kikki21 Posted October 28, 2014 #1 Share Posted October 28, 2014 Hi everyone We are looking at doing a voyage either to New York or from New York on board Cunard. At the moment, we are thinking that we would want to fly out to New York first for a few days and explore the city and then relax on a cruise back to Southampton - either way it will be in August 2016 as that's when my husband will be celebrating a special birthday! :) We have also been in New York once before but not together - has anyone got any tips on which way round they prefer to do this trip? Which airline do Cunard tend to use? Any general tips with Cunard as we haven't sailed with them previously. Many thanks in advance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiseluvva Posted October 28, 2014 #2 Share Posted October 28, 2014 (edited) Each way has its advantages. Cruising west means 25 hour days, which is great. Plus you get the amazing sail into NY. However, cruising east, means no jet lag and for someone that suffers majorly, that would have to be the my choice, despite the 23 hr days., which can be very tiring. Can you not do a round trip? That's what I like best of all. I believe Cunard tend to use BA and VA. Edited October 28, 2014 by cruiseluvva Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Avery Posted October 28, 2014 #3 Share Posted October 28, 2014 Our personal preference is to fly first as we are excited about going on Holiday and tend to not be quite as bothered by the travails of air travel as we are at the end of the Holiday with only air travel and work to look forward to.:eek: Just a personal opinion. We have enjoyed both ways immensely. Arrival by sea into NYC is a special event though it happens very early in the AM. Departures are normally in the afternoon in daylight (depending on time of year) and are also grand. We just returned from a visit to NYC and it is very tiring to "do" the City. I would prefer the pampering on QM2 after the hustle/bustle of The BIG APPLE.:D You will love it. No other ship line has the ship or the history as Cunard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolfecms Posted October 28, 2014 #4 Share Posted October 28, 2014 Would definitely travel westbound when possible. You cannot fully appreciate 23 hour days until you experience 6 or 7 of them in a row on an eastbound TA. 25 hour days are great for relaxing and enjoying the evenings aboard Cunard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Avery Posted October 28, 2014 #5 Share Posted October 28, 2014 Would definitely travel westbound when possible. You cannot fully appreciate 23 hour days until you experience 6 or 7 of them in a row on an eastbound TA. 25 hour days are great for relaxing and enjoying the evenings aboard Cunard. Only 5 time zones between Southampton and NYC. The ships go so slow these days (7 or 8 day Transatlantics) that there is not an hour change each day. For me, the time change advantage of West Bound over East Bound have been minimized. In the days of 5 day (or less) TAs, I also preferred Westbound. Now, whatever works best with the schedule. They all beat working.:eek::D:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kikki21 Posted October 30, 2014 Author #6 Share Posted October 30, 2014 Thank you very much for the answers, very helpful! :) We could consider a round trip but that would take up a lot more time and we have to be mindful as there is a wedding to attend in late August 2016 and work too! We are leaning towards a fly to NYC option first, enjoy a few mad days and come back on the QM2 so we have a few months to wait now until Cunard release more of the 2016 schedule :) And oh yes any cruise is better than working!!!:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underwatr Posted October 30, 2014 #7 Share Posted October 30, 2014 Fly during the day and sail back. 23 hour days are one thing but that overnight makes for a 19 hour day when you think of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bell Boy Posted October 30, 2014 #8 Share Posted October 30, 2014 I'd defiantly recommend getting the flight out of the way first . The daylight is much better than the Red Eye. Don't forget to do as much shopping as you can and you'll have no worries of luggage problems ;) On arrival in Southampton you've had a good nights sleep, a refreshing shower and a bit of breakfast before that journey home .....And no queuing through airports with all those early morning arrivals ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamba kahle Posted January 16, 2015 #9 Share Posted January 16, 2015 Hi Kikki21 See you posted this last year but I've only just started looking. I'm also interested in finding a sailing from NY to Southampton in August 2016 - doesn't have to be Cunard but no doubt there aren't many other ships going transatlantic at that time of the year. A group of us want to visit Las Vegas first and then on to New York to celebrate a friend's 70th birthday (she was born in NY so seemed like a great idea!). So, for us definitely the Eastbound crossing