DreamflightPat

I have been saying this for months, for particular cruises (B2B2B) starting July 6th , but so far only about 6 will be at a meet. Eastbound Trans/Hamburg/Stavanger/Westbound Trans

 

I realize that many cruisers do not do 22 days straight, but the "grand Voyage is in three sections, and I would have expected a response for those doing one or other of these sections.

 

Oh well those of us who do meet will I am sure enjoy our selves.

We had a very active Roll Call on the World Cruise on QE this year and great Meet & Greets. Next years' world cruise is starting to get active.

Reading these messages reminds me how lucky I was to meet so many nice Cruise Critic members on the World Voyage. It was a trip made more memorable thanks to all of you! I hope one day we will meet again.

 

Maybe we can do updates on the roll call like those on QEII's 2008 World Voyage. They are still posting after six years! I would love to hear about new cruises and special events from all my CC friends.

 

Kathi

Kathi it was an honour and a pleasure to meet you. I enjoyed our times together on the sectors that I did. I still remember our champagne afternoon tea. You did a fantastic job beforehand doing the spreadsheet for us and your blog has just been fabulous.

I know we are going to keep in touch and I really do hope to cruise with you again. Enjoy your time in London. I am off to Orlando on Tuesday to sign all the contracts for Dreamflight in October.

Fondest regards Pat xx

We are off the coast of England right now and should be docked in a few hours. The 118 days have flown by and I have had a fantastic time.

 

QV was off the port side this afternoon but it was so cloudy I could not get a good picture.

Welcome back to UK Kathi. I know it is not home for you. I am so pleased that you enjoyed all of your cruise. I really do hope we will meet up again.

Love Pat

xxxxxx

Hi Kathi,

I am so glad you enjoyed the Verandah Restaurant. I still have great memories of when I had dinner there one night. Just loved the food there. Glad you are out of the Pirate area now and can leave your curtians open and wonder around the decks at night. Not long now and it will be all over. The time has gone by so quickly, you and the other world travellers must be dreading getting off.

I hope you have an enjoyable rest of the cruise and say hello to everyone on the table for me. I wish I was still there!:(

 

Chez

Hey Chez, how are you? Seems so long ago when we were on board!!! Have you seen that next year I have booked the QE from Sydney to Southampton. How about you doing it?

Regards

Pat

I wonder to what % of UK WC members they sent this survey out? My husband received one, but I did not. He had the task of spending 40 minutes completing the questions.

Last month we flew BA long haul and I completed a survey for them, I thought that was long at about 10-15 minutes, and it had the option of terminating the survey after certain sections.

I hope Cunard make use of this voluminous information they have gathered!

I live in the UK and I haven't received one.

To those on the roll call that remember me from the Fort Lauderdale to Sydney segments. You know how we all said how lovely and comfortable the beds are, well I have just taken delivery of the Sealy Cunarder mattress and topper. It is so comfortable.

I was talking to my cruise specialist in Southampton and said I had a complaint about it. She was most concerned until I explained my complaint was "when I opened my curtains in the morning the ocean wasn't outside"!!!!!!

I am really pleased with it.

Rgds Pat

I never pretended it was a life or death issue. It is not a need for attention. I honestly would prefer if businesses would stop using our age as an identifier. I think this is relatively new.

 

I kind of hoped Cunard might be a bit more tactful and remove the age thing, because as I said, it is not something that has always been done.

 

I also wrote this post because I thought other people might agree with me, but I see most don't. I suppose if you've done most of what you have wanted to do with your life then age would be of no concern. I suppose that's it, because I would prefer to enter my weight than my age!

Tess, I can see why they need to do it. At my doctor's surgery there are three of us with the same name (no relation) and we all have the same middle name initial as well. The one thing that identified us is our birth date. This is in a small area in UK so imagine how many same names there are around the world.

It really doesn't bother me a scrap. Because of my age I have done some wonderful things which I wouldn't have done if I was younger age. So use it as a reminder of brilliant times.

We will be going with the Regent group to the ballet in St. Petersburg. I have no idea of what would be the proper thing to wear. I'm assuming that gentlemen would wear a jacket and tie, but just how dressy are ladies supposed to be? Any and all suggestions would be welcome!

When I went about four years ago everyone was nicely dressed. I wore a dressy dress but not quite sequinned!!!! I saw no jeans and T shirts at all. It is a wonderful evening. Anyway, wear what you feel comfortable in for going to the ballet, you can always show everyone else up. Enjoy.

Regards Pat

Kathi, I am missing all of you and the ship that I have this morning booked for 2015. Will board Queen Elizabeth in Sydney and sail back to Southampton. Look after the ship for me!!!!!

