bluemarble

Yes, the chorus to "Rule Britannia", "Jerusalem" and "Land of Hope and Glory" were all sing alongs. They did a reprise of "Land of Hope and Glory" as an encore. "Hornpipe" was a clap along.

Tonight's playlist from "Last Night of the Cunard Proms", Anthony Inglis and the National Symphony Orchestra on board Queen Mary 2. 1. "God Save the King" 2. "Patience: Overture" - Gilbert and Sullivan 3. "Aircrew on Parade" - Haywood 4. "Romance for Violin and Orchestra" - Inglis 5. "Pop Looks Bach" from "Ski Sunday" - Fonteyn 6. "We'll Meet Again" - Lynn/Parker/Charles 7. "Hornpipe" from "Fantasia on British Sea Songs" - Wood (guest conductor Captain Hashmi) 8. "Rule Britannia" - Thomson/Arne 9. "Jerusalem" - Parry/Blake 10. "Land of Hope and Glory" - Elgar/Benson

"Stars and Stripes Forever" would have been the conventional choice for a Sousa selection and one I was expecting. I suspect "Liberty Bell March" was chosen to better fit in with the comedic bits involving Captain Hashmi playing the bell and briefly swapping places with Maestro Inglis as conductor. It's also an appropriate choice for the British contingent in the audience since it was adopted as the theme song for "Monty Python's Flying Circus".

The pianist who performed with the NSO at last evening's concert is Katherine Rockhill. Apart from the comedic bit with Captain Hashmi at the piano, she played the remainder of the concert. I was extremely impressed with her performance.

Here's the general process we followed when moving from one Britannia cabin to another between back-to-back voyages this past May. We were asked to pack all our belongings in our luggage. In that past, I've read where garments on hangers in the closets would be moved without having to be packed, but we were asked to pack everything so we did so. We left our luggage in our cabin on the morning of changeover day and proceeded to the guest services desk to pick up our new keycards for the next portion of our voyage. We then scanned off the ship using our old keycards and when we returned later in the early afternoon we scanned back onto the ship with our new keycards. Our luggage was waiting for us in our new cabin. A relatively simple and seamless process. Now if you don't intend to go ashore (and don't have to disembark such as in Southampton), you may want to discuss the timing of the move with the stewards who are in charge of the cabins involved in the move. You will still need to scan off the ship using your old keycard and back on the ship with your new keycard even if you don't actually leave the ship.

Tonight's playlist from "The First Night of the Cunard Proms: An American Evening", Anthony Inglis and the National Symphony Orchestra on board Queen Mary 2. 1) "The Star-Spangled Banner" 2) "The Carousel Waltz" - Rodgers and Hammerstein 3) "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" (guest pianist Captain Hashmi) 4) "Liberty Bell March" - Sousa (guest bell ringer/conductor Captain Hashmi) 5) "Rhapsody in Blue" - Gershwin 6) "Maple Leaf Rag" - Joplin 7) Medley from "South Pacific" - Rodgers and Hammerstein

Yes, we did book the Cunard tour to Miniatur Wunderland last May when we were on board for a cruise to Norway via Hamburg. That was an absolutely fantastic way to enjoy our first visit to Hamburg. That cruise included two stops at Hamburg. During the second stop, we visited the Internationales Maritimes Museum to see the marvelous Lego model of QM2 there. This time in Hamburg, I think we may do an Elbe river tour.

Tomorrow evening is the first NSO concert. It's advertised as an "All-Anerican concert ... dedicated to music by American composers with the very popular Rhapsody in Blue as the main item." Tomorrow is also sign up for the guest choir to participate later in the NSO's "Best of British concert ... with all the favourites including Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia, plus a very well known solo piece for the choir."

Sure, I'll be glad to post a play list. I understand one of their traditional performances is called "Last Night at the Cunard Proms". So I'm figuring we might hear the selections traditionally played at the finale of the Proms. I think it's a pretty safe bet "Rule Britannia" and "Land of Hope and Glory" will be performed among others.

I just spoke to the gentleman selling drinks packages on board QM2 on day 2 of the current eastbound crossing (which will be followed a 4-night Hamburg segment). He was aware it was not yet possible to purchase the new packages for voyages of four nights or less online via My Cunard to receive the pre-booking discount. He was not able to offer any insight as to when that funtionality might be implemented. I wonder if it might be possible to purchase them via a call to Cunard customer service.

