Liberal_Baggie

Thanks all much appreciated!

Does anyone have a hotel they could recommend for a One night stay Two rooms in Southampton. I’m looking for somewhere that I can leave my car for Two weeks whilst we are on Queen Anne for our med cruise late July?

We had a magnificent Crossing and Caribbean journey on QM2 in December over Christmas.After the recent work to smarten up the ship its back to its magnificent best. Indeed Stephen Paine the designer said it is now the best version of QM2 having been on board many times of course. I can say that Princess grill deck 10 Aft is the way to go for a Caribbean just One set of stairs up to the Grills terrace having tried Inside, balconies both types, and Queens Grill. Absolute best holiday ever!

We’re going in Aug on q Anne but not to Rome it’s too much heat and too long a day to recommend. Rome is best done over a week if you have the time. Any one have any beach based times for that Port Call?

The ship is now in very good condition after the recent updating so much to enjoy on board.

Costa coffee /Starbucks and most cafes that want to stay in business do great oat milk coffee. The brand of Oat milk on board QM2 is not a barista blend that works well. Thats a Cunard purchasing decision and its madness.

Oh dear... Yes they are if you give them time in the Main restaurant .

Host Hattie it was overall a brilliant cruise and I was thinking about writing up a report. But Cunard have work to do on staff training and purchasing of Vegan foods..and communication.

Oh be aware that Cunard do not follow through on communication. We have written to The Chief chief, Produce buyer/Manager and the Hotel manager on QM2 Not a single reply....Nowhere near good enough Cunard.

They are good with advance warning but dire at basic understanding of what modern life is like. We found Vegan cake labeled with eggs as an ingredient. We found them out using Cooking fat as Vegan spread. We found that the Oat milk they buy doesn't foam for Oat milk Coffees. My strong advice is go straight to the Matradee always go to the same waters same table and explain your need and he will ensure that the staff get it. But on the first day your going to be in trouble as there is no communication from Cunard to the ship its all just words. Cunard's staff training and buying of vegan products is woeful.

We sloped off at around 8 just joined a line that was for pre booked tours or other or certain coloured tags couldn’t be sure . We checked with the concearge lady who said as soon as the gang plank is down just go. Got the 8.22 ferry with 10 minutes to spare so it took 12 minutes . USA security is much speeded up. The last ferry back from Wall Street was 2.36 so we were back on board by 3.15 for a late lunch in the transport Cafe. From Wall st pier a simple walk around to the left past Governors island pier and the heliport pier to Line 1 uptown Subway . Off at Maceys and Broadway for skating at Rockefeller . Skating was fun Maceys was disappointing better shops in the UK. Had a vegan breakfast sandwich at a Bodega shop (local deli shop) all in all a fun day in New York

It’s been a brilliant crossing. Enjoyed the back of house tour luggage nets are now been deployed at Red Hook we are told in case of accidental luggage falls. Cunard staff have been great sorting out our Vegan requests. We had a special Vegan afternoon tea in the Grills lounge yesterday and they are going to do a special Indian meal for the Two of us tonight we are in princess grill which is lovely. Have to say though that Britannia restaurant is looking extremely beautiful in fact the best I’ve seen it absolutely stunning. We have had new balcony furniture cushions delivered this week as the old ones are worn out so we will be using them in a few days time.we appear not to be able to leave as foot passengers before 8.45 meet up in the theatre which is a bit later than I was hoping as we’ve got ice skating booked and shopping planned. Anyone know if we can try to slope off earlier in New York and get the ferry to Wall St?

They could order a meal for you together in their stateroom, Speak to the butler on board to arrange we did that with my mum a couple of times he sets it up really nicely. We took her in the grills lounge for afternoon tea but then after a few days decided to dine in Britannia its just as good and the best dining room of all time in my opinion. We enjoyed inviting our new table mates into our grills cabin for a party One night too that the butler sets up..great fun!

Aha so must have been a trial to see how long it takes to do a swap for improved cabins? how many improved cabins are there and what are the stateroom numbers? Maybe I can find out from the 15th when we board just got to ask a steward I guess...