subbuteo

Thanks for the responses everyone. Anytime dining can be obtained by booking Club Balcony, as I say an extra £1000 per person.

Rob

Thanks for that. I'd managed to find all but Olden!

Rob

This summer will be my first Cunard cruise, as we prepare to sail to Norway and Iceland on the QE.

I must confess to being a tad worried about this trip as my initial impressions of Cunard are not positive.

I booked this trip early on a special offer and was then later dismayed to discover that I will not find out my cabin until I embark. I was also disappointed to discover that I can only obtain anytime dining by paying £1000 extra (that, I accept, is my own fault).

However, the shore excursions have only just gone live and the ship's itinerary does not tell you what time you dock and leave the ports. That info, and the possibility of self-guided shore tours info, only becomes available after you sail. This made the choice of early/late dining very difficult.

On the positive side at least the cruise is taking place in the English school holidays, as my first choice cruise line is not offering it at this time.

I know that with some effort I can find out some of the info I require from the internet, but my initial impression is that Cunard do not wish you to have relevant information until you can do nothing with it.

Hopefully someone out there can reassure me about the Cunard experience and that we will have a great time!

Rob

I'm doing this cruise this summer on QE. So, I will let you know how it goes!

Rob

Military Benefit for Veterans and Active/Retired Personnel

To thank the brave men and women of the American and Canadian militaries for their service, Princess Cruises® offers up to $250 free onboard spending money* for veterans as well as active, retired or disabled military personnel. This special military benefit is eligible on any cruise, any time of the year and can be used to purchase a wide variety of amenities and experiences including Lotus Spa® treatments; dining in our specialty restaurants; gifts, jewelry and clothing in our onboard boutiques; and Princess Cruises shore excursions.

Military Benefits: Up to $250 Free Onboard Spending Money*

Cruise Length Amount

14 days or longer $250 per qualified passenger

7 - 13 days $100 per qualified passenger

6 days or less $50 per qualified passenger

This has also now been extended to the military personnel of the United Kingdom and Australia.

I must admit that I had thought the TG were more than an amusement park so I was more than a bit disappointed when I got there. There was a huge queue and so we gave it a miss as we are not into theme parks. Much better bimbling around the city, especially the Parliament building.

I live in the UK and have travelled extensively throughout Europe and there are very few places where I would take especial care, Barcelona, Naples spring to mind. If I were you I would take the same level as care as you do at home. Zip up your bags, no wallets in back pockets, not too much money on you each day. And that should be fine.

Rob

Trixie,

Not sure where you're from but we did a Baltic cruise last August. The whole of the region had a similar summer last year to the UK. Generally overcast, grey, cool, miserable! However, on every stop we had bright blue sky, sunshine and temperatures of around 23-24 degrees, so very pleasant indeed!

Rob

Thanks for that

Cheers both, unfortunately did not become clear until after I'd booked. Not used to this on other lines.

Rob

I'm cruising Iceland/Norway next summer. 4 days in Iceland so I'm sure I will have some questions for you later! Thanks for the offer.

Rob

I went to the Baltic last month and did St Petersburg with TJ Travel, they were brilliant and I have no hesitation in recommending them to you.

Anyway, do I take it that a FoI form 1694 will provide the necessary info for the cruise lines? My wife is ex TA (QARANC) and so we should get it once the FoI is actioned?

Thanks,

Rob

any information that is inacurate is indeed TOSH

Surely it's tosh if inaccurately given...but is it the poster's fault that if since he posted accurate info the rules have changed?

I've just booked for next summer and was not allowed to select a preference. I have expressed a preference but won't know until I board! First time with Cunard and this isn't really the best start. But, hey ho, I selected the cruise because it offered the right itinerary at the right time; and I wish to do a T/A in the future, too.

Rob

How spooky. I'm booked onto a trip to the Gambia this November!

Wow, what a cruise report...excellent. Funnily I had been looking at this very cruise only yesterday and so was very pleased to see your report, especially the comments regarding your DH's experiences as I would look at doing exactly the same for the same reason, seeing the birdlife. What was DH's experiences of the birdlife, did he see much, was it worth it?

Thanks for the report.

Rob

I agree that you should not buy just to get the OBC, however with the OBC and dividends it all adds up to a very healthy return. I reckon I will easily get all of my investment back over time given that I plan to cruise most years. Add to that my shares have risen sharply since buying and it has become a good investment in itself.

One question. The current OBC runs up to 31 July 2013. Do they normally extend it in March? I ask as I next cruise in August and so currently do not qualify. An August update would be too late for me.

Rob