Peggy Tuten

Thanks for the info.  My travel agent did the cancellation so I have the email from her.  I'll just have to trust that it's there.  Now I see why people are so frustrated with Cunard's website.  I'm in no rush to contact Cunard as it will take us awhile to decide on another cruise - just thought I'd check.  Still working on my other cancellations - hoping that a UK tour group that I booked with for a tour in April will cancel. 

I'm trying to see if our future cruise credit has been recorded for our cruise and airfare on the cancelled 17 March Queen Victoria transatlantic.  I can't find anywhere on Cunard's website to look for this.  In the FAQ, Cunard posts this  

The Future Cruise Credit will be created in our system under your Unique Reference Numbers within 72 hours of canceling your booking.  

How can I find this?  On the US site, I can find nothing at all.  I've tried using our Booking Reference, but that no longer works. On the UK site, I see a place to establish an account with your Member Number - but neither mine or my husband's number works.  We're in the US.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Has anyone in the US received this email?  I'm scheduled to depart on Queen Victoria next Tuesday - have received nothing and the US website doesn't have this info.

27 minutes ago, lvmypug said:

Just got off the phone with Cunard.  They are offering 50% future cruise credit on the non refundable portion of our 2  cruises set to leave on March 17 and April 18th.   I can't believe they are not matching what Carnival, Princess,  Royal, Celebrity are offering.  We are in the high risk category (over 60 with underlying health issues).  We will lose thousands of dollars if they don't offer a full credit.   I will NEVER cruise with them again if that happens!

 

 

Thanks for posting the info.  I presume that we're on the same 17 March QV cruise. Not happy with Cunard - several friends booked with other lines for March/April cruises have received a 100% future cruise credit.  It's not just the cruise - I have several weeks of touring scheduled once I get to Southampton.  If what's happening in Italy spreads throughout Europe, we'll just have try to change our flights and come right back.  I'd much rather postpone and do the full trip at a later date.

Thanks to all for the information and tips - very helpful.

Starting to pack for my Queen Victoria voyage departing Ft. Lauderdale on 17 March.  I've checked the Cunard website but don't see anything about Internet packages - just that it's available.  It looks like they charge by the minute - is that so or are there other packages? What are the costs?  I'll just want to check in with family once every day or two.

I also see that they charge for laundry detergent - can I use my own?  I can throw in a few tabs if allowed.

And, for those that have done this crossing from Florida to the Azores, what kind of weather is typical?  I'm spending a week in South England after the cruise, so don't want to bring too many clothes for warm weather. 

Thanks in advance for any information.

So happy to follow along with you.  We join in Ft. Lauderdale for the transatlantic segment back to Southampton. 

Really enjoyed our trip to Liverpool a few years back.  I would highly recommend the National Trust tour to John Lennon's and Paul McCartney's homes.  You can view from the outside on your own, but the only way to visit inside is through this tour.  The tour guides are excellent with a highly interesting insights.  Having been a fan since the beginning, I was very moved.  Not cheap, but to visit the rooms where John and Paul started composing was unforgettable.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/beatles-childhood-homes

Thank you John474 for your review.  Now I know that we won't be too out of place and I'm very glad to hear that the food in the buffet is good.  We're doing a transatlantic on the Queen Victoria next spring.  While I love to dress up, DH refuses to wear a tie, so I'm resigned to the buffet most evenings.  I am disappointed that we won't be allowed to see the nightly entertainment, but that's how it is.  After the cruise, the only one that gets us to the UK on the dates, we're  joining a tour in London to North Africa. It just isn't practical to bring "dress up" clothes when we're limited to one suitcase.  I respect those that say, look for another cruise line if you don't like the dress code, but in our case, there isn't an alternative - and we don't want to fly both ways.

What a timely discussion! So on formal nights, would we be barred from entertainment in the theater if my husband doesn't wear a tie?  We don't mind eating in the Lido, but do enjoy the entertainmen on ships.  Cunard has the only transatlantic schedule that works for our plans in Europe.

On 1/20/2018 at 9:12 AM, Tampa Girl said:

 

What ship and cabin category were you on? We will be on HAL's Amsterdam in a balcony cabin. Wondering if there will be enough room under the sofa in that cabin for a shoe

holder.

We're on the Amsterdam now in a Vista (balcony) cabin.  We don't have a sofa bed, but a regular sofa.  It goes all the way to the floor, so there is no room to store anything underneath.  The laundry is on this deck - if you aren't a 4 star.  $ 2.00 for a wash - the dryer is free, so as long as you don't mind not having much variety, I don't see a need for more than 2-3 suitcases per person.  I have one large and two carry on sized ones. 

We visited Easter Island on Holland America's Amsterdam a few days ago.  While it wasn't windy and the seas seemed fairly calm, the captain had to maneuver the ship several times to find a location to minimize the swells.  To make a long story short, some people didn't make it ashore due to the time involved to load the tenders because of the swells - up to 45 minutes per tender vs. the usual 15.  We booked a HAL tour and were called to depart about 2 hours and thirty minutes past our posted departure time.  People that had high tender numbers were finally informed about 4 pm that no more passengers would be allowed to go ashore as the Captain was concerned about getting passengers already ashore, back to the ship before dark.

