Not-quite-Live < limited > cruise journal: QE (Q427) Alaska cruise: 10 night, 30 Aug – 9 Sep 2024 plus Vancouver pre & post

[exlondoner]

If you feel an urge to participate in the mask theme, they sometimes have a mask making activity, I think. I agree, the whole thing is much easier for women.

[Victoria2]

21 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

If you feel an urge to participate in the mask theme, they sometimes have a mask making activity, I think. I agree, the whole thing is much easier for women.

Or buy masks from the Mighty River.

 

Cheap and cheerful although I think we overspent at around £4.50 ea although this IS Cunard! 🙂

Our masks were worn for all of ten mins then consigned to the suitcase never to be worn again.

 

 

[exlondoner]

6 minutes ago, Victoria2 said:

Or buy masks from the Mighty River.

 

Cheap and cheerful although I think we overspent at around £4.50 ea although this IS Cunard! 🙂

Our masks were worn for all of ten mins then consigned to the suitcase never to be worn again.

 

 

I’ve never participated. I do try and dress right when there is a colour theme though.

[mking8288]

5 hours ago, Victoria2 said:

Do we have any translators?  😁

No worries, been our "coded" language, "exclusive" to a tiny circle of fun loving CC'er over at the NCL board here.  Kindly see below as we try to bring in a good dose of humor & jokes in positive ways.

 

"Station Zebra" refers to my infamous collection of select tech "toys" and gadgets taken on a given cruise trip / vacation, always evolving and adapting (i.e. an UK power plug/adapter since this is going to be a Cunard ship, along with EU plug & of course, USA plugs)

 

@dexddd  In true spirit of "packing" lite (light) I am stuffing some of the gadgets/adapters/plugs into those packing cubes (M sized being more common, also the 1/2 and slim ones) to max out the wasted corners & space ... since carry-on weight isn't a problem.  We'll get past the UA "sizer" just fine and they aren't using the scale, unlike TAP-Portugal and Norse Atlantic Airway.  Going "undercover" and stuffing the cubes with boxers & t-shirts, to "sail & sustain"

 

 

UA's latest guidelines is the worst among the big 3 (AA and DL being the others) with JetBlue having a slight edge, in max size for that personal bag.  This shoulder tote is just slightly bigger than 17 x 10 x 9 and almost idea for the medium (compression) packing cube - tossed the Sony NB computer inside with the mouse, cables & accessories, charger - and, a set of sleepwear w tees & boxers, extra shirt ... heavy but perfect otherwise.  Room for other in-flight essentials and Rx pouch.  Odds are barely 50/50 on whether we'll be asked to "kindly" check our carry-on luggage to our final destination, either at LGA or DEN to YVR next Tuesday ... 2nd segment into Richmond, BC is full, probably sold-out & overbooked. 

 

Watering operations - will be okay, being away for just 15 days - pretty sure 5 out of 6 indoor house plants will make it, done this multiple times since 2022.  KASA-powered home set-up will switch on & off the UV light to keep the plants healthy & happy in our small garden townhouse apartment's kitchen breakfast counter (UK/Brits called them "flats")

 

 

Edited August 20 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Status - time for a weather check ahead, not looking pretty (as expected ... rain / wet weather gear, checked & packed) 

Edited August 20 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Where is "our" ship this week, now, etc. - CruiseMapper is my preferred free app, more accurate & precise vs. using Marinetraffic dot com

Our B&B will be in Richmond, south of YVR Int'l Airport, a 10 minutes drive ... and, about 30 minutes ***  to Canada Place cruise terminal - will be 2 ships docked next Friday, QE should be at the North Terminal per my "homework" 

 

*** Rt. 99 looks like a highway, it is not - except for the sections in Richmond - crossing over the bridge that connect to the city of Vancouver, it is local street with traffic lights.  10 years ago, portable Garmin GPS was great to get from points A to B via C and then onward to D.  Nowadays, Android Auto is "wow" and nice and Apple CarPlay too, actually more reliable, in my personal experience so will have both for navigation ... bye, bye to Hertz's "Never Lost" $$ Nav System.  

[Victoria2]

mking8288

Only one word will do [well two actually] to the translation.

 

Flippin 'eck!

 

 

[D&N]

@mking8288

If you have time amongst all your preparations this video from an Ice White Ball on QE shows the wide range of outfits worn in the Queens Room. The guy that posted it is in all white.

 

The music/singing/dancing is quite good to watch and listen to as well. And shows what a wide range of things can be danced to a cover of The Best.

 

 

[mking8288]

T minus 9 Days ... let the single digit dance began 😎 and just 7 more days, really - flying LGA (New York) via DENver (CO) to YVR (BC) or Vancouver for our 3 nights pre-cruise stay in Richmond, 10 minutes from/to the airport.  

