BOOKED THE QM2 TODAY

IIRC, the QE2 had single births, but they weren't that much cheaper than a double in the same grill.  I don't know if the new QE will have singles, but the QM2 definitely doesn't.  I think it's currently 75% fare of the double to book a solo ticket in a stateroom.

ETA: http://www.cunard.co.uk/AboutCunard/default.asp?Active=General

whew lots of comments......thanks for all the info.........yes i am doing this alone but my husband by then will be picking us up in southhampton......does anyone know if he can come on the ship and help me.................yes they are charging me double.......sucks but its just how its gotta be done...........now my plan is to rent a van in nc to drive myself to the port......the car rental place is one mile away.......so i plan on just returning the car and walking back.......i hope that is possible........im traveling with two dogs-chihuahuas.......600.00 cost for the both of them........glad to hear that you all had a good time on the ship and found plenty to do......i get bored so easily.......im limited my luggage to no more than 20 but would like to keep it at around 15........i think those trunks would be just too hard for me to handle......trying to keep everything on wheels..........all advice is certainly appreciated......thanks guys

He won't need to come on the ship.  If it's still like it was a couple of years ago, you put your baggage out the night before you disembark, and they put it out for you.  All you need to do is carry what you need the last night.  I am not sure when or how you get your animals.  Perhaps someone else can answer that. 

Your things will be in this big room that is marked off.  Imagine a baggage pickup in an airport minus the conveyor belt.  You then have to drag that stuff through a hallway (IIRC) and out into the lobby.  Not everyone will be disembarking at once.  You go in shifts.  Still, a lot of people disembark at one time.  I am not sure if he can come and help you pick your baggage up.  You can ask Cunard that.  If not, they can probably figure out a solution.  It might be helpful if he brings someone to help you guys (if there is enough room in the car).

He won't need to come on the ship.  If it's still like it was a couple of years ago, you put your baggage out the night before you disembark, and they put it out for you.  All you need to do is carry what you need the last night.  I am not sure when or how you get your animals.  Perhaps someone else can answer that. 

Assuming the process hasn't changed since we sailed in September, the procedure for disembarking with pets was as follows:  We were told to be at the kennel at 8 AM (I believe... it was definitely early though) on the day of departure with our things.  Like Legs Akimbo mentioned, all of our main luggage had been removed the night before, so all we had were about one bag a piece.  Once we were at the kennel, the DEFRA agents came on-board and cleared everyone's pets right on the ship - it was super-easy.  The kennel-master had a cart for everyone's small bags, so we put our stuff on there and I really then didn't have to carry anything off the ship by hand except my handbag. (Even our cat got put on the luggage cart in his carrier - folks with dogs walked them out, of course.  )  We - all of the guests with pets - then all disembarked together, with our pets. 

Once we had disembarked and were in the big room with all of the luggage, it got a little crazier, as you had to scout around a bit to find all of the luggage.  It's all color-coded, so there's a small area where your things will be, but it still was a bit hectic making sure we had everything. The kennel-master stuck around for a while to help watch the pets if needed, so don't be shy about letting them know you are traveling by yourself.  You don't clear customs until after leaving this room, so your husband won't be able to come in and help you.  There are porters though, who are very helpful, and who will load all of your things onto a cart and wheel it outside for you where you can meet your husband. 

It's definitely a little overwhelming at the end, trying to get all of your things, but there are many many older people who travel on Cunard who are definitely not carrying their own things - you won't be expected to wrangle all of your own luggage, on either end of the voyage.  On the NY end of things, you can pull up right to the curb, where there are guys who tag your luggage and take it on-board for you right away, so there's no worry about having to drag it all inside the terminal or anything like that. 

thanks guys for all the info....this is really helping me alot.......i think maybe i should put the dogs in their stroller as i can control them better.......as i have never been on a ship how much is standard tipping for the porters.....i know im being charged 13.50 per day for tipping but surely we do tip the porters extra.......my daughter is driving me there or im renting a one way vehicle......if she comes will she be able to board the ship with me.......as for me and the dogs the ship is set to sail at 5pm.......we have to board at 11am.......at the moment im gonna have to offer my vet a huge amt of money to come in a flea/tapeworm treatment on a sunday.........everyone wish me luck with that one....i have to commend cunard as yesterday when i paid deposit they sent me all the paperwork etc needed for my doggies via email......this was such a help to me.......as always thanks everyone for the info......keep it coming....lol......steff

I've been looking at this option for when I finally move over (partly out of a sense of historical symmetry, but mainly because of the luggage allowance.)  But I'm a little concerned because the impression I have is that it's all a very formal atmosphere.  I'm not sure I'd fit in particularly well, being a pretty casual 30 year-old (who feels & looks much younger).

I've read what posts I could find about people's experiences, but could anyone who's made the trip give me a better idea of what, for lack of a better phrase, I'll call the shipboard culture?  Is it possible to avoid the fancy, sparkly bits?

