Family First Timers

Old Jul 18th, 2010, 03:08 AM
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Family First Timers

At the end of August we have booked a cruise on board the QM2 for myself, hubby and two daughters aged 16 and 12. We travel to New York from Southampton and will be staying in New York for three nights. We booked one of the last two remaining family rooms on level 6 and I am worried as to how much space this will give us. We would have liked to have purchased an outside cabin but only the inside was available. What would be the best way to ask for an up grade if at all possible.

As we have never been on a cruise before we are a little nervous as to what to expect. We have managed to get our heads around the on board dress code and have been spoiling ourselves shopping for the formal evenings.

However we do have some questions which I hope you may be able to answer. We do not mind tipping but are reluctant to do so with 4 family members on board. Are we expected to tip on behalf of all four family members, or is it just the adult members who will be charged the daily tipping amount. Could we ask for this deduction not to be made, and just tip people accordingly whilst onboard.

Does anyone know any bar prices, we are trying to calculate how much money we are going to need for the six nights voyage. Can alchol be brought on board by ourselves.

Which are the best areas of the ship to enjoy on an evening with our children.

Any other information would be wonderull for us First Timers !

Many thanks
familymum3 is offline  
Old Jul 20th, 2010, 10:45 AM
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The tips are added automatically, for all 4, on your ship board account. Count on about $11 per person per day. Although the tip is not "compulsory", unless you received terrible service, you really shouldn't ask for a reduction of the tip amount. The crew rely on it as part of their income and it would not be fair for them.

On a typically formal night, men wearing suits and ladies wearing a dress is acceptable. You may see pictures with men in Tux and ladies in fancy gowns, but that's not typically the case.

If you are in an inside cabin on deck 6, the "family room" means that you can sleep 4 in the cabin. More than likely, it is a typical inside cabin with 2 fold-out upper-berth. They will unfold it for you in the evening, and fold it back in during the day.

I had the opportunity to be in a cabin with 2 upper berths when our kids were smaller and travelled with us many year ago. It was an outside cabin, and I have 2 boys. It was crowded.

A typical cabin is less than 200 sq ft, and that included space for the washroom, closet etc. With 2 daughters at age 16 and 12, the washrooms will be an issue. It is wise for Dad to plan ahead and scout out the nearest publc washroom location to do his business if needed.

We hardly spent anytime in the cabin except sleeping and changing. There are so much public areas and so much to do that you will only feel crowded just before going to bed or first thing in the morning.

Here is a tip. Mom and Dad get up earlier, dress and ready before waking the kids. While the kids are getting ready, Mom and Dad go out for a morning stroll on the promanade deck (deck 7) it is about a 30 minutes walk around the whole deck and you will find a lot of people doing their morning jog or walk there. After your walk, go back to the cabin and collect the kids and get ready for breakfast and a full day of activity. You probably won't see your cabin until it is time to change for dinner.

At night time, do the reverse. Send the kids to bed around 10, then you two can go for a stroll or dancing at the night club.

All food and beverages are free except soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. If your kids drinks a lot of soft drinks, buy soda cards.

Beer, wine and cocktail prices are typically about $7 to $10, very similar to a typical fancier hotel cocktail lounge pricing. Wine by the bottle would be from $35 and up. You can ask them to re-cork the bottle for you and save it for a later day. If you are not heavy drink, a bottle may last 2 to 3 meals.

Bringing alchol on board is not allowed unless it is wine. They will charge you $10 a bottle for corkage fee so you might as well buy it form them. I have seen people smuggle booze on board and they even traded methods on how to sneak them on board, but I am not an advocate of that so I won't comment.

Here is 2 links that you will find useful.

This is the Fodor review of the Queen Mary
http://www.fodors.com/cruises/cunard...mary-2-695774/

This is the crusie critic "at your service" page. It has links to articles on cruising, from packing to what to expect for a first time cruiser.
http://www.cruisecritic.com/features/area.cfm?ID=13

Good luck on your first cruise, you'll enjoyed it.
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Old May 25th, 2016, 12:04 AM
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Travelled with my 14 year old daughter 2 years ago. She loved it. They did a great soft drinks package which included mocktails which made her happy and feel all grown up! Of course, she loved all the dressing up and everything. Tips are added, which for kids seems a bit steep, so I'm afraid to say, I asked to have mine taken off. I did leave more in the room though as I then felt guilty! My daughter was too shy (on that occasion) to go to kids club - and regretted it. Last year we went to the Norwegian fjords and she did go and that was that, I never saw her after dinner any more! She was off with her new friends having a wonderful time. I did feel it was very safe for teenagers. They, er, can't leave the premises and it's completely impossible for them to get alcohol. There is so much to do, you will have a ball.
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Old May 25th, 2016, 07:05 AM
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Please do not remove your tips for your children. They are using the same services as any adult (room needs tidying, they are being served the same meals, etc). I realize that you must be British and are not a tipping culture but the cruise industry has set up their employees to rely on this as their only compensation. When you remove your tips but still receive stellar service you are punishing the employee. Whether you like how they do this or not please be mindful of these hardworking men and women who leave their families for 6 or more months at a time in order to work at a job for 16 hours a day 7 days a week in order to provide a better income than they could receive in their home country.
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Old May 28th, 2016, 09:16 AM
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The tip is divided between many people who do things for you, people you may never see, so only tipping the cabin steward leaves out the pool attendants, the buffet workers, the laundry workers, the entertainers, the waiters, etc. We tip extra to the cabin attendant, and sometimes a waiter, because that is such personal service, but would never not tip, even for our 4 or 5 year old GD. Your (the OP) kids are just about grownup size and will be getting the same service (cleaning, food, shows, pool use, etc.) as adults. They will be using separate towels, glasses, etc., so yes, tip for them also. If your kids ever were doing this kind of work, I feel sure you would want them to be treated well. Also a good lesson for the kids about being generous as possible.
Have fun.
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Old Jul 6th, 2016, 12:59 PM
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I will suggest that most 16 yr olds do not go to bed at 10.. plus.. there are shows and such..
Even for a 12 yr old , I would assume curfew would be closer to 11 than 10pm.

Do look up the activities planned.. the kids will likely enjoy some of them..
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Old Jul 7th, 2016, 05:25 AM
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justineparis: >>I will suggest that most 16 yr olds do not go to bed at 10.. plus.. there are shows and such..

Even for a 12 yr old , I would assume curfew would be closer to 11 than 10pm.
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