 

Been keeping tabs on UA (United Airlines) flights that we are booked & confirmed on - same flight numbers as next week.  Both segments departed on-time, landed slightly earlier than scheduled to be on-time, and no issues with the Denver hub airport connections - in those youthful days, some 30 to 40 years ago (oops) ... traveling mostly for business, living out a suitcase & garment bag ... f coast-to-coast non-stops (DC 10's and later on B767's) were not available, connections were via ORD or DEN hubs on the smaller B737.  

 

Fun facts / details from United - 

#1 - LGA to DEN   Economy Plus upgrade $94+  and United First at only $349

#2 - DEN to YVR   Economy Plus upgrade $42+ and United First, mileage upgrade - waitlist only

#3 - YVR to DEN   Economy Plus upgrade $85+ and United First, mileage upgrade - waitlist only

#4 - DEN to LGA   Economy Plus upgrade $94+ and United First, $2,309  (not a typo) 

 

 

UPDATE - QE has sailed from Canada Place, Vancouver earlier (5 PM, local time ... as scheduled) for her next Alaska 10 nights cruise, destination is Sitka, AK arriving on Thursday, tomorrow being a sea day.  

 

Our turn is next when the ship return to CP with Victoria, BC as the last stop.  

[dexddd]

I didn't watch the video a couple posts back but were they playing 'Stayin' Alive' by chance?

[D&N]

2 hours ago, dexddd said:

I didn't watch the video a couple posts back but were they playing 'Stayin' Alive' by chance?

🤣 But no, a singer called Bruno covering The Best by by Mike Chapman and Holly Knight and performed by Bonnie Tyler, Tina Turner and others.

And some of the dancers in that video might still be cruising in 60+ years time!

[mking8288]

3 hours ago, dexddd said:

I didn't watch the video a couple posts back but were they playing 'Stayin' Alive' by chance?

That would be a wrong choice of song for a different era ... maybe 'Let it Be' to bridge the generation gap.  Probably more towards "New York, New York" or maybe "Moon River" ???  Sir. Elton John tribute doing "Candle in The Wind" a possible compromise. 

 

Meanwhile, not really getting warm and fuzzy about all the reports of flight cancellations and diversions, some are weather-related ... darn airlines using stretched narrow bodies to fly across & end up low on fuel minimum.  Did gave my younger brother our itinerary since he is designated emergency contact as we will be "Leaving on a jet plane" via Denver.  

 

Last night's NY bound United flight, DEN-LGA was delayed on the tarmac by 1+ hour, in-bound late from YVR, a good thing I booked ours with nearly a 3 hours connection time.  Clean bathrooms inside the terminal, priceless 😉 

 

 

Edited August 21 by mking8288

[mking8288]

That will be the same flight & routing for us on Sept - a long day traveling, 3 time zones going eastbound.  Home around midnight 😁  ... less than 15 minutes from LGA to our townhouse apartment. 

 

Finally, looks like Google fixed Android Auto for the Samsung Galaxies, going to need that for navigation with our own preset POI. Just in case for backup, I will use iPhone's Apple CarPlay - the girls know iOS than their uncle. 

 

 

[Hogladyrider]

On 8/19/2024 at 11:12 AM, mking8288 said:

 

The more I think, read and discovered, this is going to be a great cruise.  Following @YVRteacher's month long Princess journey live & seeing her photos telling the stories, I now believe that we really must and need to expand beyond NCL. 

Are you following @YVRteacher NCL Jewel to Alaska with her dad this week?  NCL definitely appears to have some "issues" happening.  @Saint Greg sailed on Jewel the week before her and did a live as well, more issues.  Time to expand for sure.

[Sugar Magnolia]

2 hours ago, mking8288 said:

good thing I booked ours with nearly a 3 hours connection time

I rarely fly with connections, even if more expensive. But if I have to connect, a 3-hour layover would be my choice as well. This is even more important if one has checked luggage.

 

[mking8288]

@Hogladyrider  Surely followed Yvonne's Princess journey and now her dad along on the Jewel for next 2 weeks, not off to a good start ... she's putting on a positive spin, fair & square.  Also @Saint Greg's report, Jewel ... unbelievable, isn't it and we've sailed that ship way back.  

 

Here I am, brave & bold, daring and going beyond our comfort zones - with an open-mind.  Don't worry about all the jokes & comments from CC friends that know us, it's all good.  Being retired set us free to do whatever, whenever and wherever ... flying, if we really have to.  Mrs. not loving train travel.  

[dexddd]

@mking8288Found a photo of your ship in last drydock.

[mking8288]

5 hours ago, dexddd said:

@mking8288 Found a photo of your ship in last drydock.

