fabnfortysomething

we are staying in a Legacy timeshare next April 98 Palm Coast boulevard in North  Florida

plenty of companies serving South Florida and Orlando but am having difficulty getting response from companies for this area

we want to hire a transportable mobility scooter post cruise

Scootaround and Special needs at sea will quote for on board but not for timeshare area

okay so when are you in Newcastle?

may be able to provide tour service

Okay I can categorically state we will carry on cruising!

Hubby got away lightly-we have been dreading him catching Covid as he has a compromised immune system due to drug to treat arthritis

He has been able to resume that so arthritis flare up hopefully under control.

We are expecting our daughter son in law and of course Grandaughters this evening for a few days visit

Currently trying to childproof the house!!!

Friday day 14

6 had slept badly and had sore throat so took Covid test-positive

I was negative

What to do now

We had taxi booked 9.30 to take us back to Southampton hotel where would pick up car and spend couple more days with daughter and granddaughters-now off the cards.

I rang the pursers office to explain and they said they would disembark us later via crew exit with the other isolating passengers.

I rang the taxi company who agreed to still pick us up as they were fitted with plastic screens separating driver from passenger we were  to give them a ring once we had disembarked

We got a phone call that around 10.30 once all other passengers had disembarked housekeeping would come to our room with a wheelchair and escort us off

She originally suggested I leave with other passengers and rejoin him later but I said would prefer to stay with him!

Knock came on door and there are 3 crew members all in white boiler suits and masks

1 pushed wheelchair whilst I pushed rollator and our hand baggage whilst the other 2 sprayed disinfectant in our wake from back packs-surreal.

Down on deck 2 we joined a socially distanced queue of masked passengers who had tested positive and had been transferred to isolation cabins on deck 5

At least we got through the whole cruise .

Taxi took ages to find us but we eventually picked up our car and drove back to daughters near Heathrow.

We couldn’t stay obviously but needed to pick up his mobility scooter and other stuff we had left there.

It was indeed a baking hot day so we sweltered out in the garden whilst they talked to us from the open patio doors and offered us tea in disposable cups.

Both girls were having their naps so didn’t have trauma of having to explain why Grandma couldn’t cuddle!

The journey home took about 7 hours with heavy traffic typical of a Friday afternoon

Thank goodness for air conditioning

I was absolutely shattered having done all driving and took a few days to recover-in need of another cruise!

Testing daily I remained negative and he reported first negative result day 10

Thursday day 13

I had a lie in till 11 then sat on balcony watching other cargo ships in distance

I found 6 in Carinthia lounge listening to guitarist and then went on to 2pm art class

Amys popularity had spread and the morning class had 31 people which was maxed out

Afternoon was more manageable with 15  and subject was New York apartment building

I called in to hobby corner to say goodbye and then back to room to pack.

I overpacked slightly in that didn’t need 2 bulky sweatshirts and was due to be 32C in London tomorrow.

We spent our final night in Golden Lion and to bed

Wednesday day 12

Overcast and windy day

I went down to 10am art class but felt very tired and retreated back to bed for a couple of hours

It wasn’t covid but this exhaustion feeling often happens to me during a cruise-body saying slow it down!

Feeling better after a nap I went to the 2pm art class where it was paint a hot air balloon floating over English countryside.

Tonight was second Gala night-roaring twenties

I had a black and gold dress with white feather headband which attracted several compliments from strangers

I felt return of fatigue so retired to bed early leaving 6 in Golden Lion pub

He came back to room 9pm and said our friends had joined him and were all dressed up-including N in gangster attire!

I summoned second wind and got dressed again and managed to last out the night .we  got some really good photos of us all which have since been shared on facebook  with them.

6 hours ago, Host Hattie said:

I guess it's too late to ask now but how was the cat during the crossing? Was the owner happy with the kennels ?

actually she kept us entertained with tales of her cat

There were 4 cats and a few more dogs in same area but obviously separarted by cages

She said some of the cats were intimidated by the dogs barking

She was allowed to visit daily but not allowed up on deck

-one dog owner left external door open and couldnt understand why he was shouted at to close it

She explained to him that whereas a dog would probably just run around on deck a cat would be more likely to jump over the railing into the sea!