is the best - luggage, relaxation and all that. I'll keep looking but if you or anyone else has any great idea please post . Thanks Sheila Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlet o'hara Posted January 16, 2015 #10 Share Posted January 16, 2015 We did westbound for our silver wedding some years ago and flew back direct to Edinburgh with Continental (as it was then), thereby avoiding Heathrow on the way home. We were going to do eastbound this summer but the dates didn't suit so have decided to postpone until summer 2016. I too suffer jet lag and would be keen to arrive home fit to go back to work the next day. Cunard will book domestic flights to Edinburgh with Flybe from Southampton. We are doing a cruise on QV from Rome later this year and Cunard are booking us on KLM from Edinburgh via Amsterdam to Rome rather than BA via Heathrow. Unfortunately it means a 6am flight rather than 7.20am, but the changeover in AMS is only an hour instead of 2 at LHR so we will be able to travel the same day as departure rather than needing to travel the day before and taking an extra day off work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laktex Posted January 16, 2015 #11 Share Posted January 16, 2015 We have also been in New York once before but not together - has anyone got any tips on which way round they prefer to do this trip? Which airline do Cunard tend to use? Many thanks in advance! Personally I would take the ship to New York and get some of those 25 hour days and then take one of the daytime flights back to the UK. I believe both BA and VS still do the daytime flights. Done it several times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classiccruiser777 Posted January 17, 2015 #12 Share Posted January 17, 2015 If you take Cunard FROM NY there are no nasty weight restrictions so shopping is limitless! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mariposa777 Posted January 17, 2015 #13 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Personally I would take the ship to New York and get some of those 25 hour days and then take one of the daytime flights back to the UK. I believe both BA and VS still do the daytime flights. Done it several times. We took the ship westbound - spent 11 days in NYC then flew back to Australia via Abu Dhabi. There was jetlag at the home end which was ok as we didn't have to hit the ground running workwise. I like to minimise jetlag while actually travelling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWillow Posted January 18, 2015 #14 Share Posted January 18, 2015 If you are a fan of Crosby Stills and Nash, and can wait until September 4th to sail, you're in luck. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/music-legends-crosby-stills--nash-announced-as-headline-act-aboard-queen-mary-2-on-transatlantic-crossing-4-september-2015-300021119.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvetwater Posted January 18, 2015 #15 Share Posted January 18, 2015 (edited) We have also been considering a TA this August with Cunard. We both agreed that Sailing from New York would be better due to no airport stress (we both dont like flying much) and being able to buy as much as we wanted and have no jetlag. What we have also considered is a cruise when we arrive in New York (Caribbean or Canada), a stay in New York then the QM2 back. We found a few that interested us and the dates were ok. That way we would also get the sailing into New York experience as well. Edited January 18, 2015 by Velvetwater Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray66 Posted January 18, 2015 #16 Share Posted January 18, 2015 If you are a fan of Crosby Stills and Nash, and can wait until September 4th to sail, you're in luck. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/music-legends-crosby-stills--nash-announced-as-headline-act-aboard-queen-mary-2-on-transatlantic-crossing-4-september-2015-300021119.html Yes. I posted the following link on the Roll Call yesterday. Lucky people! http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/update/2015-01-16/crosby-stills-nash-to-perform-on-queen-mary-2/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underwatr Posted January 18, 2015 #17 Share Posted January 18, 2015 What we have also considered is a cruise when we arrive in New York (Caribbean or Canada), a stay in New York then the QM2 back. We found a few that interested us and the dates were ok. That way we would also get the sailing into New York experience as well.Unless you're considering the Caribbean or Canada on another lines it's difficult to do this on Cunard. If the QM2 sails to England without you it's a minimum of two weeks (usually more) before it returns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvetwater Posted January 18, 2015 #18 Share Posted January 18, 2015 (edited) Unless you're considering the Caribbean or Canada on another lines it's difficult to do this on Cunard. If the QM2 sails to England without you it's a minimum of two weeks (usually more) before it returns. Yes it is with other