missfrankiecat

I'm pretty sure it was 5 days when I started on QE2 unless my memory is playing me tricks, and I would prefer to go back to quicker voyages to allow for more time in the States and travel by sea both ways. Obviously its not going to happen, given the pressure to keep fares and fuel costs low and maximise additional spending at sea. That said, 8 days is a real disincentive to me - much as I love TA's, 16 days there and back is my whole holiday and I want to spend time in New York too.

Don't post here often but, with no disrespect to any of the other names mentioned, I have found Captain Oprey a discerning, intelligent and charming conversationalist with a very nice wife, who often travels with him. No one matches the peerless St Ian McNaught, of course, but look what Cunard did to him!

Just disembarked on Saturday after an enjoyable New Years trip. I do think that there are problems regulating the temperature in the Lido in cold (outside) weather as the automatic doors opening onto the pool and outer decks seem to be very sensitive and let in a lot of cold air. We were quite chilly dining in the alternative restaurant on Friday night (which was cold outside). Presumably QE has the same problem although, as I have only been on in hotter climates, it wasn't noticeable to me. Elsewhere on board no problems.

I enjoyed your report; it was lovely to read of someone getting and enjoying a lovely upgrade.

I'm sorry, I have to disagree with you on this one. As the OP is completely new to cruising, my advice would be to go for a midship cabin. Everyone reacts differently to sea travel, some feel every movement others really don't notice. I think it's a personal thing - but if it were my first cruise, I'd go for the safe bet. :)

It's the Med in August. I know weather can be unpredictable but you'd have to be pretty unlucky to encounter serious seas on what the OP is booking. And Captain P is right, there is very little difference between different parts of the ship motion wise (and people's sensitivities vary too - I personally handle pitching better than rolling, so front is better than mid or aft in a storm for me!) Go with the cheapest option.

I agree with this statement. However having done two QM2 world Cruises and the one QE this year, I know for a fact most world cruiser don't spent much money on board. Some people don't spent any money at all! One lady I know does the WC each year and never spends anything on-board other their OB spend.

She wouldn't even buy a bottle of nail polish remover, said no not paying these prices which made me laugh. I gave her mine :)

This is my impression too. I have only done segments of the WC but it was striking to me how empty the bars and entertainment venues were at night. There is absolutely no comparison to TA's and the shorter cruises and 'booze cruises'. I felt like a complete alcoholic ordering wine at dinner (the only one on a large table) and it seemed common for people to sit in the bars prior to dinner asking for a glass of water! What's more, on the last trip I did (2012), on my table of 8 only one other got off the ship at all prior to getting back to Europe and no one did any of the organised tours. That may have been unusual for full WC'ers who want to tour, but a lot of the segments are sold at cut price to people who have no interest other than sunbathing on the decks, and my understanding is that full WC'ers are never more than about 1/4 of ship capacity.

In Ian Fleming’s James Bond novel, From Russia, With Love, he wrote: “Bond mistrusted anyone who tied his tie with a Windsor Knot. It showed too much vanity. It was often the mark of a cad.”

But seriously, I doubt anyone is offended by how a neck tie is fastened, except a bow tie is more appropriate on formal night with a dinner suit.

No recorded arrest on the paperwork you have access to might not mean there isn't any other paperwork with it recorded on. Who knows!!

A lawyer knows. Which is why I am sad that obtaining basic legal advice is termed 'lawyering up". All arrests are (or should be) recorded on PNC. They do not appear on an ACPO police certificate because that document is only designed to show convictions/cautions and in no way reflects the intelligence routinely obtained and stored by the police and shared with other agencies, both domestic and foreign, in appropriate circumstances (supposedly!).

You may recall that Nigella Lawson was recently refused entry to the US on the basis of press reports that she had smoked cannabis although she has no convictions nor, so far as we know, prior arrests. I believe she 'lawyered up' and the issue was swiftly resolved!

I suppose actually seeking advise from a qualified immigration lawyer rather than than uninformed though well intentioned opinions of anonymous internet forum users is out of the question?

aaarrrggghh:eek::eek::eek:

 

I have just booked one of these mini cruises:eek::eek:

 

Why? Not because it was cheap, although it was, but because I wanted to go aboard the QM2...as a taster to see if I liked her. I enjoy P&O, but was hoping QM2 would have something more to offer in the way of tradition and elegance.

 

Seems like the experience might put me off for ever!

 

Is there any way to avoid these marauding hordes, or will I have to stay holed up in my cabin?