Yes, you managed to sniff me out. That was me posting about QM2's departure yesterday on the Brooklyn Waterfront Museum's live Youtube stream as "Blue Marble". We are doing the 18-night roundtrip crossing from New York to Hamburg and back. We booked it especially for Anthony Inglis and the NSO on the current eastbound crossing. I am posting this from the Royal Court Theatre prior to the Maestro's talk on "And The Bands Played On! The history of music and Cunard".

No, I'm not seeing any changes regarding Brooklyn in 2023. Here is the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal schedule. MSC Meraviglia is scheduled to be at Brooklyn on December 23. 2023 so there's no conflict with QM2's scheduled call there on December 22, 2023. https://nycruise.com/brooklyn-terminal/schedule-bct/

I see the schedules for MSC Meraviglia have been posted past October 2024. MSC Meraviglia will be at Brooklyn on December 22, 2024 which in causing the schedule change to have QM2 there on December 21, 2024 instead of December 22. From an earlier post, we've learned the overnight at Zeebrugge on December 13-14, 2024 is being shortened to a one-day call. That means the subsequent westbound crossing will depart Southampton December 14, 2024 instead of December 15 to keep it a 7-night crossing. MSC Meraviglia is also scheduled to be at Brooklyn on March 16, 2025. That's the second day of a scheduled overnight stay for QM2 on March 15-16, 2025. I suppose that's going to be shortened to a one-day call now to have QM2 depart Brooklyn March 15, 2025 instead of March 16. There's also apparently a conflict at Brooklyn on May 4. 2025. QM2 was supposed to end her westbound crossing departing Southampton on April 27, 2025 then. That may by why the unannounced 2025 itineraries show QM2 departing Brooklyn for an eastbound crossing on May 5, 2025 instead of May 4. The last published MSC Meraviglia itinerary I see has her in Brooklyn on April 27, 2025. If she is planning another 7-night itinerary from Brooklyn on that date that would put her back in Brooklyn on May 4, 2025.

Another excellent photo. I think I prefer your earlier version with Biggles though. 🙂

Well now I feel completely foolish. Here is what I found when I went back through the screen scrapes I took of the survey questions to record them for future reference. It looks to me like they garbled the explanations for what the 'M' and 'Z' keys mean in these instructions. But there was clearly no excuse for me missing these instructions other than my being preoccupied with copying the content rather than comprehending it. A series of words and phrases will now appear on the screen. We would like to know whether or not you think each word or phrase applies to this loyalty program you have seen. There are no right or wrong answers, it is just your opinion we are interested in. Please respond using the keyboard buttons, 'M' Does not describe this loyalty program,i.e. the the word applies to this product and 'Z' Describes this loyalty program, i.e. the word does not apply to this product. Please respond as quickly as possible, as your responses will be timed. Please now place your index fingers on the Z and M keys and press the M key to continue (Please note the next screen will be practice goes) 75% complete

I agree. I figure @sfred's photo was taken at about this point in QE's past track departing Oranjestad, Aruba yesterday as shown on Marinetraffic. Note the Aruba Cruise Terminal at the upper left and the Queen Beatrix International Airport at the lower right with the runway extending to the shoreline.

I've been reading on other social media that the new $90 drinks package for voyages under five nights has indeed been rolled out for those booking on board QM2's 3-night Le Havre Short Break cruise which departed yesterday, 1 September (in line with the go-live date for QM2 in the first quote above). So far though, I am not seeing drinks packages being offered yet in My Cunard for the 18 September 4-night Hamburg Short Break cruise on QM2. Will continue to keep an eye on My Cunard for further developments on that score.

It's been quite a while since the Southampton VTS radio feed (provided by Solent Ships) has been working. It's back operating now in time for the departures of QV and QM2 this afternoon/evening. Here are today's figures if anyone is still interested. September 1, 2023 QV: 1900 pax; 980 crew (pax/crew: 1.94) That's approximately ≈91% of her 2081 lower berth passenger capacity. QM2: 2610 pax; 1266 crew (pax/crew: 2.06) That's approximately ≈97% of her 2695 lower berth passenger capacity.

