buchanan101

Ok, the group has ~80 cruise ships. Adding 1 at Cunard shouldn't be an issue, though P&O/Cunard (UK based ships) combined only have 9, increasing to 10.

Given that all 4 ships have similarish crew levels, (QM2/QA, 1250ish, QE/QV 900 ish), taking 50% from the current 3 Queens would produce a grossly overstaffed QA. In any case, Cunard will have had a couple of years to sort the crewing issue. And given that Carnival group will have many times the numbers of crew Cunard have (I don't know - 10 times maybe group wide), I am sure they'll be able to sort the crewing issue by late spring next year

It’s smaller than QM2 (at least in tonnage) but carries more passengers… We don’t go for drinks packages. We aren’t huge drinkers. U.K. cruisers are offered a drinks package as a separate item.

if the current share of US passengers is 28.5% then a 40% increase gets you to 40%. I can’t remember the numbers the Captain read out on our crossing but U.K. were largest contingent at I think approaching 40%. Then US obviously. But then all sorts including many Germans as came from Hamburg. Couple on next table were Swiss (who found me the evening after we arrived in NYC in Katz Diner).

You mean the QA (with 2996 passengers). QE and QV are smaller. QM2 is 2500 and 150,000 tons but is built differently. Is the QA stretched compared with Konningsdam? The crew/passenger ratio is also down a fair bit on QA; obviously reduces cost - hopefully not affecting passenger experience Someone on these boards claimed that a Cunard sales rep had shown them pictures of the QA promenade deck that showed it wasn’t as compromised as Konningsdam - deck plans seem to suggest otherwise…One of the several reasons we chose grills - the grills deck area looks decent. (QG on our fjords trip is full, PG prices have gone up significantly, getting quite full)

We’ve booked the QA for fjords. Yes it has 500 more passengers than the QM2 in a smaller ship so it’s a bit of a concern. (Capacity is nigh on 3000). Have booked PG as the grills deck area may be very welcome on that trip. QM2 seems very uncrowded though, so it’s possible to have a higher density and still be comfortable. We will see.

Portsmouth not Plymouth.... That's a hell of a detour otherwise!

I still think Portsmouth is a good option - even if it's just the historic dockyards.

Queen Victoria's beach - a shortish walk down to the sea from the house - is lovely. Osborne House is just outside East Cowes where the main Southampton red funnel ferry goes to. The fastcat goes to Cowes itself, and you'd have to rely on the chainlink ferry to be working to get to East Cowes (it's...had issues) Buses are the Downs Breezers. Also worth a visit is Carisbrooke Castle, not too far from Cowes (in Newport) Extend your holiday by a day or two and spend it on the island (?!) - we are lucky enough that OH's parents live on the island so get free holidays. We stayed overnight there before our QM2 crossing (and dropping off our dog) - the Fast Cat back from Cowes to Southampton was full of people heading for the QM2; I guess the island clientele is prime cruise demographic.

On rough days the treadmill must be fun as the gym is in just about the worst place for rough seas. Illuminations was a bit uncomfortable on one day on our crossing. Agree it's obviously not 100% stable, and I find it strange that there are some on this board who claim that it barely moves. It depends...we were sliding around on chairs in the Queens Room on our rough day. It will be better than any cruise ship as it is bigger than most and has 4 stabilisers not 2.

I think part of the problem with the internet is automatic uploading of photos to icloud (or equivalent for androids). Most people probably have this set so all the photos or videos are sitting there trying to upload. And 2500 people will be taking a lot of photos. In QG cabin our wifi was patchy and slow. On the balcony it was quite a bit better

Not if you use the wifi*, and gratuities will eat up much of it (unless that was included for a US traveller?) *share a connection rather than doubling up - you only get 10% discount for the second - need to switch between devices. Also, if you can don't subscribe until the morning after you leave as you'll pay a day less

On your starboard balcony in July I'd expect in to the 70s surely if sunny and calm (there should be a 20 knot "wind" though)? I'm sure it must have been in the 60s port side westbound back in October. I'd assumed you'd booked starboard for the crossing, not specifically the Statue of Liberty; we had port side the other way - because of the weather on the crossing; good job as the 5am arrival in NYC was in thick fog so no SoL (or anything) visible.

Portsmouth with its naval museum (go on the Victory etc)

I liked the dressing up for the two eves - even bought a dinner suit (and not just off the peg) for the crossing - with that investment we are having to go again next year on a QA cruise... I think it'll continue

Oh yes, of course. I should know, given that I'm 25% Scots and one of my names is Buchanan...

There is some debate about the collared shirt though. At one stage last year the guidance was just collared shirt (so a polo shirt sufficed on my crossing last October). Then the guidance apparently changed back to dress shirt I do think trousers have always been required though!

As Hattie says, seems to have a good depth of balcony. https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/deckbydeck.php?ship=Queen-Elizabeth&deck=4

And you'll be lucky if it works in the cabin - in our QG (about 60% of the way back) it sort of worked in the cabin, but worked much better on the balcony. I guess you pay one way or the other; if Cunard included wifi, the cabin would probably cost more (they'd need to take the same money somehow). One device (OH and I alternated the one connection) was a sort of semi-detox; we didn't really mind

Tip on internet - if you can do without it on the evening of departure (you'll be close to shore for a couple of hours) don't buy it until the next morning as you'll pay one day fewer I prebooked alternative dining with credit card; there seemed to be plenty of availability on board though. OBC will be mostly used up by internet and tips

Most inside cabins are not Atrium view - loads especially on Decks 4, 5, 6. Only 12 cabins (6 on each on decks 5 and 6) are Atrium view (category HB)

Really not sure about "no motion". They are high (obviously) and fairly far forward so one of the worst places to be anywhere on board... but on a monster of a ship. I wouldn't have liked to be up there on one of the days on a crossing last October when Illuminations 10 decks down was quite uncomfortable and chairs were sliding around in the Queens Room

Nah - go all in - double denim...

Virtually everyone was anti-clockwise on QM2 in October. Seemed natural. Running tracks are anti-clockwise. Race courses are too, not that I’ve ever been on one. Let alone a horse, unless you count ponies. Most motor racing circuits are clockwise, though I’ve never been on one of those.

My birthday as well today...but no birthday wishes from Cunard 😞