lines. It would be the Carnival Splendor or if the price dropped enough the Liberty of the Seas. Theres gaps so we could squeeze a NY stay but there is one where we would get off the Splendor then straight on to the Queen Mary which would be odd but cool. Never heard of a Carnival/Cunard B2B before! Edited January 18, 2015 by Velvetwater Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfs1ram Posted January 18, 2015 #19 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Hi Kikki stick with your original thought would be our recommendation. We love NYC. We got a great deal with Cunard for a TA a year last November. Flew to NYC, arranged our own accommodation for 4 nights then the QM2 back to the UK and train home. Cunard arranged the flights (only £39 supplement to fly from Birmingham) and for us the QM2 is the only way to do a TA. We had a force 10 gale for a day or so and 30' swells but no problem at all on the QM2. We call it a 'masculine' ship - not quite as 'pretty' decoration wise as the QE. We would definitely do another TA but it would have to be NYC to UK to accommodate all of the shopping !! Enjoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvetwater Posted January 18, 2015 #20 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Hi Kikki stick with your original thought would be our recommendation.We love NYC. We got a great deal with Cunard for a TA a year last November. Flew to NYC, arranged our own accommodation for 4 nights then the QM2 back to the UK and train home. Cunard arranged the flights (only £39 supplement to fly from Birmingham) and for us the QM2 is the only way to do a TA. We had a force 10 gale for a day or so and 30' swells but no problem at all on the QM2. We call it a 'masculine' ship - not quite as 'pretty' decoration wise as the QE. We would definitely do another TA but it would have to be NYC to UK to accommodate all of the shopping !! Enjoy. Cunard can arrange your flights even if you include a longish stay before your cruise? This is good news, did you ring up and ask or do they have any packages? Not seen a fellow Warwickshire person on these boards by the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfs1ram Posted January 18, 2015 #21 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Yes Velvet. We just phoned up and discussed flight possibilities/supplements etc no problem.They were very flexible at the time and a great deal - £638 each for the flight and TA (sheltered balcony)!! I think they can also arrange Hotel stays but we have stopped at the Hotel Metro several times so made our own arrangements (which were cheaper). Our Cruise Rome / Venice last August was booked via a well known on-line Travel Agent who do excellent 'Cruise Smart Deals' (wink wink). Lived in Warwickshire now for 30 years in a Town beginning with K. LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvetwater Posted January 18, 2015 #22 Share Posted January 18, 2015 (edited) Yes Velvet. We just phoned up and discussed flight possibilities/supplements etc no problem.They were very flexible at the time and a great deal - £638 each for the flight and TA (sheltered balcony)!!I think they can also arrange Hotel stays but we have stopped at the Hotel Metro several times so made our own arrangements (which were cheaper). Our Cruise Rome / Venice last August was booked via a well known on-line Travel Agent who do excellent 'Cruise Smart Deals' (wink wink). Lived in Warwickshire now for 30 years in a Town beginning with K. LOL. Thanks for the advice. We live in a City beginning with C. :D Hubby is home grown but I have been here since getting married 4 years ago and moving from the Peak District. Edited January 18, 2015 by Velvetwater Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfs1ram Posted January 18, 2015 #23 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Ha - City beginning with C - is that in Warwickshire ?? A little spooky if that would be the Derbyshire Peak District as my home town is a City beginning with D ( hence my account name) ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvetwater Posted January 18, 2015 #24 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Ha - City beginning with C - is that in Warwickshire ?? A little spooky if that would be the Derbyshire Peak District as my home town is a City beginning with D ( hence my account name) ;) Haha the city beginning with C isnt great so I group it in with Warwickshire. ;) The very same Peak District indeed. I used to live near a village that starts with 'Mat' and my family members that like football frequent Pride Park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janecambridge Posted January 20, 2015 #25 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Hi Can someone tell me what they do about transfers if you do a flight to NYC then the cruise back to Southampton? I can't work out how we get back to the car if parked at Gatwick? It seems like extra journey home time.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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