A very informative video. I have always wanted to do this crossing, but seeing the crowds and number of lines I am having second thoughts. Most QM2 videos just show the glamorous side of cruising; you showed what it is REALLY like. Thanks!
@@jules031056 All passengers entering or transiting the United States must clear immigration and customs at the first port of entry. Cunard can't do much about this, but I can certainly see how inconvenient it would be for passengers like yourself who are getting right back on the ship!
Thank you so much! We are doing this sailing next year and I am glad we have been warned about (what I find to be) a maddening boarding process. Honestly I am slightly considering just getting the deposit refunded!
Our pleasure! 😊 Yeah hopefully it won't be as slow, but once you're through you can look forward to plenty of good food & service. Have a great voyage!
Coincidence! Looks like we boarded this same cruise about an hour after you did. It took us about 2.5 hours total to finally get on board by 2:30 PM. The extra COVID requirements made check in slow, and a lot of folks did not have the required forms with them, or filled out. I only realized that this was our cruise when I spotted the Greatest Generation vets at the embarkation party. I hung out with them during the cruise (similar background and story). I remember that the first few days at sea were glassy and then the waves kicked up during the later days. However, we could hardly feel the rough seas, and I didn't see anyone getting sick. The Queen is a true ocean liner, and can well handle rough seas...unlike a lot of other cruise ships that we have sailed on. Thanks for the look back!
Wow- same cruise just an hour apart! Embarkation was rough with the those COVID checks- 2 1/2 hours was even worse than ours. But yeah nowadays surely it's faster. Glassy seas turned wavy later, but the Queen handled it like a champ. Those vets in the Greatest Generation were amazing- it was an honor for us to hear their experiences and even talk to some of them. Thanks for sharing your unique experience!
Nice report...having sailed many times on QM2 I must assume this long process is due to COVID paper work..I have never gone thru this level of inspection..this was July 22 so all this checking will be a over with soon as April23 QM2 /Cunard will remove all the test and mandates..I am booked on a crossing this July and online check in with your picture uploaded should end all of this repeated checking outside of the passport check before security.. as it always had been.
We've done four transatlantic trips from Brooklyn on the QM2 and one from Southhampton (all on balcony cabins - no suites). For all of the Brooklyn departures we always flew into NYC the day before (from SFO) and stayed in a Manhattan hotel for the night. We then had an early lunch with friends who live in lower Manhattan. Then a taxi or uber to the ship. So we never got there earlier than about 2 or 2:30PM. Typically was on board within an hour or less. Of course we missed the lunch on board. We have heard that the Kings Court is pretty busy on embarkation day and that the pub or maybe the Britannia restaurant is a better choice if you want to get their early. Of course, the early birds get an extra meal that we don't get. Quite amazing how quickly they turn around all the rooms, since rooms are vacated around 8AM and new passengers can go to their rooms within a few hours. Luggage takes a while longer to get to your room.
Very interesting - I was on a ship many decades ago, and this one is so much nicer - of course ! A really helpful vido for anyone not familiar with all the boarding business !
Ok that looked like torture lol. This line then that line etc and showing your passport several times. What I learnt from your video bring your dog even if you have to borrow one from someone lol. Thanks and take care.
Thanks for the comment Karen! 😊 Lol yes bringing a dog would help get on the ship faster it seems, but it does cost quite a bit extra. For this cruise I think it was $800 more.
You have to reserve a kennel in advance, and space fills up in them very quickly. You don't even get to book the kennel until after your book your crossing, so you don't even know if it will be available when you book.
Wow, those lines! I'm taking the world cruise on the QM2 in 2026 and I'm hoping it is a smaller crowd. I will definitely take your advice about waiting a bit before showing up.
I’d be a very unhappy camper (cruiser?) with all that waiting and apparent redundancy. However, I think once finally getting aboard my grouchiness would quickly dissipate. We were on a Holland America Trans Atlantic last year, staying overnight in NYC. The Manhattan terminal seemed slightly better run than the Brooklyn one you experienced. The embarkation buffet looked delish. I look forward to seeing your excellent food videos that you two do so well. One observation: This Sail Away Party seemed a thousand-fold more tame and upscale than, well, “other” cruise lines. Many of the men were wearing actual jackets! And I saw champagne, and not Bud Light. Probably canapés instead of a can of peas, too. Finally, David, I want to compliment you. Your narration continues sounding more comfortable and natural. Keep up the great work. Hope to see you guys on a cruise someday. Our next one isn’t until December though. Be well and be safe.
