Shallwe123

They did, thanks so much. We are on the same trip this year so it was great to hear how it went.

 

You mentioned midnight ship's time, was that different to midnight in Amsterdam ? Did you celebrate midnight UK time as well ?!

Hi Kate,

The photos above are not very clear I'm afraid ..... hopefully someone will tell me how to upload them properly.

The Captain kept the ship on UK time for the whole cruise, so we all enjoyed the Dutch midnight which was 11pm UK time. The fireworks went on for ages and all around us, a splendid display indeed. It was quite cold on top deck whilst watching the fireworks and we soon went inside and then the party really did start and went on to celebrate again - the UK midnight.

After enjoying the party in The Grand Lobby we went up to Hemispheres and danced the night away until 3am ( I could hardly walk the next day !) I heard that the disco and the last guests left around 5.30am :)

Hi,

I don't know if these photos will attach !

photos of Grand Lobby before the NYE party began and photo at Midnight. Maybe someone on here has better photos and can upload them better than me :) x

Happy New Year everyone.

We had a great time aboard QV. I am trying to upload some photos on here but I can't seem to do it !!! Arrgghhhhh

Frenchmartini - fireworks in the city viewed from top deck were great and the atmosphere at midnight, ships time, was awesome. Plenty of free, yes free Champers was flowing from the waiters trays - nice touch from Cunard we thought - Thank you.

Met so many lovely people - we had a ball.

A few little niggles here and there - but a nice cruise with the added bonus of being able to get into Amsterdam. Although we were told by someone that Capain was going to sail by Zeebrugge back to Southampton earlier due to it being a little windy. However was persuaded to enter and so we enjoyed a couple of hours at the Russian Submarine.

We got off QV yesterday from the NYE cruise too.

They also must have thought we were tradesmen, as when we disembarked not one member of staff wished us a safe onward journey, expressed a wish to see us again soon or even said thank you.

We had a great time aboard QV and Amsterdam was brilliant on NYE.

As long as you do get to Amsterdam at all...

Hi Cunardaddict, onboard beautiful Queen Victoria. Checked in and boarded very quickly with lovely smiley faces to greet us.

Departure put back until 8pm, hope it's not a bad omen.!!

The weather forecast at the moment looks favourable :-)

Off to enjoy this beautiful ship.

Looks like sail away has been delayed by 3 and a half hours. !!!!

Safety at sea for vessel, passengers and crew is paramount and is controlled by the Captain.

Unfortunately the weather does what it pleases and is totally uncontrollable.

Sorry for some that they are not happy but hope they enjoyed the ship and the wonderful crew. ( and hope its not too windy for us to enter at Amsterdam for New Year !!! )

Thanks to Ray66 for posting. Happy Christmas.

The latest news is that we were supposed to have technical work done on the ship in Amsterdam. That work still needs carrying out so we will be arriving in Southampton a lot earlier, i.e. Monday night instead of Tuesday morning to enable them to do this work in Southampton.

 

So that will be novel spending the night onboard ship in Southampton.

 

Apparently they enquired at other ports (presumably Zeebrugge and le Havre) but it's too windy there too and forecast to get worse.

 

Today has been too windy to go out on the promenade deck (deck 3) but we managed a short time on decks 9 and 10. Some people were in the outdoor hot-tubs and the swimming pool.

Rayy66 - any update for us ?

Oh dear, sorry to hear about this, but hope your parents are making the most of their time onboard. We have been watching out for information on this cruise, as we are on QV for New Year... ( Thought the web cam strange - showing open sea !!! )

Agreed its so frustrating when this happens and it seems to happen quite a lot with Cunard.

Our cruise in September on QE, Mykinos was cancelled due to high winds, it happens regularly at this Port, apparently ! ( So why go there ??) So, the Captain put full speed ahead to Athens, arriving a whole night and day earlier.

Passengers were a little grumpy but the crew were very, very happy, as that meant that they could get off the ship and party the night away in Athens. We know this happened as we shared the port coach into the centre of Athens with them.

Hi,

Frenchmartini - We are on the Queen Victoria to Amsterdam on 29 Dec 2014 - so will let you know what's its like on our return.

Cunardaddict, I take it you have been to Amsterdam for New Year - any tips for us please - like can you see the fireworks from the ship, etc ?

Have a great cruise aboard QE.

Bottom Cabins in QE

Hi. We have our first Cunard cruise coming up (short break to Amsterdam) and we've been allocated cabins right at the bottom of the passenger decks (Deck 1. all prefixed 1.nnn) which looks to be about half way up the ship.

Mrs Hat is a bit worried about this. Can anyone tell me what they are like ? Are there any advantages or disadvantages ? I have heard it is more stable lower down.

All advice welcomed !

Hello Mr and Mrs Hat,

Congratulations on booking your first cruise with Cunard.

