Cunard Queen Mary 2 Top 10 tips

[@jerryjones1555]

Have ever gone on the crossing to NYC

[@RetirementDreamsToReality]

No we haven't but it's definitely on our list for retirement trips. We have left new jersey on a RCL cruise before and Bayonne is an awesome sail away.

[@sodiumlights]

Really super video, cheers Keely x

[@RetirementDreamsToReality]

@@sodiumlights Thank you for watching. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@merseywhogirl3430]

THANK YOU!! I am doing a double Transatlantic this October. Can't wait. Great information!!!!

[@RetirementDreamsToReality]

Thank you for such a positive comment. I'm sure a transatlantic will be in our future. I hope you enjoy your time on QM2 as much as I did.

[@COLINJELY]

I'm boarding October 17

[@MartiganBlue]

Thank you. This is great information! 😊

[@RetirementDreamsToReality]

Thanks for watching. Glad you found it useful.

[@heidilevens6284]

Thank you. The top about the water is good. We are sailing to the Caribbean on QM2 in Nov from NYC. Your tips will be helpful. 🙏

[@RetirementDreamsToReality]

Thank you for watching and your positive comment. Your trip sounds fabulous. We did the Caribbean from New York in 2023 on Royal Caribbean. The sailaway from New York is truly amazing. Enjoy .

[@heidilevens6284]

❤ Yes, looking forward to to that iconic view for sure!

[@Curmudgeoned]

A good way to get a rough handle on actual drink costs (including 15% service) is to treat dollar prices as pounds. Works out pretty well the same. In other words a $10 drink plus service is equal to £10 including service. Works for all other onboard purchases that are subject to the 15% too.

[@RetirementDreamsToReality]

I love this idea. A great simple way to work out the additional charge. Thank you . Hope you enjoyed watching the video.

[@Curmudgeoned]

@@RetirementDreamsToReality Inded I did. Thank you. Gonna try the early arrival tip shortly. I’ll let you know how it goes. 👍

[@martynmiller4247]

Your departure and arrival terminals are noted on your paperwork. Just study the paperwork. Don't ignore it please. If you've still got records do check them, it'll tell you. Happy sailings.

[@RetirementDreamsToReality]

Thank you . I haven't got the paperwork but I did think it strange that you weren't told. That's a really useful tip .

[@Boogledigs]

We're going on QMll on the first of November. Your video is enormously helpful as I'm getting so excited to get aboard.

[@RetirementDreamsToReality]

So glad you found the video useful. I'm sure you ll love your upcoming cruise. She is a really beautiful ship . Enjoy .

[@martynmiller4247]

Queen Mary II died many years ago. Queen Mary 2 is a Cunard Ocean Liner.

[@Curmudgeoned]

Further to the easy payment option you mentioned, be aware that if you book your next cruise onboard you get additional on board spend (if next cruise is 7 days or more) AND you pay a lower deposit!

[@Curmudgeoned]

Whatever the size of suitcase you have, you might not be allowed to embark with it, but you can certainly disembark with it!

[@RetirementDreamsToReality]

Yes we did disembark with it.

[@parigino48]

@RetirementDreamsToReality Your tip about arriving two hours early is a very good one. My travel agent told me the same thing. I just wish, however, that she had given me this tip *before* we left for our cruise rather than 48 hours *after* we returned, which is what she did ! “I thought you knew, everybody knows that !” was her excuse. 😠😠😠

[@RetirementDreamsToReality]

@@parigino48 We didn't even know it was a thing you could do. Also, we are very British and tend to be great at queuing and don't like to rock the boat, sorry about the pun.

[@parigino48]

@@RetirementDreamsToReality 🤣🤣🤣

[@COLINJELY]

@@RetirementDreamsToReality couple of years ago I went on QE in Fremantle, Australia. Dropped my bags off then walked down to a local market. After lunch and walking around decided i would go back to the terminal and sit inside till my boarding time. When I walked in there was nobody there and I went straight onboard

[@suec9881]

One more question - is the tap water potable?

[@RetirementDreamsToReality]

Potable? I drank it to take tablets but not sure if it's drinkable, as in fill glasses.

[@RetirementDreamsToReality]

And please feel free to ask any questions. If I can answer them , I'm happy to.

[@martynmiller4247]

Yes. Did I mention yes?

[@suec9881]

Thank you for this. I'm hoping to book QM2 sometime next year and have been watching lots of KZbin videos but this is the first time I've heard about a $16 service charge. Is that across the board or is this somehow connected to alcohol purchases? I'm just not clear on what this is for. Thanks! :)

[@dl11950]

There is a daily service charge per passenger - this covers all the folks providing the included services to passengers (waiters, stewards - almost everyone on the 'hotel' staff). There sometimes are promotions for US bookings where this is included in the fare,. Many cruise lines have taken this approach instead of lots of envelopes the passengers were supposed to use to provide cash tips.

[@suec9881]

@@dl11950 is it in place of providing tips to the staff? Hardly seems enough for all the people involved in a daily effort.

[@RetirementDreamsToReality]

Cunard call it a service charge, others like P&0 and RC called it gratuities. Sometimes it's included in original price, sometimes you can opt to prepay it, other times it's added on during the cruise. I may be wrong but I don't know any company where it' isn't at least referred to , even if it's included. Best to check at time of booking. Enjoy your cruise.

[@sodiumlights]

You can also take that charge off if you want to.

[@COLINJELY]

In a weeks time I'm flying to the UK to do a Westbound Transatlantic. Did you find Homer Simpson?

[@RetirementDreamsToReality]

Enjoy your transatlantic. No we didn't look BUT be careful what videos you watch, some should come with a spoiler alert as they reveal his location. Ps he is tiny.

[@COLINJELY]

@@RetirementDreamsToReality I was aboard for one night last year (cancelled cruise) already found him

[@Curmudgeoned]

Regarding daily service charge, this can be removed if you’re unhappy (or miserly).

[@oldboater]

I don’t mean to be rude, but this was the most boring presentation I’ve ever seen on utube.

[@RetirementDreamsToReality]

It's unfortunate that you didn't enjoy the video. Thankfully we have generally had positive feedback about it's usefulness rather than it's excitement value. As we are a new channel we welcome all constructive feedback and the beauty of KZbin is you can switch off if it's not to your taste so hopefully you didn't waste too much time being bored. Thank you