Newbie here - basic TA question

[kshannon5]

Hello all,

 

I am new to this, but am planning on a TA on QM2 in early 2023 for our 25th anniversary. I never thought of myself as a cruiser, but the elegance and old-school charm of her majesty seems like some older resorts we've repeatedly stayed at. I am also an avid Anglophile and history buff, so this throwback to older (and perhaps more genteel) travelling is too much to put off further. 

 

I have been reading the forums a couple of months now, but this is my first post. (Likely the first of many!)

 

We will do our first crossing Eastbound to England. In looking at the Cunard site, is it correct that TAs run through early January then pause for a few months? We'd like to travel as close as possible to our April anniversary.

 

Thanks for your help! 

 

Kris

Edited April 22, 2021 by kshannon5
better word choice

[bluemarble]

18 minutes ago, kshannon5 said:

Hello all,

 

I am new to this, but am planning on a TA on QM2 in early 2023 for our 25th anniversary. I never thought of myself as a cruiser, but the elegance and old-school charm of her majesty seems like some older resorts we've repeatedly stayed at. I am also an avid Anglophile and history buff, so this throwback to older (and perhaps more genteel) travelling is too much to put off further. 

 

I have been reading the forums a couple of months now, but this is my first post. (Likely the first of many!)

 

We will do our first trip Eastbound to England. In looking at the Cunard site, is it correct that TAs run through early January then pause for a few months? we'd like to travel as close as possible to our April anniversary.

 

Thanks for your help! 

 

Kris

 

Welcome to the Cunard forum!

 

Yes, QM2 will be doing her 2023 World Voyage starting (from a US perspective) with an eastbound crossing departing New York on January 3 and ending with a westbound crossing departing Southampton on April 23 and arriving back in New York on April 30.

 

Between January 10 and April 23, QM2 will be heading through the Mediterranean to Australia and returning around the southern tip of Africa.

 

The remainder of the 2023 schedule has not yet been announced, but the first eastbound crossing after the World Voyage is likely to be one departing New York on April 30, 2023.

[MCC retired]

Yes, the pause is due to the World Cruise that begins early January , about 

110 days total .

[Lakesregion]

1 hour ago, kshannon5 said:

Hello all,

 

I am new to this, but am planning on a TA on QM2 in early 2023 for our 25th anniversary. I never thought of myself as a cruiser, but the elegance and old-school charm of her majesty seems like some older resorts we've repeatedly stayed at. I am also an avid Anglophile and history buff, so this throwback to older (and perhaps more genteel) travelling is too much to put off further. 

 

I have been reading the forums a couple of months now, but this is my first post. (Likely the first of many!)

 

We will do our first crossing Eastbound to England. In looking at the Cunard site, is it correct that TAs run through early January then pause for a few months? We'd like to travel as close as possible to our April anniversary.

 

Thanks for your help! 

 

Kris

The first TA from NYC leaves on Jan 3 2023 as the first leg of her world cruise. That is 117 days long hence no other TA's until she returns with a Southampton to NYC on April 23 arriving in NYC on April 30. Not sure if she will then do a short US cruise or return immediately to Southampton. That would be the closest to your anniversary. Get in touch with a travel agent or call Cunard about April 30th 2023.

[kshannon5]

Thanks to you all for confirming.

 

Is it too early to try and book? We want a regular balcony room (not sheltered). Are early bookings cheaper or do they have perks?

[bluemarble]

12 minutes ago, kshannon5 said:

Thanks to you all for confirming.

 

Is it too early to try and book? We want a regular balcony room (not sheltered). Are early bookings cheaper or do they have perks?

 

It is possible to book the April 23, 2023 westbound crossing. That has been on sale for just over a month now.

 

It is not possible to book the potential April 30, 2023 eastbound crossing since that has not been announced yet.

 

One benefit I am aware of for bookings made now in the US is a $200 per cabin discount (for a balcony cabin on a 7-night voyage) for past passengers of Cunard. But since you have not sailed with Cunard before, that discount wouldn't apply to you.

