Bigmike911

Stuart, yes we're boarding in Southampton. And yes there should be a bottle of Perrier Jouet Champage as well as a bottle of something called Pol Acker. You should also have some sugar iced strawberries when you board.

Daily at about five your butler will bring a plate of canapes, a couple have a wee dollop of caviar (or some other fish roe) and you can order warm snacks as well, though they seem to come by the gross.

And as you will be a QG this trip you can enjoy a cocktail in the Queens Grill Lounge, perhaps with the lovely Yulia from Kiev in command of the bar. We will see. Its just weeks away now.

The white star luggage docs have arrived and are being prepared to accompany the bags through UK customs on their way to the ship. They will be picked up a week from Tuesday. If you haven't used them before, you might consider giving them a try, sure beats hauling big bags around with you. See you on the 12th

Mike

Stuart the Commodore Club sounds like a reasonably god place to enjoy a sail away drink or meet. How bout 5 pm or so?

Mike

Stuart, Welcome to this side of the roll calls. We will look forward to meeting you face to face on the 13th. (or maybe the afternoon of sailing about 5 pm?) As you will be aboard and should be well relaxed from your massage....

Mike

Four weeks and counting. I noticed a couple of possible FODs on other postings, so if your going to be aboard with us, please make your self known

Cheers Mike

David, I for one am looking foward to my vacation in the UK and the Westbound crossing. I have fill up my English days with things to do and evenings for dinners in favorite restaurants and a couple of new ones too. The White Star Luggage packet arrived yesterday and I am getting all of the clothing checked, laundered and cleaned and ready to pack for a 29th October pick up.

And, I am now checking the message boards for new roll call entries. A fellow named Stuart is going to be on the crossing, from Hamburg, and I have invited him to join us here as well.

Any other FODs on the crossing?

Mike

Well, now we're 35 days from boarding. I hope there are going to be a few more Friends aboard Lets cross our fingers.

Mike.

Time to slap this thread awake again. Were 45 days out from our Southampton departure.

Any other Friends on this crossing? Please make your selves know.

Mike

Seven weeks from Today we board in Southampton. Are there others joining us. Say hi here. Mike.

HDS01 Welcome to the thread. I hope you two can join us for the daily Friends of Dorothy (also known as Rainbow Pride) usually held at 5 pm (subject to the Cunard Scheduler) in the Commodore Club. 10 Forward usually the port side.

Cheers Mike

95 days to sailing, Time to wake this thread up and see if there are any other friends of Dorothy on this crossing in November.

Any one else?

Mike

Hi David and Dave, My pal Ron and I will be on this crossing with you. I originally planned to go eastbound, spend some time in the UK and then come back on this crossing, but in the end we would have been away from home too long. So we will fly over and come back with the Mary.

This will be our 11 time on board and I think 8th TA, but I cannot remember exactly how many times. Each time has been a delight though. I will look forward to meeting you at the Friends of Dorothy in the Commodore club on the first afternoon out.

Cheers and Best Mike.

When I researched my cruise I was reassured to find that all meals were provided. I made the not unreasonable assumption that they would be cooked for me and, unless I was dining in the buffet, be delivered to my table.

 

It was reasonable, therefore, to assume that the cost of employing someone to cook and someone to deliver would be factored into the cost of the cruise and that those costs would provide those employees with reasonable remuneration. If they don't, then the cruise company is being dishonest in the pricing of the cruise and should adjust it accordingly. If they do, then by tipping, or paying the 'hotel levy' (aka 'auto tip'), I am paying for the service twice.

 

That said, if someone provides me with service above and beyond that which I should reasonably expect, then I will happily tip them.

digi, I find it amazing that if you are paid US$ 180/per month which is the average wage for the customer staff on Cunard, that you can maintain a staff of servants.

And since you have determined that your fare is paying for your transit, have you considered that those traveling in higher grades may have paid for some of your cost.

Premium passengers on long haul air flights pay 90% of the cost of every economy passenger. So there is no fair fare there. And that includes sea transport

Cheers Mike

Hhi guys I was gonna ask this question but was scared to start another tipping thread!!!! I know about the auto tip and will tip extra for great service,but the 15% charge at the bar does that go to the barman or in a pool?

 

This will be our first cruise of any kind.

 

Cheers gaz

gaz it goes into the pool. Give the server cash, and ask him/her to take it as a complement from you. If you ad it to the bill is pool.

Mike