 

Hahaha, really - which ship ... you barely had me for a moment, look somewhat similar but not quite.  Reminds me of the QM in Long Beach, CA  - the floating hotel in the 80's for a corporate convention (didn't - ended in choosing the Westin Bonaventure in downtown LA) ...

 

Slow afternoon, this one for you - once the Big Red Boat with Disney branding. DW never cashed in a $5 casino chip - now, a collector's item.  

 

Edited August 22 by mking8288

[Cruise Liner Fan]

1 hour ago, mking8288 said:

 

Hahaha, really - which ship ... you barely had me for a moment, look somewhat similar but not quite.  Reminds me of the QM in Long Beach, CA  - the floating hotel in the 80's for a corporate convention (didn't - ended in choosing the Westin Bonaventure in downtown LA) ...

 

Slow afternoon, this one for you - once the Big Red Boat with Disney branding. DW never cashed in a $5 casino chip - now, a collector's item.  

 

This is the 1st Ship named Sea Breeze that I went aboard in August 1999 for a New England/Canada cruise. It was called the Premier Cruise Line. Premier used old second hand ships in their fleet. Sea Breeze was formerly named Frederico C of the Costa Line built in Italy in 1958. Unfortunately Premier Cruise Line went bankrupt and out of business late in the Summer of 2000. The Sea Breeze sank off the coast of Virginia late in 2000 in a storm. There is reasom to believe that the Sea Breeze was intentionally sunk because the insurance for the ship was worth way much more than the scrap value.

[mking8288]

Tech / Geek corner as FYI only and for further discussion & "exploration" later - just framing the background to minimize the chatter (boring subject / topic to probably many Cunarder, please feel free to skip, ignore, bypass and skim over and not read the details) 

 

# 1 - for those of us from the U.S. and Canada, cellular / data (native & roaming) overage in Vancouver, BC and in Alaska ports should be good to excellent, maybe spotty in "remote" places far away from cities and towns ... unlike 2008.  For "visitors" including those from other parts of the world, 4G LTE and 5G, where available - one should look and plan ahead.  

 

I came across an option recently using eSim*** card, known as Red Bull Mobile data, a cellular provider based in Austria offering reasonable & affordable data roaming services around the world and deemed a good option for those on cruise ships sailing into foreign ports - buy / prepaid a set "bucket" of 4G data for use, add funds digitally via the mobile app in managing usage - no monthly maintenance fees or other surprises.  Red Bull Mobile apparently is partnering with Verizonwireless in USA mainland (48 states) with roaming* coverage and services should include / extend to Alaska (whether it is VZW or with AT&T or T-Mobile ... will find out.)   Notice the * R symbol for data roaming on my Google Pixel 7 Pro, dual Sims active & working. 

 

Red Bull Mobile - https://esim.redbullmobile.com/ 

 

There are a number of Red Bull Mobile apps in Google Play Store and Apple's App Store, be sure to select & install the correct one (screenshot is what mine looked like) - it is up & working (tested briefly to use on Android Auto (navigation & Maps) to insure it is configured) using Pixel 7 Pro running latest Android 14, Sim #1 is on T-Mobile's network and (e)Sim #2 is activated as Red Bull Mobile on Verizonwireless, here in New York City.  It supports WiFi calling and is good. 

 

Please note that pricing per GB varied by country using Euro dollars, not USD for billing purposes.  4 Euro $ per GB (1,000 MB) in the US and higher for Canada at 6  Euro $

 

 

Alaska coverage should be included and available, someone else here on the Cunard forum also referred to it recently.  Will find out if a cellular signal can be obtained while on the ship, docked and at sea (most likely, not)  Stay tuned.  eSim is relatively new & gaining popularity, considered more secure & major handset (hardware) manufacturers are moving toward full adoption ahead, if not already ... VZW in its early "CDMA" days did not use or need a Sim card and rather, has an activation process.  

 

Disclaimer - not affiliated with RBM nor doing this in exchange for gains or benefits, simply on a trial run basis. Download the app, set up the account and follow instructions to download & install the sim, provide an email address for verification purposes, enable the (dual) eSim and activate services, turn on "roaming" option and access is granted to use.  Monitor or watch your usage, the first 100MB data is free & included.  Screenshot below - 

 

[mking8288]

10 minutes ago, Cruise Liner Fan said:

This is the ... Sea Breeze that I went aboard in August 1999 for a New England/Canada cruise. It was called the Premier Cruise Line ... 

Yes, the S.S. Sea Breeze and we're on her (Inside cabin, no-frills) around that time too, for a weekend CTN when the ship was in NY, not the 1st cruise for us.  We're on a # of other small cruise ships before this (also went out of business) but definitely nowhere near the classic Queen Mary docked & refurbished as a floating hotel ... and, the Spruce Goose.  

 

Remember how the old NY ship terminal then and ship's buffet dining experience.  

