david,Mississauga

We had an unfortunate gap in our Cunard voyages from 1989 to 2008. Because our earlier voyages - starting in 1973 - were in the pre-Carnival era there was no record of these. Our tickets and information for the 2008 QE2 crossing showed us as first-timers. I contacted the club by e-mail and they said they would credit us for all the previous crossings if we could prove them. A variety of ways was suggested, but I had kept all our tickets so that was the easiest. When the club received the scanned tickets they gave us Gold status. We were close to Platinum at that point. On boarding the QE2 in Manhattan we were still showing as first-timers. On board, the lovely Yo-yo sorted things out quickly and restored our status.

If anyone thinks requesting a wheelchair will guarantee an early disembarkation they should think again. Last year we disembarked from the QM2 in Red Hook. I was not expecting everything to work well in New York, it never does. There is always at least one issue. Those who had requested assistance were told to report to the Golden Lion at a certain time. There were not enough wheelchairs and/or enough shore staff to push them. Fair enough, not everyone is going to be able to leave at the same time. It took over an hour before it was my wife's turn to get assistance. By the time we got to the bus loading area we found out there were not enough transfer buses for La Guardia. So it was another hour before a bus bound for Manhattan had enough space for 15 more passengers and it was redirected to the airport.

On our recent Alaska cruise on the QE most passengers disembarked from their cabins. Those of us who had booked transfers or tours with Cunard were told to meet in the Queens Room. There were quite a few people there. We were escorted to the gangway in groups, starting with the direct airport transfer. I don't know if this was unique for Vancouver.

According to the passage contract guests do not have to produce a credit card until boarding the vessel. A quote from section 2: "(B) Upon boarding the vessel, You must register a valid credit card or other acceptable payment method at the Guest Services/Purser’s Desk to cover any charges to Your stateroom account." Although it doesn't specifically say so in the passage contract - unless I missed it whilst quickly scanning the 18 pages - guests do not need a credit card. Cash can be deposited. I suppose this meets the definition of "other acceptable payment method" in the contract. The wording below is the same on the UK site. A while back I was checking into this for an eccentric friend who refuses on principle to have a credit card. I don't know if it is the same now, but in order to activate the cruise card for on-board charges a deposit of US$300 had to be made at the purser's office. Further deposits would be required if spending exceeds $300. https://my.cunard.com/en-us/mycruise//articles/money-service An excerpt: "You may choose to settle your account with cash. However, a payment card should still be registered. If a payment card is not registered the account must be kept in credit at all times. If the account is not in credit you will be unable to make charges to your account. You may add credit to your account at any time by visiting the Purser’s Office and making an additional cash deposit. You may credit your account with any major currency, which will then be converted at the ship’s current exchange rates into USD; this will then be applied to your account in USD. We are unable to accept either personal cheques or traveller’s cheques. We are also unable to accept €500 notes at any time, this includes the Casino."

Good grief, is that $2459 for one person? I will need a one-way flight from Toronto to London next year. I can get premium economy direct from Air Canada for about $1400 - and that, of course, is Canadian $.

On the QE in June we received the promised bottle of Champagne in QG. A few days later a half bottle of PA with a note from the Cunard World Club appeared. We left it unopened. The year before we had the same Alaska cruise in PG. We had a bottle of an Italian bubbly called Contessa. It was far superior to PA.

Until recently the small print about bringing alcohol on board said (after mentioning the so-called limit of one bottle per person) that it is not our intention to enforce this unless we feel we must do so in the interest of safety - or words to that effect. I notice the current terms and conditions don't mention that. It can be amusing going through security at Vancouver when there are often three ships at the terminal. The security area is common for all ships. One time our bottles were noticed by security. We were told: "You have to go over there to that table and declare them." I knew that wasn't the case, but there was no queue so I humoured them. I was about to show the two bottles to the chap at the desk and as soon as I said we were going on the QE he said: "Oh, that's all right. Cunard doesn't care how much you bring on."

It seems people either love or hate the Q4s on the QE and QV. We recently had a 10-day Alaska cruise on the QE. I am not going to give my opinion of the suite as it is irrelevant. But I will mention two facts. With the bathroom divided it is convenient for one person to linger in the shower or whirlpool bath and the other person can have privacy in the other half that has the toilet and sink. The suite is partially divided into the sleeping and sitting areas. So when my wife had her usual afternoon nap the heavy curtain could be drawn. I had access to the bathroom, the bar area and the balcony without disturbing her.

