Cunard Cruisers - How are things where you are ?

[LewiLewi]

1 hour ago, Colin_Cameron said:

It turns out that next month was too late.

So sorry for your loss. How very sad that you could not see her and hold her hand at the end.

What a year!

[Host Hattie]

So sorry to hear this, sending condolences to your family @Colin_Cameron.

[Host Hattie]

So here we are on the one year anniversary of starting this thread. At the time several hosts started threads as our countries locked down and there was no sign of cruising restarting any time soon.

I certainly never imagined that there would be enough people contributing to keep it going and that there would still be significant lockdowns in place a year later.

We are starting to open up in Wales and I'm really hoping that this time we can stay open. 🤞

I celebrated my second lockdown birthday yesterday and Mr HH has been for his haircut this afternoon.

 

 

[Bigmike911]

54 minutes ago, Host Hattie said:

So here we are on the one year anniversary of starting this thread. At the time several hosts started threads as our countries locked down and there was no sign of cruising restarting any time soon.

I certainly never imagined that there would be enough people contributing to keep it going and that there would still be significant lockdowns in place a year later.

We are starting to open up in Wales and I'm really hoping that this time we can stay open. 🤞

I celebrated my second lockdown birthday yesterday and Mr HH has been for his haircut this afternoon.

 

 

When my hair went grey then white it got very unruly. I went short. A weekly haircut is required to keep it under control. You can imagine what I looked like from March 2020 until the barbers could reopen in July. Of all the things that I disliked about the lockdown was not being able to get my weekly hair cut was for me the most onerous.

 

The barber is open. You have to sign in and if you want a specific barber wait out doors or in you vehicle til he or she is free. They contact you, and you enter the shop when they unlock the door. 

 

You have to wear a mask the entire time, and I always have at least three with me, as they are easily snipped by the shears. No shaves are offered, but you can get a cut. After you exit the chair, it is sprayed and you are escorted out of the ship. I don't care I will do it.  It is my connection to Normal. 

[Camgirl]

8 hours ago, Colin_Cameron said:

It turns out that next month was too late.

So sorry to hear your sad news. My thoughts are with you and your family.

[Camgirl]

A very happy birthday for yesterday, Host Hattie. I will be joining you with lockdown birthday no. 2 this weekend. And it's a biggie as I will be turning 60.

 

All I wanted for my birthday is to see my family and to be able to hug them. Sadly that is not going to happen. Happily, we will be allowed to get together with up to 6 people in our gardens from Monday in England. Just too late for my birthday but I will be able to see my sister and my two son's the weekend after, which will be Easter weekend. We still can't hug, but I shall be so happy to see them all again. I am really looking forwards to that.

 

Congrats on your return to the barbers Bigmike. I attacked my husband's hair yesterday myself. I might have gone a bit far....... Oh well, it will soon grow back 🤣

[Lanky Lad]

9 hours ago, Colin_Cameron said:

It turns out that next month was too late.

So to hear your news.

[Lanky Lad]

I had my first shot of the AZ vaccine today.  All went smoothly and I was in and out in about 30 minutes.  My next appointment is in June so a bit of a wait.

[Host Hattie]

Thanks @Camgirl.

I had a wander and window shop round Cowbridge while Mr HH had physio and then we did some non-essential shopping, a few bits for our new house. We don't own it yet but we're going to see the solicitor tomorrow so hopefully there's some progress.

Hope you don't have too many side effects @Lanky Lad, some of my friends have reported fatigue, mine only lasted 1 day.

[Lanky Lad]

Thanks @Host Hattie I felt a bit rough overnight but as the day has gone one, I have improved and I am sure I will feel better after a good nights sleep.  My arm is still a bit sore but I am sure that will not last long. 

[bluemarble]

I have been following with considerable interest the situation of the Ever Given, the container ship that has been blocking the Suez Canal for the past couple days. The Washington Post has commented in their Internet Culture section "A boat hasn’t been this unifying ... since Boaty McBoatface."

 

Some estimates say it could take weeks to rectify the situation. That appears to be a worst-case estimate. But it does make me wonder what the situation might have been for QM2 if she were on her 2021 world voyage right now. Her itinerary called for a northbound Suez Canal transit on April 9th, just over two weeks from today. I suspect contingency planning might have be underway at this point for her to possibly go the long way around Africa instead for her return to Southampton. Wouldn't that have sparked some interesting discussion here on the Cunard forum?

