Relocating to UK via Cunard eastern passage
Jun 29th, 2017, 12:39 PM
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Relocating to UK via Cunard eastern passage
My husband and I are relocating to the UK for probably 4-5 years while he pursues a Masters/PhD in History at University of Bristol.
Because he's also a musician, we never fly with instruments. But we found we could carry the instruments with us for roughly 1/3 for what we could spend to fly either first class or buy 3 economy seats in a row if we book a bedroom on Amtrak from the West coast of the to NYC and then board the Queen Mary on the eastbound passage to Southampton and take the train to Bristol.
But what do we pack for 4-5 years, and how do we do that so we aren't turning ourselves into Sherpas? And how do we fit that kind of luggage into a 248 sq ft bedroom on the ship? We've never done this sort of thing before and for both of us this is a mid-life/20th wedding anniversary adventure.
We're liquidating house and contents, mostly, and shipping very few things by pallet. Very few. But we need clothing, a few toiletries, and we both have central sleep apnea so CPAPs are necessary as well.
What kind of clothing do you need for the climate in Bristol? What about on the ship itself - what do we need? What can we get by with? How much/how big luggage do we need? Are we better off to take minimal clothing and buy more over there?
Any advice is very much appreciated.
Because he's also a musician, we never fly with instruments. But we found we could carry the instruments with us for roughly 1/3 for what we could spend to fly either first class or buy 3 economy seats in a row if we book a bedroom on Amtrak from the West coast of the to NYC and then board the Queen Mary on the eastbound passage to Southampton and take the train to Bristol.
But what do we pack for 4-5 years, and how do we do that so we aren't turning ourselves into Sherpas? And how do we fit that kind of luggage into a 248 sq ft bedroom on the ship? We've never done this sort of thing before and for both of us this is a mid-life/20th wedding anniversary adventure.
We're liquidating house and contents, mostly, and shipping very few things by pallet. Very few. But we need clothing, a few toiletries, and we both have central sleep apnea so CPAPs are necessary as well.
What kind of clothing do you need for the climate in Bristol? What about on the ship itself - what do we need? What can we get by with? How much/how big luggage do we need? Are we better off to take minimal clothing and buy more over there?
Any advice is very much appreciated.
Jun 29th, 2017, 02:00 PM
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Other than your musical instrument, just take whatever you need for the short trip, you are not going to take everything you need for the next 4 to 5 years with you, by train, by plane or whatever means of transportation. You should ship everything other than the bare necessities.
Jun 29th, 2017, 05:12 PM
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What are the musical instruments? Will they take up a lot of space in your state room?
When are you going?
Have you been on any cruise before? You can't really move via ship. You certainly do not pack for four or five years! For the cruise/TransAtlantic crossing, you need clothing for a cruise vacation because that is what you are doing. A couple of dress up outfits for formal nights, slacks, jeans, shorts, resort wear, etc. for daytime, swimsuits, etc. Exactly what depends on time of year and weather. You may need a jacket for outside on the deck or not. Look at the Cunard website or Cruisecritc for guidance. I have not been on Cunard, but their dress requirements seem less casual than other lines.
You can take some pretty big pieces of luggage on board, but with the musical instruments, it may not fit.
I have no idea of the weather in Bristol, but a quick google search should give you that. At any rate, you can buy anything you want once there.
Have you been to Bristol? Taking the train to Bristol may not be easy to manage with too much stuff.
If you have not been there, I suggest you make a trip over to get a feel for things. It would be much easier to decide what to do and how best to do it.
When are you going?
Have you been on any cruise before? You can't really move via ship. You certainly do not pack for four or five years! For the cruise/TransAtlantic crossing, you need clothing for a cruise vacation because that is what you are doing. A couple of dress up outfits for formal nights, slacks, jeans, shorts, resort wear, etc. for daytime, swimsuits, etc. Exactly what depends on time of year and weather. You may need a jacket for outside on the deck or not. Look at the Cunard website or Cruisecritc for guidance. I have not been on Cunard, but their dress requirements seem less casual than other lines.
You can take some pretty big pieces of luggage on board, but with the musical instruments, it may not fit.
I have no idea of the weather in Bristol, but a quick google search should give you that. At any rate, you can buy anything you want once there.
Have you been to Bristol? Taking the train to Bristol may not be easy to manage with too much stuff.
If you have not been there, I suggest you make a trip over to get a feel for things. It would be much easier to decide what to do and how best to do it.
Jun 29th, 2017, 05:51 PM
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Thanks for all the kind advice 
We plan to ship a little bit of stuff - a few books and pictures and most of the clothing we think we'll need for winter, but are liquidating almost everything else.
We have an Irish Bouzouki and two guitars. The other three are will leave with friends (one of his old bandmates) or have shipped later.
I've made the eastbound passage before and have never been on a vacation cruise so I have no frame of reference. My experience with the sea is limited to ferries between the San Juans and Seattle and Vancouver Island when I lived up that way.
We are taking the 7 September passage which arrives in port in Southampton 14 September. I assume the North Atlantic is cool to cold by the middle of September but don't have any idea how they manage climate control on the ship. So I don't know if it gets warm and stuffy or is kept a bit cool or what.
The last time anyone in my family did this sort of thing, we were west-bound almost 4 centuries ago, confined in the hold as indentured servants.
We plan to ship a little bit of stuff - a few books and pictures and most of the clothing we think we'll need for winter, but are liquidating almost everything else.
