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Published: January 15th 2011
12th January – Spent all day packing resulting in our first small disagreement – cant believe that can you?!? Also the sea was the roughest it had been
13th January – After a very disturbed night’s sleep due to the turbulent waters and knowing that we would be sailing into New York harbour and past Statue of Liberty at around 4.00am and me not wanting to miss anything, it was time to disembark at 6.30am!! Also I did miss sailing past the Statue!! Got into Starbucks before 8.00am to link to free internet. New York was freezing (in fact below freezing) and covered in snow, but thankfully they deal with snow in a much more efficient way than we do!!! So walking was not a problem. Went to Apple store where I had my laptop tweaked and battery replaced by incredibly helpful staff – Scott bought himself some portable speakers. Then on to Macy’s for saving money with the discount cards given on the ship. Scott bought himself a couple of belts and I bought myself a pair of tights. SO ALL YOU FOLK WHO THOUGHT WRONGLY OF ME (cant think why you would assume I would need to purchase
things – eat your words!!!! ) I don’t think a pair of tights was over the top and I did try and encourage Scott to buy more but he wouldn’t!! Gathered in Times Square to get transport to Queen Mary as she was in Brooklyn and we had arrived in Manhattan. Enjoyed the trip there as it showed the not so glitzy side of NY – around the bits Bruce Springsteen sings about – so that was a nice thought! More queuing to get on this ship – some familiar faces from the Queen Victoria and new American ones. Some plastic and some au naturel (very wrinkled)! The queues certainly prove that people are living longer!!!
Once on the ship it was nice to find our cabin – this one has a balcony but if truth be known it’s a bit more like a shed with a view!!! The viewing area is in fact a rectangular hole cut into the side of the ship. But overall its nice. Luggage came in spits and spats and towards the end more spats than spits. The one with Scott’s camera bag and electrical stuff had gone walkies but Steward eventually tracked it
down – all labels had gone missing so it had been placed in lost property. Again the steward is a fab chap and also called Ricardo, like our last one – very considerate of Cunarda,and again he very kindly took away empty cases! There is a bit more cupboard space in this cabin so a bit easier. The ship set sail at about 6pm and headed for Statue of Liberty where the Queen Victoria and the Queen Elizabeth followed us out and then fireworks were set off to music and ships horns blasting – it was brilliant. There were lots of other small vessels out and lots of helicopters. It was also incredibly cold. I will try and attach a photo of us looking at our best with scarves wrapped tightly around our heads. We went down to dinner in clothes we had had on since the night before and Cunard would have probably had a breakdown had they realized we were breaking all the dress codes. It’s an absolute hoot that they give you suggestions of what is appropriate dress each evening. This particular evening they had suggested for ladies “blouse together with skirt or slacks” . I don’t
think I have every owned slacks and have not got a blouse with me either – no worries – there’s probably a shop somewhere!! We found we had been placed on a table for 4 which is actually a bit more challenging than one for 8 because at least on one for 8 there is always someone who can fill the gap. Our last table, after a shaky start, had been quite entertaining. Back to the new one – the couple are older than us (as are the majority of people on board) and seem quite prim and proper. Note for Jacqueline and William – he worked for ABB in Zurich (as a Metallurgist) before early retirement and going back to Cambridge to write a book on evaluating strength of steel welding joints. As you can imagine, the plot of that book was certainly stimulating for myself and Scott did manage to show a modicum of interest!!! (for the first 30 seconds. We don’t remember much of the next 10 minutes) His daughter still works for ABB – how small a world is it? I have remembered that his name is Glyn and Scott says he thinks hers might be
Manhattan
Saying goodbye - love itFellatio or something like that as she said it is of Italian extraction although she is not Italian! I don’t think I will use this name tho cos am pretty certain he got it wrong!
On the 14th January which was a day at sea we decided to explore the ship – it’s enormous!!! Also Scott realized on unpacking his camera stuff from the bag that had gone missing the night before that his i.pod and Bose headphones had been nicked and that the lock on the bag had been broken. Gits!!!! Spent a while in a queue for Pursers office to get a claim form amongst many other folk who had either had their suitcases smashed or stuff gone missing – obviously a dodgy port!
In the evening had a quick look in the theatre where there was a talented lady playing a piano. She was of Dawn French proportions wearing a red sequined frock which looked to be at least 2 sizes too small and although she played the piano well she chose to have gay repartee with the audience – cheesy was not the word for it. We exited rather sharpish. Went to the pub
where we entered into our first quiz and fortunately the other two we played with were quite good – I am particularly bad as I know all the answers but only remember them once told them!! Then into dinner. Must say the food is excellent and probably a bit too plentiful! Scott’s most exciting part of the day is waiting to get his “What’s on” newspaper for the following day. He has been known to be loitering outside his cabin door waiting for the delivery of said paper much to my amusement.
Oh and nearly forgot also went in for a lunch today too (so 3 courses twice in one day). For this event you sit wherever and this American guy asked us to join him and his wife for lunch which was great. Also at the table was a Canadian couple and an American single lady and it made lunch a very amusing occasion. Tom (the American) was very sharp witted as was Bill (the Canadian) so the sparring began using the Brits as referees – it was all done in a friendly but sometimes very sharp way. The language too got colourful and it was even more
surprising when Tom informed us he was 88 and Bill 78 – certainly did not appear to be this age at all!!! Excellent company.
Well that’s us up to date to the morning of the 15th and we are arriving in Fort Lauderdale at lunchtime – so looking forward to that. The weather is also starting to warm up as you can tell by all the knobbly knees in shorts in the self service canteen for breakfast this morning. An optimistic bunch these oldies.
Really looking forward to that the Everglades and the Crocs but no chance of shopping today. Ah well…..
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Elaine Hume
non-member comment
Love the blog
Hi Scott and Su love the blog feel as though I know all your partners in crime. Look forward to the next update. Gerry and I off to the Bell tonight wonder who we will get to sit next too!!