rafinmd

It's a nasty day in Maryland with no sun so I'm posting a photo from July 3 sunset with the sun going down over Bar Harbor. I think with my completion of one Cunard Voyage and more to come I will put my participation in this thread to rest. I do welcome continuing additions from other Cunard photographers. Roy

It's a nasty day in Maryland with no sun so I'm posting a photo from July 3 sunset with the sun going down over Bar Harbor. Roy

It's a nasty day in Maryland with no sun so I'm posting a photo from July 3 sunset with the sun going down over Bar Harbor. Roy

Day 8, Friday, July 8, 2022, Disembark and home I was up very early and on Deck 13 by 4:45 as the lights of the Verrazano Bridge were ahead of us on a still dark morning. I moved back near the stairs down to deck 12 as we got close to the bridge, watched the mast seemingly barely clear the bridge (It’s actually about 4 meters), then as I passed underneath and finally the funnel. We continued up the estuary and came alongside the berth a little before 7 with the Statue of Liberty off our starboard bow. With my transfer booked I had a calloff time of 8:20AM. At the moment disembarkation seems to be on autopilot with everybody given a time and there are no announcements of either delays, so we leave at our time and hope the terminal is not backed up. While my daypack is down to about 20 pounds at my age it still feels like a burden and I chose to go to the promenade deck and walk outside (no mask needed) to the stairs where the gangway was located. After hanging out a bit outside the stairway B doors I started down about 8:05. It was probably 8:10 when the crew checked my tag number and I was cleared to disembark. The trip down to the luggage claim was fairly long but moved right along. It was easy to locate my big bag but I saw no sign of either luggage carts or porters in Red Hook so the walk to the immigration was quick. The agent needed to see my passport but then I was waved on for the last trudge out to the street where the Luggage Forward rep was a very welcome sight. From then on to the coach which I boarded a little before 8:30. It was about 9 when we left the terminal but I was comfortably seated. I think in the past Penn Station has always been the first stop on the station transfer but not this time. We hit Grand Central station first, then the Port Authority Bus Terminal, and finally the new Amtrak Station. I think the order may have been reversed since the new station is on the other side of 8th Avenue and the bus must take several extra turns to get into position. We arrived just before 10 but I had plenty of time. The old Penn Station, under Madison Square Garden, now only serves NJ Transit while Amtrak and Long Island Railroad are now in the Moynihan Train Hall, the building that used to be the main post office. I was booked on Acela First Class, the best of the services in the Northeast Corridor, and as such I am entitled to their First Class lounge. Formerly Club Acela, the new space has reverted to the traditional name of Metropolitan Lounge. It is a lovely space with snacks and especially luggage storage facilities. Once my bag was stowed I went for a little walk around Moynihan’s Food Hall and then across at Penn Station which was still quite familiar but looking kind of ragged with a completely different set of vendors. While waiting for my train I did get several snacks and coffee at the Metropolitan Lounge and generally relaxed. The first boarding call for my train came about 1:50. Boarding was quick and easy and the First Class car was the one closest to the escalators. I was quickly in my seat and thinking I was home free. Not quite. The car steward came around and asked how far I was going. BWI Airport Rail Station. “We don’t stop there” There had been a schedule change since I booked my ticket and I was never notified. When he came by the Conductor confirmed that although my ticket was to BWI Airport the train would not be stopping there. I would need to get off instead in downtown Baltimore. About 45 minutes into the trip lunch was served, Lamb Tagine with chocolate pudding for desert. The train ran essentially on time until I was dropped off in Baltimore. I started with the ticket counter and she sent me to another desk which seemed to be a control area. He looked at my ticket and told me to get on the next local train and if there was any question show them my ticket with BWI airport as the destination. It was about a 25 minute wait at Baltimore Penn Station. https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/baltimore.jpg I don’t think the short 12-minute ride between downtown and the airport allows time for the conductor to do a full ticket check and I was dropped off at the airport about 5:15 and was home about 6. With the later than planned arrival I had driven straight home without my originally planned stop for groceries. Saturday morning brought light rain with a very busy schedule, voting, a grocery run, a walk in our mall and breakfast but most of the essentials are now done. According to the tracking my Luggage Forward bag is in Maryland and should be delivered Monday. My parting shot is especially for my Maryland readers. Early voting for the primary election started Friday and the official election day is July 19. Vote early, vote July 19 or vote by mail but vote! Roy

