jimmybean

The Cunard website is beyond cumbersome. I have never visited it without feeling frustrated and disappointed.

As seacruise9 points out, the Princess website is a pleasure in comparison.

The internet isn't a novelty anymore. Companies that care about customers can--and should--have a user-friendly website.

DadTheBigKid, my bet is that you and your wife will have a wonderful time sailing with Cunard :)

 

Long live variety, open minds and fun!

Cheers,

Salacia

I second Pepper's "well said!"

Why on earth should we tip twice?

I agree that double-tipping makes no sense, but DH and I like to do it. We're Americans. On the other hand, others reading this board support a monarchy financially, which we can't understand. Cultural differences create different attitudes about spending money! Makes the world interesting!

I would never suggest double-tipping to anyone culturally adversed to such a thing. I would never suggest the English give up its royalty.

As corporate services pointed out: tipping is a private matter. Like Pepper suggested: extra tipping should be done discretely.

Majortom10: I was just joshing with you :)

I think in the past(much more distant) there were more formal nights than today. I'm glad that Cunard is actually LISTENING to their customers & not the whiney few! I still have a brochure from 2005("Float off somewhere" was the motto then) Informal nights were shirt & slacks with/without sweater or sport coat. seems Cunard actually became more formal after that, as I never saw that dresscode again.

Interesting to have the historic perspective. …My understanding is that formal dress was a nightly affair on the Queen Mary (without the deuce). Can anyone verify this?

We are leaving on Aug. 9 for a seven day crossing to Southampton. We are then planning to fly to Berlin before beginning a river cruise on the Elbe. I hope that transportation to London Heathrow will be provided by Cunard (at an additional cost).

There are a number of transportation options, including those arranged by Cunard. What a lovely holiday you will have!

By all means if you wish to do so go to the reception desk at the start of your cruise and ask for the gratuities be removed from your account. Then it is up to you who, when and if they deserve a gratuity and how much without being told by Princess so to save them money paying the staff they employ a decent wage. Also don't be made to feel bad or bullied by others who leave the gratuities on to make you feel guilty it is your money and its up to you and nobody else what you do with it.

All Queens--not a Princess amongst them, majortom : )

Just a guess without measuring: 18*24*24 inches or so.

 

I'm assuming that we're not talking about a shopping cart per se but a collapsible two-wheeled wheeled carrier that someone might drag groceries home in if they had walked to the store.

Yes, a collapsible carrier. Thank you for your help in clarifying, Underwatr. I see it could be a confusing description for some. When I was describing as for groceries, I was thinking more of the kinds of take-home carts commonly used in Europe---nothing we see much in the USA.

I'm not a soda drinker myself, but I understand it is an issue for some travelers to have the brand preferred. What I observed carried on was used as a mixer for cocktails and needed to last a 36 day voyage.

Jimmybean

Peppern, didn't I read here sometime that when you sail many extra vitals were taken on board. Wonder if that could lower the ship enough to fit under the bridge.

 

Cunard might be willing to give you a freebie

 

David

Excellent idea!

We were wondering what activities are available during the seven day Atlantic crossing. Are there movies in the theater, planetarium shows, guest speakers?

Thank you

Daytime speakers are always our favorite entertainment. The library is well-stocked. There are group trivia games held and there are game tables set up with board games and puzzles. Organized bridge as well as pick-up games. There are people to chat with and music to enjoy. There are naps to take. The movie will be something first-run. There are visits to the gym and laps around the promenade deck. There are (if you aren't in the Grills) daily decisions of where-to-eat breakfast and lunch. And, there is always the decision of what-to-eat, meal after meal.

Time has never dragged for us on a crossing. Never bored and yet such a totally relaxing experience :)

News just in ;) ; Cunard have found a solution that allows QM2 to use the Panama Canal...

