Solent Richard

But Celebrity's way comes at a price.

Stick with it @Selbourne , that Kennedy Space Centre excursion is really something. We did it while on Oceana.... https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2017/02/17/oceana-35-night-caribbean-round-trip/

I don't suppose that, being outside of the UK, you considered the fact that your IP address triggered a difference in pricing on the Cunard system?

We sure will @Bell Boy. 😉

Well 'most' certainly do. 😉😉

Queen Anne - Maiden Voyage 5 May 2024 - Gala Black & White 8 May 2024 - Gala Masquerade Bit disappointing really for such a special occasion. 😈

That certainly sounds a more than reasonable and eminently sensible explanation for booking direct with Cunard @missson1967 : particularly for us UK residents. 😉😉

Hi @D&N . I most certainly have. The last time was when we joined Queen Victoria in Singapore and wanted to spend some time reliving my wife's school time experience around Changi Village. There was little flexibility with pre-cruise flights with Cunard, despite what other say, so we booked cruise only - that is where we did our comparisons. ...and one UK TA.... Needless to say even negating the TA's OBC offer the difference between the quotes still paid for our flights to Singapore and return to UK from Cape Town.

Of course as a Carnival shareholder, and assuming there are others on this board, I do often advise folk to book direct. On a purely self interest pecuniary basis that is. 😉😈

I spotted that particular one too and was very surprised at its inclusion. I'm a member of it along with another on the list.

Good afternoon @Oopsa. It would appear there aren't too many members offering you advice. Your problem in Hong Kong will be the distance between the cruise terminal and the tourist heart of Hong Kong. The good news is that the ship will offer a simple transfer into Hong Kong and there is also the Kai Tag Metro with free shuttle.... https://www.kaitakcruiseterminal.com.hk/passenger-info/ Depending on where in Hong Kong Island/Kowloon you alight you may wish to pick up an idea from my cruise blog on Hong Kong.... https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2017/12/01/one-way-to-do-hong-kong/

You are correct @david63 because the subject is a Queen Mary 2 cruise. Of course, when one gets 'out and about' around the ship one will meet many passengers from shores outside of the UK: mainly American and German.

Having done 14, 21, 24 and 56 nights (+ others of course) onboard Queen Mary 2 all I can say @bunny76 is that our only problem with the entertainment is fitting it all in. Of course, having said that, one does need a broad interest & outlook across many subjects.

😂 Time certainly is money and that can work both ways. I've obviously been 'barking up the wrong tree' these past twenty odd years - along with thousands of other fellow cruisers. I'd always thought shopping around was an secondary national cruising sport which certainly occupied many a conversation at dinner tables across cruise lines: even at Grills level. I mean to say, surely we wouldn't accept a new insurance policy or utility quote without first checking the market? Meanwhile it's good to have noted earlier that the scourge of inflation has also had an effect on covid cruise cancellation figures. 😉

Ah yes, Star Clipper and Vangelis and you are spot on there. Having done in the Far East... https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2017/11/04/star-clipper-java-sea-limited-edition-cruise/ ...and I still dream of Star Clipper returning to their Singapore?Thailand round trips.

I see Quest has safely berthed on time at Rio de Janeiro. Bit of an eerie silence from onboard members since Ushuaia. 😈

Hello there @Minnie29 You can find most of the information that you require on Bruges from these two links to my cruise blog... https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2015/06/15/zeebrugge-for-dummies/ And... https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2015/06/15/one-way-to-do-bruges/ *****

And of course those 'Special' occasions for special guests @Bell Boy 😉😂...

And a drink at Catherine's Bar.... ***** ******

Ah ha. Now that is a must for us Brits. So good I wrote a review.... https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2021/01/06/death-in-paradise/

I know a Grills maître d' who was most grateful to receive an envelope with all my unspent Turkish Lira. 😂

My wife and I have done all those ports however we have not been excluded from walking as you appear to be. Personally I feel you need to bite the bullet and be prepared to invest in ships excursions otherwise most of those visits are going to be non starters - particularly as distances from ship's berths to centre of attractions are invariably great. For instance the opportunity to visit Hue would be for me a must - despite the distance from Chan May being some 60 Km.... ***** ***** Similarly to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) from Phu My is a similar distance but a must... ******* Of course I have no knowledge of your interests so you may like to take a look at how we did Hong Kong... https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2017/12/01/one-way-to-do-hong-kong/ and Darwin..... https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2020/02/15/one-way-to-do-darwin/

Well done you. Fortunately in addition to cruising circles, my wife and I also move in social circles shore side where standards of dress and dress codes are adhered to. ****** It is such a shame that Cunard are now turning a blind eye to what their core support still cherish. But hey ho, there are fortunately alternatives out there on the high seas.

LOL. No prizes for guessing who that was. 😂