Jacqueline

It sounds like you are used to using one arm, as you have been through this before. It wasn’t clear from your original post. Given that, I would say, go for it. It’s wonderful to have people cooking and cleaning for you. I found the staff to be very solicitous. While I did have a broken hip and crutches, I was in my fifties at the time me found that the staff would carry a tray for me, etc. Much easier to recover on a ship than at home. The flight to the cruise ship may be the worst part. Make sure reserve a wheel chair so that you get assistance and aren’t left to fend for yourself.

Honestly, cruising is a terrible mode of travel for those who don’t understand the particular level of constraints there are with health and safety unique to this mode of transportation. There are hundreds of things you can do and places to go. If wearing a mask is a non starter, do not book a cruise, Do not blame Cunard for not being able to predict the future when you clearly haven’t had the imagination to consider another Covid wave. It may be hard to imagine from your lofty heights, but the crew live and work below decks in very tight areas where they probably don’t have fantastic air exchange (as they are below decks). While you might not care about yourself, there are thousands of people who are working under tough situations to do their jobs. Keeping them safe and healthy is not a big sacrifice, for me. if it is for you, take cruising off your calendar for the next year or so,

I made a spelling error. I meant to say RSV which is another miserable virus that thrives in the winter months, in particular.

I will predict that January is more likely to be a bad month for Covid, TSV, flu and any other virus than May. Viruses are seasonal and after the holidays there is always a spike.

I actually did this! 17 days round trip TA a few weeks after my two hip surgeries. I am a little surprised that it was suggested you could go as soon as the next day, but I am not a doctor! I would recommend that you give yourself a little time to be sure that everything is healing according to plan and perhaps have your physical therapy exercises to do on the ship in the gym. I went every day. I was probably four weeks post op, and on crutches (I wasn’t supposed to bear weight for six weeks). That said, I had already flown from Thailand to New York where I had my unexpected surgeries, My daughter came with me on the cruise as my house was totally being majorly remodeled. at the time. There was a single gentleman at out table on one of the legs. I think you can be as social or not as you choose.

I am in Grills and I am not canceling. The situation is so fluid. It is what it is. If I need to wear a mask in certain situations it is not going to ruin my time,

Cruising isn’t a great option for libertarians. Way more rules and customs than hotels and resorts. Many more people in close quarters. it is just not the moment to cruise if you hope to do your own thing.

Buying toiletries and such, as well as needed clothing items in New York is easy and not very costly. The checked baggage situation is really a nightmare now. I am on another travel board and I am seeing a lot of problems with bag. You could check a bag with stuff you can do without and hope for the best, Definitely take advantage of the generous travel allowances. We are headed to London next Saturday for our daughters graduation and my husband is wearing his sports jacket on the plane.

For what its worth, testing with omicron is not that useful in preventing spread. I had family members test negative when they were symptomatic (double boosted) Had they not tested again on day two or three, they would have thought that they had a cold or allergy. So they were contagious for days and testing negative. They spread it to a third family member who was not on the fateful Florida trip.he wasn’t boosted. On the other side, I am testing positive two weeks out and have transmitted it to zero people. in fact, I didn’t t even give it to my husband (recently got second booster) despite close contact (he didn’t go to Florida and was “happy” to see me when I returned 🤣). BUT weeks later, I could be denied boarding a ship… Basically masking and having and having boosters seems like the best way to avoid the spread and serous Illness,.

Have a wonderful trip!

Honestly, in these times, don’t travel if you can’t adapt. January 2020 we were in Vietnam when Covid was first identified on the first week of a three week trip. we have traveled quite a bit and its been a lot at times getting the right tests the right number of hours before arrival in Kenya, for example, then paying nearly $300 to get tested in the bush on the way home. My daughter spent Christmas by herself in isolation in Cancun. I just got Covid on a trip to Florida. you do what you need to do. When we go to the theater in NYC we wear masks, if needed, even if the tickets were thousands of dollars (Hugh Jackman in Music Man). I didn’t resell my tickets. I will get boosted again before my November cruise and follow whatever the rules happen to be at the time. is it that hard to be considerate to other people ?