 

:D :D :D

Great solution, Pepper ;)

Jimmybean

We join the QV for the last leg in Cape Town. We haven't been on Cunard since 2008 so looking for any information on how it has evolved in 8 years. This is our 10th wedding anniversary and really are looking forward to or longest ever cruise in style and elegance. Although we now live on Maui - where formal dress means nicer shorts and flip-flops - we made sure we kept enough formal wear for special occasions and especially cruises! I see there are 5 formal nights on the last leg - and they are all 'theme" nights. So the question is - how close to the themes should we get? My husband is fine in his tux and I plan to bring a mix of sparkly cocktail dresses and gowns. Does this sound about right?

 

Black and white ball - black and white gown - easiest by far.

Royal Ascot ball - can/should I get a fascinator in Cape Town? In Hawaii we use something similar with plumeria or other flowers. Can I just bring a fancy headpiece that represents our homeland?

masquerade ball - have Venetian masks to bring

Roaring twenties - do I need a drop waist flapper dress and a headband with feather?

Victoriana ball - not going to bring a victorian gown - would take and entire suitcase. Any suggestions?

 

Any other suggestions on what to bring or not bother with based on the world cruise so far?

 

Mahalo - see you soon

From my experience (which is admittedly limited), participation in the costume aspects of formal nights is certainly not mandatory. On a segment of world cruise we sailed, a handful of women --all friends--brought materials to make their own fascinators. They seemed to be enjoying that part of dressing up immensely. Others couldn't have care less and simply wore formal clothes. If you enjoy dressing in the style of a formal-costume, then you should join in wholeheartedly. If you don't want to be bothered, it shouldn't matter. :) Although the flapper dress does sound kind of fun, doesn't it?

Most importantly, have a wonderful voyage and congratulations on your ten year anniversary. What a wonderful way to celebrate!

I don't know the itinerary' date=' but I would be more worried about the trans-pacific portions if I had medical issues. While the ship could speed up to get close to the next port, or back to the previous port, there are some segments where you could be several days outside of helicopter range.[/quote']

 

Good point, chengkp75. In addition to being far from a port, many of the hospitals in the Pacific are rudimentary. In French Polynesia, they routinely transport people with more complicated illnesses back to France for treatment (we learned on a Tahitian tour).

 

As Keith mentioned, seeking the right level of care depends entirely on what the diagnosis is.

 

Best to know your health situation and be realistic before booking a voyage that could prove disastrous. Consulting with your physician would be a good step for someone who has worries.

 

Life is always a gamble and nothing is ever guaranteed. Know your risks, cross your fingers and enjoy travel, while you can. Serious illness can strike while inconveniently on a ship, but in numbers, it happens to very few passengers.

Welcome to Cruise Critic, Noo2krooz!

June isn't very far off. Where are you going? On which ship?

Congratulations on your upcoming 35th anniversary and first cruise. I hope everything is as you anticipate ---cruising and Cunard are both great so it should be :)

Jimmybean

Happy to give you my opinion, Jeffrey1950 (although DH and I have never experienced either itinerary)…

Go for the longer voyage.

I've read a number of criticisms of shorter voyages, in general, on cruise critic. For some reason, shorter voyages seem to elicit more complaints and less satisfaction.

IMO, packing, boarding, and disembarkation are all work. Having more time to relax and enjoy yourself would make all the effort worthwhile. Five days just wouldn't be enough for DH and me.

Please do report back and let us know what you decide and how you like it.

Happy Sailing! Jimmybean

after a very long absence i 'll be back on Cunard in autumn

it is not concerning alcohol , but is there a problem to bring soft drinks on board ?

i like Italian soft drinks and Cola Zero - what is not available on the ships ...

just for my cabin .

Welcome back, vistaman!

In 2013, I saw someone wheeling three twenty-four cans cases of soda onto the ship (using a wheeled grocery carrier). All in plain sight. No one batted an eye.

Have a wonderful voyage!

Agreeing with Keith: weather has trends, but is never wholly predictable (particularly months in advance).

Our May experience (also May 2014, probably the same voyage as Keith's) included mostly coolness on the deck. I remember some fog...

Fortunately, so much great entertainment that the weather just doesn't matter that much to DH and me… We didn't venture out often and were perfectly happy inside the ship.

I don't think spring crossings are stormy, just not balmy--if that is a concern for you.

