World Cruise 2018 on QE2 or HAL

We have held a cabin on Holland for their 2018 world cruise because it sails to South Africa and my husband really wants to do a photo safari. But just saw the QE2 itinerary and it also goes there, but it also goes to many ports in Japan which Hollands does not and that is one area we have not sailed to. . We are very familiar with Holland- 4Star- but have only sailed once on QM2 for a crossing. I have read many blogs for Holland World cruises, so I feel I know what they offer, but not familiar at all with a Cunard world cruise. Can anyone tell me a little about their world cruise. I do know they have many segments and not sure what % of people on board are actually world cruisers. Not sure if they do anything 'special' for world cruisers. Any blogs I should read? Thanks for any help.

We have held a cabin on Holland for their 2018 world cruise because it sails to South Africa and my husband really wants to do a photo safari. But just saw the QE2 itinerary and it also goes there, but it also goes to many ports in Japan which Hollands does not and that is one area we have not sailed to. . We are very familiar with Holland- 4Star- but have only sailed once on QM2 for a crossing. I have read many blogs for Holland World cruises, so I feel I know what they offer, but not familiar at all with a Cunard world cruise. Can anyone tell me a little about their world cruise. I do know they have many segments and not sure what % of people on board are actually world cruisers. Not sure if they do anything 'special' for world cruisers. Any blogs I should read? Thanks for any help.

There is a great blog written from the Queen Elizabeth world voyage in 2014 which may be of interest to you. Link here http://kathisworldvoyage.blogspot.co.uk

The lady who wrote it posts on here from time to time so hopefully she will see your question and be able assist you with specific queries.

There is also a roll call for the QE 2018 voyage which may be worth dipping into for contacts and information. Link here http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2367070

M-AR

Hi, tgetz!

I did the 2014 World Voyage on QE and loved it. As you know, I am trying HAL for my next one. I wanted to try HAL's World Voyage because of the wonderful blogs I have read and it saves me flying across the pond.

My blog for the 2014 World Voyage can be found at http://kathisworldvoyage.blogspot.com

I have a few other Cunard blogs bookmarked on my laptop that I will post this evening when I start it up.

There is a World Voyage dinner held at one port during the course of cruise. Ours was held in Dubai. Food, drink, and entertainment in a beautiful setting. Also, there were gifts along the way with the 2014 WV logo on them. We received a journal, silk scarf for ladies or tie for gentlemen, tote bag for ladies or baseball cap for gentlemen, and a Wedgwood mug. ( There may have been another I've forgotten. )

The QE holds about 2000 and for the 2014 World Voyage there were about 525 doing the complete trip. From what Pete posted, the percentage of full world cruisers is much higher on HAL.

Since you have been on QM2 you know about the dress code. This is the biggest difference in the two lines, IMHO. We had 35 formal nights (which was down from 50 the year before). Cunard does not have the same kind of theme nights that HAL does. Instead, Cunard has themed balls (most on formal nights and the majority of passengers do not dress to the theme but just in formal wear). These themed balls are held in the Queens Room after dinner.

You cannot beat the lectures on Cunard. I will be interested to see how HAL World Voyage lectures compare.

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

Kathi

Mid Atlantic Ridge, thanks. I have looked at the Cunard roll for 2018 but had not known about the blog. that will definitely help. The roll call for the Holland 2018 world is so big, i think it has over 200 people already.Very good itinerary.

Going to read the blog now.

From your post you seem to be asking about the general ambiance on board vs the ports as that can easily be determined. I have not sailed a world cruise on HAL but have a good friend who did. He is also a major fan of Cunard. He found the HAL world to be much more casual in ambiance than the Cunard world cruise which both of us took. Cunard offers high end (as far as cruise ships go) elegance with many more formal evenings. On my QE2 world cruise I met and/or observed a wonderful collection of characters (passengers) not to be found on other lines. I feel, particularly on a world cruise, unless you are rather insular, that the passenger mix and the ambiance to be vital for the full enjoyment of the journey. That being said I would vote for any and all Cunard World Cruises over any and all HAL. Only you know your level of standards, style and desires.

Scrapnana

I*interestingly , the 2018 for the Queen Elizabeth can start in New York City or Fort Lauderdale, and end in South Hampton, but then you can do the transatlantic back on the QM 2 or fly home. another reason we are considering .

