sfred

I won't mention that this is port/cruise-by number 666. Instead I'll say that this is port 43 in Norway, number 3 ranking on the top 10 list.

Sad to hear that a better fate was not financially viable. But I suppose continuing to rust in Philadelphia isn't much better.

For a moment, I was going to guess Busselton WA Australia, as there are some similarities to Busselton Jetty and QM2 tenders there (including in February 2018 when Mrs sfred and I were aboard), However, the shape of the structure at end of the pier in the photo doesn't match the Underwater Observatory, and the Busselton town area is much closer to the end of the Jetty than the buildings visible at the left of the photo. I also tried searching some usual suspect tender ports in the Caribbean, but no matches. I'm afraid I admit failure.

This is a guess because I can't find the webcam which @bluemarble has sourced the QA photo. Oslofjord. My rationale.... o. Although I don't have past itineraries saved, Oslofjord is a cruise-by listed on some future Cunard itineraries that include Oslo. o. QA has been to Oslo earlier this year and would have traversed Oslofjord. o. Oslofjord is not on our seen or unseen lists. o. There are some matches on Google Street view, although with the darkness and cloud cover in the webcam image I can't be certain.

Somewhere in Norway? The ship looks like QA.

Going down rabbit holes in the wrong places is one of the things which makes this thread so compelling. Plus I sometimes get to virtually explore places I've never been to before. Your clue was just right.

I was definitely looking in the wrong places. I thought UK too, and perhaps Lands End, although I suppose it would be rare to have calm sea conditions there.

Thanks @Miss G. I hope that's an automated lighthouse in your photo. If not, I'd hate to be the light keeper. Not much rock there for a decent walk. I think I lost about half my eyesight to this thread searching for cargo cranes. The other half will probably go to lighthouses. 😎 I don't have any matches so far, but will keep looking.

My thanks as well, @bluemarble. This thread has been a great (and addictive!) pastime. Much appreciated to all who have been contributors and participants. I'm going to submit a guess that the ship is QE, and the port is Victoria BC Canada. There's some matches in the photos to the Ross Bay Pebbles Beach, Clover Point Park, and the Trial Islands Lighthouse.

Here's a photo of HK Kai Tak cruise terminal, taken from QM2 April 2017.

I remember the "counterpane" word from TS Eliot's 1939 poems about practical cats. The one about Skimbleshanks the railway cat, while written for trains, has some similarities to ocean liner ship cabins and Cunard. Oh, it's very pleasant when you have found your little den With your name written up on the door. And the berth is very neat with a newly folded sheet And there's not a speck of dust on the floor. There is every sort of light-you can make it dark or bright; There's a handle that you turn to make a breeze. There's a funny little basin you're supposed to wash your face in And a crank to shut the window if you sneeze. Then the guard looks in politely and will ask you very brightly "Do you like your morning tea weak or strong?" But Skimble's just behind him and was ready to remind him, For Skimble won't let anything go wrong. And when you creep into your cosy berth And pull up the counterpane, You ought to reflect that it's very nice To know that you won't be bothered by mice— You can leave all that to the Railway Cat, The Cat of the Railway Train.

In 2023 on QE (the only occasion either Mrs. sfred or I have ever been aboard on our birthdays), I got a card (unsigned) on the day, delivered to our PG cabin. No cake, drink, or other recognition, which was fine as I'm not a birthday sort of person. Although I wouldn't have said no to a glass of champers in the Grills lounge or beer in the Lion.

Yet another British-english word is "counterpane". 🙂 And in Australia we have a "doona".

Edit to add: You need not actually use CIBT to obtain any necessary visas. You can still use any other travel provider, or specific country immigration department online sites, to obtain whatever you require.

@NE John's suggestion is a good one. In addition, or in case you've booked directly with Cunard, the Cunard FAQ contains a link to Cunard's "preferred visa partner" CIBT. The online portal link in the FAQ goes to https://cibtvisas.co.uk/ There, you enter nationality, destination, and purpose of trip and it will tell you the relevant visa information. Best wishes for the Australia trip!