Sue-B

Congratulations - it is indeed a little video taken from Silver Sands on the southern coast of the beautiful Isle of Arran, Scotland (with a little glimpse of the Pladda Lighthouse) 😀 Well done @sfred

So close @sfred with the right country 😀

Thanks @sfred Good guess and you’re right about the island with a lighthouse….but it’s not the Isle of May in the video 😀

A few more photos for those that are interested 😀

Some footage of a ‘cruise by’ that I don’t think has been seen yet - happy guessing 😀 a0155c6e-038b-4047-801b-10f1adda91ba.mov

It was posted in the Coronation Celebrations thread - copied below 👍 “ #9 Posted 17 hours ago STAND BY FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM CUNARD . I'm not saying anything , my lips are sealed 😷 “

We’re also coffee lovers and we always travel with a filter cup system to make fresh filter coffee - they do the plastic cup variety in the UK that you just place on top of a cup/mug and pour hot water over and makes a lovely filter coffee. Coffee bags are pretty good too and pack easily! I’m not a huge fan of instant coffee - think I’ve tried every brand now, so the plastic cup or coffee bags could be an option if you don’t have a pod machine in your room and haven’t found an instant coffee that you enjoy. Happy travels 😀

I think everyone who has read or heard about the issues today has sympathy for all those impacted. Each travel case is different which is why it is almost impossible to find a solution that works for all. I would hope that if you read back through the messages you’ll recognise that all posters here have done is try to understand the issues and help or offer some sympathy. It’s clearly been a stressful day for yourself and your mum, and I sincerely hope you are able to enjoy your onward alternative travels. Safe journey home.

Quick question! Does anyone know of any details on what the Cunard coronation celebrations might be onboard in a few weeks time? I know someone had posted a while back to say there was a real party atmosphere for the jubilee - so fingers crossed for something like that on the lovely QV in a couple of weeks - but interested if anyone had heard or seen anything anywhere with any details?

Thank you for the lovely welcome! 😊

Beautiful coastline 👍

I’m thinking it looks like Wales maybe….

This happened to me and hubby when he made it to Diamond a voyage ahead of me! We just paid for my lunch and he used his voucher on that occasion. However on a voyage about 5 years ago on QV we had taken some friends with us who had never cruised before. We spoke to the maitre d’ and discreetly asked whether we could gift them our diamond lunch vouchers to surprise them with a special lunch. They very kindly booked lunch in using our names/stateroom number as if we would be dining there and we simply escorted our friends to the restaurant for lunch and left them there to effectively use our vouchers. As I always say it’s worth asking, if the answer is no then you can always pay for lunch for your boyfriend and still enjoy that lovely lunch experience 😀. This of course assuming your grandparents are on the same voyage - if not then that definitely won’t work! On wine tasting, we haven’t had that for a while but I think the last time I can remember there was a ticket with our names on it in our stateroom that we handed over at the entrance to the Britannia restaurant where they were holding the wine tasting. If that’s still the how they are operating and if your grandparents are travelling on the same voyage and aren’t using their vouchers, then your boyfriend could use one of theirs and hand it in as you join the wine tasting. And agree with the others comments here - the WC benefits are definitely due an overhaul! I hope you enjoy your cruise 👍

I think french toast may only be on the Britannia Club and Grills breakfast menus but sure someone will correct me if that’s changed. The breakfast room service menu attached here is from last year on Queen Elizabeth hope that helps 👍

Sounds lovely and right up our street then 👍 Thank you for sharing 👍

New to Fred and interested to know whether anyone had experience of the thermal suite which I believe can be reserved for an hour slot for £20. We are booked on a fjord cruise on Bolette and it looks like a great space that we are considering trying out, but really keen to hear views on whether it’s worth it 😀

well that is fantastic to know @LadyL1 - thank you! Had avoided them and always managed to get a different aft suite on QE because they weren’t my favourite space on QV but fab to know I can put them back on the preferred list’ 👍👍👍

