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There are no single cabins on this ship, so much for progress! If you go solo you will have a double cabin and have to pay twice the fare, which would be very expensive indeed!
Find a buddy or book the QE2 instead, at £699 to NY, return flight included!
You may be able to get 10% discount from a good TA? Travel Insurance and Tips will cost you extra. I'm not sure the flight home is included?
In April 2004, you could take the first 6 night crossing to NY from £1200. Once again, I'm not sure if the return flight is included?
I would imagine that you would need to book next month and pay a deposit, to ensure a place!
It would be a great experience, but there are cheaper crossings and cruises around!
Good luck!
quote:Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:It would be a great experience, but there are cheaper crossings and cruises around!
It'll be pricey Steve, but go for it if you have the money.
Just think Malcolm, when Steve's your age, he'll be able to look back and tell all the then youngsters, when QM2 is an old Lady, that 25+ years ago he was on her Maiden Voyage at 17?, and be sending out, by whatever means technology has to offer then, photos of his friend and himself onboard
Pam
QM2 is just another big boat.....take the QE2.... though you'll have to find someone of "appropriate age" to sail with you.
From the UK brochure: "Cruise Fare includes; International economy class flights,......, Port and Handling fees and UK & US taxes."
quote:Originally posted by PamM:Just think Malcolm, when Steve's your age, he'll be able to look back and tell all the then youngsters, when QM2 is an old Lady, that 25+ years ago he was on her Maiden Voyage at 17?, Pam
Pam, I agree entirely! However money always rears its ugly head! Steve could probably do two QE2 transatlantics for the price of one QM2 trip?
But yes, go for it Steve, if you can.
UK cruise brochures normally include all taxes/port taxes/immigration fees.
I'd go for the maiden line voyage, not the real maiden cruise... I don't know why, to me it seems like she won't really be herself until that first transatlantic run... Regardless, certainly, if you can afford it, go! I'd love to be on either trip, not that I wouldn't be delighted to go on any QM2 cruise/crossing!
Here in the US, there are really good packages offering a trip on QE2 one way, a few nights in London with breakfast, and flight the other way on Virgin Atlantic... Starting at $999 I think! Pretty good, no?
Unfortunately the cheapest cabins are only for 2 so for my family it would be a bit more expensive... Not that they'd go anyway ...
Still hoping to catch QE2 before she gets upstaged...
Happy Cruising,Cruiseny
quote:Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:[QB]I think that it will cost you about £1785 pounds each (based on two people sharing an inside cabin) for the 14 Night Maiden cruise in January, 2004.QB]
Ok ok after completing my first year in tourism and travel studies you'd think I'd know what "based on two people sharing" means but I dont . So Malcolm is that price above for me AND my friend or per person!!? I told her I would be treating her but hey at that price each she can treat herself! Damn if it is £1785 each I may think of going on a cruise with Carnival instead! I will be 19 in 2003 and so will ursula so will this be a problem!?? Thank good it is more than 3 days I was wondering how long the crossing was (I want value for money ) I am trying to get my uncle who lives at my mum's homestead to give me the trunks that are 'stored' in the barn......... they were used by my granda on the SS Mauratania when he went to America on her!!!!!!!!!! Imagine I could be repeating history!? Ok I have talked enough crap get back to me guys!!!!
quote:Originally posted by titanicsteve:Ok ok after completing my first year in tourism and travel studies you'd think I'd know what "based on two people sharing" means..
Shame on you Steve! You should at least get familiar with brochures, prices and the various add-ons!
Age will not be a problem. You can travel without guardians, if you are over 18. They could however, refuse to serve you with Alcohol on a ship, even though you can legally drink in a UK pub at 18.
Money may be a problem, though! I'm afraid it means that you pay £1785 each, to share the most basic inside cabin (twin beds, normally). A sea view will probably cost you at least a few hundred pounds more, each? Insurance and tips are extra, too!
There are no single bedded cabins on this ship. So if you go alone, you pay £3570 (plus insurance and tips).
The tips on the QE2 currently cost you £7.69 to £9.09 per day, depending on your cabin grade. Cunard currently charge you £27 insurance for one week and about £39 for a two week trip. I do not know what the exact cost of tips and insurance will be on the QM2?
As you can see, cruising is not a cheap holiday at the best of times, but going on an inaugural cruise of the biggest Ocean Liner is even built is even more expensive!
Take a look at the prices in any cruise brochure, and you will see that the supplements between the various cabin grades are often scary! For example the full fare for the QE2's Cape Town Voyage on November 5th (Southampton to South Africa - 16 nights) is £5069 (inside cabin) to £34,029 (Yes, 34 thousand) for a Duplex Suite. Just to confuse the issue, there are always discounts on offer - but it is still an expensive hobby!
As I've already said you can do a six night QE2 crossing from Southampton to NY for £699, with a free flight back to London!
If money is a big issue, and it normally is for many of us, look for one week cruises on more modest ships, at possibly £500-£600 per person, or mini-cruises (3-4 nights) at £300-£400. You can even do mini-cruise on many of the cruise-ferries to the UK and Europe for as little as £50-100.
I'd like to try The Irish ferry from Holyhead is the Ulysses. I'm told that she is a very impressive ship.
(Hmmm...QM2 to Ferries, how sad! )
[ 07-02-2002: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]
quote:Hmmm...QM2 to Ferries, how sad!
As for the QM2, I would like to do a crossing in her maiden season to celebrate my high school graduation (I can't believe it's already that close) but the maiden voyage to the Caribbean is a little too pricey for my taste, and it doesen't coincide with my schedule anyway. I would love to splurge and do a transat and the time to book is drawing near- I better make a yes or no decision quickly!
[ 07-02-2002: Message edited by: Britanis ]
quote:Originally posted by nathan: Carnival doesn't allow passengers under 25 unless accompanied in the same cabin by someone over 25.
The 2002 'Grand Ocean Voyages' (QE2/Caronia) says 18 or over is O.K.
Cunard guests are obviously more refined than Carnival's!
Elizabeth
quote: Steve could probably do two QE2 transatlantics for the price of one QM2 trip?
Next years brochure prices for QE2 crossings start at £1199 and QM2 starts at £999
I know there are discounts available on QE2, but I suspect that after the first few crossings they will also be available on QM2.
quote: There are no single bedded cabins on this ship. So if you go alone, you pay £3570
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Interesting...but I would imagine that there will be bigger discounts on offer for the 'older' ship, than the 'newer'?
Off peak the QE2 offer crossings at around £699, inc. flght. I love to try the QM2 for that price, but I think it is very unlikely in it's first season or two?
Unfortunately, my TA can't make a booking yet because I didn't ride a Cunard ship last year and she isn't, I guess, one of Cunard's top 100 agents. But when I can book, the QM2's maiden east bound crossing is where I want to put my money!
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