Rare Windsurfboy Posted June 12, 2019 #1 Share Posted June 12, 2019 What time do they normally start boarding at Southampton, any body given boarding times for V918 yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMac1953 Posted June 12, 2019 #2 Share Posted June 12, 2019 Depends on your World Club level or cabin grade. The order of boarding is QG, then PG, then Diamond, then Platinum, thereafter it's in order of when you turn up. It normally starts around midday. We've been in our room before 12:00 occasionally. Stewart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiseluvva Posted June 12, 2019 #3 Share Posted June 12, 2019 Twice we have been on board by 11.15 but as Stewart says, it’s normally midday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Windsurfboy Posted June 12, 2019 Author #4 Share Posted June 12, 2019 Was expecting midday (Q3) as Stewart said but given later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMac1953 Posted June 12, 2019 #5 Share Posted June 12, 2019 Ignore the time on the ticket. It means nothing. Aim to be there around 11:45 am. Remember, the QG and PG restaurants open at 1:00 pm on the dot. The lounge is open earlier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigmike911 Posted June 12, 2019 #6 Share Posted June 12, 2019 If you show up at the terminal in Southampton around 11 am, and the check in desks are open you can get checked in wait until security is open, and then go aboard after the priority passengers have been welcomed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 3rdGenCunarder Posted June 13, 2019 #7 Share Posted June 13, 2019 17 hours ago, Bigmike911 said: If you show up at the terminal in Southampton around 11 am, and the check in desks are open you can get checked in wait until security is open, and then go aboard after the priority passengers have been welcomed. I've had a variety of experiences, depending on the terminal involved. My last boarding was at the Mayflower terminal, and it was the smoothest I've had in quite a while. There was lots of seating, so no need to stand in queues. I was told "go right through" because I'm diamond, so it was a simple flow from check in to security to ship. It appeared that numbers were given to people as they entered, so people could sit until called to check in and then go right to security and onto the ship. I think it's so much better to have security after check in. People can be called by numbered groups, and the queues managed by how quickly they call numbers. At another terminal, where security was first, arriving passengers were given numbers and had to stand in the entry/lobby area before they were called to get into the security queue. Then check-in, and then onto the ship. We stood in the security queue for an hour, and after we got through check-in, we walked by lots of empty chairs on the way to the ship. To be fair, Cunard had told people to arrive early and I suppose it wasn't their fault the terminal wasn't ready. But a better set-up where people can sit instead of stand in queues would be more humane. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigmike911 Posted June 13, 2019 #8 Share Posted June 13, 2019 It has been a long time since I have boarded at any terminal in Southampton except the Ocean Terminal. There the last few times, security is just before the gangway, so while you might queue at security, immediately after that you will go right aboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Windsurfboy Posted June 14, 2019 Author #9 Share Posted June 14, 2019 Thank you for advice on this forum, just spoken with Cunard on phone and given very poor advice , they said we don't really start boarding till after one o'clock but you can drop your luggage of earlier and wait. If I listen to them would miss lunch and be stuck in a queue. Will follow advice from BigMac and turn up at 11.45 and hopefully this will go smoothly and get on at midday. No explanation from Cunard why a QG Q3 had been given a later boarding time, agent not bothered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turnip eater Posted June 14, 2019 #10 Share Posted June 14, 2019 Ignorance? Doesn’t know what a Q3 is. Doesn’t realise that QG and PG have the bonus of lunch in their dining rooms on embarkation day. Annoying for you and any other guest looking for reliable information. We arrived at 12:30, we were in Britannia Club. At checkin we were given a card with a. letter on it, T I think. Three other letter groups were in front of us.We waited 15 minutes, during which time I chose free magazines from selection by the coffee and tea stand, then joined the queue for photo, credit card registration etc. We received our room card and were on our way, through security and on to the ship 😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigmike911 Posted June 14, 2019 #11 Share Posted June 14, 2019 4 hours ago, Windsurfboy said: Thank you for advice on this forum, just spoken with Cunard on phone and given very poor advice , they said we don't really start boarding till after one o'clock but you can drop your luggage of earlier and wait. If I listen to them would miss lunch and be stuck in a queue. Will follow advice from BigMac and turn up at 11.45 and hopefully this will go smoothly and get on at midday. No explanation from Cunard why a QG Q3 had been given a later boarding time, agent not bothered. I will be interested in your opinion of a Q3. I was 'upgraded' to one on a trip around the British Isles in 2009 for QM2's fifth Anniversary. The lack of a balcony and the fact that you have to lower your blinds at sunset to prevent glare on the bridge made it a never again for me. I would love to hear some one rate it positive. As a Q4 or above, you should be escorted aboard by a lad in a bellman's uniform as one of the first aboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turnip eater Posted June 14, 2019 #12 Share Posted June 14, 2019 The Q3s on the QV and Qe have large balconies. Are the Q3s on the QM2 at the front with without balconies ? ☹️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Windsurfboy Posted June 14, 2019 Author #13 Share Posted June 14, 2019 This is a Q3 on The QV, just an ordinary suite with a balcony but they all dead midships , we've also chosen quite low, which my wife who is not a good sailor likes. Hence paying more for position not suite. Had a bad experience at the front of a ship, never allowed to book forwards again. All our bookings are midship or slighly mid aft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigmike911 Posted June 14, 2019 #14 Share Posted June 14, 2019 4 hours ago, turnip eater said: The Q3s on the QV and Qe have large balconies. Are the Q3s on the QM2 at the front with without balconies ? ☹️ Yes unfortunately they are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socialdancer Posted June 14, 2019 #15 Share Posted June 14, 2019 Windsurfboy, we are on V918 and we will follow our normal routine of checking out of our hotel with a taxi booked for midday and straight to the terminal. So far, we have been fairly lucky, not had to wait too long to board. By the way, there is a Roll Call going for this cruise, maybe you would like to pop over and say hello. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Windsurfboy Posted June 23, 2019 Author #16 Share Posted June 23, 2019 Just had a reply from Cunard to my email, they say 12pm , is reserved for diamond members, QG comes second. I'm ignoring it and turning up at noon anyway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMac1953 Posted June 23, 2019 #17 Share Posted June 23, 2019 35 minutes ago, Windsurfboy said: Just had a reply from Cunard to my email, they say 12pm , is reserved for diamond members, QG comes second. I'm ignoring it and turning up at noon anyway Trust me, that's nonsense. Cunard shoreside don't even know they've got ships. The order of boarding that I listed #2 is correct, or at least has been on our last 22 trips out of Soton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Windsurfboy Posted June 23, 2019 Author #18 Share Posted June 23, 2019 Thank you BigMac. I Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socialdancer Posted June 23, 2019 #19 Share Posted June 23, 2019 In three weeks, we will embark on our 4th Cunard cruise in just over a year. Each time our given boarding time has been 2.30 for three different cabin categories. We just ignore that and turn up, never been a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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