TheOldBear

If you select fixed time for dining, you will have the same table for the entire sailing - no need to queue, just go directly to your table.

For this instance, I think that a fixed lens camera would be more useful than an interchangeable lens system - particularly when comparing it to a body & only one lens. [the long zoom range on a weather sealed camera always has the 'right lens' mounted]. I have not visited Alaska, but the consensus seems to be this is one of the places where a long lens is frequently useful - the [equivalent] 600mm 'reach' of the RX-10 or FZ300 fits than need nicely.

Likely the addition of MSC to to roster of ships using the Brooklyn port.

I can be a bit selfish - and prefer Brooklyn as there are no bridges or tunnels to cross 😉 . It has been years since the last time sailing near the west side piers [Statue Cruises 4th of july dinner & fireworks cruise] I should check if space is available for this year.

I just received email from Cunard noting a schedule change for October 2024: We’ve recently been advised that Brooklyn Cruise Terminal is now no longer available on 6 October 2024. Upon review, unfortunately, there are no suitable alternatives in New York on this date, which means we need to change your planned itinerary. Your voyage will now embark two days earlier from Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, on 4 October 2024and disembark as planned on the existing published date (25 October 2024). Your voyage will now become two nights longer (21 nights) and include two new ports of call, giving you the opportunity to explore the picturesque Rhode Island port of Newport on 05 October 2024, and the historic city of Boston on 06 October 2024.

Depending on your luggage space, you may want to consider a somewhat larger Sony - the RX10 Mark 4 It's a large camera, with a large lens, lots of smart processing modes - and it is weather sealed [no problems using it in rain/snow]. Another smaller/cheaper alternative is the Panasonic FZ300, also weather sealed, but without some of the Sony's fancier features. Don't be afraid of letting the camera do the 'fussy bits' and use whatever 'intelligent automatic' mode is available - concentrate on the subject at hand, getting zoomed in or out to frame it - and take _lots_ of photos. If possible - get a second battery, and more than one memory card.

You may want to check if a 'roll call' exists for your sailing - Cunard's offerings for NYC may be sparse, and you may want or need to organize your own. The is a roll call for the 6 Oct round trip - that shares the westbound [Southampton, LeHavre, Brooklyn] crossing with your round trip.

My old passport got its first stamps in 2017 [UK onboard QM2, entering and leaving LeHavre, back home in Brooklyn] For 2019 & 2022 the new passport received no stamps - all electronic - and was not even presented in Norway or Belgium [stayed in the safe].

Likely the tours offered depend on the number of 'in transit' passengers for the Southampton stop. We did the Winchester excursion in 2017 and it was nice half day trip [we were back on board for a late lunch]. This past November, I think the Winchester & Stonehenge excursions were the ship's tour offerings for both Southampton stops. There have been postings from 'John Bull' here, and in the ports of call western Europe forum, with some DIY suggestions [Salisbury/Stonehenge, New Forest, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Isle of Wight] with details on transportation and timing.

I have a 'roll call' thread for the intersecting round trip [M432B] - it shares the westbound Southampton - LeHavre - Brooklyn [M433] leg of the 17 October sailing Roll Call at

We spent a trifle less than that for a 26 night sailing- including two transatlantic crossings. There is no way we would spend that for a shorter cruise.

Avoiding crowds - mostly introduced during the post lockdown cruising restart.

Typically the showtimes (and Queen's Room activities) are scheduled for after each Britannia seating. I recall a couple of times [2017 ?] where this was inverted - the show for Britannia late seating started before dinner at 6, and the show for the early seating started at 8:30. Needless to say this would be announced in the daily program.

That seems a bit steep - in 2019 Cunard's tour was somewhere near $140 - and included a three course lunch with wine.

Last year's bear was Commodore Arthur Bear - named for the Captain Arthur Rostron, master of RMS Carpathia. Here is the Bear, along with a husky puppy from the Tromso Wilderness Center

You have a while to go September 19th is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Talk_Like_a_Pirate_Day

See this recent thread

Mrs Bear and I prefer vacations without flying - we tend to book QM2 round trip sailings from Brooklyn. We also tend to overpack since we have no airline luggage restrictions. This put us in the position of being able to lend clothing to our table mates when their luggage missed sailing twice in 2017 & 2019. Oddly, their lost luggage did not find them in Southampton, and they next saw it at home in Florida

Arrived here too - but did not show on usps ‘informed delivery’ this morning

There are several benches along the sidewalk arc between the terminal building & the entrance. There is overhead cover - and if you zoom in on google maps aerial view all you see is the overhead cover. There _may_ be seating near the terminal entrance - but that area would be clogged with arriving passengers.

Damme was was a scenic shore excursion stop on our unexpected visit to Belgium last November [QM2 diverted south, missing two Norway ports due to foul weather]. We decided that we would look for another sailing that intentionally visits Zeebruge - perhaps 2025.

The cost per day decreases with each day purchased - booking for an entire cruise should have the lowest cost per day. On the other hand on this fall's 26 night sailing, we each got a 6 day spa pass, and used three days each on the eastbound and westbound crossings. We felt that offered us the best value [not the same as cost per day].

For the NYC 'turn around' day the ship needs to clear to zero passengers [and only a minimal number of watch standers] before new folks can embark. You should be able to leave all your stuff in the cabin - and 'in transit' passengers may even have room service breakfast available [never have been in transit for Brooklyn - only embarked/disembarked there] As in transit passengers, you can get off early [and get an electronic stamp in your passport] and then you are free until the 'all aboard' time. You cannot re-board before embarkation starts for new passengers - but a rather Spartan lounge space is usually set up in the terminal. Cunard usually arranges a couple of shore excursions for in transit folks - like a bus [paid - no free shuttle] that drops off and picks up near Macy's Herald Square store. There is also a ferry terminal just outside the cruise terminal gate [several past threads here and the 'east coast departures' forum for connection information ]

I would not expect changes like the 2016 'remastering' - more things that can be accomplished during a moderate length 'availability' [time without passengers == available to be worked on in the yard] I am hoping that: The Illuminations seats will finally be replaced with less fragile ones. [just the reclining ones, or the whole theatre.] Spa 'upgrades' will include unclogging the drains from locker room showers. Some of the leaky deck 2 windows [noticed port side, deck 2 Britannia & by voyage sales] will be re-sealed. Hallway carpeting replaced with something that doesn't look worn out [as it did right after the remastering] Balcony door gaskets checked and replaced - had quite a whistle this past November in 5194. Internal network upgrades, along with Starlink ground terminal Promenade deck access access doors updated to stay closed when it is windy enough to rope them off. I'm surprised that there has not been one minor upgrade that could be performed without waiting for a shipyard - USB power points in staterooms. Perhaps a modified table lamp with a USB type 'A' port added to the base could be gradually rolled out [power for phone charging - not laptop charging]

What to wear would be quite different for the Caribbean or Antartica - so a lot depends on where the RIB tour is located.