callé

Hi ED,
You just walk them on on a lead, and the kennel people come out to greet you and help you take them to the kenel and get them settled and get all the information from you as far as what your pet likes and dislikes. (they also check your pets passport papers at this point) They provide food (good food as well, Iams or pedigree) or if on a special diet they will feed them what you bring. There is no additional charge for any food and treats they give them. In fact mine were spoiled rotten as the cook missed her own dogs and always brought mine some turkey burgers (after checking with us of course). If its the same person who heads the kennels (Robinson was his name), he's brilliant and really loves them all. He will give you a schedule of visiting times and a direct number to call him anytime to check on your pets. I explained to him how close I am to mine and he was really good and I was able to visit anytime, even non visiting times. just had to be quiet so not to rouse the others at sleeping times. The kennels are really large and lovely. There is an adjacant room to have walkies. They will walk your pets if you want them to or you can do it. Your choice. You can also walk them out on the deck in an enclosed area for fresh air and sunshine.
They just hose off the deck after wees and poos. I do suggest taking wee pads though as for some dogs they feel more comfortable having a particular place to wee. They were totally non stressed and it was a holiday for them as well! When you arrive in UK, defra is there waiting and they board straight away and go over your papers, then you simply walk them off the ship!
Its a flat fee for dogs $500. and for cats $300. Much cheaper than flying them. There is a vet not far away from the ship that specialises in the last minute worming. He is from Ireland and has traveled his own dogs back and forth. I can provide his contacts if anyone needs?
Just to add, if you have any idea of the date its best to book early as the kennels fill fast. Also you can have them contact you if there is a cancellation.

Easterndawn

Thanks Calle, another question, is that price per dog, our guys would be together in one kennel as little one is so attached to the big girl. Sorry if somewhere on this thread it was discussed but was talking to husband and he said that he would consider this when the time comes, we would know at least 6 months ahead of time so no problem there.

Englishmum

ED: from what I've read, taking pets across on the QM2 is extremely popular (no wonder when it's cheaper than flying them across!) so it might even be best to make bookings (which you could then cancel/postpone) rather than try and book 6 months ahead and *still* find that they're fully booked.

Might be worth calling Cunard to ask ahead about making tentative bookings or getting some kind of idea just how to go about doings - or even sending a Private Message to Cindyabs (the BE travel agent!).

I reckon it will be much easier to find space for passengers than pets!

dunroving

I think this summer is already fully booked up for pets (I'm pretty sure a couple of threads have said this). Not trying to burst anyone's bubble and hope I'm wrong, but as Englishmum says, I'd hurry and do it now (or find out now), just in case.

Easterndawn

Thanks Dunroving, It probable won't be until next year unless the house sells and even then it will take a few months to sort everything out. I will see if we could book for earliest next year though and if we have to cancel then we could do that also.

Mummy in the foothills

Has anyone seen this photo diary of the QM2 maiden voyage? It goes on for pages Shows a quad room and just about everything you can think of.
Question though. Is it expensive to eat on board? Would we starve to death from lack of money before reaching the UK?

callé

I dont want you to quote me on this yet, as I will really have to dig out my papers from the loft, but I am pretty sure that since mine were in the same kennel together, we only paid $500. for both.

Englishmum

Here are some dogs on a transatlantic crossing on board the QM2!



More Info:

http://wearecunard.com/2010/02/it%E2...orth-atlantic/

Blog of a (pampered) pooch on the QM2:

http://betterwords.typepad.com/peppe...en-mary-2.html

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=54075.0

Sailing Dates for QM2 New York to Southampton (up to Jan 2012)

http://www.cunardcommodore.com/trans...crossings.html

(I wonder if there is little difference in cost between a 'stateroom' occupied by just one person or two? I know that hotel rooms are no cheaper - and sometimes more expensive - when there is single occupancy. I was thinking that perhaps it may be feasible for ED to fly back to Canada (or NY) when it is time to leave the house there for good, then accompany her spouse and pets on the QM2 back to England...and get a nice holiday at the same time? I'm sure if she books it as a package then the one-way flight price may be cheaper this way (unless she tries http://www.icelandexpress.com) for a v. cheap one-way flight to Winnipeg if flights are operating when she wants to travel.

Englishmum

I've been on three Royal Caribbean cruises ("Adventure of the Seas" x2 and "Navigator of the Seas") and all meals (and snacks eg. cookies, pizza) were included with the booking. Food is plentiful and if you want to skip the set meals in the restaurant you can go to another dining room and have a buffet meal instead (tables are usually assigned, we always seemed to end up with other families from New Jersey...). There is usually a Midnight Buffet during the cruise too. Actually there were a couple of restaurants you could choose to go to for upscale/fine dining (which you paid a little extra for) and we did do this once when it was my birthday. You could gorge yourself silly on a cruise ship and definitely pile on a few pounds.....but hey, it's worth it and you can worry about losing the extra weight later!

You also pay for you own alcohol on board. Royal Caribbean won't let you take you own onboard and they see what you're taking onboard when your suitcase and hand baggage is X-rayed. Cruise lines make serious money on selling their own cocktails/wines/spirits so if you are on RC ships and buy any Duty Free, they hold it until you depart the ship! I don't know Cunard's policy on this but guess it would be similar.

I also seem to remember on RC that you could choose to pay extra for unlimited sodas (they give you a large drinking container) and refill at any restaurant/cafe/bar onboard......there were 18 bars by the way! Cunard may be a bit more conservative I would think and not offer this?

jasper123

Yes Barb I do like that too, Just about sums us all up on here, I think I will try and get that made up as a wall plack in a frame,

jasper123

[QUOTE=Mummy in the foothills;8659122]Has anyone seen this photo diary of the QM2 maiden voyage? It goes on for pages Shows a quad room and just about everything you can think of.

