wftjm89

Two months was the potential time frame I was told. As I'm sure you can understand, these things develop at quite a pace, and until the issue(s) were properly identified and solutions found, subject to regular change. When we consider that QM2 is in her mid-life stage, it is not unreasonable to expect issues to occur more frequently and if we cast our minds back, QE2 received a massive overhaul with entire systems being replaced at around the same mark. I hope that Cunard/Carnival are being sensible and fixing the issue properly, as it would certainly not reflect well for a pattern of repairs that require cancellations to become the norm.

Not pranked, just doing what I knew I'd appreciate others doing if I was booked and the cruise line was being intentionally deceptive with their response, with the information I had from someone a bit higher up at CUK than guest relations. While I can appreciate that it is costly having QM sat in Southampton running on her expensive turbines, I would be rather angry if my cruise had been cancelled only for Cunard to now apparently be offering this short cruise to Liverpool.

The plot thickens. Thanks for noticing this!

Yes, indeed. I'm glad that you agree those who are more intimately involved in the issue and the engineering/safety aspects are more qualified. I regret to inform you that those who are on the frontlines in terms of responding to customers are not typically engineers 😅 I share your hopes. At the end of the day I don't want anyone's experience of cruising to have any brushes with negativity. I also know that I would always rather know in advance if I might need to adjust my expectations a little. My sincere hope is that the official line from the guest relations team does indeed end up being close to reality. Ultimately, anyone booked needs to go by that, and that will change as and when it needs to, if the prognosis matches what I have been told. TLDR: If you are booked on QM2 in the coming weeks, and haven't yet been told you *won't* be sailing, assume you are until Cunard contacts you.

I will be seeing what I can find out from my former colleague tomorrow; they've been frustratingly tight-lipped with my attempts to fish for information.

I quite agree. I can offer no confirmation however I have just had dinner with one friend who works at Carnival House, and tomorrow am meeting a former colleague who is currently onboard. I would expect that once Cunard know the full extent of the issue, and a realistic timeframe for its resolution, they will of course be in touch with those affected. However, equally, I'm sure you will agree that their hands are somewhat tied until those realities are known (frustrating as that is for those who find their travel plans now potentially disrupted) I am trying to be careful because I wouldn't want anything to fall back on friends. The issue has safety and environmental aspects, so I hope you might understand enough about ships to recognise that the issue is not as simple as 'replace part X and repair part Y' and much more 'strip out and replace the whole of system E'...

I'm probably not supposed to share this but Queen Mary is expected to be out of service for around two months. The technical issue is quite serious and requires considerable work to sort out. Whether that work will be done in situ is unlikely; last I heard from friends at CUK is that she is likely to be towed to a drydock for repair. I say this merely in case persons who are currently expecting to sail in the coming weeks might be forewarned. I do not envy the small team of people at Carnival House who are employed to respond to these kind of emergencies!