laktex

Cunard used to offer a sail / fly package but apparently not now. The problem now is to get a return air ticket that is affordable -- or do I have to buy a RT ticket and throw away the return portion? Any advice. I'll be flying London-NY.

Cunard have a flight department to do this and the ability to get good deals on upgrades to Premium Economy or business. I can not quite understand why you say this is no longer available.

We are going to Norwegian Fjords in July with Crown

Princess and was wondering what Nights are formal nights. We sail on 22nd of July. This is our first time going

with Princess and would like to know if people get dressed up in tuxedos .

Thank you.

Well the four of us will be dressing up - probably white DJ for the men.

I would recommend approaching Travel Agents when searching for solo fares. I think Travel Agents can be given fares that Cunard would not offer themselves. On one occasion I was offered a QG suite solo for very little increase over the per person price - always do some research you never know what you may find.

In addition to the news paper on Ipad, you get a better quality of welcome Champagne. One of the great perks we enjoyed on board with friends, was to have out Butler Santa serve us six of us for dinner in the dining room. A very pleasant experience Though this is available on other grades, the dining room table easily sat six.

Yes the Champagne was Veuve Cliquot in our last Q1. I do say that the layout of the Q1's on Victoria appear a great improvement.

The jigsaws have disappeared from that alcove area and have been replaced with a large model of the QV.

 

For the first time, we only got a half bottle of PA. Due to the fact that it is only a short cruise apparently.

I find nothing in the British press about changes at Heathrow due to the enhanced threat level.

I think you will find security moved up a level everywhere.

Im travelling on the QM2 from New York to Southampton on the 28th July 17. Its my first transatlantic cruise and i wondered what the crossing should be like at that time of year?

Just be flexible with your clothing - the Transatlantic can do anything at anytime. Just remember POSH when you book your cabin - it makes a difference!

I am hoping to sail home to the UK in September on QM2. We live in Canada but are returning home permanently. I have always said when I go home for good this is how I will travel, my husband agreed it would be lovely. Now the cheap skate (I love him really) is counting the pennies and god forbid reneging on his promise. So the question is do we really need a balcony stateroom given that the weather conditions are so unpredictable how much would we use it? Always had a balcony on past cruises but they have been mainly Caribbean cruises and well worth it. I may be able to tip the scales in my favour if I can save a buck or two but if it's at the cost of enjoying the cruise less without one then I'm willing to go to war for it.

 

Any thoughts and experiences greatly appreciated.

I would always favour a balcony. Many Many times on a Transatlantic (even in January) are there opportunities to step outside your cabin and enjoy a sit down with a glass or two.

Today, I was walking through the QM2 champagne bar and noticed a distinct lack of Veuve Clicquot yellow.

 

Lo and behold, overnight it had become the Laurent-Perrier Champagne Bar.

This change will also happen on the QE and QV, when their itineraries can allow for the changeover.

How do the prices compare?

I can only report on a Princess suite! If you like a long read, check out our review:

 

http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=550894

 

After returning we booked a Princess suite for November, the price has now been substantially reduced, after complaining we were upgraded to a Queens Suite, so another new experience on Cunard.

Well that is a pretty good upgrade. May I suggest you make use of the "off menu" dining - it really can be very special.

Have a good trip.

We were just on Crown and afternoon tea was between 3.30pm and 4.30pm in one of the midships dining rooms, I think it was the one on Deck 6.

It wasn't high tea which is something completely different and not ever on any Princess ship.

May I ask what was afternoon tea? Was it tea, small sandwiches, cakes and scones?

I believe you can order afternoon tea in your cabin for suite guests.

Hi

Could anybody please tell me what mini suite cabins B753/B748 on the Sea Princess are like. Is there a separate shower or is it over the bath.

If anybody has photo's they could post it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Noddy54

We had an aft suite of the Sea Princess (can not remember which cabin) and it was a separate shower in a separate room opposite the bathroom.

Take a Taxi from the ship to the train station. Livorno to Pisa to Florence is a nice train ride and quite cheap. You arrive into Santa Maria Novella train station which is quite central. It is an easy walk to the Duomo, the Uffizzi Galery (sometimes quite a queue), Ponte Vecchio and lots, lots more. Piazzale Michelangelo is worth a visit but is quite a walk up and so I would recommend a taxi if you want to go there - the view is great. Done this many times and it really is a great trip.

 

Hope you give it a try. Trevor.

Oh, by the way, if you walk over the Ponte Vecchio make sure you turn left and go into the Golden View - if you can get a Table by the window it is a fantastic break - always go there for a lunch snack - usually a Pizza and a beer.

http://www.goldenviewopenbar.com/en/home-en/

We have reserved a Florence excursion through princess but it is very pricey so was thinking of researching private tours however with Florence being quite a way from livorno, so my question is would you take the risk? I definitely want to see the the sights like the Ufizzi, the Cuomo, David, the doors at the baptistry and as it is our honeymoon a stroll on the Ponte vecchio is mandatory.....surely? What would you recommend ?

Take a Taxi from the ship to the train station. Livorno to Pisa to Florence is a nice train ride and quite cheap. You arrive into Santa Maria Novella train station which is quite central. It is an easy walk to the Duomo, the Uffizzi Galery (sometimes quite a queue), Ponte Vecchio and lots, lots more. Piazzale Michelangelo is worth a visit but is quite a walk up and so I would recommend a taxi if you want to go there - the view is great. Done this many times and it really is a great trip.

Hope you give it a try. Trevor.

Please help. I'm stuck. Do I need umbrellas? I don't want to be carrying a lot of extra things in ports and on excursions. Thanks

 

 

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Snow shoes may be useful - it has snowed in July before!!

To be honest it is a bit like crossing the Atlantic - be prepared for whatever may arrive.

