Transatlantic Eastbound 2009 please advise a total newbie if you're game
 

Hi,

I live in Italy and my 82 year old Mom is game for visiting me. We've agreed to meet in NYC and travel to Italy together. I'm wondering if I still have time to get a good deal for the two of us on the Queen Mary for Aug 29.

If there is a basic thread you can link to that would be good for me to read, I'd appreciate it.

Mom has been a great sailor all her life, although she has never been on a transatlantic voyage. I am quite prone to motion sickness. Any thoughts there? Any chance I could be nauseous for the entire trip?

Does the time of year -- late August -- expose us to hurricane problems?

We would probably want the cheapest cabin -- unless it would make us both miserable. For five days, we can share a small space, but if you think it's worth the extra $XXX for bigger space or a window, lower position or quieter cabin (the last is VERY important), please say so.

I'm considering a cruise because the prices look competitive with air fares in that time frame. Neither Mom or I would be spending a lot on cocktails or other food treats, but I'm wondering what -- in reality -- the voyage would cost per person.

Neither Mom or I would enjoy dressing up in anything other than our usual black slacks and blouses for traveling, and comfy shoes.

When we arrive in Southhampton, we would need to get to Gatwick to take a flight to Italy. I'm not adverse to spending a night in London to do this, although I am hoping to just be able to get a transfer to Gatwick. Neither of us will have much luggage. Can anybody advise and give ballpark costs?

If we don't take a cruise, we will probably fly from NYC to Milan, and get a car transfer to Lago di Como. From there, I can drive to my home in Italy. I doubt Mom would have a jet lag problem flying. Is there anything about a cruise that makes it a much better way to travel?

Thanks much for sharing your thoughts!

I did the QM2 about 4 yrs ago and LOVED EVERY MOMENT OF IT!!!! I was alone and although I dress a bit for dinner so I could go to the main dining room it is very possible to just eat at the buffet in Kings Court and never dress up.

You could also slip into the back of the room for the stage show and then slip out before the lights came up. People did this on my trip and one nite I did it too.

I skipped all the dances and balls...not my thing and just returned to my cabin and enjoyed it. I had a balcony w/ limited view but booked one between the life boats so I had a wonderful head on view of the ocean and the boats held back the wind so I really did enjoy my balcony. I kept the door opened every nite and slept listening to the ship slicing thru the Atlantic..sigh!

I am easily entertained, enjoy reading and being on my own, and spent the days sitting on deck, by the pool, walking my mile (3Xs around the deck), and saying to myself over and over....oh my gosh I am really here!!!! :)

I want to travel this way again and if I could afford it I would never ever fly on a plane again but always do a crossing. It was one of my best travel experiences.

Thanks!

How formal are the "dress up" requirements for going to a stage show? I bet neither my mother or I own a skirt anymore. And how much do you need to dress up to go to the main dining room (although I think my mother would prefer the buffet anyway).

Do the stage shows charge admission? I'm assuming all buffet food is included in the ticket price.

I've done multiple crossings on the QM2 (last time in Oct 08) and love it. Lots to occupy my time and interesting people. I usually get an inside cabin but you would probably prefer either a window cabin or possible a cabin with an obstructed balcony (like what Leanna describes). FYI...Cunard is running a 2 for 1 promotion right now (promo code PL1)on various trans-atlantic & European trips and any travel agent can quote rates. Deck plans are available on Cunard's web site, but you may want to visit a travel agent and get a hard copy brochure since it's easier to compare different cabin locations on paper!

The ship has dress code requirements for evenings and asks that passengers respect the dress code for the whole night (in other words, not dressing up for dinner and then changing into jeans for the show, dancing, etc.) In general, Cunard is one of the more formal lines re: dress code but people run the gamut. A nice pair of black dressy pants can be jazzed up with a fancy sweater or scarf and you'll be fine. There are no separate dress code requirements for going to the shows, again, the ship asks people to honor the dress code for the entire night in all locations. No charge for the shows. The only items not included in your cruise ticket price are drinks (soda & alcoholic), gambling, spa treatments, shop purchases and dining in their specialty restaurant "Todd English".

