QM-2 24thJune For 3Weeks

[sogne]

58 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

 

i seem to remember reading about a mother ship for Zeebrugge/Nieuport/Ostend pilots. Or did I imagine it?

U r correct that was the policy in the past but the advent of fast good seaboats such as the Nelson led to pilot boats operating out of nearby ports in London case Harwich and Ramsgate. Liverpool pilot ships used to patrol at the Bar LV before changing to fast launches.

.

[RJChatsworth]

Harpist, trio, pianist and guitarist, all take their turn at tea in the Queens Room.

 

I know some who got on in NY are doing the round trip via the Med.  I don’t know numbers.  On this three week voyage I believe 400 are doing the Southampton to Southampton round trip if that is anything to go on.

 

Out waiter says that ships are limited to 70% occupancy in some Med ports but I don’t know how true that is.

[RJChatsworth]

Tuesday and another lovely day at sea.  Yesterday my wife and I felt a bit jaded.  Then after a restless night, this morning we did a Covid test and we both have it.  The medics confirmed it with PCR tests.  We have been moved to a sheltered balcony on deck 5 for isolation.  We can order off the Britannia Club menu including a la carte.

[exlondoner]

Wretched for you. Hope you don't feel too bad.

[frankp01]

What a shame! Here's hoping your isolation doesn't entirely ruin the rest of your trip. And here's also hopes for a quick recovery.

[Host Hattie]

I'm so sorry to hear this, I hope you don't feel too terrible and are well looked after.

[ronpes]

1 hour ago, RJChatsworth said:

Tuesday and another lovely day at sea.  Yesterday my wife and I felt a bit jaded.  Then after a restless night, this morning we did a Covid test and we both have it.  The medics confirmed it with PCR tests.  We have been moved to a sheltered balcony on deck 5 for isolation.  We can order off the Britannia Club menu including a la carte.

So sorry to read this. 
We wish you both a speedy recovery. 

Edited July 12, 2022 by ronpes

[Jack E Dawson]

5 hours ago, RJChatsworth said:

Then after a restless night, this morning we did a Covid test and we both have it.  The medics confirmed it with PCR tests. 

So sorry to hear this but fortunately you have completed more than 80% of the voyage. In these times with the new sub-variants so contagious, you are probably lucky to have accomplished that COVID free. Hope both your cases are mild ones. For Dee and I it was a couple of days of feeling "out of it" then pretty much back to normal. 

All the best,

Jack

[techteach]

@RJChatsworth I am sitting here saying “No, No, No!” I hope you have a mild case and the food you are served is enjoyable, and you have lots of good reading material, or movies. Best of luck.

[GonzoWCS]

7 hours ago, RJChatsworth said:

Tuesday and another lovely day at sea.  Yesterday my wife and I felt a bit jaded.  Then after a restless night, this morning we did a Covid test and we both have it.  The medics confirmed it with PCR tests.  We have been moved to a sheltered balcony on deck 5 for isolation.  We can order off the Britannia Club menu including a la carte.

Oh wow, so sorry to hear this.   Please get well and be safe.

 

Cheers

[RJChatsworth]

Thanks for kind messages.  We are still feeling a bit rough but Cunard are looking after us quite well and the medics check in each day.

 

On the ship we have worn masks and avoided close contact with others even in the Royal Court Theatre.  We have not been to any bars on the ship.

 

I asked the medics about Covid on the ship and they said they don’t know because passengers won’t come forward if they have got it because they don’t want to go into isolation.

 

We think we must have caught it in NY last Friday.  The medics said you really need to be in close contact with someone for 15 minutes.  On the Cunard shuttle we unfortunately sat very close to someone, in both directions, who coughed non-stop and refused to wear a mask.  Someone challenged him and he got quite nasty and shouting about some condition he had and the wearing of a mask.  Twenty yards off the coach there was a big notice at the entrance to the Red Hook terminal stating no entry if not wearing a mask.  He soon put one on!

[carlmm]

1 hour ago, RJChatsworth said:

 Someone challenged him and he got quite nasty and shouting about some condition he had and the wearing of a mask.  Twenty yards off the coach there was a big notice at the entrance to the Red Hook terminal stating no entry if not wearing a mask.  He soon put one on!

 What a sad behaviour.

 

@RJChatsworth, I wish you a quick and full recovery. Thank you for all your time and effort to keep us informed about your time on the Queen.

