Victoria2

The White Pass is a wonderful trip, as are any flights -helicopter/float or four seater plane- but my advice would be to book these as soon as they become available on your cruise personaliser as most specialized trips have a set number of passengers places available. Most are quite/reasonably expensive but how many times will you be visiting Alaska and that's what we thought on our first trip thirty odd years ago so we packed in the lot 😀. If I remember correctly, you'll need your passport for the White Pass trip.

How exciting. Hopefully a few thoughts and possibly differing views on the same cruise. Have a great time all of you.🙂

As long as it's ready, which is usually the case when boarding commences, assistance will take them to their cabin.

We have sailed Alaska at the end of August and the weather was beautiful. Warm and sunny. You won't get snow and it won't be cold and you won't need a heavy coat but rain and sunshine will be on the cards so weather is very much luck of the draw. Think layers; think a fleece and a kagoul and add summer clothes to the mix and you'll be fine.

We had deck 4 3s booked on a few Covid cancelled cruises just for the added balcony depth. I think on sunny cruises, if we were to book any 3s again [we won't] we'd def. go for deck 4 3s as you have the best of both worlds, sun and shade although the 'open' bit is overlooked but who cares, so good choice. 🙂

We used to book the 3s because of their lift proximity before my new knee allowed me the run of ships. I would say if there is any difference re sq ft between the 4s and 3s on the Vistas, it's microscopic.

Snap! 😀

You're in safe hands! Sandro was M d' on QV pre Covid and is terrific. Mind you, Raul who I think he swapped with is also terrific. The Penthouses do seem a little 'cluttered' but they are mid ships which many folk like.Unless the ship has been re fitted, I wouldn't say the counter top over the fridge is huge although QV's has a sink combined too whereas QE doesn't which accounts for the surface area. We found the hanging space more than acceptable too. You'll get used to it. 🙂

I made this point a while back as my husband has quite a reaction to animal fur, even when the animal isn't around. Not anaphylactic grade but definitely swollen/streaming eyes and streaming nose. We wouldn't be 'very happy' at all if that occurred. I'm guessing some kind of high grade specialist cleaning would have to be undertaken before the next occupants could move in.

A few of the fjords in Norway gave a few connection issues in the past. Will the new system surmount those problems Pushpit ?

Or better still, in our experience, come to share your table! 🙂

We were on a table for eight adjacent to the galley on our very first Cunard cruise. We knew no better other than the table was most definitely at the back and out of the way. Being grateful for the whole experience, it didn't begin to dawn on us we were 'at the worst table'. Our table mates were such good fun and we enjoyed every second of their company but then, our glass is always more than half full. Experience showed us other tables and as we climbed the ladder of being regulars, being appreciated by the staff and also our cabin grade, we were seated 'elsewhere'. Most folk not in top tier cabins start somewhere, in QG for us, and hopefully, like us, appreciate being on such an amazing ship, in a fabulous restaurant and have a wonderful time. buchanan101 will have a great time I'm sure. 🙂

Not a chance. My instant coffee from home is a perfectly acceptable cabin coffee as long as I have enough milk sticks, as I don't like the long life milk provided. If we brought any drinks onboard, It would be four pts of semi skimmed milk to stick in the fridge! Now there's an idea! 😄

Ships have sun blinds, as opposed to the curtains, which mean we can see out but the intensity of the sun's glare is lessened. This is usually an issue at dinner when the sun is going down. I always take my sunglasses with me at lunch time, just in case as bright [day] light affects [photophobia] me more than most and it's unfair of me to want to block out the view.

Believe it or not, there are 'better' window tables on all three ships for some but again, better is subjective. If we go two top, we prefer a table without neighbouring tables a foot away at the side of us. Some might prefer window but with near neighbours. Choices all subjective. Do keep us in the loop re your cruise if you have the time/inclination. 🙂

We have cruised Cunard on many a school holiday and the children, when seen en masse around the ship, often on treasure hunts or as pirates, all seem to be having a fabulous time. Plus, when seen around the ship with family, out of 'Zone' hours, all are impeccably 'Cunard'ish' in behaviour. A real pleasure to cruise with Cunard youngsters. 🙂

It is, as I have said in the past but again to be fair, if window tables are requested or large tables in a certain area then that's what the higher tier cabins will get [large table areas subject to number of tables planned] and again, once 'you' are known as a regular, your preference will be kept in mind by the Maître d'Hotel, when the tables are planned.

We have been lucky enough to cruise the Inside Passage a few times, the first time over thirty years ago but it's a long time since the last. Looking forward to your thread even if it will make me very envious. It's a magical cruise, both one way V to Anchorage and V/V. Enjoy.

so ask for two 😀

To be fair, I can understand the fact there are table positions, and then there are table positions. Then there are large tables with the occasional 'character' one wishes to avoid for the rest of the cruise. We have been very fortunate after our 'boondocks table' on our first cruise as we were blessed with one particular large table [no bribes involved] on QV thanks to linking up bookings with Q1'ers and then being known in our own right, apart from one horrendous table when four of us asked to move due to a particularly obnoxious 'gentleman'. No problem at all. That table for seven became a table for three and we each had a two top elsewhere. Since Covid, we prefer two tops and again, have been very fortunate but that's probably due to our cabin as much as being regulars.

I agree or colloquially a la buchanan101...big bum! 🙂

It was the wind wot did it in for us!!! 😀 The Fjords can be scorching so take your SPF 50 along with a blanket. Be prepared! 👍

To be fair, the weather wasn't exactly basking in the sun or escaping to the shade weather. More a case of 'where's the blanket as we're British and we will sit out in the howling wind and slight mizzle' weather. So many folk commented on this issue of 'what if', I cannot believe it will get to be Grillgate as staff are so aware.

Non Grills in the Grill's area happens on QE and QV too but it isn't a huge issue and I don't think it will be much of a problem on QA. Yes we pay a premium but I can't get too excited about it. The crew/staff get to know who is 'pukka' for the most part and the Concierge was definitely on the ball as far as one couple were concerned and swiping a card for an emergency exit isn't a great idea.

Incentives usually take time to have an effect but as staff, senior staff here don't need incentives because looking after their guests is part of their remit, it's insulting of any guest to assume a bribe will enhance their chance of whatever it is they're hoping for when in fact, a quiet word would have the same effect if the request was feasible. Try the quiet word next time and change the bribe to an extra gratuity at the end of your cruise.