Thank you Brad- much appreciated! 😊 Yup that was a lengthy process, but once we got on the ship there was really good food & service so we quickly forgot about it. You're right about the sail-away party. Cunard's dress code certainly helps in everyone looking more formal. And yes the quality of the food at the buffet & main dining were really good 😋
Great video. You have more patience than we do ... I wish that Carnival brands in general would develop "best practices" that would streamline the boarding process corporate wide.
Thanks! 😊 Yeah that'd be great, as well as a matching loyalty system while they're at it. Though usually we've able to board HAL cruises really quickly. Carnival is not bad either, but Cunard & Princess need to improve some.
@@TravelTouristVideos In San Diego, HAL made us wait an hour to board us despite having no one in live. We were 90 minutes early for Celebrity and they told us NOT to wait and to come on board.
Yeah that's strange- maybe they were still waiting for people to disembark. But yeah our recent boarding experiences with Celebrity in Ft. Lauderdale was good as well- pretty quick.
Really great video. We are doing this same crossing next year and the video was really helpful in knowing what to expect. Did you have to pay for the glass of champagne on the sailaway party or do Cunard gift you that one glass?!
Thank you very much- glad to hear that it's helpful! 😊 I think those champagne did cost extra because I remember the server asking for the key cards from the guests who were getting them, but maybe I misremembered. Doesn't hurt to check when you're there- have a great crossing! 🙂
You sound like somebody from 1952 when Brooklyn was a pretty dangerous place at times. It's fuill of highly educated & classy people these days so maybe you should try it ?
Seems much more involved than it was 6 or 7 years ago. I was uneasy over the seeming lack of security surrounding baggage check-in which doesn't seem to have changed, a matter of dumping off everything at the kerbside and hoping for the best. Once in the terminal we also encountered Disneyesque queues but once form filling was complete I recall only the one main check-in counter at which point they issued that all important plastic key card. It was a protracted process nonetheless and I am impressed and thankful when looking back that my bladder was still up to the task! When boarding that is always going to be the first order of business, something cruise vloggers omit to tell!
Yes the process could use some streamlining for sure. It should help that they now don't have to check for covid test results and vaccinations. Thanks for sharing your experience! 🙂
I've never had to wait more than about 30 minutes at the Mayflower Terminal in Southampton. When boarding at Brooklyn, do you not get allocated an arrival time? If my allocated time is 2 pm and I show up at 12, sure I'll be left kicking my heels for a few hours, but that's down to me not reading the instructions!
We’ve been waiting to see a good video of the Brooklyn Terminal. Thanks for that. A question about VIP/fast-track boarding. This will be our first time leaving from the Brooklyn Terminal and our first time in Queens Grill Suite. (Don’t hate us- it’s probably our only time too. We’ll be back to balcony next trip). They advertise priority boarding for Queens and Princess suites so did you see any signs for that? When leaving Southampton we always noticed separate signs and a separate line for Queens Grill or Diamond members. TIA.
Our pleasure! We didn't see any signs for that, but I'm fairly certain the folks you saw with the dog at the security line and then were lead away (presumably to the front of the line) had priority boarding. So just let the staff at the terminal know and they'll let you know where to go. Have a wonderful voyage! 🙂
We’ve got Priority Boarding being in Britannia Club. Had it on Queen Elizabeth and will have on Queen Mary 2. We boarded Queen Elizabeth in Melbourne, Australia, and that was a breeze…very quick compared to what was shown here. We’re travelling the other way on Queen Mary 2, westbound to NYC out of Southampton so that will be interesting.
That was a lot! But they were cautious in all of the sections to make sure you guys get a safe cruise. Yes, it was tiresome, but it was necessary. Thank you for the heads up on this cruise ship. Enjoy. Amen
I know it looks like a real pain here but there's a good reason for printing the boarding passes. The terminals are not equipped for charging devices (which Cunard has no control over) and during embarkation day pre-covid there was an absolute DISASTER of people's devices running out of power during the process, holding up lines, and necessitating having to quickly set up a printing station. I distinctly remember being shoved out of the way by a group of 20+ people because just one of their phones died and they all had to go deal with the issue lest one of their party be left state-side. That was the worst. In terms of the redundancy, it makes sense when you understand that if they get to port on the other side with someone that won't pass customs they now have a straggler unable to enter into the UK. Plus, at this time things are much easier without the vaccination/covid test requirements.
