jimmybean

I can't compare with P & O, but will tell you the QM2 is so much more of a ship than anything in the Princess fleet. I can't imagine you won't enjoy her, if you are any kind of a ship lover. She is magnificent.

The quality and speed of the internet depends both on the ship's location and what time of day you choose to connect. If you avoid the peak times of day, the internet speed should be adequate.

The tap water is certainly drinkable, but taste will be much better if you drink it cold. I understand the recent addition of tea kettles in the rooms will make a lot of passengers very happy.

There are differences in the delivery of services, comparing Cunard and Princess. Cunard doesn't win in every category (in all instances) over Princess, but it is still, decidedly, DH and my preference. We find the daytime speakers and evening entertainment superior on Cunard ships (although this is a refection of our taste and not a condemnation of what is offered on Princess ships).

Since you are experienced with cruise-life and longer voyages, I think you will have a splendid time on your 1/2 World Cruise. In our experience, we were credited with more than one voyage during longer Cunard cruises (segments of World Cruises), helping to build the status that brings benefits (e.g. invitations for complimentary wine tasting, more captain parties, and the internet time). Hopefully, this will be your experience as well.

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.

Have a wonderful voyage! Happy, happy sailing!

I am certain that everyone here, to varying degrees, is concerned about terrorism.

In the crazy, mad, unpredictable world we live in, one would be extremely foolish not to be.

 

There are degrees of threat of course; I've spoken to someone currently on holiday in south-west Turkey who told me that everything at her resort was as normal, if it wasn't for the tv news and internet, she wouldn't have known what or anything was going on.

 

Would the recent incidents stop me travelling to Paris or Belgium? Or Nice? No. Am I safer at home? Am I truly?

What am I supposed to do? Never go anywhere, ever again?

 

I'm visiting New York twice later this year.

Will I cancel going? No. Will I be very aware as I walk about the city? You bet I will be; constantly alert.

 

We live in a sick world; nowhere appears to be totally safe.

You couldn't have summarized my feelings---from the other side of the pond--better, Pepper.

Please let this posting be read and addressed by Cunard:

It would be appreciated if you would return to the previous Princess Grill menu.

(Goodness knows, those folks pay enough to have no complaints in their dining room !!!)

Thank you, Cunard.

(As you requested, I've told them, resistk. I just hope they are listening)

Just returned from QE sailing. TV's are on the wall. In our stateroom there were 2 TV's. Problem was when turning off the one in the sitting area, the one in the bedroom would turn on. After a week still didn't know which remote to use or how to stop this.

 

 

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Reminds me of when (years ago) in our newly-built house, DH was testing the garage door opener, before setting it with our new code. Evidently, the neighbors across the street never bothered to reprogram their's, because their garage door rose and fell in unison with our's…

Modern life can be pretty entertaining (if you don't let it become a frustration).

Cheers to all who share their on-aboard experiences!

Offers may be posted on the Cunard website. You could start by looking there. Signing up for emails/mailings is another way to keep abreast of offers/deals.

We've never taken a short-cruise, like the 2-day you mention, but I have read on this board that there can be dissatisfactions with such an experience. I don't recommend that you base your opinions on doing this.

DH and I have had many happy, relaxing days aboard the QM2. Our longest experience aboard her was 28 days. It was delightful: enough to do (and variety), good entertainment, the lovely library, interesting ports, friendly fellow passengers…

Read some threads posted from folks aboard past World Cruises and you can get an idea how pleasant sailing on the QM2 can be.

Best wishes,

Jimmybean

Hi OceanLinerGeek24,

FYI, DH and I have booked "early" then followed the price on Cunard website and asked for adjustment, when the fare was reduced. In most cases, Cunard has accommodated our requests. In my opinion, there is no downside to booking as soon as possible.

DH and I have booked 18 months in advance. We like to book early to have our choice of cabins and dining time. Plus, the period of anticipation is also part of the fun.

I haven't paid as much attention to the timing of booking availabilities as Underwatr, but note he is a knowledgeable Cunarder. Follow his advice and enjoy the giddiness. We all feeling it, in one way or another, before sailing.

Regards and have a wonderful voyage, Jimmybean

This should probably be posted on the roll-call board, but I have to add "me, too." :)

Our last two bookings were canceled for health reasons, so crossing fingers regarding this voyage and looking forward to it! We traveled around the horn in '09 on the QM2. Not as many ports, but a fantastic experience. 50 days on the QV will be lovely!

Jimmybean

How exciting! Thank you for posting photos and bringing us along with you. Have a wonderful voyage, ClanMcLean!

