TheOldBear

We were on board last November first when the late seating transitioned from 'open dining' on decks 2 and 3, to assigned tables on deck 2 & open dining on deck 3. For the preceding eastbound crossing we were able to secure a fixed table [#355 next to the podium] on deck 2 and bypassed the long pre-dinner line. Deck 2 remained well populated for the rest of our sailing. The lines for the deck 3 open dining seemed to diminish for the Norway segment and the return crossing - after the first couple of nights, open dining folks gravitated back to a 'usual table'. As far as the Britannia dining choices went, out of the 26 nights we were only unhappy with one soup offering [almost entirely unlike lobster bisque]. We did avail ourselves of the 'always available' menu several time for tomato soup starters, and I think twice for entree.

That's a requirement that will vary by the port and year. In 2017 we needed to present passports in LeHavre at the beginning and end of the shore excursion - and collected an actual stamp for each. That was our last year for actual stamps in the passport. In 2019 we were told to carry a passport, but it was not examined or stamped [LeHavre and Hamburg]. Last year [2022] for visits to Norway and Belgium the passport stayed in the safe.

We have the advantage of not having an air leg in our cruise planning [QM2 sailing from Brooklyn] so we end up modestly overpacking. We bring clothing for about 10 days, and plan on laundry room visits. All clothing & luggage is stowed away in about half an hour after we [or our checked bags] arrive in the room [usually the bags are waiting for us]

Here's another view - with a 'dramatic tone' effect selected in the camera - no glass beyond the railing

This is the QM2 promenade - mid Atlantic, on a wet day

Cunard QM2 - the entire promenade deck, the stern terrace decks [but not their sides], the Observation Deck, and other places - e.g. the rubberized top of deck 14 staterooms.

If you are heading south to north [e.g. Bergen to Tromso] when not between islands or in a fjord - the coast will be somewhere off the starboard [right] side of the ship. The scenic parts will be in fjords or in or passages between islands.

Have you checked with your cruise line for suggestions ? How about the 'cruise air' forum here on CC? There is an airport serving Tromso, so local connections from Bergen or Oslo may be available. See https://www.visittromso.no/travel/getting-around for info on the airport transfer bus - and likely there are links from there to the carrier(s) at the airport. Did a bit of peeking - the airport website has a list of airlines https://www.tromso-airport.com/airlines.php you may be able to find a suitable connection from these choices. There are also some surface transportation alternatives to consider, including trains and the coastal ferry service.

That might test the limits of a QM2 'sheltered balcony' - but other locations on the same ship will likely have a reduced relative wind.

The personalizer may present some oddities for shore excursions - for example for my sailing is presenting New York City excursions that are not applicable for folks boarding in Brooklyn [only for in transit passengers continuing on to the eastbound crossing].

If you are back to back, and in-transit between cruise segments on the same ship - you are not disembarking. All your stuff stays unpacked in your room [assuming you have the same room for the next segment].

We've done several transatlantic round trips. As an 'in transit' passenger there were no customs / immigration formalities - likely due to passport screening [UK Border Force] during the eastbound crossing to Southampton. The only exception was in LeHavre in 2017 - the overworked French port official needed to stamp passports before and after shore excursions. Passports were not checked on our 2019 visit. Passports were not checked in Hamburg. At all the ports (Southampton, LeHavre, Hamburg) where there was a mix of disembarking, embarking and in transit passengers - presenting the ship's card and saying you were 'in transit' allowed you to bypass terminal lines. (still needed to go through security)

its never too early to research your options. Try the 'ports of call' forums here, or information resources for each port [e.g. for ports in Norway, there is a visitportname.no web site like visittromso.no for each port, run by a local tourist agency]. If you are looking at private tour companies - use your sailing's "Roll Call" thread to see if anyone else is interested in joining you. That keeps discussions relating to a particular sailing off this forum. For my October 2024 sailing, Cunard has had tours from LeHavre available for purchase for over a month - and should have the rest of the tours posted by the 1 year to departure date. [Cunard also shows inapplicable tours, like a bunch for in transit passengers in New York]

400 (We do tend to plan and book far in advance)

The 'Transfer to Macys' shows as $59 - duration is 7 hours

The personalizer for my upcoming trip next October shows excursions that would only be applicable to in-transit folks from the preceding trip. These include a shuttle to Macys Herald Square and another to the Woodbury Outlets. I can log back in and get a list if anyone is interested.

Back in 2019 the med center was able to prescribe and issue a steroid 'dose pack' when I had an unpleasant sinus infection. This was on my third visit, with escalating treatments.

I wonder why they are making the packages less and less attractive ?

We've used uber a couple of times - had to switch the payment method from Discover to Visa to get it to work [both cards were alerted to travel dates, I guess Discover was just not acceptable]. I now get 'uber eats' mailings for deals near Southampton - most unlikely I would ever respond to them 🙂

Just checked my in box - and its there

My carry on is mostly wine bottles [750 & magnum] padded with socks. I think 2 magnums & 4 750s [one of them bubbly]

Some of the northern lights 'chase' tours say in their description that you should bring your passport. The Cunard bus tour did not leave the Troms island [but we did drive through the tunnel complex under Tromso]

Check the phase of moon for Tromso [or other northern lights port visits] Last year, I did the Cunard bus tour [7 November] but the moon was near full so you never really got dark adapted, even away from artificial lights. Cameras were not impacted, so it was common to take a photo, then review to see if it was a moonlit cloud or aurora.

And as we drift further off topic..... There have been a number of operators for the QM since it was parked in Long Beach. My youtube feed included some by 'alex the historian' with some info on the City of Long Beach's current restoration efforts - a large part is undoing changes made by former operators. [carpets and flooring duplicating the originals, led lights with similar color temperature to the original incandescent lamps replacing green tinged fluorescent tubes ] A recent video noted that Long Beach was looking to fill vacant retail spaces, including some spaces that were shops on QM as commissioned.

Cunard should open a 'logo store' onboard the Queen Mary - perhaps have the occasional 'pop up' event where QM guests can purchase a Cunard 'future cruise deposit'.