Thank you very much for sharing your experience! Thankfully no more need for those vaccination & test docs any longer, and that should help speed up the process by a lot.
I'm curious to find out how the check in and long waits in line are handled for handicapped people? Myself and a few others in our family are handicapped and can't stand for long or sit for long. Does anyone know the process for this? It's one of the main reasons we haven't ever been on a cruise.
Usually you will be directed to the front of the line. If they don't do that for you automatically, then you can request to be due to not being able to stand for long, and I'm pretty confident they will help out.
All those checks are not needed. If you have to show the same papers to multiple people/stations that is there problem not yours. I would be irritated to say the least.
I agree. Having to actually PRINT your boarding pass is absurd. A 2+ hour wait to Check-In is NOT efficient or acceptable for such a high end cruise line.
Their extra caution is their attempt to keep everyone as safe as possible - they get blamed when things go wrong - and you would be screaming if some nut slipped on to that ship because it was too easy !
I think this is beyond the already extreme security process in the U.S. and I too find it unacceptable. Embarkation day counts as the first day of your cruise - you are paying for this and this company's failure to provide an efficient system is costing each of you - a lot. It is easy to chalk it all up to "security" - very popular blame game in the US. I understand management of embarkation for Cunard is outsourced.
There is only one ocean liner on the entire planet, so I would say you are correct. When the Queen Mary 2 is retired, there will be no more real ocean liners. that day will be gone.
Friends booked passage 2 weeks before embarkation and he and his dad paid just $800 a piece for an outside stateroom. Plenty of bargains if you can move at the last minute.
@@marcellocolona4980 I'm going July 6th-14th bought our tickets a week ago during memorial Day Sale and for a sheltered balcony it was 694 for each of us, regular balconies were sold out but I've heard good things about sheltered balconies so we shall see. With taxes/port fees and everything else the grand total for the two of us was 1770.00 Not bad at all.
A very informative video. I have always wanted to do this crossing, but seeing the crowds and number of lines I am having second thoughts. Most QM2 videos just show the glamorous side of cruising; you showed what it is REALLY like. Thanks!
Our pleasure- thanks for the comment! 🙂 Yeah the crowds and lines can be pretty large but the waits usually weren't too bad.
@@jules031056 All passengers entering or transiting the United States must clear immigration and customs at the first port of entry. Cunard can't do much about this, but I can certainly see how inconvenient it would be for passengers like yourself who are getting right back on the ship!
Thank you so much! We are doing this sailing next year and I am glad we have been warned about (what I find to be) a maddening boarding process. Honestly I am slightly considering just getting the deposit refunded!
Our pleasure! 😊 Yeah hopefully it won't be as slow, but once you're through you can look forward to plenty of good food & service. Have a great voyage!
Coincidence! Looks like we boarded this same cruise about an hour after you did. It took us about 2.5 hours total to finally get on board by 2:30 PM. The extra COVID requirements made check in slow, and a lot of folks did not have the required forms with them, or filled out. I only realized that this was our cruise when I spotted the Greatest Generation vets at the embarkation party. I hung out with them during the cruise (similar background and story). I remember that the first few days at sea were glassy and then the waves kicked up during the later days. However, we could hardly feel the rough seas, and I didn't see anyone getting sick. The Queen is a true ocean liner, and can well handle rough seas...unlike a lot of other cruise ships that we have sailed on. Thanks for the look back!
Wow- same cruise just an hour apart! Embarkation was rough with the those COVID checks- 2 1/2 hours was even worse than ours. But yeah nowadays surely it's faster. Glassy seas turned wavy later, but the Queen handled it like a champ. Those vets in the Greatest Generation were amazing- it was an honor for us to hear their experiences and even talk to some of them. Thanks for sharing your unique experience!
On a more positive note UK document checks are done onboard on days 3 - 4 which means when you arrive in Southampton you can disembark with less fuss.