Thank you for the Saturday Report, Rich. Not big on fashion, love sugar cookies (but prefer oatmeal raisin) and an drawn to the call of the horizon. Not sure about the quote. Visited Mumbai once way back in 2010 on Queen Victoria. The meal sounds nice. My alternative is Lamb Tagine as served on Acela Express train 2121 July 8, 2022: The lists still need some work but I think I have most of the highlights, and lots of errands to run today. Today’s care list: Buddy final days in Hospice Covid in Durango shelter staff Heartgrove brother discharged with extremely poor prognosis From the rotation: HAL Sailer DH Nephew Curt undergoing rehab after serious mowing accident Cruising-along niece awaiting a kidney Bennybear DH with melanoma Strength and healing for Kazu Celebrations and Shoutouts: aliaschief in Oregon Seasick Sailer in Hawaii Volendam caring for refugees Bon Voyage Cat in My Lap (Zaandam 7/9 to 8/13) 7 days for Vict0riann (Nieuw Statendam (7/16 to 8/9) 1 day for dobiemom (Rotterdam 7/10 to 7/17) 1 day for luvteaching (Westerdam to 7/17) Welcome home Crazy for Cats, GTFCRUISER and jimgev Mister Boston (Celebrity Summit to July 10), and ski ww (Oosterdam to July 16) at sea Vacationing Staff Captain Sabine - Our first female Staff Captain and HAL’s likely first female Captain(I know this is a repeat but she’s worth it) Roy

OK, I'm home, as of about 6PM. Not as easy or as soon as expected byt home. Roy

Greetings from Moynihan Train Hall, sort of the new Penn Station. Disembarkation was pretty good except for the amount of walking while loaded down. Transfer was a bit slow but very easy and I arrived about 9:45 for my 2PM train. Sitting on the balcony of the Metropolitan Lounge enjoying a blueberry muffin, my answer to Blueberry Day. Roy

My sunrise today is not quite a sunrise but there was color in the sky as Queen Mary 2 passed under the Verrazano Bridge: Roy

My sunrise today is not quite a sunrise but there was color in the sky as Queen Mary 2 passed under the Verrazano Bridge: Roy

My sunrise today is not quite a sunrise but there was color in the sky as Queen Mary 2 passed under the Verrazano Bridge: Roy

Thank you for the homecoming day daily, Rich. I'll pass on both the motorcycle and the body painting but love blueberries. The quote sounds kind of strange. Been to St Peter Port at least on the Prinsendam. No idea what the meal is. My alternative is Duck Consume, Roast Beef, and Ice Cream as served on Queen Mary 2 July 7, 2022: No lists today, the computer where I keep them is packed up. Roy

Day 7, Thursday, July 7, 2022, At Sea, Queen Mary 2 By morning the winds across the deck had diminished from over 40 knots to under 20 but it was still a chilly breeze. The highlight of the day would be packing but there were also 2 Crystal Visions morning programs, Seth Gopin at 10 on the life of Thomas Paine, and a Q&A at 11 with Neil Leifer. I followed both on TV as packing progressed. In his noon update Captain Hall indicated we would reach the midway point of our return journey about 1PM and the afternoon weather will be very pleasant. We will pass under the bridge about 4:45 and be alongside by 7, with very warm temperatures on Friday. I had a totally al fresco lunch with skim milk and hot dog from Chef’s Corner, taken to the one place that could be reached without manually opening a door; Deck 12 near the closed Boardwalk Café, accessed by the B elevators and automatic sliding doors by the Pavilion Pool. No tables out but there were several loungers. There were 2 program items of interest in the afternoon. Caroline Oltmanns held her final piano performance at 2 in the Queens Room. I skipped that but dropped in on Venus Tsai’s violin performance at 3 in the Royal Court Theater. I was not really a fan of her style. https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/tsai.jpg I’m thinking a long time Cunard Tradition has likely ended. There was no auction of the Navigation Chart to raise money for the Prince’s Trust. I wonder if it is becoming difficult to get charts as electronic navigation takes over. Perhaps there will be an auction as QM2 approaches Southampton, the end of the 21 day version of the voyage but I fear this tradition may have run it’s course. I did not attend afternoon tea but did stop by for goodies at Kings Court after the Venus Tsai concert. While I love the scones my real weakness is the Oatmeal Raisin cookies. Our final dinner was once again just 2 of us. My choices for the evening were the Duck Consume, Roast Beef, and Ice Cream. I did go out on deck about 9 for a final dusk shot, with sun not yet down but producing some nice colors as I watched from the Starboard Promenade Deck. The big bag went out about 9:20 although it seemed early since it is still light out I hope to be in bed early as well, https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/bagout.jpg My parting shot will be a practical one. Friday will be a long day leaving the ship before 8:30, and arriving in Maryland about 4:40. After buying groceries it will be after 6 when I get home. I do plan to report on the disembarkation day but it may not happen until Saturday or even Sunday. Roy