She was not prepared to have cat transported back in hold of aeroplane as she heard too many horror stories of pets dying but as a one off relocation this ocean  crossing worked for her   

Tuesday day 11

As a joke I took photos of my paintings on facebook and asked for offers

One friend asked how much for the suitcase painting

Very flattering and I offered it to her as a gift.

I told Amy at art class and we exchanged details to keep in touch and to do some of her zoom classes once she gets home.

Todays class was a Victorian London street scene and with technique of wet on wet created slightly blurred effect.

Again with clocks going forward at 12 the afternoon seemed really short

2 pm I found 6 in Carinthian lounge listening to harpist

Now time for quiz and 2 gentleman asked if they could team up with us ,

This was a wipe out style whereby you get 100 pints for each correct answer to 12 questions

You can then gamble all or part of your score on getting the correct answer to next question.

We had 700 points so decided to gamble them all

The question was how many Olympic medals did swimmer Michael Phelps win

1 of our new friends guessed correctly at 28 so we doubled our score and won

Despite having joined in several quizzes you only get stickers if you are the winning team. So thanks to these 2 gentlemen we got our first and only ones.

At Hobby corner our Cat lady had been to several insight lectures and realised her thoughts of being bored had not occurred and would cruise again-in fact to collect her dog she may have to!

Trying to do something different to previous week I went to watch a vocalist in the Grand Theatre before returning to Golden Lion

Quiz time becoming more popular and difficult to find seats for our friends who joined us

After quiz many people left so we were able to chatter with of group of 6 for rest of night.

5 hours ago, Host Hattie said:

I'm impressed that the wifi was good enough for a Zoom call ....

Yes it varied widely-nothing at all in stateroom

husband is retired IT guy so idetified wireless access points on ceilings of lounge areas

Monday day 10

Another fine sunny day

Art class at 10 was painting old fashioned luggage

Again Amy showed how to sketch simple 3 rectangles for composition and add details later-this worked out really well.

I found 6 in chart room on a zoom call to a stroke survivors fortnightly session.

Caused a few comments when he explained he was in the middle of the Ocean!

I found chefs galley which served burgers and hot dogs for lunch

Apart from buffet for quick meal the Carinthian lounge also served snacks

You certainly wont starve on this ship!

I checked my emails and found an interesting one

An “we know where you live” type threatening that if I didn’t pay £1000 in bitcoin within 48 hours video footage of me masturbating to an adult porn site would be circulated to all my contacts!!!

Perhaps if it hadn’t been sent to a 60 year old woman who has never done this it may have been threatening rather than entertaining!

At hobby corner I related this tale and we had a good laugh-it was suggested if I offered an extra £50 the blackmailer could send some extra dvds of this mythical event to send as Xmas gifts!

One lady related why you should never discuss politics or religion at a dinner table.

She was travelling solo and on shared table for breakfast.

A gentleman in his 80s pestered her wanting to discuss the political situation in her state  and when she said she avoided news channels told her she MUST watch this particular channel

She had to turn her back on him to get the message across.

Another evening as the ones before-predictable but fun.

Sunday day 9

2.30am we were awoken by an announcement that there was a medical emergency and that the ship was altering course to turn back towards land to allow a helicopter evacuation-however no need to worry

I got straight back to sleep but talk next day was of many people who couldn’t and lay awake

I woke again at 8am to the familiar sound of the ships foghorn

Art class was painting birds

Amy showed how to start with simple egg shape in pencil and add features one by one-hey I was actually proud of how this one turned out once she explained rules of composition.

 Immigration procedure is different on the Eastbound crossing in that an immigration officer screens all passengers over several days in Britannia restaurant.

Leaving art class in different part of same restaurant I took stairs to avoid lines of people.

Even in second week the ship is a maze of corridors and I stumbled across the terrace bar and pool on deck 8

It was very pleasant weather and several people sunbathing. However I had so much to do never found time to join them!

12 noon and Captains address with an update on the evacuated passenger who was receiving care in a Canada hospital. Because we had to turn back slightly the ship was travelling along at a higher rate of knots to make up time which resulted in more swaying motion felt but not too bad.

The clocks going forward meant now 1pm-somehow this really seemed to impact on the afternoons activities.

I read out on balcony for a while until it was time for our allotted time of 2pm to present our passports to immigration officer in the restaurant.

