alibabacruisers

My thoughts and prayers are definitely with them. It would be awful to be in the position of not knowing about loved ones.

Congratulations on your upgrade and I hope you have a wonderful crossing.

westerdam on the move....

that was the worst horn ever (from the Oasis)....they better hurry as it is getting dark fast

Hi Zanny, in my case far to long probably, at least 3 months, but this allows me to try & shed a few kilo's, buy some new clothes, sort out accessories(evening outfits), but I love having the opportunity to dress up and make the most of it. After 18 cruises I am still a cronic overpacker, but I like to take a couple of extra outfits to allow for, what I feel like wearing on the day, weather changes, or maybe I'm having a fat day.....I like to be prepared for all situations,:D nothing worse than wearing something your not feeling comfortable in. I'm sure not everyone is like me, and can be a lot more organised in a lot less time......whatever you are happy doing.Robin:)

Thank goodness Robin! I am exactly like you when it comes to "wear what you feel like wearing on the day, weather changes, or maybe I'm having a fat day".....I am always trying to explain that feeling to my husband who just cannot get it! I understand completely and that is why I tend to overpack as well.:)

Zanny, I tend to START the packing process about two months ahead by just gathering (in the general area) certain items I know I want to take. About a month ahead I really look at combinations and try to fine tune. I actually start putting things in the suitcases about two weeks ahead, usually that is the undergarments and things that don't matter if they wrinkle. The rest goes in a week down to the few days prior to leaving. The way I look at it is that I need to drag the process out so I have something to keep me sane during the WAIT.:D

Jacs, I also do that final wash for things as well ...about a week out.

Another note...I have read where some ladies take a photo of each outfit and lay them out and try to fine tune them or figure out mix and matches that way. I may try this next time. One thing I did try once was putting on some of my formal dresses to see how they looked and boy was I glad to I did this...some of the dresses looked awful with the accessory choices I had paired with them or even one dress I had bought online...the color was atrocious! But it was fun doing that process.

Barbara

I will be here...looks like a lot of ships today.

Startwin.....very admirable job you're doing!

Barbara

I was having the problem of slow loading for a thread yesterday but have not had the problem this morning yet.

Barbara

As others have said, a dark suit will be fine and you will not feel out of place. I hope you and your family have a wonderful cruise!

Barbara

I loved your review! I agree with fantasy! Great alternative tips and directions to get to and from places. I also loved the info regarding ship tour prices versus bus, trolley, etc. It does sound like a very nice trip and hopefully will get to do it one day. Interesting to note was the bass noise from the disco and the vibrations and noise in that particular cabin as well. I will also be saving your notes for further use. Thank you once again for your wonderful review!

Barbara

Thanks Salacia for the news. I watched it on our news last night and it looks massive! Thoughts and prayers to those in the Phillipines and their families and loved ones.

Barbara

There's a couple of articles on Cruise Critic about this

 

http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1939699 Italy Bans Large Cruise Ships in Venice Lagoon

 

http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/news/news.cfm?ID=5603# Venice Cruise Limits Raise More Questions than Answers

 

I think the QE and QV will just be okay?

I guess if they go by the gross tonnage, it seems like they will be ok. Thanks for the posts of the threads...I found them after the fact.

Thank you for your review and also the wonderful pictures. I miss QE and your pictures revive my memories. Now it is also helping me to really look forward to the next time on QE in 2015.

Barbara

Ahhh Venice....here is a story I thought you may be interested in. I hope the link works as I have never done it before.

http://travel.yahoo.com/blogs/compass/cruise-lines-planning-changes-venice-announces-ban-large-000045111.html?soc_src=mediacontentsharebuttons

Although I have never been on Princess, I would still say the difference would be formal nights more often and more formal than Princess, generally speaking. Most people tend to dress up on the formal nights wearing beautiful gowns and nice suits and even some tuxedos. It is a wonderful sight to see.

Have fun on your cruise! I hope you love Cunard as I know I do.

