Blogs from North Atlantic, Atlantic, Oceans and Seas - page 11

Today is the day when all of you come to the end of all those dreadful political advertisements, and an evening of interrupting TV shows with “up to date” vote counts. I can’t tell you how happy we are that all that ended for us 2 weeks ago. We did our absentee voting before we left and can wait until we come back to see how it turned out. So none of that stuff for us today! Today we are approximately in the middle of no where. Looking at the plot of the cruise on the map, it appears we are pretty much equal distance from Africa, America, and South America. There are probably some islands somewhere, but for the most part we are a long way from the nearest store. To that end, it was ... read more

October 28, 29 - At Sea Today dawned rainy with moderate seas. This is the first rain we’re had since Barcelona and the timing is perfect. I now feel like I’m on a ship. We are sailing the south of the Azores, not the most direct route to Florida, because there are low-pressure areas to the north. The seas are moderate, After an adventures Japanese breakfast in the dinning room once is enough, there is time for a soak in the hot tub or working the jigsaw puzzle but we’re in code red, NORO virus has struck and so anything that can transmit the virus is closed or curtailed. Condiments are not on the table. Want salt, sugar, jelly, cream? You have to ask your waiter. Staff serves all items in the Lido buffet. Code red ... read more

There was a time when the North Atlantic was busy with great ocean liners steaming back and forth, the only way to get from here to there and back again. Then we started taking planes, which was fine when Max Ward was serving meals on fine china but that slid off the side as soon as Air Canada started charging for in-flight cocktails and then meals, headsets, blankets, movies. And there's no peanuts or legroom. Stop the madness! As The Man in Seat 61 says on his excellent travel website (http://www.seat61.com/queen-mary-2.htm): "I have come to realize that staggering round a transatlantic liner in a dinner jacket with a martini is the normal, rational, reasonable way to cross the Atlantic. Heading for an airport and strapping yourself to a flimsy aluminum tube is an unfortunate and eccentric ... read more

I soon find that one thing you really need to have at sea is patience. When we arrive in England one day after leaving Bremerhaven, our ship has to hover outside Felixstowe for twenty-four hours, as the harbour is full. So we stop the engine, drop the anchor and spend a leisurely day on board, gazing longingly towards the shore. I feel a bit like I am on Alcatraz, captive on a strange, colossal rock in the ocean. Everybody breathes a sigh of relief when we finally lift the anchor (a gigantic device connected to the longest, thickest metal chain I have ever seen) again and reach the harbour. Today is a Bank Holiday in England. This means that the harbour is short-staffed and the loading works will take twice as long as planned. Thus, we ... read more

Hello Family & Friends, Well it's that time again for me to take another trip and bring you along with me. On this trip I will be heading to Alaska! I will be doing the entire blog from my iphone, Don't worry, it takes great pictures also. If you do not wish to be apart of this blog, please send me an e-mail and I will remove you from the list. Thanks... read more