When do summer 2024 go on sale... Plus some Norway fjords stopping cruise ships 2025?

[buchanan101]

Saw a video by the Tips for Travellers guy on Youtube yesterday... He must spend his life cruising; he's found a nice living!

 

DIdn't realise that some Norwegian fjords are stopping cruise ships from 2025. I had been considering Queen Anne there in spring 2024, but that's been cancelled now (as QA delayed), and there are no other spring/summer 2024 cruises on the Cunard website

 

When are these likely to go on sale? 

 

Also, I've only been on one crossing (last month) and I bought that direct from Cunard; what is likely to be the best way to buy a new cruise? There seem to be minor discounts on other cruises from the online agents.

 

I also see that there are 7 day and 12 day cruises to the fjords...I assume the latter are better, but are they worth it?

 

Sorry about all the questions!

 

(We liked the class, quality and uncrowdedness of the QM2 - are there other cruise lines that are similiar-ish? P&O is supposed to be reasonably traditional; is it sacrilege to ask such questions on the Cunard board?!)

 

 

Edited November 17, 2022 by buchanan101

[exlondoner]

Just a few answers.

 

It is rumoured the 2024 cruises are going on sale next month.

 

If you use a real TA, they can sort out hassles for you.

 

12 day cruises definitely worth it, if you’ve got the money and the leave allowance.

[buchanan101]

1 minute ago, exlondoner said:

Just a few answers.

 

It is rumoured the 2024 cruises are going on sale next month.

 

If you use a real TA, they can sort out hassles for you.

 

12 day cruises definitely worth it, if you’ve got the money and the leave allowance.

Thanks - will keep alert... early booking worth it or not? I guess it depends, but are there generally any offers?

 

The 11 or 12 dayers in 2023 either seem to go via Hamburg (so are basically a 7 day + Hamburg) or go right up Norway. I'd take Hamburg in one direction as it'd be nice to visit, but not both ways. There seem to be subtle differences in the 7 dayers - what are the must dos... my parents liked Flam when they went on the QM2 15 years ago...

[exlondoner]

Which ship are you envisaging? I’m not sure the QM2 is allowed in Flam, but on the other hand she is adored in Hamburg, and sailaways are sometimes spectacular. Hamburg is such a lovely city that there is plenty to engage one on two calls, though it is not as much fun now the ship is tucked away in the new cruise terminal.

 

I must say I have found one fjord looks pretty much like another, but they are all exciting to sail along and feel you can almost touch the sides. As ports I liked Stavanger and Alesund.

[buchanan101]

8 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Which ship are you envisaging? I’m not sure the QM2 is allowed in Flam, but on the other hand she is adored in Hamburg, and sailaways are sometimes spectacular. Hamburg is such a lovely city that there is plenty to engage one on two calls, though it is not as much fun now the ship is tucked away in the new cruise terminal.

 

I must say I have found one fjord looks pretty much like another, but they are all exciting to sail along and feel you can almost touch the sides. As ports I liked Stavanger and Alesund.

Thank you for the tips - there certainly seem to be different routes on the 7 dayers and can't yet see a 2023 that does Flam

 

Not too worried about ship - be interesting to compare with the QM2, though the PG suites (would probably do grills) don't look as good as QM2 PGs (long and thin). We did QG on QM2 - may look to economise a bit with PG.

 

Any thoughts on ship? The QA trip looked interesting, but I'm guessing it's fairly similar to QE and QV and a fair bit different to QM2

 

Hamburg is on the list sometime - only been there once years ago for a couple of hours after a business trip to Airbus. 

[exlondoner]

11 minutes ago, buchanan101 said:

Thank you for the tips - there certainly seem to be different routes on the 7 dayers and can't yet see a 2023 that does Flam

 

Not too worried about ship - be interesting to compare with the QM2, though the PG suites (would probably do grills) don't look as good as QM2 PGs (long and thin). We did QG on QM2 - may look to economise a bit with PG.

 

Any thoughts on ship? The QA trip looked interesting, but I'm guessing it's fairly similar to QE and QV and a fair bit different to QM2

 

Hamburg is on the list sometime - only been there once years ago for a couple of hours after a business trip to Airbus. 

I really don’t think the Vista PGs are worth it, though the other Grills facilities on the Vistas are much superior to QM2. I should sell a child or something and go for QG. 😀 We went in PG once and have been impoverishing ourselves by booking Q4s ever since.

I have few thoughts about QA, except that some of the interiors look rather nice, but it clearly won’t be like QM2.