So, if you are determined to see Easter Island via a cruise, book a ship's tour with the earlier departure the better.  Or, be prepared to get up very early to secure a tender ticket.  Tender tickets were distributed about 7 AM.  I heard that some passengers were in line at 4:30 AM.

I'm on her now in a Vista suite - disembarking in Sydney, so perhaps you'll get ours. Just open shelving in the bathroom and only one USB port - in a lamp between the sofa and balcony.

Good to know she is here. Leaving soon to board!!!

Following - we're booked for the Ultimate Adventure Tour in mid-March.  Driving there from Sydney after disembarking.  

Would love to hear of your experiences in Santa Maria and San Blas.  Going there on the world cruise in a few weeks and don't have anything planned.  Is there a shuttle into town in Santa Maria?  Thinking of just walking around.  Thanks and have a wonderful cruise. 

18 hours ago, courticeguy said:

If you drink beer, purchase more at happy hour prices and take them to your cabin. They will give them to you unopened.

Would it be really tacky then to ask for one drink with no ice that I could take back to my cabin and consume the next day - in my cabin?  I can't handle more than one and my husband only drinks non alcoholic beer.

I have a flight booked through flight EASE from Amsterdam to Frankfurt with connecting flight to Miami on Lufthansa but there is only a two hour window between flights I'm not a frequent flyer do you think that is enough time or should I try other airlines and times ? Thanks for any info

You should be fine. I've transferred through Frankfurt many times. Just don't buy any duty free liquor in Amsterdam and expect to get it through to Miami. If you change planes in Europe, your liquids will be confiscated and this can hold you up in security.

It isn't Luggage Forward you need permission from. HAL would need to approve the suitcase staying aboard. Security now days does NOT permit an unaccompanied suitcase (or any other item) to remain and travel.

Good point - thanks, I'm checking with HAL

I'm doing a segment of the 2019 World Cruise, Fort Lauderdale to Sydney. We'll spent a few weeks in Australia before flying home. I'd like to send a suitcase or two home from Sydney so that I don't have to drag "cruise only" clothes and souvenirs around Australia. The cost to send a suitcase from Sydney is $ 359 - not worth it to me. The cost to sent from Fort Lauderdale is $ 120. I called Luggage Forward this morning to see if I can leave a suitcase on the Amsterdam until she returns to Fort Lauderdale in May and then have my suitcase shipped to me. I was told that yes, they can do this, but I'm still a little nervous about it really working.

Has anyone had experience doing this? If so, how did it go?

I got credit on Carnival in 2013 for a cruise that I did in 2002. I found our embarkation photo that had the name of the ship and date. Maybe do some searching through those old photos for something similar. Good luck!

I lived in Israel for 3 years about 10 years ago while working for Uncle Sam. Note that all Jewish owned businesses will be closed on Saturday and won't open until sunset. Most start closing early Friday afternoon. Despite the long bus ride, I wouldn't miss Jerusalem - and it's worthwhile joining a tour as it's very confusing to drive, park, and even walk around. It's easy to get lost in the Old City and unless things have changed, major religious sites aren't well marked. Saturdays are less congested and the shops in the Arab, Christian, and Armenian quarters will be open. On Sunday, many of the Christian owned businesses will be closed.

The Christian sites in Nazareth and Sea of Galilee area are also impressive. I think you'd see more on a tour and see more sites in your limited time - Nazareth is very confusing for driving. You might still have time for some visiting in Haifa.

If you just have 2 days, I'd skip Tel Aviv. There are some nice museums and Jaffa is interesting, but would only do this if I had 3 or 4 days. If you like Roman and Byzantine sites, Caesarea is amazing. There are some wonderful waterfront restaurants there too. When I had to "entertain" visitors, I took them here or Jerusalem. If you go there, I'd rent a car. Driving in Israel is pretty easy. Signs on major highways have English and the majority of Israelis speak terrific English. There is public transportation, but I think that taking a bus would be confusing and the bus signs are only in Hebrew.

I thought that Amsterdam still had a laundry. Can anyone confirm? I'm doing one of the World Cruise segments and had planned to do laundry every 2 weeks - I don't mind spending a few hours on a sea day doing this for a long cruise. And, I'm just a 1 star so have no status to get mine done for free.

If anyone is doing an excursion to Moscow, would highly recommend "A Gentleman in Moscow" by Amor Towles. Part of it does take place in St. Petersburg. The most delightful read I've had in quite awhile. Just wish I had read it before my land tour in Russia last year. I'm also interested in novels set in Australia and New Zealand ahead of next year's cruise.

Has anyone ever been "bumped" off due to overbooking with a guarantee. I've booked a guarantee on a segment of next year's world cruise. I've only ever done one other HAL cruise so I have no status at all. Since it's sold out, I'm just a bit concerned.