Salacia

Once again I'm recovering from a bad back/trapped nerve and once again I have no clue as to what has set it off.

 

Thinking ahead we will be on the Queen Elizabeth for four weeks and while I hate to think negatively I have to be realistic that it could go again. As physio seems to help to some extent I'm wondering if a simple massage would do the same job. I assume the difference between the two is technique? Don't know if the Spa has anyone trained in physio.

 

Anyone had similar problems?

Is a "bad back/ trapped nerve" a medical diagnosis?

Just my opinion, but issues with spinal pain need to be take seriously. Diagnosis first, treatment follows.

Best,

Salacia

Nope, that is why I carry mine on board instead of paying the extortion.

In this country, extortion is a crime. If you feel you are a victim of a crime, please report it to the proper authority.

Otherwise, have a nice day.

Salacia

I would probably take some transportation from the port to get to a location in Brooklyn that you would want to walk.

 

A more pleasant option is to use Uber in lieu of a taxi.

 

Keith

Hi Keith. Why is using Uber " a more pleasant option" than hailing a cab at the Redhook pier? Just curious -thanks for your reply . -S.

Generally over $60K a year!

In many parts of the US, $60K is a very comfortable living.

But try living supporting a family on 60K in NYC

And just to mention that the pay scale for stevedores varies, and it is not a long term job.

No need they are paid to do this job

If they were volunteers, would you tip them then?

We are doing a T/A round trip in a few weeks, this will be our 5th round trip, on our 1st we took a taxi from Red Hook into New York We found it quite stressful with the worry of getting back on time to the ship, the traffic was terrible, since then we walk to IKEA for a cup of coffee, feeling no pressure then back to the ship. But our next we fancy going into Brooklyn. 1. Is it walkable, 2. do you need a taxi what would the cost be? 3. Is there a local bus service from near the ship. Any help would grateful.:rolleyes:.

Hi luckymal. Oh, there are so many interesting things to see in Brooklyn! Do you have any particular interests, i.e. historical sites, museums, architecture, favorite types of food? Just let us know, and we'll give you some ideas.

In the meantime, my personal favorite area in Brooklyn is Brooklyn Heights. (I lived there for several years.) You can walk there from the pier - if you love walking, otherwise it's less than a 10 minute cab ride. Here's an informative site: https://www.nycgo.com/boroughs-neighborhoods/brooklyn/brooklyn-heights

In addition to being close to the pier, Brooklyn Heights is also a lot cooler and quieter than Manhattan :)

Salacia

The whole thing is a farce especially when some packages include prepaid gratuities and some don't. As my father in law, a former colonel in the Red Army always said - "no one tipped me, where's my tip?"

So now we are comparing gratuities to crew members on Cunard ships with tips to a Colonel in the Red Army?

Frankly, I don't care what anyone does or doesn't do in regard to tipping crew members or anybody else at sea or on land. Keep you purse zippered. Remove the auto charge! See what happens when the crew isn't making the money they once made...will they transfer to another Carnival Corp ship where tipping is the norm? - That's what the casino workers do when the opportunity arises.

Red Army indeed.

Salacia

My husband has dietary restrictions. He is allergic to bow ties, cumberbunds (sp?), and shirt studs. That's why I cruise Cunard with girlfriends (and I have NEVER been required to pack a tux!)

Cummerbund

Sounds as though we may be in luck in that some of the decorations will be up. I really hope that the large Christmas tree in the lobby is there.

My husband and I enjoyed watching the Christmas Tree in the Grand Lobby being decorated last December towards the end of the QM2 Caribbean cruise. Quite a task - it was fun to sit off to the side and watch and listen.

Merry Christmas (albeit a bit early) :)

Cheers,

Salacia

Thank you Salacia, your knowledge, experience and research is always most welcome, and as informative as ever :)

 

Sincerely yours,

Pepper, thanks, very kind of you, but that is the way you are :)

Just to mention that the 2018 QM2 Caribbean cruise is 13 days. Hopefully those of us that will miss the 2017 cruise will meet again in 2018.

