ToadOfToadHall

So you can't purchase casino chips with cash or insert cash into slot machines, then?

No, I think you can still do that.

Smithsairportcars are regularly recommended on the US cruise line forums for Southampton transfers. That seems a very reasonable price.

The train would be £70 for 2. And then you still have to get from the station to your hotel. A flexible coach is £50 for 2 and again, you then need to get to your hotel.

So for me, the taxi was by far the best option since it was straight to the hotel and someone helped with the cases as well.

Does anyone have any recommendations for taxis from Heathrow to Southampton the day before a cruise - staying in hotel overnight in Southampton so there aren't any issues with flight

There seems to be so many it would be great to get a recommendation

Thank you

We did exactly the same (i.e stay in a Southampton hotel the night before) on a recent (2 months ago now) cruise, but parked at Heathrow T5 as we were flying back there.

We used this company : http://www.smithsairportcars.co.uk/

They were very good, I would certainly use them again. It was £67 + £7 for them to park at T5 to collect us.

Hope this helps.

Any winnings are put onto the card - in the bank- you can use this for future visits to the slots or cash out each night.

The confusing thing is that whilst they take your stake from your card (i.e. room account), they don't pay it back to it.

So I started playing slots and ended up about $20 up. So I pressed the "cash out" button and the credit in the machine then showed zero. But it does not return to you card. It's held in an account that you have to collect from the cashier.

When my room account arrived after the first few days it had all the casino charges on but none of the cash outs. I assumed maybe they just put it back at the end of the cruise. But on the last day's daily programme, it said to collect any winnings you had. Oddly, I was just about to do that when they rang our room to remind me to collect my money. So then I had about $60 or so in dollars which was not very convenient.

It's odd that they can take the money from your card but not credit any winnings back.

That sounds a bit more like a traditional hotel afternoon tea

Indeed it does.

I had afternoon tea years ago at The Grand in Brighton, and that's how it was presented.

The flight out to collect us was delayed, Cunard were aware of this before desembarking us, however still chose to send us to the airport. Upon arriving at the airport, we were offloaded from the coach and left on our own - from flying P&O previously, I would have expected staff at the airport to ensure check-in ran smoothly.

 

We (around 300 passengers) spent 2 hours stood at the doors inside the departure area at the check-in desks.

 

 

After checking in we were advised of a 1 hour delay.. approximately 2 hours after our original departure time, we were called to the gate. Queues formed and then spent around 30 minutes stood at the gate..finally the first bus was loaded...and then remained parked for 10 minutes! 20 minutes later the next batch were placed onto a bus..again for 10 minutes in 30+ degree heat.

 

 

We set off relatively quickly after that to be advised there was no food left for the flight...4 hour flight with a 2.5-3 hour delay.

 

 

Upon arrival at Manchester we remained on the plane for 20 or so minutes as the staff couldn't a 'chuck/chock' for the wheels!

 

 

After a 30 minute wait in passport control, we then had a further 45 minute wait for the baggage to start coming through!

 

 

I THINK I have covered everything... first time with Cunard, however this would be enough to put me off travelling with them again. Being kicked out of the stateroom at 8am and not returning home until 10pm isn't the kind of service I would expect from the Cunard brand..for a med cruise. The initial delay wasn't necessarily their fault, however actions could have been taken to ensure it didn't affect the passengers.

I think I can claim a draw with our flight from Venice:

Disembarkation was supposed to be at 12:15. We finally left the ship at 12:45. We then got held at the ship's gang plank because someone in front of us had an outstanding account of a few dollars (that's what the lady said when we were queuing at Venice airport).

The coach parked a good 10 minute walk to the terminal, so a walk in the boiling heat. Then we had to fight our way through the crowds to collect our cases. Then join the back of the check in queue. The queue for our flight was massive and they only bothered to open 1 desk. After an hour they opened another one and things started to move. Then through security (the most efficent part) and into the departure area. There was then another queue to have your passports checked. There was no time to have anything to drink or eat because of the length of the queue. At the departure time got nearer (which was 14:50), they started pulling people out of the queue and putting us to the front of it.

Amazingly everyone was actually on the plane, with the doors closed at 14:50. So 2 hours from leaving the ship until being on the plane, the vast majority of which was stood in Venice airport in endless queues.

But then we sat in the plane and went nowhere for 1 hour. The captiain came on the thing and said he was less than happy at the organisation at the airport, as it seemed they could not manage to get the bags on in time.

We took off at around 15:50 (1 hour late).

