2010 Queen Elizabeth Cruisers - Poll for Pre-Cruise Stay

For those who plan on booking the Inaugural sailing of the new Queen Elizabeth in 2010, this poll is to find if you'd be interested in a pre-cruise stay in London and, if so, how many days.

Personally, I would love to spend more than one night in London. There is just so much to see you would need at least 2 days just to fit in the highlights. (With a family though it can get expensive!) Southampton is a neat little town in it's own right and personally, I think worth exploring. Also, the naming ceremony usually takes place the day before the departure of the inaugural cruise and if it is anything like the QV will have live broadcasts in the park that I think would be great to be there for. (My secret ambition would be to get invites to at least the ceremony for the group but don't hold your breath for that one, Cunard really likes me but there are limits:) )

So, my recommendation would be 3 nights pre in England, 2 in London and 1 in Southampton.

AmbianceTraveler wrote:

Personally, I would love to spend more than one night in London. There is just so much to see you would need at least 2 days just to fit in the highlights. (With a family though it can get expensive!) Southampton is a neat little town in it's own right and personally, I think worth exploring. Also, the naming ceremony usually takes place the day before the departure of the inaugural cruise and if it is anything like the QV will have live broadcasts in the park that I think would be great to be there for. (My secret ambition would be to get invites to at least the ceremony for the group but don't hold your breath for that one, Cunard really likes me but there are limits:) )

So, my recommendation would be 3 nights pre in England, 2 in London and 1 in Southampton.

Nina that would be soooooo cool!!!!! Any chance ADMIN Tina is joining us? Would that pull any weight to help get us all on the pre-inaugural?

If not, do you think there is actually chance for a few slots to open? If so, will we have a lottery for those slots?

And, I'm all for 2 nights London, 1 night Southampton, sounds like a great plan!

Nina, I suggested the Devere Grand in Southampton in another post but, here's the link again for those who might have missed it:

http://www.devere.co.uk/heritage/Grand-Harbour/

I'm more than willing to do 2 nights London and 1 night Southampton. Another Southampton hotel suggesion is the Southampton Park Hotel:

http://www.southamptonparkhotel.com/

Not as fancy or upscale as the Devere but, for one night, it might be ok

Nina, any chance I can get in on the Southampton hotel without the London hotel...for oblivious reasons, I don't need one! But, I do want to add that the Langham is an EXCELLENT choice as is the Devere in Southampton.

Ian, yes it would be possible to book you only for the Southampton portion. Also, since I will be arranging group transportation from London (for those who don't wish to take the VSOE or if it is not available) we could even take you there if you like. You would just have to make your way to the meeting point in London.

In return, could you recommend a good place for fish n chips near the Langham for us American's while in London? (I've been craving mushy peas ever since I got back!)

The Golden Hind is probably the closest place for Fish and Chips, and, truthfully probably one of the best in the city! Unfortuanately, they don't have a website but, it's close to your hotel, easy walking distance.

The exact address is 73 Marylebone Lane.

This is the best link I could find and you'll see the reviews are top notch!

http://www.london-eating.co.uk/2412.htm

Hi, just lurking - would love to go on both the Christmas sailing and the Inaugural sailing, just not sure I can swing it financially...

But I have to ask... Mushy Peas? Sorry, haven't been "across the pond" yet and now you have me really curious!

First Mate, I do hope you can join us and hopefully, the discounted group rates (when they come out) will help with that. I have no idea the recipe for mushy peas but they tasted a bit different than peas just blended up (something my 11 mo old eats often) they are not at all watery and the taste is hard to describe but they're
Yummy! Here is a picture:

Mushy Peas:
Recipe courtesy Jamie Oliver

This is a fantastic recipe that is so quick and
so simple and uses our reliable friends the frozen peas, which work
really well here. Great with fish, meat, or even as a vegetarian dish
with a big dollop of butter on top.

