Thank you for the details, Rob. I shall be making my booking very soon 
.
I have just browsed through the web site and the pages that open out from it -- the first time that I have been able to get into the post-QE2 Cunard pages!
My first choice would be a porthole cabin ("standard oceanview") as low down as possible (i.e. Deck 4) -- and I see that these are already booked out! As are the same cabins on Deck 5 -- only Deck 6 is still available. This seems to be the most popular category of all (mind you, there are not all that many cabins in this category...). Early booking seems to be a must if a porthole cabin is what one wants.
As this is a mini cruise, I am tempted in the circumstances to play with the idea of a balcony cabin, just to give it a try. I am pretty sure that I shall never want one again -- so a short cruise seems ideal to find out whether I might change my mind after all...
I agree with Myles that single travellers do not seem to be all that well catered for. Even if prepared to share with a friend, going by the photos, it looks as though the beds are all double sized. Are there any cabins with two single beds?
Oh, decisions, decisions! Does anyone have advice for me, please?
Looking forward to the group fun and the people we shall be surprising with our badges 
!
Isabelle - it's very good to know that you've been able to access the website, and that you'll be booking soon, and although 'advice' isn't what I can give you - there are others far more knowledgable and reliable regarding these matters - there are things that might be of interest
I stand to be corrected - and if anyone knows more, please let us know!
From experience, it seems that Cunard will be releasing cabins (on all ships) for booking over time. So although it looks as if
'Deck 4 - with porthole' at the moment looks fully booked, that may not be the case nearer the time. You could ring a trusted travel agent, they could book you in 'on guarantee' that you will get a cabin - (and possibly an upgrade, even) for the amount that you wish to pay.
(You may well get a better discount from a travel agent too - ssh!).
The cabin allocations are made at a later date, on a 'first come first served basis' - I think.
As Scott says, I think all beds can be made to be singles.
(Person showing us the Oriana said, 'Single beds give you more space'!)
Definitely - if you haven't experienced a balcony before - this would be an ideal time to try!
Someone said 'Once you have, it's difficult not to get hooked' - there are many advantages, and although they look so bad from the outside, they give you the sea literally on your doorstep!
Balconies on QV are a Good Thing, and may be even more so on QE - as there's so little access to views up top, at least one can see something from your 'own personal space'!
Regarding restaurants - The Britannia is an amalgamation of The Caronia and Mauritania - if it's anything like the QV, it feels a bit more elegant than Mauri, yet with less character, with two sittings and much bigger than either. There are windows, and sitting at one of these is something we had in August, it was a fantastic experience!
When you are booking, you could choose to have a big table with together with friends, with everyone requesting the same thing.
On the 2-nighter, there will be only one lunch - and for those returning to the ship for lunch, I wonder whether it would be a good idea to arrange a Forum get together at lunchtime in the Britannia.
Hope this is of some help!
Rosie.
