exlondoner

I suspect that, if they have other people who want the tour, they may not charge. i have never booked an excursion until on board, partly because of using credit, and partly because I don’t understand how I can possibly know what I would feel like doing so far in advance. We don’t do many tours, but I have never failed to get on the ones I wanted through booking on board. And if I did, I would be more than happy spending the day on the empty and beautiful ship.

I admit I haven’t had room service breakfast since I was confined last year, but I was certainly able to order plates of smoked salmon for breakfast then, as well as in the restaurant. If that has really gone, I shall begin to join those who claim that Cunard has gone downhill ever since they scrapped the first Mauritania. 😀

Yes, the bus is clearly a better bet. If one did use the train, given its punctuality/cancellation record, it would be good to allow plenty of time to get back. On the other hand, taking the train and going the other way way, just to go over the wondrous bridge would be a nice thing.

I think that mascot might be a lion.

I’m sure there are changes, as you would expect in six years, but in my experience it is really not that different from before Covid.

Poor him. I don’t know, but: 1. You could hope for rough weather, which would not be conducive. 2. They can hardly demand compulsory participation. Surely she is such a big ship that there must be other things going on?

In many cases, such as Dalmeny (for Queensferry) to Edinburgh, I would say take the train, as there are two or three an hour. In Invergordon, lovely as the journey is, do not risk it. There are only three a day, and cancellations are not unknown…

Don’t know about the others, but no need for a shuttle in Liverpool, unless you have serious mobility probs.

But a lot of that will go, without any particular effort, just by reverting to normal eating and drinking.

No extra charges. I think you can change it now on the voyage personaliser if you want.

Cunard’s house wines are very acceptable, and work out less than the house wines in a family hotel we often stay in in Devon. Incidentally, it asks gents to wear a jacket every night!

I use the ever reliable balcony.

Often the clearest way to describe somewhere in central London is just to mention one of the nearest tube stations.

I can’t really see any downsides to PAYG. Cunard may do so.

We get that much even with the booze. And lots of tonic bottles, of mixed manufacture.

I certainly hope so. Yet bean counting sounds strangely pejorative, I don’t know why. In fact, making good profits for its shareholders is what a company is supposed to do.

That is pleasingly soon. 😀

But they do give me a lot (by my standards) of free drinks in the cabin, the opportunity cost of which must be a bit.

Don’t know anything about vodka, but I’m not sure all beer is an accurate analogy for one comparatively rare (though lucrative) type of wine.

I’m amazed Cunard allows me to travel. Admittedly I pay for an expensive cabin. But, after that, no drinks packages, no spa, no fitness classes, no casino, very few drinks in the bar, very few of their excursions. We do usually have a bottle of wine at dinner, and send stuff to the laundry, which is strangely good value. But otherwise, from the revenue point of view, we must be catastrophes.

I have only rarely been on a Cunard ship that has left Southampton on time. Not that that necessarily helps late passengers, as the admin has probably been done for a punctual departure.

Also, a lot of TA passengers may embark in Hamburg. Having said that, I can never remember not having a check in time for QM2.

Although black and white will do for luggage labels, it makes it much easier for the crew if you can print them in colour, as they are colour coded for different areas of the ship, and they can direct them without looking too closely.

Good night. When is your next trip for us to follow?

Acquired during plating practice perhaps.