The line was about 20 people deep and we wore our face masks to be on the safe side and 6 used his rollator so he was able to sit.

The officer checked passports and engaged in small talk to establish purpose of trip

How long have you been away ? he asked

There and back again I replied

I don’t think he got the Lord of the Rings reference.

We went to Chart room which was a serene environment but we could watch the line of people queuing=now stretching half way across ship to lobby.

3pm I went along to Hobby corner to discover a new group of ladies-all knitters or needlework

One lady had her husbands ashes that Captain was going to officiate at burial at sea later in week. They had been due to celebrate their 50^th wedding anniversary on board in 2020 but of course that never happened.

He died before they could do this amended trip so she was doing trip by herself to do this last wish of his-very poignant.

Another lady was relocating back to UK after a divorce and was bringing her dog and cat with her .Unfortunately the dog hadn’t completed his worming treatment so was denied boarding.

She had to call her daughter to pick up the dog and was trying to work out how to get him transported back over.

The cat was in kennels area and she was allowed daily visits

This was her first cruise and she had brought along needlework as she thought she was going to be bored!!!!

4.30 I went along to fully booked planetarium and got in easily on stand by

Groundhog day with 6pm restaurant and evening in Golden Lion

Our quiz team had poorest showing yet with subject of movie themes!

Saturday day 8

I am awoken by 6 who informs me I’d better get a move on if I want to get to 10am art class.

I go to Britannia restaurant and no one else is there.The clocks didn’t go forward last night.In factthey will change at 12 noon tomorrow and each day after that until we back to our own home time zone!

This was confirmed in the gift shop which had been restocked so I bought him a 3 pack of QM2 T shirts for $35 saving him having to wash some out.

I would have clipped him over the head with them if I’d found him [but perhaps not a good idea for a brain haemorrhage survivor]

I went back at the correct time for art class and met new teacher Amy and her sister Rita.

They were sailing to London for sightseeing and by offering her services as an art teacher got a cheap crossing.

She originates from New York but now lives in Thailand.She teaches art classes via zoom and I will definitely be keeping in touch as she is a wonderful teacher.

She broke everything down to simple shapes

Draw sketch with light hand and then apply watercolour.

Todays was vase of flowers and already so much better than previous week.

I found 6 resting up in the cabin-he still hasn’t realised about non time change!

I headed to spa for 12 noon and ladies pamper party.

This is a self administered Elemis facial with hopes you will book treatment later.

Pressure wasn’t great and I resisted massage offer but did splash out on half price sun glow powder[actually most of us did as gives sun kissed look]

I attended insights lecture on Audrey Hepburn-very interesting and sobering to realise she was only a year older than I am when she died[my cruise critic name is hopelessly out of date!]

I found 6 back in Carinthia lounge with N and A

They had got 32/40 in quiz and came second

However their singing along to one of the answers “Billy don’t be a hero” by Paper Lace went down very well as they were word perfect and quiz master asked them to carry on singing after the partial track ended-pity I missed that and no one recorded it!!!

Tonight was Red and Gold gala night and there were some lovely red or gold dresses on display.One gentleman even had a red Tuxedo.

However particularly in Golden Lion there were several well underdressed in shorts in t shirts

One man even asked bar waiter why so many women were wearing red dresses.

Okay pre cruise it can be hard to plough through info on which are gala nights but it is well publicised in the daily planner 

1 hour ago, exlondoner said:

I would be inclined to point the finger at NY  immigration facilities, which sound rather crowded.

and yet that was when we wore our masks religiously

11 hours ago, LittleFish1976 said:

 

My recent experience was 48 hours from exposure to first symptoms so absolutely agree with you, Hattie.