Absolutely! It was nice to be able to grab the luggage and go once at Southampton.
Oh, I'm booked on this later in the year, and am really excited to vlog it also. She looks like an absolutely stunning ship!
Good choice! Have a wonderful time on the QM2!
@@TravelTouristVideos thank you!
Thank you for that look at boarding QM2 in New York. we are doing this crossing in 5 weeks and this is the best insight in what to expect on the day.
Our pleasure! Have a wonderful voyage! 🙂
I get so many pointers from you guys. Thank you for all the info. It is very helpful, especially if you don't sail often.
Happy to hear that- thank you so much for the comment! 😊
Nice report...having sailed many times on QM2 I must assume this long process is due to COVID paper work..I have never gone thru this level of inspection..this was July 22 so all this checking will be a over with soon as April23 QM2 /Cunard will remove all the test and mandates..I am booked on a crossing this July and online check in with your picture uploaded should end all of this repeated checking outside of the passport check before security.. as it always had been.
We've done four transatlantic trips from Brooklyn on the QM2 and one from Southhampton (all on balcony cabins - no suites). For all of the Brooklyn departures we always flew into NYC the day before (from SFO) and stayed in a Manhattan hotel for the night. We then had an early lunch with friends who live in lower Manhattan. Then a taxi or uber to the ship. So we never got there earlier than about 2 or 2:30PM. Typically was on board within an hour or less. Of course we missed the lunch on board. We have heard that the Kings Court is pretty busy on embarkation day and that the pub or maybe the Britannia restaurant is a better choice if you want to get their early. Of course, the early birds get an extra meal that we don't get. Quite amazing how quickly they turn around all the rooms, since rooms are vacated around 8AM and new passengers can go to their rooms within a few hours. Luggage takes a while longer to get to your room.
Thanks for sharing- sounds like you've got your QM2 embarkation routine down to a science! Enjoy your next trip!
Very interesting - I was on a ship many decades ago, and this one is so much nicer - of course ! A really helpful vido for anyone not familiar with all the boarding business !
Thank you very much! 😊
Ok that looked like torture lol. This line then that line etc and showing your passport several times. What I learnt from your video bring your dog even if you have to borrow one from someone lol. Thanks and take care.
Thanks for the comment Karen! 😊 Lol yes bringing a dog would help get on the ship faster it seems, but it does cost quite a bit extra. For this cruise I think it was $800 more.
You have to reserve a kennel in advance, and space fills up in them very quickly. You don't even get to book the kennel until after your book your crossing, so you don't even know if it will be available when you book.
This is good to know if I ever take this line! Thanks for sharing!
Our pleasure! Thanks for watching & commenting! 😊
Wow, those lines! I'm taking the world cruise on the QM2 in 2026 and I'm hoping it is a smaller crowd. I will definitely take your advice about waiting a bit before showing up.
Hopefully the process is more streamlined now, but waiting a bit might be wise! Have an amazing time!
Your videos are so well done!
Thank you so much! 😊
I’d be a very unhappy camper (cruiser?) with all that waiting and apparent redundancy. However, I think once finally getting aboard my grouchiness would quickly dissipate. We were on a Holland America Trans Atlantic last year, staying overnight in NYC. The Manhattan terminal seemed slightly better run than the Brooklyn one you experienced.
The embarkation buffet looked delish. I look forward to seeing your excellent food videos that you two do so well.
One observation: This Sail Away Party seemed a thousand-fold more tame and upscale than, well, “other” cruise lines. Many of the men were wearing actual jackets! And I saw champagne, and not Bud Light. Probably canapés instead of a can of peas, too.
Finally, David, I want to compliment you. Your narration continues sounding more comfortable and natural. Keep up the great work.
Hope to see you guys on a cruise someday. Our next one isn’t until December though. Be well and be safe.
Thank you Brad- much appreciated! 😊 Yup that was a lengthy process, but once we got on the ship there was really good food & service so we quickly forgot about it. You're right about the sail-away party. Cunard's dress code certainly helps in everyone looking more formal. And yes the quality of the food at the buffet & main dining were really good 😋
They are not all this cumbersome.
Brooklyn Terminal is the same with any ships that depart there. MSC is even worse. It's not the ship's problem but a cruise port problem.
