ExArkie

Just got an email from Cunard that says testing is no longer mandatory for Voyage M240, the December 15 TA. I verified on the Cunard Web site that M240, and the continuations M240A and M240B are now under the “standard requirements” category. They do still recommend testing and state that passengers will be asked at the terminal as to whether they have had a negative test. Edited to add: Cunard’s Web site says that there are no 2022 voyages with additional testing requirements.

You can also pick up tickets to planetarium shows in the Concierge Lounge. As I recall, a limited number of them stacked on the concierge desk at the same time they are made available downstairs.

I know there is a fairly impressive set of dumbbells in the free weight area, but do not believe there is much for a barbell set-up (been a few years since I was on board…I can let you know for certain in about a month). A search of my photo files and the Internet for photos of the gym was not particularly illuminating. Best picture of the free weight area seems to be on this person’s posted diary (text is in German, but pictures are pictures). https://www.cruisediary.de/queen-mary-2-schiff-teil-2-ab-deck-7/

In 2017, we were upgraded from PG to QG. The e-ticket I saved on my hard drive gives our QG boarding time as 12:30. However, the PG boarding time for 2018 (we used QM2 as our return trip from teaching assignments in the UK and Ireland for a few years in a row) was also 12:30, so the previous one may have been based on our original PG booking such that QG would have been earlier.

I have noticed that everyone (even "your regular people") has something of interest to share - a story of life in an area different from where I have been, different cultural experiences in childhood or adolescence, historical perspective on what they have been through, how they developed their own hobbies/interests, and so on. It is sometimes difficult to get the stories out of the more reticent - and sometimes difficult to stop them from the more garrulous - but it usually interesting when one does so.

Just checked our booking for the December 5-day Christmas Market trip. We are definitely being allowed (some might say “encouraged”) to buy the drinks package for it. We will not be doing so, however, due to the circumstances of this particular booking. Our travel agent included enough OBC to pay the hotel service charges (a.k.a., gratuities) and have enough left over to pay for a bottle of wine daily…albeit one from the lowest end of the price range. Plus, the TA also included a bottle of wine, probably one of the Cunard private label based on others’ experience, and we will get at least one bottle of sparkling wine (in PG) just for showing up. Seems like we can manage with those inclusions, especially given that for three of the days we are in port.

I have had some issues with the search function over the years. These are the two threads I remember reading recently about open dining on Cunard. The second one I would have expected to show up in a search for “open dining,” but maybe not

My perspective, based on my experience with US credit cards: Cunard appears to be processing the debit card in the same way that they do credit cards, which is probably an error, but certainly not correct. For a credit card, the hold is placed by the merchant on the front end and remains a “pending” charge until the merchant makes it an official charge. Doing nothing to a pending charge means that it eventually goes away without being due for payment, but it does reduce one’s credit limit while pending. The merchant may ignore the holds, allowing them to expire, and issue a separate charge to the card for the amount. They may also inform the card issuer that the holds can be removed. The difference with a debit card is that a hold issued by the merchant goes against the bank balance, not against a credit limit, unless it is handled differently in placing the hold. In this instance, it appears that Cunard did not know this was a debit card and handled the hold as they would a credit card. Hence, the “hold” charge is no longer a hold in the same context as for a credit card. It is quite possible that the double charge was because Cunard assumed the initial holds would be uncharged if they were just allowed to expire. Perhaps they even told the card issuer to remove the holds, which did not happen because, between the two systems, they failed to find any holds. To me, it sounds as though Cunard’s system did not recognize this as a debit card and screwed up the processing. This is consistent with the explanation quoted above from Cunard. I missed any follow up as to their response when the screen shots were provided as they suggested. Was that posted? (Just kind of read through this quickly.)

Apologies to sogne - got confused with too many windows open at once and credited the wrong poster. My heart bleeds for you. Life must be so difficult…

A quick Internet image search appears to have identified that point of land in front of the ship (based on the spire near the waterfront and the cross at the end of the land) as Gijon, Spain. If that's wrong, I blame the Internet site that labeled the similar picture I found. Of course, if it's right, I did it all myself. Edited to add: I didn't see an acknowledgement of your previous picture being Stavenger, but that image search function (which, honestly, almost never finds anything I'm looking for) showed a picture of that port that matches the pyramid shapes on the roof of the building just left of center and the spire just right of center.

We were in Hamburg last summer - a land trip, not a cruise. The available bookable entry times all appeared to be at or near opening time and were generally two or more days in advance. Walk-ups were not being accepted at all on the one day we went by and, according to another guest at our hotel, were given a 2+ hour wait on another. This was the height of tourist season and apparently our trip coincided with a bank holiday, so the crowds were unusually large. Might be better at other times, but I have no experience other than the one trip.

