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

[NE John]

1 hour ago, mking8288 said:

QE's Starlink has been good, very good to excellent, beyond expectations esp. against NCL.  This is peak time now, dinner services and I think it's marginally slower 😁😁😁 hahaha 

 

 

 

NCL Prima's Starlink on this April-May T.A. crossing, NY to Southampton, UK  (below)😳🙄😤

 

 

Considering that you’re in higher 

northern latitudes than a when on a TA, the Starlink #’s look even better. Starlink allegedly is less effective in higher latitudes. 

[Sugar Magnolia]

19 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

 

@Sugar Magnolia looks like your posse are coming

 

 

Yep that's them!

 

[mking8288]

Gala #2 Dinner - Menu 👍

 

 

Chicken Satay

 

Salmon

 

 

 

Beef Wellington - no upcharge 🫢

 

Dover Sole - no upcharge🤗

 

 

Baked Alaska

 

 

NCL clan ... this, tonight, is practically like Specialty Dining 😋

[mking8288]

Queens Room,  after dinner in a party & dancing mode 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 8 by mking8288

[mking8288]

On the lookout for possible Northern Lights as alerted by one of the local guide on our Alaska tour over these several nights, apparently not.  One of the photo used Night.Sight option filtering. 

 

 

 

 

Our reliable balcony neighbor, faithfully leave the porch light on and hasn't been turned off ... 

[*Miss G*]

6 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Our reliable balcony neighbor, faithfully leave the porch light on and hasn't been turned off ... 

 

They are probably oblivious to the light being on 24/7. I have mentioned it to the room steward when I had the same situation and it was turned off.

[mking8288]

Sunrise 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 8 by mking8288

[schmoopie17]

The food, festivities and fun (FFF) all look great. But even all of those will not persuade us to venture into the elegant opulence which is Cunard.

 

I no longer own a suit or even a sport coat...and the only long pants I own are jeans.

Rent a tux? Only if I'm going to Prom (which is highly unlikely)

 

Looks like we are destined/doomed to a life of cruising with steerage lines like NCL.

 

But glad you guys are having a blast. Sorry to see your cruise (and review) come to an end soon. It's always fun tagging along with you.

[mking8288]

Housekeeping is up already, out & about.  We decided to enjoy breakfast as the sun rises, wow ... what a sight. And, doing laundry as passengers can start by 7:30.

 

 

 

 

[mking8288]

Enjoy these photos as we eat 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[JIMESOPUS]

@mking8288 Finally caught up, thanks again for an excellent " Live ", while Cunard looks tempting, I'm now thinking about trying Princess for our next crossing, the review of @YVRteacher has me leaning more toward them. Safe travels home,

Jim

[Hogladyrider]

@mking8288  this has been a wonderful review.  I never would have entertained Cunard but it looks like we might enjoy the sedate cruising style.  The ship is amazing!

 

Thank you for this wonderful review, looking forward to your next one as well!

[mking8288]

Very busy now, not quite a line but there is a wait for the machine to become available. 

 

 

Meanwhile, a good breakfast to kick off the last full morning onboard Cunard's QE. I will hold off replies on comments & thoughts to you until we officially finish up this journey and don't have to struggle with fat fingers on a tiny keyboard.

 

 

 

This not quite live review turned out to be more than expected, next up will be on Royal Caribbean and that's going to be interesting as well. 

[mking8288]

Based on CruiseMapper, MarineTraffic - looks like we will get into Victoria earlier than scheduled, after 11:30 (my best guess ... slowing to under 15 kts coming in) and possibly able to go ashore by noon once cleared by CBSA. Ship tours meet mostly at 1:30 PM. Yay, I have a Rogers signal for Google Fi on the iPhone 

 

We'll probably just Taxi/UberXL into where we aimed to see first, or do City Bus w a transfer.  We are now actually closer to Washington State on the way in.

 

More pictures 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 8 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Our current location per Google on cellular GPS mapping 

 

[dexddd]

On 9/7/2024 at 10:38 AM, mking8288 said:

Yes, that's it ... darn autocorrect 

 

 

@dexddd  Mine is on station, safe & sound. You bribed the steward and he got someone else by mistake 😁😁😁

What is he eating?  A Puffin?  And he may be a clone.

[Sugar Magnolia]

Have a nice day in Victoria. Last time I was there I walked around the entire day and took a nap in the lobby of the Empress Hotel. Highly recommend it. 😅

 

[mking8288]

16 minutes ago, dexddd said:

What is he eating?  A Puffin?  And he may be a clone.

 

Haha 😂 😂 fog horn blowing, lost at the moment but oh, "The Sound of Silence" ... Are you going to Scarborough ..." with hot chocolate in hand, chilling. 

 

 

P.S.  Feel a little like being on a "magical mystery tour" at sea, still on the lookout for whales, dolphins and sea otters, etc. with binoculars ready.  No luck yet ... there is always an acquarium, right 😁

Edited September 8 by mking8288

[mking8288]

8 minutes ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

Have a nice day in Victoria. Last time I … took a nap in the lobby of the Empress Hotel … 😅

Great idea, can I use your name as a reference, tell them we are on a CC mission and bring 5 others along ?

 

 

[dexddd]

Not sure what Sitka Webcam was showing me sun, maybe a bait and switch.

 

Hadn't planned on space for the Alaskan reindeer hide??

 

Beans look good, no doctoring up, but giving me gas.

 

See leeks still on menu even in quiche.  Did you know that leeks are one of the more expensive onion varieties.  Not in plans of NCL to get $5 more.

 

Food looks good.  Haven't seen late night buffet like that on NCL in ten years or more.

 

No other major news lower 48.

 

 

 

 

[mking8288]

39 minutes ago, dexddd said:

... Food looks good.  Haven't seen late night buffet like that on NCL in ten years or more ...

Yulp 🤫

 

Here, for your convenience to sail and sustain, and others 

 

 

 

 

[mking8288]

We are inside Victoria harbor, inching along slower at 8 kts for past 1/2 hour+  ... under pilot boat escort.  Well so much for going ashore earlier than ... might as well eat a buffet lunch first. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 8 by mking8288

[*Miss G*]

14 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

We are inside Victoria harbor, inching along slower at 8 kts for past 1/2 hour+  ... under pilot boat escort.  Well so much for going ashore earlier than ... might as well eat a buffet lunch first.

 

 

Oh good.  You’re still there.  😂  I was going to recommend a walk over to Fisherman’s Wharf then catch the Water Taxi over to the Empress Dock.  Enjoy Victoria!

 

Oh wait.  You had mentioned ChinaTown.  The ferry takes you there too.  👍

 

Edited September 8 by *Miss G*

[www3traveler]

Given all the smoke, might be a good day to relax, take a nap and get ready for a busy couple of days.

 

As always, THANK YOU  Still have no desire to sail Cunard.

 

Prayers for your long journey home.

[mking8288]

Gangway is almost ready w set-up. CBSA just came off the ship, looks like as soon as the word is given, the rush will begin  All abroad is 8:30 PM tonight for 9 PM sail away. 

 

 

 

 

Local time in about 1 PM, scanned the port info / ship sat phone #, etc. just in case, as always. 

 

 

What's our plan ?  Consistent w our motto, we'll go ashore & wing it, if the deal looks good, pay & go.