In my opinion, it is the right move, at the moment, I see that you live in London ( y daughter is in school there). As there has been a “live with Covid” policy there for some time, you may be more immune than you realize. You are much less likely to contract the virus now than you were last week, given the new requirements, so look at it as good news,

I just came back from Florida where my entire group caught Covid. I managed all these years in NY, Covid free, my usual lifestyle is outdoors and limited exposure. i think the fact is that Omni is very different, and unavoidable if your day includes being around people unmasked. I think there is a pretty short window of exposure, mostly prior to symptoms. I am 64 and had mild symptoms, scratchy throat, slightly runny nose, my siblings, the same, one person had a fever. The only good thing about omi seems to be those of us with recent boosters did fine, those with waning immunity had fevers, and my husband despite close contact was never negative (recent booster). I didn’t opt for paxlovid, given my mild symptoms. best if luck to you fee,ign better soon. I am glad that Cunard is taking such good care of you!

Well, maybe by November things will improve a little. Maybe my best bet is to show up later? Am I mistaken, or is there no special check in for Grill Passengers? It would seem like a nice gesture.

Is it off topic to ask people of their experience using the reserved deck space for the grills passengers? I didn’t avail myself of this on my last trip, but as we are heading to the Caribbean in November it might be nice. The worst thing about cruising can be finding a place to sit around the pools and the reserving spaces that takes place. I was also wondering if there is shade,

It’s fun to anticipate and plan for an upcoming cruise! Especially in these times. We all enjoy exchanging thoughts and experiences. I think it’s impossible to generalize what people have and haven’t experienced. Times have changed and the onboard experience has evolved. i have been on these forums over twenty years and sailed Cunard twenty years before that ( a few small ships and the QE2). I am happy that someone started this thread! I did a back to back a few years back on the QM in the PG and am excited to do the RT from NYC to the Caribbean in November in the QG. It’s too darn quiet in the forums. It’s time for a spirited “can I wear my designer jeans in the DR” or the ever popular “tips should be included”. I especially like this one when we get the kiwis, Brit’s and Americans taking their customary roles. On food, I like a nice cold seafood platter with really big prawns and a half a lobster, etc,

One of my favorite negative reviews many many years ago was on Princess. The butter on the table was too cold. On a ship >100,000 GT People can have their opinions and on the exact same cruise you can get two opposing reviews. People have their own experiences and most importantly expectations. Frankly, the more I pay and am promised, the higher my expectations. by and large, I haven’t yet had a bad cruise. There have been ships I haven’t been fond of but I had a particular destination in mind and 20 years ago there weren’t that many choices.

Also, HL has international ships, so no need to have German, On our trip all the speakers who didn’t have German as a mother tongue were put in one group. Many did have a command of German, also but chose to be in the English speaking group. I learned a little German by doing exercise classes and it was fun. As an aside, I am doing the QM2 as it’s out. Of NY round trip for a cruise and so happy to not fly. The Grills suites are very nice. And the DR is very good, also have a dedicated swimming pool and deck. A transatlantic is also fun. Again risk high seas and scanty internet.

I would say to travel with your kid. I really enjoy the cruises I have taken with mine. For interesting nature based itineraries consider the Amazon and Galapagos. HL does the Amazon and Silversea and Celebrity do a great job with Galapagos. The seas can be choppy there, Go to Antartica with your kid too. There is not great internet and high seas, but very manageable with the patch. I like Polynesia too.

For what it’s worth, I did the proctored Covid test with my iPhone balanced aGainst a cup or book, Both my husband and I did it on our own, at the same time in two different locations.

I made my reservation over the weekend as I didn’t know how long the reduced deposit would last (and the availability of QG cabins at the price offered which was excellent)and I no longer have a cruise TA. I would like to change my cabin to one I now see available, also (just the one next door). Any recommendations? Many thanks.

I don’t drink alcohol but I see that they carry fevertree mixers which I love. Do we tell them in advance how to stock the bar? Also, what would we use a butler for? Also, do all QG get priority tender? Thanks everyone!

That’s nice. I would hate to have to sign for coffee and tea in the dining room.

On the drinks, do they include items like cappuccino or are they an additional charge?

I never expected to book a Queens Grill cabin, but it was $250 more a night than the already well priced PG. What are the table sizes? It seems like they are not tailored for this dining room on the personalizer (shocking). As much as my husband we enjoy sharing a table with others, despite the awkwardness that I found in the PG where table mates show up at all different times. Over the years we have had a lot of fun. Also, do people ever meet new friends and dine with them? I will say that is a nice feature on other cruise lines. Last time I was on the QM2 was a back to back transatlantic one way in grills, the other way in Brittania. When we ran into our table mate who did both ways in grills, he told us that his new table mates didn’t seem to know the unspoken rule regarding politics at the dinner table. Interesting comment. I know I don’t go on vacation to get aggravated.