QE2 in Athens, August 17th

[YankeeClippr]

I am booked on the QE2 "Mediterranean Magic" trip from Southampton on August 8th ... hope to see fellow CC members on board.

 

She will be in Athens on August 17th...however the "Shore Excursions" link on the website does not indicate any offerings.

 

I have my ticket, but as yet I've received nothing else from Cunard. Do they still send out a "shore excursions" booklet?

 

Does anybody know anything about any Excursion offerings in Athens?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

YankeeClippr

[bobby1119]

I am booked on the QE2 "Mediterranean Magic" trip from Southampton on August 8th ... hope to see fellow CC members on board.

 

She will be in Athens on August 17th...however the "Shore Excursions" link on the website does not indicate any offerings.

 

I have my ticket, but as yet I've received nothing else from Cunard. Do they still send out a "shore excursions" booklet?

 

Does anybody know anything about any Excursion offerings in Athens?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

YankeeClippr

 

You should receive a booklet as well. The booklet is more comprehensive than the website listing.

[KarenR_UK]

I am booked on the QE2 "Mediterranean Magic" trip from Southampton on August 8th ... hope to see fellow CC members on board.

 

She will be in Athens on August 17th...however the "Shore Excursions" link on the website does not indicate any offerings.

 

I have my ticket, but as yet I've received nothing else from Cunard. Do they still send out a "shore excursions" booklet?

 

Does anybody know anything about any Excursion offerings in Athens?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

YankeeClippr

 

I'm on the same one (though I'm leaving on August 10th:D see thread http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=378185) - and still waiting for excursion details - I was assuming it was because I had only just booked (2 weeks ago) - but perhaps not.

No ticket either! Just a receipt saying its paid for :D

 

I want to know about all the excursions so I can start investigating NOW!!!!:D

 

Cunard Fan is also going - It would be good to meet up with you all.

 

Karen

[YankeeClippr]

Ooops ... I meant August 10th departure from Southampton ... the other date was the date of my flight ... silly me.

 

I just talked with my travel agent ... there are actually 9 Athens offerings, but they are not posted with the Shore Excursions for this trip on the Cunard Website.

 

On the Cunard (US) site, if one goes to "Destinations", selects "Mediterranean" (on the map), then opens the "Shore Excursions" on the left-edge menu, you'll find them under "Athens" in the "main column" in the center of the page. (Maybe getting around in Athens is easier than finding it on the website!)

 

BTW: The excursions for "Lisbon" are listed under "Europe" not the Mediterranean, which (I suppose) stands to reason.

 

I still don't have the booklet ... but Travel Agent promised to send it out today.

 

ALSO: Anybody know how CC members will meet on the voyage? I'm looking forward to seeing some of you in person!

 

Best,

 

Yankee Clippr

[KarenR_UK]

Ooops ... I meant August 10th departure from Southampton ... the other date was the date of my flight ... silly me.

Guessed as much when I saw your id ;)

I just talked with my travel agent ... there are actually 9 Athens offerings, but they are not posted with the Shore Excursions for this trip on the Cunard Website.

On the Cunard (US) site, if one goes to "Destinations", selects "Mediterranean" (on the map), then opens the "Shore Excursions" on the left-edge menu, you'll find them under "Athens" in the "main column" in the center of the page. (Maybe getting around in Athens is easier than finding it on the website!)

Well you seem to have a lot more on the US web site than on the UK one! - I shall be investigating further when back at work (broad band as opposed to dial up - in my lunch hour I hasten to add!)

ALSO: Anybody know how CC members will meet on the voyage? I'm looking forward to seeing some of you in person!

I think we just arrange among ourselves a good day time & place - usually the first sea day, in a bar or coffee lounge - the only time I needed to do it before I just told the person to look for 3 people, one very short with a walking stick - he found us at sailaway! (We stood in front of him:D ) - no such distinquishing features this time - I'm on my own:)

 

We just need to arrange it in next few weeks - In 4 weeks time we will all either be finding out just what sort of beds we have got for the next 14 days - or be hitting another bar / lounge / the casino. (I only have to travel 4 miles & I will probably exhaust myself enough that I am either in bed - or very near!!)

 

Karen

 

(apologies for any bad spelling here - just won the pub quiz! - a little excitable - must be time for bed:D )

[KarenR_UK]

YankeeClipper, Have you got you shore excursion brochure yet?

 

I emailed my agent yesterday to see when I might get it, & she replied that they would chase it at the end of next week if it hadn't arrived - when I got home there was a big envelope with the agents logo on and the booklet inside:confused:

 

Needn't have spent my lunch breaak making my own from the website then! Most of those listed on the (US) website are included - including one that I'm sure said only operated for the QM2.

 

Just spent a 'few' minutes reading through & there are a number I am interested in (If I don't go on a tour, I am likely to not get off the ship) - its a pity nearly all the Gibraltar tours insist on including the St Michaels cave (have to hope the dolphin one is running, and that I get on it!:)

 

Karen

[YankeeClippr]

Hi, KarenR

Thanks for the information ... the brochure has NOT arrived, though my TA tells me Cunard has sent it.

 

You mention a "QM" shore excursion that was listed in the brochure ... was that, by any chance, the "Best of Athens" tour listed under "Athens (Piraeus)" on the Shore Excursion page (US)? It's the one that included lunch.

 

Did it happen to mention the cost? I'd like to book it if its available.

 

Many thanks,

 

YankeeClippr

[KarenR_UK]

Hi YankieClippr

 

There is no Best Of Athens tour listed in the brochure.

The Athens ones are

Athens, the Acropolis & Cape Sounion

Ancient Corinth and Canal

Athens Highlights

Panoramic Athens

Cape Sounion

Athens on your Own

Ancient Corinth and Mycenae.

