Teddy123

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, the link to Tabagie Gigere doesn't seem to work for me (times our as no response), and neither do a lot of the other links from the RTC site to maps, etc - not sure why.

We are in Quebec for 3 days and it looks as if having multiple tickets on an Occasional Card would be the best bet for getting around on buses. The RTC website isn't very helpful in determining the easiest (ie closest to the cruise dock, assuming we are in the Dock 22 area) place to get an Occasional Card. So any advice would be welcome. Thanks.

I assume everyone is aware of the Bridge Viewing Gallery on QM2 - I also assume it's still there!

Really?.......no Really is this about use of the English Language. Pedantic or What? Not helpful to the OP.

 

 

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I infer opinions on whether correct use of English, and correct spelling and grammar, enhance these boards and encourage participation differ.

MDR. Faded jeans, ill-fitting striped polo shirts, etc. As I've said, arguably within an interpretation of the code, but not what I would call smart trousers and [smart] shirt. Others might disagree, but that's why I prefer Cunard and use them if I can.

I'm sorry this isn't a very helpful reponse, but I'm on a crusade to save the English language! If the prices have really "spiked", they have gone up and then down again so you don't have a problem. A rise without a fall is not a spike, no matter how much the media misuse the word.

Can anyone tell me how the charges work for the Canyon spa on QM2?

Also what kind of reductions are possible by booking for a complete leg of a world cruise?

 

I am a little confused about the Cunard policy for taking on wine/ liquor. They surely don't limit you to one bottle in your hand luggage, do they? Also do they sell some liquor at 'duty free' prices onboard which can be opened in the cabin as P & O do?

 

Further input and advice would be appreciated from those who have travelled on Cunard before.

 

 

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I've taken a couple of bottles of wine on without trouble, but not tried more. Just back from a P&O crusie where I bought "duty frees" but could only pick them up on the last day, so surprised to hear about opening them in the cabin.

Absolutely right that different people will want different things and that, to some extent, they can choose a line that suits them. There's no way some of what I have experienced on P&O lately could have met the description "smart trousers and shirt".

I'm amazed, and somewhat pleased, to hear of people being turned away, because I've seen the code interpreted so liberally on a number of recent cruises that I thought anything goes. Never seen any shorts I must admit, but I wouldn't have been surprised to. Much prefer the Cunard standards (but they don't have enough ships to offer the choice of voyage P&O do, so I still go with P&O at times).

You've probably highlighted the flaw in my perfect plan! It did seem a bit too good to be true. I guess I will either take some from the UK or use an ATM in Manhattan, having got there by cab (paid with card) or on a Cunard transfer (paid for on board). Taking it from the UK will probably cost a bit more but will no doubt be easiest.

Useful to know about the cabs, thanks. I don't feel a need to have mobile data on my phone at home (just use it with WiFi) so Uber would be expensive here, never mind when roaming! I think I will still aim to use Cunard as an ATM to get some dollars, though!

We regularly draw down dollars for extra tips. It works like this - you request them, sign for them and they appear as charge on your statement just as a drink would or an excursion. They are then charged to your credit card as part of the overall amount - They don't incur any kind of cash advance fee from your credit card provider.

 

Beware, though this won't be an issue for most, that there is a limit on how much you can charge to your account daily. I think from memory it's $400.

Hope this is helpful.

Very helpful thanks. I also need Canadian dollars, but I won't be getting those on board!

If you only need dollars it certainly sounds as if it should work. Let us know what happens !

It will work IF my credit card company doesn't see it as a cash item and add its fee - hence my question/uncertainty. I currently have only a few USD and may need more before I can get to an ATM - arriving at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal where I understand there is no ATM (or is there?) and may be taking a taxi to Manhattan. So I can either try this or get some $ before leaving the UK, which will cost MORE than charging them to my on board account if I avoid the fee, but LESS if there IS a fee. So exactly how the $X appears to my credit card company is key!

Hi

 

Just be careful!!!

 

If you require local currency, Cunard first exchange your GBP into USD at a not very favourable rate, then exchange the USD to local currency at another not very favourable rate, so you lose out twice.

 

If you change back they reverse the above, so you lose another twice.

 

Just take your ATM card, it's much cheaper and easier.

 

Stewart

Thanks. Yes, I wouldn't do it normally BUT I don't want to give them any GBP, just have $X added to my on board account, take the $X in cash (which I read the VP words as saying I can) and spend it ashore.

I see on the Cunard VP that "If you require cash for any reason whilst you are on board you may charge this to your account."

Is this a way of getting my dollars for shore trips?

Is the cash treated differently to other items (such as shop purchases) or just lumped into one big sum charged to my credit card at the end of the voyage? In other words, will my credit card company know I've got cash - for which it usually makes an extra charge?

I have a UK card that doesn't charge a fee for foreign currency transactions, but does for cash of any kind. I usually get cash from an ATM when ashore, with a debit card that doesn't have a fee of any kind (it does for purchases), but getting cash on board might have advantages if I can avoid the cash fee. Of course, there's a gamble on fluctuating exchange rates either way!

Thinking about it, I guess the cash fee is only triggered when an ATM is used, but any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

First of all..there are two cruises going on at once.. the Suites and above with their own dining rooms and amenities, and everyone else. Guess that's why looking at prices Suites are so much more than balcony cabins.

 

MAIN activity on board with out a doubt is Ballroom Dancing. And most on the floor are quite good.