I just wish they would do single rooms with balconys. I just love my balcony when cruising.

Glad you are still having a great time Kathi. Still wish I was onboard still.

 

Chez

I totally agree with you Cheryl. Still wishing I was back on board! Saving up for next uear now. Keep in touch.

Hi Cheryl and Pat. Hope you are both Ok and not got the withdrawal symptons too bad.

Ship is quieter now as Japanese on board and are all quiet, and well dressed in an evening. They are all good dancers also.

We got a new crowd on and the last meet & greet I did around 25 turned up. I am carrying on with the meet and greets, so anyone new arriving in the forthcoming segments add your names to the roll call.

Rabaul tomorrow and it is an interesting place , very dusty and very poor but interesting all the same as this is what world cruises are all about. Showing us how the people around the world live.

I have been to Rabaul before so I will be going walk abouts and handing $ bills to the children who will be flocking around us with their lovely smiles. I will buy a bag off the ladies who make them. The a bags are very colourful and fun.

Regards to all who know me. Maggie. x

Maggie Mou, I am so missing you all and being on board. I know I am having a lovely time with my family but still wish I was doing the full world. Had a lovely email today from Rachel and Theresa, World cruise concierge. Have asked them to keep an eye on you all for me!! Please give my love ro everyone. Xxxxxx from Pat

I did read Kathi's reply to you and I also read her blog but I'd love to know if he has been able to go on any excursions. I hope it has been very successful for him so far.

I disembarked the QE four days ago. Saw Glojo quite a lot during my 39 days on board. Both he and his wife are thoroughly enjoying their trip. He had a problem with the wheels on his wheelchair which confined him to the cabin for a few days but has now been fixed. I think it was his brother that picked him up in New Zealand and I bumped in to them at Rotorua. I so hope they enjoyed the second half of the world cruise.

Whitemarsh:

 

It could be that QE and QV attract an older crowd than QM2. That seems to be the case judging from what I've seen on these boards.

 

It also depends on the itinerary. New York to Sydney via the Pacific doesn't tend to attract younger people - lots of sea days is possibly part of that.

 

I hope that you didn't feel isolated on board? Was the conversation excellent, or we're people distant and boring?

 

Grills I assume?

I have just disembarked off of the Queen Elizabeth in Sydney after 39 days on board. It was a brilliant cruise and great mix of people. No-one had to dress up on theme nights but I did like the fact that Cunard do have a dress code. We had 11 formal nights on this cruise and it is so nice to see lovely long dresses and men in dress suits. If people want to be casual they can cruise with another line. Whitemarsh, it was great to meet you.

We had our fifth Meet and Greet today and had a great turnout - close to 25 people.

 

This should be a very interesting segment including Japan, South Korea, and China.

 

We did get a number of Japanese on board (Although the latest rumor is much smaller than previous - about 400) and there is a small section of the Lido labelled "Asian food" and the special Chef's corner had sushi today.

 

Thanks to all who continue to follow this amazing voyage!

Kathi, I am missing you all so much. It was just great spending the last 39 days with you and the others on the forum. I have the next two weeks with my brother and family and will then fly back to UK. I am seriously thinking that next year I will have to fly to Sydney have time with the family and then do the other half of the world trip like you are doing now. When you see the others please give them my regards.

Regards Pat

Thanks to all of you who posted pictures. It was an amazing journey through the canal. Everyone needs to do it!

Totally agree with Scrapnana. It was a very special day.

Pat xx

I boarded in Fort Lauderdale and was met by some of the Cruise critic friends who joined me on Deck 10 for the sail away. I have friends that live in the last block of flats as you leave the harbour and they were out on their balcony flashing torches. The girl in the Entertainments team had given me glow sticks. All good fun.

We sailed for 3 nights and two days and are now in Aruba. Last night I was invited to dine at the Captain's table but unfortunately he couldn't make it so we were entertained by the Chief Security Officer and the Chief Training Officer. All good fun.

I have absolutely nothing to complain about. The ship is beautiful and elegant and we have had two formal nights. Everyone made an effort to dress up.

Aruba is lovely and warm and I am just going to enjoy it by being lazy. That's all for now.

Rgds Pat

Well, my bags are packed and I am leaving on a jet plane. I fly to Miami first thing tomorrow morning and will be waiting to join you all in Fort Lauderdale. Hope New York is not too cold for you.

So looking forward to catching up with those of you that I met in Southampton and of course, meeting the rest of you.

Have a good trip down from New York. See you Tuesday.

Regards

Pat

Barry was a dear dear friend. Having cruised with him and Paul Reynolds a few years ago we have remained friends and got together on many occasions at his home and New Years' Eve. He was a great supporter of my charity and he and his partner Dave joined us on Fundraising Balls.

