buchanan101

Yes, in 23 days now!!

Sheltered are in the hull so won't - CAN'T be obstructed and are also low. Some people swear by them as being a great compromise as more protected, though in July... Half the cabins of course will be sunny side and half in the shade. We had a balcony in an October crossing, but was deliberately sunny side and was great. Starboard balconies would have been miserable as the wind was from NW

Can't remember the colour of key cards on our first (and so far only) Cunard voyage. Does this mean that even as a lowly Silvers we now won't be red tops in (checks - 24 days). What are these pins like we are supposed to get...?

So far I only have experience of QM2 Grills lounge which as I said earlier is just dull IMO

Not sure given what is going on in the world that describing the Grills Lounge as a "hell hole" is quite appropriate! What was actually wrong with it? Must be better than QM2 concierge, and the Grills Lounge on QM2 is just dull... (Though I did smile at bananas not appearing until half way through the voyage... maybe they were not ripe? Maybe they didn't put All Bran out at all because they were worried about the ships waste systems?)

I assume priority embarkation and disembarkation for Grills etc is only at start and end of cruise; can imagine Britannia would get a bit upset if they were always having to wait.

The first part of the system (EES) starts this October. Delayed until after Paris Olympics on this occasion. ETIAS is 2025 The UK is introducing a similar system (ETA). Without Brexit of course we’d be on the inside of the one system. We were very much in favour of EES.

So no stamping in/out. That’s a relief!

Not sure it’s Schengen 90 days or all of EU (not that there’s much difference) Norway is in the former not the latter though essentially operates the same as in EEA. Canaries are in Schengen.

When you are visiting several ports in the same country do you have to go through immigration each time (I assume so, as they don't know you've been off at the first port)? How long does that take in post Brexit days?

Hoping most ports in Norway are not tenders. Flam we share with a smaller ship so hopefully we get to dock. Bergen must be docked (says T2 wherever that is). Olden and Haugesund only QA on the day so assume docked. Are queues only at tender ports?

Seems to be the only positive review on there... Folk here on the boards seem more positive though. It's not QM2...doesn't mean you can't like both, and I'm still looking forward immensely to the end of June and Norway; 25 days according to MyCunard... Hopefully most of the teething problems will have been sorted by then

At least in hiring a Scouser, Craig Charles may be able to sing a bit better than Paul McCartney. I was witness to this effort of his live...

Looks like the deck plans are pretty accurate - seems to back up all your comments. 5143 a bigger cabin too, and 5139 has deeper balcony than 5145 (but presumably up a sub-class in price)

It's been reported that it's more expensive on board... and prebooking closes 4 days before cruise. But hopefully someone can confirm relative prices. Reports also of it being very popular so may be better to prebook when you want; half+ OBC goes on the tips thing anyway, a few drinks and it's gone!

Sounds great, go for it!

For if someone cancels. You can even bid on the top staterooms on QA of which there are only two... Tempted by £1280+ for PG1 to Q5/Q6, but nice as they are, those are almost all fore and aft and although we are going to Norway in June, OH won't be happy if it is rough as she feels the motion more than I do.

I assume that Grills are always early/ish. Only 32 days now (PG on QA).. good to get on board early to get lunch! last time we were QG and turned up even earlier than the time we were given (as coming across from IoW) and all was fine

Lots of Vlogs on YouTube. I don’t think that they are much different in layout. The main improvement seems to be no shower curtain and USB sockets.

What's the one lying in a hammock do?

It's tipping down here...went to Dublin at the weekend and was expecting this weather there. But it was gorgeous; 20C and sunny - luckily as was at open air concert at Croke Park

Then don't... I'm sure you can hide somewhere? 33 days to go 😄

He does pretty good reviews of various cruise ships - his life and career is always being on cruises... https://www.youtube.com/@tipsfortravellers

Oh bridge tours sound interesting. Sign me up!

I guess it could be because more people opted for fixed than the capacity of the lower deck?