 

[buchanan101]

6 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

I really don’t think the Vista PGs are worth it, though the other Grills facilities on the Vistas are much superior to QM2. I should sell a child or something and go for QG. 😀 We went in PG once and have been impoverishing ourselves by booking Q4s ever since.

I have few thoughts about QA, except that some of the interiors look rather nice, but it clearly won’t be like QM2.

 

Looking at a sample cruise on QV to fjords next summer seems that there are many who think like you:  QG sold out, PG good availability

 

QM2 grills for me mainly meant the larger room (and larger balcony) and the dining.  Wasn't too bothered about the other facilities though I guess a nice grills outside deck would be good for a summer trip (not relevant to an October TA crossing).  What are the other grills facilities that are much superior? TIA.

[exlondoner]

44 minutes ago, buchanan101 said:

Looking at a sample cruise on QV to fjords next summer seems that there are many who think like you:  QG sold out, PG good availability

 

QM2 grills for me mainly meant the larger room (and larger balcony) and the dining.  Wasn't too bothered about the other facilities though I guess a nice grills outside deck would be good for a summer trip (not relevant to an October TA crossing).  What are the other grills facilities that are much superior? TIA.

The restaurants (like all the Grills facilities) are both up on Deck 11, and even the seats that aren’t next to the windows have excellent views. The Grills lounge is a nice shape again with nice views, and the Terrace and Upper Terrace are expansive and high up. On a cruise with plenty to look at, this can be really good, even if you do have to wrap up.

[buchanan101]

27 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

The restaurants (like all the Grills facilities) are both up on Deck 11, and even the seats that aren’t next to the windows have excellent views. The Grills lounge is a nice shape again with nice views, and the Terrace and Upper Terrace are expansive and high up. On a cruise with plenty to look at, this can be really good, even if you do have to wrap up.

Thank you - yes Grills restaurants on QM2 have a nice view of the promenade deck, mostly where it is built in...!!

 

And yes, not a lot to look at mid Atlantic (which is actually quite something in itself); saw a couple of seabirds on Day 5 and a tanker on Day 6 which was quite exciting...

 

[exlondoner]

3 minutes ago, buchanan101 said:

Thank you - yes Grills restaurants on QM2 have a nice view of the promenade deck, mostly where it is built in...!!

 

And yes, not a lot to look at mid Atlantic (which is actually quite something in itself); saw a couple of seabirds on Day 5 and a tanker on Day 6 which was quite exciting...

 

Yes, I have spent many happy hours gazing at the Atlantic on QM2, often from the chairs in the galleries on Deck 3, where the spray sometimes covers the windows, sometimes pondering why on earth Manx Shearwaters should want to live there.

[buchanan101]

21 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Yes, I have spent many happy hours gazing at the Atlantic on QM2, often from the chairs in the galleries on Deck 3, where the spray sometimes covers the windows, sometimes pondering why on earth Manx Shearwaters should want to live there.

Ah - that lump at the top of the QE and QV is the grills restaurants etc. I see what you mean about views etc!

[sogne]

3 hours ago, buchanan101 said:

Thanks - will keep alert... early booking worth it or not? I guess it depends, but are there generally any offers?

 

The 11 or 12 dayers in 2023 either seem to go via Hamburg (so are basically a 7 day + Hamburg) or go right up Norway. I'd take Hamburg in one direction as it'd be nice to visit, but not both ways. There seem to be subtle differences in the 7 dayers - what are the must dos... my parents liked Flam when they went on the QM2 15 years ago...

Summer 24 Dec 6th confirmed by cunard in our QA cancellation emails and by letter whist on QM2 last week. Possible release 29th nov.

[AZNative2000]

2 hours ago, sogne said:

Summer 24 Dec 6th confirmed by cunard in our QA cancellation emails and by letter whist on QM2 last week. Possible release 29th nov.

Thanks for this info.  We'll be vigilant from 29NOV.

[IB2]

I have been told the details will be posted on the website within days now, and will be bookable from a date in very early December 

[buchanan101]

17 hours ago, IB2 said:

I have been told the details will be posted on the website within days now, and will be bookable from a date in very early December 

How do prices vary over time?

 

I know that's probably a "how long is a piece of string" question, and I believe that Cunard use dynamic pricing, but is it generally better earlier or later?

 

A 7 day Norway cruise for next summer is just under £6k for a PG cabin and maybe £7k to £8k for a QG. I guess those are reasonable targets to look out for (plus 10% inflation no doubt)

 

Are there any sites that track pricing over time?

[BigMac1953]

5 minutes ago, buchanan101 said:

I believe that Cunard use dynamic pricing, but is it generally better earlier or later?

 

Probably