D&N

We don't have that problem anyway. We're always together. We just speak to each other.

I knew it worked already having tested it to make sure the automatic FTP backup from my camera to phone to cloud would work without phone signal, but just did it again to be sure. It does run battery down quicker though, which might be down to file sizes being transferred. I've never owned an apple product and never will unless they change their business model. We're very happy with Moto Gs, currently 2020 and 2021 models.

Perhaps surprisingly Wycliff gets a higher rating from drinkers on Vivino than Pol Acker. Judging by it's taste profile, which most rate as being towards a more fruity flavour I'd probably prefer Pol Acker too. If I want something sparking and fruity I'm probably better off with a soft drink.

There is at least one Tony & Maria (Dance) video on YT of dancing in the Queens Room on an Ice White Ball on Queen Elizabeth. I personally wouldn't wear a white tux and white trousers, but it does show some of the outfits that were actually worn at such an event.

Apart from my seafront runs and gym visits, I did wear shorts a few times in the last fortnight for 10km walks with my wife in sunshine. My last bloods did show a slight decline in vitamin D. I thought I best expose a bit more skin to the sun. It'll be a while before I let the doc have another look at me so there is plenty of time to raise the reading. But I probably will be wearing tailored shorts around the house and outside in daytime for the next few months because the temperature isn't going to drop below 20C until September, and probably 30C+ in the sun for most of that time.

Yes. You can run one plan with the other device linked by bluetooth/WiFi hotspot, but not if you're in different places. Edit: And of course you'd need to text by WhatsApp or other message service. A phone text will be charged through the satellite system.

Swimming under the Forth Rail Bridge was never something I envisaged doing. The RS Feva that was one of the boats used in the RYA Dinghy course had other ideas. Most times I tried to gybe, the wind caught it and over it went chucking me in.

I've noticed that Norwegian and a few others have been using the local ferry company to supply tendering facilities at Cannes for a few years. Yesterday Norwegian Escape was using two of it's own tenders and I think up to four of the local ferries. The ferries are probably faster, steadier and higher capacity than the tenders, with local crew.

Most countries including the US and UK have anti-bribery laws. It's very likely that offering or accepting a bribe is committing a crime. In practice these laws are aimed at multi million $/£ contracts but it's the same principle.

If that's your alcohol intake and you don't insist on coffee coming from proper espresso machines, and you use the buffet, then I don't think drinks packages are worth your while. We have at least six a day, don't go near buffets, and I only take two coffees per day but always made exactly to my taste.

Not knowing what @Pushpit heard being said, perhaps the maître d had already agreed to whatever request was made. I still find it distasteful though. I thought allocating tables was a significant part of a maître d's job and that they would do their best to accommodate requests. In my view gratuities for good service are better kept until end of trip unless it's a staff member you don't expect to see again.

I'm thinking of having two pairs of dress trousers bought in 1997 professionally taken in by two sizes. Not sure if I need the extra pairs though. I disposed of the black jacket and white tux already. I did try shrinking the latter in a hot wash, and it did reduce a little but I decided new ones would be better.

Victoria2 seems very resourceful. I'd imagine there might be one in her cabin, or she might ask her butler to source one, or simply borrow one from the MDR.

That was my thought. Sounded like someone that shouldn't be allowed to work remotely since they don't know enough about their equipment to solve minor connection problems.

Ahh, Hurrah!! A dress code thread! 🤣 There were a couple of YouTubers recently. One of them was wearing an ill fitting black tux on a Gala night, the other pointed out that his medium grey large checked suit didn't really match the dress code, but it would appear he got away with it. So you'll probably not have a problem either. Personally I plan to wear a black tux on all four of our Gala nights and for the ten smart attire nights I will use my cream tux, my new navy tux, and the black tux. Saving on luggage by not taking any casual wear. Perhaps 99% isn't accurate statistically, but the vast majority of men on QM2 crossings wear tuxes on Gala nights.

@Bell Boy These were the photos that told me that the sensor on my 40x superzoom compact camera was far too small! https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/2855494-queen-mary-2-29th-may-round-trip-crossing/?do=findComment&comment=63336810

I did ensure that it was secured so it wouldn't blow overboard. Hung low and quite near the balcony door, with lots of mini pegs on each garment. Plus we only use it for light, quick drying fabrics of gym wear as soon as we return from our workouts. There's not enough to bother taking to laundrette and we wouldn't want to let it wait for other garments to accumulate. As soon as it stops dripping the cord including clothing moves to the shower. By then it's virtually dry. We only visit one port and last time I did leave the line out with clean dry items for a photo from the Staten Island Ferry. 🙂 And of course we're novice rather than seasoned, only having one round trip under our belts so far.

Someone will confirm specifically for Queen Anne, but as far as I know all reasonably modern cruise ships have magnetic walls and ceilings. We have a thin bungee cord washing line that we can stretch across the balcony (as far from the railing as possible), which might help if you get reasonable weather. The cord has hooks at each end and we find something to catch it on at each side. To secure garments to the line in the wind we use sewing pegs like in picture.

Sounds as if you need to change your agent! It's a shame you are not allowed to name agents here, as it would then let others know to avoid him. Not much point having an agent if they don't reply.

Do you have any contact with the local customs people? In France they wave anything through from China, Malaysia or India, but immediately jump on anything posted from the UK.

That was not my experience. I registered a Wise debit card, which had a USD balance in excess of our potential spend. As each transaction was registered the Wise app notified me of the update to the authorised amount and the available balance was updated immediately. The number of transactions was limited due to purchase of drinks package. There were two charges on the first day that should have been covered by the package. These were refunded a day or two later and I knew from the Wise app that they had been refunded before I checked the account on My Voyage. There were fifteen transactions in our two weeks. Early on the final morning the total was charged to the card and the remaining balance was instantly available. Wise recorded the final transaction as being the date of the first authorisation.

Might they have had any sand contamination? We had a weather episode for several days over the weekend. They tell us that the light clouds are carrying Saharan sand. The result is that all the cars parked outdoors and house windows become coated in small splodges of sand.

I don't quite understand what that has to do with Cunard, or any other supplier of goods or services. Is the problem not your bank's policy? In our case if real time exchange rates are likely to be favourable to us, we would use a credit card that charges no exchange fees and uses close to live money market rates. We have a debit card, which we can load with USD from GBP or EUR when the dollar is weak. That card removes any authorisation amounts instantly when the authorisation is either replaced by an actual charge or an authorisation for the same charge is made on a different card. I've watched this happen on the app related to the card on my phone screen both on QM2 and in a New York hotel belonging to the Accor Group. We can recoup the card's small FX fee when converting any remaining USD back to GBP or EUR by choosing to do so when the dollar is strong.

Le Benitier gets a decent rating on Google, and prices for beds are similar to a restaurant in a much less fashionable town near us. Food/drink prices aren't that inflated.

There's a big gap in her schedules May 2026 into June 2026. We would have booked for June 2026 but she doesn't have sailings that we would normally have chosen.