TheOldBear

Waking this thread up - we are looking at making the round trip on QM2 [no air] with three options

• July Basic roundtrip [M612A]
  
• July with layover [M610A & M611B]
  
• Sept with layover [M617 & M619]
  

If you were doing the four day layover, would you prefer July or September?

What are some "don't miss" things to put on a 4 day layover itinerary? [other than not missing the ship for the return crossing ;) ]

[looks like I need to update my sig]

I have done 4 TA, 3 to Europe and 1 to USA. Just a few thoughts...I was not prepared for the cool weather and would suggest a light cover. I bought a jacket on the ship which I still use. The time change to the east is like 7 time changes. It will affect you. But TAs are my favorite cruise. I would do 2 every year, spring and fall, if not for the horror of the air travel.

That's why we are looking into a summer round trip TA - no flying [only an hour's drive to Brooklyn] and port visits in Halifax and Southampton.

I can't remember if butties are something that has been explained in earlier threads? If not, I would appreciate Toad (of Toad Hall) providing a definition and (please) a photograph.

 

If they look good, maybe Redchad should bring them along?

 

(I'm not sure why it is a ship and not a boat, but I accept this is the proper lingo. Ship-ahoy, matie! But, don't rock the boat)

 

Regards, Jimmybean

Among other distinctions, ships carry boats ;)

She Who Must be Obeyed [my wife ;-) ] says that a balcony is preferred - even if the view is mostly Orange.

So we are planning on a balcony.

We'll make the decision in January, but for now our baseline is a roundtrip from NY [612A, NY-Halifax-Southampton-NY].

Another possibility is splitting the two legs of 610B - and doing a short land tour while the ship sails to Hamburg and back.

I guess it's not surprising that this is within a few dollars of the Iceland Air one way fare [just tried a trial booking on their web site].

Either way, that's a number close enough for budget purposes. [now have to wait and see what Cunard's prices look in January]

At this stage, I'm just looking for typical air fares - not exact amounts. Just want to get a feel for how much of the budget will be the eastbound leg.

Then figure out what the budget is for the land portion of the trip [how many nights, ground transport, lodging.....]

We're starting to plan our 2016 transatlantic - most likely flying east, a brief land tour then sailing back to NY. I know for some posters here this is routine, but this is both a first time TA and a 'bucket list'

At this point, I'm trying to establish a budget - what is a typical air fare for the eastbound flight [JFK to somewhere in the British Isles]??

This might be one of the usual one way carriers [Aer Lingus, Iceland Air] or a charter [Cunard Complete Air].

We are looking at some Britannia Balcony grade - and most likely post refit [late summer or fall].

I'm planning on selecting the dates and detail in January - once the vacation schedule opens up at work.

We might even consider a TA round trip - if the airfare + a couple of night + UK ground transport is close to the eastbound cruse fare, that might be more relaxing. [M612A ? The pair of TA's without Hamburg for a couple of days sightseeing?]

Perhaps a naive question, but how do you know when the Upgrade Fairy visits you? Do you get notified via email? Do you only accidentally find out if you check the status of your reservation online? Can they do it any time? Etc..

All the way up to check in time.

Thanks for the link, but couldn't find specifics. We're pretty much newbies, so totally not familiar with what happens when you enter any port for checking in and boarding.

In general, you will check any luggage you are not carrying on at arrival at the port. [at some ports tipping is expected - check the 'ports of call' and 'homeports' sections for Rome/Citivecchia]. Put luggage tags [either provided on paper, or downloaded and printed] on all bags you are checking.

Your carry on should include everything you might need the first day - it may be late in the day before you see your checked bags.

You will then need your documents [tickets, passport] to check yourself in. The checkin process also includes establishing a payment method [credit card] for onboard purchases. You'll be issued a card that works as both your room key & for on board purchases. You may find [if the upgrade fairy smiles] a different room than you have reserved.

Hopefully there is a waiting area, and the wait will be short. On the way from the waiting room into the ship, there is usually a photographer [we tend to avoid this].