We have an Irish Bouzouki and two guitars. The other three are will leave with friends (one of his old bandmates) or have shipped later.
I've made the eastbound passage before and have never been on a vacation cruise so I have no frame of reference. My experience with the sea is limited to ferries between the San Juans and Seattle and Vancouver Island when I lived up that way.
We are taking the 7 September passage which arrives in port in Southampton 14 September. I assume the North Atlantic is cool to cold by the middle of September but don't have any idea how they manage climate control on the ship. So I don't know if it gets warm and stuffy or is kept a bit cool or what.
The last time anyone in my family did this sort of thing, we were west-bound almost 4 centuries ago, confined in the hold as indentured servants.
Jun 29th, 2017, 07:14 PM
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Okay, the interior of the ship is fully climate-controlled, usually kept on the cool side. The decks on sunny days and out of the wind will be warmish. Blankets are provided for deck chairs. Pack layers which will also work for Bristol when you arrive. You could have a short heat wave in England in September but generally the weather is starting to cool down.
You control the temp in your stateroom and can also open the slider in you have a balcony. Suitcases slide under the beds, you each could take two large cases (we've done it) but I don't know how you would manage that much luggage and your instruments on a cross-country train. Can you still check bags in a baggage car?
When you reach the ship, porters will take your luggage at the curb and it will be delivered to your stateroom. You can keep your instruments with you and are encouraged to keep a bag or bags with you that contains meds, cpap machines, etc. You may want to consider taking extension cords for the cpaps or check the location of outlets in the stateroom. IME, the bedside lights are often hard-wired and nearest outlets are other side of the room. Duct tape is handy too.
I've done several relos US to Europe. You're right to divest, shipping is expensive and you can get everything you need in Bristol. While ships are tolerant of lots of luggage, there's a space limit because there is no storage other than what fits in your stateroom. Regarding arrival in Southampton, your luggage, apart from what you want to hand-carry, is picked up late the night before arrival and you pick it up in the arrivals hall. There are luggage carts available.
Very excited for you. We've done one crossing on a Cunard sister ship, Queen Victoria, and several on Celebrity ships. Nice, relaxing way to travel and arrive. On the Cunard ships many people really dress for dinner but I was comfortable in black trousers and a silk top. If you want to stay super casual, there are places to eat that don't require jacket and tie, the pub, buffet and probably others.
You control the temp in your stateroom and can also open the slider in you have a balcony. Suitcases slide under the beds, you each could take two large cases (we've done it) but I don't know how you would manage that much luggage and your instruments on a cross-country train. Can you still check bags in a baggage car?
When you reach the ship, porters will take your luggage at the curb and it will be delivered to your stateroom. You can keep your instruments with you and are encouraged to keep a bag or bags with you that contains meds, cpap machines, etc. You may want to consider taking extension cords for the cpaps or check the location of outlets in the stateroom. IME, the bedside lights are often hard-wired and nearest outlets are other side of the room. Duct tape is handy too.
I've done several relos US to Europe. You're right to divest, shipping is expensive and you can get everything you need in Bristol. While ships are tolerant of lots of luggage, there's a space limit because there is no storage other than what fits in your stateroom. Regarding arrival in Southampton, your luggage, apart from what you want to hand-carry, is picked up late the night before arrival and you pick it up in the arrivals hall. There are luggage carts available.
Very excited for you. We've done one crossing on a Cunard sister ship, Queen Victoria, and several on Celebrity ships. Nice, relaxing way to travel and arrive. On the Cunard ships many people really dress for dinner but I was comfortable in black trousers and a silk top. If you want to stay super casual, there are places to eat that don't require jacket and tie, the pub, buffet and probably others.
Jul 1st, 2017, 10:09 AM
#7
Take the instruments and one very large suitcase each (28 or 30 inches) plus carry ons. You can get a TON of stuff into those. You store the large suitcases under the bed in your stateroom - carry ons as well if there is space. Bristol is a GREAT town. You will really enjoy living in that part of England. Plus it has easy/quick connections to London and other places like Cardiff and Bath.
The climate is fairly temperate. What part of the West coast do you live now so I could give you a comparison.
It will not be hot if you are talking California-type temps, and snow is unusual but not unheard of. Basically in the summer typically 60's and 70's with occasional 80's with sunshine and showers/rain and VERY long days. Winter will have very short daylight and cool/cold/wet weather but not as much rain as say parts of Washington State.
You will need waterproofs, and good shoes/boots
Shopping in Bristol is terrific - and London is 1.5 to 2 hours by train depending on which train you catch . . . so you can get just about anything you'll ever need.
The climate is fairly temperate. What part of the West coast do you live now so I could give you a comparison.
It will not be hot if you are talking California-type temps, and snow is unusual but not unheard of. Basically in the summer typically 60's and 70's with occasional 80's with sunshine and showers/rain and VERY long days. Winter will have very short daylight and cool/cold/wet weather but not as much rain as say parts of Washington State.
You will need waterproofs, and good shoes/boots
Shopping in Bristol is terrific - and London is 1.5 to 2 hours by train depending on which train you catch . . . so you can get just about anything you'll ever need.
Jul 2nd, 2017, 07:20 PM
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You can also go on the Cruise Critic website and then to the Cunard forum - there is plenty of info regarding the Queen Mary 2 transatlantic crossings. You can find out exactly what you can and cannot bring along - many people do use the QM2 to emigrate - in both directions
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=54
(What a wonderful adventure you have to look forward to!)
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=54
(What a wonderful adventure you have to look forward to!)