Great video. You have more patience than we do ... I wish that Carnival brands in general would develop "best practices" that would streamline the boarding process corporate wide.
Thanks! 😊 Yeah that'd be great, as well as a matching loyalty system while they're at it. Though usually we've able to board HAL cruises really quickly. Carnival is not bad either, but Cunard & Princess need to improve some.
@@TravelTouristVideos In San Diego, HAL made us wait an hour to board us despite having no one in live. We were 90 minutes early for Celebrity and they told us NOT to wait and to come on board.
Yeah that's strange- maybe they were still waiting for people to disembark. But yeah our recent boarding experiences with Celebrity in Ft. Lauderdale was good as well- pretty quick.
Really great video. We are doing this same crossing next year and the video was really helpful in knowing what to expect. Did you have to pay for the glass of champagne on the sailaway party or do Cunard gift you that one glass?!
Thank you very much- glad to hear that it's helpful! 😊 I think those champagne did cost extra because I remember the server asking for the key cards from the guests who were getting them, but maybe I misremembered. Doesn't hurt to check when you're there- have a great crossing! 🙂
WHY doesn't the Cunard Line go back to Pier 90 in MANHATTAN????
I DON'T GO TO BROOKLYN!!
You sound like somebody from 1952 when Brooklyn was a pretty dangerous place at times. It's fuill of highly educated & classy people these days so maybe you should try it ?
Thanks for the helpful video!
Our pleasure- thanks for the comment! 😊
Seems much more involved than it was 6 or 7 years ago. I was uneasy over the seeming lack of security surrounding baggage check-in which doesn't seem to have changed, a matter of dumping off everything at the kerbside and hoping for the best. Once in the terminal we also encountered Disneyesque queues but once form filling was complete I recall only the one main check-in counter at which point they issued that all important plastic key card. It was a protracted process nonetheless and I am impressed and thankful when looking back that my bladder was still up to the task! When boarding that is always going to be the first order of business, something cruise vloggers omit to tell!
Yes the process could use some streamlining for sure. It should help that they now don't have to check for covid test results and vaccinations. Thanks for sharing your experience! 🙂
I've never had to wait more than about 30 minutes at the Mayflower Terminal in Southampton. When boarding at Brooklyn, do you not get allocated an arrival time? If my allocated time is 2 pm and I show up at 12, sure I'll be left kicking my heels for a few hours, but that's down to me not reading the instructions!
We’ve been waiting to see a good video of the Brooklyn Terminal. Thanks for that. A question about VIP/fast-track boarding. This will be our first time leaving from the Brooklyn Terminal and our first time in Queens Grill Suite. (Don’t hate us- it’s probably our only time too. We’ll be back to balcony next trip). They advertise priority boarding for Queens and Princess suites so did you see any signs for that? When leaving Southampton we always noticed separate signs and a separate line for Queens Grill or Diamond members. TIA.
Our pleasure! We didn't see any signs for that, but I'm fairly certain the folks you saw with the dog at the security line and then were lead away (presumably to the front of the line) had priority boarding. So just let the staff at the terminal know and they'll let you know where to go. Have a wonderful voyage! 🙂
We’ve got Priority Boarding being in Britannia Club. Had it on Queen Elizabeth and will have on Queen Mary 2. We boarded Queen Elizabeth in Melbourne, Australia, and that was a breeze…very quick compared to what was shown here. We’re travelling the other way on Queen Mary 2, westbound to NYC out of Southampton so that will be interesting.
That was a lot! But they were cautious in all of the sections to make sure you guys get a safe cruise. Yes, it was tiresome, but it was necessary. Thank you for the heads up on this cruise ship. Enjoy. Amen
No, all those checks are not necessary.
Our pleasure- thanks so much for commenting Katrina! 😊
nice video...thx
Our pleasure- thanks for the comment! 🙂
Is there preferred boarding for Britannia Balcony cabins?
If it's a Princess or Queens Grill Suite you'd get priority for sure.
Are masks mandatory in the terminal? (I am not criticizing either way, I think people should wear them if they want, or not). Just curious!
Nope not anymore- this was from last summer when they still required it.
@@TravelTouristVideos ah, got it. Thanks, just curious!
I've done 9 crossings, and I never enjoy the check-in!