There are some deck 8 balconies that are not obstructed [the first few by the bow; the last few by the stern] others will have smaller boats [not tenders or lifeboats]

All of this is shown on the deck plan at http://www.cunard.com/Documents/2015-2016%20deck%20plans/QM2-Deck-Plan-June2016.pdf

[We had 8003 on our last QM2 sailing - right next to the library :) ]

I may want to use my tablet for maps and directions that I have downloaded. What do I do to insure that I'm not receiving internet messages while not meaning....ie how do I disable the internet? Sorry, very new to technology.

Look for 'airplane mode' - On Android 5.x it's on the middle of the quick menu [pull down from top of screen twice].

It should be a top level choice off 'settings' in an Apple device [My original iPad is stuck at iOS 5, may not be the same place on later devices]

A Passport is the only identification you will need [proof of both identity and citizenship].

Some sort of photo ID card _may_ be useful at tender ports. The port authorities at some of those will not have access to the ship's computer to verify your photo, so will want something else with your name and photo to admit you to the tender boarding area. On a New England / Canada sailing this was true at Newport RI, but not at Bar Harbor Maine.

I am an old movie buff, and am watching a really old one now, with a ship segment. It reminded me of the one and only time I was on the QE2. It was in NY in 1969 I believe. My mother threw a Bon Voyage party on board. I wish I could remember the "all ashore who's going ashore" announcement. I was a teenager at the time and surely would not have appreciated the experience. Does anyone remember those days? I would live to hear the stories. Thanks.

 

Jeanne

My wife says that the really fun part was riding back to the harbor on the Pilot boat.

About nuclear propulsion for Ocean Liners:

I just found out that the Italian Line had made provision for converting their Leonardo da Vinci to nuclear propulsion by 1965. They obviously did not do that in the end, and the ship was withdrawn when essential state subsidies were removed, but apparently the technical feasibility was entirely there from the start.

 

As per Wikipedia:

 

 

I wonder if QM2 could be rebuilt for nuclear propulsion. Presumably, in half a century, technology has made a lot of progress (miniaturisation in particular) to make this technically feasible. Remains to be see if it would make economic sense, but I am more than ever convinced that nuclear propulsion would be the only way to bring high speed crossings back to the North Atlantic.

There was a paper study I recall [uS Naval Institute Proceedings magazine] about a 'pebble bed' reactor design sized to replace a standard LM2500 gas turbine module. If such a module could be built, and the much more difficult task of license for operation is completed, then nuke power would become a possibility. [Then again, according to Back to the Future, we should have a working 'Mr Fusion' reactor in common use :) ]

I would say yes - on our most recent cruise we learned of the upgrade at check in time [took a couple of hours for our luggage to get the news]

Another option is the Firefox browser, with the 'NoScript' plugin. By default, NoScript blocks all animations, flash & javascript - you just turn on enough stuff to make a page/site work the way you want it to work.

Often the problem is a hacked server at the advertising provider - the defaced web site [like the boards here] just has a place to insert & display whatever the ad server hands it, without any control over what is actually displayed.

The Deck 12 pool [Pavilion pool] has a retractable roof.

Hi all;

 

First time cruiser here. Will be departing NY to Southampton Jan 3, 2016.

I have a couple of questions:

 

1. why the dress code for eating?? hubby and I like wearing our jeans, but I guess if he has to wear slacks and I have to wear a dress in order to eat at the buffet; then I guess so be it..

Jeans are ok for during the day, up until about 6 PM. After 6 the dress code is in place for almost all public areas [exceptions are the buffet & the adjacent Winter Garden]. Dress code questions are a frequent topic - there will be someone with a more detailed answer or recent experience along shortly ;-)

2. boarding the ship...what time should we aim for?

We always arrive early [11 AM] but are prepared to wait for boarding [books & a snack]. Terminal facilities are minimal. Most folks report a shore wait at most

3.stateroom 5003 on deck 5....anyone stayed on deck 5..we have the outside view..?

By the deck plans, this is all the way forward on deck 5 - only cabins above and below.

4. laundry...I'm OCD and I need to have laundry close to me; are the washing machines and dryers free to use or coin operated?

I've never used the self service laundry - the deck plans show it as almost all the way aft.

