Solent Richard

Every cloud has a silver lining. The Cunard email continues... What does this mean for me? We know that you will find this news as disappointing as we do. However, as you were due to sail on Queen Anne’s sold-out maiden voyage, we will be automatically moving your booking to the new maiden voyage over the coming weeks, and we will issue you with new booking details. This new seven-night maiden voyage will depart from Southampton on 3 May 2024 and will visit La Coruña on 5 May 2024 and Lisbon on 7 May 2024, returning to Southampton on 10 May 2024. We very much hope that you will still be able to join us on this momentous voyage. If for any reason this new voyage is unsuitable, then please contact your travel agent or call us if you booked direct, on 0344 338 8633 (local call charges apply) before 25 November 2022 to let us know. Should you be unable to join us then you will be entitled to a full refund and a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) worth 10% of monies paid, which will be applied to your guest account (using your Cunard World Club number).

Beat me to it, received the email within the last hour. Oh well, that's two Maiden's lost in the space of 6 months. I guess Cunard don't wish to repeat the Arvia experience closer to date.

A real shame that @lissie . Hopefully this review of mine from a Queen Victoria visit will be of some compensation... https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2019/08/09/one-way-to-do-colombo/

@Bell Boy also says that normal services are being resumed including officers being around and about social events....

Thanks @Bell Boy for providing a set of photographs of the new format Daily Programme currently being used onboard and also available on the Cunard 'My Voyage' iPhone App... ****** ****** ***** Thanks Bell Boy. 👍

....and another errand we have found that butler's were good at was securing one's priority tender tickets...

Good morning @burnsva . I'm somewhat surprised that no one has so far mentioned the in-suite dining option for those occasions that matter....

Thank you for your recommendation. It certainly appeared that you have the best of all worlds until I took a look at what was available. Firstly you don't say what level of Curve card you have. There appear to be four levels available (Curve, Curve X, Curve Blanc and Curve Metal). Three of them carry a monthly fee, ranging between £4.99 and £14.99) I then took a look at the Barclaycard Avios. Correct me if I'm wrong but to achieve the headline Avios points you say you have been awarded/promised, that particular level of card attracts a monthly fee of £20.00. Having done the maths I think I will stick with my Martin Lewis recommended Halifax Clarity, Barclaycard Cashback (0.5% on all spending) and Applepay for convenience/ emergencies. In the meantime I look forward to hearing your dispute with Cunard has been resolved satisfactorily.

Exactly @carlmm .

Good afternoon Lissie. May I refer you to my comment # 26 particularly the requirement to keep larger amounts in one's current account. To make a fair comparison of credit card exchange rates one really needs to know which cards are being used.

Always interesting to hear how others operate their onboard finances: particularly as your original opening comment referred to your 'Credit Card'. I personally use a Halifax Clarity credit card which also has a zero currency transaction fee (saving typically 2.99%) and whose exchange rate is the going interbank rate - that's the best you'll get daily. Then of course I don't get the hassle (😉😉) of cruise lines / hotels taking pre-authorised amounts thereby negating the necessity to keep high balances in one's current account. And added to all that the luxury of having upwards of 56 days interest free credit.

As a long standing traditional Cunarder I found your synopsis most interesting, particularly as my wife and I have recently returned from our fifth Celebrity cruise.... https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2022/10/19/celebrity-silhouette-9-night-spain-france-cruise/ ...and I have no compunction whatsoever in agreeing with you on your 'statement of balance' above. For myself in particular, dress codes are no longer of a greater importance: particularly as Cunard have been on a dumbing down exercise for a number of years. When the occasions arise on the ships we now tend to cruise with - preferences generally being itinerary driven - when the occasion arises to 'dress up' we take it. Celebrity, MSC, Saga, you name them, we dress formally when a formal, or whatever they now choose to call the evening, occurs. PS. The Celebrity whole ship entertainment on that 9 night cruise was nothing short of outstanding.

This is an old chestnut that makes occasional appearances on many cruise lines's facebook pages and gets the same response every time. It's no different to hotels covering themselves against financial misconduct: and quite right so. I still can't believe that folk still use a debit card for their onboard expenses: particularly if one is going on a reasonable spending spree.

Good afternoon again Major. It would appear we are locking horns on yet another of my favoured cruise lines. 😉 😂

Ket to that are the words ''won't necessarily protect the company'. I wonder who will be brave enough to try it on. 😉😂

The words in the 'quote' of mine (timed at 10.30) you have used are not mine.

My previous two comments may be of interest to you Major. Those of us in the know however have been aware that other drinks are available: as one can easily observe from the various shaped glasses in this photograph of mine that I've dug out just for you 😉 ...

Good afternoon major. While never admitting to 'racing' and 'pushing' to the dance floor I'll willingly admit to the standing with senior officers and enjoying social chit-chat. A skill well honed during my career as a naval officer where at most foreign ports the ship would host a cocktail party for the local dignitaries and a few BYTs. As most of my naval seagoing career was serving on aircraft carriers it meant that such CTPs were held in the ship's hangar and there was no seating. Hence I've always been an advocate of remaining on my feet at such functions. I'm not aware of how you Army chaps conducted yourselves on such occasions.😁 As an aside I would also mention that in my experience the drinks service was by far more slicker when one was in the company of a ship's officer...

We had a similar experience except it was with the Head of Housekeeping. Being retired hotel owners my wife expressed an interest in all things 'housekeeping' and in particular 'Laundry'. Lo and behold the next day we had a message inviting us to a private visit to said 'Laundry' which actually proved fascinating - especially the 'Norovirus' section.

Perhaps you'' be good enough to show the relevant section in the 'Consumers Rights Act' that will apply to the particular case you are calling. Forgive me if any further response is delayed but I'm off to my allotment. 😁

Though as I stated earlier, Britannia was perfect... https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2015/03/30/britannia-the-maiden-cruise/

Hi there again. It never ceases to amaze me that folk are prepared to part with thousands of pounds for a week or two weeks cruising and can't be bothered to check out a few other essential details. While not wishing to dissect any individual possible losses I'm not really clear where you get your ''possibly hundreds of pounds out of pocket' from. Maybe, if you have the time, you can elaborate.

I think you've negated your own argument with the words I've highlighted in Red.

A good choice if you're not calling at Vigo. We did the same many years ago. You had more luck than us though, we won the scaffolding (it was January) ...

Hang on a bit. Let's step back and take a pragmatic view. Firstly, as I pointed out, as far as we know this wasn't of P&O's making and they already have, though I've not received official notice yet, a financial adjustment. As with all cruise lines, whatever arrangements a customer makes, outside of their cruise agreement with the respective company, are the individuals responsibility - we've all been round long enough to accept that. (Caveat Emptor) As such, anyone who should be 'out of pocket' should console themselves that the FCC attached to the cancellation duly covers those said expenses or, put another way, those who are not 'out of pocket' have received a slightly higher share of the FCC pot. Have a nice day, ranting against P&O won't make it any better,