 

He will be missed by many people around the world.

I was at Barry's funeral two days ago. It was a very fitting send off for such a lovely man. Many happy and funny stories were read out about Barry's life especially his days at Regent and Seabourn. So many people attended the service that there was standing room only. Someone said "Barry went out playing to a full house"

It was lovely to see John Barron there. He was Cruise Director at Regent and Seabourn but has just recently decided to give up life at sea.

QE and QM2 aren't due to sail until 8 to 8.30 tonight, There should be a fireworks show so hopefully the rain will stay away.

I have just got back from two days in Southampton. Seven of us met up last night at Ennio's, really great to meet. This morning I ran Kathi down to the ship. It took us an hour and a quarter to make the journey, which normally takes 10 minutes maximum. The traffic in Southampton is dreadful.

I was going to stay for the fireworks and the departure of QE, especially having negotiated a deal with the security people to let me go back right next to the ship to see it off. At 4 p.m. when I had finished shopping the sky was so black and it was pouring with rain and I had another 4 hours to wait until the departure, I decided to set off back home. That took me over 2 and a half hours when normally it is one and a half hours.

Happy sailing all of you who have boarded. I will be watching on the webcam as you leave and will catch you up in Fort Lauderdale.

Fondest regards Pat

Barry was an outstanding Cruise Director and a lovely person. Always thoughtful, very dedicated to his work, and a mentor to many who are now successful CD's themselves. He was also a talented performer.

He will be remembered by many and his loss keenly felt. He struggled valiantly to overcome the cancer. Wish he had won!

I cruised on Regent and Seabourn with Barry. A nicer person you could not wish to meet. I became friends with him and his partner and we have spent many happy evenings at their home, especially a New Years' Eve. Barry you are going to be missed by so many people.

Barry Hopkins, a long time cruise director with Regent-Radisson (and Seabourn) cruises passed away yesterday after a lengthy illness.

 

J

Barry was a dear dear friend. Having cruised with him and Paul Reynolds a few years ago we have remained friends and got together on many occasions at his home and New Years' Eve. He was a great supporter of my charity and he and his partner Dave joined us on Fundraising Balls.

He will be missed by many people around the world.

We're cruising with Cunard for the first time in September and I got a phone call a couple of days ago from a lady who introduced herself as an agent from Carnival, representing Cunard and P&O. At first it seemed like a survey asking me why I cruised, what lines we're used, what our future cruise plans were and so on. She finished by inviting me to contact her if I had any questions about cruising or wanted more info about a future cruise. It all seemed a bit strange and this was compounded later that day when I got an email in which the same lady called herself our Personal Cruise Consultant. We always do a fair bit of research about cabins, itineraries etc then phone around a few preferred agents to get the best price / best OBC or the like so not sure what the advantages of a PCC might be. I replied with an email the same day asking about my loyalty status - and she hasn't answered.

I cruised with Cunard for the first time last summer. I was contacted a week after I returned home by a lady who asked me if I had enjoyed my trip and would I be likely to book another cruise. When I said I would, she gave me her direct line and said she would be my Personal Cruise Consultant.

I have now come to know her very well. She has booked my sectors on the world cruise and answers all my little questions. In fact, on two occasions now, when I have been down to Southampton I have met her at the offices for coffee. I am lucky as I only live just over an hour away from Southampton so realise a lot of people would not be able to to what I do. It is so useful to just have to deal with one person when you have anything you need answers to. I like the personal service which you don't always get with some other cruise lines.

Hello fellow cruisers!

We are boarding the QE in Fort Lauderdale and continuing through to Southampton. Anyone else getting on there? We appear to be missing the special world parties in Southampton and New York....any get- to get here for this stop? We also will return to New York on the QM2 to complete encircling the globe. Gary and Andrea from Miami Beach:)

Hi there. I will be joining the ship in Fort Lauderdale and staying on as far as Sydney. I am from UK but prefer not to go to New York in the winter - have done that so many times. I will be flying in to Miami on 19th Jan and going straight up to Fort Lauderdale to stay two nights in a hotel before joining the ship.

Regards Pat

First time with Cunard - going from San Francisco to Sydney in Feb 2014. Any recommendations or hints gratefully accepted.

Dear Annie, Welcome to Cunard. So pleased you have booked the cruise. Be in touch soon.

Regards

Pat

To all the Howarth Family - thank you so much for your wonderful posts and videos. I am on the Eclipse for the Transatlantic in October. It is my first on Celebrity and you have made me wish the cruise was tomorrow. I can't wait. Your videos were fantastic and I loved all your tips.

Fondest regards Patricia