[Host Hattie]

How disappointing, I hope you're feeling better soon.

[exlondoner]

I very much hope the unmasked coughed is leaving the ship at Soton.

[Queenie52]

On 7/3/2022 at 7:35 PM, RJChatsworth said:

Trips in NY seemed expensive if you have been there before and know the ropes.

 

Tendered into the lovely Bar Harbor today on a beautifully sunny and warm day.

 

Not wishing to offend but there has been a noticeable change in the demographic since NY.  Rather than QM-2 being the classy liner that it is I think some think it is a holiday camp.  Shorts in the evening in public areas, including the Royal Court Theatre, even seen them in the MDR in the evening.  In the evening in the theatre on the last two evenings I could count five close by who took their masks off and not the same five.

 

It was very different on the transatlantic crossing to NY.

I have to agree - That second week we actually saw someone in an anorak jacket and flat cap in the MDR in the evening! Never seen this before. Also agree in the theatre it was a case of " mask rule doesn't mean me!" 

[RJChatsworth]

12 minutes ago, Queenie52 said:

I have to agree - That second week we actually saw someone in an anorak jacket and flat cap in the MDR in the evening! Never seen this before. Also agree in the theatre it was a case of " mask rule doesn't mean me!" 

I hadn’t seen shorts in the MDR in the evening before.

 

They used to say in the UK avoid short booze cruises although I don’t hear that mentioned so much now.  Perhaps the 7-day cruises out of NY are similar.  I wasn’t aware of over-drinking but was aware of the camp site mentality by a significant minority in terms of dress sense and not wearing masks when asked to.  I have never seen so many wearing shorts in the evening in the Royal Court Theatre and elsewhere where they were told not to go.

[rafinmd]

Sorry to hear Covid caught up with you.  I was definitely NOT impressed by the Brooklyn Terminal.  On disembarkation I saw the signs about masks being required on the way into the terminal but it looked like less than half of the staff was wearing them.  I suspect with just 2 days left you will still be positive in Southampton and I hope that does not cause you too much trouble getting back home.

 

Roy

[Host Hattie]

I hope you & MrsRJ are feeling OK and you can get home without too much difficulty.

[RJChatsworth]

Thanks HH.  Home Friday, now waiting for single red lines.

 

Cunard looked after us very well in isolation.  There were about 22 cabins where we were and they all seemed to be occupied.  There was the same number port side but I don’t know how many were occupied.  The only downside was trying to raise the Purser’s Office.  They were permanently engaged when you rang morning through evening.  After about 10 minutes hanging on they would cut the call telling you to ring back.  Hanging on a phone is not what you really want when not feeling very well!  The medics called everyday and room service made sure you didn’t starve.

 

The funny bit was when we were finally escorted off the ship at 1020.  A man with spray equipment followed behind spraying where we had just walked including the lift as we got out.

[RJChatsworth]

A final point I forgot to mention.  When we moved to the isolation cabin I left two one-litre bottles of Hilden still water in the fridge.  There was none in new cabin.  One of the first to ring us was room service and I asked for two bottles of Hilden water.  Warm water was coming out of the bathroom cold tap.  The bottled water duly arrived with a receipt for $8.97.  When I queried it I was told that water via the cabin steward is free but the same water through room service attracts a charge.  I didn’t know that before.

 

It took a bit of persistence to resolve and get reimbursed.  The water was taken away and replaced by two other bottles - perhaps the same ones!

[Host Hattie]

Nice to hear from you and thank you for posting during the past 3 weeks. I'm sorry your trip ended the way it did but it's good to hear that you were well looked after.

I hope those extra lines don't take too long to disappear.

[ronpes]

Likewise to HH post.

Welcome back and thank you for taking the time and trouble to keep us informed during your trip. 
it was much appreciated. 
I hope you get better soon. 

[Jacqueline]

Thank you so much for taking the time to post. I guess you have enough Wi-Fi from your quarantine rooms? 
How are you passing your days?

[57eric]

I've just learned that the passenger who was airlifted on July 9 is someone I know.  I can report that, while not fully recovered, he is doing very well.

[RJChatsworth]

57eric - that’s encouraging news. Good to know as we don’t normally hear about passengers who are taken off by helicopter.  Or by ambulance as it happens!

 

I remember an evacuation by helicopter off South Carolina a few years ago.  It transpired that the passenger had been advised not to travel by his doctor and he had no insurance.  I often wonder what happened to him, medically and financially!