2 Old Dames on the best Dame in the World - Queen Mary 2

[JohnK]

Sounds like you are going to have a great time.

Spent 39 days at sea coming to Australia. Would love to do a cruise at some point when time permits.

 

[sinophile888]

I'm a bit hazy on it as I booked months ago - but it is usually 200% and I think it was pretty close from memory of what the deal was at the time (about $1700 pp twin). It was part of a week long super sale and even after cancelling my original booking and losing the deposit I was still well in front - not just a couple of hundred dollars.

I find it very difficult to reply to this post as I should have boarded QM2 on Thursday in Fremantle. But a little AF has hit this AFFer.

When I originally saw the 27 day cruise advertised, a sheltered balcony was ~$6800pp, then the price dropped to ~$5900pp so I booked. During a cruise week sale the price dropped to an eye-watering $4500pp. I cancelled our bookings and then rebooked, losing a total of $1000 deposit. Still well ahead. I felt all along that this price was too good to be true; so sorry I proved to be correct.

I had also used FF points to book CX J from HKG to PER (65000 points + $165). One way tickets are an excellent way to use FF points; otherwise the price would have been $4600 in J or $1100 in Y.

I have travel Insurance with travelinsurancedirect and am finalizing my claim this week. I now have a preexisting condition and will need to pay a higher premium in future. That is assuming that I'm not rejected.

Good sailing to Pushka and love_the_life! I hope that the cruise is a great success and that Cunard repeat the itinerary soon.

 

[Pushka]

you can get in on the action! 19 days from march 14. Syd-Hkg $2949. ($155 p/day) Pretty cheap for the QM2 no?

That's not too shabby a price - that would be per person. The type of stateroom makes a difference too. The sale price was a little better than that though.

 

[Pushka]

Glad to see the other Old Dame coming in. And she is right of course, but Old Dame seemed to fit for the title, and really, I can leave the zimmer frame at home this time, so that makes me a young broad right? Don't worry Love_the_life, I've met a few people on here and they know we aren't geriatric. . Zig is right, never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

I knew at some point that Pilots board the ships to bring them safely into Port. I presumed they jumped on board at the last minute and didnt give it much thought. On our last trip on QM2, as we were leaving Adelaide, I was looking down from the balcony and saw this jet boat zooming towards the ship. Good God, Pirates in Adelaide waters attacking the QM2? It didn't look like Greenpeace either. This was about 30 minutes out of Adelaide, so quite far out into the bay.

So I started to film them with my trusty little camera and this is the video I took:

[video=youtube;S0E8yoVziUg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0E8yoVziUg[/video]


I have no idea what those ropes were all about.
OK, I have SEVEN formal nights for this voyage. I think that means I should start packing, right NOW!

I'll be back

 

[love_the_life]

Sorry to hear that you will not be onboard sinophile. We had to cancel a cruise in the Med a few years back. In our case we were still within a "some refund" time frame but our travel insurance did not cover the reason we had to cancel so lost a reasonable amount in terms on cruise, airfares, hotels etc.
I hope you get the chance to do the itinerary you missed out on in the not too distant future.

 

[QF WP]

Sunday 16th March Brisbane - docks at a Container wharf so probably just a shuttle into the city and look around

Meet A Moderator time?? (if I can arrange things) - plus I think you'll be busy meeting up with love_the_life and checking out her digs.

Looking forward to hearing more from you both

 

[Pushka]

Could do WP. . Trying to catch up with love_the_life before she embarks, I'm thinking mid morning. It's a Sunday though, family time.

 

[Pushka]

Mr and Mrs ReLoad - where have you been told to meet for lunch Webb Dock? I know exactly where your function will be, assuming no rain and I think you'll get a guided tour later. I'll stand on the deck just above it. I have a royal wave I've been practising.

 

[love_the_life]

QF WP - we are probably going to meet for coffee mid - late morning at the Hilton (as I am staying there the night before). If you are around, love to catch up too.