The weather might have something to do with our more abbreviated sailaway. Roy

Today's sunrise is from the stern of Queen Mary 2 this morning on the way from Halifax back to New York: Roy

Today's sunrise is from the stern of Queen Mary 2 this morning on the way from Halifax back to New York: Roy

Today's sunrise is from the stern of Queen Mary 2 this morning on the way from Halifax back to New York: Roy

Good morning from a lovely but chilly day at sea. I love chocolate and forgiveness but don't have a daughter. The quote sounds kind of fatalistic. I've driven by Corner Brook but never been there, although I was booked there on the Zuiderdam in 2020. Cobb is not a favorite salad of mine. My alternative is Oxtail Consume, Braised Lamb Shank, and Ice Cream as served on Queen Mary 2 July 6, 2022. I will probably take a day off on the lists tomorrow as disembarkation will be hectic. Today’s care list: StLouisCruisers DH awaiting biopsy result StLouis Cruisers Sister and BIL with covid Buddy entering Hospice Covid in Durango shelter staff Heartgrove brother discharged with extremely poor prognosis From the rotation: Strength and healing for Kazu StLouisSal with weakening legs and covid Cruzin Terri with continuing health problems Tana with persistant cough Celebrations and Shoutouts: aliaschief in Oregon Seasick Sailer in Hawaii Volendam caring for refugees 2 days for Cat in My Lap (Zaandam 7/9 to 8/13) 3 days for dobiemom (Rotterdam 7/10 to 7/17) jimgev in Alaska new bookings for me and Marshhawk rafinmd (QM2 to July 8), Mister Boston (Celebrity Summit to July 10), Crazy for Cats (Zaandam to 7/9), GTVCRUISER (Carnival Panorama to July 9) and ski ww (Oosterdam to July 16) at sea Vacationing Staff Captain Sabine - Our first female Staff Captain and HAL’s likely first female Captain(I know this is a repeat but she’s worth it) Roy

Day 6, Wednesday, July 6, 2022, Halifax, Canada It was a very nasty weather. We were late into Halifax due to traffic near the port and later still getting cleared as a small number of guests hesitated to show up for immigration. The original plan of the gangway opening at 8:30 was delayed until 9:30. I have a relative in Halifax and we had originally considered meeting for the day. When we talked he indicated that he is on along list for cataract surgery and that his partner who does the driving had a medical appointment of his own so my only meeting with Ron was on the phone. I really did not feel like going out into the weather and opted instead to visit the Canadian Museum of Immigration which shares the building with the cruise terminal. I spent about an hour in the museum before returning to the ship. The terminal itself is currently a huge open space. There are lots of market kiosks but they are currently vacant. I believe they are due to open later this summer. Lunch was a lovely slice of ham steak, fruit salad, and skim milk from Kings Court. It became a fairly expensive afternoon. I first met with Cruise Sales and am now booked for the first Caribbean Cruise on the new ship Queen Anne in February 2024. I also booked a transfer to Penn Station at the end of this cruise. There were again just 2 of us at table 302. My choices were Oxtail Consume, Braised Lamb Shank, and Ice Cream. We were finished before 7. The featured entertainment was the Royal Cunard Singers and Dancers with Rhythm of the Night. I passed but did go to an encore of comedian Tom Briscoe at 9 in the Queens Room. The weather started clearing as we left Halifax but the evening was marked with gale force winds. Conditions are much better this morning with a beautiful sunrise over the Terrace Pool. My parting shot is from a display at the Pier 22 museum. It’s a salute to all who served on D-Day, (some units sailed from Pier 22) and especially those who did not return. https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/heroes.jpg Roy

@StLouisCruisers prayers headed for you, Buddy, Your twin and BIL. Roy

Never left the terminal complex today. It's now 5:40PM (All aboard is 6) and the rain has finally stopped but still not a nice day. Roy

It's a nasty rainy day in Halifax and it was foggy yesterday evening so I'm posting another view of the July 4 sunrise, this one with great colors before the sun came up. Roy

It's a nasty rainy day in Halifax and it was foggy yesterday evening so I'm posting another view of the July 4 sunrise, this one with great colors before the sun came up. Roy

It's a nasty rainy day in Halifax and it was foggy yesterday evening so I'm posting another view of the July 4 sunrise, this one with great colors before the sun came up. Roy

Just now free to go ashore. Roy

Sitting in Halifax waiting for one guest to report for immigration. Just now released to go ashore (9:34 local time). Roy