 

the incubation period seems to vary so will never know when exposure actually occurred

good news is that on day 10 he has tested negative and I;ve remained so

1 minute ago, BigMac1953 said:

There IS a fast track at immigration for in-transit travellers, but you must ask for it as soon as you enter the hall. On our last round trip, we cleared in less than 15 minutes.

thanks

as you say you have to be in the know to ask for these things

Friday day 7

We awoke to the most wonderful view of New York when we pulled back the curtains

Governors island directly in front of us and beyond Manhattan island and the Hudson river

To the left Statue of Liberty with Staten Island ferries crossing

Leaning over balcony there’s Brooklyn Bridge to the right

Shall we just say it’s a lot more impressive sight than Southampton docks

I could have watched that view all day from the balcony

Unfortunately USA rules say the ship has to be cleared of all passengers to go through immigration in the terminal.Unlike in Europe where if you are on a back to back you can stay on board and enjoy an empty ship

Breakfast around 9 was very quiet as most passengers had either disembarked or got up early to enjoy a day in New York

We had visited several years earlier with our daughter and covered most of the sights .We didn’t feel we were missing anything especially as 6 walking issues makes it difficult to get around.

There was an announcement for people to stick to their scheduled disembarkation times as the gangways were becoming congested

We returned to the balcony and watched the skyline and river traffic till final call came for passengers to disembark .This was 10.10

6 had not used his walker /rollator in earnest as was able to manage with walking stick around ship but it really paid for itself now as has integral seat.

We got off ship having swiped our room cards but progress ground to  a halt for several minutes on gangway    

There were stairs and escalator to ground level in terminal and we directed to the lifts which were extremely slow

We then came to a full stop in a corridor ,most people were wearing face masks but very difficult to maintain social distancing

A member of staff identified those with wheelchairs and walking sticks and directed to front of immigration queue but it still took a long time

When it got to our time I went first and had retinal scan and fingertip id .The officer then asked me how long we were staying. When I replied we were in transit and getting straight back on board he didn’t even bother doing same with 6 and waved us through[shouldn’t there be a fast track for this?

So heading down another corridor we set foot outside and asked a staff member where to go next

She directed us 200 yards to right to re enter terminal building

There were several people in wheelchairs but no other seating-again walker with seat proved invaluable as we couldn’t get straight back on board

A lady staff member said she would announce when able to do so and she has a loud voice -she was right

11am she shouted for all in transit passengers to line up to get back into terminal

Great!

Except we had to go through security scanners and then directed to seats in the terminal where we sat for the next hour

12.10 comes the announcement that all in transit guests could now board-yippee

Hang on don’t these corridors look familiar and there are those really slow lifts with about 6 wheelchair bound people in line for them!

I folded the walker and walked up the stairs with it over my shoulder whilst 6 took the escalator to save time!

12.15 a security guy greeted us back on board and expressed surprise we were back 4 hours early!!!!

Can I just say that is 2 hours of our life we wont get back[and it felt longer]

Main subject of conversation amongst passengers resT of day was how torturous was this process even those who had chosen a ships excursion to pass the time

The go to place at this time was golden Lion pub to decompress!

We met up with N and A who had done the 4 hour ship excursion we had originally booked.

They said the on board guide really made it for them but they still had hassle getting back on ship and had to meet early morning in the theatre to join it.

We had scheduled video calls with USA friends thinking whilst in port would be able to get better reception-nope-still nothing in room but managed to find relatively quiet corner in lobby/shops area.

Back to the pub and memories of the lost 2v hours receeding with increased alcohol.

We were joined by K and S who had done Liberty and Ellis Island then sunbathed.

Unfortunately S had got sunburned so I headed back to room to get her some aftersun

4.30 was muster drill which we didn’t have to go through again but still announcements via tannoy so sat out on balcony.

5pm I nipped up to Pavillion pool on deck 12 to get a couple of glasses of Sauvignon Blanc to enjoy sailaway.

Sailaway was supposed to be 5pm but several passengers names kept being called to contact pursers office-by 5.25 it was down to 1 and we actually sailed away at 5.50.

We went down for our regular restaurant time of 6pm but I explained wanted to get some shots especially of passing under Verazzano bridge up on deck 12 so dinner slightly delayed

It really does look a close call!

Back in the Golden Lion the Watson Duo recognised us and thanked us for returning

Another full week to go!

Thursday day 6

Groundhog day

The ships fog horn is sounding and the clocks have gone back an hour!.

6 is certainly not along with using a walking stick on this cruise and there are several wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

This is hardly surprising as the demographic is heavily on the elderly side and an Ocean crossing is probably more comfortable for them than a plane ride.

There are however people of all ages and some children.

