Victoria2

Why look for flies in the ointment. The flights we have booked and put through our Cunard booking aren't reduced/special/agent prices or anything other than normal flight bookings. Any issues and Cunard or the airline through our agent will sort it. It's their problem, not ours. Even after making sure all our ducks are in a row, there are occasions when 'things' are out of our control and we leave it to the experts. I do hope if any re-scheduling is apparent in the coming months, those who have made independent travel arrangements will be able to re-route and not in any way be out of pocket if having to do so.

Too late to edit, in that scenario the airline should sort that out without without the need for input.

As do we. However much we know Cunard 'will sort things', going a few days earlier adds to the holiday/lessens potential stress situations. Enjoy Alaska, it's the most wonderful experience. We added a few days at Knight Inlet Lodge, bear watching the last time we were out there. Oh and welcome to CC Cunard too. 🙂

I can't get my head around much of what Pushpit says but what I DO know is if any part of our Cunard booking [and ours consists of cruise/flights and also hotel which we ditch] goes whatsit's up, then it's down to Cunard, through our agent, to get things sorted, be that a reroute, a delayed boarding and/or a refund. The extra loop, as has been mentioned is a bonus for us say because, say, stuck in some far flung port ready to board and the ship goes technical or has been rerouted, or stuck in the same port and the flight home goes technical, we would leave all the sorting out for our agent to deal with. There again, as has been mentioned many, many times, there are agents, and then there are wonderful agents. Ours is one of the latter variety. 🙂 As for BA, they would not be the first airline we'd choose to fly with but that's a totally different issue.

We only cruise with Cunard and also like to be in complete control of cruise bookings and flights which for us, were always long distance. To that end, we always book specific cabins and also flights, choosing the airline and scheduling, the day, the time and most important, our seats. All this is done through our wonderful agent who bundles it up under one Cunard booking eg, once decided on the flights, they are booked through Cunard. This might/might not be more expensive than trawling around to find cheaper flights but the protection one booking gives, far outweighs the cost differential. At the moment, passengers due to join QM2 in a month or two and have made their own travel arrangements to join the ship, must be wondering if they'll lose their money if their flights become useless whereas if they had booked through Cunard, it;s Cunard's issue to sort out. Same problem arose when QM2s TA was cancelled after her Worldie. Some very unhappy bunnies who hadn't made Cunard travel arrangements there. OK, might be anomalies but anomalies happen and we like to make sure any anomalies don't cost us financially. Others will disagree with me but I think LadyL1 is on the same page as us. Your decision to make. 🙂

and do Carnival Corps. use Marsh as their insurers SaltyCroc because although they might be a big noise in the insurance world, I don't thin k they are part of the International P&I Clubs. However, I am sure any company involved in insuring marine traffic due to be in the area of any conflict, will be in touch with the companies involved 'to have a discussion'.

A Q4 also has the dressing table/extra desk unit by the bathroom door and the knee hole makes a great place to store the extra bags which won't fit under the bed [I know, bed storage has been discounted]. We've never had to have bags stored for us, but then three big cases, some [airline] cabin bags and other hand luggage is the max we've taken, even on a seven weeker!

No, I don't remember and Princess isn't a brand I would choose as an alternative to Cunard so I'll never see the any memorabilia onboard. I'd like to see her as a Cunard Godmother too but the Princess Royal or The Queen or, as has been mentioned, The Duchess of Edinburgh 'would do'!"

Catherine, Princess of Wales would also be a great pick. Wife of the Crown Prince, modern and most pertinently, with her husband, the future of the Monarchy. [ I like The Princess Royal and The Queen too].

Well that fell flat 😕 A valet, a gentleman's gentleman. Think Mr Bates of Downton.

Our US friends might think the Brits have gone for a Valet of renown status!

I can just see the actuaries calculating now... now let's see, if those awful chappies/chappettes around the Red Sea decide to have a punt at that pretty as a picture QM2, will the goodies be able to shoot down those nasty missiles before they get a chance to hole the lovely boat we insure... hmmm , the jury is out to afternoon tea on that!!! 🙃

To go on a cruise specifically aimed at [built for] the Chinese market is to realise the culture is totally different [at the moment] from perceived Western culture. That is not to say it's wrong, just different.

We usually leave it as we have plenty of other stuff to drink but you're right, it's more than acceptable as a mixer and when well chilled, it's also not as bad as tradition seems to demand it is, on its own.

To quote The Times History Correspondent and deputy diary Editor, ''no Queen has ever had the title Queen Consort in their style'' and ''a Monarch cannot bind the hands of their successor'', so good for King Charles. It's a very subtle difference but it was inevitable Queen Camilla, the Queen Consort, would be officially styled ''Queen Camilla'' and on occasions, just ''The Queen''. Sits well with me. She's earned it.

They do but they are of the lengthy, walking variety and a pain to carry around. Much more convenient to go with a telescopic/folding version as you indicated.

There are [or were] a couple of desk tops in the library. The actual 'computer room' fell by the wayside years ago when tablets/iPads/ Notebooks became so prevalent. Personally, if the Chromebook is very portable and a necessity, I'd take it. Pack of cards? Could be in the cupboard in the card room but again, for the tiny space it takes up, I'd take a pack then you can guarantee all 52 cards will be there. I don't recall a Gideon bible either and yes there will be at least one in the library, but if it's in the reference section, it can't be loaned out. Happy cruising and I think we'd love to know how your first cruise 'went'.

I don't think any of us will know for absolute certain, but the deck plan certainly shows a side balcony and not wraparound. Deck plans are usually fairly accurate. edit In the current brochure I have, there is a caveat on the stateroom pictures which says the pictures and diagrams are examples and individual staterooms may vary. That's true, The photo of the Grand Suite is of a deck seven QV Q1 and bears no resemblance to a QE Q1, Same for the Master Suite which is a picture of the proposed Q2 on QA. Nothing like the Q2s on QE and QV.

If anyone fills a DJ out to perfection, It's Mr D Craig -think James Bond meets Queen Elizabeth skit for 2012 Olympics in London. Unfortunately, there aren't that many Mr D Craig clones around on Cunard, hence my 'it's not a film set'. 🙂

This is a cruise line, not a film set. May/ June and July, the restaurant was a sea of black tie and correspondingly dressed companions. I couldn't care less if stripes,silk lapels, patent shoes, cummerbunds, winged collars and hand tied bow ties are in evidence or not. I am just delighted to be in the company of folk who want to enjoy a formal night on a Cunard ship and who try and follow the advised dress code as best they can. Indeed, follow any advised dress codes. Full Stop. So for those who pine for evening dress as in the Gilded Age, bear in mind, without all the passengers, ninety percent of whom follow any advisories, there would be no Cunard ship to cruise on.

Or casual shorts, as opposed to trekking types. Socks and shoes with holiday shorts often looks a no no ...however stinky feet might get.🙂

I order the chilli beef [in QG] as an off menu dish at least once during a trip but I make sure it's prepared 'as Bamboo' or I might get a QG galley version which isn't quite the same.

Of course not but there is no way anyone should pay good money for a smelly cabin and if a replacement isn't offered, then one should demand one or get the Captain to come down and experience the smell for him/herself and demand action.

This has already been asked but no reply so I ask too. Did you ask or better still, demand to be moved to another cabin?

Me too [unless the chap is in danger of expiring due to heat overload, and yes, for the naysayers, the temperature can get hot and beads of sweat is SO not nice] except I read a piece which said dancers' jackets aren't always comfortable so a waistcoat in those circs. can be useful on the dance floor.