For a long time Cunard has been promising priority boarding only for New York and Southampton. Yet they do offer it in the two Canadian ports which Cunard uses: Vancouver and Québec. Recently Britannia Club is on the list for priority boarding.

Thanks for posting the photos of the library. (I have not managed to take any good ones.) It is one of my favourite rooms on the QE. It is just one of several aspects of the QE that is, to me, superior to the equivalent on the QM2. I am very fond of the QM2, however, especially for Atlantic crossings. As someone who does not have a smartphone and prefers not to take my laptop on holiday, I have used the computers in the library almost every day. It's a pity that half of them were out of order on my June cruise. On our first QE cruise in 2013 there was a large very attractive computer room off the Grand Lobby. It's a shame that is gone. At least last year the QM2 still has a computer room as well as some computers in the library.

We avoid most of the "big shows" because I know they are not to our taste. So when we take a chance we do the same and take an aisle seat close to the back so we can make a discreet exit. On our recent cruise on QE we decided to take a chance but when we got to the theatre just a few minutes before it started it was close to full. So we had to sit near the front. After five minutes I wanted to be anywhere else. (I know that singers shrieking into hand-held microphones and jumping up and down and rolling on the stage is appealing to a huge amount of people, but not me.) It would be rude to get up and leave, even though we were on an aisle. I just thought about the production of Top Hat which was coming up in a couple of days. The same cast redeemed themselves by proving they could sing and not shriek.

We have travelled nine times on the QM2 and four on the QE. We were hoping to finally get on board the QV next year for a Norway cruise but sadly that isn't going to happen. I have zero interest in the QA. I can't say overall whether I prefer the QE or the QM2. The "Mary" is great for crossings and can handle bumpy seas better than any ship we have been on. There are many aspects of the QE which to me are superior to any ship we have experienced: the Royal Court Theatre, the library, the Commodore Club and the Grand Lobby. We don't travel in the Grills all the time, but we find the public areas on the QE are way superior to those on the QM2. The QM2 does have better staterooms in Princess Grill than those on the QE and, of course, there is a second lounge for the Grills passengers. Also, even the cheapest QG staterooms on the QE have a separate shower, something lacking on the QM2 except for the small number of Q1 to Q4 suites. The Britannia Club staterooms that were added to the QM2 (Deck 13) in 2016 are considerably more attractive than the other Club cabins. For one thing, there is a glass door on the shower. I have said to those who have asked me about our Cunard travels: if Cunard could combine the best of the QM2 and the best of the QE (and of course the QV) there would be a perfect ship.

Yes, the PVSA is an American law. The programmes for the last few days of our cruise in June referred to a Canadian act called the "Coasting Trade Act 1992" which I am not familiar with. Although it didn't affect us I was curious so I researched it thanks to the internet. It did say that a non-Canadian registered ship cannot embark in one port and disembark in another even if calling at a foreign port in between. An earlier version of this law gave an exemption for ships registered in the British Commonwealth but that is no longer offered. We have taken three Alaska cruises on the QE. What is strange is that on the previous two, many passengers disembarked in Victoria. I suppose Cunard wasn't aware of the law and no official enforced it - until now. On this recent voyage passengers were permitted to take their luggage ashore in Victoria, but they were instructed to re-board for the overnight voyage to Vancouver. I think 10 or so went ashore and didn't return. Shortly before departure from Victoria an announcement was made on the tannoy asking "the following guests ... report to the pursers office immediately." I suspect they weren't on board to hear their names called.

I don't want to sound snarky, but I am surprised you would not recommend something simply because it was not what you are accustomed to in your area. I have often had food items in various provinces and countries that are prepared differently than what I am used to. But that doesn't mean they weren't good. Some I have liked and others not much. Two of my favourite restaurants in Toronto offer lobster bisque. One is fabulous and the other is just all right. Of course, there is a considerable price difference. (This has got me thinking it's time to visit the one with the better soup.)

We have always had a letter from the concierge outlining the benefits of Princess or Queens Grill. There has also been a letter from the club reminding us of the benefits. I wouldn't discourage anyone from asking the concierge, though, just in case everything isn't covered in the letters.

A few years ago on an Alaska cruise we found that the main dining room was closed most of the time for lunch. There were sufficient snacks in the Neptune Lounge to make this an acceptable alternative. (We don't do buffets at sea.) I must add that if you are a tea drinker the Neptune Lounge was the only place on the Noordam where we could get hot water suitable for making a decent cup of tea. The so-called hot water from the in-suite coffee maker was pathetic as was what is offered in the dining room, even at tea time.