Hi,

I did the QE full World Cruise this year; last year I did the entire ‘Round South America’ on HA’s Prinsendam-that’s whyI have no more money.:eek:

The 121 days on QE was absolutely wonderful; the tours offered were extremely well done-I did the overland tours to China, Cambodia and India. They were really superb! The QE is elegant, beautiful and the crew live up to White Star standards. You cannot go wrong.

My HA experience was also very, very good with excellent tour offerings and guides. I did meet a couple who’ve done HA and Cunard World Cruises as tour escorts; they said that Cunard was far better.

I would go with QE in a heartbeat for the Asian ports alone-you cannot go wrong.:D

Scrapnana

I*interestingly , the 2018 for the Queen Elizabeth can start in New York City or Fort Lauderdale, and end in South Hampton, but then you can do the transatlantic back on the QM 2 or fly home. another reason we are considering .

The year of my WV you could start in Southampton, NYC, Fort Lauderdale, or San Francisco and Cunard considered it a "Full World Voyage". I wanted to do a full circumnavigation which is why I flew to the UK. I had friends meeting me in London after the cruise so I flew home with them. I had considered the QM2 home before they decided to visit London. Flying to and from FLL is quick and cheap (we even have one non-stop!) so that helped influence my decision for 2018!

There is a great blog written from the Queen Elizabeth world voyage in 2014 which may be of interest to you. Link here http://kathisworldvoyage.blogspot.co.uk

 

M-AR

Thank you for the kind words!

Kathi

Here are some more Cunard world cruise blogs.

http://worldviaqe.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2014-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2015-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=7

http://worldvoyageqe2016.blogspot.com/

Here is one from tablemates on the 2014 WV

http://jandaworldcruise2014.blogspot.co.uk/search?updated-min=2013-01-01T00:00:00Z&updated-max=2014-01-01T00:00:00Z&max-results=2

And another from a friend who completed the first half of the WV in 2014 and blogged about the second half in 2015 (both were on QE)

http://myhalfworldcruise2015.blogspot.com

From QV

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog/jobloor/20/tpod.html

http://exitviathegiftshop.blogspot.co.nz/?view=magazine

And, one more QE world cruise blog for 2016. Excellent with lots of great photos. http://www.worldvoyageqe2016@blogspot.com

And, one more QE world cruise blog for 2016. Excellent with lots of great photos. http://www.worldvoyageqe2016@blogspot.com

My security software did not like this page saying it might be a phishing site. Whose blog is this?

And, one more QE world cruise blog for 2016. Excellent with lots of great photos. http://www.worldvoyageqe2016@blogspot.com

HI PATTI!!!!!!!!! how the heck are you>>>>???

When are you on board again?

Roscoe

My security software did not like this page saying it might be a phishing site. Whose blog is this?

Thank you Scrapnana for all your helpful links to the blogs, very good of you, and great, informative reading :)

Happy sailings.

Kathi, Scrapnana

While we both like the itinerary of the QE best, and feel that trip might be a little more 'upscale' and we are OK with it being more formal, we are now comparing meals. We do like to dine for dinner but for breakfast I like fruit and yogurt(for medical issues that is best for me)and for lunch either a light salad or maybe a tuna sandwich. Can't seem to find information on that. I can see menus and did find what is available from room service, but I did not find yogurt anywhere. I know it is available on Holland and you can write just about anything in on your breakfast room service order and receive it.

For lunch we prefer a real casual quick and easy style. Lido works for us. Any thoughts?

My husband even likes the occasional hamburger from the back of the pool deck on Holland.

Yogurt & Fresh fruit Salad are available in the Lido for Breakfast, Sandwiches are made to order at Lunch time at the Sandwich Bar in the Lido also, Burgers & Hot Dogs are available from the food station by the Lido Pool weather permitting.

Loads of salad options, selection of fruit etc available in the Lido for breakfast, and lunch.

Not researched yogurt myself (not a fan... ) but sure I've seen some on display on every trip.

Burgers etc available near the stern pool (as zider says, weather permitting). A long time since I used the "fast food" area on QE or QV, but in the Boardwalk Café on QM2 (when open :rolleyes: ) there were salad and fruit options available (as well as burgers and fries etc).

I often start my day with fruit and juice from the buffet (before a proper breakfast in the Britannia Restaurant ;) ).

Often have salad from the Kings Court or Lido as a snack (or occasionally for lunch).

You'd have no issue eating sensibly (salad & fruit etc) in the buffet (Kings Court/Lido) on any of the Cunard ships.