Last year, which was our first time with Cunard, we sailed aboard Queen Elizabeth and we were allocated 1012. We were concerned - ugh - at the bottom of the ship we groaned, but we loved down there. A lovely double, detached cabin, right at the "pointy end" Very handy for Royal Court Theatre and straight up for The Yacht Club. :)

September of this year, we were on deck 8 at the blunt end... Quite a small cabin and under The Lido, which would have been very noisy, if we had of been in our cabin and not out enjoying ourselves on deck !

Enjoy ....

Thank you for your fabulous photos and report. Can't wait for more.

We love this ship.

Queen Elizabeth September 2013

Queen Elizabeth September 2014

Dear Sarah,

Thank you so much for your fabulous trip report, well written, interesting and we loved it.

It kept our memories going of our awesome trip aboard QE last September to this September when we board again on the 5th. Roll on :-)

Thank you again.... Best wishes to you and your family. X

Thanks from us too for the review.... Cruised aboard last September and we had a FABULOUS time. Happy memories indeed.

We also noticed the absence of the tracking/weather/sea conditions on channel 41 and missed this information in the previous format (which was familiar and greatly enjoyed on earlier voyages).

 

Also, I just hate having to lean over the side of the ship and measure wave height with my ruler : )

 

Hopefully, as 3rdGenCunarder heard from the purser, this will be reinstated in the near future...

Jimmybean - your paragraph regarding leaning over with your ruler made my hubby laugh so much, he nearly spilt his gin !!!!

Why would they removed the sea tack info - stupid in our opinion. As yachties , ourselves, we always like to have this info.

Waiting for more Sarah ... Please bring memories back from our fabulous cruise in September 2013 ... Good luck with you exams. X

This is wonderful, we are already at day 2/3 of the cruise and it has only taken 3 months and 335 posts to reach this point.

Indeed, our cruise in September was one which we will never forget - loved the ship and met fabulous friends onboard. Sarah, keep it going because if I don't hear from you for a couple of days - I feel very sad... And get withdrawal symptoms... Thank you for keeping the dream alive x

The QE arrived right on time into Honolulu today and we were on the pier watching her dock. It's a beautiful Polynesian day with no clouds, warm sun and gentle tradewinds.

Hi Oahucruiser, thanks for your post ... Great news to hear QE has arrived... It was 32 years ago when I was last in Oahu... We really must get back there. Any photos of our lovely ship docking?

Great shots, Pushka! Fun to see the forward deck outside full of people watching the transit and I'm sure the Commodore Club was jammed.

Here, here, well said Oahucruiser....... great to see folk on the foreword deck. I just wish we were aboard too.

Hi DD

Have a fab time aboard the good ship Celebration. :)

On Celebration for New Year and we heard Code Alpha, Lido .... We later learnt that a small child had slipped around the pool area, medical team arrived and attended to him. Heard his mum saying later that he was fine. :)

Kathi, thanks for keeping up updated on your voyage!! Enjoy every moment!!!

Here, here - loving hearing all about your trip. Take care, hold on tight and enjoy the ride :eek:

How many of the people who go on Thomson cruises actually read these reviews or comments. I know many who don't, in fact most of the people I know personally are not aware of this or the FB sites. Thomson are only going to be concerned when it hits the National Press or TV and reaches their future clients.

 

I have mentioned the bad reviews to 2 Travel Agencies and they deny any knowledge of them. I guess they are too busy to read them. Or....? :rolleyes::rolleyes:

I agree Jakanne1, probably the majority of guests onboard do not know about is site, or it could be that they just cant be bothered or dont wish to add their comments. I would also hazard a guess that most of the New Year cruisers were first timers to the good ship Celebration.

My member review was based and comapred to the quality of service, food, etc received last NY on the Red Sea.

I work hard and save for annual holidays for which at NY etc - one pays a premium price, which is ok, however, with each passing year I am getting less tolerant at being taken for a mug ! After all, When compared to other cruise line prices - Thompsons are not exactly cheap, are they.

Hi Sarah,

We loved our very first cruise aboard QE... And yes aboard before you guys but seeing your photos and comparing to mine - I think I need to attend photography lessons :rolleyes:

Loved seeing your photo of the laundry room and the Churchill smoking lounge - we didn't venture into either !! ........

My word Sarah you have certainly made a lot of folk very happy with your reports and fab photos. Thank you once again.

oh dear its getting worse...an empty lobster shell! with some unspecified dried up bit of shellfish next to it! (what was the shell left over from last year?...eh thoms?)

 

and this is supposed to be their showcase meal of the season (people have paid double the fare to be on at christmas!) come on thoms...why spend out on lobster and then ruin it....something is going wrong and needs to be addressed thoms?:(...the dream season has only just started and complaints are flooding in already

Sorry to add that hubby and I both had the Wellington - mmmm - maybe it came from a "Wellington." ! ..... We did manage to have one glass of bubbly each on NY eve compliments of Thompson's.

Guys, just remembered that talking to the lovely waiting staff, most of them said that they came onboard last April from The Dream in the Caribbean ?