It's a large ship that attracts a diverse, international mix of passengers and offers a wide range of activities. The lectures are among the best at sea - really knowledgeable speakers who get 200+ people attending their sessions. Topics can include history, literature, movies, finance, politics and on. If the evening shows don't appeal to you (I sit in the back so I can leave whenever I want), a lot of people while away an enjoyable hour or so in the Queen's Room, watching the ballroom dancers and chatting.

Lots of good pricing out there now, so get a brochure and check some websites for pricing. Once you know what category of cabin you want, you may want to try cruisecompete.com which is a website that sends your details out to various on-line agencies and they provide quotes. No obligation and it's amazing the variance in the responses to the exact same request. Have fun!

Yep and I agree w/ Vickiebypass. :) I wore black pants, a black shell, and an organza blouse for one formal nite. Then all I did was switch the over blouse for the other eves..but kept wearing the same pants and shell. I was fine. I am older, alone and I fit in just fine. Yes there are women in ball gowns w/ furs and tiaras...and bless their hearts....but I had 4 more weeks of travel to do and trains to deal w/ along w/ luggage...so I had to keep it simple. I would say at least 3/4 of the women were similar to my dress style.

The evening show is free and I went every nite. And V is also right about the lectures....they are super!

I also agree...there are good deals and you can find them....and its all sooo worth it I also agree on getting an outside cabin and maybe one w /a limited view....you will have a nice sitting area inside plus the balcony and w/ 2 of you that extra room would be nice.

Its just such a great trip...do it!

Hi -- thanks for all these replies.

The comments about the dress codes have me worried. I'm not at all interested in wearing anything more than the usual casual clothes for six days (I don't want to pack them, for one thing).

Is there somewhere to eat where jeans are OK?

PS: Thanks for the suggestions about pricing the trip. I live in Italy, so going to a travel agent is not really practical. I'll try the websites.

Again - thanks!

The only nights that jeans would comply with the dress code are the first and last nights (those are typically "casual" since people have either just arrived or have packed everything on the last evening). I typically dress according to the published dress code for the day, so can't definitively say whether you would be turned away from the main dining room or buffet if you wore jeans, but I have heard on several occasions that men were reminded ties were required for formal nights and asked to return to their cabins for ties. By its' very nature, the buffet is more casual so I wouldn't expect you'd have a problem in eating there wearing jeans.

I guess it's all in your perception and your reactions. SInce Cunard ships are widely known for being more formal than all others, in general, people do make an attempt to abide by the dress codes for the evenings. If you and your mother aren't worried about the possibility of being non-conformists and don't mind eating in the buffet (or, possibly the pool-side grill may be open until 7:00 pm in August?), then go for it!

Another option would be to do the trans-atlantic crossing on a different cruise line. Many cruise lines re-position their ships twice a year - in April/May, they move from the Caribbean to Europe and then in August, Sept or Oct, they move their ships back to the Caribbean. Since you're going east (from NY to Europe), you'd have to move fast but there are GREAT prices out there for April/May crossings. They're typically longer than the Queen Mary, ranging from 10 - 16 days since they take a southerly route (from Florida to Barcelona, Lisbon, or one of the Mediterranean ports). However, repositioning cruises aren't as popular since there are many days at sea which means the cruise lines offer reduced pricing....and given the abundance of unsold cabins now, I wouldn't be surprised if you could get one of these longer cruises for not much more money (maybe even less) than a 6 day crossing on the Queen Mary. Look at NCL, Princess, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Costa, etc. ALL of these cruise lines are more casual and have very relaxed dress codes, which might be more to your liking. You've got lots of possibilities - happy hunting!

