TheOldBear

For USA bookings, there are occasional promotions that have pre-paid gratuities, or for Grills passengers some included drinks. The promotion in effect back in November 2022 when I booked my upcoming sailing included gratuities and a specialty dining meal.

The union promises that passenger ships (and military cargo) will not be impacted by the strike. https://ilaunion.org/ila-will-maintain-pledge-to-handle-military-cargo-during-strike-passenger-cruise-ships-to-be-unaffected-by-10-1-strike/

back in 2008 I did a photo focused shore excursion that had two stops at the reversing falls - on rising and falling tides, with scenic village stops in between. I think the entire tour lasted about five hours.

We have done three round trips so far, and none of the turn around ports [Southampton, LeHavre, Hamburg] have required zeroing out. On our 2022 26 night round trip, only about 120 passengers booked all three component segments.

Cunard's QM2 has watercolor classes on sea days. The class is free, and a kit of materials is available for purchase if you haven't packed your own.

See the discussion on

From what I have seen - in person and on you tube - the Britannia & Britannia Club rooms all have the same basic lay out. A sitting area with couch, table and desk (refrigerator, kettle, desk chair) is adjacent to the balcony door. [for some rooms, the couch is a sleeper sofa providing a third berth]

Excluding the Grills & Club - are more Britannia difficulties encountered with open seating or with assigned seating?

MSC usually sails from the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal https://cruise.nyc/brooklyn-terminal The current schedule is posted at https://cruise.nyc/BCT-Schedule along with terminal information. Parking is available at the terminal - but it is not cheap [$45 per night]. There is a thread on this forum that should have some lodging discussion. We are almost local to the port, so I have no direct information about lodging.

There was an attempt to open it on our 2017 eastbound crossing - on the last sea day there was little relative wind and it was sunny. Just before opening a line of thunderstorms popped up, and the umbrellas and tables were quickly struck. I decided to head to the Golden Lion.

There are three categories of dogs Guide Dogs - e.g. seeing eye dogs - go everywhere their person goes. The ship makes any needed accommodations. Service Dogs - diabetic blood sugar; seizure alert - may have _some_ restrictions imposed by the ship. These dogs have a 'rest room' facility, typically in a deck 1 tender lounge. Pets - Kennel only [back in 2017 some 'diamond' status dogs were brought to the world club party for photos]

The web page includes Afternoon Tea includes a pre-made selection of gluten free, no sugar-added, vegetarian, and vegan sandwiches and desserts.

Have you visited the page https://www.cunard.com/en-us/food-allergy-and-dietary-requirements ? They do suggest calling soon after making your reservation. At the Kings Court buffet - the gluten free food is labeled. At breakfast & lunch there is a gluten free baked goods section in the area just aft of the 'C' staircase lobby port side [the part of the KC that converts to the themed pop up restaurant at dinner time] You should be able to review the next day's menu in the BC dining room [you can in the main Britannia] and discuss options with your head waiter. I think there were gluten free options available from room service and in the Carinthia lounge - I don't recall any gluten free options listed for the Golden Lion pub lunch.

Cunard does offer some excursions for the 'turn around' day - the number of offered excursions varies depending on how many passengers are continuing for the next segment of the sailing [back to Southampton; to Quebec city; Caribbean]. Excursions range from a drop off / pick up by Macys Herald Square [Cunard does not run a free shuttle bus], to some possible destinations outside the city [mostly shopping focused]. All passengers must disembark [even if briefly - in transit passengers no not need to pack] so the ship is 'zeroed out' before passengers can start boarding. With a normal arrival time, in transit passengers and self disembarkation passengers can leave the ship at about 0700 - with in transit passengers able to re board at about noon. An alternative to Cunard's tours is that a ferry stop is just outside the terminal gate - with multiple options providing public transportation access or in a reasonable walking distance to attractions.