We were on a BA charter on a plane that was out of the ark. One of the air stewards made a joke to a passenger that whilst the plane was not as old as he was, it was younger than his colleage !

And they charged for food. No matter we thought, we are starving since we had no time at all to eat at the airport. But by the time they got to us, there was nothing left; not even a manky sandwich. Of course, they take-off with only so much food based on what they expect to sell. But because of the massive delays and no time to eat, evenone wanted to eat; hence they ran out of food.

When we arrived at Heathrow, we had missed our landing slot and parking bay, so we had to park in another area. When we landed, we had to wait about 20 minutes because there was a vechile parked where the plane should be. Brilliant.

Then we had the utter shambles of arrives. Half the automated barrier passport things were not working. So it took over an hour just to get though those. And then wait for bags and finally I had to collect our car at the M&G parking.

We were supposed to land at 16:05. It was 19:00 by the time we left the airport - that's 3 hours later than the published landing time.

So 3 hours late, stood for most of the time and no food. Air travel is truely shambolic.

If it was a farce it would not surprise me. When we flew back from Venice to Heathrow a couple of months ago it was an absolute shambles at both ends.

Locally, and when we go south to visit family, I would always add 10% to a restaurant bill (unless the bill is already service charged) and round up. Similar for taxis.

 

As an aside, we spent a lovely day in Chester while down South last week.....a really interesting city, and we had lunch outdoors in beautiful sunshine in the Boathouse Restaurant on the river.

I too generally add 10% myself to restaurant bills. But I think that's the point that everyone (especially those from the UK) is that they choose to add it. Where as on the ship (or indeed the US in general), there's no option.

So when you do add a tip in a restaurant , they do seem genuinely grateful for it. But on the ship it's just there. For example, a few weeks ago on the QVm every drinks waiter was first rate. Apart from one who worked in the Pub. He had zero customer facing skills - none. He clearly hated every second of his job. But because of the system, he got 15% regardless. And that's the problem for me.

In Chester, The Boathouse used to have an ivy covered beer garden, but I've not been for a while now.

The Coach House in the city centre is the best pub in Chester I'd say. It's right next to the Town Hall, just across the the cathedral. The food there is very good. You can sit outside in the pedestrian area which is quite nice as well.

Doesn't your point prove the case that gratuities are not the problem that many of my fellow Brits make them out to be i.e. 3.50 + 15% is 4.02, compared to a straight 4.00....virtually identical, so pay the grats and support the cruiseline business model......it really is that simple!;)

I think you have missed my point.

It's not the 2p I'm on about (I just used £3.50 + 15% as it's a simple number).

My point was that I was charged £4.00. The price was not £3.50 + 15% (ok, £3.48 + 15%). It was £4.00.

So why can't companies like Cunard just charge you a price, instead of adding of x, y and z on to a published price ?

It really is that simple.

A pint in London for under a fiver, that's a celebration.

I was taken aback as well !

Compared with the £6.50 for a 330ml bottle of cider I'd just paid in a restaurant on Regent Street !

It's not really a tip is it ? We all know that. It's just a way to make the initial price look less.

I mean, yesterday I was in a pub.

The cost of a pint outside Euston Station was £4.00.

It was not £3.50 + 15%. It was £4.00. It really is that simple.

There's about 1000 crew on the QV. I'd doubt 200 (1 in 5) are beverage staff. When you go into a bar, I reckon there's only 5 or so waiters in each one, plus bar staff. I'd say less than 100 (including wine waiters).

Thanks. Made request yes central London. I think a transfer is included in our fare but don't fancy coaches. May consider the train instead. Thinking comfort rather than cost.

For comfort then maybe not the train ? I myself hate carrying luggage on the train and the tube is even worse.

Mind you, I get upset carrying a laptop on the train !

Any idea of the cost to London city?

Central London you mean ? (not London city airport I assume).

I'd guess quite a bit more. It's only about 20 miles more, but a good hour extra.

Maybe almost double would be my guess.

You can request a quote online on their website.

http://www.smithsairportcars.co.uk/

We used them in June for a transfer from Heathrow to Southampton. £67. Cheap as chips !

And when you do separate out the staff wages (as Cunard have done) AND fail to mention them anywhere in the booking process (as Cunard do) then is it any surprise when some customers decide they are unreasonable.

Correctington.

We don't need an itemised bill for something that is a fixed price.

They won't spend the money to mail it.

Especially when the 56p for a second class stamp is more than the pin is worth in the first place.