Hope this helps :)

Hi Tgetz-

You’ll have no problem finding your healthy options on QE; there was always fresh fruit and veggies and yogurt. Room service was always able to provide those items. MY PROBLEM was the very non healthy items like the cheese omelets and Cumberland sausage and the excellent American bacon-and that was just for breakfast!!!:D

You will really enjoy QE-Bon Voyage

We have already booked the 2018 WC on the QE, and are joining the ship in Ft Lauderdale, so we will miss the thrill of the first sail away. Thank you to all who have contributed suggestions of WC blogs. I received the same message as others did with the blog, worldvoyagege2016, however, when I searched for Queen Elizabeth World Cruise Blogs, it came up with easy access. It is a terrific blog ( I haven't read the others, yet.) and well worth the circuitous manner to retrieve it. This is our second WC, having taken Crystal's 2016 full WC. They are addictive! We love the fact that the QE returns to Japan to some ports we have not visited.

We're on the roll call and look forward to meeting others who will be joining us!

Ricki

And, one more QE world cruise blog for 2016. Excellent with lots of great photos. http://www.worldvoyageqe2016@blogspot.com

Is this the same one?

http://worldvoyageqe2016.blogspot.com

Is this the same one?

 

 

http://worldvoyageqe2016.blogspot.com

Yes, you are correct--it not "@blogspot.com", rather it is ".blogspot.com"

Sorry, I didn't notice the difference.

Ricki

There are countless options for healthy eating at all meals in all restaurants - Fresh and stewed fruits and yoghurt is available in the MDR for breakfast, there are always salads and a sandwich option in the MDR for lunch and Canyon Ranch healthy options are also available for all sitting in the MDR

I can't remember if there's a healthy option in the Golden Lion, but I only ever have fish & chips at lunch times

It's not difficult to eat healthily on the QE, but it's very difficult not to eat unhealthily - the freshly made pizzas and pasta at lunchtime in the Lido, freshly made burgers and dogs in the Lido Grill, afternoon tea and Mr Whippy ice creams mean I'm in a constant battle with my waistline on the cruise

The only place I try to avoid is the buffet as my portion control is abysmal and I end up with a plate piled high with delicious food, which because I can't abide waste, I end up eating it all.

I love it

Does Cunard treat their world voyages as one continuous voyage or is it more like a string of back to back voyages that circle the globe.

For example: Is crew turnover minimal? Or does crew rotate during segments similar to any other voyage?

Does entertainment or menus repeat from segment to segment? Do they repeat all welcome aboard events each segment?

Do the Captains or Entertainment Directors turn over during a world voyage?

Does Cunard increase the food quality for their world voyage as compared to say a crossing. HAL pumps up the food budget for their Grand Voyages...wonder if Cunard does something similar on their World Voyages

Is the world voyage dress code the same as it is on a crossing?

Yes, you are correct--it not "@blogspot.com", rather it is ".blogspot.com"

 

Sorry, I didn't notice the difference.

 

Ricki

My apologies. I was the one who incorrectly posted @blogspot.com instead of .blogspot.com

Do read it; it is an excellent wc blog with great photos.

Does Cunard treat their world voyages as one continuous voyage or is it more like a string of back to back voyages that circle the globe.

 

For example: Is crew turnover minimal? Or does crew rotate during segments similar to any other voyage?

 

Does entertainment or menus repeat from segment to segment? Do they repeat all welcome aboard events each segment?

 

Do the Captains or Entertainment Directors turn over during a world voyage?

 

Does Cunard increase the food quality for their world voyage as compared to say a crossing. HAL pumps up the food budget for their Grand Voyages...wonder if Cunard does something similar on their World Voyages

 

Is the world voyage dress code the same as it is on a crossing?

From my experience...

The crew does change when there contracts are up. We had one captain for the first month and then another for the following three. The Entertainment Director left us after three weeks, took six weeks off, then returned. I was lucky to have the same room steward and MDR server the entire trip.

Don't think there is any difference in food or dress code. The items on the menu may repeat but I don't think there were ever the exact same choices repeated together (but not 100% sure).

There is a cocktail party and a farewell dinner each segment. Your onboard account is settled at the end of each segment and you also get your free internet minutes (when you get to that level in the loyalty program) renewed each segment.

The programs by the Royal Cunard Singers and Dancers repeat each segment. Other entertainers do not repeat.