There are two and a half specialty restaurants on QM2 The Veranda $$$ [steakhouse] for Lunch & Dinner The Kings Court 'pop up' $ with a rotating dinner menu The Chef's Gallery [no additional charge, no reservations; Kings Court, starboard side by the 'C' staircase lobby] with made to order pasta & pizza. One of the Pop Up menu choices is Italian themed, plus the Chef's Gallery According to to the personalizer [my.cunard.com] reservations can be made 2 weeks in advance. I've got a fair amount of on board credit on my next booking - we will just wing it, and not book in advance.

We'll be in Southampton in October twice - for the 13th we will decide between the Dancing Man and the Duke of Wellington. We enjoyed the 'Duke of Boots' Sunday Roast on our last visit in 2022.

The October eastbound crossing is still 7 days - but the Boston start for the crossing [6 October] is two days after embarkation [4 October] in Brooklyn. This was one of the cruises where Cunard's Brooklyn dates were adjusted to accommodate the MSC mega ship. The Newport and Boston stops were 'borrowed' from the previous Quebec to NY sailing.

On my 2022 visit, I used the ship's shuttle bus into town and walked back to the cruise port - can not help with taxi directions [had a light lunch at the Cathedral shop]. I would hope any taxi driver would know about the Cathedral even if the app has problems. The visit Trondheim site has a cathedral page [https://visittrondheim.no/en/activities-attractions/sightseeing/nidaros-cathedral/] and that page has a google maps link under 'directions' The cruise ship terminal address is Havnegata 12, 7010 Trondheim, Norway and the Clarion hotel is adjacent - perhaps the app will accept either for the starting location. The cathedral address appears to be Kongsgårdsgata 2, 7013 Trondheim, Norway An alternate is a museum just north of the Archbishop's Palace Bispegata 7b, 7013 Trondheim, Norway [stop and pet the wolf stature 🙂 ]

If you have some documentation from a doctor advising against travel - then it's not the 'any reason', it should be one of the directly covered reasons. Check the fine print on your policy and also check with your insurance agent [if no agent, check with the provider]. My policy has [under Trip Cancellation] [quote] a covered Sickness or Injury involving an Insured, Traveling Companion or Business Partner, or Family Member of an Insured or Traveling Companion which necessitates Medical Treatment at the time of cancellation and results in medically imposed restrictions, as certified by a Legally Qualified Physician, which prevents an Insured’s participation in the Covered Trip; [/quote] If you were to cancel _today_ what are your non-refundable expenses for the trip? Are you inside the 'final payment' date for the cruise portion?

The 0-12 version is in use - force 11 & 12 are usually the result of a 'tropical rotating storm' [e.g. Hurricane] but can also be encountered in cooler conditions [the 'Perfect Storm']

The terminal website uses 210 Clinton Warf https://cruise.nyc/BCT-directions-parking

Newport information is found over in https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/9-canadanew-england/ the 'Canada and New England' forum. Newport is a tender port - the ship itself does not dock. Folks on the ship's excursions will have priority for tenders. Be aware of the posted time for returning to the tender dock. [One Youtube video was about their experience on one of the MSC mega ships - by the time they got to shore they had only 20 minutes before they needed to be on the line to board the return tender.] Newport itself is quite walkable - I would look for some online port guides [before you embark ] and just wander around for some of the local attractions [e.g. the Cliff Walk]

I recall Steve Payne saying that the QM2 is much more efficient than its predecessor, despite the much greater size of the ship. The original Queen Mary's steam plant got about 12 feet to the gallon - the QM2 CODAG / electric plant gets 16 feet to the gallon. That's a 25% improvement 😉

We were last onboard November 2022 - just as the post pandemic restrictions were lifted. Yes - they were still there I think on a crossing the majority of gents were wearing tuxes - with a few of the tux wearers wearing a black satin 'four in hand' tie instead of a bow tie. How about a 'champagne afternoon tea'? I'm thinking of treating Mrs Bear to that during our upcoming sailing.

We were on that westbound crossing - and I don't remember anything dramatic [and yes access to the Lookout, Observation Deck and deck 7 access to the promenade was roped off]. There were multiple tropical storm remnants and the QM2's course was adjusted a few times for smoother sailing. On a previous crossing the deck 12 pool was drained & the spa pool roped off but I think we were able to use both facilities.