LadyL1

If you are on the Christmas cruise, some sites are showing Funchal hosting 9 ships on New Year’s Eve.

Would you rather not have an internet package, knowing that the call originator could rack up a considerable bill for calling ship be phone? Contact information. By telephone – to connect with the ship, please call (+1)-732-335-3272 for calls originating outside of the U.S. For calls from the U.S. please dial (877)-266-0985. These numbers connect to the maritime telecommunications network where you will be prompted to enter your credit card number and expiration date. Your call will be charged at a rate of US$9.50 per minute upon connecting to the ship. Calls on this network are limited to a maximum of 10 minutes per call.

What about using email? Text might be an option if you have a lot of port days.

On QV/QE deluxe insides certainly have a couch.I believe standard insides don’t. There are plenty of photos if you do an internet search “Cunard inside cabin photos”.

We are on this cruise also. On the Cunard webpage it says (with caveat) where operationally possible. If a huge percentage of the passengers are in the top tiers, which is highly likely, perhaps priority boarding is deemed not operationally possible. Who knows? A Platinum membership pin.3 A total of $80 internet credit to redeem against one of our on board Wi-Fi plans.9 20% saving on Laundry/Specialist Cleaning.7 Priority check-in at New York and Southampton.5 Complimentary on board wine tasting.6 10% saving on our White Star luggage service. An invitation to the senior officers' party*.4,5,6 5 Where operationally possible.

Talking of “giveaways” for interlopers: a few times I have seen those with the incorrect dressing gowns/robes on the Grill Terraces. Once on QE cruise there was unbelievably a couple from our village, who definitely were not in the Grills, who quite brazenly used the dedicated lounge! Let’s hope the QA security/IT can stop this. If you want it, then pay for it, or just be happy to be on board!

I think you will find that on at a virtually 100% turnaround port like Southampton and New York, the answer is no. However, on voyages with many embarkation ports and few passengers leaving, afternoon is often available.

Thank you @rakkor for taking the time to post. I have to say it sounded wonderful, and we are so looking to our trip next month. I hope you enjoyed the amusing political incorrectness of Henry Blofeld and his wonderful cricketing stories, and that he was still as witty even with advancing years. We had the pleasure of his lectures pre lockdown, and that of another sporting great, David Gower. Our last few Cunard cruises have been lacking in the lecturers calibre, so hope the high quality speakers are back in abundance!

I certainly remember ghat storm on the maiden TA! QM2 did actually arrive at her berth on the Hudson River a little late.

I actually thought the Princess Medallion, and usage of, was great! I am looking forward to finding out what new innovations come with QA.

I think you will find a few on deck 7, which would be very preferable!

Got off the Silhouette on Saturday, and totally underwhelmed by BLU. We have never seen so much food returned to the kitchen as the meat quality was extremely poor. One night we asked for medium rare prime rib, and the middle was raw and cold; inedible with sinews. We left the restaurant at that point. Charged $1 a portion if asked for extra veg. Hardly luxury cruising: once upon a time this type of holiday was all about great cuisine (and probably excess). Having berated the restaurant, I have to say the food and displays in Oceanview Cafe were impressive. However I do not want to go on a cruise holiday and serve myself! One should still be able to enjoy the ambience of finer dining, with decent service. This was my 6th and probably last Celebrity cruise.

I am afraid I beg to differ! Our Northern Lights cruise certainly had very cool evenings in the restaurant when Cunard blankets were given out for warmth. This photo was taken on the Black and White formal night! An unusual hic-cup did not spoil the cruise, but one must be aware that being in the Arctic in the winter can be very cold, and any door left open to the outer decks, can create a serious draught! Certainly a cruise to remember for seeing “the lights”.

In March 22 we went to Norway to see the Northern Lights, and the outside temperatures at times, were seriously low! Around the lower atrium levels where the ship exit areas at ports were, the ship was indeed cold, and also a few nights in the restaurant on deck 11. I am afraid these ships do not have super installation, so warm sensible (layered) clothing is probably the answer. Also, suitable footwear is a must: there were many on our cruise who thought fashion boots would suffice!

I will be on a Canaries cruise again (QV) departing late November. If I write another blog, I will try and remember to put in a note of shuttles available in Lisbon.

That is brilliant news!

Jack Thank you so much for taking the time to share your journey. I have to agree what a wonderful voyage the Panama Canal transit is. It seems you could now be hooked on the Grill experience for the 2 smaller ships. There is no way QM2 compares here with the beautiful vistas from the QV/QE restaurants. Entirely understand your sentiments in this.

The flight was planned for Bournemouth airport, with onward coaches to Southampton.

You will find it a considerable distance to Amsterdam: well over an hour by road and certainly no free shuttle. P&O do run paid for excursions to the city, but if you are intending to leave in the middle of the night you might be on your own. It would be a good idea to look up train times, and you would probably need a taxi back from Rotterdam station.

I cannot understand why people post on here about their discontent with guarantee cabin allocations. It is obvious what you are booking to save potentially $$$s. Those who pay more deserve the option of a better choice. Here in the UK, if one books a g’tee fare, you get what you are given, and that’s it! We have only taken the lower grade fare once , and had a far forward cabin, and enjoyed every moment.

Looks like it will be a lovely evening to sail under the Golden Gate! A great spectacle.

Perhaps I can help a little as we use BA long haul quite frequently to get to a city direct, as well as using them with Cunard, where the pricing has been excellent. BA use a different ticketing system to most other airlines. Unless you are a highly rated loyalty client, prebooking seats is different and expensive and this includes Club World. I doubt whether you will have access to choose seats before Cunard pay BA. If you are not a very frequent flyer one has to pay extra to prebook seats before departure (Including Club). Unless you are in Bronze tier or upwards, seats are available to choose at 24hours before departure. You will have been assigned seats so when you log in to see your allocation, you might be able to change the seats if the flight is not full. Virgin, United and American, that I know of, give you the opportunity of seats at an earlier date. So I think you problem is mainly due to BA’s very outdated and expensive seat choice application. However, most flights with BA to NY are on the new very new, quite and comfortable aircraft. Don’t let this hiccup or worry spoil a lovely Caribbean holiday.

Is she still alive? 🧚‍♀️ Perhaps her demise came with the bidding system.

I am sure I would enjoy the alternative dining, but do hope they have table clothes, rather than the easy wipe surfaces (which I know is more eco friendly). Nice crisp linen gives a restaurant that special ambience!

Good to know, and looking forward to November!