For sea sickness, start taking Ginger capsules (a bottle of 100 in any pharmacy is under $10) the day before the cruise, and bring Bonine with you just in case.

vickiebypass,

Thanks for the extensive reply.

August/September is really the only possibility. I'm less worried about mom and I missing the main dining room than I am about mom not being able to go to movies or lectures or maybe some shows. (Apart from movies, I'd probably enjoy reading for six days.)

They publish a "dress code" each day? Where can't you go if you are not dressed according to code?

Dayenu,

Does the Ginger really work?

Im almost 100% positive you can hit the buffet for dinner and stay in your casual clothes. But check w/ the company to make absolutely sure. I know one nite I was tired and in my capris and a tshirt and dashed up to the buffet for dinner and no body cared. On my way back to the cabin people passed me in their finery but no one even noticed me. As far as the shows go I saw several people slip in as the lights came down and they were NOT

whoops.....nails are getting too long! :) Ok where was I....and they were NOT dressed up. They also slipped out just as the show was finished, I do not know if they sat or stood in the back for the show.

The QM 2 is known for being dressy but during the day people are casual and comfy...and if its your choice...do as you want!

Thanks Leanna. I've since been Googling up "dress codes cruise" etc, and while I get the picture you describe, I'm thinking I really don't want to put my mother at risk of having somebody trying to make her feel uncomfortable walking around in the evening in casual clothes, or feeling like we have to sneak in and out of places because we are not dressed up. I've read some cruise-specific message boards and some diehard cruisers really feel that anybody who doesn't conform or stay in their cabin is fair game for not being treated well.

I'll discuss the issue with my mother, but she is likely to feel more sensitive then I am about being given the cold shoulder, and I doubt she we will want to pack dressy clothes.

You mention 'black slacks & blouses' in your first post.

All you have to done is bring a scarf or two OR an upscale
jacket to toss over said ensemble and your mother would not be
given the cold shoulder.

Thanks Rhea. I'll deliver the range of opinions to Mom. All her life, she's been a real abider by the rules, and I remain concerned that she'd feel she was spoiling other people's fun if she went to the casino or the lounge in slacks when it was a formal night. And I can't be asking an 82 year old women to try to hustle around dark theaters after lights go down or before they come up.

I think both of us still have what we used to call our "funeral dresses" and I'd stake her to something spangly if she really wanted to go on this cruise. We'll see what she says.

I really think you will have a better experience on another line. Cunard is the most formal of all lines. I was on one of their ships years ago and it was a dreary,staid, boring experience. Fall transatlantics start late Sept. Beautiful time of year to cruise Ocean.The Spring TAs leaving soon are down to $699 plus taxes; lowest pricing in years. Fall should be comparable. Bring a couple of dark skirts so you can enjoy the main dining rooms. Princess still has a bit of Italian in them and their restaurants. Norwegian has no dress code at all plus many casual restaurants. Bon Voyage!

Thanks nicelady.

I spoke with my mom, who is quite committed to traveling early in September -- so she nixed the idea of cruising even before she heard about the dress codes.

I retain a mild curiousity about taking a transatlantic voyage at some point in my life, and so I'm grateful to everybody for all this detailed info.

Thanks again!

Oh, sorry, didn't see your question! Yes, ginger works for me - I can get sick anywhere, and if not those capsules, I would not be able to go on a bus tour or on a cruise.

I think it's not strong enough for rough days - for example, when we hit rough waters between Costa Rica and Jamaica, it was so bad, the pools were drained and the night show cancelled - I took a Bonine pill in addition to ginger - once in 15 days.

Waters are "shaky" between San Francisco and Canada on Alaskan cruise - while our family members got sick, I took ginger only, and felt fine, rocking is lots of fun, and I slept well :)

The trick is to start taking it the day before, and 2-3 days after the cruise to avoid the "sea legs"

Thanks Dayenu. I have gotten the impression that the boats that cross the Atlantic are so big that motion sickness tends to be less of a problem. Any thoughts on that?