Pre-Cruise experience with Cunard - my first time travelling with them

 In December I will be sailing on Cunard's Queen Elizabeth. I have wanted to sail on Cunard for many years and with the sale and on board credit from Vacations to Go.com I have decided to try it. Note I have had a really good experience with Vacations to Go, David my agent has been helpful and quick to respond to any questions.

 Here's what to expect for your pre-cruise experience:

Cunard does not have an app. You must provide and get all information via their website. It's clunky and not user friendly.  I have purchased shore excursions and the internet for the week and am curious how I will connect the internet on board without the app.  Also they must still print out tickets for shore excursions and a daily event sheet.

Cunard does not provide direct confirmation of your Stockholder benefit or On board Credits, you must have your travel agent add them to your confirmation receipt.

Cunard does not provide the time of arrival or departure in each port until the day of or day before the port. This is not helpful if you want to book independently for shore activities.  Having been on so many cruise ships I know they are provided with designated times for arrival and departure as they pay huge penalties and may miss their slot if they are not on time. I am guessing it's a money grab to get passengers to book their shore excursions. 

Cunard provides transfers from the airport for a whopping $70USD, when a cab is $40 and RCCL provides them at less than $20USD in Miami.  Note if you book your flights thru them then the transfers are free. Note the prices they quoted for my flights were outrageously high.

Cunard will not let you designate your time of arrival at port, you are assigned a time based on the following criteria:

Cunard assigns embarkation times 

based on the stateroom grade and cabin location to manage passenger flow, though this can sometimes be inconsistent. The highest-tier guests, like those in the Queen's and Princess Grill Suites, receive priority and earlier times. Your specific time is printed on the boarding pass after completing online check-in, and you are asked to arrive at that time to help prevent long queues. 

In other words they have a class system in place (higher tier) based on spend. Note all other ships allow suites passengers to go first, but as a new client of them I was hoping that I could get better than the last slot.  I tried calling but the rep said the times are designated by the ship and if I wanted help to contact my travel agent.  Note my travel agent then called and got this answer

"I called and spoke with them and they told me that the time assignments are made generically and can't be changed.  She did say that if you show up earlier it is simply the discretion of the pier staff whether they let you board or make you wait.  In my experience I have never had a single customer tell me they had a problem with showing up early.  That is not a promise, but it is my experience."

I am going to try to go after the Suites customers at 12 noon and see what happens. But I am not impressed.  Their reps just want you of the phone.  

Cunard does not have an email address to write to... you must call if you have questions. The good thing was that they answered promptly but were unhelpful. 

I will update this post after embarkation, but I am expecting a 19th century experience in the 21st century.

Hope this helps

Marcia

How to write a complaint letter and to who when you are encountering issues on a cruise

First of all I hope you never need to write a complaint letter while on a cruise.  However if you have ll legitimate issues while on a cruise below are my suggestions for what to do.

I recently had ongoing plumbing issues in my  original cabin on my Explorer of the Seas cruise. The first day no hot water- I called the front desk who said it was ship-wide. Then the next morning still no hot water I called again and a maintenance person arrived and did something that got it to work. However when I took a shower within a minute of being in the shower the water went down to a trickle. I called again and they sent maintenance while I was out of the cabin.  Again the next day after about a minute the water was down to a trickle. I then walked to Guest Services and explained what was happening. She took it upon herself to explain it to the maintenance person. However after they said they fixed it, I only got scalding hot water out of the sink taps and shower.  This had then been 4 days without a proper shower.  I went to front desk and they kindly moved me to another cabin.  However that was not the end of the issues. 

I had issues within the Dining Room for breakfast - twice it took them an hour to bring my breakfast and then it was cold. The first time I just let it go, but on the second time I told the waiter it was cold. The supervisor came and put her hand on the food to test if it was cold???  I went up to the manager and as I was doing so she waved her hand/finger towards me. Wow. 

At this point I think it's time to write to the Hotel Director.  Below is what I recommend. 