I trust @Solent Richard won't mind me posting a link to his blog. His posts under "Queen Elizabeth - A Day Visit" include a photo of the Garden Lounge showing the artwork which was there originally. Looks like it was a scene featuring a pond with a statue and water fountain. https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2013/08/02/queen-elizabeth-a-day-visit/

My mistake. Yes, the drink price limit for the Beers, Wines & Spirits package was increased from $12 to $13 sometime late last year or early this year. I had looked up the previous limit from a World of Drinks brochure I had downloaded that was a couple years old. That's where I went wrong. By the way, the "A World of Drinks"/"Drinks Options" page on the main Cunard website has been updated. Here's what it now says about the Beers, Wines & Spirits package. Beers, Wines, and Spirits Option For voyages over five nights, US$70pp per day inclusive of 15% service charge. (On board price is US$70 pp, per day, inclusive of 15% service charge).For voyages under five nights, US$85pp, per day inclusive of 15% service charge. (On board price is US$90pp, per day, inclusive of 15% service charge).Enjoy an array of beers, wines, spirits, liqueurs, and cocktails up to $13.50 per serving, as well as all the benefits of the Premium Soft Drinks Option. Plus, you'll also receive a 20% discount on drinks retailing above $13.50, some bottles of wine, Cunard Wine Academy, and Cocktail Master Class activities. There appears to be a typo since they have quoted the on board price as $70 instead of $75 for voyages over five nights. Also, the wording "For voyages over five nights" really ought to read "For voyages over four nights" or "For voyages of five nights or more" instead. Sigh. I was hoping to see drinks packages starting to be offered today in My Cunard for my upcoming 4-night Hamburg Short Break cruise next month, but they aren't showing up there yet. My booking for that cruise still says drinks packages are "Only available on cruises over four nights." I'll keep checking and post if/when drinks packages are offered in My Cunard for that 4-night cruise.

Your mention of the increased $13 price limit per drink for the Beers, Wines & Spirits package brings up a difference worth mentioning regarding the limit for that package listed in the flyer for voyages of under five nights. The flyer for the Beers, Wines & Spirits package for voyages of five nights or more (at $75 per night on board price) does indeed list an increased price limit of $13 per drink. The flyer for the Beers, Wines & Spirits package for voyages of under five nights (at $90 per night on board price) lists a slightly higher price limit of $13.50 per drink. And just to add some confusion, there are separate Terms and Conditions documents for the different voyage lengths. Both of those Terms and Conditions documents indicate the price limit per drink is $13.50 regardless of the voyage length. So it will be interesting to see if the price limit per drink for voyages of five nights or more is going to be increased to $13 (per the flyer) or $13.50 (per the Terms and Conditions document).

Yeah, the Emergency Contact details hasn't worked correctly for years in the Cunard US version of My Cunard, and as sometimes happens with bugs like this, no one seems to be working on fixing it. I've had the same symptoms as you on several bookings over the past few years. I can enter my Emergency Contact details (as the lead passenger) but not my wife's. But then I can't modify my own Emergency Contact details once entered. Attempts to enter or modify those details results in this error message displayed in faint red near the top of the screen. "Invalid Emergency Contact Address - State" The only way I've managed to get the Emergency Contact details entered for my wife or changed for either of us is to call Cunard Customer Service and have them update the information. They seem to know about this long-standing issue with My Cunard as it's apparently a very common request for the Customer Service reps to handle.

Here's a link to an earlier thread I remembered where it turned out the "Missing Immigration Information" email was triggered by issues with the Emergency Contact details.

Also from the Cunard FAQ for travel agents: Voyages of five nights or more Cunard World of Drinks flyer for voyages of five nights or more Voyages of under five nights Cunard World of Drinks flyer for voyages of under five nights Edit to add: I suppose I should not be too surprised to see the flyer for voyages of under five nights retains this wording. 🤔 "Please note: All Drink Options are only available on voyages of five nights or more, for purchase only on the first two days of the voyage and must be purchased for all remaining days of your voyage."

From the Cunard FAQ for travel agents: World of Drinks Voyages of five nights or more Voyages of under five nights My Cunard price On board price My Cunard price On board price Beers, Wines and Spirits $70 $75 $85 $90 Premium Soft Drinks $30 $35 $30 $35 Speciality Hot Drinks $12.50 $15 $12.50 $15 Soft Drinks $10 $12 $10 $12 Voyages of under five nights The packages will be available to purchase via My Cunard from 30 August, however the on board go-live dates vary. Queen Elizabeth from 17 August, Queen Mary 2 from 01 September and Queen Victoria from 15 September.