It's not quite "jet lag"---but I still suffer from all the time zones, crossing between England and New York (or New York and England). For me, there is some "ship lag" during and after sailing transatlantic...

Here is research, suggesting traveling westward could be less stressful, which I found interesting. I thought I preferred sailing west because the time change was made during the day, but maybe there is more to it.

http://www.sciencemag.org/news/sifter/why-jet-lag-worse-when-you-re-traveling-east

The "old" previous carpeting featured different colors at different staircases. That helped us figure our position. I hope with recent changes that will still be true.

Have a wonderful voyage, AZNative2000 !!!! You really can't go wrong on the QM2, whatever accommodations you choose.

Jimmybean, always happy on the inside...

Thank you for your posting!

I will have to study further, when I have more time, but at first glance and I see many improvements. She looks beautiful :)

Thank you, again, Gazroberts80 !!!!!

Hitchhike ??? (loubetti covered all other options, except pony express.)

However you decide to travel, have a wonderful voyage!

Years ago, in the hey day of Cunard Characters who regularly sailed on the QE2, I had the privilege to take afternoon tea with both Bea and the Opera Diva at the same table. Both of the ladies while in their later years of life had egos way too large for a single tea table in the Queens Room on the QE2 so it was great fun observing the posturing and fained attempts at being polite etc.

 

Bea had a double inside cabin that had one of the beds removed and replaced with a sofa and floor lamp to make it more of a living quarters than a simple inside cabin. (I never was inside but did see this much one day when her door was open for cleaning.

 

Her children had to book passage to visit her. One son is quite an accomplished musician and we enjoyed a few chats as he lives close to where I used to reside. One day I overheard Bea telling the son that she was tiring of ship living because while she had loads of acquaintances, she had no friends. No one stayed long enough to get to that level of social acceptance.

 

When the QE2 was sold, Cunard made it quite difficult to book extensive trips on the QM2.There were no long term residence discounts as had been offered on the QE2. One got the impression that they really preferred not to have year round passengers. One of the problems is such. When on a cruise even a world cruise one makes every effort not to have a bad hair day in public. Bea on the other hand saw the QE2 has here home and had no problem calling out staff and management if she thought things were not up to snuff. Towards the end when little cut backs that all lines have been making of late were being made, Bea was incensed by them and stated it rather loudly to all who would hear. One day the piano player was quite late in arriving for afternoon tea playing and she gave it to him with both barrels. Cunard most likely feels they do not need this just to sell a cabin 52 weeks straight out.

 

She was a diamond in the rough and I am most happy to have sailed with her.

My understanding is that Bea paid for an inside cabin, but dined in the Grills. As she aged, her behavior became more idiosyncratic (as you described). ….But, while she lived aboard the QE2, she was a legend. Thank you for sharing your remembrances of her. I wouldn't want to give up my home on dry land, but more power to someone (like Bea) who does (even if to the chagrin of a cruise line, which really isn't a rest home)!

We've only sailed once on Celebrity---the Equinox. We liked it, but prefer Cunard (particularly the QM2). Last sailed on each line in 2014.

The daytime speakers aboard Cunard ships have been a delight for us. Diverse and interesting topics always offered! Celebrity had acrobats perform in the main lobby (as a contrast). We have been treated to London stage vocalists on Cunard versus a xylophone player on the Equinox (a very good xylophone player, but it was like vaudeville vs Broadway and we prefer Broadway). In addition, there are cinema offerings on Cunard, featuring newly released movies, and the planetarium shows.

The furniture on Cunard ships is very comfortable for enjoying a quiet reading time in a public area. Not so (in our opinion) on the Equinox.

Food on the Equinox was a little better, but nothing dramatically so. Our stateroom on Equinox was roomier (we typically book inside cabins). The on-demand movies on the Equinox were convenient, while on Cunard ships, it was been difficult to find the movie schedule (and in-room selection of movies seem dated.)

Service was somewhat better on Celebrity. Not a matter of bad attitude, but more Cunard seems to overwork its personnel (in my opinion). On the other hand, it isn't important for me to find "animals" made of towels on my bed--that was a feature on Celebrity that is absent on Cunard---and basic needs (food and cleanliness) are very well met on both lines.

The libraries on Cunard ships have a great selection of books---not so on Celebrity.

We met lovely people sailing on both cruise lines.

What an interesting and informative thread! Thank you, BlueRiband for all the detailed descriptions :)

Most of our boarding (at Brooklyn and Southampton) have ranged from "very easy" to "not unreasonable." In comparison, QM2 embarkation in 2009 at Ft Lauderdale was a nightmare. People literally fainted in the long queue. Poor orchestration of (some) embarkation and disembarkation ports isn't a new short-coming for Cunard. Hopefully, this will be addressed, because it is something that can be improved (other cruise lines manage). It is a big deal to make either a bad first-impression or last-memory. (Are you listening, Cunard?)