- always tell them how long and how many cruises you've taken and where this cruise ranks with all the others (this was 3rd worst) of over 40 cruises

- advise them of your membership status 

- Tell them what has been great/good on the cruise to date - mention the names of the staff that have given great/exceptional service

- Then factually tell them about the issues you have had, who helped you and who didn't.  

- Always ask what they will do for you given the circumstances. 

- thank them for taking  the time to consider your concerns.  

Will this always work?  I have no idea, as out of the 40 plus cruises I only have written a letter 3 times.  The first time on Carnival (several years ago)  it was bad for everyone so no one helped - However head office gave us all 75% of the cruise value back (not 100% as they said we ate food).  The second time on Regal Princess the director had the issues corrected (second day at sea) and I sent a thank you note for their prompt attention  Now on this one, I was given a 25% future cruise credit of the value of my current cruise.

Hope this helps

Marcia

Want something to do in Tenerife.. take the Porta la Cruz on your own tour

 The ships’on your own shore excursion to porta la Cruz was 28 cdn on sale. It is 45 minutes away from the cruise port. You will be totally on your own. The guide doesn’t even say hello. When you get to the destination she told us the time to be back on the bus. That was the only information imparted. You are given approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Tips…

Do your research before taking this tour, print off a map or directions to the cathedral, city hall etc.

Go into the hotel where it seem all buses park, and use their toilet and ask the front desk for a map, and ask them to circle the hotel’s location, and any thing else you want to see. 

This town is a shopping Mecca, with excellent prices for all types of souvenirs, linens and beach wear. It’s much better than the cruise port.

Where they drop you off you are 5 minutes to the beach promenade. You can’t get lost as just ask the locals for directions back to the hotel you have marked on the map or in my case, it was also the surfer’s beach.

The beach is lava and very rocky, so not a swimmer beach. It’s nice to take pictures of

When we were on the way back, the bus driver played rap music and no one thanked us so no tipping required

Hope this helps 

Marcia

Gran Canaria been there done that 3 times and went to the beach near the port

 Having been here twice before, after getting off the ship l headed to the beach. A quick 15 minute walk with great signage along the way so you won’t get lost.

The beach has a long, clean promenade with lots of benches to sit. The beach is very long. It has areas safe with a lifeguard and you can rent loungers. However much the beach is rocky so look for the sandy part. It’s the dark volcanic sand so it looks dirty. 

It’s kept clean. Worth a look see and a visit.

Hope this helps

Marcia

Lanzarote on your own from the cruise port… easy circular route for walking

 I loved this Lanzarote cruise port.  It’s pretty in a plain and quaint way. It’s an easy walk to the marina, with shops and crafts.  After the marina Head towards the small castle first, and stop to look at their small cathedral on the way. The bridge to the castle has broken pavement so caution is recommended.

You will need to wait in a short line to get in. It’s free. 

After the castle you will see the main shopping street. It’s pedestrian only, and white light decorations are above the entrance. If you follow it to the end. It’s about a 10 minute walk you end back at the inner harbour and you can follow the path to the marina and ship.

There is a man painting small boats made out of virgin olive oil cans. They are cute and start at 3 euros for the small ones. 

Shopping was limited, but prices were reasonable. It’s a cute little town worth a couple of hours of your time.

Hope this helps

Marcia

Cadiz on your own - just walk

 From the cruise port, you walk outside of the port and you are in Cadiz. You won’t get lost if you turn 

Right and go thru the park til you reach the sea promenade then just keep walking away from the cruise port and you will see a lovely park with fountains and statues. At the end of the park if you now enter the old city you will pass three old theatre. Keep walking ( here’s where the tourist map from the cruise port comes in handy. Follow the streets til just before you reach the Mercado, and go into the old hospital museum. It’s 5 euros and small, but it has one of the best El Greco paintings and a very ornate church and courtyard . From here you are a minute away from the mercado. Not great on a weekday as very few vendors.

