Queen Elizabeth Position

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On 9/8/2023 at 10:40 AM, NE John said:

Best wishes for smooth sailing for your TA. Looks like QE is moving east outracing Lee going west. 
We here in New England have to be on alert though. 

 

Thanks @NE John.  Upon yesterday's departure from Bermuda the captain announced that our great circle course track to Madeira should be well clear of the storms, but that as a precaution we would increase our speed for the first day or two and then decrease once across into the eastern Atlantic.

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QE is in Funchal Madeira today, after our 5 day TA.  

 

 

Edited September 14, 2023 by sfred

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[TowandaUK]

Lovely pictures. Are you in the gardens at Monte at the top of the cable car?  

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1 hour ago, TowandaUK said:

Lovely pictures. Are you in the gardens at Monte at the top of the cable car?  

 

Exactly!  We walked down to the cable car after getting off the ship.  Very impressive palace and gardens.  We've just finished a tasty bolo de caco lunch in Funchal town.

[TowandaUK]

1 hour ago, sfred said:

 

Exactly!  We walked down to the cable car after getting off the ship.  Very impressive palace and gardens.  We've just finished a tasty bolo de caco lunch in Funchal town.

Sounds like you are having an excellent day!  
All being well we should be there on an overnighted on QAs 2nd cruise. I’ve been researching Funchal recently and hope to be following in your footsteps. I walk with a stick so may have to limit our visit to the gardens. How long does it take to walk to the cable car from the ship?  

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58 minutes ago, TowandaUK said:

How long does it take to walk to the cable car from the ship?  

 

It was a pleasant ~25 minutes along the Funchal waterfront.  There was a Cunard shuttle bus to Avenida de Arriaga which could have reduced the walking distance by around half, but we preferred the full walk after the five TA sea days.

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QE is in Cadiz Spain today 16 September.   Only 21c this morning. 

 

 

 

Edited September 16, 2023 by sfred

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The Cadiz guns didn't attempt to defend the city against the single ship Cunard Armada.  😀

[exlondoner]

One of my favourite ports.

[TowandaUK]

1 hour ago, exlondoner said:

One of my favourite ports.

Mine too!  

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A lovely day in Cadiz.

 

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QE is in Barcelona today 18 September, at Terminal D.  A big turnaround day.  Welcome to those boarding later today and safe onward travels for those returning home.  We have only one more week aboard  but are eager to see Barcelona today 🌞.  The last time here was 1994 so I imagine some things have changed. 

 

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A really nice day today in Barcelona.  We remembered a few things from our previous visit (gasp - 29 years ago!) but so much felt new.  We had a nice tapas late lunch and a lot(!) more sangria than we really should have.

 

[NE John]

Is this the end of your trip?  Last port call?

[exlondoner]

13 minutes ago, NE John said:

Is this the end of your trip?  Last port call?

He says one more week.

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44 minutes ago, NE John said:

Is this the end of your trip?  Last port call?

 

30 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

He says one more week.

 

Yes, thankfully a few more days still to go.  We finish in Barcelona on Sunday 25th.  Remaining ports are Naples, Civitavecchia, Ajaccio, and Palma.  36 nights all up since San Francisco and it has gone so quickly. 

[alibabacruisers]

15 hours ago, sfred said:

QE is in Barcelona today 18 September, at Terminal D.  A big turnaround day.  Welcome to those boarding later today and safe onward travels for those returning home.  We have only one more week aboard  but are eager to see Barcelona today 🌞.  The last time here was 1994 so I imagine some things have changed. 

 

Thanks for taking us along and showing this picture!  We will be embarking in about 6 weeks....

Edited September 18, 2023 by alibabacruisers

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QE is in Naples Italy today 20 September.   21c at first light, top of 30c expected.

 

[exlondoner]

Wonderful cruise terminal.

Apropos of nothing, the last time Vesuvius erupted was the day after my father went up it. Obviously a dangerous man.

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3 hours ago, exlondoner said:

Wonderful cruise terminal.

Apropos of nothing, the last time Vesuvius erupted was the day after my father went up it. Obviously a dangerous man.

 

Fortunately no eruption today (yet....  there's still a few hours until sailaway).  We had a delightful day roaming Naples.

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QE is in Civitavecchia Italy today 21 September.   Arriving at first light. The ship already in port is Symphony of the Seas.  There are several storm clouds in the area and today might be our first rainy day of the voyage. 

 

Edited September 21, 2023 by sfred

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Civitavecchia cleared to a pleasant sunny day, thereby continuing our record stretch of nice weather.  Having previously been to Rome before and after a QV cruise and on several other business trips, we stayed in Civitavecchia for the day.

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Symphony of the Seas towers over QE.  But I know which ship I'd rather be on.

 

[Host Hattie]

Wow, she's a big girl !