 

Otherwise, all the other terms of the "Discovery Awaits" promotion currently going on in the US would apply to you. That includes $100 per person on board credit (for a balcony cabin on a 7-night voyage) and a reduced deposit. That promotion ends May 24, 2021. Then some other promotion will almost certainly take its place for US bookings. Really no way of knowing if subsequent promotions will be better or whether fares will go up or down in the future.

[AMHuntFerry]

Hi Kris,

We never thought cruise ships (or ocean liners) would be our chosen method of travel either, but the QM2 TA has an undeniable draw. If you don't have a travel agent yet (I hadn't used one since about 1990), I would recommend finding one. Mine booked my voyage and has a program that alerts her if a better/different deal comes along; she can then ask me if I want to switch. When our original voyage in May 2021 was canceled, she took care of everything, then booked us for May 2022 when we were ready. No headaches and no time spent chasing the best deal (plus travel agents often have additional perks).

If you don't have a preference for eastbound vs. westbound, many people on this board seem to prefer westbound due to the "25 hour days" vs. the "23 hour days" on an eastbound. If you want eastbound in May 2023, I believe they have historically gone on sale in early fall (September?). You can let your travel agent know when you want to go and also sign up for the Cunard e-mails so you know when new voyages are added.

Enjoy!

Edited April 23, 2021 by AMHuntFerry

[kshannon5]

I love the helpfulness of this forum!

 

I considered westbound, but I think jet lag will be better for me going eastbound.

 

I tried googling Cunard-savvy travel agents, but didn't really find what I wanted. Is it best to stay local or are there remote ones anyone can recommend?

[AMHuntFerry]

I also chose westbound for the purpose of avoiding jet lag and the horrible red-eye flights. When I priced business and first class flights for our next trip, I realized that we could have a lovely 7 day voyage and no jet lag instead.
 

I think local vs remote travel agents is a personal preference. I prefer to sit across from a real person (and yell through a mask and a giant plexiglass screen) even if they don't have the "best" perks. Cunard is owned by Carnival, so if the agent has a relationship with Carnival brands (Princess, Holland America Lines, Seaborn, etc.), they sell Cunard; however, if you want a Cunard expert or someone with super-duper perk access, you may not find a local agent. Someone else on this forum will know way more than me about agents who specialize. However, these forums do not allow recommendations (or any mention) of specific travel agents if I remember the terms correctly.

[TheOldBear]

21 minutes ago, kshannon5 said:

I love the helpfulness of this forum!

 

I considered westbound, but I think jet lag will be better for me going eastbound.

 

I tried googling Cunard-savvy travel agents, but didn't really find what I wanted. Is it best to stay local or are there remote ones anyone can recommend?

The local rules prohibit discussing travel agents [I use one at my $UNNAMED_BIG_BOX store].

This site's sponsors [the folks behind the 'Find a Cruise' and 'Deals' links at the top of the page] may be a place to start online comparisons.

 

Our last two sailings have been transatlantic round trips - there were no 'jet lag' issues when arriving in Southampton, it was just that five days on the crossing had shorter afternoons [Captain opted to advance the clock at noon]. The westbound leg had normal length afternoons - but we sometimes woke up before our wakeup call with the extra hour. 

 

If I needed to make a one way trip [say I won the 'let them all talk' prize] I think I would opt for a Westbound crossing.

 

We've been booking round trips as that way there is no need to fly anywhere [or even cross a toll bridge] for our vacation.

 

[kshannon5]

Oops, didn't realize that was a rule-breaker, apologies. I think the answer I got already helped inform my choice.