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 bunch spring onions, chopped

1 handful fresh mint, leaves picked

1 pound (500 grams) frozen peas

2 large knobs butter


Sea salt and freshly ground black pepperHeat
the oil in a pan and add the chopped onions, mint, and peas. Cover and
leave for a few minutes to steam. Mash with a potato masher. You can do
this with a food processor as well, just pulse it until smooth. Whether
mashing or pulsing, when it's done add the butter and season very
carefully, to taste.

Love your plan Nina - 2 Nights London, 1 Night Southampton

Ok who's going to Harrod's with me??

Bangers and Mash, mushy peas, fish and chips... Can't wait to get back to England!

Ok since everyone is up for 2 nights London and 1 night Southampton, I'm agreeable too

FormerlySanFranBayCruiser wrote:

Love your plan Nina - 2 Nights London, 1 Night Southampton

Ok who's going to Harrod's with me??

I'm sure you can count on my wife and daughter to be joining you at Harrods.

I say while the ladies shop, us men will be at one of the local pubs. You with me guys?

Doyou have a hotel selected yet or are is too far out?

I almost forgot about the QE inaugural Glad you gave this a bump up. I'd like at least 2 nights to allow for Jet Lag.

Good Golly Molly wrote:

Doyou have a hotel selected yet or are is too far out?

It's too far out to make any firm plans but the vote right now is for the Langham. Hotels don't usually roll out their rates until a year in advance so it will be fall 2009 before we have any type of contract for the group with them. Also, the choice may change depending on the dynamics of the group at that time. Keep checking back and adding your input though! Every opinion counts here

This certainly sounds like fun! All I can say is LS will have a fit when she finds out that you CAN successfully have Cunard groups! I swear it's like she's getting kick backs from Carnival and Royal Caribbean! Ok now that aside, this really sounds like fun. BTW - the Langham is a wonderful choice. Great location! And a night in Southampton! Again, I am VERY impressed how organized and fun all the Cunard sailing are shaping up to be - now I just have to figure out how to get vacation time to join you all!

Cruising Diva wrote:

This certainly sounds like fun! All I can say is LS will have a fit when she finds out that you CAN successfully have Cunard groups! I swear it's like she's getting kick backs from Carnival and Royal Caribbean! Ok now that aside, this really sounds like fun. BTW - the Langham is a wonderful choice. Great location! And a night in Southampton! Again, I am VERY impressed how organized and fun all the Cunard sailing are shaping up to be - now I just have to figure out how to get vacation time to join you all!

You've got to get cabins first. Queen Victoria didn't have group space on her first sailings. And priority went to those who had paid a deposit years before (they haven't take any yet this time) and then space was sold to the Cunard World Club before the general public - with the high grades of membership first.

Matthew

Matthew, obtaining the space is not something this group has to worry about.
Cabin types may be more restricted and not as ample as on the other sailings but it will be there for us.

Sounds like Nina has more influence than we know!

Just thought I'd give this a bump up since I am on the opt-in list to join you for the Inaugural for the new QE

If you're still accepting suggestions for the Inaugural for London, I'd like to add Brown's Hotel to the list of candidates.

http://www.brownshotel.com/

This is a wonderful boutique hotel located in Mayfair

The Browns hotel looks wonderful, I love the color scheme in the rooms!

Is it possible that instead of a pre-cruise stayover if the schedules of the QM2 and the new Queen Elizabeth is right I would like to do a transatlantic crossing aboard the QM2 and then cross back to New York aboard the new Queen Elizabeth.Cunard President Carol Marlow said in a speech last January in New York when all 3 Cunard Queens were in New York,that New York would be one of the first ports of call for the new Queen Elizabeth and I think if there are no delays in the construction of the new Queen Elizabeth she will do her maiden voyage in September/October of 2010 and I bet her maiden voyage will be a transatlantic crossing to New York with the QM2 sailing along side the new Queen Elizabeth to New York as a tandem crossing.I hate,despise and I am scared of airline travel anyway. Regards,Jerry