majortom10

And with the extra 15% service charge makes it $8 which for many Brits outside big cities and tourist areas is not cheap.

It happens all the time the armchair specialists with very little factual evidence think they know better. The same thing happened couple of years ago when P&O didn't dock in Amsterdam due to weather conditions. All the armchair specialists, some who are on this thread, were highly critical of the Captain and were suddenly master mariners who knew better. It even went as far as some suggesting the Captain should be sacked. Laughable but honestly it isn't funny, like I said earlier in thread no or little knowledge can be very dangerous and many, with no sea qualifications knew better than the Captain.

Please enlighten everyone of your superior knowledge and how you know these "facts". Were you onboard were you on the bridge when Captain was given weather reports before docking. I very much doubt it you are more than likely the usual keyboard warrior who was thousands of miles away but think you are an expert. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and can be very different from what usually happens when it happens. Having been in an emergency service for over 30 years hindsight can be very different from what really happens in serious fires and accidents which I have been involved.

They do offer a limited number of excursions but are expensive. We have done a few roundtrips and always use the NYC ferry which is right next to the ship and goes to Wall Street and costs $4pp per journey. You can also get a free transfer to another ferry at Wall Street taking you to other parts of Manhattan as long as you transfer quickly. Very efficient and regular service.

Problem is of the drinks package is increasing no doubt the price of the already extortionate drinks prices will increase. I have no doubt the 15% service charge will increase to 18% and then next it will be gratuities.

If Cunard keep on increasing prices across the board think they risk losing a lot of business. We have been cruising off and on with them since 2997 and just achieved Diamond status in CWC and TBH getting a bit disillusioned and might start looking elsewhere. We have even started thinking of stopping cruising altogether and doing land based holidays.

We are due on Arvia this weekend and booking for Olive Grove and 6th Street Dinner and for booking before 6-30pm in Zenith/Meridian have been pre bookable 14 days before the cruise.

We went on Iona in March with a lot of apprehension and worry but we had a great time and really enjoyed the ship especially the choice of food venues. Lifts have always been a problem on cruise ships for everyone especially at certain times. Admit I get really angry when I see people pushing in front of people with wheelchairs even if those in wheelchairs have only just arrived. Always allow them to go ahead of us even if there is not enough space for all as they have no choice. I am happy to wait for the next lift or use the stairs when practical. Having said that walking up 7+ floors of stairs on Iona is hard for most people.

Whilst lifeboats are fixed you don't get noise from loose items banging and chains. I certainly wouldn't book a cabin with restricted view due to lifeboats because there will be a certain amount of noise.

Problem is whatever they do will not please everyone and many will moan about new changes. Thankfully have not received a survey so don't waste my time filling it in. Whatever is put by those who have completed it the " bean counters" will decide what is included which will cost Cunard the least amount of money and end of the day nothing is ever free. The only thing I don't think should be changed is how you get to different tier levels whether it be number of cruises or days onboard. Changing it to more you pay the higher in the tier you become is not loyalty. You are just as loyal doing 35 cruises in an inside cabin as in QG.

Only ever happened to us once and that was when sharing a table for breakfast. A woman was intent on making sure everyone knew in a loud voice that she had only booked the cruise only 14 days before departure and got a fantastic deal, far better than all we had paid. How she knew that was anyone's guess as she don't know what everyone else had paid. Laughingly we had booked early and paid a lot less than what she paid and had great joy on telling her that she hadn't had such a great deal and that we had paid less. At that point I had the customary kick under the table from "the boss" signalling me to shut up

When we used dock gate 20 it was recommended by Cunard to access via dock gate 20 to go to Mayflower for drive thru COVID test and to proceed to dock gate 4. This was the very first staycation in August 2021 on QE. Obviously all the sign posts directing you were temporary and have obviously been removed since as that is not a usual entrance for Mayflower terminal.

If I was going into Southampton via A33 I personally would go dock gate 10 every time. It is a gamble when coming off M271 because of the chance of traffic to dock gate 10 but is very straight forward. Going via dock gate 20 is not as easy or straightforward even when signposted to Mayflower COVID area. Not sure if those signposts were a temporary measure put their for COVID testing drive through or are a permanent fixture. We left dock gate 10 in May on QM2 and didn't consider using dock gate 20 at all.

If QM2 cruises are correct surprised to see no calls at Le Have in France to pick up French passengers. We did it this May and enjoyed a nice day in Le Havre.

You will be disembarked the shop by 10am approx at the latest so gives you ample time. Trouble is killing time during the day for a 10pm flight, you will be a long time at the airport.

We used Dock Gate 20 on our first cruises after COVID as advised by cruise lines to drive to Mayflower for drive through COVID. No problem with access and very short distance from M271 where you stay in left hand lane and turn right at roundabout. Long winding road through commercial port area which if still signposted is fairly straightforward. There is a level crossing so if unfortunate to arrive when used by train can delay things. Personally I would stick with Dock Gate 10 and not use Dock Gate 20 by choice.

We initially booked an aft stateroom for our upcoming cruise on Arvia but after seeing all the comments on here and other social media moved it to a side balcony. We were also on Iona in March and on the deck where infinity pool is and watching children thinking it funny splashing water over the side. Neither parents or P&O staff said anything or told them to stop so the decision was made easy.

Might happen on very short cruises but in general especially in the summer when P&O and Cunard have ships docked at Ocean on an almost daily occurence.

I know what they do it is others who think that their cars when they drop off their cars at start of cruise they are then taken to car park where they pick up car after the cruise. The car park isn't big enough to store all cars they are taken away stored in a secure compound and then returned to that car park ready for when you disembark. I have been cruising with P&O for 23 yrs and used CPS many many times and know how they operate unfortunately others don't.

Let's just hope she is taking a wheelchair then not a mobile scooter has she seems to have both. Hope Cunard have got the correct facts or I could fear the worst if she tells them she is taking a mobile scooter into an ordinary stateroom.

Think a brand new Range Rover is perfectly acceptable. You are never going to believe anyone telling you that your car is not parked in the car park that you pick it up when you disembark. But anyone knows that with common sense that the car park is not big enough to park cars from both Iona and Arvia when people leave their cars with CPS this weekend for the duration of both cruises. It is ABP port authority rules that they are parked elsewhere and returned to that car park day before end of your cruise for when you disembark. I suggest next time you go ask them where they park your car and are they returned to the car park ready for your disembarkation. Perhaps then you will realise that they don't drive your car from lane to that car park. If they did the drivers would return by foot as only a short walk but after parking cars they are bought back to Ocean in a mini bus ready to take next lot of cars.

Post #5 specifically mentions taking a mobile scooter.

You carry on with what you want to believe but I can assure you that your car is not left at that car park opp Ocean Terminal. This weekend both Arvia and Iona are due in Southampton and all those that are leaving their cars with CPS it is not physically possible to park that many cars in that car park. With reference to your GPS my car has a tracker fitted with a phone app which tells me where my car is parked. It can be parked in our drive and be correct or in street opposite and cul-de-sac next street along. They are not always that accurate or reliable, I have also had phone calls from tracker company saying they think my car has been stolen when I am looking at it in my drive.

My worry is that when you booked direct with Cunard you were obviously honest and told them everything. But with recent history of Cunard Customer Services you could phone again tomorrow speak to a different representative and get a totally different answer. I hope what they told you that you have it in writing and that you will be able to take your mobile scooter and hope you have a great cruise.

If you take a mobile scooter I think you will have to book an accessible cabin.