exlondoner

Just remember, it is not Cunard who manage, if that is the right word, the embarkation process, it is Intercruises. And I don’t think the comparison with airports is quite fair. People are regularly expected to check in two or three hours before their flights. The hope with cruises is that it will be a lot less than an hour. Nobody wants passengers to linger and clutter up the terminal ambling around shops

Strangely, on our boarding papers for QV later this month, it says please arrive promptly. I tend to assume ‘promptly’ means we shouldn’t be late. I should have expected it would also say something about not being early or we’ll have to wait outside, but it doesn’t.

West Quay. The café in John Lewis does excellent brownies.

Was the terminal crowded inside?

Well, the journey time by road may be unpredictable, by rail on a weekday it should be all right, unless it is a strike day. I was actually talking about the time from Bournemouth, which is close to Southampton, but on the two-lane A31, which is very prone to delays.

What date?

Quite. That time we were let on and told to wait in a lounge was, I think, because the terminal was getting very crowded.

Well, embarkation time is dependent on how long it takes to get the ship ready, which seems to be a bit longer these days. Over the years we have been on at 11.30, and later than 1, during Covid. One time, unusually, we were let on and told to wait in the QG lounge, but snuck off on Deck 7, to find our cabin ready, apart from the chocolates.

Have you heard of the old Cornish dish, Stargazy Pie?

Yes, we have 12.30 too, and will do much the same, though, even from as close as Bournemouth, it is strangely hard to predict how long it will take to get to Southampton.

Maybe, but you have to be dressed to use them, and stay for a while. With your own balcony, you can wander out when you see something particularly interesting, and first thing in the morning before you are dressed, and so on.

Are there now porters to take your luggage from the car? That will be a relief. Why do I have to show my credit card when that has all been done on line?

Has anyone thought of tipping tender drivers? If anyone deserves your money, surely they do? Tongue about three-quarters in cheek.

I must say, if I were a musician, I should find it insulting in the extreme.

A Cunard transfer.

We only booked it because QV was doing flycruises and QE is elsewhere, but it will be fun, I’m sure.

And then ours would be cancelled. When they pushed back her entry into service, they reinstated the original maiden passengers onto the new one. So we would be left sulking in Southampton.😢

Worse and worse.

Breadcrumbs must be good insulators. 😀

No, that’s so it arrives in your cabin, often pleasingly quickly.

Seems a great idea. 😀

Fish fingers (often made from quality fish) are a way of selling as many breadcrumbs as possible at fish prices. Making a sandwich out them makes it even worse. Yuck. Never trust any food covered with breadcrumbs (or batter, come to that). They are there as camouflage - of paucity or quality. 😀

Yes, luggage storage is a problem. This applies to people using the train for travelling to seaside holidays as well.

No, there is absolutely no need to tip, but, at the end, if you feel you’ve been well looked after, you might give a bit extra to whoever has looked after you so well.

But you are US?