Queen Mary 2

[Bikernan]

New to cruising

We board the QM2 in March for around New Zealand cruise?
Anyone who has travelled on this liner I would apprentice and
helpful tips you can give us.
Thankyou
Biker Nan

[johnthed0g]

Beware of strict dress codes.

[lannp]

Thank you for referring to the QM2 as a liner. She is definitely not a cruise ship.
I have done 11 voyages on this magnificent ship.
Yes, there is a dress code but you must know that from the website and pre-cruise documents.
Are you booked in Brittannia, Brittannia Club or the Grills.
What types of things are you interested in? Music, production shows, the casino?
I'll be glad to answer your questions (hopefully).
Linda

[Mike Shawn]

I took the QM2 from NY all the way to Hamburg last year. Don't worry too much about the dress code except at dinners. BTW the paid formal dinners aren't worth it. Stick to the free buffets. Also plan your days out according to where you want to be on the ship. It's so so so big. You will get tired of walking from one end to the other!

[johnthed0g]

Originally Posted by Mike Shawn

I took the QM2 from NY all the way to Hamburg last year. Don't worry too much about the dress code except at dinners. BTW the paid formal dinners aren't worth it. Stick to the free buffets. Also plan your days out according to where you want to be on the ship. It's so so so big. You will get tired of walking from one end to the other!

Don't understand "paid formal dinners" & "free buffets"...surely all the food is included apart from cover charges at speciality restaurants??

[lannp]

King's Court (the buffet) is comprised of 4 sections. In the evening one of them remains a buffet. The others have a $10.pp. charge and require reservations. They slide out some dividers to try and make them more intimate, there is table service with tablecloths, etc.
I don't find it all that special because people are trooping through on their way to wherever and in my opinion spoil the ambiance.
I've only dined there once years ago before they instituted the charge and the food and service were excellent but it didn't really feel special. I'd rather dine in the Britannia dining room.

[Fern]

I'm looking at QM or QV because I DO NOT want to fly for 10 hours again. We're not at all interested in dining room service. We'd be booking the lowest guarantee inside cabin (if it's possible). Can we do an 8 day cruise eating from Room Service and/or the buffet?

Thanks,

[Lakers Fan]

Originally Posted by Fern

I'm looking at QM or QV because I DO NOT want to fly for 10 hours again. We're not at all interested in dining room service. We'd be booking the lowest guarantee inside cabin (if it's possible). Can we do an 8 day cruise eating from Room Service and/or the buffet?

Thanks,

We are thinking of doing a Cunard cruise from NY to Southampton England in 2013 and returning to NY by ship.

[johnthed0g]

Originally Posted by johnthed0g

Don't understand "paid formal dinners" & "free buffets"...surely all the food is included apart from cover charges at speciality restaurants??

Originally Posted by Fern

I'm looking at QM or QV because I DO NOT want to fly for 10 hours again. We're not at all interested in dining room service. We'd be booking the lowest guarantee inside cabin (if it's possible). Can we do an 8 day cruise eating from Room Service and/or the buffet?

Thanks,

I don't see why not, the only mainline cruise line I can think of that reduces buffet service in the evening is Celebrity..
Of course you can book the cheapest cabin.
I think dress codes apply to the whole ship not just the MDR..maybe not the buffet.

[Lakers Fan]

Celebrity ,at least the ship I was on had the same quantity of food from 6AM-1AM in the buffet area.

[Fern]

Originally Posted by Henry43

We are thinking of doing a Cunard cruise from NY to Southampton England in 2013 and returning to NY by ship.

Henry, that's just what I'm trying to figure out! Ideally, I'd like to sail from somewhere in the US to England, cruise around GB, then sail back to the US on Princess or Carnival.

I'll have to check with my TA to see if it's even possible. If you have any ideas, please let me know !

Fern

[Lakers Fan]

Originally Posted by Fern

Henry, that's just what I'm trying to figure out! Ideally, I'd like to sail from somewhere in the US to England, cruise around GB, then sail back to the US on Princess or Carnival.

I'll have to check with my TA to see if it's even possible. If you have any ideas, please let me know !

Fern

I'm not familiar with a Princess or Carnival cruise from England to NY .If there are it may be more costly than returning with Cunard .

[Mike Shawn]

Yes..that's exactly what we did. Inside cabin was nice and the buffets are great.

[Fern]

Originally Posted by Mike Shawn

Yes..that's exactly what we did. Inside cabin was nice and the buffets are great.

Thanks, Mike. I appreciate your information. I'm a little claustrophobic, but if it was a choice between sailing or not I'd probably be able to handle an inside cabin .

[Lakers Fan]

I was not bothered by my last cruise ,an inside cabin for 12 days .