majortom10

You used to be able to book speciality dining prior to your cruise and use your onboard cruise credit if you had any. This changed pre pandemic and if you booked in advance it was charged to your payment method and OBC could not be used.

No Cunard shouldnt allow large groups private bookings and the ship should be available to everyone on the cruise at all times. Having done a roundtrip TA where the Literary Festival was on the return trip to Southampton on QM2 it was the worst TAs we have done. Unfortunately we didnt know it was a Literary Festival when we booked as it wasnt announced until some time after. Parts of the ship were not available if you had not booked as part of the Festival and many normal availability i.e. Planetarium was cancelled for whole of TA so they could have talks in there. Those booked as part of the Literary Festival walked around with their printed bags and lanyards looking down on anyone that wasnt part of Festival. I was glad to get off in Southampton the whole atmosphere changed at the end of the first week to New York when it was excellent to an awful crossing home.

We have had 100 shares for many years and 2-3 cruises a year we have made a fortune in obc and dividends even now they are languishing in price to what they were pre pandemic.

Sorry might upset many but booking the Princess Plus package which includes Crew Appreciation I do not tip any extra.

We had a similar balcony on QE but towards the front of the ship and yes the balcony is much larger but like previously said if you like privacy then they are overlooked but honestly didnt bother us. We didnt do anything on the balcony untowards so let them look if they want too.

Yes spent 30 yrs working at the fire station down the road and visited there on a regular basis. Unfortunately a sign of the times and everyone deserves their retirement. Dont visit Stoke-on-Trent so very hard to get decent oatcakes in Stone except those horrible cardboard ones they sell in the supermarkets.

They were the best.

That has made me feel hungry will have to and look in the fridge see if we have some cheese and bacon 😋

A Chinese breeder.

They keep on about White Star Service but obviously I am not the only one they seem to be failing. Or is it a case of arrogance on Cunard's part that the regular cruisers will carry on cruising with them however bad they are treated. Think they might be in for a shock.

I agree but to be honest in nearly 50 cruises with varying cruise lines I have yet had anyone or requested anyone to provide me with a special service. If they did I would be more than happy to give them an extra tip but dont see bringing me a drink or room service as a special service that warrants it. Having said that we very rarely have room service.

We have cruised on Emerald in the past and also done 5 past British Isles cruises with Princess so know what to expect.

As far as all my cruises from Southampton Cunard have never actually asked for physical proof but they ask for details when you fill in your personal details before you can print of your e-ticket. Would never dream of travelling anywhere abroad whether it be on a cruise or not without travel insurance because it covers you for so much more than just health.

Sorry but I think the daily auto gratuity or the gratuity paid as part of Princess Plus is enough to pay for all aspects with rewarding of staff without the need for extra tipping.

Both me and my wife have Cunard accounts and neither of us receive any form of communication. I have now e-mailed the executive officer office see what they do or even if they respond. After my last contact with them regarding selling of FCDs to US passengers but not UK passengers the last e-mail I sent them they just totally ignored me so not holding out much hope.

Thanks for that. We have booked with Lloyds Pharmacy for our cruise in June on Emerald Princess but heard so many bad reports we are going to cancel. We are going to book at Dam Health in Nelsons Place Newcastle and I believe you can park on premises around the back.

Has anyone used Dam Health for their observed LFT Antigen test and do they recommend them and does the certificate contain all necessary details required for upcoming cruise on Princess.

As usual I have received nothing from Cunard by e-mail have looked at my preferences on my account and they are all set to receive communications by e-mail, text or post and have repeatedly asked Cunard on their Facebook page why I dont receive e-mails. All they say is we will pass it on to the relevant department but nothing ever changes. We are very close to being Diamond in CWC but I am thoroughly disappointed in Cunard.

Well the restaurants or pubs where I go for meals dont auto tip or expect tips. I suppose it is common in London and tourist cities i.e. Bath, York, Chester and the likes but certainly not round my area.

The difference being in the UK is that the minimum wage is a lot higher than in the US so therefore staff don't rely or expect tips to give them a decent wage. Tipping in UK is nowhere as high as in the US and tipping in restaurants is not common.

Astonishes me that in 2022 that hospitality crew on a cruise ship arent adequately paid a decent wage by the cruise line. Perhaps if they didnt pay their senior managers of Carnival like Arnold Donald $15m in 2015 when ships werent even sailing and leaking money faster than the ships. They are employed by Carnival and should be paid a decent wage without having to rely on tips just so that they pay staff a paltry wage to increase Carnival profits.

We didnt have a black diamond on our key cards on QE in November 2021.

How anyone can travel without travel insurance whether it covers for missed departure, health /medical incidents or loss of personal belongings or luggage I just dont understand.

Taken from Princess website - The crew appreciation is a daily (adjustable) amount added to your onboard account and pooled in order to recognize the many crew members in the Bar, Dining, Entertainment, Housekeeping, Guest Services, Galley and Onboard Revenue areas and entertainment areas throughout our fleet who contribute to the guest experience. The daily amount of the Crew Appreciation is based on stateroom category: $14.50 per guests in Interior, Oceanview and Balcony, $15.50 per guest in Mini-Suite and Club Class, $16.50 per guests in Suites. Noticed the statement "throughout the fleet" so any crew appreciation either through Princess Plus or added to onboard account daily is pooled from all Princess fleet and then divided out. If that is not an admission that it goes to enhance a very poor wage I dont know what is. About time in 21st century that all staff are paid a respectable wage accounting for where they come from and not have to rely on cruisers to pay their wages. Cruise lines employ them they should then pay them a decent wage.

Already paid tips in Princess Plus so do not see the need to tip any extra, especially if they are just doing the job they are actually employed for and nothing extraordinary or special. Cannot see the logic of tipping a waiter for bringing you a drink when you have already tipped in Princess Plus and if not 18% service charge.