We’ve been there too @LadyL1 - well almost - equivalent one on QV about a decade ago! @LittleFish1976 I’m sure you’ll love it - not my best cabin shots - was too excited at the time so was just ‘iPhone click happy’ - but a little taster for you 😀 The sofa area is the opposite side but haven’t got a photo of that to share for the aft middle staterooms 😀 Have an amazing holiday 😀

Personally I love the aft suites on QE and QV but appreciate that some others don’t. I’ve heard people say they don’t like the longer walk (I don’t think it’s that long!) to the B lifts that take you up to the Grills Lounge and restaurants, and others that have reported vibration issues mainly on decks 4 and 5 (we’ve never had these issues even when the stabilisers have been in overdrive in rough seas), and some that don’t like the extra movement that you can sometimes feel at the back vs a midships position. However, we love the fact that they have a great balcony with beautiful views especially on sail away (the old QV ones were particular lovely before they squared her back off to put in extra cabins), there is hardly any noise from corridors given nobody is going past your room unless they are lost(!) and the ‘extra’ walk helps the waistline from the fabulous food in QG! I also like the room layout more than the midship Q4 (with the curtain partition) and the double sink in the bathroom. We’ve been in those aft suites in bad weather through the bay of biscay on more than one occasion and had no issues at all. Depending on what deck you have booked the layout differs slightly, and the middle suite is the one we usually avoid as we don’t find the space works quite as well, and the corner Q5 (which I think is what you have booked) has the wrap around balcony (again we like this) so the room is slightly smaller because of this. We were in one of the corner ones on deck 5 on QE last year and we loved the extra outside space at the side and dragged our chairs around when the sun hit that side. It really is all about personal choice, we always book the aft suites if we can on the vistas and I’m sure you’ll have a lovely time onboard the beautiful QE in whatever room you have 😀

We’ve had both too. We book directly with Cunard and got our first free upgrade on QM2 a long time ago from what was (I think!) a P3 in those days to a P1 - which given we were transatlantic in November meant we moved to midships - and it was a very rough crossing so that was a great free upgrade. Pre 2015 or so we were really lucky and often got free upgrades sometimes just a few days before travelling, and once at the port. These were all free one move up Q6 to Q5 and P2 to P1 mostly from memory, and we used to get an email to say our booking had been amended and a new booking confirmation would come through. We’ve been offered via a phone call direct from Cunard the paid for upgrades which if the price is right we’ve taken. Two of the best ones we’ve had was Britannia Club to Princess Grill on the first leg of the world cruise Southampton to Fort Lauderdale on QV for £250 each, and the unbelievable upgrade to a Q1 on QV from a Q6 on a 2 week med cruise for an additional £500 each! When we’ve had the phone calls from Cunard these typically happen about 6-8 weeks prior to our cruise. We’re next sailing in April and I’m willing the phone to ring 😀

We’ve never used the facilities as we don’t have kids but I’m sure others will be able to help with more information on this. We did meet a couple whose children used the Kids Zone a few years ago on a med cruise and I recall they enquired about going on a 2 or 3 hour walking tour and they were informed that they were not able to leave their children onboard at the club. I think it will be in terms and conditions for the childrens clubs that you have to sign up to if you use those services. So it might be a case of a drink by the pool when in port instead while they’re in the club 😀 Hope you have a lovely holiday and I’m sure others in this forum will be able to help answer your questions too 👍

Wow FritzG that celebration looks amazing! Now I’m even more excited! Thank you for sharing 👍

We are scheduled to be in port in Lisbon on Coronation Day aboard the beautiful Queen Victoria - hoping there might be a special afternoon tea party or an extra gala night which might get arranged too 👍 I have visions of red, white and blue flags and balloons everywhere 😀

Thank you so much for your replies - hopefully we’ll be onboard in time for buffet lunch! And fair to say I’ll definitely not starve - the food looks great to me 👍

We’re also new to Fred and have decided to try Bolette out - so exciting to try a new line and really looking forward to sailing soon! Can anyone help with a question regarding embarkation lunch. I had thought it was afternoon tea selection in the buffet from about 3pm on embarkation day, but don’t seem to be able to find out if this is correct - can anyone help?