Fairgarth

Today's news from Norwegian is that their long-haul aircraft will never fly again.  They are firing hundreds of employees across Europe and will try to continue as short-haul only.

Here's another aspect of check-in you need to realize.  Cunard will give you a check-in time.  At least, they did when I started in Hamburg and again several months later in New York.  Good idea, I thought, spread everybody out and there will be no lengthy line-ups.  Ha!  We arrived at 3:15 for our 3:30 check-in.  What a line-up!!  Dreadful.  Their check-in process 'needs work', shall we say.  The agent held my passport in her left hand while pecking away with one finger to type in the details.  Why?  I had entered my passport details online already.  Maybe frequent travellers can answer this for us all:  if they give you 3:30 and you show up at noon, what happens?

On 12/29/2020 at 12:19 AM, Solent Richard said:

 

Well done you. Our adventure there was a full day and we found a most delightful Ristorante for lunch...

 

Thank you, kind Sir.  Here's our daily spritz on the main drag in Tarquinia and a splendid lunch at Il Cavatappi (The Corkscrew).

2 hours ago, Solent Richard said:

 

Why rely on a Tour. Having done Rome to death I have found many outstanding places within an easy train or bus ride. Tarquinia being one perfect example...

 

 

...home to one of the most outstanding preserved Etruscan burial sites...

 

Agree, Richard.  Three years ago we were taking a cruise starting in Civitavecchia.  Arriving three days early, we did not want Rome again so looked at a map and followed the railway line up the coast from the port until the first place we came to was....Tarquinia.  Perfect!  Loved it.  We were sitting one morning in a local cafe when two ladies came in and sat at the table next to us.  Hearing us speaking English, they joined in.  They were local guides who were leading a tour group off a cruise ship in Civitavecchia so Tarquinia was one of the sights.

13 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

Attempting to direct airflow in a space from above to lower returns, would require pretty much tearing out every public space and cabin in order to relocate the ducting.  While not requiring drydock, it would require a long time out of service in a shipyard.

I read a report some weeks ago - can't find it now - of some scientists who borrowed a United 767 and tested the distribution of particles.  They set up a dummy on a seat to exhale particles as per Covid and had several detection devices on many surrounding seats.  They tested it at ground level, at 30,000ft  and at different seat locations.   Short summary:  if the dummy was infectious, nobody else got it.  Air comes in from above and is sucked out at floor level, the airflow is straight downward so you could sit next to an infectious person and not get it.  However, departure lounge, boarding and deboarding could be different.  I'm not aware that any ship has extraction vents at floor level so that would be a very different thing.  As chengkp75 says, it ain't gonna happen at sea.

The museum could use a lot more space, everything is jammed in but I enjoyed the visit.  You can enter the Sunderland and sit in one of the very spacious seats.  Those were the days!

8 hours ago, FlyerTalker said:

You left out one word in your original post -- nonstop.

 

You can fly a number of carriers between DFW and YVR, but the only ones operating non-stop service between the two are AA and AC.  The UA flights you see are probably only code-shares, with AC being the operating carrier.

Pre-COVID, AA ran two a day and AC one a day (non-stops).  We have used both in the past and there were no others.  In future, who knows?

The Norwegian Government has refused any further financial aid for Norwegian Air.  The airline has gone from 10,000 employees down to 600 and from 100+ aircraft down to six.  They only fly domestic routes within Norway right now.  They can't survive.

20 hours ago, exlondoner said:

 

I don't really read it like that: it seems to me to imply little more than people who have travelled on Cunard a lot and enjoy it. I don't really get the sense of entitlement or feeling of elite. 

My sentiments, exactly.

On 10/23/2020 at 3:03 PM, kardut said:

Thoughts on best island — St Lucia, Barbados, or Antigua — for snorkeling?

Can't comment on St. Lucia or Barbados but Antigua is not noted for good snorkelling.

2 hours ago, Lanky Lad said:

It is indeed, but where was I sitting?  The chair and the metalwork should give it away.

Well, it's not the long bar in Raffles.  And likely cheaper than the long bar in Raffles.

BTW Lanky Lad, many thanks for starting this thread.  Lots of fun!

3 hours ago, cltnccruisers said:

It seems as though TAs sell out very quickly - is that true or is it just my imagination running away with me?

Actually, I have always suspected the opposite, although I can't prove it.  Yes, some people - including us - love trans-At but there are lots of cruisers who are looking for ports.  They want to visit different places.  That makes TA a tough sell for the cruise lines and also why they can be a bargain.  (None of which applies to a crossing on QM2)  For us, the ship is the destination.  One of our TAs was only two thirds full.  Others have been booked close to departure.

8 hours ago, Lanky Lad said:

I knew it was easy, it lasted less than 4 minutes.

Ah indeed, but for bonus points:  what time is the collection?

I guess we have been lucky.  May it continue!  From the experience of others, it sounds like one of these days we'll get tossed around a bit.

Here's the thing:  trans-At is highly seasonal.  In spring, there are lots of ships going eastbound.  They do the Caribbean in winter and Europe in the summer.  Then in the fall, they head westbound again, huge choice, good value.  Most of the trips will be 12 to 16 days.  We have done four of them, 2 each way, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Azamara and Seabourn.  Loved all of them, the ship is the destination.    You are so far south that weather is not a problem.  If you leave from Ft. Lauderdale and end up in Lisbon, sailing well to the south of Bermuda, how bad could it be in April?  Smooth trips, all of them.

Then there is QM2 that takes 7 days but goes north Atlantic at all times of year.  Done that each way.  Great way to go but winter weather can be, shall we say, unpredictable.  We've been lucky.

So depending on your timing, it sounds like you could take advantage of the seasonal migration and the QM2 three months before or after.

On 9/29/2020 at 2:20 AM, BigMac1953 said:

 

As for their dress code, such as cloth caps and boots and their tattoos (and that's just the females), there's just nothing more to be said.

Aye indeed, BigMac.  Did you forget the nose rings and the luminous hair?  A momentary lapse, I feel sure.

2 hours ago, bluemarble said:

 

That's one of the statues at the entrance to the Illuminations theater on QM2.

Quite right, bluemarble.

And now a caption contest, let me start.

"Your dad said WHAT??"

On 9/23/2020 at 4:25 PM, Ray66 said:

Enquiring minds want to know - the commodore on QV and QE doesn't get cufflinks.  Why not?

..and for bonus points, name the price of every bottle lying horizontal...

46 minutes ago, bluemarble said:

 

More specifically, Homer Simpson in the North America panel along the deck 2 grand corridor of QM2 near the Golden Lion Pub.

Very precise.  Congratulations!

Sorry for the poor quality...who is this and where is he?

The commodore's cufflinks.  QM2

On 8/25/2020 at 6:55 AM, bluemarble said:

there is no longer an "Alaska" destination to select on the Cunard website when doing a voyage search.

Curses!  We live in Vancouver and had been eyeing a 10-day Alaska trip next summer.  There are lots of 7 day voyages on other lines but 10 days has a lot of appeal, is rare and we like Cunard.  Especially since it was Vancouver - Vancouver and we would need two taxis rather than two flights.  Ah well, c'est la vie!

18 hours ago, 1982CruzStart said:

They may not have received any direct funding from the government since being privatized but they continue to receive preferential treatment to the determinate of the Canadian taxpayer and competitors including other Canadian airlines. 

If they did, indeed, receive preferential treatment it was obviously hopelessly inadequate.  The privatized Air Canada went bankrupt.