No personal sailing plans for the QM2 in our near future, but I look forward to seeing all the changes discussed. Probably, by then the carpeting will be completed. (Hurray for return of computers to the library! Hurray for improving King's Court! Hurray for all of BlueRiband's posts!)

We crossed once in May and five times in Sept and October. September had the best, warmest, sunniest weather. Some fog in May and October was like Victory at Sea (gray, wavy, uninviting on deck). But, as mentioned by others, weather is always variable. And, the ocean is a great distance, so along the way, weather isn't necessarily a constant.

It is so pleasant inside, however---weather shouldn't be the weightiest consideration of "when to book." DH and I would be happy to cross any time of the year.

I was concerned about storms before our first crossing, also. After five uneventful "hurricane season" crossings, worries have faded. The QM2 has the speed to alter her course and avoid bad weather (which is predictable). You will feel safe aboard her.

Lanky Lad said it best: there is no bad time for a crossing.

Welcome to Cunard! Have a wonderful voyage!

Perhaps this is the definitive explanation of the change.

 

Extract from Ask Cunard: Q. What will the dress code be whilst I am on board?

 

"Informal (Jacket Optional):

 

The Informal (Jacket Optional) dress code amendment applies to Queen Victoria's summer fly Mediterranean season on embarkation days only, in Athens, Barcelona, Rome and Venice. Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth will continue to have the standard Formal and Informal (Jacket Required) dress codes.The ship's newspaper will confirm the dress code of the day.

 

Guests who have Athens, Barcelona, Rome and Venice as a port during their voyage and are already settled in on board are encouraged to wear a jacket."

Thank you for the explanation, Fifer.

http://www.viator.com/Amsterdam-tours/Port-Transfers-/d525-g15-c112

Prices do look reasonable.

There is the daily tip that will be on your statement and come off your credit card. If you want to tip anyone above this, crew is happy with US dollars. DH and I are American and have always tipped with dollars on Cunard ships. But, if you are returning from UK and had extra pounds, I doubt they would be refused.

There are electrical outlets in cabins which will work with your US curling iron and hair dryer.

Happy sailing, Tampa Girl!

Click-on the ship you are taking and you can look for roll-call for your voyage. If there isn't a roll-call yet, you can start one.

Have a wonderful crossing, Maple_Girl!

Hi jimmybean,

I am counting down the days with growing excitement; still a bit early to start packing do you think? ;)

.

Will you sail London to London (aka Southampton to Southampton), Pepper? Will this be your longest voyage on the QM2?

The itinerary sounds fabulous---so many, many sea-days and, then, a smattering of lovely Caribbean islands. On the Queen Mary 2 !!! What could be more perfect?

Maybe, a bit early for the suitcase :) You could, however, install a count-down clock here at cruise critic.

Jimmybean

Hi Beth,

Good for you taking this voyage. Have a lovely time with your family on the ship. You all will have a wonderful time together.

Jimmybean

Great start to your blog, D-T-B-K!

Just want to mention that internet on a crossing can be expensive and, sometimes, extremely slow. After a few Cunard voyages, you start getting some free internet time, but on your first, it's a little shocking how much it costs, considering how poorly it can be working.

Please, don't feel obligated to blog frequently, while on the ship, if you find it frustrating. It is also lovely to read people's after-voyage summaries and opinions.

Excitement has always been high, whenever DH and I have boarded QM2. It never gets old. Maybe, thrilling is another word to describe the experience…

But, it's also one of the nicest place to truly relax and become renewed.

So, blog as you wish, but with so much else to do, don't feel guilty about having us wait a little for your story, if that is the way it works out.

Relax! Have fun! Meet and mingle! Circle the promenade. Read a book. Have a drink. Take a nap. Visit the gym. Play some cards. Stare out the window. View the bridge. Count the lifeboats. Learn all the ships nooks and crannies. Ask for lunch seating with others. Ask for lunch seating alone. Enjoy your anniversary !!!! That is what is all about :) A love story...

Dumbing down anything has no reference to intelligence.

 

No clothes do not make the man, but complying to a standard you knew about when you booked is a sign that you are a man and not a selfish little boy that thinks the world revolves around him.

It is really simple, GUT2407, isn't it?

Expectations are clearly defined in advance. Compliance is a matter of respect for fellow passengers, who expect the dress code to be followed.

Character isn't in the clothes, but in people who respect one another.

We all wear clothes, anyway. What's the big deal wearing clothes that comply with dress standards?