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2 minutes ago, WantedOnVoyage said:

That's the Queen's Room?  Wow.  And I have yet to see one... not one... comfortable looking armchair in the ship yet or a table that is not bare, spare and faux wood formica covered.  But if you like sparse, bare and sterile... there's lots to savour here. 

Yeah, I'm getting concerned about the chairs as they look rather narrow. 

8 hours ago, Bejay219 said:

What is the earliest you can board the ship in Southampton if you are in the Princess Grill.  We are trying to secure private transportation from London to Southampton,  we don't want to arrive way before we can board. The only information we can find is boarding is from around 1:00 to 3:30 but Grills have early embarkation. Our crossing isn't until near the end of June, so we don't have any of the final paperwork. Thank you in advance! 

You'll likely be given a time closer to 1300 or 1330.

While you might have to vacate your hotel room, your hotel won't boot you out of the public spaces/lounge/etc. We've happily sat for an hour or so with books and booked a taxi to pick us up  nearer our boarding time. We'd rather sit in a comfortable place than stand around outside in a restless crowd.

4 hours ago, TowandaUK said:

Sadly I can see where Daisy is coming from. I have seen posts here which refer to Britannia guests as riff raff in steerage. I suspect that it was a dubious attempt at humour, but it doesn’t feel like that when you are one of the aforementioned riff raff. The people on these boards are very helpful and generous towards us new to Cunard. However I do get the impression that a very few posters do have a high-low mindset. I choose to ignore posts like that. 

My impression has been that it is usually Brittania guests who refer to themselves by those terms!

13 hours ago, Joe33472 said:

 

Has anyone put an Air Tag in their luggage when using Luggage Forward?   I think I read some threads were lithium batteries are a no-no.   But it would be reassuring to me if I could track our bag.   If not, that's okay too.

Luggage forward provides updates as towhere your bag is located, you just have to log in and view your order.  I'd just have them send it to the ship, you don't need the hassle of transporting it from London.  I'd be far more worried about the bag sitting for days at a London hotel.

We were in 5190 for 3 weeks last year and loved the balcony though we often had cold and windy weather.  The room is a bit of an odd shape and did not have the refurb of those on higher decks, but we were very comfortable.  

3 hours ago, cpl100 said:

Thanks!  I don't like the answer but appreciate your help.  I mean... people want to safeguard their belongings, don't they?

Luggage Forward suggests you can use a zip tie, which customs can easily cut/remove. I found mine were not touched.

My initial look at the new itineraries this morning was disappointing for someone who relies on an Eastbound TA to join up with other itineraries. There seems to be far fewer TAs than in the past and a gap from mid-May until late June in QM2's schedule (possible partial refurbishment?).  No TAs in June at all!  We see some possible voyages but not as many to pick from as I had hoped.

1 hour ago, majortom10 said:

Nothing to do with Consumer Laws in any country when if you book QG/PG in US you get free gratuities and drinks package. If you book the same cruise and from the UK you get zilch. That is down to Cunard and how they treat cruiser's differently from whichever country they are from nothing to do with Consumer Law.

I thought you were talking about the refundabiluty of deposits, that is a difference in law.

Someone here recently did a calculation that showed US passengers are paying more total even with rhe extras.  I haven't done the calculations myself though.  I will also note that unless a US passenger boards in NY it is not cheap to get to a ship leaving from Southampton, which precludes using what appear to be nice but short notice fares for voyages leaving from that port!

3 hours ago, majortom10 said:

 Cunard's inconsistent treatment of differing nationalities is driving me away from cruising with them in the future. 

I don't think it is Cunard's choice. Consumer laws vary by nation and Cunard must follow those laws. Believe the refundable deposit is a requirement of doing business in the US.

It depends - if you are a US  customer and you book when there is a special grills promotion on, you may get the gratuities and drinks package included as well as one specialty dining meal. Of course it is built into the price, the cost without the promotion may be cheaper. 

1 hour ago, Winifred 22 said:

 Unfortunately US customers do seem to get more flexible T and C s then we get in U K 

Though not because Cunard chooses to grant more flexibility, it is a difference in the way consumer protection laws are written.  

Check the Cunard pages, I  believe they are among the devices that are not allowed. 

I also see that QM2's 14 July trip is not showing the Olden and Stavanger  ports within the calendar (17 and 19 July)

Both port stops still appear on the voyage map but are NOT listed in "My Calendar," although the days are still being designated port days. Have not been advised of port changes as of yet. Any thoughts or information?

Received ours in the mail yesterday  (in Maryland).

Brooklyn gets very crowded early and there is very little room to wait, and there are not enough seats. I do not know that wheelchair assistance is provided until you are past the security line, though I do know that folks in wheelchairs are given priority through security. There is a desk in the entry and those folks can likely help, but I strongly urge you to try to arrive closer to your time so that everything is up and running. You will have less waiting around time than if you show up at noon.

If your midpoint is Southampton you will NOT have to get off. If it were New York, you would. 

14 minutes ago, jollyjones said:

 

Interesting input.

I am disembarking from a crossing next summer so could you give me a guesstimate - say, for example, if disembarkation started at 8am.

I would be walking off with my bag (only ever have carry-on, never travel with checked bags) am a UK citizen but have Global Entry, and would need a taxi to La Guardia.

As a lowly Britannia with no status with Cunard, what time could I reasonably expect to be in a taxi?

I currently have to choose between two flights - 2pm or 3.38pm - and am wondering if 2pm is too early?

Thanks.

 

 

 

If you are self-disembarking with all your bags you probably would be off near 8. Brooklyn does not have Global Entry.

Just checked our 2024 bookings:

M417 TA EAST

16 June Black & White 

21 June Roaring 20s

H415 NORWAY

Nothing yet 

H416 BALTIC

Nothing yet 

M421 NORWAY 

15 July  Red&Gold

19July Masquerade  (and a port day)

M422 TA WEST

22 July Black & White 

25 July Roaring 20s

I think M422 is Westbound,  not Eastbound?

The ship has to be zeroed out in New York and you will have to get off and go through immigration.  You don't have to leave the terminal and can get back on when they are ready to let people back on board. 

I'll let someone familiar with the in-transit ESTA process address that question.

29 minutes ago, rmsEtruria said:

So Luggage Forward would pick up our bags here in the U.S., take them to Southampton, hold them for three weeks while we’re traveling on the continent, and magically have them appear in our cabin when we board the QM2–it really works like that?

They may not always hold for that long. They would not take our bags more than 13 days in advance so we left them with friends and they were picked up there at the right time and deliveredto our stateroomon embarkation day.. I've heard this lead time varies a bit, best to ask.

13 minutes ago, jrmende63 said:

Even if I live in the USA and am sailing from Southampton UK? 

Yes

23 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

I thought this one had ham in it.

 Yes, that one does, but I  thought we were talking about grilled cheese in general.  Never mind!