Bell Boy

Please don't stress your self over this testing. Take no notice of the reply from Cunard Facebook . You just need a LFT test the 'day before you board the ship'. I have recently had an LFT for a June 5th embarkation, I arranged the test for June 4th at approx 10.am - my check-in time was 1.pm on the 5th. Please be advised the check-in agents have 'no time to be calculating hours or minutes' of your LFT test all they are interested in is that your test is negative and it was taken the day before. I have another Cunard cruise booked for July 31st , I have already arranged a test for the 30th, the time they have reserved for me is 11.45am , at the moment I have no idea of what time my check-in time is for the 31st July , however, the most important thing for me was to ensure I could reserve a booking for a test on the 30th.

Had the Cunard Agent in question kept her eye on the Cunard 'Corporate Facebook page' it's all there ! Been mentioned for several weeks.

It's a pity that you didn't take the name of the agent you spoke to, I would have got back to him/her with your confirmation, or passed constructive comments onto a supervisor . It's time many of these Cunard Agents at head office took a course in Corporate Awareness, it's not the first time they have been unhelpful with customers questions. Conflicting confusion over the recent health requirements needed before boarding, eg Vaccinations & LFT's etc , just to name a few. 🤷‍♂️

Yes, no problem, done this many times when I've shared a cabin with a travel companion. You just managed this on the day at check-in .

You've hit the nail on the head underwater. I'm amazed, this question ( alcohol permitted onboard Cunard) has been discussed on this board so many times before. At the end of the day , Cunard Line treat guest's as sensible adults. To clarify, Cunard's notification ( of one bottle of wine or Champagne ) has been the same for several years With this notification Cunard Line are able to cover them self as they 'still reserve the right' to remove an 'excessive amount of alcohol' being brought onboard their ships. As in the case of a stag party on occasional mini cruises .

I will be on in 4 🤞 😉

For Platinum level one needs to have completed Seven Cruises or Seventy Nights. Guests will receive Platinum status on the 8th cruise.

Then you just turn up when you are ready ... and accept to stand in line for a few minutes ..or accept a pager until they allocate a table ...No different to the Breakfast or Lunch procedure. ......I'm so intrigued ...Don't you like the evening interaction with a dedicated waiter during the entire cruise ......I can't be doing every evening having to explain my preferences ! ...No bread, no black pepper mill ....the preference of extra steamed veg etc etc.

As much as I respect Yoyo , she does have an 'over obsession with Open Dining arrangements' ...She is personally in favour of open dining, however, that is her own opinion ...On my last Cunard cruise some months ago , she told me Cunard are way behind other cruise lines . Whilst that might be her own personal opinion, I believe Cunard are now having 'Second Thoughts' of implementing Open Dining ( ie no fixed Table and Wait staff) in the Britannia restaurant. They are now looking at providing the guest the opportunity to book Either Or . This has been confirmed for Q.Anne and will no doubt be consitant across the fleet.

The only down side to this is, for your return back to the UK one has to hang around NY ( or JFK ) all day until the evening 'Red Eye flight' back to the Uk, probably having to pay overweight luggage fees on any shopping you might have taken advantage of in NYC..... then you struggle through Heathrow after sitting upright in an aircraft seat ..unless you've paid for First 😉 Sailing Eastbound, you've had a good nights sleep in a comfortable bed, a shower and a hearty breakfast , and a quick leisurely disembarkation before the journey home 😉

Yes they certainly do. I regularly fly ( ex Uk) and sail back . The only downside maybe for those in the USA, flying to join QM2 over in the UK is you would probably want to include a hotel stopover, rather than joining the ship immediately you arrive in the morning (ie after an overnight flight). A morning ( daylight flight) for me is no problem . You would certainly be wise to take the offer of a Cunard package that includes your flight, You are then covered if your flight is cancelled or delayed .