[alc13]

On 3/23/2021 at 8:39 AM, Colin_Cameron said:

It turns out that next month was too late.

So very sorry, Colin Cameron.  My sincere condolences to you and your family.

[alc13]

On 3/23/2021 at 2:29 PM, Bigmike911 said:

...and you are escorted out of the ship. 

Some wishful thinking there, I think!

[Lanky Lad]

I am pleased to report that I am fully recovered from any side effects from the vaccine. My arm is still sore where the injection went in.

 

Today I got an email to confirm my new job starts at 9am on Monday so to make things almost normal, I just need a cruise that actually sails now.  

Edited March 25, 2021 by Lanky Lad

[Host Hattie]

Great news @Lanky Lad, will you be doing something similar to your previous role ? It's certainly an interesting time to start a new job.

 

We've signed the paperwork to buy our new house today so it should be ours on April 1st ! Now I just need to try and find somebody who can deliver beds quickly 😱.

 

[Host Hattie]

@bluemarble it brings me out in a cold sweat just thinking about it !

[Lanky Lad]

40 minutes ago, Host Hattie said:

Great news @Lanky Lad, will you be doing something similar to your previous role ? It's certainly an interesting time to start a new job.

 

We've signed the paperwork to buy our new house today so it should be ours on April 1st ! Now I just need to try and find somebody who can deliver beds quickly 😱.

 

 

Thanks @Host Hattiethe role is similar but the business is very different so it will be interesting.  Although it's a new job I have worked for the Company before (about 22 years ago).

 

Have you thought about a Cunarder bed HH? My friend got one and is very happy with it.  

[Lanky Lad]

I hope I will not be kicked off this thread, but I have booked three nights on Britannia in July as it fits in with when I am in the area.  It will mean an extra night in Southampton before I sail, but I can't wait to be back on a ship even if it is a P&O one.

[Bigmike911]

19 hours ago, Host Hattie said:

Great news @Lanky Lad, will you be doing something similar to your previous role ? It's certainly an interesting time to start a new job.

 

We've signed the paperwork to buy our new house today so it should be ours on April 1st ! Now I just need to try and find somebody who can deliver beds quickly 😱.

 

 

How exciting, congratulations on your new house. Now you can occupy your time with moving, buying furniture and appliances, or maybe even a new fitted kitchen. Good luck Hattie.

[Ray66]

3 hours ago, Lanky Lad said:

I hope I will not be kicked off this thread, but I have booked three nights on Britannia in July as it fits in with when I am in the area.  It will mean an extra night in Southampton before I sail, but I can't wait to be back on a ship even if it is a P&O one.

 Apparently P&O have cancelled some 3 & 4 night cruises on Britannia in late August and September and replaced them  with three 7 night cruises. So you were lucky.

[Host Hattie]

6 hours ago, Bigmike911 said:

How exciting, congratulations on your new house. Now you can occupy your time with moving, buying furniture and appliances, or maybe even a new fitted kitchen. Good luck Hattie.

Thanks, it's newly built so the kitchen will have to last for a while. I've managed to buy a bed to be delivered on the afternoon of the 1st, I just hope we get the keys on time !

We're not moving, we're hoping to rent it out as a holiday let. We were aiming to get everything ready for the end of May but one of our nieces has been let down for accommodation in the same area from 19th April so we're trying to get it half furnished for them.

[Host Hattie]

7 hours ago, Lanky Lad said:

I hope I will not be kicked off this thread, but I have booked three nights on Britannia in July as it fits in with when I am in the area.  It will mean an extra night in Southampton before I sail, but I can't wait to be back on a ship even if it is a P&O one.

I'll forgive you 😄, let us know what it's like.

[Lanky Lad]

2 hours ago, Host Hattie said:

I'll forgive you 😄, let us know what it's like.

Thanks HH  I know it will not be Cunard standard, but it will be so nice to be on a ship again.

[sfred]

8 hours ago, Lanky Lad said:

Thanks HH  I know it will not be Cunard standard, but it will be so nice to be on a ship again.

 

The wife and I rented kayaks for a paddle on the Brisbane river a few weeks back.  Definitely not Cunard.  There wasn't even afternoon tea!  But that is about as close as we can get to a ship down here at the moment.

[Yorky67]

Sounds delightful.
I know you can’t say for sure, but with all the latest changes  what chance do you think there is of Australia allowing Queen Elizabeth to dock in late November? Would it make a difference if all passengers and crew were vaccinated?