇸 USA and Canada 🇨🇦

That's great thank you - failing all else will try the dog and bone ! thanks again.

Hello - booked on QV Med next year 28 days - flying UK on Cunard flight to Rome/back. The flight has just been published on the voyage personaliser and is Jet2 so guessing a Cunard charter or bulk seat buy on a regular Jet2 flight. The usual is 1case per passenger - I don’t think I can pack into two cases for that long - would need 3 as though I will launder, the formal is not going to squeeze in! Anybody know if they will allow you to book extra case ? We have done it with KLM but that was booked as a package with TA for scheduled flight & Cunard cruise to Panama. Have travelled with Jet2 but not on a Cunard cruise - land base trip to Greece so 2 cases were fine as no dressing up ! Any advice welcome. Thank you.

Do we know who will be master after the current refit ? Thank you

Thank you 57Eric - wasn’t sure and thought best to check !

I’ll hopefully be booking something when onboard QM2 Caribbean in November - can’t remember but for deposit is it debit card only or is credit card ok ? As the latter in UK gives better consumer protection. Thank you

They still do fixed time dining at 6 and 8.30pm - you don’t have to opt for any time.

Looks pretty good to me. Never been to Canada so would be lovely to visit the country . We were on the Trafalgar 200 cruise on QE2 in 2005 and Cunard had to offer credit to those onboard because the promised display in Portsmouth was so far away nobody saw anything!

Just deliberating whether to book the 2025 one, round trip Southampton that includes 4 July festivities as soon to be on QM2 Caribbean so making a shortlist of what to book onboard. Haven’t been to any of the ports other than NY so just hoping for some info from anyone who has done this. Appreciate 4 July is more of interest for the US guests onboard but am sure I will participate! Any thoughts much appreciated- thank you

Thank you for all your efforts. Yes will remember about signature as it’s a gift. Well done for finding a brochure - it will give me a good idea of offerings before I phone. As always good information on here - thank you

Thank you ! Thought it was me but obviously it’s no longer there. Very unhelpful of Cunard to remove it - sounds like I need to phone …!

Is there a pdf copy of the gift brochure as was thinking of organising cake, flowers or similar for on board arrival for some friends ? Can see there are web pages but not much info other than a phone number ? I’d like to look at what choices there at leisure not have to make up my mind in a phone call. Am sure there used to be one but can’t find it. Thank you

Good advice from Victoria2 - we did QE last year from Southampton via Panama to San Francisco- got the TA to book us flights home and packaged it - Cunard did fly to Manchester but we wanted to go SFO via AMS to Humberside with KLM as although it meant an indirect flight, it was easier to get home from there (20 mins) as opposed to landing jet lagged at Manchester on the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday and then a hotel night with a long journey home on likely a non existent TransPennine train or very expensive taxi.

Cunard will charter if enough travelling from that airport - we went on one of their flights from Manchester to Athens, then flew back with them from Venice back to Manchester after the Victoria cruise. The outbound flight was with Titan, can’t remember the return but might have been same. The time outbound was around 8:30 am and mid afternoon 2pm ish for the return. Coaches etc all good with luggage and so on. For £99 I’d say a bargain. If you’re booking your own flight then just bear in mind what difficulties might happen if the air line cancels at short notice or the flight is delayed. Definitely book for a day or so before ship sails and stay in overnight hotel. We had a trip booked to Europe earlier this year and had booked scheduled flight with KLM who cancelled the flight a few weeks before and caused us a huge problem in finding an alternative. Long haul is a different kettle of fish of course, but for short haul for 3-4 hr flight I would use Cunard flights and let them take the stress.

Some brilliant information to study - many thanks. If no taxis at the terminal then the ferry sounds the easiest way there and back. I’ve downloaded a Google map and the ferry routes/timetables (and printed copies too) so will give them some careful study. Fingers crossed weather is dry, don’t mind cold, just not the rain ! Think we need a longer trip to New York too. Thank you so much.

That’s great info. For Dumbo may take ferry there and taxi back or the other way round. Not sure how easy taxis are to find in Dumbo back to Red Hook, but guessing easier to find at the Red Hook terminal ? Have looked at a few YouTube clips and all look interesting places to go, especially if it’s a nice crisp winter day. Fingers crossed for at least no rain ! Thank you

Yes that’s what I am thinking - the weather at that time of year. Probably better suited to a summer trip! Sounds like Dumbo area or Seaport museum might be our best plan. Thank you.

November we are on the round trip Caribbean from Southampton - so a day in NYC twice - having done tours into Manhattan last time, we are likely doing a DiY effort. I’m not into shopping so not likely to do the bus to Macy’s. Thoughts so far - take ferry up to Dumbo area from Red hook Just wander round Red Hook Go on ferry over to Manhattan and and visit the Seaport museum near the ferry pier. Another idea was to go over to Governors island - however it’s Nov/Dec so not really sure if it would be worthwhile given time of year ? Think the ferry runs weekends and one day we are there I think is a Sunday the other a Friday. Thoughts ? Thank you

Thank you - will study and see !

Not doing drinks package as doubt we’d drink enough to break even. However looking at maybe the 6 or 12 bottle wine package. Do you book this onboard or before departure? Also do they charge per bottle with some discount then taken off or is it a set price for the package chosen ? Sorry can’t find anything on Cunard website so hope someone can advise please. Thank you