Ray66

Left hand side and right hand side of the wardrobe of a balcony cabin on QV. You can just see at the bottom of the top photo an extra short hanging space.

There's a list here on the CC website. There's two on there I've used - one I would recommend and one I wouldn't. https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/articles/best-cruise-travel-agents

Hello, There is a roll call for your cruise here: https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/2924320-queen-victoria-aug-6-13-2023/ The weather in August in Norway should be similar to here or though probably not quite as warm. Long days and the midnight sun. Stavanger, Flam, Geiranger, Haugesund - Flam and Geiranger are lovely but I'm not a fan of Stavanger. I've not been to Haugesund.

Hello. There's a Roll Call for people on your cruise here: https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/2934351-eastbound-qm2-august-18-25-2023/

QM2 sailing past Holyhead, Anglesey, North Wales now. Anyone know what day and time they leave Liverpool?

Quote: Just wondered if anyone knows any cruise line where we don't get charged an admin fee for re-pricing It's not the cruise line's rules, it's the country's rules. (Which is what you put in the title). American Cunard customers get free cancellation or re-booking whereas British Cunard customers have to pay the cancellation fee.

I got one in the mail today too. Also an email from Cunard about the 2nd May trip.

If you want a last minute bargain cruise from Southampton, why not try Cunard's QM2 Coronation Celebration voyage which has just been announced, leaving from Southampton on 2nd May for 5 nights and just going to Liverpool (overnight). This short cruise is to replace two Transatlantics that had to be cancelled due to technical problems with the ship. I think it would be best to book it over the phone through a travel agent. I've looked at one online and they're showing very good prices.

We chose a sheltered balcony cabin next to a bulkhead once which did help with talking noise coming from one side on the balcony but we still got it on the other. The balcony had a "tinny" feel because of all the metal but I would still choose one again.

You don't say when, which ship, how long or where from? If you mean 2024 and the QM2, there isn't much choice. I have the following round trips from Southampton: Jul 14-Jul 21: Kristiansand, Olden, Alesund, Stavanger - 7 nights Aug 4-Aug 16: Hamburg 2, Alesund, Andalsnes, Olden, Bergen, Hamburg -12 nights Nov 1-Nov 13: Bergen, Tromso, Trondheim, Alesund, Stavanger -12 nights Jun 2-Jun 9: Skagen Denmark, Oslo x 2, Kristiansand - 7 nights - isn't really the fjords otherwise it's the Queen Anne

QE Baltic cruise 2011

I've not read this topic for a while but seeing that photo of the Great Belt bridge reminded me of going under it on the QE in June 2011 at nearly midnight.

It might depend on whether you have a transfrer or excursion booked. When we went a few years ago the QM2's arrival was 6.30am and our our excursion was 7.45am. You'd be better asking on the Cunard forum here: https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/forum/32-cunard-line/

Has anyone been watching Coastal Defenders on BBC2 at 6.30pm? The programme is based in Southampton and part of tonight's programme was about having to fix Queen Victoria's anchor chain in stormy waters. It's on about the last ten minutes: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001jw5x/coastal-defenders-series-1-4-sun-and-storms

From Cunard's website: All public spaces (with the exception of designated smoking areas) including restaurants and outdoor dining alternatives are designated as non smoking within the ship. Smoking is not permitted in staterooms, on balconies, or in public areas (with the exception of Churchill's Cigar Lounge, which is reserved for cigar and pipe smokers only).

How do you work that out? I've been to the Med and back on a cruise - 16 days and as far as Monaco (overnight) and two ports in Italy.

There's currently a thread on the Cunard forum about Cunard v P&O. https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/2906674-cunard-v-po/ When you book with Cunard, you need to buy travel insurance and then put your insurance details in your Voyage Personaliser. In my experience they don't ask to see your actual insurance certificate.

You might get more answers on the British Isles forum here: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/148-british-isleswestern-europe/

I can recommend the troll cars excursion to see the Briksdal glacier in Olden.

Cunard still has some of that tradition left - wooden decks on QM2 and steamer chairs on all three ships. Thank goodness there are no things such as rock-climbing walls or dodgems or water slides etc on Cunard. And they still have formal evenings.

I just received the email Christmas card a few minutes ago. I also got an email birthday card from them this month. I've opted out of mailings in the post.

From Olden we took the Troll Car excursion to see the Briksdal Glacier. Well worth it!

If you mean not show up at the port, it wouldn't actually get that far. When your balance is due you may be contacted by your agent or cruise line. If you refuse to pay it, then your cruise will be cancelled and they will keep your deposit. You'll need to read the cruiseline's T's&C's as to whether you will still need to pay the £50.

Had my Covid booster (Moderna) a couple of weeks ago and the flu jab at Boots last week (easier than going to the doctors). Last year they were both given at the same time.

I agree. We had a big room at the Ageas Bowl with patio doors (fresh air!) overlooking the pitch a couple of years ago. I much prefer hotels out of Southampton. We had a poor experience at the over-priced new Southampton Harbour Spa Hotel and wouldn't stay there again.