QM2 Schedule Change 9/27 Sailing

I just read on Sea trade Insider that Cunard changed the QM2's call at St John, New Brunswick from Tuesday to Wednesday due to Tropical Storm Kyle. I see that her first call is Halifax, but I have not heard about any changes to that so I am wondering if they ship would rush out there to Halifax and stay maybe an extra day or would it stay in Brooklyn for a little longer? I am wondering if anyone has heard anything else because I was just curious to see if the QM2 would stay in NY for longer or still leave at 5pm.

I just read on Sea trade Insider that Cunard changed the QM2's call at St John, New Brunswick from Tuesday to Wednesday due to Tropical Storm Kyle. I see that her first call is Halifax, but I have not heard about any changes to that so I am wondering if they ship would rush out there to Halifax and stay maybe an extra day or would it stay in Brooklyn for a little longer? I am wondering if anyone has heard anything else because I was just curious to see if the QM2 would stay in NY for longer or still leave at 5pm.

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I just disembarked from the Queen Mary 2 this morning. The Commodore announced on Friday evening whilst at sea that the ship will stay overnight (Sat-Sun) at Red Hook then depart at 6am Sunday to then anchor in Upper New York Bay. The arriving Caribbean Princess needs the berth.

Queen Mary 2 is scheduled to sail in the afternoon for Halifax and the major change to the itinerary is the dropping of the call at Portland, Maine. If the weather forecast changes, the ship may leave New York earlier.

Passengers may enjoy a Saturday evening out in the city as Cunard will provide returning shuttle buses, leaving the Marriott Marquis, until 1 a.m.

Some 800 British passengers who embarked Southampton on 21st September are staying on for the New England/Canada cruise.

Ted back in NYC

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I just disembarked from the Queen Mary 2 this morning. The Commodore announced on Friday evening whilst at sea that the ship will stay overnight (Sat-Sun) at Red Hook then depart at 6am Sunday to then anchor in Upper New York Bay. The arriving Caribbean Princess needs the berth.

 

Queen Mary 2 is scheduled to sail in the afternoon for Halifax and the major change to the itinerary is the dropping of the call at Portland, Maine. If the weather forecast changes, the ship may leave New York earlier.

 

Passengers may enjoy a Saturday evening out in the city as Cunard will provide returning shuttle buses, leaving the Marriott Marquis, until 1 a.m.

 

Some 800 British passengers who embarked Southampton on 21st September are staying on for the New England/Canada cruise.

Ted back in NYC

thanks we drove down to the red Hook pier around 7 when we saw the QM2 still at the dock when we were coming over the Brooklyn Bridge. I was very pretty at the dock all lit up at night. We wondered exactly what was going on. It really is nice when ships stay at piers overnight. the passengers love it and so do the crew. i really wonder why they don't do it more often(obviously when they want to it can be done)...

Woke up around 7:00 this morning and we had already left the pier. Right now we're near the Verrazano Bridge and expect to anchor in the area. We should sail out later this evening, but I just heard on CNN that Kyle is expected to hit the coast of Maine, so perhaps we may have even more changes in our schedule. I'll be on line later today and will post any updates.

It really is nice when ships stay at piers overnight. the passengers love it and so do the crew. i really wonder why they don't do it more often(obviously when they want to it can be done)...

The cruise line must pay extra fees to stay overnight at the pier. Also, in the US, the casino cannot open, the shops must charge sales tax if they open, and the line must obtain licenses for each bar that is going to be open.

In addition, if a ship is going to be doing overnights, there will be less ports on the cruise unless you lengthen the voyage. The prevailing wisdom is that the more ports, the more attractive the cruise is to passengers, particularly first time passengers. If one lengthens the voyages, the ship will not be able to do as many voyages per season. For example, if QM2 did six overnights in New York a season, it would have to cut one transatlantic voyage from its schedule.

The cruise line must pay extra fees to stay overnight at the pier. Also, in the US, the casino cannot open, the shops must charge sales tax if they open, and the line must obtain licenses for each bar that is going to be open.

 

In addition, if a ship is going to be doing overnights, there will be less ports on the cruise unless you lengthen the voyage. The prevailing wisdom is that the more ports, the more attractive the cruise is to passengers, particularly first time passengers. If one lengthens the voyages, the ship will not be able to do as many voyages per season. For example, if QM2 did six overnights in New York a season, it would have to cut one transatlantic voyage from its schedule.

really I am shocked to learn there is gambling going on(said by Claude Rains). Don't you think I know this? but the prevailing wisdom(like its tues it must be Belgium) doesn't mean that it wouldn't attract more people.

This rush to make 7 ports in seven days(or 5 ports) whatever the number is just foolish IMHO. Wouldn't it be nice to over night in Halifax and don't you think that most ports would happily allow a ship to do it for free for the extra on shore money the passengers would pay. In fact it may not cost as much to stay overnight as the fuel the ship uses to sail most of the time.