 

The Service in the MDR was average to below average. We had late dining at 830 and often had to run to see a show starting at 1030. That is with a table for 8 that never had more than 6 at it.. They ask you 5 times if you want to buy wine, but never refill your bread or water glass.

We thought the food was only average too..perhaps we are not used to the British slant on the menu. Appetizers didn't look that appealing, unless you like the chilled soups.

 

Overall I found the staff to be polite and courteous, but not welcoming warm or energetic. Most are just putting in their time till their contract is over.

A few comments that might help readers:

The "Suites" mentioned above are the Grills cabins in Cunard terminology. It's true that as well as the separate dining rooms, there is a separate lounge and a separate area of deck for Grills passengers - on the QE and QV a separate (small) deck at the top of the ship, which is very nice and which is linked to a small open air “terrace” adjoining the two Grills dining rooms where people can eat outdoors (first come first served for the limited number of tables); on the QM2 it’s at the stern of one of the decks (unless it’s been moved) - not so good a position in my opinion. Some people find this “discrimination” objectionable, but at least Cunard offer it if you wish to pay the premium for it.

Ballroom dancing is certainly big on Cunard! We are not dancers, but were amused on a recent cruise that there was a 60’s night and some couples were determined to do some kind of “ballroom” dance no matter what the music: Twist or anything! It doesn’t feature anything like as much on P&O.

We really only have experience of Princess Grill, where food and service were excellent for all meals and where, as I’ve said, you really can eat exactly when you want.

I think staff who are “polite and courteous” are all I want - “warm and energetic” wouldn’t be to my taste! but again, expectations and values differ.

I'd never thought about the bigger US drinks measure. What about the measure for beer?

I enjoy a beer while at home but don't drink it much on cruises, so others may correct me, but I think it's almost exclusively bottled beer on all lines, so no difference.

I was concerned that Cunard would be too formal for me; and that the passengers would be too snooty. I can say it's not the case. Cunard is mildly more formal overall, but not very different to p&o and princess is much more relaxed.

This does highlight one thing not so far mentioned, I think. For dinner on non-formal (or non 'black tie') nights, Cunard expect a jacket (for men, of course), although no tie, while P&O are much more informal. Again, this formality is attractive to some, like me, but unattractive to others. My main complaint is about lines that define a standard then make no attempt to enforce it, at whatever level it is.

Thank you for such a helpful reply, Teddy123.

We are really looking forward to our forthcoming cruise on QM2.

Having done over 150 nights on P& O I just wanted to know what to expect.

We too have enjoyed some fabulous meals on P&O and we also like the idea of freedom dining.

Just to be clear: we go for Freedom Dining on P&O but often prefer not to share a table (especially for breakfast) but we find if we want a table for 2 it's a case of queuing for 1/2 an hour - literally! - before the dining room opens (because P&O doesn’t have enough tables for 2 on any of its ships) or having a pager and waiting for a table to be free. So if dining starts at 18.00, it's queue at 17.30 or eat at 19.30. In Cunard Grills, the table is just there whenever we want because it's ours for the whole voyage and nobody else uses it. So real Freedom Dining, for which we pay a premium.

Of course, this won't matter to everyone, and indeed we have had people aghast when we told them because they, rightly, identified that it makes it very difficult to dine with anybody we meet anew onboard. So, this option - not available on P&O - is attractive and valuable to us but may be positively unattractive to others.

This is one thing Cunard and P&O have in common - no doubt because of their shared corporate ancestory. Both websites are pretty poor. Thank goodness they don't run cruises like they do websites!

 

(Sorry this isn't a very helpful response, but I couldn't resist it!)

Firstly, sorry about the incorrect spelling of 'ancestry' I've just noticed in the above. Secondly, having done several cruises with both P&O and Cunard (and with other lines), I would say it's undoubtedly true P&O is more of a "British experience" - read into that what you will.

My wife and I prefer Cunard, because although we have had better food at times on P&O than on Cunard, what Cunard offers that P&O doesn't is the chance to have your own table immediately available whenever you want it, for all meals - ie as a Grills passenger. This is of great value to us but may be of little significance to others. However, we are not sure the extra cost, especially now the £ has dropped, is worthwhile.

Where P&O used to score was on having a kettle, but I understand QM2 now has them - which is good because we are about to spend 28 nights on her. I can't say levels of service are remarkably different between the two lines, but perhaps we're not very demanding. I know people get very excited about coffee, etc but we don't so again, I can't say there is any significant difference. I would expect anybody happy with P&O to be happy with Cunard, though.

Fortunately, Cunard ships operate more smoothly than their website. We have sailed over 100 days and never had any noteworthy problems. Again, I hope this will be your experience.

This is one thing Cunard and P&O have in common - no doubt because of their shared corporate ancestory. Both websites are pretty poor. Thank goodness they don't run cruises like they do websites!

(Sorry this isn't a very helpful response, but I couldn't resist it!)

Thanks for all the extra info, and to all contributors. This has made my planning much easier.

Thanks for the extra input - although it looks as if the IKEA service starts too late to be of use on the outward journey.

Thanks - very helpful.

Thanks. The walk to 9th/Smith St subway station looks pretty bleak, but although Carroll St is a bit further, the surroundings seems reasonable. The great unknown of immigration (and other) delays is one reason for me looking at the subway as an option - thanks for sharing your experience. If I order a car, it may turn out to be much too early or much too late! It's a pity Cunard can't provide any information about a possible Macy's transfer (eg timings) - I simply can't believe they don't yet know (to sufficient accuracy) how many people are disembarking in NY.