Barbara

Hi everyone.....love this thread Marie! I was on a cruise this past January, QM2, world cruise segment and was supposed to meet you Marie but I was not informed on the change on venue until after the fact. I saw your pictures of your dresses, from that cruise, as well as other dresses before and you look great in all of them. I remember that you were getting married a few days after I disembarked but I did see some of the pictures and they were so nice. You and your husband both looked so happy! Sorry I did not get to meet you, but I did see you walking everyday around the promenade deck...so diligent and energetic you were! A couple of times I wanted to come say hello but did not want to interrupt your walk. Maybe someday we will meet.

All of you ladies that have posted pictures looked great! I look looking at the pictures to see the many varieties of dress that women choose to wear and hope to get some inspiration. I am not a fashion person but when I go on a cruise that is the one time I try to dress up.

Ladies...I am very inspired by your personal stories so send you lots of love and prayers.

I will try to post a picture from our most recent cruise.

Barbara

Thank you Bill and Mary Ann once again for your excellent blog of your voyage! Whenever I need a cruise "fix" I know I can rely on you to give me something entertaining and interesting to read and daydream about.

Barbara

Good to hear from you Barry and hope you have a great cruise! Looking forward to hearing of your experiences.

Barbara

On our 'half world' (Sydney to Southampton) we negotiated a deal for all 51 nights at a great discount from multiple 5 day passes, which were all that were openly offered. Its always worth asking.

Can you give us an idea of approximately the amount? We will be doing a bit longer than 51 nights and are interested to know so we have an idea of what is a good price. Thanks

I submitted my army records to Carnival Australia on Wednesday & received confirmation this morning of $50 OBC for each of my 2 booked trips.

Thanks everyone for this thread & a huge thank you to Carnival!:)

That is great news! Congratulations!

Barbara

Well finally it went through and I am getting my military benefits on my next cruise! Hooray!! Thanks guys for posting the address for Australia. Now I will just have to make a list of the 3 email addresses for sending the info whenever I book a cruise in the future...to make it easier.

Thanks again!

Barbara

Thanks Louise, that is very helpful!

Barbara

Yes, I have done that on QM2, but Cunard needs to get prior approval from the local authorities before they can confirm it. Obviously the price is the same as if you do the whole voyage.

Hi Louise, how long before the requested port did you ask them and can you tell me what the process is?

What about getting off (debarking) before your segment officially ends? I thought I remembered someone saying that their debarkation point was Shanghai, but they needed to get off prior to that and just let the pursers office know and they were allowed to get off.

Bumping this thread again after sooooo long.....

here is one for you guys ....I HOPE you can help me or point me in a direction!

I am an Australian citizen now, served in the US Navy, and have booked a WC Segment on QE via Cunard Australia. I sent an email uing the email address on the Cunard Australia site, which incidentally went to the UK, and was told the UK cannot access my booking as I had booked thru Australia. I tried to go to an email posted by others elsewhere in the CC forum, supposedly to Carnival Australia and it came back as undeliverable. I read earlier in this post to try defencebenefits, etc. so I have tried that earlier today..so mabe it will work out. Any other suggestions?

BOY, what a runaround!!! They all want you to run around in circles and do not seem to know the rules. It is comforting to know that some of you have gotten the benefit, and I am hopeful I will get it as well. I know my circumstances are slightly different than others, but military service is military service.

Thanks in advance,

Barbara

Hi everyone, I can use your help please. I thought I had read in previous threads, somewhere, about whether you are able to start the cruise at a different port, but cannot find using the search function.

I am thinking about booking a world cruise segment, but really want to start at a different port. The exact segment I am thinking about is not listed at this point. For example, starts in Southampton, but want to maybe start in New York or Fort Lauderdale. Is this possible? Has anyone got any experience they can share with this issue? How would you go about it? Or possibly end at earlier port than the segment actually ends?

Hope you can help. Thanks.

Barbara