Toffeegirl68

I did this ... 20 years ago on QE2! I was the most wonderful experience, meeting many fabulous people, and visiting so many new places.

You will love it!

You are therefore more than qualified to chip in and share your thoughts and stories! (If you are willing)

Where did you move from?

Which Balcony Option?

I am looking at the QM2 World voyage segment M603 as a guide to price differences across the various cabin grades. I know that different offers can exist at different times, that prices will differ in the future (I'm not that batty) and that my ultimate selection of voyage may be of a different duration - but you've got to start somewhere.

Its the age old poser: is the next grade of cabin up, worth the extra cost.

I will make an educated guess that some people choose to book a top grade balcony in the hope that they will be visited by the upgrade fairy and transported off to a Club Balcony. I do not intend to try and play that card.

We are not balcony sitters in general - granted, all but one of our voyages have been single TAs. We've had a limited time on board and found plenty of other things to do. Hubby likes to sit in the Commodore Club if he is to sit anywhere - even when we''ve had a balcony on QE / QV.

I've read lots about the joys of a glass balcony view and the perils of exposure to the elements. Then there's the shelter of the in-hull balcony but the lack of sea / land view if sat outside - or even lying in bed (!). All things being equal, a face full of bright orange lifeboat is not people's first choice, but an obscured balcony is seen by some as better than no balcony at all.

Taking into account discussions on obscured balconies, I am inclined towards a partially obscured balcony cabin - particularly if I can specify which cabin I want. A few cabins have been highlighted as being the best options: by the mini lifeboat, between lifeboats, and at the end.

Interestingly, when I have tried to do dummy bookings to look up availability of a specific cabin, the website tells me that the cabin does not exist! I've even searched for a cabin that it tells me is available, only to be told by the search function that it does not exist...

I am not going to stress about this right now. I also do not want to set my heart on a specific cabin (even at a later, more realistic date) as I fear that I will be exposing myself to unnecessary disappointment. I do wonder though if ALL cabins are released for potential general sale or do some greater beings get the chance to bag specific cabins ahead of time.....

Cabin Category = Obscured Balcony.

(e.g. DF or DC based on current QM2 cabin definitions)

How exciting, do you have a date in mind ?

I am English and Hubby is New Zeal-ish.

When we got married, we were asked by many if we would move to New Zealand. The immediate answer was no - we liked London. I did say that we would reconsider our life plan when I was 50. That was always so far away.

Its not any more (do the maths !)

All being well, the mortgage will be paid off in 18 months, and the big 5-0 is 18 months after that.

3 years !

The Big Move could be as soon as 2018 or 2019. So still a bit theoretical yet, and many things could happen in the mean time, There's room to squeeze in a few more TAs before then....

Toffeegirl....how will your household goods move to NZ? Will they get their own cabin? An Inside, I would imagine, LOL :p

On a previous voyage we were talking to some of the senior officers and briefly mentioned our high level plan. We said that we'd get on a Cunard ship and stick a container on a goods ship. They suggested we put stuff in the hold. Obviously it was a 'pie in the sky' conversation (now where does that phrase come from?!) so we didn't starting talking about volumes....

We probably wouldn't take a lot of our household goods - sofas, dining furniture, beds, linen etc. would be left behind.

But crikey, yes, that's a whole other conversation !!!! I'll let you know when we start emptying the drinks cabinet !

Hi Tofeeegirl. Best wishes on your plans to move to New Zealand and retire at some point.

 

Sorry, I'm at a loss responding to your post because I'm unsure of what you are asking?

 

Regards,

Salacia

I'm not really asking anything..... yet.

I am not very well and trying to keep myself amused by talking out loud like a mad person at the bus stop.

I have been having a good dig around the forum looking at some of the questions asked previously and the answers and opinions which have been put forward in response. (Steering clear of the 'dress-code', 'class status', 'is Cunard dumbing down' etc threads!)

For some decisions about The Big Move I am happy to plod through posts and make use of existing information on the board. For others, I will come back and pose specific questions.