I am gutted- having planned our first cruise for months and persuaded the OH that he wouldn't look out of place with the tuxedo and bow tie bought, not to mention the cost plus my ball gown, I have just read the Voyage Personaliser to find our 4 night cruise to Hamburg next week has NO formal nights.

 

To say I'm disappointed is an understatement !!!!!!!!!!!! There's no way I'm going to be able to persuade him to wear his suit if it's not a formal night.

Our last Hamburg 4 day said exactly the same but a good percentage were in formal attire on the return from Hamburg. I was actually disappointed that I'd left my DJ at home.

Does anyone know what entertainment is scheduled on the next few cruises on Crown. We are looking forward to our voyage to Scandinavia on May 27th? Any idea of comedians; acts; films on MUTS etc?

 

 

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–Katie Nicholl (Royal correspondent and commentator), on a 14-night Mediterranean cruise, departing April 22nd

–Beverley Callard (actress, Liz McDonald in Coronation Street), on a 7-night Spain & France cruise, departing May 6th

–Harry Redknapp (former footballer and manager), on two 14-night Mediterranean cruises, departing April 22nd and May 13th

–Graham Gooch OBE (former England cricket captain), on a 7-night Scandinavia cruise, departing May 27th

–Peter Shilton OBE (former England goalkeeper and football manager), on a 14-night North Cape and Norwegian Fjords cruise, departing June 17th

–John Virgo (former snooker player, current snooker commentator), on a 7-night Norwegian Fjords cruise, departing July 1st

–Terry Butcher (former England captain and football manager), on a 14-night Baltic cruise, departing July 8th

–Paul Burrell RVM (butler to Diana, Princess of Wales), on a 7-night Norwegian Fjords cruise, departing July 22nd

–Mike Gatting OBE (former England cricket captain), on a 14-night Mediterranean cruise, departing July 29th

–Sherrie Hewson (actor, presenter, broadcaster and novelist), on a 14-night North Cape and Norwegian Fjords cruise, departing August 12th

–Edwina Currie (former MP, novelist and broadcaster), on a 7-night Scandinavia cruise, departing August 26th

We are going to Alaska May 20. Are the mosquitoes bad enough to need repellent? I have heard that we do and that we don't.

I don't think the mosquitoes need repellent but you may do. :)

The Q1 layout on page 4 looks fabulous & much improved. The bed moved round to look out to sea is an excellent idea - my wife will be very happy with that.

I like the "snug" concept but have always thought it would be best to have the dining table in a position to be able to look out over the balcony to the sea. Better start saving the pennies to give it a try!

Sorry, Pepper, but our experience in QG on the QM2 in December and October '16 was somewhat different. We were solicited by the Maitre'd at lunch time on selected days to order off menu from the "off menu menu" for QG, in other words an alternative menu for QG. Otherwise, any dishes invented by us were not supported or encouraged, and in fact we got the definite impression that the Maitre'd was put out by our pushiness of bringing the subject up. We gave up. Hopefully for the OP the experience on the Elizabeth or Victoria will be more flexible. We will be in PG on the QM2 in June and will probably not push the envelope to order off menu then because we were instructed last year that off-menu ordering in PG on the QM2 is just not allowed. I'm sure we will have a great crossing anyway, because off-menu is not the main reason why we travel in Grills...we just love the extra space in our stateroom!

I have no idea what the "off menu menu" is. For us - In QG this year it was the daily menu, a la carte, or whatever we asked for.

We're thinking of eating in the Verandah restaurant one night.

I'd be interested in others opinions/reviews of it, please.

Also, if we book a table on line now, but then subsequently change our mind when on board...will we still be charged the $49.95 per person?

 

I think it is getting quite an increase these days but personally it is (or always has been for us) a superb evening and I have never regretted the experiences. I do agree with Lanky Lad that to spend that extra $100 for two if you are already in the Grills and have the choice of anything on the ship then I don't frequent the Verandah (unless it's a free lunch). My advice would be to give it a go.

I do not think it is necessary to book online but if you do want specific times then book reasonably quick when you are on board.

I've just gone teetotal :eek:

I reckon it is about 6 or so alcoholic drinks per day to make the AIBP package justifiable, and that doesn't include drinks

for your cabin.

I guess you can see why Princess are keen not to allow you to bring much alcohol on board.

We made our final payment arrangements with our TA but it is not showing up on the Princess website. Is this common?

Some TA's do hang on to your money as long as possible. (I am not condemning TA's in any way), but we did have an occasion once where the TA (a very large TA) had not paid Princess until 21 days prior to the cruise - we were lucky to have kept our allocated suite I guess but all was well in the end.

Princess has to increase revenue in any matter that allows "head of the line" convenience. People will say that 2 bottles of wine, etc. is NOT worth it BUT for persons like us who do NOT cruise for the sake of cruising,(we cruise when the itinerary is better than doing it on land ourselves), then the cost is insignificant. It's the same as booking Business/First Class airfare, if you can afford it, you do it!

We are booked in Club Class for our south American vacation this coming January. The only issue that we have is that Oceania is offering a similar cruise, more upscale, and we are considering cancelling our Princess cruise and booking the Oceania one. We booked the cruise because of Club Class giving us priority for dinning etc. and then our TA sent us a note about Oceania.

Just a comment BUT we are most definitely considering the Oceania cruise.

Without Club Class, we would not book Princess again.

I too think Oceania would be the better choice.

The word "UPSELL" was not used, the word 'UPGRADE" was used. And for the upgrade it's only $500 more. We'll keep our Caribe and we love the balcony, we're happy.

So you are happy - then stop moaning. It was a reasonable offer in my opinion - you didn't think so - and declined. You actually didn't win anything.