 

[love_the_life]

Pushka does a mean royal wave :mrgreen: for all you WP1s.

 

[ReLoad]

Mr and Mrs ReLoad - where have you been told to meet for lunch Webb Dock? I know exactly where your function will be, assuming no rain and I think you'll get a guided tour later. I'll stand on the deck just above it. I have a royal wave I've been practising.

Can't beat a good royal wave! I hope you have an appropriate about of bubbles in the other hand

The invite says a tour first, then lunch in the Britannia restaurant.
Says we have to meet at 10.15, no specific location, but I'm assuming customs somewhere, then getting kicked off at 1400. Provided of course we don't end up as stowaways in a life boat!
We have warned the children they may not in fact get picked up from school

Enjoy your cruise, I did 3 short cruises last year - SYD-NOU, VLI-SYD and BNE-VLI (working not paxing) and had a blast, so I'm very jealous.

 

[Pushka]

Can't beat a good royal wave! I hope you have an appropriate about of bubbles in the other hand

The invite says a tour first, then lunch in the Britannia restaurant.
Says we have to meet at 10.15, no specific location, but I'm assuming customs somewhere, then getting kicked off at 1400. Provided of course we don't end up as stowaways in a life boat!
We have warned the children they may not in fact get picked up from school

Enjoy your cruise, I did 3 short cruises last year - SYD-NOU, VLI-SYD and BNE-VLI (working not paxing) and had a blast, so I'm very jealous.

That's lucky. Usually it's just finger food on a deck but lunch in Britannia is nice. I'll keep an eye out for you all.

I tried chaining myself to a lifeboat last time but they're rather high up.

Enjoy the Britannia.

 

[Pushka]

It's embarkation day.

There is an app, of course there is an app, that tracks ships and cruise lines. And has bridge webcams.

The QM2 is arriving into Outer Harbour as I type.



I slept pretty well last night until around 4am. I listen to a radio with ear buds in the early morning and usually go back to sleep. Dozing until about 5.30am when a newsagent doing his rounds called into the radio station and being on the top of Mt Lofty said in the clear pre-dawn western horizon he could see the amazing sight of a brightly lit QM2 on the horizon.

Wide Awake now.

 

[Pushka]

This webcam shot shows QM2 moving horizontally into berth right now

She's already completed a 180 degree turn in the narrow Outer Harbour channel. Usually she does this at departure but the waters are so calm it's been completed on arrival. She has structures in place that allow her to rotate in distances no more than her length.

 

[Pushka]

And closer.

The breakwater you can see on Portside will tonight be crowded with spectators. It's a beautiful public holiday here today and the media have been telling people to go and see her. They even have pop up food carts to feed the spectators.

 

[drron]

Have a great time Pushka.

 

[Pushka]

I feel like I've just done my first Cunard MASA.

So after our 50 minute drive to Outer Harbour we attended at the gate that allows you to drive to the luggage drop area. We were told no access until 12. No, 12 is the check in time not drop off time. So given that's 90 minutes away we drove a little further closer to the ship. (roads in gridlock due to sightseeing). Asked again at the next gate. Sure, come right on in.

So like booking a MaSA if you don't get the answer you want first time, "hang up" and try again.

600 people embarking in Adelaide. Yikes. It's not a major embarkation point but that's a huge chunk.

She's a big girl. I think my stateroom is just above the gangway. In the dark grey area.

But no one knows where the QP is.
I'm in the first group to embark. Just waiting to check in properly, have security photo taken, credit card details and Visa and passport checked.

 

[amaroo]

Liking the posting in real time - enjoy the trip! and, that extra day in HKG

 

[Pushka]

Liking the posting in real time - enjoy the trip! and, that extra day in HKG

I'm over the grief of a cancelled flight.

And I'm on board.

Obligatory photos before I muss up the room.

 

[Pushka]

And more pictures.



A complimentary full bottle of Pol Aker. Just for me.

And the bathroom.


And the passports been taken by the ship.