milamber

We usually book inside guarantees simply to get the best possible price. We wouldn't book a guarantee if a specific numbered cabin was available at the same price as long as we were happy with it.

We certainly wouldn't book a guarantee because of the possibility of an upgrade. In 15 or so cruises we usually do get an upgrade to the category we have booked, but only once has it been a 'proper' upgrade ie. inside to outside. Most of the time we simply keep the inside cabin we have booked, but get upgraded a category or two within that grade.

You have to look at the cost difference and see if it's worth it for you. If we were in the habit of booking outsides or balconies we might be a bit fussier, but an inside cabin is pretty much the same, wherever it is. No chance of a blocked view, anyway :)

I'd also say that we have never been unhappy with any cabin we have been allocated from a guarantee. We generally take the attitude that any cabin is better than not being on the ship, but I know many people are a lot fussier.

We haven't had any problem getting a table for two for late dining on both our crossings. There always seemed to be some tables spare. Early dining is more popular.

It doesn't cover absolutely everywhere, but there is an excellent app called citymaps2go by Ulmon. Completely free - you just download the maps for where you are going. Best thing is that it shows you where you are at street level, in realtime, even without a working internet connection. Fantastic for cities you don't know. You can type in where you want to go and the map will guide you.

(or else each segment would see Apassionata multiple times).

Just resigned ourselves to that.....not sure if we should be relieved or not reading your post :)

Unless there is little or no price difference we always book an inside so that we can travel more on the money we have. We made an exception for Alaska and went for an outside cabin and, in that instance, we felt it was completely worth it. We saw several whales that we would have missed if we had been in an inside, some spectacular views as well and it was nice to prop up in bed first thing in the morning and look out.

Don't underestimate the value of an oceanview. The natural light makes a huge difference to the feel of a cabin.

Both Cunard and a TA will happily extend a trip after or before a cruise and alter the flights. Certainly in the UK, the trips with stays before or after a cruise are usually much cheaper than the cruise on it's own for some reason. That's definitely been the case with some of the world cruise segments for 2016. Extending our stay in Sydney saved us over £5000 as a couple compared with flying home directly after the cruise.

The few times we have checked directly with Cunard, the hotel prices have been far more expensive than similar hotels booked direct or via a TA.

Saw this guy last time in NYC. He sums it up well....

We had an embarkation time of 3pm, but had to be out of the hotel by 11am. Turned up at the ship at 12 happy to wait, but just walked on with no queue at all.

Hi milamber,

 

I hope you don't mind me asking you, for clarification.

 

I've not yet done a "fly-cruise" but understand, from posts here, that there is a strictly enforced "one suitcase, not over 23kg" rule on the charter flights that Cunard use. There is no opportunity to purchase "excess baggage"? Is this (or something close) in fact the case (no pun intended).

 

I ask obviously in the event that I book a "fly-cruise" myself in the future.

 

When I've crossed on QM2 and flown back to the UK I've always taken two cases (both under regulation weight of course).

Normally I've had to pay for the second case (once I splashed out on a better seat, and two cases were automatically allowed).

 

The cost of the "excess baggage" for the second case was nothing compared with the price of the fare for the crossing and flight of course, hence me ignoring the "one suitcase allowed for free" rule, but this was with a scheduled flight, not charter, hence my question above.

 

My understanding (which may be wrong of course) is that there is no restriction on taking two (or even three) cases on scheduled flights, you simply have to pay for them. But the same rule does not apply to charter flights.

 

Thanks for your help.

Hi

We do normally get the opportunity to buy an extra case on a flight and that would be ideal. Unfortunately it's an odd flight this time and we can't increase the luggage allowances beyond our 23kg allocation. I can't say for certain about the differences between charter and scheduled flights, but think we have usually been allowed to increase the allowance, at cost, on both types, but guess that varies between airlines.

We have no problem at the start as we embark in Southampton - it's the flight back from Sydney that's the problem! We did look at shipping a case back, but it was so expensive it simply wasn't feasible.

Just going to have to learn to travel light :) It doesn't help that we will be freezing cold, then hot, then cold again, then warm, then hot.......lots of different clothes needed.

Part of the problem in trying to look good with Cunard's dress code, at least for ordinary mortals, is the luggage restrictions on the flights.

I have a number of jackets in different shades and materials, all of which need a different set of shirts/trousers/shoes/waistcoats to go with them and adds up to a lot of weight, especially if I take my black tie gear as well for formal nights.

We have a longer cruise coming up in January and I'm having to seriously consider taking just a couple of suits plus some shirts and ties and one pair of formal shoes, instead of separates and black tie. That would be suit without a tie for informal/suit with tie for formal.

I'd love the opportunity to dress up a bit more and wear stuff that doesn't often get an outing, but 23kg doesn't give much wiggle room. If there wasn't jacket requirement on the informal nights it would make life much easier, from a packing point of view.

It's always going to be a contentious issue with strong opinions on both sides. The thing that always amuses me is the idea that wearing a jacket somehow makes someone well dressed. I've seen plenty of men who, whilst adhering to the dress code by wearing a jacket, wear clothes that neither fit, nor match and frankly look downright scruffy.

I'd far rather see someone in properly tailored long trousers and a shirt that fit correctly and go together than someone thoughtlessly bunging a jacket on simply to adhere to a dress code.

Same goes for formal nights. Personally speaking, I think there are so many of them on Cunard it makes them ordinary, rather than special. Again, some of the colour, style and fit variations on a dinner jacket, trousers and bow tie are simply awful. It's black tie, not red jacket, blue shirt, purple tie and white trousers.