Reviving a dormant discussion to provide a follow-up to my own question (post #10) and to provide current data for anyone considering this service. I just booked Luggage Forward for our December Cunard trip. Embarkation is December 10, making this 41 days prior to getting on the ship. We are spending about three weeks traveling (some in US, mostly in UK) prior to boarding, and another few days after the TA (Christmas at our son's house), so having someone else take care of the formal wear sounded great. Details, everything in US dollars: Outbound (1) Detroit area to Southampton (QM2) = $384 for a standard bag up to 50 lbs (22 kg) (2) Included insurance coverage = $500. Additional $12 per each additional $500 coverage (e.g., $1,000 coverage is $12 extra, $1,500 coverage is $24 extra, $2,000 coverage costs $36, and so on. Additional coverage can be booked in increments of $500 only) (3) Earliest standard timing for collection of the luggage from home was November 28 for a December 10 departure (12 days prior to embarkation). Latest standard timing was (I think...didn't really pay that much attention since it didn't matter to me) 8 or 9 days prior to departure. (4) Earlier collection is possible. I was able to arrange an earlier date, which ended up being three days prior to our outbound flight. There was an additional charge of $35, since the freight company will now have to store the luggage for several days prior to forwarding it through UK Customs. I booked the service online first, then called to adjust the collection date. This is what they told me to do when I called last Spring. Seemed to work well. Return (1) Brooklyn (QM2) to Detroit area = $264 for a standard bag up to 50 lbs (22 kg) (2) Included insurance coverage = $500. Additional $6 per each additional $500 coverage (3) Earliest standard timing for delivery of the luggage to home was December 28 for a December 22 arrival. Later times were also available, up to about 8 or 9 days after arrival (as I recall, again, it didn't impact my booking, so it didn't fully register). Once the reservation is made, you need to enter information relevant to clearing Customs. This consists of passport information, travel schedule giving arrival into and departure from the UK as well as arrival into the US, a packing list, and signature. The packing list is simplistic: checklist allows you to choose clothing, toiletries, accessories, and/or electronics. Clicking on each brings up a subitem that includes prohibitions (e.g., no new clothes with price tags attached, no aerosols, no prescription medication, no "expensive jewelry," etc.). Whole thing took about three minutes to complete, most of which was sent trying to get a signature to work (laptop using a mouse). One can also click on the "having trouble signing" link and it will add an electronic signature, which you affirm is permissible for Luggage Forward to use as yours. That's what I did after trying three times to make the mouse movement look anything like my signature. One can also book a smaller bag for less money or a larger bag for more money. I did not note the specific weights nor amounts...I have to leave something for others to find out.

In the “before times,” on board bookings for US passengers were refundable, while those for UK passengers were not. Evidently, the policy for New Zealand passengers has varied. The US passengers were also able to book what amounted to a future cruise deposit, in that it did not have to be tied to a specific sailing. We have one such deposit expiring at the end of this year - booked two on board in 2018, used one for a December TA. I have verified with Cunard that the expiring one will be refunded.

My wife and I are on the Dec 15 TA, adding it onto the Christmas market trip. Different cabins - we splurged for QG on the TA, so we’ll see what the “turnaround day” is like when one is just moving up a deck If there’s no CC meet-up, there are still plenty of places to meet up.

Actually, I rather liked the visual of riding a Segway from gas rings/kettles over to the dress code.

Congratulations on the 50th anniversary. That is definitely an important milestone. I have never arranged for a celebration on board, so I’m not certain how it works. We were on board on my birthday once (in Princess Grill) and they brought a cake to our table, but we didn’t arrange for that. If you booked through a travel agent, that would be the best place to start. If you booked directly with Cunard, I would call their main number and ask. We have had good luck with the random people we talk to at the main number. If that doesn’t bring satisfaction, talk to the Concierge or QG maitre d’ on the first day to see what can be done. We are also booked on the December Christmas Market trip. Hope to see you on board.

We quite enjoy talking to the officers at these events. We have had informative and entertaining discussions with the ship’s engineer (who later invited us to his hosted table in Britannia), the environmental officer (my wife and I both worked in the environmental field), customer relations, and even an accountant…who knew accounting could be that interesting? The parties are a great way to learn more about the ship’s operations without getting it through a canned presentation.

I know (from a distillery tour of the Islands) that the ferry into Oban from the south sails up Loch Etive, but I didn’t find photos online of that loch that matched yours in perspective. Of course, one much larger stretch of water to the south of Mull is known as the North Atlantic Ocean.

I am also on M239 and M240. This was my post in a separate thread in regard to what Cunard told me. We also have no intention of leaving the ship on the turnaround day. I am looking forward to watching the process from a different perspective than being a part of the boarding group. And, yes, Southampton is worth a visit, which is why we’re spending a day or so there prior to the December 10 voyage.

That hadn’t occurred to me. Evidently, I didn’t connect “emergency” with my own demise, probably because that wouldn’t really be an emergency to me. Granted, my wife (who is also on this trip), son, and Cunard would be upset, but it definitely wouldn’t be bothering me.

Cunard responded to my Web site inquiry about this question before I had a chance to call - been a busy couple of weeks. They said they would link the two reservations so the ship would be aware we are aboard and could “…proceed accordingly if a COVID-19 test is necessary…” and suggested we check with the Purser or Medical Center halfway through the first trip just to be sure. Pretty much what I expected, except for the sort-of implication that testing actually might not be required.

I got the email. It stated that the missing information was the “emergency contact full address,” which I knew I had entered already. (Side note: Why do they want a mailing address? If I collapse on board, are they going to mail him a post card?) Evidently, the missing information was “relationship to you,” which also seems irrelevant. I wrote “son” (which I know I had entered previously) and saved the change. It seemed to accept it. Edited to add: I am at a loss to explain how this relates to immigration.

That was my experience. Before our second crossing (didn’t know enough to do this on the first), I looked up who would be speaking. Of the three speakers listed, none were actually on board. Now, I just wait until the daily program comes out.

See you on board. We decided to splurge and take the 5-day Dutch Christmas Market trip and then stay on for the crossing. So, when test time comes, we'll actually be on QM2. I haven't had a chance to call and find out how they plan to handle that.

Not sure the mandatory test is entirely based on the requirements of the destination. Our December crossing (M240) requires a supervised test, because it is included in a longer itinerary (M240A) that includes the Caribbean and an even longer one (M240B) that adds the NY-Southampton return. We are only on for the westbound TA, but required to test. I checked the Caribbean destinations and none require testing for entry. The test is required because it is a “longer” voyage…even though we are only on for a 7-night TA.