Solent Richard

Well yes. And that includes our shareholder dividends which I guess we all anxiously await their return.

Yes, I have that experience. I was travelling solo on an East Bound Trans Atlantic and chose it for no other reason than I wanted to write about it on my blog. Stateroom 5114..... It didn't last however. The following day I was upgraded to Britannia Club 12055....

Well on those cruise lines that have adopted this policy it certainly has reduced the queues (Lines for those who prefer) at reception on day one to have them removed.

Good morning Sir and thank you for your kind comment. While we may be in danger of steering too far off topic I'm impressed with your Bond knowledge. You'd no doubt be impressed with my recent holiday to Puglia, Matera & Gravina in particular, in search of Bond's latest movie scene locations... But to keep us reasonably 'on topic' I also wonder how many of Cunard passengers sailing out of Southampton appreciate how close in proximity they sail to the British SIS training establishment at Fort Monckton, a mere stones throw from yours truly's pad on the Solent shoreline.... ******

Do I take it that you, like myself and @Colin_Cameron, don't have a 'broker' at our beck-n-call @cruiseluvva? I'm not quite sure of the advantages when one factors in the broker's charges either. On a separate note, I spotted your comment on a closed thread regarding The Datai on Langkawi. Our favourite hotel in Malaysia. We are returning there in November along with a visit to Malacca to make up for the cancelled Queen Victoria visit in 2019.

Same here @Colin_Cameron . The only difference for myself was that I experienced no problem downloading the App. Maybe my apple Pro iPhone had a hand in that. An excellent system which will prove useful across the Carnival fleet. Kind of makes me wonder how those folk who aren't up with the latest in communications are going to apply. Could be some unhappy bunnies on here idc.

Surely that should read 'all other cruise lines that make a service charge have also increased their gratuities' I just checked and the last 9 of my cruises all had gratuities included in the pre-cruise price.

My wife and I did a similar cruise on Queen Victoria and had an interesting time with some new ports. I wrote a blog on it.... https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2019/05/06/queen-victoria-singapore-to-cape-town/ ...though, having done the Cape Town to Southampton voyage a number of times we chose to spend some time in Cape Town.

Better plastic than imitation @Bell Boy 😂😈

Who says James Bond never wears one? https://www.mytuxedocatalog.com/blog/the-cummerbund-5-facts-every-gent-should-know/ May I respectfully remind @rmsEtruria that 'Bond' was, by true profession, a member of the same Senior Service as I was and, as a serving Commander, Royal Navy, would have upheld the highest standards of dress and formality: where a cummerbund would certainly be 'de rigueur' - required by etiquette, fashion or custom I believe. To the best of my knowledge in all the photographs of Commander Bond in 'black tie rig' that I have seen his tux is buttoned and therefore, as with all good tailored jackets, the cummerbund would not be visible. A relaxed unbuttoned tux would of course show a cummerbund... ...though I doubt in the case of one previous comment regarding 'portly gentlemen' that such chaps would find a cummerbund of sufficient girth. Whatever one's view though, mine is categorically .... 'why spoil the ship for a ha'p'orth of tar'? 😄

That's also my experience @D&N . As a Cunarder of many years experience, who has sailed on all of the current Queens, and who doesn't allow himself to be cocooned within the grills environs, I would certainly concur with your percentage figure for Black Tie dress. I'd also say that, again in my experience, the G32 didn't provide an escape from the high end dress standards on formal nights. .... A picture is worth a thousand words. 😄

It was Oceana... Same cruise but berthed at St Lucia.

Or better still, show some consideration for both fellow guests and performing artistes and arrive before the show commences. 😈

Wishing you good luck on the proper berth at Key West @Selbourne . It certainly worked well for us the last time we visited with P&O on Oceana....

Ah, I remember it well. We were onboard and it was Captain Kevin Oprey's first drive of the Queen Mary 2. The video is a bit long but I was amused at the caption at point 29.23 minutes which read 'Fire out - back to the party'. Some of us of course hadn't left the party - Senior Officers it was - and remained in the Queens Room, standing socialising and drinking champagne while the orchestra continued playing. Indeed, at minute 30.28 on the video Solent Richard and his good lady are clearly visible at the videographer's return to the Queens Room. And a few seconds later it again records yours truly in the company of that greatest of Cruise Directors, Ray Rouse. Happy days.

I see Paul gave you permission to share that photograph @rog747 . Did you hit a snag? I'd be happy to oblige if you have a problem. 🤙

But Celebrity's way comes at a price.

Stick with it @Selbourne , that Kennedy Space Centre excursion is really something. We did it while on Oceana.... https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2017/02/17/oceana-35-night-caribbean-round-trip/

I don't suppose that, being outside of the UK, you considered the fact that your IP address triggered a difference in pricing on the Cunard system?

We sure will @Bell Boy. 😉

Well 'most' certainly do. 😉😉

Queen Anne - Maiden Voyage 5 May 2024 - Gala Black & White 8 May 2024 - Gala Masquerade Bit disappointing really for such a special occasion. 😈

That certainly sounds a more than reasonable and eminently sensible explanation for booking direct with Cunard @missson1967 : particularly for us UK residents. 😉😉

Hi @D&N . I most certainly have. The last time was when we joined Queen Victoria in Singapore and wanted to spend some time reliving my wife's school time experience around Changi Village. There was little flexibility with pre-cruise flights with Cunard, despite what other say, so we booked cruise only - that is where we did our comparisons. ...and one UK TA.... Needless to say even negating the TA's OBC offer the difference between the quotes still paid for our flights to Singapore and return to UK from Cape Town.