I'd also disagree that it's the dress code that makes Cunard special - there is far more that still distinguishes the line from others. How long that will last is anybody's guess, though, as standards drop.

That said, whilst we all have our own opinions, as long Cunard have a dress code I have little time for people who book a voyage then moan about it.

And yes, whilst the temperature in the MDR is generally cooler on the QM2 than other ships, there have been a couple of times when it has been sweltering and I have removed my jacket midway through dinner. Not on a formal night though - I have to grin and bear that :)

Our recent taxi from just outside Central Park to the Red Hook terminal took just under an hour. I'd allow at least that. If you get to the ship early you shouldn't have any problems boarding before the time on your ticket

We always maintain the standard hepatitis/typhoid/tetanus injections so we are covered wherever we travel. With most of them once you have had your booster you are covered for quite a long time, though this varies of course.

Personally we wouldn't bother with yellow fever unless we were either going to a part of a country that is at significant risk (most cruise ports aren't) or if we were going to a country that had vaccination as a specific entry requirement (I think going from Peru to Equador requires a certificate, for example)

Same goes for malaria. Unless we were going to a high risk area (again, most cruise ports aren't high risk areas unless you plan to travel further into the country), we wouldn't take meds for the sake of it.

Ours usually stays on the provider's signal as we sail away and swaps to the maritime network once we are out of range, provided it's turned on by then. We just turn off data roaming and haven't ever had any problems with charges.

Can't help with the difference in charges between networks once on the maritime network, it's expensive for calls/texts whoever you are with though.

Can't help with everything, but we sailed into New York in the dark. Still incredibly impressive with the Statue of Liberty lit up from a long way out and all the lights in Manhattan. Can't see how it would be more impressive in the daylight, just different.

I usually get bored witless on sea days, but on the QM2 the days just shot by and we rarely managed to fit everything in we wanted. Not sure how that will work on a longer voyage (will find out in the New Year!), but on a TA the sea days weren't a problem at all.

Any day in the Caribbean is a good day :)

On our recent transatlantic many men wore the jacket to the table, then took it off and hung it on the back of the chair on informal nights. Can't recall whether or not it happened on formal nights, but guess not so much.

Can't imagine for one minute you would be the only person doing so in the Caribbean. There has to be some common sense applied.

This should do it.....

 

http://ships.cruisett.com/

 

andhow

We usually use cruisett, but for some reason it's been quite poor lately. Luckily some of the other sites recommended seem a lot better and that, coupled with the port authorities seem to have given us a reasonable idea, thanks

Cheers everyone. We realise that port times/arrivals can be changed and accept that when we book cruises. We've travelled with seven other lines though and all of them give times that they are due to arrive and leave and usually these are pretty accurate.

There is no reason that Cunard can't give out this information, unless they are simply trying to ensure that passengers book ship trips rather than travel independently.

Some of the port timings are as much 6 hours different on the port schedules to those on the travel agent's itinerary - all of them longer. Having 12 hours in port to look around is very different to having 6 hours, especially if it's a tender port.

Thanks pepperrn. I might need to do that. The times shown by cruisecal are way different to those shown on the travel agent's itinerary! Mostly longer in port than the itinerary says. Makes a huge difference to the possibilities in port if cruisecal is correct.

Why Cunard can't give actual times is beyond me.

Thanks John. We do have a more detailed itinerary from the travel agent, but not sure how reliable it is as it doesn't match up particularly well with what Cunard say! I'll try 'cruisecal'. We have a calendar we usually use, but according to that the QM2 isn't in any of the ports........

Is there any way of finding out actual times in port? The voyage personaliser simply says 'morning to afternoon' or 'early morning to evening', for example. Every other cruise line we have been with gives actual times in port which makes it much easier to plan visits. Just wondered if there was any way of getting exact times or, at least, some translation of what the various timings given mean in practice.

Thanks

We always fly in the day before the ship is due to sail so it's perfectly safe for you to fly in the day of boarding, if you aren't sailing until the next day.

There is always a risk of delays which might mean you board later or spend less time in Quebec than you want, but you won't miss the ship.

Once you are boarded you can do pretty much what you like. Depends if you want to get out and see Quebec or if you want to explore the ship. It's up to you.

Or as P.G. Wodehouse summed it up:

[about the white jacket]

Jeeves: I assumed it had got into your wardrobe by mistake, sir, or else that it had been placed there by your enemies.

Bertie Wooster: I will have you know, Jeeves, that I bought this in Cannes!

Jeeves: And wore it, sir?

Bertie Wooster: Every night at the Casino. Beautiful women used to try and catch my eye!

Jeeves: Presumably they thought you were a waiter, sir.

My understanding is that the World voyage is split into "sectors" and at the end of each of those sectors your CWC membership will be updated with the number of nights of that sector. At the same time your onboard account will also be settled to the registered credit card. You then start the next sector afresh. As you progress through each of the sectors you may find that your cumulative nights reach 70 in which case your next sector, if there is one or if not your next voyage, will bring about the enhanced Platinum CWC benefits. A free wine tasting to name just one!! This link may help https://ask.cunard.com/help/cunard/returning-home/cwc_world_voyage

That's very helpful, thanks. Sadly we won't reach Platinum until 5 days from the end, based on accumulated days :( Difficult to work out exactly what a sector is as Cunard seem to be selling so many different variations, but pretty sure there won't be enough to qualify on voyages taken before the end. Looks like we might get the 2 hours internet a few times though which would help.