Here's the port stops for 2018 (SUBJECT TO CHANGE):

Day 5 Thu Nov 29St. Thomas/Charlotte Amalie Arrive 7:00 am Depart 5:00 pm

Day 6 Fri Nov 30 English Harbour Arrive 7:00 am Depart 5:00 pm

Day 7 Sat Dec 1 Bridgetown Arrive 8:00 am Depart 10:00 pm

Day 8 Sun Dec 2 Castries Arrive 7:00 am Depart 5:00 pm

Day 9 Mon Dec 3 Philipsburg Arrive 8:00 am Depart 10:00 pm

Day 10 Tue Dec 4Tortola Arrive 7:00 am Depart 5:00 pm

Happy sails,

Salacia

Hey, let's start a rumour that Cunard will inspect your luggage at check in for appropriate cruise attire.

No tux in the bag = no getting on the ship!

Nope, I don't think that will work. Everybody knows what really happens if no tux is found in your luggage upon embarkation: under escort, you are immediately taken to the shop and fitted for a tuxedo rental!

Stay tuned for more FAKE DRESS CODE NEWS !:cool:

Which Islands is QM2 calling at this year on your cruise?

 

Yours,

Hi Pepper. I believe this is the schedule:

Day 5 Thu Nov 30 St. Thomas/Charlotte Amalie Arrive 9:00 amDepart 5:00 pm

Day 6 Fri Dec 1 Saint Kitts Arrive 7:00 am Depart 4:00 pm

Day 7 Sat Dec 2 Bridgetown Arrive 8:30 am Depart 5:30 pm

Day 8 Sun Dec 3 English Harbour Arrive 8:30 am Depart 6:00 pm

Day 9 Mon Dec 4 Philipsburg Arrive 8:00 am Depart 6:00 pm

Salacia

I was just reacting to the use of secreting to suggest that anyone would bother to conceal the wine or liquor one is bringing onto a Cunard ship. Just carry it on.

Right. Don't secret or secret wine or liquor when boarding.:)

Secreting?

Yes, I heard that usage on a news program a few nights ago...

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/secrete

Thank you for your responses -

 

Blue Riband - awesome video thanks. Yes in NYC on 20 Oct. I realise the ship docks in Brooklyn and not Manhattan; incidentally the last time we did this round trip in Nov 12, the ship DID dock in Manhattan because of storm damage to Redhook. We went on an organised coach tour that day which we didn't enjoy too much hence why we have organised our own itinerary this time.

 

We are doing a skyline tour from pier 78 in the morning hence my question about how to get from Redhook to pier 78 then after lunch we are doing a horsedrawn carriage tour of Central Park - the company doing that have advised us to go by taxi from pier 78 to plaza hotel central park. Then after that we plan to walk from the drop off point at the Plaza Hotel down to Macys which my wife in particular wants to visit. Then taxi back to Redhook.

 

Does anyone have any better suggestions as to how we can travel between Redhook to pier 78 then pier 78 to plaza hotel central park then to Macys then back to Redhook.

Sorry, but I believe your plans are overly ambitious. Just to take one segment - walking from Central Park to Macy's, and then "visiting Macy's".

I'm a native New Yorker. My dentist office (which I've visited for over 30 years) is up the block from the Plaza. I can tell you that just walking down 5th Avenue to 42nd Street can take me a couple of hours because, even after all these years, there are so many things to see, so many shops to drop by on crowded streets where speed walking is impossible. A cab can be somewhat faster, if you can catch one. But if it's raining or some dignitary is in town, you'd likely be better off walking.

Anyway, I don't mean to be a downer, but I really think you need to narrow down your priorities.

I hope you enjoy the Big Apple. Just my opinion, but it's best enjoyed in little bites. :)

Salacia

I heard that dog owners get property disembarkation. Does anyone know if this is still the case?

Yes, I've read that too - and I think it makes perfect sense. My educated guess is that kennel passengers and their humans have embarkation/disembarkation priority over every other category, but I suppose that means their humans have to be up at the bark of dawn :D

Cheers,

Salacia

I would say this is most likely to happen about 60 days before the sailing date when final payments are due.

Lanky Lad, I believe final payment date is now 90 days prior to sail date on this side of the pond...