5.disembarkment, when arriving at southampton...should we take our time getting up and getting ready?how does it work, wake up early, have breakfast then plot yourself near the exit??

Can't help with this [planning out first crossing for next summer].

6.when paying for things, can I pay by CASH? dollars and sterling pounds? - I don't like using my CC, is DEBIT card an option?

About the only thing you would need cash for is tipping room service [a dollar or two], and perhaps the casino [buy chips].

Unless Cunard changes things, you can establish your onboard account with cash. This involves spending time waiting on line. Debit cards will have an account hold which some travelers have found larger than expected.

also; still unclear or what things I will be paying for and what is included with our ticket...can someone break down whats free /not free please...

If the purchase involves your card, there is probably a charge. What is not included [fare + service charge] is a short list:

• Alcohol
  
• Fizzy soda [there is a 'soda card'
  
• The stuff in the in room refrigerator
  
• Specialty coffee [sir Samuel's]
  
• Spa services
  
• Internet connection time
  
• Casino
  
• Shopping
  
• Todd English or the table service portion of Kings Court
  
• There are no shore excursions, but there might be a special class [e.g. fencing]
  
• Tips for the dance host [for dancing lessons]
  

 

alcohol - we don't drink

 

7.traveling with kids...how bad can it be or get? 1 year old and 4 year old. we'll be lugging around with large suitcase, 2 car seats, and strollers (would my 4 year old need a stroller)? - can't be that bad right?

 

any other tips?

Can't help you there, other than to check the archives on this forum, and the 'Family Cruises' section under 'special interest' cruises.

To all of you who have been on the QM2 and love it, please elaborate. Why did you love it? The class system sort of bothers me. Do you have to stay in your part of the ship?

Cunard has less of a 'ship within a ship' isolation than some other lines [e.g. MSC Yacht Club, or 'The Haven']

Folks paying the big bucks for Grill accommodations get:

- 'Queens' or 'Princess' Grill, single seating dining, with expanded menu [lots of off menu options & special requests, including the whole shebang available as a room service option]

- On QM2, an aft deck section with a hot tub

- One of the ships lounges

- a concierge

All the other public areas are open to all guests. It is my understanding that QV & QE have better placement for the Grill exclusive areas, but still only a small part of the ship's pubic spaces]

Outside of the grill areas [e.g. library, Queens Room, theatre, spa...] there is nothing set apart for Grill guests.

Are we allowed to take wine onboard to drink on our balcony.

This depends on the cruise line - some prohibit all wine, some charge a per bottle 'corkage' fee, some only charge corkage on wine poured in public areas - and probably other variations as well.

May I take an iron onboard

The general answer is no [fire hazard], but check your cruise lines policy.

<snippage />

I enjoyed the comments about rail enthusiasts. I consider myself a "rail travel enthusiast" and I am ashamed of most enthusiasts or "railfans" as they are often called on our side of the pond. Many "fans" bemoan the lack of steam-hauled excursions in Canada. In the days when there were several main-line excursions in the Toronto area I would meet several enthusiasts at run-bys or turn-around points who bragged about their photos. A comment often directed to me and others who paid to ride the train was: "Why would you ride the train when you can get better pictures by driving on a parallel route?" My response was always: "If people don't pay to ride these excursions there soon won't be any" to which I got a blank look. Rail and ship enthusiasts are often cut from the same cloth.

On the other hand, for rail fans, take a look at Diverging Clear Productions. Mary Rae McPherson [principal photographer] is also the Conductor of Amtrak's City of New Orleans

Also Cunard's Queen Mary 2

• Retractable roof 'Pavilion Pool' [deck 12]
  
• Spa pool [inside, deck 8]
  

This site is sponsored by an online travel site, so the rules say you can't discus online travel sites.

For a start here

- take a look at the 'find a cruise' and 'deals' buttons on the top of the page.

- scroll down to the 'ports of call' forums for areas you may be interested in visiting

- read reviews on ships you may be interested in sailing on

Some ports provide shore power, allowing the ship to shut down engines - but not all ports do.

On any ship, maintenance is an ongoing activity - something always needs checking, fixing, painting, oil changed....