But they are not in the UK, where the price is the price; a single item on the bill.

Exactly.

But it's an America thing.

I have a theory about it;

For example, in the UK, VAT is nearly always shown in the price, so the price you see is the price you pay.

But in the US, it's not. So you see a price in say a shop. Then you trot off to pay, and only then do they add sales tax onto the price.

So my theory is that the reason tax is itemised out is because it's saying to your customer "look, this is price we are charging you, but it's more because the Government is adding on tax. It's nothing to do with us".

And this the example of port taxes etc it's the same idea.

But, why itemise out those taxes to customers ? You don't have any choice in the matter - you can't opt out of them. So all we want to see is the actual price that it's going to cost us. How that price is arrived at is irrelevant.

Clues:

 

--all employees of Cunard that have checks cut out of the main office are subject to either UK or USA labor laws and taxes. Service personnel and certain jobs onboard are private contractors and must deal with their own home country and their tax systems.

--some cruises sell out at a discount and others sell out in the black. Money due to service personnel never changes much because of the "gratuity" system. The company may make little or no profit on certain heavily discounted cruises, but labor costs are covered for the most part. As long as that ship is "full" the service people make their money. One reason for the fire sale of cabins the last few weeks.

Your explanation has nothing to do with nothing.

Point 1 : Taxes would then be down to each person.That has 100% nothing to do with itemising out labour charges to customers.

Point 2: Companies all the time either make a loss or make a profit. They still do not itemise out costs to a buyer separately. So what has a company's profit and loss account got to do with my question ?

Like I say, you explanation has no bearing on my question.

The thing I do not understand is this:

The price of a cruise is made of of many things:

Fuel

Port Fees

Food

Ship admin

Staff pay

Shore side admin

Repairs

Profit

and all sorts of endless other things that must have to be paid for.

So my question is; why itemise out one single item ? Nothing else is itemised, so why itemise out "gratuities" ?

Had one stuck in my throat once. Had a stiff neck for hours!

You can get Viagr a eye drops - they make you look dead hard !

I also agree!

 

A steward's job is so cushy; lazily wake up at a sensible hour, spend time with their wife/husband over breakfast on the verandah, see the kids off to school. Start work at the office at 9 (ish), lunch hour (ish) break at 1, finish at 5 (ish). Then home to see the family and nice relaxing unwind in front of the TV in the evening, or maybe a couple of hours gardening while there is still light. Then a late night as it's another relaxing day tomorrow.

 

And only five days a week and every weekend off!

 

Come Christmas there's a fortnight off to really enjoy the festive spirit, and see one's kids open their presents. That's special family time. Oh, and the chance to get really drunk knowing you've days to get over the hangover before returning to work.

 

How they must feel sorry for those workers who are away working for months and months on end. The must really pity those who work away from family and loved ones, and thank goodness they don't have to do that.

 

At least they don't have to put up with rude customers, people who treat them like slaves. How they must revel in their ability to say "do it yourself, you obese foul-mouthed pompous self-important ill-dressed slob" with no repercussions, and then get back to that nap...

 

Yes, such a cushy life, being a steward on a cruise ship. A lot like pen-pushers in offices really; plenty of time to count paper-clips, and do an inventory of pencils.

 

And then they have the nerve to expect extra money from customers on top of their expense-account enhanced salary (with company car) for this cushy, pampered life! Never.

Lets stop the sanctimony shall we ?

Being a waiter is a unskilled manual job and that is a fact. That's the way the world works.

It's low paid because it's low skilled. Some people do highly skilled job and get much higher wages. Some people do low skilled manual labour and get low wages. Get over it.

The bottom line -- few people would want to work as hard and as long as a waiter, asst' waiter or cabin stewart on today's modern cruise ship.

 

Enjoy!

Kel:D

I agree.

I can't think of a job that's more physically demanding and where you work in such a harsh environment than carrying plates around on a air conditioned cruise ship all day.

Really, it must be hell on earth.

We saw that happen in Istanbul.

It was like something out of an Ealing comedy !!

A taxi came whizzing towards the ship, horn going and 2 people frantically waving out of the car's windows. But the ship had already left and was just a few metres from the berth. I thought they were going to jump !

The word on the ship was that they got on board in the pilot boat.

Plenty of tables for two but, you may get a table for two but you maybe a few inches away from the next table for two:loudcry:.

As I recall, on both occasions we were close to another table for 2. But that means you can still talk to the people you are next to but equally still eat as a couple.