Also, it is quite a distance across and the weather isn't uniform the complete voyage. There will be some various on any crossing.

Have a wonderful time, Cruizann!

Jimmybean

We've been on a couple longer voyages, where we have observed people bringing liquor back unto the ship in a variety of ports. No one was ever hassled in any way going through the security screening.

...Cunard is so civilized :)

We have had singles at our dining table on several Cunard voyages. We enjoyed their company and they all seemed to be having fun. If you are a lady and like to dance, Cunard provides escorts (I've heard there are female dance companions, too). Lots to do onboard! There is no reason you won't have a great time.

Happy Sailing! Jimmybean

They do not pull a ton of people off the prairies.

And those of us they do, have no problem with the dress-code expectations.

I agree with other posters: Everything doesn't have to sink to a level below mediocrity.

There are plenty of customers who appreciate the Cunardness of Cunard. Customers who are happy with the kind of entertainment offered, libraries onboard, AND the dress-code.

Cunard makes fine transportation (for those only interested in that aspect of a crossing), but it is transportation with a dress-code. A dress-code that applies to all passengers.

I echo AZNative2000's "cheers" to all fellow Cunarders and future Cunarders.

I second Pepper's "bon voyage" to AZNative2000!

Have a wonderful time on the Queen Victoria! I think it will be everything you anticipate… :)

We had 4 formal nights but saw many men in either suits, not necessarily dark, or even sports coats with ties. The younger travellers removed ties after dinner. Not so many long gowns either. Very pretty cocktail dresses. The world is changing like it or not and Cunard has to relax the dress code at some point to fill rooms. There is lots of competition out at sea.

 

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I don't doubt your observances, sb44, however, Cunard has not --of yet-- officially re-written dress code for formal nights.

Some people may have relaxed their compliance with the dress code and Cunard might waiver, at times, in strict enforcement, and on some voyages fewer formal nights may be scheduled, but sports coats are not formal attire and would be inappropriate on a formal night (according to Cunard's descriptions of prescribed dress).

For me, that is a significant difference.

It boggles my mind that wearing the prescribed attire seems insurmountable to some (some, not most) people. But, I also wonder why an occasional non-conformist at the gym goes clockwise on the track. Why people park cars in spaces reserved for handicapped individuals.

…If there is a rule, why not just follow it?

The only official dress-code change in the last eight years (that I know about) is allowing men to go tie-less on non-formal nights. So, now there are only two categories of dress, instead of three (as there were 8 years ago). We haven't been on a Cunard ship for almost two years, but on our last crossing, many gentlemen still chose to wear a tie with their sports coats voluntarily! All four gentlemen at our dinner table did.

We sailed on Celebrity once and it was a pleasant experience, but seeing men in blue jeans at dinner was just not the same as seeing smartly dressed gentlemen on the QM2.

The dress code is set by Cunard, not established by public vote. It may change in the future (in response to customer opinions), but until it does, why not just go along with it? It really isn't all that painful. Ask my DH. It really isn't all that difficult, because there is already a range of dress that is acceptable. For example, both cocktail dresses AND dark suits are perfectly "okay" on a formal night. The fact that more women might choose a cocktail dress isn't a relaxation--this choice is fully compliant.

When passengers merely follow the established dress code, the outcome is visually pleasing for all.

LewiLewi, have a wonderful voyage and welcome back!

DH and I have no interest in coffee/tea as an in cabin feature, but (from reading CC postings) I realize many people will be very pleased by this addition.

P&O, evidently, supplies their cabins with such (creating an expectation for P&O passengers who try Cunard).

Seems to me that Cunard is being responsive to customer wishes. Has no affect on me, other than I applaud when a business tries to be thoughtful.

Just sent you an email. I hope I have your correct email address. If you don't see it, check your spam!

We moved since 2013. Different email. Unless I gave you a gmail address. I don't want to post addresses here. So, I'll look for yours.

Sorry for off-thread personal digression, everyone...

Hi to JimmyBean, also!!

Hi back, Beth! It's been too long since the South Pacific!