Then take the shopping street to the cathedral square. The cathedral is falling apart inside so not worth the entry fee. 

The take another shopping street to the city hall square. From here if you go towards the water, turn left at the waterfront you will get back to the ship in less than 5 minutes. 

I loved how walkable it was and the shopping prices were reasonable.

If you are strolling, taking pictures and shopping along the way to sit on benches and people watch, plan on a couple of hours, of an easy picturesque walk.

Hope this helps 

Marcia

Explorer of the Seas - lipstick on a pig after September 2025 drydock

 I am on a 13 day transatlantic cruise from Lisbon to Cape Canaveral. I abided by the check I time at 11:30 am but no other passengers did so the crowds were huge. It took 40 minutes to wind my way to Rcl check in. Never once did the check my sea pass til the check in desk. Shame on RCL…don’t give a check in time and then don’t enforce it. 

The ship is 25 years old and looks, feels and smells like it. My first cabin on the 7th floor groaned at night. Do not book an inside promenade view cabin. They are small, noisy and have plumbing issues.

 It has just come out of dry dock where the only visible signs are a painted hull, but the upper decks still have paint peeling and rust showing. You can tell they have painted over so many times.. just lipstick on a pig.

Inside the have replaced carpets everywhere including cabins, and new taps in the sinks and shower. However the entire ship had no hot water on day one as they were replacing pipes. I didn’t get it my cabin til mid morning on day 2.  After several calls, maintenance agreed to come and realized there was an issue for my cabin. No apologies…

Now I have a choice..hot water or water pressure in the shower. It seems it’s either or. After day 5 with the shower only having scalding hot water, I gave up and went to customer service. They gave me a new ocean view cabin and 10% of this cruises cost as a future cruise credit. To be used anytime in the next 2 years. The new cabin is on the 3rd floor and has a working shower. You definitely feel more movement, and hear the engine at night, but a 100% better.  Definitely book an ocean view on 3, as they seem to be quiet, no plumbing issues and have extra large windows.

The furnishings, pool decks and especially the promenade outside are clean but the rust and age show thru everywhere. You can  only paint over so many times. The deck floors are just very old and the cabins are much smaller than the new ships. The walls of the cabins are that old light pink prefab. 

But the worst is the musty smell in many areas of ship. There is the smell of rotted cabbage on the promenade deck. 

The vibe of this ship is 70’s rockers and aged disco queens. Staff are unhappy with management and speak openly about it. Given this could get them dismissed, it must be really bad for them. 

The internet is inconsistent in speed and strength, but they will not credit passengers who bought the package. On Quantum they gave all passengers a 2 day credit, but on this ship don’t hold your breath. The person who is supposed to help knows less than me, and is rude to guests. 

The food in the dining room has been good, but the windjammer buffet has limited selection, and tastes like an old cafeteria from the 60’s. The breakfast and lunch and salad choices are the same every day at lunch. You won’t go hungry but it’s not gourmet. On sea days the buffet is a zoo.

Staff  for the most part are pleasant and very laid back. Don’t be in a hurry on this ship. Service levels are haphazard, especially in the dining room at breakfast and lunch.  Management needs a refresher in customer service and staff management.

Entertainment is also from the 70s with  magicians, aged musical and comedy acts and old fashion production shows that breakdown for 15/minutes every show due to technical issues.  The only act that was worth watching were the aerialists.

The passenger mix lends older, but not infirm as very few wheel chairs and even less families with children. 90% of the passengers are Americans, and 5% Canadians , with the rest from all over. Lots of solos. 

This is a ship that needs to be retired or overhauled completely. I do not recommend this ship. Avoid, avoid.

My interior promenade cabin iswas clean and except for the shower, in good condition. I would say you need earplugs as the promenade below is very loud with music til midnight. I would not recommend this cabin.

I will avoid this class of ship in the future unless it has been Rcl amplified. Too small and when you put lipstick on a pig it still smells, looks and acts like a pig.

I hope this helps

Marcia