"If you have booked direct with Cunard, the balance of your booking needs to be paid no later than 90 days prior to departure.

Please note some fares, and bookings made within 90 days of departure, will require 100% of the balance to be paid at the time of booking..." copied from https://ask.cunard.com/help/before-you-sail/when_balance

Salacia

Cigar and pipe smokers were welcome to smoke in Churchill's Cigar Lounge . Didn't really pay much attention, but I seem to remember it was there last December when I was onboard...is it gone now?

Hi. Quick question. Is it possible to purchase cigarettes on board?

Thank you!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Tricky question...

"...You can also purchase duty free tobacco from the shops at any time during your voyage and can take the tobacco products away immediately for consumption on board or take ashore purposes.

Queen Mary 2 - Mayfair - Deck 3

Queen Elizabeth - Royal Arcade (Deck 3)

Queen Victoria - Cunardia - Deck 2...

"...Intra EU Voyages (Voyages visiting only Countries within the European Union)

On intra EU voyages we are unable to sell any duty free liquor or tobacco for on board consumption or to take ashore via the shops..." quoted from https://ask.cunard.com/help/life-on-board/duty_free

Just to mention that the brands are limited, and the price is not the bargain it was in the past...also smoking venues are very limited.

Make someone's day, cuddle a bed bug.

 

David

:D

Oh, you Englishmen are so romantic:hearteyes:

Salacia

Yeh, but the difference is they don't bite us so we don't know they're there.

 

When a Yank comes along though.....

 

David.

Yup, that's because we're so warm and welcoming! :halo:

Hi Salacia,

 

Bed bugs have been with us since humans invented beds. Many of them can only survive long-term by feeding on our blood (but will live briefly on our pets if needed). They can survive months without feeding (on us :eek: ). Apparently they had all but died out in the western world by 1940, but since then, with the help of our modern living styles (constant temperature homes via central heating or air-conditioning), air travel, and a resistance to pesticides, they've thrived :eek: ! About the last place on earth still free of them was the southern tip of South America, so I understand. But now, they are almost everywhere, due in large part, to our lifestyles. Only extreme and prolonged cold can kill them (and their eggs) so I'm told. Nasty little bitters!

 

Sweet dreams everyone and "don't let the bed bugs bite" :D .

Hi Pepper. Thanks very much for that info. One of the things I like best about this forum is learning new things on a wide variety of topics. The best thing is the nice people one meets :)

Regards,

Salacia

There you go see, post #5, they had never encountered such things ever, until they stepped onto a Princess ship. Aren't they the American version of P&O?

Salacia, don't take me too seriously, my comments are very much tongue in cheek.

I know everyone can be affected. As someone has already pointed out, it's a bit cold here for them to be a major problem. I really don't want to contemplate checking for the blighters everywhere I go though.

It's not the cold in Scotland that keeps the bed bugs under control, it's the wool. Moths love wool and they eat up the bed bugs. Just to add that the worst bug infestation in NY happens in some of the most expensive real estate - for example, Trump Towers. It has been reported that there is a serious bug infestation there (some kind of Russian bug), but no doubt that is also FAKE NEWS.

Like it or not, best to check for biters where ever you go. SAD.:')

[Laughing] Salacia

OK, so this has got me thinking now. I am in my fifties and have never encountered Bed Bugs anywhere. I did a CC search and find many complaints of bed bugs on lots of different cruise ships, including some photographic evidence. The common theme seems to be however, that the overwhelming majority of complainants are in fact Americans. Therefore I must ask the question, are bed bugs racist?

I do accept that these boards are frequented by many more from the US than anywhere else, but of the posts that I quickly scanned, there didn't appear to be any Brits affected by these horrible little creatures.

I'm sure someone will come back now with hundreds of posts that I have missed. :confused:

On this thread, see Post #5 (Brit affected) and post #27 (European affected). If you google "Bed bugs in Britain", you will find further evidence that Brits are indeed affected by bed bugs, as are many people around the world, unfortunately.

Where can I find a list of balls scheduled for 2018? Is there always a black and white or a masquerade ball on a 7-night sail?

For a link to the themed night schedules, see https://ask.cunard.com/help/life-on-board/dress_code_all