[Cruise Liner Fan]

5 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Yes, the S.S. Sea Breeze and we're on her (Inside cabin, no-frills) around that time too, for a weekend CTN when the ship was in NY, not the 1st cruise for us.  We're on a # of other small cruise ships before this (also went out of business) but definitely nowhere near the classic Queen Mary docked & refurbished as a floating hotel ... and, the Spruce Goose.  

 

Remember how the old NY ship terminal then and ship's buffet dining experience.  

I was also at the Queen Mary in Long Beach,California in January of 2006. I got to California aboard the QE2 for the QE2's NY to LA via the Panama Canal World Cruise segment. I got off the QE2 in LA and spent the night aboard the Queen Mary. I spent the night in the cabin with the TV on all night well there are stories that the Queen Mary is haunted, Concerning that when the Premier Cruise Line went out of business, I read in a newspaper article that one passenger forced off of one of the Premier Ships is quoted as saying "that last night was Pirate themed night aboard ship and today they're making us walk the plank"

[Cruise Liner Fan]

The NY Cruise Terminal is Piers 88 & 90. Pier 88 is the former French Line pier, Pier 90 used to be the Cunard Line pier and Pier 92 which is longer used is also used to be the Cunard Line pier. The QM2 now docks at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal and I'll be going back aboard the QM2 on November 20th of this year for a 13 night Caribbean cruise. Enjoy your Alaska cruise aboard the Queen Elizabeth.

[mking8288]

Tech / Geek corner - continuation - as FYI and for further discussion & "exploration" later - just framing the background to minimize the chatter next week (boring subject / topic to probably many Cunarder, please feel free to skip, ignore, bypass and skim over and not read the details) 

 

Part 2 - By next weekend, will see & know onboard how good, reliable and fast (a "relative" term) Cunard's satellite WiFi internet at sea, between Vancouver, BC and Ketchikan, AK along the Inner Passage.  Plan is to not buy unlimited access pre-cruise for the duration of the (10 days) cruise.  Be frugal and pay for 24 hours or 1 day coverage at a time, definitely on sea days.  

 

Verizonwireless had good land coverage 16 years ago whenever we docked, even in Prince Rupert, BC and I know it is very solid in Victoria, BC.  Satellite coverage was / has been available on cruise ships, including NCL and with Cunard for a while.  Princess (and Royal Caribbean) is been well known for their superior satellite WiFi access at sea - recently announced the addition of a premium option, the MedallionNet Max, designed to address the needs & demands of the digitally connected passengers onboard. 

 

More info here in this link - and, Cunard also being under Carnival ... shouldn't be all that different with the basic products offered ... maybe not the "Max" options and with fewer passengers feeling the need to be connected *** (OK, maybe those living onboard and/or on a World Cruise, away from "home" for an extended period of time) 

https://recommend.com/editors-picks/princess-cruises-launches-medallionnet-max-wi-fi-service/

 

NCL's data/connectivity will likely slip backward further to the bottom with 2023-2024 fleet-wide rollout & adoption of Starlink satellite tech apparently, not adequate & unsatisfactory to passengers paying extra, expecting more than what's delivered.  Recent semi / live NCL cruise report seemed to reflect that.  Will check out QE's WiFi to see how it feel, as a casual user and with several iPhones among 6 of us, also see if a well-known iMessage feature "loophole" exist on this Cunard ship.  

 

As far as cellular coverage, we have Google Fi as our home carrier/ISP plan - global services that has expanded to inclusive coverage to 200+ countries, voice, text and data - 4G LTE and 5G where available (bear in mind, less populated cities, towns & villages in other parts of the world do not necessary need or require solid 5G coverage for excellent connectivity ... reliable 4G in Bermuda and the Caribbeans are excellent and more than enough.  Our plan isn't all the expensive either and we've been pleased with its value, Fi is using T-Mobile USA signals or towers to provide signals.  

 

Hint: see that "Hotspot tethering" feature, enhanced and no data caps, not throttled ... in essence, I get to turn on my own mini secured MiFi (WiFi) network on "select Android devices", and, it is behind VPN by Google.  iPhones are now supported for use on Google Fi, but ... Hotspot tethering, apparently an "issue" due to Apple devices' design, oops.  

 

Nevertheless, I will also have access to AT&T wireless as a backup (on a prepaid plan) for use in ports, in the unlikely event T-Mo/Google Fi has zero coverage ... not expected.  Plus the newest addition, Red Bull Mobile data ... should be rather fun.

<<  spilling some of the beans about the mystery pieces behind the so-called "Station Zebra"  >> 

 

 

[Cruise Liner Fan]

8 hours ago, dexddd said:

@mking8288Found a photo of your ship in last drydock.

Is that ship the Titanic or is it her sister ship the Olympic?