Hi Mummy, yes Englishmum is right, all the food on cruises is included in the ticket price you pay, and on most cruises the food is really good and plentiful,
You can really pig out all day too, apart from the usual meal times they have snacks & things throughout the day, so yes be careful --- you can put on quite a few extra pounds on a cruise that lasts a week
And the alcohol I would imagine on luxury liners would be a little expensive?
But I dont know, ----as its been a lot of years since I took my last cruise,
Rodney.

trottytrue

Certainly takes along time to catch up with all the postings, really enjoyed reading about the dogs on board QE 2. Think we will take that route.

Have a question about my DVD's will they work in the UK. My daughter is looking at them with a very greedy smile on her face. Is it possible to have a greedy smile, well she is hoping they wont work in the UK.

Fish n Chips 56

Quick answer is Yes if she has a decoded DVD player, many people I know have them, they are popular in the UK, many brits get their dvd players decoded so they can watch early versions of American movies, its not expensive to do, some people decode their own machines, it just takes know how, (available on the internet) I know this subect has come up before, some will have much better info than me, Ive just given you the quick answer.
You could always buy a decoded player over in the UK and let your daughter borrow your collection, just a thought.

teatime

Hi everyone, I have only posted a few times, but have followed everyone of your journeys, and am in complete awe at the courage everyone of you possess in following your dreams. I have lived in Canada 30 years and love the country but it is not a good fit for me. At the beginning it was a marvelous adventure, the summer was fantastic, everything was so big and new, and it felt like a new beginning. We had no money and a new baby, life was very hard no friends etc. but we stuck at it, we thought it was the best we could do for our children (had another one), and our children have done well. My husband and I have never been close to our families, but the loss of family for our children has been hard, a lot harder than I like to think about now. Well the busy years passed raising the children and then they left home, and I had time to think about what I really wanted to do with the rest of my life. I was struck with the emptiness, and loneliness I had felt but kept suppressed all those years. I had always been an adventuress girl and loved to travel, and meet new people, so I didn't think I would have trouble fitting in. Boy was I ever wrong! At the beginning I thought everyone in Canada was more friendly, nicer than people back in the UK, and thought how lucky I was to be here until I realized it was all superficial. My philosophy in life had always been to be a good friend to get a good friend. Sadly it hasn't worked out that way, and I am tired and have suffered through depression. I was out of work for over a year and have just found a new job, which I absolutely hate, it is a good job but I just can't handle the people anymore. I am for the most part ignored, or ridiculed for being English behind my back. I read Beedubyas? quote about the dance and music and it was like a light bulb went off in my head - I thought my god what have I done with my life I never used to follow the crowd I have been living a lie trying to fit in -NOT ANYMORE I just can't take this crap anymore it has destroyed me. So today sat down with my husband and we have decided to return home in two years, as soon as we get our citizenship. I want to thank you all for helping me find me again, and stop being frightened of the future. Life is for the living and I am not living but I am alive and I am determined that my husband and I are going to enjoy the last part of life's journey. It will be with a heavy heart leaving my beloved children but they have started their journey and we gave them wings to fly so I have to let go. One of the biggest regrets is that I have grown up away from my mum, and the last part of my life will be without my children. I have no doubts life in the UK will be hard, but to be able to walk down a street and just have someone say hello.......was back last year for a vacation, and had more conversations in two weeks than in ten years here. Sorry for rambling on for so long, I just wanted to thank each and everyone of you for sharing it has meant so much to me over the last couple of weeks, you have been my life line, and my therapy lol. I really don't think I have ever come across better people - you are the best and I wish you all good luck and happiness in your new lives.

HighTide

I did travel on the QM 2 a couple of years ago and all food is included except for an additional charge for "Todd English" . Their are different dining levels. i.e " Princess Grill", "Queen's Grill" and "Brittania " which depends on how much you are paying for your cabin. These are quite formal but worth dressing up for. There is always a less dressy option and a selection of buffets available every night. I think it would be a terrific way to travel back to the UK even though we would have to fly from Vancouver to New York.

The following gives some useful info on dining on board:
Restaurants:
"With its lighted dome arcing over a nearly three-deck-high space, the Britannia Restaurant feels like the dining room of a grand hotel. A huge vertical tapestry depicting a giant liner against the New York skyline is the richly colorful centerpiece. The dining room has two seatings for 1,350 each, at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and is rather more elegant than the single-sitting Caronia or two-sitting Mauretania on the Queen Elizabeth 2.

Passengers in the higher category cabins and suites have access to the 180-seat Princess Grill and 206-seat Queen's Grill, two identical single-level rooms aft on Deck 7 somehow lacking the distinctiveness of the Queen's, Princess and Britannia Grills on the QE2. The big name restaurant, Todd English, levies a charge of $20 for lunch and $30 for dinner.

For informal dining, the multi-sectioned King's Court offers several serving stations, with minimal queuing, for breakfast and lunch. The four different dining areas all have linen tablecloths and waiter service, with the same menus throughout the voyage. The many bay window tables facing the side promenades provide the best seating and are well out of the main traffic flow.

At night the King's Court is divided into four dining sections that require reservations. The Carvery caters to carnivores; Lotus offers an Asian sampler menu; La Piazza's is, as you've probably divined, Italian; the 26-seat demonstration kitchen Chef's Galley charges $35 a head. The Golden Lion Pub is popular with British passengers for its pub grub, while the Boardwalk Cafe serves grills, salads and light desserts to those who want to remain out on deck. Featuring spicy lobster wonton, crab cakes, duck spring roll, stir-fried king prawn and chicken with Singapore noodles, the Lotus menu is of particular note."



Read more: http://www.cruisemates.com/articles/...#ixzz0s1sxLYy3