Its true that for transatlantic's it would add one night or cut one trip but the TA's unless they are repos doesn't stop anywhere anyway and people can stay at either end to their hearts content. But personally I would do less ports to stay someplace I really want longer-at least overnight. This rush to go as many places as possible is in my opinion just old thinking. In fact in Europe many overnights have been added.

Yes they can't gamble or sell you stuff on the ship while its in port and that does cut down on income for the ship but they could just make up for it by keeping the stores open longer when sailing and people will gamble less....

BTW Bermuda where the ships do overnight will allow gambling after 10 pm on all ships and has decided to end port charges for those ships that stay in St George or Hamilton beginning in 2009.

And the QM2 can stay overnight, or at least delay departure to late night to give her passengers a chance to take in a Broadway show or 'do the town'; and still has the speed to complete a TA within six days. That would be utilizing the advantage the QM2 has that Carnival Corp. paid all that extra for to make her a real liner.

The cruise line must pay extra fees to stay overnight at the pier. Also, in the US, the casino cannot open, the shops must charge sales tax if they open, and the line must obtain licenses for each bar that is going to be open.

 

In addition, if a ship is going to be doing overnights, there will be less ports on the cruise unless you lengthen the voyage. The prevailing wisdom is that the more ports, the more attractive the cruise is to passengers, particularly first time passengers. If one lengthens the voyages, the ship will not be able to do as many voyages per season. For example, if QM2 did six overnights in New York a season, it would have to cut one transatlantic voyage from its schedule.

You have hit the nail on the head. Thank you for sharing your expertise on these boards.

I just returned back home from New York, where I saw the QM2 from 278 at around 5-5:30 this morning all lit up and then on the way back through around 8:30-9 I saw the Caribbean Princess in her place and then as we went over the Verrazano I saw the QM2 anchored out there in the fog. It was great to see her again but I really wish she was a lot closer to the bridge so that I could get a better view...

The QM2 is still anchored out there (right outside my apartment building). I'm curious - what is happening on board right now? I don't see any kind of tender service, so I'm guessing that everyone can't leave the ship.

Woke up around 7:00 this morning and we had already left the pier. Right now we're near the Verrazano Bridge and expect to anchor in the area. We should sail out later this evening, but I just heard on CNN that Kyle is expected to hit the coast of Maine, so perhaps we may have even more changes in our schedule. I'll be on line later today and will post any updates.

Just a reminder that there is a Cruise Critic Log Book at the Librarian's desk if you have not yet added your name and comments to those who have sailed before you.:D If you happen to run across Jason in King's Court bar please tell him I send my regards. He just rejoined the ship.

Sept. 28

We left Red Hook early this morning and anchored just north of the Verrazano Bridge. The latest announcement from the bridge was prior to a very interesting lecture by Emma Smith: “Bush, Blair and Shakespeare”. Commodore Warner announced that we are scheduled to leave around 5:00 this afternoon. Let’s see...

And we did! We passed under the Verrazano at exactly 5:00...still very foggy.

BTW...the casino was open when I walked by this afternoon...don't know how they managed that since we were still in NYC!

 

BTW...the casino was open when I walked by this afternoon...don't know how they managed that since we were still in NYC!

Interesting maybe we should report them to US officials. ..Isn't there some type of reward that you get if you report illegal activity under the whistle blower laws?

Well it is a good thing I did not stick around on Saturday to see the QM2 depart! I had gone food shopping at Fairways in Red Hook and was leaving the store around 5:15 pm when I noticed the ship was still docked. I went to a pier just south of where it was docked (Valentino Memorial Park and Fishing Pier - Pier 39) and stayed for about half an hour but had to leave (I did not want the fresh fish and meat to go bad in the trunk of the car!) There were another group of people that were there to see her leave, they left before I did.

Looked strange when we entered this morning on NORWEGIAN SPIRIT and saw QUEEN MARY 2 on anchorage in front of Staten Island...

Regards,

HeinBloed

Looked strange when we entered this morning on NORWEGIAN SPIRIT and saw QUEEN MARY 2 on anchorage in front of Staten Island.Regards,

HeinBloed

I was out on deck as you sailed by this morning...did you see me waving? :)

Looked strange when we entered this morning on NORWEGIAN SPIRIT and saw QUEEN MARY 2 on anchorage in front of Staten Island...

 

 

 

Regards,

HeinBloed

Hello there Hein :)

BEAUTIFUL pictures of QM2! ... Especially the bottom one!

Thanks for posting them!

Hello there Hein :)

 

 

BEAUTIFUL pictures of QM2! ... Especially the bottom one!

 

Thanks for posting them!

Thanks for your compliment but I think you'll find some nicer here:

http://public.fotki.com/HeinBloed/qm2/

Regards,

HeinBloed

Great photos, thanks for sharing. :D

For anyone who may be on the sailing. the QM2 is showing scheduled to dock in Saint John, NB Wedneaday(tomorrow) at Noon and depart at 11:45pm. At 9PM local time there will be a firework display over the harbour. It was suppose to take place tonight(Tuesday) however it was postposed to take place while your amazing ship is in port.