Don't let the negative reviews put you off but don't discount QM2 if your experience is not as positive as you hoped. I have been on several of these shorter cruises and they are not representative of Cunard at its best in my opinion. They are useful, if you are a first timer for exploring what the ship physically offers (that doesn't change after all) at a low price and, in QM's case, I think the ship herself is very impressive. Try to do an organised tour so you get an idea of all the nooks and crannies and know where to explore on your own. Do bear in mind, whatever your fellow guests are like, that the ambience of a short trip is VERY different from a Transatlantic (where to my mind you experience QM2 at her best) or a longer cruise. You will be lucky if there is one formal night, there will be no Captain's or other organised parties, the entertainment will be much sparser, afternoon tea horribly over crowded (as everyone tries to do it in a day), probably food of a lower standard (due to cheap fares) and the staff generally more stretched and less motivated (tipping is traditionally low on shorter trips). It sounds like a lot of negatives but as long as you don't take the trip as representative of Cunard's best (or even usual to be frank) there is still a lot to enjoy.

I would suggest that the issue is pricing not nationality. There was a sizeable German group on my last TA (though nothing like the percentage of the overall capacity Jimsgirl and her fellow cruisers experienced), most of whom were on a trip organised/associated with Die Zeit. My impression was that they were mostly rather more respectful of the ship's traditions than many of the UK/US passengers, certainly in issues of evening dress and general decorum. There were a number of activities and lectures in German which didn't interfere with the overall programme. Speaking a little German I went to one in the theatre by an artist who created and explained his process during an hour long presentation. It was fascinating and the audience far more animated,involved and interested than many of the 'usual' audiences with people wandering in and out at will.

The real problem is that selling at rock bottom prices whether on the infamous short booze cruises or to certain sectors on a given trip but not others promotes clashing expectations of what the cruise will be like which cannot be reconciled. We go round and round in circles about selling off unsold cabins for a song at the last minute rather than sailing half full but it does appear that the price discrimination is more targeted than that. Despite what is written and said about German passengers being charged high prices, I can only say that I had a personal example in Summer 2010 when, wishing to take a Westbound TA from Southampton to New York it was cheaper for me to book from Hamburg (despite being on board an extra two nights!) than from S'ton. I'm sure that this isn't always the case but such price differentials defy belief if not an attempt to price one sector out of the market in favour of another.

Either way, it still does not fall into the "disgraceful" category.

 

A time period of 10 working days is hardly excessive.

I'm afraid I disagree. If a shop charges twice for an item in-store would you think it ok to wait 10 days for them to reverse the second charge? Of course not. And UK consumer law wouldn't either.

The aft end smell on deck 7 has been present for years but is quite different to the aroma in the photo and art galleries, which on the 24.6 crossing was more akin to very bad drainage problems, or to be quite frank, rotting flesh. I wondered how the people working in those areas could stand it as it appeared persistent throughout the voyage.

These 3 to 5 day mini trips are often disappointing as has been reported on here ad nauseam. Assuming that new passengers have done some research it should be easy for them to find the relevant threads. I must ask how the OP can make the highlighted statement when they didn't personally experience it. Considering that the trip was to celebrate July 4th, is it surprising that the dining venue was an American Bistro? I've never seen it or heard of on any of my QM2 trips so I think that it may have been specially created for the famously eclectic American palates.

The American Bistro is now one of the alternating alternative dining venues in the evening Kings Court (along with Lotus, Coriander and Italian). I have to say the standard of food and service I experienced on my 7 day WBTA in the Britannia the other week was quite poor; I sent back/couldn't eat two main courses, which is unprecedented in my experience. We took to eating in the alternatives in the evenings and the American Bistro was good.

He wasn't in the RAF and you still haven't highlighted the part in the RAF dress regs that mentions mess dress.

Schedule 2 sets out mess dress (along with other forms of dress). Read in conjunction with 0110b of schedule 1 it makes it very clear that RAF mess dress is defined as uniform and subject to the same restrictions on wearing (and prohibition in the case of non commissioned personnel) after retirement.

I'm not sure why the discussion about Britannia opening times is getting so tetchy or really what the criticism of Cunard is. Daily opening times are clearly printed on the newsletter and displayed outside the relevant restaurants so 'newbies' won't be misled if they can read. On the day of embarkation newbies won't be on board in time to lunch in the Britannia in any event as they don't have priority embarkation.