Feel free to listen in and chip in whenever.

Next decision - Balcony Option.....

Up coming decisions and considerations: deck / forward, aft or mid-ships / port or starboard / preferred ship / direction of voyage / itinerary considerations / solo tours v guided tours / packing for a longer trip / on-board spend / sea-day boredom / baggage in the hold !

Cabin Grade?

We are currently content to partake of our Cunard fixes on TAs, in inside cabins. For The Big Move we would definitely get a balcony.

It will be good to have the instant light and fresh air as well as the extra cabin space. It will also be good to do the move in style rather than feel we are stowing away. :)

We are happy to sail 'Britannia' - we like the food and the service and do not find a set 'sitting' time off-putting. And honestly, I think that I can live without the pillow concierge - my previous disembarkations have not echoed with the regret of not having espied the pillow menu. :rolleyes:

I can see no additional advantage of sailing Britannia Club - I'd be more happy spending those pennies elsewhere.

Decision made.

Cabin Grade = Britannia Balcony

Total expenditure will remain a consideration.

This is planning for reality, not 'once-upon-a-day-dream'.

(When we win big on the lottery, you will be informed and a whole new scenario will be planned out.)

So, here's the thing.

At some point, we are going to retire to New Zealand.

More realistically, we are going to move to New Zealand at some point. We will retire at a much later point.

When we do move, I don't intend to fly. I intend to sail. With Cunard, obviously. We will join the ship at Southampton and disembark in New Zealand.

I have decided that it is time to start theoretically planning The Big Move.

Ah sorry I didn't realise they weren't all liners!

Quick get your hard hat on !! :)

We have never cruised with Cunard before and to be honest wondered if we were perhaps a bit young for Cunard (37 and 38)

You are never too young for Cunard. On my first voyage I was 37 (and turned 38), Hubby was 30. Few people think that they are 'old' - they've just lived longer.

FAQ on Cunard site states following:

Minnows Pool - (Dedicated kids pool) - 5.5m width, 8m length, 1.3m to 1m depth. Located outside on Deck 6.

Heated to 29°C. Has 2 ladders with 3 steps for each ladder.

Canyon Ranch Spa Pool - (Indoor Pool) - 5m width, 6m length, 1.5m depth. Located on Deck 7.

Heated to 34°C. - Has 2 ladders with 6 steps for each ladder.

Charges apply for use of the Spa.

Terrace Pool - (Outside pool) - 5.5m width, 8.5m length, 1.62m to 1.4m depth. Located on Deck 8.

Heated to 28°C. Has 2 ladders with 4 steps for each ladder, but 6 steps to enter the pool area.

Pavilion Pool - (Outdoor pool with retractable roof) - 4.8m width, 7.5m length, 1.62m to 1.38m depth. Located on Deck 12.

Heated to 30°C. Has 2 ladders with 5 steps for each ladder.

Splash Pool - (Outside pool) - 4.8 width, 7.5m length, 0.16m depth. Located on Deck 13.

Heated to 28°C to 30°C. Has 2 ladders with 1 step per ladder.

All pools are open between 7am to 10pm and are netted at night, during maintenance and heavy seas.

There's no 'outside' (open air) bit to the spa - but away from the 'wet' bit, there is a relaxation lounge.

http://www.canyonranch.com/sites/default/files/queenmaryspaclub2.jpg

As for swimming - I have never even been in one of the other pools !! (Other than the hot tubs :) )

What I do know is that if the weather gets rough, pools are shut.

Swimmers ??!! Answers please.....

Hi again, this is Debbie, the original poster.

 

Are there other teens/young 20s around on a Transatlantic cruise?

Shhhh...... we all think that we still are !!!!!

It is lovely.

Do note that its a pool to lounge in rather than swim in as there are different jets, bubbles etc in different places...

Absolutely book it !

Do a couple of searches for 'Daily Programme' and also 'TA Review' or similar to find more detailed info.

