maggielou362

So now I have heard it straight from the horse's mouth.

I have just received an email from Cunard stating that:

"...However, in 2025/2026, Queen Elizabeth will explore new shores as part of an exciting programme across our four Queens we will be launching next year. Rest assured, Australia and New Zealand will continue being important destinations for Cunard on our World Voyages offering close to home sailings on a Cunard Queen."

I was hoping it wasn't so!

Looks like we will only be able to join in as "add-ons" to part of any World Tours, which might head to our region, probably relatively infrequently.

So disappointed!

 🤣classy and tasteful chairs looking smart in their jackets!

Thank you, @LittleFish1976, indeed all locations on the planet have antipodes and using it in the sense that @WantedOnVoyage used is Eurocentric, dated and technically incorrect. When the same contributor mentioned QA being "exiled" to the Asia Pacific region I sense arrogance. Add the inference made by that contributor that dress standards have fallen as a result of passengers from that region being on board is, as @Mareblu stated, myopic, and in my opinion offensive. 

39 minutes ago, foodsvcmgr said:

Yes, she is the maximum ship width of 106’ for transiting the old locks that are 110’ wide.

That's a tight fit!

How exciting for you, @Mareblu! I hope you will share your experience on the new ship, and yes, reserve judgement until you have sailed on QA. I only hope that Cunard will continue to be accessible for those of us in the Southern Hemisphere, whichever ship visits our beautiful shores.

Getting right back to the original post and the topic title: I am SO disappointed that Cunard has decided to abandon us down here in Australasia/Pacific. I had grand plans of taking a QE voyage every year (just retired, planning on spending the kids' inheritance!). It's way too expensive to fly anywhere much from Australia, and air travel severely restricts what one can pack so an annual or bi-annual QE holiday was going to be just the ticket. Regarding @ratflinger's comment re environmental concerns, I am ashamed to agree with @LittleFish1976, our environmental practices and policies are shameful. Yes there are plenty of other lines cruising around Australasia, but @WantedOnVoyage not all of us wear polo shirts all the time, nor are we all (uncouth) Antipodeans in exile😁, nor can we afford to fly over and back to enjoy a QM2 trans-Atlantic for "quiet solitudes when cruising". I am sad!

Maybe because we colonials DON'T know much about classy and tasteful voyages!

These are fascinating photos, thank you so much for sharing them.

I enjoyed a Short Break 3-night cruise From Melbourne to Sydney via Burnie (Tasmania) on QE in 2017. No gala evenings, but we enjoyed dressing up properly for dinner each night anyway. We felt like the whole voyage was a very special gala occasion.

No, there seem to be no questions being asked or answered either frequently or rarely by any Australians. Does Cunard think we colonials know all the answers perhaps? As Kynance said, no need because all the questions I have had so far have been answered succinctly and expeditiously by the venerable forum members here.

Further to the dress code issues: can someone please clarify the expected standard of dress in MDR for breakfast and lunch? Please excuse my ignorance, just want to know whether shorts ("classy", if there's such a thing!) are acceptable for gentlemen during the day? We ARE Aussies after all, and as our voyage is in February from Fremantle to Sydney it will be quite hot.

Yes, beautiful evening wear and black tie will always be a winner. While they sound like fun, I suspect that the themes could quite easily slide into fancy dress/cheap "costumes". I must remind my husband to remain classy and tasteful, and not dress as a gangster for the Roaring Twenties! 

3 hours ago, e&mcruise said:

As totally non-refundable, will go in with as open a mind as possible, 🙂

Yes, go in with an open mind and a determination to enjoy it. Choose your own "theme" for the Gala Evening and dress up to the nines! I am very new to cruising, having only been on Royal Carribean 😬 and then a delightful three-night jaunt on QE from Melbourne to Sydney, all pre-COVID. No comparison. I am already a dedicated Cunard fan, seduced by the idea of traditional voyages and dressing up. I am sailing from Fremantle to Sydney on QM2 in Feb 2024. I hope you enjoy your QE voyage!

Certainly does, exlondoner. Should be an available option in life more often!

All paid for now, I spoke to a PERSON on the phone 😲

Getting very excited...

Many thanks to all who shared their wisdom.

Good Evening/Morning Fellow Cunarders,

I am very excited to discover just now that it looks like we will be enjoying THREE gala nights on our ten-day QM2 voyage around the Great Australian Bight (Fremantle to Sydney in Feb 2024) We have a "Black and White" on night 2, then a non-specified "Gala Evening" on night 6, and a "Roaring Twenties" theme on day 9. I am going dress shopping!

😮

Oh, I see, I didn't know there were two ships called Caronia. I am learning so much from this board, thanks everyone 😄

@sogne a refit or similar in 2026? So glad to hear that, I would really love to do a TA in QM2...one day...(dreaming!) I am very new to cruising/"voyaging", but I have always been fascinated with things maritime, and I am enchanted by QM2. I am wondering how much longer her life expectancy is as a liner on TA voyages. Any thoughts/inside information? I have booked a ten-day sailing from Fremantle (Perth Aust) to Sydney in Feb 2024 in case she is retired, and I never get to sail across the Atlantic. At least I will have been on an ocean liner. Can't wait!

Would that green one be the Mauritania perhaps? I'm sure someone here knows.

They are fabulous photos, arxcards. Thanks for sharing them.

Apologies if this has been covered, I couldn't find any answers.

Regarding the My Voyage digital planner: is there a way to communicate with other passengers onboard via My Voyage?

Like a message board or similar? I am new to cruising, and I just KNOW I will lose my husband on such a big ship!

Also, is there a hard copy (paper) version of the day's programme readily available?

I have my highlighter pens ready to go.

Many thanks

Thanks LittleFish1976 🙂

I have now found the phone number in Australia so I will call them when they are open.

Thank you Geordiebing 🙂

Hello Wise Cunard Voyagers,

Does anyone else find the Cunard website frustrating?

I am in Australia and have tried several times unsuccessfully to pay my outstanding balance.

via the website. My details appear to be accepted; the page then says "please wait while your payment is processing..."

Then an error message comes up. Just says try again, or "try again later, there may be a technical issue".

What other option is there to pay my balance? 

The only phone number I can find seems to be in either USA or UK.

Do they not want me to pay the balance?

Next time I will use a travel agent.

Thanks in anticipation