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First Trans-Atlantic crossing - on the Queen Mary 2. Help!

Hello, Am doing my first (and doubtless last) Trans-Atlantic crossing next summer. Would be very grateful for any tips on keeping on-board costs down as it's taking the bulk of my life's savings to do it :/ Heyho! I can't take it with me and I must be at my daughter's wedding 🙂 Cabin booked Deck 5, port side, midships. Excited and scared! Any wise advice gratefully received 🙂


Created By on 23/09/2016

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Riversiderouge
23rd Sep 2016 17:27:46
0
Thanks for voting!
If you like a drink an all inclusive deal will work out cheaper. Do not accept the tip charges which are generally excessive in my view. Just go to reception and tell them that you prefer to tip individually instead. If you are on a really tight budget you either tip or you don't tip. The water that comes out of the tap is perfectly OK for drinking, so why pay for bottles. There are a lot of gambling opportunities on QM2. Unless you feel really lucky, stay away from them! Enjoy QM2. It's a lovely experience.
Response from Aughra Original Poster made on 24th Sep 2016 13:14:17
Thank you for the input Riversiderouge 🙂 Particularly good to know that the tap water is drinkable, as I really need to keep hydrated.
It is our first time on a big ship, and we're unlikely to be able to have such a great adventure ever again, so really want to make the most of it.
We like meeting people so have opted to sit at a dining table with other travelers in the Britannia - hope that works out well... Neither of us are big drinkers - in fact I don't drink alcohol at all ( due to a serious health condition I'm reduced to smelling single malts - but fortunately my sense of humour remains intact 😉 )
Am a tad concerned about formal dinners as I am a trousers and flats woman but hopefully velvet trousers and sparkly tops will be ok for formal nights?
Would love to hear more about your trip, and what you enjoyed best 🙂
Response from Riversiderouge made on 24th Sep 2016 13:49:10
Sailing around the Med in QM2 in 2010 was just perfect. We enjoyed every minute on board. The food was absolutely top class, the theatre and entertainement was very good, the Planetarium is a great experience, and the staff are first class from waiters to cabin maids. There will be plenty of activities to keep you entertained from interesting lectures, quizzes, a bridge club possibly and even bingo sessions. Midships is the best place to be if it gets rough, but this is a big ship that is fully stabalised so it's most unlikely that you will even notice any movement. Your velvet trousers and sparkly top will be perfectly fine, and you will I'm sure enjoy the conversations during dinner. You needn't be at all concerned as most passengers are ordinary folk like you and me. You always get the odd bore who will tell you where they've been and what ships they've sailed in, but if the worst happens and you get lumbered, there are plenty of alternative places to eat! What with your special wedding and everything I'm sure you will remember it for the rest of your life.
Response from Aughra Original Poster made on 24th Sep 2016 15:35:45
Hi Riversiderouge 🙂
Sounds like you had a wonderful time on QM2 🙂 I still can't quite believe I'm going across the Atlantic on her - it all feels very surreal! My daughter is a well seasoned traveler (across Europe, the USA and Japan) and assures me it will all run smooth - but I'm little travelled and always get anxious about getting to unfamiliar places (even within the UK!)

Good to hear the service is good. Feel a bit of an old fogey in that regard - as having worked in several private hotels in my youth I know it isn't easy - but courtesy costs nothing 🙂 Tip wise I was planning to stick to what's recommended and let that come out of onboard spend allowance ( as I don't drink alcohol and am not the Spa type; beached whale is a look only to be shared with nearest and dearest, I think 🙂 )

Thanks for the reassurance on clothes. Am a tad panicked about how much I need to take because we're doing such a diversity of things - formal dinners on cruise, comfortable clothes for city tours, and an outdoor wedding...
Did you by any chance use the onboard laundries on the Queen Mary? Am thinking it could be wise entertainment on the penultimate day aboard 🙂

I do a reasonable impression of ordinary - being 60 helps - but am quite a bundle of diversity really. For example Lectures and Bingo hold equal appeal 🙂 (Haven't actually played Bingo since I was a child - but feels like a fun thing to do on the way second childhood) The other thing I'd love to do is the ship's tour but I understand it can't be pre-booked and places are very limited. Just crossing fingers most there will be more folk interested in the champagne lounge, casino, and sun decks 🙂
Response from Riversiderouge made on 24th Sep 2016 17:59:03
Laundries? Aughra, I am not a new man and consequently don't do laundering, however I do recall a laundry service, but being ordinary folk we used the on board self service launderette which was quite popular. Be sure to post your experiences on here for us all to enjoy. I hope everything goes well for you.
Response from Aughra Original Poster made on 6th Jan 2017 14:39:27
Hehehe! Launderette will be just the ticket 🙂 Any advice on best time to avoid queues and should I stock up on change?
klyne
30th Sep 2016 23:56:32 (Last activity: 6th Jan 2017 14:35:16)
0
Thanks for voting!
I can't really comment on Cunard as we have only cruised with P&O (twice). From what you say, apart from the tips, its unlikely you will spend a lot on board. Off ship excursions are quite expensive and will soon add up. Are just crossing one way and flying back or are you crossing both ways?

Back to tips this seems to be a much vexed subject. On our first cruise we were responsible for tipping our own cabin steward and the waiting staff. On our second cruise there was a set amount automatically added to your on board bill. Personally I prefer the fixed amount added to the bill. I have never had cause to ask for it to be removed. I suppose that if your ship has a self service restaurant and you ate there all the time then I could see that you might not want to tip as generously.

David
Response from Aughra Original Poster made on 6th Jan 2017 14:35:16
Apologies for delay in reply, and Hello David,

Cunard take an automatic amount for gratuities unless one says otherwise ... I think we'll just let it be, sounds like less hassle - and I wouldn't want to be mean, but can't afford to be over generous either.

We have opted for first sitting in The Britannia restaurant as we have to be dressed by 6 anyways!

Am not a posh person - but have to get the glad rags out for this one ( or rather buy some!)

Happy New Year
Tina
MikeP
11th Dec 2016 15:42:13 (Last activity: 6th Jan 2017 14:29:09)
1
Thanks for voting!
Cunard will add $11.50 per day to your onboard account for hotel services and will add 15% service charge to all drinks and salon services. You can ask them not to charge the hotel services charge and instead tip staff personally. Of course there will be no excursions on the crossing but if you are sailing out and flying back then there may be a New York tour available to fill in the gap between disembarkation and the return flight.

Cunard is very 'dressy' and there will probably be two formal nights, the second and fifth night aboard. The dress is black tie. On other nights men wear jackets and ladies wear cocktail dress.

Don't forget that even if you in the USA for only a few hours you will still need an ESTA.

There will be loads to do on the crossing and if you like annimals then you can visit the kennels. Some dogs are very regular passengers!
Response from Aughra Original Poster made on 6th Jan 2017 14:29:09
Thanks for the input Mike. Apologies for being so tardy in reply - life's been even more hectic than usual!
We are indeed sailing out and flying back 🙂
My eldest is getting married in the USA, and is a well seasoned traveller ; whereas I am simply very well seasoned and not well travelled at all!
Treating myself to a once in a lifetime trip and hoping it runs smooth

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