Fayecruises

thanks   

i see  so it is different then what I did on Princess    thanks

I was on a Princess cruise in January and their wifi was great  I could call or text my daughter who had an iphone like I do for free as long as I was connected to their wifi    Does anyone know if this is true on Oceania   (will be on Riviera next week)

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a big thanks

If I am booked in cabin   8001 on the Regatta will there be noise from above  It is usually better to be sandwiched between two passenger decks but this is where the penthouse suites are 

On 10/26/2022 at 7:02 AM, Cruise NH said:

First, let me say that I saw someone else has also talked about this crossing.  I think their comments were great, I just wanted to add a few things.

 

We are diamond members and have done over 10 crossings.  Last time on the QM2 was the 2020 World Cruise.  We were in a sheltered balcony cabin.

 

Embarkation - was very smooth, as diamond members we flew through the process.  We were never asked if we took covid tests (we did and they were negative) they just asked if we had any changes to our previously submitted health assessment.

 

On Board -

No diamond welcome party by the Captain, or any other party of that type. Typically we're not big party people but we really missed this aspect of the crossing.  We never did see the Captain or any of the senior officers.  Felt off from a crossing veteran perspective.

 

There were no classes offered in the Connections area (previously would have excel, photoshop type stuff).

 

Games are not left out by the tables on deck 2.  You have to go to the library and 'check them out' and only for two days at a time.  Of course you can do that numerous times during the trip.  Jigsaw puzzles were set out however, go figure.

 

Insight lectures were not great.  We were so disappointed we love that aspect of Cunard and always find something interesting.  Among other things, there were two lectures, by two different people on Princess Diana's death...IMOP one would have been to many. 

 

Mask wearing by the crew appeared to be optional.  We were okay with that.

 

The internet was spotty.  It used to be diamond members got 8 free hours of internet, worth $135.  The $135 is the same but there is now a premium plan offered for the whole voyage for $140.  So if you're diamond, and you choose that plan, you're paying $5.  

 

The food was good but somehow the choices weren't at time.  A few times we chose not to eat in the main dining room because there simply wasn't anything on the menu we really liked.  On one night I ordered the always optional chicken breast with baked potato and veggies.

 

Disembarkation - 

 

We self disembarked and were walking off the ship at 6:33 AM.  Could not have been easier but it did cause a problem with our Luggage Forward pick up.  The great on shore staff from Cunard helped us with that problem.  So glad we decided to take the train to Boston rather then fly, the fog cancelled a lot of flights.  We used Dial7 for a private transfer, they were great.

 

Other things...

 

Driving up to the ship in Southampton we thought the ship looked it's age but we love her anyway.

 

For years on this forum I've read posts from UK cruisers talking about a 'hob' and there need for it.  Previous to getting on the ship, we traveled around Ireland, Scotland and England for several weeks.  Now we get it!  You need a hob!

 

Please don't read this as a negative review, it's not, but I wanted to point out what's changed from previous crossings.  We love Cunard and the QM2.

 

I mentioned we both tested negative just before the cruise.  When we got home Tuesday night my husband started having chills and a fever.  We tested him and sure enough he has covid.  I tested negative and feel fine. He's feeling a little better today but he's in isolation now.  We didn't wear masks on board, the vast majority of folks didn't, but we did keep our distance from people and felt we were otherwise careful.  You just never know.

 

 

I don;t have plus or premium yet since I did not book the cruise  yet 

I was just amazed that the difference between the standard and the plus is $6000  per person   

thanks  I did not realize that    we have done two world cruises on Cunard (well the 2020 was not complete) and always got pre paid gratuities  and now it has to be added to the premium (i think that is what they call it) which includes beverages wifi and gratuities  

1 hour ago, JF - retired RRT said:

IIRC: on the world cruise, for every new segment you start over for benefits (i.e. if you're Elite, you get a mini bar with each segment). You could exchange the mini bar for the coffee package and get "the real thing" that way.

too bad   going to be hard going on a world cruise    Years ago we went to Hawaii round trip on Princess and it was so bad that we bought a small coffee machine in Kona and got their coffee  I am not fussy about anything but coffee

I have not been on Princess for a few years   But then the coffee was horrible -- they use a coffee syrup   Is that still true

sorry I just read  FULL    Of couse anything can change by January

1 hour ago, Steelers36 said:

Then why ask here?  Yes, the guidelines indicate no test required - your time is under 16-nights and you are not on a full-transit.

1 hour ago, Steelers36 said:

Then why ask here?  Yes, the guidelines indicate no test required - your time is under 16-nights and you are not on a full-transit.

if I am on the January  7   panama canal cruise round trip from fort lauderdale  10  days will i be required to take a pre cruise test   It says required for full transit but this is not

I have severe hearing problems and even with aids I can;t communicate with people so I like this decision      

they have changed the mask policy today and is on the Cunard site and I called to confirm  

Is Cunard still requiring masks onboard?  Carnival is not and they are part of the Carnival corporation

ok so why don;t they care about the airlines and hotels  I am sure people are getting sick on the airlines and the airlines do not require vaccines or test when you fly domestically   Only an Id

this advice by the CDC is outrageous    thousands and thousands of people will lost their jobs  I hope the cruise industry fights back big time

and what happens to the luggage if you fly back to NYC

I don;t know if this helps  but my husband and I were on the Queen Mary 2 in March 2020 when we were kicked off in Fremantle Australia  It happened very suddenly and everyone had to leave within 24  hours    Cunard did the best they could and boy it was a shock  - in the middle of a world cruise with tons of luggage   They booked people with air and verbally told us if we do not like what they booked we can do it ourselves and they will reimburse us   We did that and it took us about 20 hours to get home    They paid for hotel in Sydney and all taxi costs and all luggage since we had more than the alloted amount   I used my credit card points and they reimbursed me for that amount It took about 6 months to get it all refunded  (we wanted a refund and not a credit)   We flew to our home airport of Washington DC and not New York  Hope this helps a bit   I can;t believe that lightning strikes twice and this has happened again to my dear Queen Mary2

i heard that the rules changed and all US ports are not testing at the piers

i stayed a few times on deck  6 and once for 120 days on the  2016 world cruise    it was great -- I mean it is very convenient to Kings court  and we never ever experienced any noise

i am somehow confused and disappointed I am a loyal Cunard guest   having done two world cruises in  2016 and  2020 Did I read this write   ---  Why are these sailings restricted to UK citizens  Why can;t US citizens who are fully vaccinated be allowed to sail  This seems like a slap in the face to Americana