Parking 4cruises is a completely different concept to CPS ..... and you know that. I'd rather walk a couple of yards into the terminal after dropping my car off , rather than a lengthy walk from and to the 'Short Stay Car Park', which at some of the cruise terminals at Southampton is a lot more that a 'few yards'

Another vote for CPS, 👍 been using them for many years. It's a no brainer looking for any other company just to save a pound or two ! Just drive up and walk a couple of yards to the terminal, hand over your car key to the meet & greet CPS agent . On disembarkation out of the terminal, again just a few yards walk to collect your car .

Thank you for sharing your experience with us , so sorry to read your post but thanks for being so upbeat and making the best out of the situation. Hopefully by August and your next cruise all this will be behind us .

Don't worry about what others may have said, re amount of wine taken onboard Cunard. Take a look again at BigMac's post, and if I may add, as seasoned Cunard guest ( 52 cruises at the last count) I've a wealth of experience of taking wine or spirit onboard Cunard. You will have no problem talking onboard a 'reason amount' of Wine ,including spirit. On long voyages I would usually take onboard a bottle of spirit and a couple of bottles of expensive wine & maybe some Champagne. Cunard Line treat their guests as sensible adults , however, they still reserved the right to withhold 'excessive' amounts of alcohol if deemed necessary , for example the occasional Stag party on mini cruises. You do surprise me with your comment about HAL , some years ago I had a part 500ml of bottled water confiscated prior to boarding the Koningsdam maiden voyage .🤷‍♂️

That's Ideal if you are couple and enjoy your own company on a table for two.

Yes there is still live music onboard (there has been since August 13th 2021) Everything is still the same , at Sailaways , Queens Room, the Golden Lion Pub and the late night venues.

At the moment it is working well only because the guest occupancy has been limited. Not all staterooms/suites are occupied so new passengers embarking are occupying 'most of the cabins that had been occupied on the previous voyage' and had been left vacant for period of sanitation. Being able to stay in the cabin until time of embarkation has been one of the best procedures during the present climate , however, when things get back to some sense of normality I guess it will have an impact on future embarkation.

The 15% on your bottle of wine is divided between the Team of Sommeliers across all the restaurants. The auto gratuity that is added to your account ( Hotel & dining charges) is divided across all restaurant waiters and stateroom attendants & those behind the scenes. ( for example some kitchen crew members) The 15% added to Alcohol beverages in the various Bars, Public rooms and Open decks is divided between all Bar service crew members.

Don't get me started on this Solent Richard ! I was originally booked for this crossing some 20 months ago until I found out that I'd not be able to participate in dancing to the Alex Mendham Orchestra ( who I'm already familiar with from the Savoy Hotel) or attend any of the private events unless I'd booked with a certain US TA . Apparently the Queens Room was closed each evening from 6pm to 8.30pm for private dancing and also closed to hold a private cocktail party ( for well over 200 + ) whilst the rest of us seasoned customers have been unable to enjoy Captain receptions or loyalty level receptions for the past two years ........Other venues were close ( eg the Carinthia Lounge was closed late night for this group to enjoy a 'Vintage Pyjama Party 🤔 ( photos all to see on their fb site )

A letter is delivered to all staterooms where the guest indicates their suggested disembarkation time (by ticking a box) You remain in your stateroom and proceed to the Gangway at the time of your choice. No more clambering over other folks hand luggage and trying to find a seat in a dedicated lounge . One of the best new procedures introduced post pandemic.

Just had an update from friends onboard QM2, they mention it was about 50/50 last night in the Theatre -those continuing wearing a mask and those not .

Mask update : QM2 Sunday May 8th Guests sailing on the West Bound Crossing yesterday have been advised that Masks are now only mandatory when visiting the Medical centre. It would appear that the rule has been relaxed for the Theatre and when walking from one venue to another ? no reference was made to other areas around the ship in the letter that was handed to everyone at check-in yesterday. How long this will stay in place is anyone's guess before it reverts back , apparently the above update does not apply to QE where masks are still required in certain venues. The exact wording in the letter states; Whilst it is recommended that you wear a mask indoors on the ship, they are only required when visiting the Medical Centre .