 

Looking forward to asking more questions as they come up! Hope I don't bore you too much. 🙂 

[AMHuntFerry]

Now it's my time to "oops". I said that I chose westbound when I meant eastbound (TO the UK) to avoid jet lag, etc. Opposites trip me up all the time! 🤪

Edited April 23, 2021 by AMHuntFerry

[Bigmike911]

Congratulations KShannon5, your decision to do a transatlantic voyage on Queen Mary 2 could not be better a better one. You indicate that you think flying over would cause jet lag issues. Having spent nearly 2 million miles in an airline seat flying trans Atlantic just about week. I think jet lag is easily dealt with. 

 

I would take a late Friday flight eastbound, arrive mid day after a good sleep, go to my hotel drop the bags and go for a nice walk in fresh air and sunshine. I would eat a light dinner and go to bed at my usual time. The next morning my body was fully adjusted to the time change and I would be raring to go. 

 

As you are an anglophile there is much to take in in London and the near by area. In the city The Tower, and British Museum. I also recommend the Victoria and Albert Museum. A trip to Windsor Castle is also a great place to visit. Take the train from Paddington to Windsor and Eaton Central and walk out of the station with the castle directly in front of you.

 

I am doing a wonderful 16 day QM2 voyage summer 2022 from Southampton to Hamburg, Rotterdam, Zeebrug, Hamburg and Southampton before a west bound to NYC.

I am going over a week early to have dinners with friends spend a few days in London, then go down to Southampton a couple of days before sailing. I have never been to Osborne House, Queen Victoria's home on the Isle of Wight and it has been something I have wanted to do for a long time. I will take a ferry to Cowes and a bus to Osborne. There are lots of things to do in Southampton itself and it is a charming city to visit. I am an air plane fan and I plan to go to the Solent Sky Museum. Many WWII British Airplanes were built in Southampton as well as a number of flying boats built on the Isle of Wight

 

It is easy to take the train from London Waterloo to Southampton Central and take a cab to the Ocean Terminal where the QM2 usually berths. (other locations are near by and the Cabbie will know where your ship is) Board the Queen for a leisurely west bound to NYC seven days with five 25 hour days in the voyage. You will be revived and will have had a memorable time.

 

 

[Victoria2]

16 hours ago, kshannon5 said:

I love the helpfulness of this forum!

 

I considered westbound, but I think jet lag will be better for me going eastbound.

 

I tried googling Cunard-savvy travel agents, but didn't really find what I wanted. Is it best to stay local or are there remote ones anyone can recommend?

Jet lag hits different people in different ways. One can give personal accounts but it might not be the same for 'you'.

I never had much of a problem flying seven or eight  time zones. east or west but now I find flying east seven or eight zones can take a week or even more to fully recover and then Sydney which can take  longer.  Still not much of a problem flying west, UK to California apart from slight weariness for a day or two.

 

Personal  preference for a one way TA from our UK based perspective would be to fly out to NY [little or no jet lag for us] and cruise back. If Iived in the US,   I would cruise eastbound and fly back. 

[Victoria2]

I would add, in case any sharp eyed eagle notes you have Michigan on your name, which is mostly a five hour time difference, if we fly back from N.Y., I still have a four or five day jet lag problem.

Edited April 24, 2021 by Victoria2

[kshannon5]

19 hours ago, Bigmike911 said:

Congratulations KShannon5, your decision to do a transatlantic voyage on Queen Mary 2 could not be better a better one. You indicate that you think flying over would cause jet lag issues. Having spent nearly 2 million miles in an airline seat flying trans Atlantic just about week. I think jet lag is easily dealt with. 

 

I would take a late Friday flight eastbound, arrive mid day after a good sleep, go to my hotel drop the bags and go for a nice walk in fresh air and sunshine. I would eat a light dinner and go to bed at my usual time. The next morning my body was fully adjusted to the time change and I would be raring to go. 

 

As you are an anglophile there is much to take in in London and the near by area. In the city The Tower, and British Museum. I also recommend the Victoria and Albert Museum. A trip to Windsor Castle is also a great place to visit. Take the train from Paddington to Windsor and Eaton Central and walk out of the station with the castle directly in front of you.