There was a blow out sale in the shops[not really-many items need to be restocked in New York]

I attended John McLeans last lecture in illuminations on the Big Bang Theory and did my last spa session[decided not to get one for 2^nd week as so much to do on board]

I decided against last art class of the week as teacher suggested we all bring along our work and critique it-no thanks pretty sure will be binning them.

Teacher was very nice but English was not her first language and her monotonous voice was difficult  to follow when she was describing famous artists techniques. It would be a different teacher the following week and spoiler alert she was brilliant!

Captains announcement at 12 said temperatures in New York next day were expected to be 32C!

He said this had been an unusually foggy crossing as would expect a couple of days but not full week-we would be returning via a more Southerly route.

We saw several container ships as we were entering the New York traffic separation channels but no other cruise ships

Unfortunately our plans to meet up with friends had to be abandoned

She lives New Jersey and it would take her 2 hours to drive to Brooklyn.

She thought we were docking in New York itself which she is familiar with and could have picked us up and driven us to Times Square for a meal-oh well I’m sure we will manage to meet up some time.

I found 6 in the quiet Chart room/cocktail lounge and we tried a few different ones[well have to befriend some new bar waiters!]

I had tried to book Planetarium show previous day but was told fully booked for rest of voyage.

However a fellow passenger said to turn up on spec and that’s what I did for the 3pm showing

I got straight in!

It was only 1/3 full-apparently there are always no shows so don’t be disheartened if you are told fully booked.

It was a 25 minute show and entertaining.

The weather had improved so was able to sit out on the balcony and watch a shoal of dolphins

Our final restaurant meal of the week and we made sure we would be seated in same place with our attentive waiters next week.

The Golden Lion had run out of Cabernet Sauvignon-had to switch to Pinot Noir!

I went up to room to check next day planner and had to pick my way around lots of luggage piled up around lifts waiting to be offloaded next morning

It’s always such as nice feeling knowing you are staying on for the next week!

Back at Golden Lion for quiz and our full quiz team of 6[all of us would be staying on for next week.

We scored 18/20 and tied for first place

Unfortunately the tie breaker defeated us as we were of the older generation who had no idea which year girl band Girls Aloud were formed

59 minutes ago, Host Hattie said:

I hope you're both OK now.

Thanks again for your posts

He's still positive-obviously one of those who are going to take full 10 days to clear

However he seems to be getting away with it lightly which is a great relief as he is clinically vulnerable and so have been very concerned over him catching it.

29 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

 

I believe 10 is about the max, while 5-6 is average, but who knows? When I had it, the medical department only wanted to know whom I had been in contact with over the previous two days.

I hope so as I have been testing each day and on day 8 after husband tested positive I'm still negative 

Wednesday day 6

Spoiler alert

6 tested positive for Covid on disembarkation day so with 10 day incubation period today would have been day of exposure.

Theories are what 6 calls the breakfast zombies-the clueless people who come to a halt suddenly with no regard for those around them and him unable to find a quiet corner most of the time

Other theory is when it became crowded for times of quiz

But who knows?

I checked out spa availability for next day and there was a cancellation for 11-1

There was also a $10 sale in shops and I abought a beach bag and cute fringed handbag.

I found 6 in Golden Lion listening to guitarist Brian and decided to try their fish and chips-very nice-proper chips not French fries.

Tonight was masked ball for gala evening and 4pm there was a mask sale for those who hadn’t brought their own

$3 for simple elasticated ones and $15 for more ornate

I treated myself to black and white with feathers and 6 a silver mask that made me think of Phantom of the Opera!

I also checked out other ship areas not yet seen-Queens room where ballroom dancing and the G32 nightclub behind it

Very quiet at this time and a few people using it as an area to read or play cards

The evening was great fun seeing most people dressed up in formal gear and masks-2^nd outing for 6 tuxedo!    

1 hour ago, TheOldBear said:

I was wondering if I could ask a favor on behalf of Mrs Bear.

 

The next time you go to the Spa Reception, could you check if they still offer 'fill in' service for gel nails? [gel over acrylic].

sorry the ship internet is too bad to attempt a live review

Tuesday day 5

Awoke 9am or is it 8am due to clocks going back again at 2am.

Again the ships fog horn sounding.

The ships TV screen shows we are just off coast of Newfoundland and showing position of RMS Titanic to the South of us.

