QM2 June 14-21 WB TA log

Dorset Cruiser, don't worry, just be yourselves with your dress sense, I see you have been with other cruise lines, don't let 'dress police' comments spoil your cruise, Enjoy.

Thanks . Thats what we intend to do. Bit concerned about the tropical storm forecast to make its way across the Atlantic towards UK next week. At least it will blow us the right way. Cases are nearly packed. Off after lunch for some time with family before getting to our Heathrow hotel. Then an esrly flight to Newark.

Saturday, June 20th

The last formal night represents the figurative end to the voyage. It’s the last night were one can enjoy what the ship has to offer before having to turn attention to disembarkation and travel from Brooklyn. Disembarkation directions still mention the old color tag system but we’ve not been issued those tags.

I meet up with some former table mates while at tea, and they are using the “transatlantic ferry” for the home bound leg of four months of traveling. They sail Regent and Crystal and boasted about how much better those lines are – twice a day news paper facsimile, free laundry, all drinks included. I do mention that “free” is relative since the fares on those lines are much higher than on Cunard. (You get what you pay for and have to pay for what you get.)

The menu included lobster and T-bone steak, and our head waiter mentioned that “it’s been a while since we had that”. There was also a Chocolate and Ice Buffet at 10:30 as we had had on the EB TA. Given that the fares were higher even 14 months ago it sounds like most of the ship was filled at full freight. It seems to verify Brucemuzz’s statement that voyage fare affects food budgets.

This voyage two private Queens Grill Lounge recitals were held, and pianist Sujeeva Hapugalle was extraordinary. It’s unusual to find a musician of this caliber on a ship.

Thursday and Friday the weather was the same – patches of rain and light fog through most of the day and not clearing until dinner time. But as of Friday night the weather has become much warmer, as evidenced by the number of people taking an after dinner walk while attired in formal wear and only a light wrap. Today, Saturday, is partly cloudy and, at least for one day, very pleasant on the open decks.

Can't because I"m in PG. It's going to change anyway bacause menus reflect the passenger ethinicity. Right now we have 500+ Germans on board and I"m seeing several seafood entrees. So much so that I quipped the ship must be trawling some lines off her stern. :-)

Haha if David Lea is on the ship ask him about that on QE2!!

Haha if David Lea is on the ship ask him about that on QE2!!

Since I never sailed on QE2 I don't get your allusion. Fares were higher on QE2 and revenue drives passenger ammenities.

Saturday, June 20th

The last day at sea was pleasant enough for sunbathers to fill the aft end of the decks, although most were clothed rather than in swim suits. Many of the walkers and joggers were out on the promenade deck throughout the day. The German passengers have not displayed any of the behavior that earlier reviews had cited, but these are not the 2 or 4 day “back packers”. They have all sailed from Hamburg and are therefore committed to having a pleasant sailing for 9 days. If there were “booze cruisers” they were off the ship at Southampton.

For the first time there was a tour of the Grills galley! It’s located between the QG and PG restaurants and directly behind the D elevator bank. It’s small and everything for the grill restaurants is prepared there except breads and pastries which are delivered from the main ship galley. The ship has a total of 144 chefs and 14 are in the Grills galley. Each chef was introduced along with his specialty. There is one who handles the off-menu and special diet requests.

I do notice that a lot of passengers choose to breakfast and lunch in King’s Court. People have many reasons for dining there but I’m willing to vouch that a lot of voyage weight gain happens there. In the Britannia restaurant there is portion control. In the lido it’s take what you want, including taking a sample of every single one of the tea sweets. There’s eating until one is satisfied versus eating until one is stuffed.

According to the Noon update we are scheduled to pass under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge at 4:45AM. My table mates all have staterooms on the port side so they can see the Statue of Liberty from their balconies. None of them have arrived in New York by ship before, so I use some table silver to describe the docking process. I hope Lady Liberty is illuminated. On arrival from my first TA in 2011 she apparently had not paid her ConEd bill.

Thanks for the review/live thread, enjoyed it immensely.:D

Thank you for letting us travel with you again.

Sunday, June 21st

Arrival in New York

We pass under the bridge shortly after 5AM, and although the skies are overcast the rain holds off until the ship has begun her turn in the Buttermilk Channel. A cloud bisects the new World Trade Center Tower and only adds to the impression of its height. I sometimes wonder if the ship’s ballast has to be adjusted upon entry into New York since the awake passengers are all congregating on the port side. My Swiss/German table mates enjoyed the sights from their balcony and were laughing at the novelty of being able to sight see while wearing night clothes.

