MelbTone

Yes, booked on a short Diamond cruise out of Adelaide (South Australia) next December. Got the last cabin, not the one I would have chosen if I'd had a choice.

See this thread. I had one on QM2 last month, very happy with it. https://boards.cruisecritic.com.au/topic/2488269-queen-mary2-sheltered-balcony-deck-6/

I'm just off Grand Princess and my perception was that as far as men were concerned, the number wearing tuxes could be counted on two hands. I wore a dark jacket, business shirt and tie but few others did. For the most part there was next to no difference between non-formal and formal nights.

It was meant as a generalisation which I stand by. Of course there will be exceptions.

Grand Princess, bid (to deluxe balcony) accepted 17 days out.

I'm spoiled: if I'm not too heavily laden I can walk to Port Melbourne. My take on it is therefore somewhat different to those who have been travelling for many hours. At a minimum the tram line needs to be extended to the pier with two platforms so that there is nearly always a tram waiting and the free tram zone should be extended to PM when there is a ship in port.

Very simple: on average us solos spend less (in total, and probably per head) than couples so from a commercial pov are less desirable.

No, solo means travelling on your own. As someone who is a solo traveller, I don't appreciate the extra cost but understand why it's levied - two people in a room on average means a lot more onboard spend than they get from me.

Queen Elizabeth seems to make a habit of leaving Port Melbourne a bit early. Twice - inc yesterday - I've gone down to see her sail and been too late.

Bid 30th Oct on a 22 Jan 7-night GP cruise - balcony (BB) to deluxe balcony (B4). I bid A$82 (x2, solo), min was A$55. Got acceptance today. Interesting location, right on aft corner, so might be a bit of movement, right next to a full suite. Also bid on mini suite and mini suite Club, obviously not accepted.

My last pre-Covid QE cruise had a couple of dance hosts assisting in hosting the solo meets.

I don't understand why Cunard should make it so hard for its Australian customers like me. My balance is due Sunday, but I would quite happily have paid last week so as to be on top of things. I also realised that the credit card on file has expired: you might have thought that Cunard would have picked this up with an impending payment due, but no. I had to phone the call centre and after the usual delay got the card updated. We'll see if the payment now goes out on time.

Back when I was living in UK my mother held a few shares in Carnival. She received an invitation to visit the QM2 and I was thrilled to be able to accompany her on a special shareholder open day at Southampton, 24 May 2004. The programme (cover here) is one of my treasured possessions.

Cunard has announced it will stop homeporting the Queen Elizabeth in Australia from 2026 onwards. The ship will only visit the southern hemisphere on world cruise segments. In a statement from Matt Gleaves, Commercial Vice President of North America & Australasia, he said, “We know that many guests in Australia and Japan love to sail with Cunard and Queen Elizabeth is already on her way to Australia to begin her 2023/2024 homeport season starting 27 November. “The ship will also return for her scheduled 2024/2025 season and whilst this news means that from 2026 there will be no locally based program, Australia and Asia will remain important destinations on our round-the-world voyages and we look forward to welcoming guests from these regions wherever they chose to sail with us.” The ship will instead, operate year-round from North America, spending the season sailing in and around Alaska and in the winter, in the Caribbean. .... https://cruisepassenger.com.au/news/cunard-pulls-the-pin-on-queen-elizabeths-return-to-australia/

Yes, happened to me at the start of this year. Not having sent or received a cheque in years, it took me a few seconds to realise what it was. If the OBC is non-refundable use it in the shop on something like batteries that you can use over time.

Finally the sun came out and Grand Princess set sail for Kangaroo Island. 126 ship visits on this season's schedule.

I booked the Queen Elizabeth 3-night cruise from Melbourne to Burnie (Tas) and back, 11-14 Feb this year. The day before departure I was surprised to get an email from Cunard saying that although the cruise would be going ahead, we might need to skip visiting Burnie as further hull cleaning was required before the QE’s New Zealand cruise which was to follow ours; if this was to happen we would each receive 100% FCC and $150 onboard credit (spending money), a more than generous offer. What happened? The hull cleaning had to be abandoned because of rough seas, we did go to Burnie (to the regret of those hoping for the FCC) and those who joined the ship on Feb 14th expecting to go round New Zealand found themselves on a cruise to Queensland and back! Full story here: and following comments

I've just spent the second of two nights aboard the QE2, fulfilling a long held ambition. I never sailed on her in service so have nothing to compare my stay with. There are chunks of the ship closed off but plenty to see - lots of pics, memorabilia etc. I'm in a Captain's Room, up high and in A1 condition. Food in the restaurant is excellent and by Australian standards reasonably priced, given that they've got a captive audience. Ship's tour by Craig was excellent. Location: QE2 is in the back of nowhere - nothing nearby. Taxis are cheap. I nearly got scammed by a dispatcher at Dubai Mall who wanted to put me in an unmarked black car. Drive wanted AED120; I told him to forget it and got a yellow taxi, AED36. In conclusion would I recommend staying here? Yes, but if you're making a longer visit, perhaps just two nights and the rest in centrally located hotel.

Spending two nights on the QE2 in a hot and steamy Dubai

Relive your childhood: it's currently being repeated on BBC Radio 4 Extra https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001ngb9

I'm saving my medallions as souvenirs but some public spirited individual should send one to Big Clive whose electronic YouTube videos are the best. https://www.youtube.com/@bigclivedotcom

+1 - I stayed there in February before my cruise and was very comfortable there. Cost me $169 for the night

Make sure you express your appreciation on the after-cruise survey.

For the first time today went to the Melbourne dawn service - since living here I've always felt that it was something I should do at least once but it's taken me 15 years to do it. Coming from UK it is notable how important ANZAC Day is treated here - shops closed etc, the huge numbers attending the dawn service and march - compared with Remembrance Day in UK where life goes on as normal for most people, though of course there are ceremonies at local war memorials.

Lots about Azamara + Australia on Paul and Carole's recent YouTube series