No Icebergs seen!

For a change we decided to go for breakfast at Britannia restaurant .

We were at a table for 2 but the adjacent table had a couple whose accent we recognised

They live 30 miles North of us.

This was their first cruise and unlikely to be their last.

They were attending a family wedding in USA and he refuses to fly

He’s already converted to cruising!

We chatted for the next hour until I headed upstairs to the art class and then spa for 11-1 session-again spent just under an hour in there.

Next day slots were either 8am or 5pm-too early and too late so passed this time.

I found 6 in Carinthia lounge listening to a string trio and we joined up with Nand A for the afternoon trivia quiz-score 30 out of 40-winners got 34!

3pm I joined hobby corner and learned that whales or dolphins were spotted this morning

I managed to connect to cruise critic on my laptop and posted on the roll call for people joining next week with some tips.

Golden Lion trivia quiz was officially our team of 6 with S K N and A and we needed to think up a team name

We still didn’t win but had a fun night and watched Watson Duo and got to know each other a bit better-now friends on facebook!

On 8/16/2022 at 6:29 PM, cruiseny4life said:

Maybe I'll give it a go. Sometimes I read the Cunard boards for a little bit of entertainment. I love the posters over there and imagine them in their fancy clown suits, gasping for air as the necktie gets tighter and tighter as the week goes on.

 

Anyway, I suppose I'll take a look. 

 

I do have one serious question for you that I'm hesitant to ask on Cunard, because I'm sure that follow every possible rule host will shut it down. Would a tux like this be acceptable on Cunard's gala nights:

 

If I ever sail Cunard, I would have to be able to wear one of these on gala nights so as to be mocked by the passengers that want their sailing to have the atmosphere, and clothing style, of a state funeral. 

wow thats some outfit! I love it

The most colourful jackets I saw on men were white or red-all one colour

However I also saw some really dressed down people to the extent scruffy shorts and t shirt !

If you wore a bow tie with that outfit you would comply with the dress code!

Monday day4

Woke to an overcast day and a slightly choppy sea-not going to be a sunbathing crossing!

Art class 10am was very busy as many people going to do royal Shakespeare company workshop at 2pm

Places available helped by several people turning up an hour late thinking the clocks went back again-this was the one day they didn’t.

Todays class was landscape and turned out slightly  better.

I left just before 11 to catch John Mcleans insight lecture in illuminations on the likelihood of alien life

Theatre was full so word had obviously spread how good he was.

Question-do aliens exist-yes probably

Question have they visited or could they from another solar system?

By laws of physics it would take several generations to get here

So you send a family on a mission and by time their ancestors arrive there are a few issues

Firstly a high degree of interbreeding!

Secondly it’s the usual family trip “are we nearly there yet?”

Thirdly by the time the descendents arrive they would have forgotten why they came in first place so just have fun doing a few crop circles

I left to hunt through the bars to find 6-no success

Found him in stateroom-all public areas were too crowded for his comfort[an after effect of brain haemorrhage he finds it difficult to filter out background noise.

We headed back to Carinthia lounge 12.30 for guitarist Brian who did the cruise classic Sweet Caroline as well as Hallelujah and Bohemian Rhapsody

I had spa booked from 2-4 but came out to join hobby corner for 3pm and met S and K two lovely ladies who had known each other from schooldays and were on holiday together away from husbands

We would end up spending a lot of time in Golden Lion on the following evenings along with N and A

We formed our own quiz team but still didn’t manage to win

6pm restaurant seating and our waiters greeted us and bar waiter guessed our order-we are becoming predictable!

In Golden Lion the 9pm quiz was a bingo style where you had a sheet with songs and artists unique to each team

This was not a success due to technical difficulties and taking ages to get a winner

Several people got bored and left

It was a relief when one team eventually ticked off all and we could get back to the Watson duo who finished off the evening for us.

One of the things we like about late night at sea is enjoying a nightcap on the balcony and listening to the waves-was just too cold and foggy for that!

25 minutes ago, carlmm said:

I really enjoy your report. Thank you!

Only one remark re laundry: Of course self-service laundry is just an option. You can also send all the laundry in to be done for you.

ah didnt see that  option!

actually we jsut washed through smalls and hung on line in shower