I know several people whose opinions I trust who have flown economy on Rouge. They have all said they will stay home before they will ever do that again. For one thing the pitch is a mere 29 inches, compared with 31 or 32 on most airlines. All of their planes have Rouge Premier which is sold as Business Class on AC's website. One friend has travelled many times in Rouge Premier. It is the same as Business Class and includes Maple Leaf Lounge access. Some planes do not have a closet, though.

Yes, Mrspeel55, there are differences between the UK and US sites. Being Canadian we must deal with the US site. This has been annoying when they have messed things up for us several times. One time our TA contacted someone he knew at Cunard in England and that person straightened out the problem. I can't print the entire form from what is no doubt the US site. As I said it is too long and not divided into two pages. I have tried on three computers. As for e-mailing it as an attachment, the "Let your Cunard adventure begin" page gives a different e-mail address than what is on the questionnaire. The e-mail address on both the questionnaires is the same, so we will send it to that one. I hope they will acknowledge receipt. This is definitely something new for our side of the pond. We cruised on the QE from Vancouver in June. Our TA made the usual request for assistance at the terminal. This was efficiently provided without any forms having to be filled out. I'm not complaining; I think it is appropriate that Cunard knows what specific assistance is needed by passengers with special needs.

Thank you for the links MrsPeel55. Being curious, I tried to find some information through "my.cunard" but there was nothing. I found something in an e-mail entitled "Let your Cunard adventure begin". It led me to a link to the questionnaire which was somewhat different than the one you sent me. The one I found could not be printed properly because it was one long page. The one in your link was conveniently divided into two pages. Mine asks if the person weighs more or less than 100 kg. "Yours" says 128 kg. Yours requires a signature; mine does not. Since I can't print the one I found, I have printed and had my wife fill out the one you linked. The fact sheets are also different but not in a way that affects my wife. We have back-to-back voyages - Southampton-NewYork- Québec - but they had to be booked separately so we will have to send in two. This makes sense but I hope Cunard will make sure everyone knows about this so there are no surprises at check-in.

We have taken four cruises to Alaska in the past eight years, three of them on the QE. Not once I have been overwhelmed by crowds at any port. On another forum someone said Skagway should be avoided because of excess crowds. Last year there were four ships in port on our day and this year three (plus a very small vessel.) The excursion trains depart almost every hour and can hold about 600 people each. This helps. In other ports a large number of people take bus excursions which helps reduce congestion in the city. This year our call at Juneau was cancelled for an unknown reason, but last year there were five ships. Four were docked and the QE had to use tenders. We walked the main streets and boardwalk for an hour or so and never found it crowded. It was busy, but it never seemed like Piccadilly Circus.

"Mrs. David" doesn't consider herself disabled. She would describe herself as a person of reduced mobility due to issues with her knees. She uses a walking stick a lot, but not all the time. She can do a limited number of stairs but it is painful, as is standing for a long time. For most airports and some ocean terminals (New York and Vancouver can be a horror) we request assistance. If we are on a cruise and there is going to be a tendered port, she is invited to attend a session with the safety officer. We have never completed a medical form. A request through the travel agent or on-board sales staff for terminal assistance has always been noted and provided. If we receive the e-mail we will comply. If we don't receive it I'm confident there is a way to find the appropriate form.

Even though we have requested embarkation assistance at the terminal for my wife we have not received this e-mail for our two voyages next year. It's a long way off but if we don't receive this soon I will have to contact Cunard or have our agent do it. The threat of being denied boarding is a concern. If it wasn't for this posting I wouldn't know about it.

This the latest good news. https://alaskapublic.org/2023/07/31/skagway-rail-workers-sign-agreement-with-white-pass-averting-possible-strike/

At one time Cunard's transatlantic fares included a flight in the opposite direction to or from most US and Canadian airports. It was a long time ago, but we took advantage of that many times between 1973 and 1990. We had to give up long-distance travel for many years and I was surprised when we resumed in 2008 that "free" air was no longer offered on US and Canadian bookings. We have had good one-way fares with Air Transat. If you can make your way to Montreal or Toronto the one-way fares for economy start at $617 and the Club Class (realistically this should be called premium economy) starts at about $1,000 but can be hard to get at the lowest fare. These are Canadian dollars.

The first time we travelled in First Class on the QE2 in 1979 we dined in the Columbia Restaurant (which was later renamed Caronia). Our head waiter mentioned that we could order anything special for dinner by requesting it at lunch or the day before. Although there was no a la carte menu, the daily menus were huge compared to what you get these days. We saw no reason to make a special request, but it was nice to know we could do so without having to pay for Queens Grill.