Earliest boarding Southampton

[Windsurfboy]

What time do they normally start boarding at Southampton,  any body given boarding times for V918 yet

[BigMac1953]

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 

[cruiseluvva]

Twice we have been on board by 11.15 but as Stewart says, it’s normally midday.

[Windsurfboy]

Was expecting midday (Q3) as Stewart said but given later.

[BigMac1953]

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.

[Bigmike911]

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. 

[3rdGenCunarder]

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.

 

 

[Bigmike911]

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. 

[Windsurfboy]

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.

[turnip eater]

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 😁

[Bigmike911]

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. 

[turnip eater]

The Q3s on the QV and Qe have large balconies. Are the Q3s on the QM2 at the front with without balconies ? ☹️

[Windsurfboy]

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.

[Bigmike911]

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. 

[socialdancer]

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. 

[Windsurfboy]

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 

[BigMac1953]

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.

[Windsurfboy]

Thank you  BigMac. 

 

I

[socialdancer]

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.