john watson

You can't beat playing golf on board playing off one deck to a lower one and landing in the bunkers. The only rule seemed to be that passengers do not have to move if you land near or under where they are sitting. Regards John

Not being allowed to wear shorts would be good news for traditional Scottish gentlemen and of course Commandos. Suits them down to the ground. Regards John

If there was an actual emergency where passengers sensed a major problem was afoot, this would be a more realistic replication of what happens. I should imagine friends and family groups split up calling out to try and get themselves together as a group. Regards John

Fires whilst under construction in the shipyard is not that rare. Diamond Princess caught fire while being built. The fire was so bad they decided to use Sapphire Princess as Diamond because it was quicker to get the second ship completed before the first could be rebuilt due to the severity of the fire. Regards John

The only problem with sports is where you get an ardent reds fan and an opposing blues fan and neither can get away from the topic of the superior team. Alternatively where four people on a table of six can talk about nothing except the sport. Regards John

I have no idea what sort of things might be regarded as "conflicts". Most people go on a cruise as a relaxing break, not to criticise others or suggest you should be doing or not doing something. Set dining means sharing same table with same set of dining companions every evening at the same time each evening. You get to know a set group of people over a longer period which is handy if they have good tips on increasing the appreciation of the cruise and they are probably interesting in some ways. Flexible dining is dining alone at varying times or same times. Alternatively you can share tables with different companions at random on tables of different sizes at same time or different times each evening. You may chop and change table size, time and often restaurant and pick out the best option you like, only time will tell. Regards John

Lots of booking offers only apply when you book within the window. Then a new different offer usually emerges. Regards John

It seems to say that but the scooter must be narrower than 26 inches have gel-cell batteries and be 110v recharged with charger. Although grammatically speaking this is slightly ambiguous as it could be inferred that larger width scooters are allowed in accessible cabins and the measurements appy to standard cabins Regards John

The only thing I can suggest is as many people as possible should pressure the cruise line and get their MP's involved. There is no logic to "ashore only" scooters being unacceptable. What is the cruise lines policy on bicycles. Some cruise lines accept these following the green carbon footprint lobby and have them stored in the hold. Regards John

If you got hold of a supply "What is the worst that could happen?". This is why they don't stock it. Regards John

Totally agree with the value for money Britannia option, that is what I choose. I have found over the years sailing with other cruise lines that if you share tables with people quite often they mention "we are in a suite" but obviously this does not happen on Cunard. In terms of posts there seems to generally disproportionately more about "We are thing about booking a Presidential suite" or blogs about same than there are available. Whereas basic cabin reviews are disproportionately fewer in relation to numbers of basic cabins available. Regards John

I should contact P&O at Carnival House and ask to speak to the mobility Department. The issues they have are type approval (large fast road equipped machines with number plates are unacceptable) but there must be a cut off point. Similarly whether a unit which folds into a suitcase for ashore only might be classified differently. Whether you need a special cabin for the unit is another issue. You can only get an answer which is definitive from the cruise line. Regards John Watson

In essence you are not choosy whereas a lot of people like thing their way. You are ideal punters for a guarantee. Regards John

People who book cruises are either experienced cruisers or newcomers. The experienced cruisers will pick favoured cabins based on past experience and the tendency will be to leave a significant number of vacant cabins which are less desirable. Newcomers have no past experience and might not have a clue about what to look for and therefore go down the "Guarantee" route but will probably end up with being allocated a less favourable cabin. If newcomers choose their own cabin they probably have no idea the significance of deck height, forward/midships/aft, proximity to infrastructure etc. etc. In short their best bet is to find a good cruise specialist or come on this site and go through all the variables and what it means in relation to their cruise if in that cabin. Guarantee system allows you to save minimal amounts but as a newcomer you don't realise how good or bad the cruise has become from a dodgy cabin on your first cruise so it can end up loving a second rate experience thinking it's the cat's pyjamas. Regards John

The rules changed many years ago where the major US cruise lines decided that non-US and non-North American cruise passengers should be restricted on whether they could book and travel with the cruise lines. Generally, no they may not but there are a number of exceptions; foreign nationals/passport holders may book where they include a US citizen (not sure if this is in the same cabin), where they have a US address or where they booked a cruise prior to the restrictions being introduced where they may book with the same travel agent but only with the same cruise line/s. Regards John

Can you put a link on here to your review please? Regards John Watson

I think the basis of the problem is that Britannia is the budget end of a Cunard cruise voyage. People are not completely happy with describing how they went on a cruise but failed to book the top end of luxury. If you go on other lines cruises at dinner people often open up with "we are in a suite", they are probably just saying it but on Cunard you cannot do this plausibly. Regards John

I believe that passengers were quite often allocated these cabins as a free upgrade particularly those on the higher decks which is a reasonable outcome if you were previously ocean view or inside. Regards John

Most people will have no idea what a "Bear Cruise" is but most of them seem to be where they have chartered the whole ship and you may only book through the Bear Website. If you have no idea what we are talking about I suggest getting on YouTube and looking at "Bear Cruises". It's an eyeopener. Lol John

There is a bit of an enigma here insofar as people who walk along the skywalk, stop and stare are typically thinking wowzz!!! What did you wear when relaxing on the balcony? Lol John

Clearly in the past you have never stopped to stare at people relaxing on their "private" balconies. Lol John

I believe you are correct. They seem to have identified and responded to feedback about the design flaw. The glass floor remains though. Regards John

We were on Sky Princess on Halloween 2021 during the Covid masks compulsory period. A lot of passengers seemed to infer this meant masks dripping with blood. How they got on board with swords and axes was surprising. Very frightening looking guys, nobody dressed up as Colonel Sanders for some reason. Regards John

The balcony divider at the leading edge is there but a lot more heavy duty being solid steel. To look forwards you just look around it towards the bow as I recall. You cannot generally do this with standard balcony dividers. Regards John

I have stayed in various Emerald Deck mini-suites and always pick first or last in the run. I have never noticed any wind issues. The view out to the side of the ship is as always but looking over the side of the balcony you can see completely down the full line of lifeboats. I have always thought these are by far the best mini-suites on Grand Class ships. Regards John