Thread: Voyage of Vikings QM2 June 6, 2009

Hello,

We're booked on the June 6 QM2 cruise to Norway fjords. We are cruise veterans (15 cruises), but this is our first on Cunard. Most of our cruises have been with Holland America and Celebrity. We're hoping to meet a lot of new friends on the ship. We're from Louisiana (USA) - will be flying from Houston to Heathrow on the 4th. We're trying to decide where to stay on the night of June 5 and also on June 13 when we return from the cruise. I've heard that the hotels along Bath Road on the northern perimeter of the airport are probably the best bet for pre and post cruise. We've been to London, but what I would really like to do is go out to Windsor Castle, which is not too far from these hotels. Does anyone have any advice about best way to get from Heathrow to the nearby hotels. I know about the Hoppa Bus, and have also heard that the regular "red" buses will take you there. I'm wondering if these buses have room for luggage. Taxis probably are not too interested in making such a short trip. We are also wondering whether or not to go ahead and book some excursions through Cunard. We have done many Alaskan cruises, and have just found good excursions on our own once we get to the town. I am not even sure whether all of the towns on this itinerary are withing walking distance of the dock. On a last note, we're a very active couple in our mid sixties (dh is an astronomy professor - I'm a college librarian); we love to travel (especially cruise). We've asked for a table for six or eight. We've booked an inside cabin mainly because we have trouble sleeping (actually it is me rather that my dh with this difficulty), and I like for there to be total darkness when I go to bed! I think we are on deck six. Would love to hear from anyone else booked on this cruise. I know a lot of people are doing the Transatlantic before and after - wish we could, but can't be away that long. Hello,

Hey mimimary! Welcome to our friendly cruise community!

That sounds like a great cruise! I'm sure Stephen, our Cunard Navigator/Guide, will be along today and should be able to help you with some of your questions.

In the meantime, do explore all of our forums and meeet some of our avid cruisers.

Welcome aboard MimiMary

I did this voyage on QE2 in 2008, it was wonderful

Here is a quick run through the ports:

Stavanger, the ship docks a short walk from the city centre so no need for shuttle bus. The city of Stavanger is quite nice.

Flaam is a nice little town but if you want to do the railway, I would wait and book it when you get there. The station is right next where the tender will drop you off.

Geiranger is beautiful, but not much there, Cunard do a trip up a mountain and I can recommend that.

Bergen is a large city, you can take the shuttle into the centre and walk around.

Here is QE2 in flaam (QM2 can't dock so this is a tender port)

QE2 in Geiranger

Stavanger

Bregen

As you enter and leave the port you pass under a bridge, where people like to stand wave and take photographs.

Thanks Stephen! I knew you would have some good info for mimimary. And a picture is worth a thousand words.

Do you know anything about the hotel she mentioned?

I have never flown out of Heathrow so unfortunately, I can't be any help when it comes to hotels.

But I do know this will be a fantastic voyage

Thanks so much for the beautiful pictures. I can't wait to show them to dh when he gets home this evening. We're looking forward to our trip on the QM2 - not so much the long flight over though. I think we will go ahead and book the Holiday Inn near Heathrow for the pre and post cruise nights. It is one third the price of the Hilton in Terminal 4. The photos reminded us a lot of our Alaskan cruises in the past. We live in such a hot and humid climate down here in the Deep South; we always like to cruise to colder climate destinations.