failteromhat

Thank you. I have had a look and it looks like 9.45 is the start time for the balls, so I am hoping we can eat quickly if sitting at 8.30!!

It is about 30 - 40 minutes walk along the quays to O'Connell Bridge. Alternatively, you can walk out of the port (about 10- 15 mins) and catch the Luas ( www.luas.ie ) at The Point stop on the red line which brings you to city centre. I recommend getting off at the Abbey Street stop and then you can transfer to the Green Line as well. Depending on where you want to go, you can walk to most attractions from the Abbey Street stop. (very close to O'Connell Street)

Hi, We are taking a taster short cruise on the QM2 later this year, and I was wondering what the more popular sitting is for dinner in the regular restaurant (not Club or Grills) - the earlier (6pm) or the later sitting (8.30)?

Is it possible to change between the 2 times once on-board i.e. eat at 6pm one evening and 8.30 pm another?

(I expect if so, it would be easier to switch to the less busy time!)

Also, what time do the balls generally start? I would like to go to that, but don't want to miss it having a late dinner (am leaning towards the later sitting at the moment)

It's close to Terminal 3: 3 Branch road is the road. You'll turn left on to Alexandra Road. Then when you get out of the entrance to the port, turn left onto the main road (East Wall road) and the Luas will be on the right hand side before you get to the 3 Arena (concert venue). It's about a mile/ 1.6 km walk to the Luas from the dock. Dublin Port is a commercial port; they haven't built a cruise terminal yet as cruises have only been docking for 2 or 3 years. So it's a bit rough and ready- you can likely walk though the port but I'd say it's a bit grim. Does the cruise line not provide a shuttle?

Also, Dalkey is quite a small village; there may be a couple of taxis hanging around the train station, but if not there are some local companies like Dalkey Cabs +35312857777 or Borough cabs +35312800444

I've not used those so I can't vouch for them!

Uber does work here but it's mainly taxi drivers that pick up the fare. :D

That could be an option as well to get you back to the city

Any particular reason for Dalkey? It's very pretty, I grant you, however there is a good lot to do in the city centre too.

If you need any more help, please let me know.

Hi, there is no DART station near the port as the PP has said.

There is a LUAS light rail at the "Point Depot" stop which would be walkable from the port (it is just outside the entrance to the port, as such). This would take you along the red line Luas to Connolly (www.luas.ie) - approx. and then you could transfer onto the DART from Connolly to Dalkey. The DART will take about 30 minutes to Dalkey. The view of Dublin Bay from the DART is lovely as well. ( www.dart.ie)

The other option would be take a taxi, and ask the driver to go along the coast road by Sandymount (NB this means he will be going through the East Link toll bridge so there will be an extra charge). You wont get to see as much of the bay as you would on the DART but it's still pretty nice.

I guess it depends on cost/ time constraints.

from the Cunard website I see that there are several room types:

Britannia (Regular, I suppose)

Britannia Club- not sure, do you have to be a member or dies it just mean Superior room to regular?

Suites: Princess and Queen suites- so they offer some sort of access to a space where the people from "regular " rooms are not allowed to go?

#confused

I'd be happy with 800. I was rthinking I might have seen it at that some years ago, well before I even contemplated a cruise ( I think I just wanted to see the cost for reference )

I wonder if I should wait.

1200 Inc airfare isn't bad. . but 800 Inc airfare would be better! :D

Southampton to New York, 7 nights on Qm 2, in Autumn (Oct /Nov) on a balcony?

just enjoying the irony of someone who wants lots of things for their kids to do, but doesn't want very many kids on the ship...lol

I like kids, just couldn't eat a whole one.

Thanks for all the advice so far. I really appreciate it!

I have to say, I would also have similar questions! It is very difficult, IMO to try and compare like with like. Then there are so many offers: free on board credit, free drinks, free tips.

I didn't even know that there was a service charge as well as tips/gratuities!

My question would be more along the lines off- what costs extra. The cruise ships all tout " we have all this amazing stuff- ice rinks, shows, cocktail bars etc" and it's not always entirely clear what IS actually included in that.

my initial understanding was that "you paid your money, you gets your cruise" and that all was included. Then I started reading on here about On Board credits and so on, and I thought : Hang on, why would I need those? sure its all inclusive (unless I go for a massage or whatever, fair enough) - but it appears, only basic food and board are included, some entertainment and no drinks, certainly not alcohol.

I would love a comprehensive tick chart for each cruise company saying:

Included: Excluded:

Oh and while we are at it: a chart, similar to Seatguru for flights for all cabins aboard major cruise lines!! :-D

Was really leaning towards RCL as it has so much entertainment for the kids. I just wasnt massively thrilled with any of their itineraries though, and they're priced on the higher end of things.

I picked up another brochure for MSC and the itinerary looks amazing 12 different places on a Caribbean cruise. Sounds wonderful. .And their price is very low in comparison. almost half of RCL. I take it there's a reason for this?

What are people's opinions of MSC?

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone :cool:

Gosh, I thought late October /early November would be okay :( as Orlando is normally lovely that time of year. Might have to rethink times.

Would you really be cheek to jowl with people. We're sociable, don't misunderstand me, but prefer our privacy usually. For example, I'd join a dance or fitness class, but I /we wouldn't want to chat with people over dinner on a shared table every night or "make friends " by the pool, who you then keep bumping into all holiday. Do you think cruising could still be for us? :confused:

For my 40th I am thinking of bringing the family on a Caribbean cruise leaving from FL, as we will be in Orlando anyway. Thinking October 2018. The kids will be aged from 15 to 6 at the time, 3 boys, 2 girls.

What we like:

- Food

- Pools

- Activities

- Other cultures

- Surfing the internet (teenagers- sigh!)

- Dressing up (I mean in formal wear and so on)

What we don't like:

- Crowds- or masses of kids/ large groups/ tonnes of one age group (be that younger or older)

- Loud party atmosphere/ hard drinking

- Cheesy entertainment- even the kids hate the Butlins type entertainment

- Kids camps- kids not fans of "paint a tshirt and meet all the other lovely kids"

- Massive expense (me! although I appreciate with 7 on a Caribbean Cruise there is likely to be some expense!! :D )

I was thinking about 7 days or longer if necessary for Eastern or Southern Caribbean. I would be interested in seeing as many of the islands as possible for as long as possible. I like variety in activities, but I can get a bit overwhelmed if there is TOO much to do. Kids love being entertained- but this can be as simple as all day in the pool!

What lines would you recommend? I was at a holiday show rec ently where I met reps from Royal Caribbean which looks fun with the climbing wall and ice rink, but I wonder if it's really busy, busy? Celebrity X looks a bit too "adulty" for the kids.

Thanks for any information. :)