You don't say what the girls are like.... if they are happy to be independent you may not see them til dinner ! The formality in the evening is lovely and brings (lets be honest) every girl's favourite pastime of people watching to another level.

As well as stuff already mentioned by others, there's the gym and exercise classes (some free, some payable), various 'sport' activities - which invariably involve throwing things - quoits, bean bags - but also table tennis. There's ballroom dance classes, line dancing, the nightclub, cinema. The library quiz (one of my faves - its really tough), bridge classes.

There's also nothing quite as bonkers as running out to the hot tub mid-atlantic!

Re. 'class system', there are few 'no-go' areas on the ship for those in 'Britannia' class.. as mentioned by others. The 'grillers' also have their captain's cocktail party on a different day, but that's about it. As a class system, it hardly noticeable. Seriously. Food and service in the Britannia restaurant is of a high standard and in beautiful surroundings.

If you do want to go to Paris, I'd recommend staying overnight - you're looking at 5 hours of travel before you've seen anything. Admittedly, that does add complications re. your luggage. Not sure if a hotel would hold big cases for you these days.

Go on. Book it !!!

Spa details in full can be found:

https://ask.cunard.com/help/cunard/life-on-board/facilities

also

http://www.canyonranch.com/sea/queen-mary-2/spa-treatments

For your specific question:

SPACLUB PASSPORT

Includes use of Aqua Therapy Centre including aqua therapy pool with chaise lounge, neck and back jet massage, cascading waterfall shower, reflexology basins, sensory showers, Finnish sauna, aromatic steam room, herbal sauna and ice fountain. Bathing suit required.

1 day $40 | 3 days $75 | 6 days $105

A SpaClub® Passport is complimentary on the day of any Health & Wellness, Massage, Body or Skin Care treatment.

This is on my wish list for my upcoming voyage......

Quick, close the thread before it starts....

Lovely summation

No !!!!!!!!!

Did you want cheese cake?!

What an excellent question - must say that I am pleased with the answers telling us that they are all still served.

The only time I have been disappointed with the food in Britannia was on a night when Grand Marnier Soufflé was on the menu.

My disappointment wasn't with food per se. We had been invited to dine at the Captain's table and were all presented with the same pudding at the same time by 12 highly synchronised waiters...... cheese cake.....we didn't get to choose. I was gutted and way too polite to ask for my hotly anticipated Grand Marnier Soufflé! :eek:

Honestly, you can't please some people......

First round is on me :) :)

Don't forget me - we can work on our questionnaire ! :p

Thank-you MCC !!!!

Simple question...how much is the Cunard Transfer per person from Brooklyn cruise terminal to JFK.

There's plenty of advice about car services / taxis on the forum but I haven't spotted the current Cunard bus fare...

Thanks in advance.

(Still catching up)

Got up early on disembarkation day - we have gained another hour this morning so in a way its not early at all...

Dressed and showered I wandered up to the Lido for a cup of tea and something to nibble on for first breakfast. The main Lido 'legs' as I think of them were not yet open at 6 so I got a pastry from the central section. (There is an identical set of long hot/cold buffet stations, one on the port side one on starboard. These are open for mealtimes. The central section is open all day and night with its offerings changing according to the time of day.)

I planned to do some blogging (though posting was stalled as I had no Internet minutes left from my free time allocated) but did not as someone 'new' came to sit with me and we ended up chatting for an hour. A solo world cruise traveller now learning to sail without her late husband. .... we had a lovely chat about all sorts of stuff. We discussed the perils of sharing allocated tables at dinner - now never mind the dress code, you could write a book on this one!!!! She also mentioned the difficulties in joining a couple socially and the fine line there was in not imposing yourself.

This is a voyage blog - whilst debate relating to the content is welcome, please keep any detrimental comments about each other to yourselves no matter how right you might think yourselves to be.

The pre voyage documentation dispatched to me detailed 4 formal nights - no 'make your mind up' option. This had changed by the point of departure. I am not aware that of the reason being related to the weather and the impacts on the ship and its passengers. I did not hear any announcement etc. relating to any reasons for the change.