 

I am doing a wonderful 16 day QM2 voyage summer 2022 from Southampton to Hamburg, Rotterdam, Zeebrug, Hamburg and Southampton before a west bound to NYC.

I am going over a week early to have dinners with friends spend a few days in London, then go down to Southampton a couple of days before sailing. I have never been to Osborne House, Queen Victoria's home on the Isle of Wight and it has been something I have wanted to do for a long time. I will take a ferry to Cowes and a bus to Osborne. There are lots of things to do in Southampton itself and it is a charming city to visit. I am an air plane fan and I plan to go to the Solent Sky Museum. Many WWII British Airplanes were built in Southampton as well as a number of flying boats built on the Isle of Wight

 

It is easy to take the train from London Waterloo to Southampton Central and take a cab to the Ocean Terminal where the QM2 usually berths. (other locations are near by and the Cabbie will know where your ship is) Board the Queen for a leisurely west bound to NYC seven days with five 25 hour days in the voyage. You will be revived and will have had a memorable time.

 

 

 

Thanks for the detailed post! I should have mentioned that I have been to England six times already (once for a summer studying abroad) in the 90's. Having kids put returning on pause until now. But I have visited many of those places, and likely will revisit some. There's so much to see. 🙂 

 

It's funny you mention the Isle of Wight, as our plan once arriving in Southampton is to take the ferry over and do our first night there. Osbourne is tops on our to do list. And the first day of jet lag will be better dealt with on the island compared to London, I would think.

 

I would love a Round-trip like yours, but with two kids in college, we'll start with one way for now. I hope to do a btb one day, with Germany thrown in.

 

[kshannon5]

6 hours ago, Victoria2 said:

I would add, in case any sharp eyed eagle notes you have Michigan on your name, which is mostly a five hour time difference, if we fly back from N.Y., I still have a four or five day jet lag problem.

 

You are indeed correct! Same time zone, 5 hours difference from England. 

[rsquare]

Another two cents on the eastbound vs westbound question.  I'm firmly in the 25-hour day camp, but part of the attraction of that westbound trip, to me, is the dawn arrival in New York Harbor. 

 

Around 5am, there is always a small crowd of crazies around the upper decks to watch the ship pass under the Verrazano Bridge from Staten Island to Brooklyn.  That bridge was a major design constraint on QM2; she had to be able to clear the bridge by 3 meters at high tide.  When you are' out on deck looking at the funnel approaching the underside the bridge, you can't see those 3 meters, and as the ship passes under the bridge without scraping, you can hear everyone exhaling.  Great fun!

 

Unfortunately, since Red Hook opened, we have been denied the trip up the Hudson to the old NY Passenger Terminal, but we do get a fairly good view of the illuminated Statue of Liberty as we make the starboard turn into Buttermilk Channel.

[Bigmike911]

On 4/26/2021 at 6:32 PM, rsquare said:

Another two cents on the eastbound vs westbound question.  I'm firmly in the 25-hour day camp, but part of the attraction of that westbound trip, to me, is the dawn arrival in New York Harbor. 

 

Around 5am, there is always a small crowd of crazies around the upper decks to watch the ship pass under the Verrazano Bridge from Staten Island to Brooklyn.  That bridge was a major design constraint on QM2; she had to be able to clear the bridge by 3 meters at high tide.  When you are' out on deck looking at the funnel approaching the underside the bridge, you can't see those 3 meters, and as the ship passes under the bridge without scraping, you can hear everyone exhaling.  Great fun!

 

Unfortunately, since Red Hook opened, we have been denied the trip up the Hudson to the old NY Passenger Terminal, but we do get a fairly good view of the illuminated Statue of Liberty as we make the starboard turn into Buttermilk Channel.

RSquare, yes, you are correct. The early morning NY Arrival is always spectacular. From the time you hear the pilot boat coming along side, until the Queen does her graceful pirouette to back into the Red Hook Terminal are multiple visual treats. The Statue of Liberty glowing in the distance. The race of police boats surrounding and escorting the Queen to her dock, gets one up and ready for the balance of the trip home in a cramped airline seat. 