A note on taxis. I count 38 taxies waiting at the terminal for the first disembarkations. But this is a Sunday morning and this may not be typical on a weekday.

Disembarkation morning is a great time to see any type of stateroom you want. I get a glimpse of the PG HC stateroom, which has a wider door and space to park a wheelchair or scooter. (On this voyage it was used by a full time motorized wheelchair user.) I notice that cabin stewards each had a bag of wood shims – to prop door open? Then I see that some of these sticks are placed at the baseboard near the door. It’s probably some marker that not all of the turn around work had been finished for the next passenger. I leave my items near the nightstand so the steward can have room to work while I’m at at breakfast.

Our table turned out wonderfully. We have fond farewells and while it’s unlikely any of us will meet again it’s a joy to see that these first timers will have beautiful memories.

As I write this from Todd English, one passenger is loudly yapping on a cell phone. Paradise is now lost. Back to reality.

I think you'll notice that a similar stick is used during daily service to prop the door open, although on changeover day it seems somehow to be used as a marker of completed/uncompleted rooms as you've mentioned.

Some follow up on disembarkation. As I was passing the QG restaurant about 8AM I heard somebody ask, "The restaurant is closed?" (Stated breakfast time was 6:30-8:00) then a cry of anguish. Didn't wait around to see how it was resolved but it's likely she was directed to King's court where breakfast is available until 9:30.

Based on an expected disembarkation time of 8:45 I had re-scheduled my car for 9:30 and it turned out well that I had pushed it back. As I'm Platinum CWC I get to wait in Todd English where there is coffee, tea, and pastries available. I overheard crackling on the handheld radios of lines backing up. When there was a gap in the line waiting to leave the ship we were told that anybody who wanted to disembark could do so regardless of color tag. Good thing I did just that....

The CBP lines were very long and very slow. I counted 9 agent stations open and it that rate no way was the ship going to be cleared by 10AM. I have a US passport and normally wiz through the dedicated stations for US citizens. Non-US citizens were being sent to those slots and it takes longer because visas have to be checked as well as handprints and photos taken. One German passenger apparently didn't have his documents in order and was escorted to an office. My turn finally came and it took longer because I had purchases to declare. This time the huge backup worked out in my favor as I was asked, "Are these for yourself or to sell?" I was then thanked for my honesty and not charged duty. Perhaps they preferred to get rid of me and not spend a great deal of time checking the tariffs on Cunard 175 mugs made in China, a 175 scarf made in Italy, and a hat and umbrella made in England.

I had emerged from the terminal just before 9:30 and by then there were no taxis. My driver rang my cell phone and explained that there was a line of vehicles waiting to enter and all were being questioned about who they were picking up. At the passenger pickup area one reserved a car was required to leave and re-join the entrance line because there passengers were not there - presumably they were still stuck in CBP. Most NY car services charge for waiting time.

If this CBP situation is what can be expected going forward one will have to take this into account for scheduling pickup. If one is continuing with the ship after New York, and plans to go ashore independently, I would recommend leaving the ship as soon as it is allowed just to avoid having this mess cut into your time ashore. It's also worth weighting the expense of a Cunard tour or transfer as you will have priority disembarkation.

Perhaps the only people who gain from this are the cabin stewards who will have some extra time to turn things around before new passengers board.

a 175 scarf made in Italy

 

I have really enjoyed your report, thanks so much for taking the time to write it :)

Can you tell me about the scarf - do you have a photo of it? Thanks!

The Cunard 175 scarf is available in the Chopard shop and priced accordingly. There are six color variations with the black border version detail shown here: Cunard 175 scarf. I regretted not buying the Hermes En Avant Toute when Hermes was on board.

Thanks again and the tip about the CBP and having cars waiting is going to come in very handy. Think I may do an early walk off and have lots of time for the car.:D

According to MarineTraffic she left NY at 5:56 - almost an hour later than scheduled. Maybe we'll hear from somebody on board of the slow CBP process delayed boarding of the ship.

Are the delays in the CBP processing just due to lack of staffing?

I would also like to thank you for taking the time and expense for your on-board reports.

