exlondoner

Yesterday, there were a large number of priority people waiting to board, all seemingly muddled up, but when we were called to go through security, he called QG first.

Arrived yesterday in Terminal at 12.15, checked in by 12.30, but had to wait until about 12.50 to board, though in first group.

Usually the terminal staff (who don’t work for Cunard) are very efficient, and the first person you encounter will ask if you are Grills. Occasionally, they are not, which means you must ask.

I’ve never been aware of problems with sports screenings in the Winter Gardens. They’ve always been fine when I’ve passed through or my husband was spectating.

Have you tried the cabin balcony? It was the only place in the cabin it worked for us last year, and was quite reasonable there, bizarrely.

I'm sure the bit about standing up for a woman has been written in many etiquette guides over the years. So whether code or rule, it is not unwritten. Interestingly, I think usually when someone of either sex arrives at a table everyone else tends to stand to greet them. As for every night being a formal night, that just seems what some people would like to believe. I’m sure there are unwritten rules, usually to do with politeness. Smokers tend to try and keep their smoke away from those they are with, and, while there are signs on some escalators on the Underground saying stand on the right, Londoners do it anyway, wherever they are. Another unwritten rule seems to be that Cunard ships always leave Southampton a bit late. 🙂

I assume there is nothing to stop Cunard charging you the appropriate fare if you disembark early.

It struck me after I went to bed that I may be talking gibberish, because I was assuming you are travelling on Thursday. If not I apologise. If so, I’ll see you in the queue. 🙂🙂 https://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/Live_Information/Shipping_Movements_and_Cruise_Ship_Schedule/Cruise_Ship_Schedule/

According to Soton VTS, she is expected at 6.15, leaving 4.30, though I don’t think Cunard ships ever leave on time.

There is some hope. When I was aboard in July, the pool had been repaired, the decks were being seen too, and painting and varnishing were going on all over the place. All easy to do on a Med. cruise in warm weather, not so much in mid-Atlantic.

One thing always worth doing is to check what time the ship actually arrives. If she comes in late, then there is not going to be much point getting there at 12.

I have just looked at our boarding passes, which I printed out a while ago. As well us telling us to turn up at 12.30, they each say ‘priority embarkation’.

The Mayflower Terminal has a small café.

Have you spoken to them about this?

Posts enquiring about dress tend to come in two forms: 1. Will it be all right if…(like the OP here)? To which the answer is almost always that it will be fine, but you might have more fun in a suit - and that’s not a clause one often comes across. 2. Can I get away with…? To which the answer is usually probably not. The first is usually from people who want to do the right thing and not offend anybody, the second, often, from people who don’t care.

And of course there is the mystery of security. This is strangely weather dependent, because people have so many more layers to remove when it is colder. There is also the depressing number of men (I’m afraid it is always men, in my experience) who have to be told yet again that they can’t leave their change in their trouser or shorts pockets. Anyway this all makes security times a bit unpredictable.

I think boarding time is in the lap of the ship preparation gods. Obviously it depends how many people have to get off, whether the previous cruise was full, and if they are all leaving.

Same here, and I hope it works this time.

I sure the coffee is most welcome.

Ah I remember a conversation in one of Robert B. Parker’s Spencer books which went something like: ’What’s for breakfast?’ ‘Scrapple.’ ’Is it as unpleasant as it sounds?’ ’Yes.’

If only because of the weather. Only the battle hardened would wear shorts for breakfast in the windy mid-Atlantic, whereas in the Med. it is quite different.

Why don’t I have friends like that?

Youth is an excuse for many things. 🙂

And I don’t think dumb is the correct antonym for smart in this context. Surely it should be scruffy or perhaps worn?

How could you possibly know the motivation of a Roman wearing his smartest toga? But it’s an interesting subject for a D.Phil.