[kshannon5]

On 4/26/2021 at 7:32 PM, rsquare said:

Another two cents on the eastbound vs westbound question.  I'm firmly in the 25-hour day camp, but part of the attraction of that westbound trip, to me, is the dawn arrival in New York Harbor. 

 

Around 5am, there is always a small crowd of crazies around the upper decks to watch the ship pass under the Verrazano Bridge from Staten Island to Brooklyn.  That bridge was a major design constraint on QM2; she had to be able to clear the bridge by 3 meters at high tide.  When you are' out on deck looking at the funnel approaching the underside the bridge, you can't see those 3 meters, and as the ship passes under the bridge without scraping, you can hear everyone exhaling.  Great fun!

 

Unfortunately, since Red Hook opened, we have been denied the trip up the Hudson to the old NY Passenger Terminal, but we do get a fairly good view of the illuminated Statue of Liberty as we make the starboard turn into Buttermilk Channel.

I get this, but honestly being able to see the skyline/SofL better in the day daylight is enough for me. I used to live in Chicago and have been to NYC enough to make this a non-deal-breaker for me.

 

To each his own, though, of course. Isn't it great that there's a choice?  

[navybankerteacher]

On 4/23/2021 at 12:05 PM, kshannon5 said:

I love the helpfulness of this forum!

 

I considered westbound, but I think jet lag will be better for me going eastbound.

 

I tried googling Cunard-savvy travel agents, but didn't really find what I wanted. Is it best to stay local or are there remote ones anyone can recommend?

A couple of suggestions:

 a westbound (coming home) itinerary means you get the flight out of the way first which appeals to me;

a sheltered balcony that time of year may very well be more comfortable/usable than one higher up - also, it is closer to the sea;

whatever deck you are on, you will want to be on the sunnier side of the ship meaning starboard eastbound and port westbound - again that time of year very significant.

[IB2]

It is, generally a lot more pleasant in deck during an eastbound, as often there is no wind at all, whereas the westbound crossing is into the prevailing wind and can be extremely windy on deck.

[kshannon5]

22 hours ago, IB2 said:

It is, generally a lot more pleasant in deck during an eastbound, as often there is no wind at all, whereas the westbound crossing is into the prevailing wind and can be extremely windy on deck.

Good to know! 

On 4/28/2021 at 8:55 AM, navybankerteacher said:

A couple of suggestions:

 a westbound (coming home) itinerary means you get the flight out of the way first which appeals to me;

a sheltered balcony that time of year may very well be more comfortable/usable than one higher up - also, it is closer to the sea;

whatever deck you are on, you will want to be on the sunnier side of the ship meaning starboard eastbound and port westbound - again that time of year very significant.

Sheltered balconies seem like a second choice to regular ones (more light and better view). What would make it more usable? (Honest question)

[TheOldBear]

6 minutes ago, kshannon5 said:

Good to know! 

Sheltered balconies seem like a second choice to regular ones (more light and better view). What would make it more usable? (Honest question)

It's the 'sheltered' part.

For example, in 2017 on the westbound crossing, the ship's course put a tropical storm remnant [force 10 or a bit higher winds at times] on the bow. Access to the promenade deck, 'lookout' and other outside decks were roped off.

 

Se could step onto our balcony, and it was calm - the relative wind was along the hull, but there was a 90mph breeze a hand span outside the balcony aperture.

 

The cabins are also located on lower decks, so there is less movement as the ship pitches and rolls.

[navybankerteacher]

19 hours ago, kshannon5 said:

Good to know! 

Sheltered balconies seem like a second choice to regular ones (more light and better view). What would make it more usable? (Honest question)

The North Atlantic is cold in April - and any breeze will be felt.  The “sheltered” bit of the sheltered balcony provides shelter from that breeze.