Cruise Belle

I have stayed next door in 1081 on a QV transatlantic and found the room to be as quiet as on any other deck.  The only time there may be noise is momentary when some are passing through before/after events in the Royal Court Theatre.  The entrance to the theatre on this deck gains access to the front of the theatre and is used by fewer theater-goers than the main entrance on Deck 2.   Also, most choose to use the elevators and stairs directly outside the theatre to reach the upper decks. 

I am presently on the Zaandam. The Capitan announced today that there had been 80 cases of GI illness on board since this voyage began on Monday. As of today 9 persons remained in quarantine. The ship underwent a complete “deep cleaning” on Friday.

I was on QM2’s July 2017 roundtrip New York transatlantic voyage and participated in Cunard’s excursion to Windsor on the turnaround day.

We left the ship at 7:00 a.m., and the bus trip took about two hours. Arriving in Windsor, we parked in the coach lot adjacent to the train station. The guide, who had met us in Southampton, escorted us through the town on the approximately 20 minute walk to the entrance line for Windsor Castle, distributed the entrance tickets for the castle tour, guided us through security, took us to the stand where we were equipped with an electronic guide to the castle, and then accompanied us to the castle entrance. After that, we were free to follow the recorded narration of the castle on our own at our own pace.

According to how long you chose to visit the castle, there was free time to visit St. George’s Chapel, browse in Windsor and/or have lunch. We had to make our own way back to the bus by 2:00 p.m.

Arriving back at Southampton terminal, you proceed through the terminal directly to security, show you ship card, and board after going through security.

I found the trip enjoyable but really too short a time in Windsor.

I was on QM2’s July 2017 roundtrip New York transatlantic voyage. I participated in Cunard’s excursion to Windsor on the turn around day.

We left the ship at about 7:00 a.m., and the bus trip took about two hours. Arriving in Windsor, we parked in the coach lot adjacent to the train station. The guide, who had met us in Southampton, escorted us through the town on the approximately 20 minute walk to the entrance line for Windsor Castle, distributed the entrance tickets for the castle tour, guided us through security, took us to the stand where we were equipped with an electronic guide to the castle, and then accompanied us to the castle entrance. After that, we were free to follow the recorded narration of the castle on our own at our own pace.

According to how long you chose to visit the castle, there was free time to visit St George’s Chapel, browse in Windsor and/or have lunch. We had to make our own way back to the bus by 2:00 p.m.

Arriving back at Southampton terminal, you proceed through the terminal directly to security, show you ship card, and board after going through security.

I found the trip enjoyable but really too short a time in Windsor.

I was also on the Koningsdam July 17-31 cruise. We were advised by a letter delivered to our staterooms late on the afternoon before we reached Flam of the change in departure time from Flam. The original time of 7:00 p.m. was changed to 3:30 p.m. due to road work along the route that the Holland America all-day tour would be taking.

Late in the afternoon after leaving Flam on our way out of the fiord, we made a short stop at another town, whose name I do not recall, to pick up the tour passengers.

I stayed in 1073 for 12 nights in April of this year. I never experienced any noise coming from the blank space. The only time there was any noise was when people were passing through the corridor coming from or going to the Royal Court Theatre events.

Nancy

I was on the Queen Victoria September 19 - October 4, 2015, visiting Venice on September 25 and 26.

The ship's tours in Venice left the ship directly by launch alongside the ship.

The dedicated launch service for those not on tours was a 900 meters walk from the ship, with complimentary shuttle bus service to the launch for "those guests with walking disabilities." The launch landing in Venice was at Monumento Pier, two bridges away from St. Mark's Square. The piers for the launches at both sites were on floating pontoons. "Guests will need to be able to walk onto the pontoon and step into the launch and down several steps unassisted." The launches ran on a schedule and everyone was seated. The launches probably held about 75 people.

The cost was $35.00 per person for an unlimited pass, $24.00 for a round trip ticket, and $13.00 for a one way trip. Tickets were purchased at the Pursers Office.

I just cruised Queen Victoria (Ft. Lauderdale - Southampton) and Queen Mary 2 (Southampton - New York) and received two chocolates each evening. I sailed solo in inside cabins.

The Cunard online booking form offers the following transfer from Rome city center to the port:

"Motorcoach transfer from the Rome city center direct to the ship, berthed in Civitavecchia. Transfer is valid on embarkation day only. TRANSFER MEETING LOCATION: Savoy Hotel 15, Via Ludovisi 00187 Rome Tel. +0039.06.421551 Meet within 12:00 (noon) Guests with pre purchased transfer should plan to arrive at the Savoy Hotel by 12:00 (noon), departure to pier is at 12:30."

Cost is listed at $49.00 per person.

Nancy

(Who will be using the airport to Civitavecchia transfer service on September 19.)

I was on the QM2 New England/Canada voyage both in 2012 and 2013.

Boston. Both years there was a transfer via trolley to opposite Quincy Market. In 2012, the charge was $10.00 one way, or $14.00 round trip. I have not kept the information from last year, but I definitely paid for the transfer. The bus ride was 20-30 minutes long depending on traffic, and service was continuous throughout the day. I bought my ticket through the Excursion Office, but they were also selling tickets on the pier and on the bus at Quincy Market.

Saint John. The Big Pink Bus HOHO stopped directly in front of the pier but the service was not exclusively for Cunard. The price last year for an all-day ticket was $41.00. You could stay on the bus for all three loops of the tour which would then bring you back to the pier (about 1-1/2 hours), or pause at any of the bus stops and resume your tour on any of the following buses. The buses ran about 15-30 minutes apart. There was no exclusive Cunard transfer to the downtown area.

Enjoy your voyage and hope you have lovely weather. As I had on both trips.

Hi Linda,

I have been on nine Cunard cruises, including one of Qm2's Independence Day cruises. Don't worry about the day time dress code. What you describe will be more than satisfactory. Being that this is a short cruise and comprised of mostly U.S. cruisers, you will find day time dress will be very casual.

As for formal night, please consider taking at least a cocktail dress or pants and a fancy top, which will be more than formal enough. Not being dressed at least to this standard, which I think applied to the majority of women on the cruises I have been on, will require you to confine your activities to the King's Court and the Winter Garden for the formal evening, according to the Daily Program. Missing out on the wonderful atmosphere that exists in the public areas of QM2 on formal evenings would diminish the experience of sailing on the QM2!

The most important thing to remember of the Cunard dress code is that men are required to wear a jacket each evening in the dining rooms.

Enjoy your cruise and don't stress about what to wear.

Nancy

Sailed on the Queen Elizabeth from Civitavecchia to Southampton, November 28 to December 9, 2012. We had no rough seas the two days passing through the Bay of Biscay. The worst weather of the trip was the evening after leaving Monaco. The winds were so strong that the ship was listing to port. Could not get the shower to drain until the capitan adjusted the ballast tanks to righten the ship!