I found your comments very interesting regarding on-board purchases. Over the years I have bought Hermes scarves and bracelets, but cannot recall how I handled it on the declaration form. However, for two years in a row I purchased Chopard bags and was a nervous wreck about going through Customs. I reported both times, and even had credit card at the ready, but on both occasions, the Agent never turned the form over and just passed me on through. Not quite sure if it was because I am a US citizen or they were very busy and wanted to keep things moving.

Jeanne

Are the delays in the CBP processing just due to lack of staffing?

I counted 9 agents. It was also due to the large proportion of non-US citizens and processing them takes longer.

I would also like to thank you for taking the time and expense for your on-board reports.

 

I found your comments very interesting regarding on-board purchases. Over the years I have bought Hermes scarves and bracelets, but cannot recall how I handled it on the declaration form. However, for two years in a row I purchased Chopard bags and was a nervous wreck about going through Customs. I reported both times, and even had credit card at the ready, but on both occasions, the Agent never turned the form over and just passed me on through. Not quite sure if it was because I am a US citizen or they were very busy and wanted to keep things moving.

 

Jeanne

In my case I think it was the later. They would have had to pull me aside, check the country of manufacture and tariff on each type of item so we're looking at 10-15 minutes to do that. Meanwhile the lines were continuing to grow. It also helped that I was wearing the scarf and hat so it was clear that these were not for resale.

In my case I think it was the later. They would have had to pull me aside, check the country of manufacture and tariff on each type of item so we're looking at 10-15 minutes to do that. Meanwhile the lines were continuing to grow. It also helped that I was wearing the scarf and hat so it was clear that these were not for resale.

I also had it in my head that the ship is required to report expensive purchases. I was on a line one year and a "red flag" went off for non-US citizens who had made some very pricey purchases. They were swiftly called aside. This was told to me by a move-the-line facilatator. That sure as heck kept me honest.

J

I also had it in my head that the ship is required to report expensive purchases. I was on a line one year and a "red flag" went off for non-US citizens who had made some very pricey purchases. They were swiftly called aside. This was told to me by a move-the-line facilatator. That sure as heck kept me honest.

 

J

I believe that for anything over $800 - which is the exemption for US citizens - must be reported by Cunard. I seem to recall a thread a while back where somebody was livid that Cunard had "snitched" on them. Customs agents are usually better at detecting liars than must of us are at being one.

I believe that for anything over $800 - which is the exemption for US citizens - must be reported by Cunard. I seem to recall a thread a while back where somebody was livid that Cunard had "snitched" on them. Customs agents are usually better at detecting liars than must of us are at being one.

LOL. Invisible Like button.

So sad that people get trapped into a false sense of security with the "Duty Free" impression.

J

The Cunard 175 scarf is available in the Chopard shop and priced accordingly. There are six color variations with the black border version detail shown here: Cunard 175 scarf. I regretted not buying the Hermes En Avant Toute when Hermes was on board.

Thanks! I also regret not purchasing the Hermes one, but I do love the Chopard one I bought a few years ago :) Maybe there's another one in my future.

I counted 9 agents. It was also due to the large proportion of non-US citizens and processing them takes longer.

Thanks, I was wondering because were had it before that there was hardly any staff due to sequestation (or something like that).

Thanks! I also regret not purchasing the Hermes one, but I do love the Chopard one I bought a few years ago :) Maybe there's another one in my future.

I have the En Avant Toute, but think I bought it at hermes.com. Was there more than one version? Mine shows the Cunard funnel, but no other Cunard reference.

J

I would also like to thank you for taking the time and expense for your on-board reports.

 

I found your comments very interesting regarding on-board purchases. Over the years I have bought Hermes scarves and bracelets, but cannot recall how I handled it on the declaration form. However, for two years in a row I purchased Chopard bags and was a nervous wreck about going through Customs. I reported both times, and even had credit card at the ready, but on both occasions, the Agent never turned the form over and just passed me on through. Not quite sure if it was because I am a US citizen or they were very busy and wanted to keep things moving.

 

Jeanne

Hi Jeanne,

You were nervous because you are a good person. In Australia they reduced the amount of overseas purchases from several thousand dollars to $900 a few years ago. Caught me off guard but the customs people didn't care and said not to bother opening up my cases when I returned home.

I agree that customs areas being busy probably helps travellers!