The only formality is really the dinners, which are optional.  Two nights are formal which is the ball gown/tux type thing, two or three informal, which is a cocktail dress/business suit, and one or two dressy casual nights.  However, you don't need to eat in the dining room at all.  You can have room service, use the buffets, or pay a charge to eat at Todd English (which I think is just suit and tie dress code).  You can eat breakfast and lunch in either the dining room (where I think you just can't wear shorts or jeans).  There's a pub lunch offered (not great at all but the pub is a great place to hang out) and afternoon tea.

It's not really all that formal.  We spent most of our time in the pub or library.  The ship is absolutely huge, so there is always places to go to get away, even when the weather is bad and they don't let you on deck.

If you're looking for the historical aspect, when they pull out of New York Harbour and pass the Statue of Liberty, it's a really intense feeling of actually doing the opposite trip your ancestors did, particularly if they are from the UK (which I assume from your nick they are).  If you do choose to do the crossing, definitely take the time in NYC to visit Ellis Island.

If you don't have animals, there are other options for sea crossings such as going on cargo ships.  A lot of people love these crossings, but they can take a long time.  But it seems to be a much more rustic, yet intimate way to go by sea.  For instance, people who are crossing all eat at the captain's table as there usually only a handful.  It is up to you to entertain yourself for the crossing for the most part, but it does seem to be a bit more off the beaten path type of crossing.

Thanks for that! 

I have looked into cargo ship crossings, but from the little info I've been able to find, they seem really expensive.  I suppose it's because the trip can be upwards of a month. 

my daughter is driving me there or im renting a one way vehicle......if she comes will she be able to board the ship with me.......as for me and the dogs the ship is set to sail at 5pm.......we have to board at 11am.......at the moment im gonna have to offer my vet a huge amt of money to come in a flea/tapeworm treatment on a sunday

You have to go through security in NY, and I believe only passengers are allowed on-board the ship.  You could always double-check with Cunard, but I am almost positive that your daughter won't allowed to board with you. 

We left right after Labor Day, and I was having a really hard time finding a vet who was open on either Sunday or Monday to do the tick/tapeworm treatment.  We were able to work something out with our vet for the Sunday treatment because they had staff coming in anyway to check on the boarded pets.  Good luck, and I hope they are able to help you out! 

I've been looking at this option for when I finally move over (partly out of a sense of historical symmetry, but mainly because of the luggage allowance.)  But I'm a little concerned because the impression I have is that it's all a very formal atmosphere.  I'm not sure I'd fit in particularly well, being a pretty casual 30 year-old (who feels & looks much younger).

I've read what posts I could find about people's experiences, but could anyone who's made the trip give me a better idea of what, for lack of a better phrase, I'll call the shipboard culture?  Is it possible to avoid the fancy, sparkly bits?

It's definitely possible to avoid the sparkly bits!  Daytime is really casual, and you can avoid the dinners if you want.  We met a few people on board who gave up on the formal dinners after the first night, and either ordered room service or went to the Kings Court restaurants, where they didn't have to get as dressed up.  PM me if you'd like, and I can send you a link to our photos, if you want to get a better sense of what things are like on-board.

yea i was under the impression that it was a big formal upper class folks on the ship.........im not exactly one to fit into that sort of crowd but hey im up for anything........im gonna make the best of the trip and get some much needed rest......that sucks that she cant come aboard but thats okay too.......as long as i get the dogs on board im gonna be okay......that is my biggest concern.......hey what are the chances of spotting any whales out there

Definitely not just upper class stuff, but there probably will be a lot of older people.

We saw dolphins and porpoises.  If you don't encounter a storm, I suppose it is possible to see whales.

oh im hoping for no storms.....scared that im gonna get so sea sick......lol

Get those little wrist bands with the nubs in them if you think you will get seasick.  They really helped me.

oh im hoping for no storms.....scared that im gonna get so sea sick......lol

I've crossed the Atlantic three times on Cunarders and each time I've heard a crewman say its the worst crossing he has seen in 26 years

On our crossing we actually couldn't go out on deck for most of the crossing and one of the waves cracked the exterior window in the Lion Pub.  

No one said it was the worst crossing, but the staff seemed a bit nervous, especially in the areas near the waterline (like the pub is).  The captain just said we were having "fresh" weather every morning during his announcements.  They had to use all the stabilizers, and IIRC, they had to deliver one to us at sea because the final one wasn't working properly.

I can't remember exactly, because at that point it was all blah blah blah.  I stopped throwing up all the time because we picked up the armbands, so I didn't care.  The one thing I noticed is that it took me forever to get my landlegs after we were on the ship.  The last night was horrible because instead of being constantly rocked by the ocean, we were jerked into port by the pilot.  I didn't sleep well for a week after we got to the UK.  Nothing beats sleeping at sea provided you aren't seasick.