Facilities are inevitably less diverse on major embarkation days for fairly obvious reasons if anyone stops and thinks about the logistics - hotel and deck departments have a particularly heavy workload on those days and in addition a reasonable percentage of staff (including wait staff) get some time ashore on those days (on rotation). Given many are on 8-9 month contracts and work a 7 day minimum 12-14 hour rota, I would think that is vital for staff morale, particularly during the more gruelling (staffing wise) TA season.

Equally, given that none of the Cunard ships have any break in service other than periodic dry docking for refurbs, it is obvious that showing potential clients (who will potentially be referring much business their way) is going to happen primarily in the two 'home' ports. The inconvenience to 'in transit' passengers is minimised (since most leave the ship for trips in any event). It isn't as if there is no where else to eat on the ship - no one goes hungry with Lido/King's Court/Pub/Sir Samuels or in cabin service.

Light weight costume jewellery - sparkly or dangly earrings, a statement necklace etc - can really dress up plain dark silky separates for formal dinners too, for relatively little cost and luggage space.

My elderly parents have done ship transfers at Southampton on a couple of occasions and they simply put their bags out with a certain coloured tag in the usual way before midnight and they were waiting in their new cabin on the next Cunard ship after they embarked the next day. We are British nationals all resident here but I can't think that immigration issues would change that procedure for the bags for you as US domiciled/resident.

Greatly enjoying your well written adventures. Thank you for sharing.

At what point have you signed a passenger contract? I don't remember ever doing. You've got me wondering now.

Certainly, I've never signed one nor been asked to. I suppose we'll have the usual 'every passenger's experience is different and just because it didn't happen to you doesn't mean it didn't happen to me' explanation trotted out.

First, I hope you didn't take my comments as criticism in any way of your actions. You and others have one view I have the opposit one. I am sure we can respect the views of others without resorting to insults as we have seen.

 

In fact the contents of these boards are open to general view. You don't need to be a member to read.

 

Possible implications of having your picture published on line? We all know of the guy pictured on Street View coming out of a sex shop. Of course we can say serves him right, but we really don't have the right to moralise I think. Extend this to the guy who takes his special friend on a cruise without telling his wife. I could think of many more and you probably can also.

 

 

 

David

It's an interesting debate but, if we agree the legality of publishing photographs of adults taken without their knowledge and express consent, what moral argument subjugates the freedom of expression of the photographer to the 'protection' of other's secrets? The 'implications' or consequences of the errant husband's photograph being seen by the wife derive from his voluntary actions not the innocent bystander's photograph? And to be less pretentiously philosophical, I'm guessing the cheating husband is not going to balk at making up a lie about who his 'special friend' is etc, is he? And unless the photo has them in flagrante (a whole other issue for the photographer and presumably never yet seen in the King's Court, however much standards have fallen!) who can prove otherwise?

I've had another look through these excellent photos and I've spotted my son again, with me this time. It's a photo taken in the Britannia.

 

Message to Balf - I have already mentioned that my son is quite pleased to be in the photos, now I can say I don't mind being in the photos, so why are you going on and on about not having people in these photos without their knowledge?

 

As for not being able to film the professional performers- it's to do with each performers intellectual copyright and it's all very complicated, so just having an outright ban is easiest all round.

I think I am correct in saying an actor, singer or dancer has no intellectual property rights in their performance; the writers of the material they perform usually do. The reason for the request not to make audio or video recordings relates to copyright infringements of the writer/songwriter's material, not the performer's. Flash photography is simply distracting and/or dangerous. Just publishing a photograph of a performer (or any other adult) taken in a public place, provided there is no specific injunction in place, is perfectly lawful with or without their express permission. It happens day in day out in the real world!

I think the days when it mattered have long gone. In the MD (first sitting) we were irritated nightly by the coffee cups being plonked down on the table when we were half way through pudding.

 

In polite society, desert or pudding. Discuss.

 

David.

Ok, I'll take the bait. They are not synonyms - dessert is the final course of a meal, usually sweet (from the French verb meaning to clear the table); pudding is a carbohydrate based dish which may be served for dessert but can also be savoury and be served as an appetiser or entree (eg steak and kidney pudding). Desert is a sandy landscape! :p Happy New Year all and thanks for the lively coffee debate!:)

I would much prefer the fiction of the 'auto-tip' to be removed, so that everyone is paying equally to support the crew (I understand up to 40% remove auto-tip on certain cruises). The true cost of wages (at least in the sense of enough being paid to crew to enable them to be recruited) would then have to be reflected in the cruise cost up-front and people would either have to pay or not cruise. The actual wages cost is then shared by all and people who wish to tip good service with individuals may do so.