Some cruise lines and ports are more efficient, but yeah some can improve for sure.
I know it looks like a real pain here but there's a good reason for printing the boarding passes. The terminals are not equipped for charging devices (which Cunard has no control over) and during embarkation day pre-covid there was an absolute DISASTER of people's devices running out of power during the process, holding up lines, and necessitating having to quickly set up a printing station. I distinctly remember being shoved out of the way by a group of 20+ people because just one of their phones died and they all had to go deal with the issue lest one of their party be left state-side. That was the worst. In terms of the redundancy, it makes sense when you understand that if they get to port on the other side with someone that won't pass customs they now have a straggler unable to enter into the UK. Plus, at this time things are much easier without the vaccination/covid test requirements.
Thank you very much for sharing your experience! Thankfully no more need for those vaccination & test docs any longer, and that should help speed up the process by a lot.
I'm curious to find out how the check in and long waits in line are handled for handicapped people? Myself and a few others in our family are handicapped and can't stand for long or sit for long. Does anyone know the process for this? It's one of the main reasons we haven't ever been on a cruise.
Usually you will be directed to the front of the line. If they don't do that for you automatically, then you can request to be due to not being able to stand for long, and I'm pretty confident they will help out.
@@TravelTouristVideos Thanks! I'll look into that. Appreciate the information you give on these cruises!
Were there issues that delayed boarding?
The slower than typical process was due to multiple redundant document checkpoints
@@TravelTouristVideos that surprising. Cunard are pros and it doesn’t look crowded at all compared to an MSC mess at that same terminal.
Yeah hopefully Cunard has improved embarkation. They did have have very good food & service.
Best website for QM2 booking?
Shop around and maybe one might give you more onboard credit vs another. Good luck!
At least you dont have to remove your shoes and get body scanned.
Yes that's one of the nice things about cruise terminals vs airports!
All those checks are not needed. If you have to show the same papers to multiple people/stations that is there problem not yours. I would be irritated to say the least.
Yes hopefully they optimize the process- a little too much checks and double checks of the same docs by different people.
I agree. Having to actually PRINT your boarding pass is absurd. A 2+ hour wait to Check-In is NOT efficient or acceptable for such a high end cruise line.
Their extra caution is their attempt to keep everyone as safe as possible - they get blamed when things go wrong - and you would be screaming if some nut slipped on to that ship because it was too easy !
@@veronicaroach3667 You are wrong.
I think this is beyond the already extreme security process in the U.S. and I too find it unacceptable. Embarkation day counts as the first day of your cruise - you are paying for this and this company's failure to provide an efficient system is costing each of you - a lot. It is easy to chalk it all up to "security" - very popular blame game in the US. I understand management of embarkation for Cunard is outsourced.
Ocean liners are endangered
There is only one ocean liner on the entire planet, so I would say you are correct. When the Queen Mary 2 is retired, there will be no more real ocean liners. that day will be gone.
Very droll - 9 hours stuck in Dubai two years ago in a sweltering hanger with no refreshments while the hob nobs got fast tracked - shameful…
Sorry to hear about that! Hope the cruise went fine though!
In all fairness, the fast-tracked hob-nobs spent 3-4 times more on their tickets than you did so there’s that…
Embarkations is so third world especially for this cruise line…
Cunard is so inefficient.
STOP COMPLAINING!!!!
why would anyone pay $5000 for that kind of disgusting and shameful customer service
Lol I wouldn't go that far. It wasn't the most efficient embarkation process, but it was an enjoyable voyage.
Friends booked passage 2 weeks before embarkation and he and his dad paid just $800 a piece for an outside stateroom. Plenty of bargains if you can move at the last minute.
@@marcellocolona4980 I'm going July 6th-14th bought our tickets a week ago during memorial Day Sale and for a sheltered balcony it was 694 for each of us, regular balconies were sold out but I've heard good things about sheltered balconies so we shall see. With taxes/port fees and everything else the grand total for the two of us was 1770.00 Not bad at all.
No way would I go on a cruise ship,waste of cash and with Putin eyeing up targets a cruise ship is high on his list.
All those masks! Some day , will we see what a joke they really were ! Look up the Spa ish Flu! Lol 😂 thx for your video !❤
Our pleasure! 😊 The masks are no longer mandatory at the terminal 🙂