 

The QM2 one I was refering to was in Gibraltar, A city under seige, which I liked the sound of, until comparing it to all the others and seeing they are all nearly identical!

 

Unless you have advantages in the US (i.e. a better online personaliser), none of them can booked in advance - so it will be a mad dash on boarding then (LOL). (last time posted the form in the 'mailbox' as the tour office was closed and had an anxious overnight wait to find out if we had got what we asked for - we had - some of the coaches were half empty as it turned out!

 

Karen

[YankeeClippr]

Thanks so much, Karen ... hope to meet you aboard!

 

YankeeClippr

[Kindlychap]

The Athens ones are

Athens, the Acropolis & Cape Sounion

Ancient Corinth and Canal

Athens Highlights

Panoramic Athens

Cape Sounion

Athens on your Own

Ancient Corinth and Mycenae.

 

Does any tour go to Epidaurus? (The theatre)

 

We're in Athens next year, and might consider a tour. Those bought on the mainland seem to include Epidaurus, but then they are going from Athens without the sailing deadline.

[KarenR_UK]

Does any tour go to Epidaurus? (The theatre)

 

We're in Athens next year, and might consider a tour. Those bought on the mainland seem to include Epidaurus, but then they are going from Athens without the sailing deadline.

 

It does not look like it - it is not mentioned in any of the tours.

 

Karen

[pnhmrk]

If I don't go on a tour, I am likely to not get off the ship

 

Tours are a very expensive way of seeing a few sights - if there are a couple of you then a taxi can work out far better - both cheaper and you get to see more!

 

It's a pity nearly all the Gibraltar tours insist on including the St Michaels cave (have to hope the dolphin one is running, and that I get on it!)

 

St Michaels cave is well worth seeing - if you go into the upper rock Nature Reserve then your admission ticket to the cave is included - if you've never been then don't miss it if you're there.

 

Visit http://www.dolphinsafari.gi/ for details of the dolphin safari. I'll bet that their fares are cheaper than if you book through Cunard - Marina Bay (where they sail from) is within walking distance of the quay you tie up at. It might be worth emailing the DS to check that Cunard haven't booked the entire trip and for you to make reservations.

[Cunard Fan]

Hi everyone, our brochure with the excursion details arrived quite a few weeks ago, much earlier than tickets etc. I'm surprised not everyone has received theirs yet, maybe Cunard have differing ways of sending them out. I've been away for a couple of days so unfortunately didn't know that Yankeeclipper and Karen hadn't received them. I would have scanned them in and sent them if i'd known. Anyway, getting close now, getting excited :) !! We shall defintely have to arrange a meet place and time, perhaps the Princess Grill bar or the Golden Lion on maybe, as Karen suggested, the first full sea day. Although we will probably be going through the Bay of Biscay that day which sometimes makes for a choppy (ish) ride for those that feel the motion. Anyway, Karen, glad your brochure has arrived, hope you have fun choosing the tours to go on. Yankeeclipper, if you're still being let down by not receiving it I can try to get them scanned in and emailed to you (if I can do it!).

[YankeeClippr]

Hi Cunard Fan ...

Gosh ... thanks so much for the offer of scanning. But I think I now have the information that I need. I am SO looking forward to Athens and can't quite figure out what the best way to see it will be ...

 

I'm glad there will be several Cruise Critic types on board ... This will be my 6th time on the QE2 ... and I love her! I will keep a "weather eye" out for you all ... the Bay of Biscay was VERY choppy last time I was there (Maiden Voyage of QM2), but it doesn't bother me ...

 

See you both in a couple of weeks ... :)

 

YankeeClippr

[KarenR_UK]

Tours are a very expensive way of seeing a few sights - if there are a couple of you then a taxi can work out far better - both cheaper and you get to see more!.

Yes I know - but I am travelling on my own, so for security reasons, and the fact I just am no good looking at things on my own (I find when given free time to look at something I am back at the meeting point with far too much time to spare:D ), I prefer to book ship excursions. That said it might change when I add them all up:D (especially as its in Dollars which will make it seem higher than I am used to!)

 

 

St Michaels cave is well worth seeing - if you go into the upper rock Nature Reserve then your admission ticket to the cave is included - if you've never been then don't miss it if you're there.

I have been there - I enjoyed it, but don't see the need to go again - though, strangly enough I would have no objection to seeing the apes again, as long as something new was included.

 

Perhaps by the time I get to Gibralter, I will be more confident & do my own thing anyway!

 

Karen

[KarenR_UK]

We shall defintely have to arrange a meet place and time, perhaps the Princess Grill bar or the Golden Lion on maybe, as Karen suggested, the first full sea day.

Am I allowed in the Princess Grill Bar (being a 'lowly' M class guest:D ) (And for that matter, where is it? I can't find it on my deck plans?) - I believe there are a few areas that are out of bounds, but don't know which (what about the theatre balcony for example, as its right next door to the Queens Grill does that mean it reserved for Grill passengers?)

 

Although we will probably be going through the Bay of Biscay that day which sometimes makes for a choppy (ish) ride for those that feel the motion.

Personally I don't (usually) have a problem with the Bay - in fact if its not choppy in one direction I feel a bit deprived!

 

Karen

[Cunard Fan]

Hi Karen, as far as I'm aware the Princess Grill is open to anyone to visit.

It's on one deck, around midships, but is somewhat of a 'Secret Garden' kind of place in that it's not that easy to come across. I'm sure that Peter (Guernsey Guy) will be able to provide a much better description than I can of this bar. I beleive it's also known as the Champagne Bar??

Again, as far as I know, the only off-limit room (to non-Grill passengers) is

the Queens Grill Lounge. That sure does leave a lot of other places available!