June 9th crossing - full journal

[jtimmer]

Herewith the full journal of our June 9th crossing. It is very very long, so be prepared!

 

 

 

Journal

Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Voyage – Eastbound

June 9th – June 15th, 2006

Day One – Friday, June 9

The kids woke up at 6 am and were already bouncing off the walls with excitement. At 7:45 am our Boston Coach arrives, and we are on our way to Logan airport for a 10 am flight to La Guardia. We had allowed for an hour plus to get to Logan, given that we were leaving at peak traffic time, but we were lucky and arrived at 8:30 am or so. That was early enough to (just) make the 9 am shuttle, and so we arrived in NY an hour ahead of schedule. We flew right over Manhattan, which was exciting for the kids.

We landed at 10 am, right on time. We had our main luggage shipped ahead (part of Cunard’s White Star service via DHL), so we only had carry-on luggage. As a result, we were out of the plane and at the curb within minutes.

Our driver was waiting for us and we were on our way to the Brooklyn Cruise terminal. The drive to “Red Hook” was easy, just a clear shot on Brooklyn/Queens Expressway (278). It took about 45 minutes. As we approached the terminal we could start to see glimmers of the mighty ship. It is huge and impressive

We arrived at the terminal at around 10:45 am, checked in, and waited for boarding, which was at noon for us (boarding goes in stages, depending on what deck and class of service you are in). The check-in was straightforward. First you pass through an airport-like security area, and then you line up at the check-in counter. They snap your picture and give you your boarding card. This is the card you will keep with you throughout the journey. The kids’ card were hole-punched to indicate that they could not purchase alcohol on board.

At exactly 12 sharp the doors opened. We walked down a corridor, then up an escalator and onto the ramp and into the ship. A truly spectacular sight, given the sheer magnitude of the QM2.

One thing the kids immediately noticed as we walked in off the ramp was the size of the fenders (rubber bumpers that keep the ship from making contact with the dock). They are the size of trucks and larger than our entire boat back at home.

As we entered the ship (on 3 deck), we were greeted by a receiving line of crew members, in customary fashion. This is the grand lobby, which is several stories high. It is also where the shops are, including Hermes (!) and Harrods, as well as H. Stern. Up the elevators we went, to deck nine and ten, and we checked out our cabins. We are in a category Q5 suite.

There are three classes of service on the QM2: Britannia (regular cabins and dining in the main dining room), Princess Grill (junior suites and dining in the Princess Grill), and Queens Grill (suites and dining in the Queens’ Grill). It’s the only ship line that still has a class system (sort of like first class, business class, and economy). You can cross for as little as $1,500 or as much as $30,000.

The suites were roomy and nicely appointed. The suite is pretty large by ship standards, over 500 square feet. It has a full balcony, large bathroom, sitting area, and a little bar area. There is even a walk-in closet. We were greeted by our butler Mihaela, and her assistant Karen, and we also stopped in at the concierge lounge down the corridor to meet our concierge.

After we got settled into our cabins, we went to 7 deck, which is the wrap around deck (the only deck where you can walk around the entire ship). From there we went up the stairs to 8 deck (aft). There is a pool there as well as a bar. We had our usual drink of choice (cranberry & soda), and chatted with the bartender about the cruise that just ended that morning. It was a private charter by Merrill Lynch for their top producing brokers (top 1 pct).

Coincidently, a friend of ours was on that cruise. Evidently it was quite a boondoggle. The bartender was telling us about the sheer magnitude of boozing that was going on the day before on that deck. He even had a blender give up on him because of all the piña coladas and frozen margaritas that were made.

We had lunch at 1 pm in the Queens’ Grill. A nice meal and an opportunity for us to meet our wait staff (which will be with us at all meals throughout the crossing). Our head waiters were from Italy and India. The assistant waiter was French and looked like a character in a Mel Brooks movie. The Maitre ’D was from Italy and was quite a character. As is the case with most ships, the crew on the QM2 is a virtual United Nations.

The nice thing about being in one of the suite classes is that we have your own table for the entire journey (no one else will sit at our table), which means we can eat at whatever time we feel, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Also, the nice thing about having a Canyon Ranch Spa Club on board (other than all the spa services) is that you can eat meals prepared along the Canyon Ranch philosophy. We took advantage of this many times to avoid turning into blimps.

After lunch, it was time to explore the ship some more. We checked out the theatre, planetarium, ballroom, Commodore’s club, library and bookshop, gym, Canyon Ranch Spa club, and the shops down in the grand lobby. One thing we really noticed is how incredibly long the hallways are. They go on forever, it seems.

Canyon Ranch is a key feature of the ship (and the only way I was able to convince My wife to go on a ship to cross the Atlantic Ocean). CR has two resorts, in Tucson, AZ, and Lenox, mA, and three Spa Clubs, one of which is on board this ship (the others are in Las Vegas and miami, I believe).

Fortunately, we had booked all our spa services about a month ago, because it was sheer pandemonium with the numbers of guest trying to book treatments before they were sold out.

On our way back to our cabin, we checked in with the concierge on 9 deck. This is a key feature, because here they will take care of any issues we might have. We booked a few more treatments, and checked on our luggage (which was just now starting to arrive in our cabins). One thing we learned the hard way later on was that not all previously booked treatments were going to occur at the time they were planned. It would be helpful if Cunard provided finalized CR itineraries for all passengers.

At 5 pm sharp, the horn was blasted to announce that we were leaving port. We all met up and went to deck 13 (the top of the ship). To get there, you take one of the four elevator/stairwell banks (A through D, identified by letter and by the color of the carpet). Up on deck 12, we took a set of outside stairs to deck 13, and from there we climbed another set of stairs to a small observation deck, about mid ship, in front of Cunard’s signature red funnel.

From there, we had an excellent view of downtown Manhattan and also the Statue of Liberty. There was a lot of police activity on the water and in the air (helicopters), and we even saw some armed NYPD officers walking on deck 13. We passed by Lady Liberty on the starboard side and made our way to the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.

It was announced that coming towards us under the bridge was a brand new Princess cruise ship that had just sailed in from Italy on her way to NYC (with crew only), where she would start her inaugural cruise. As she passed us on the port side, she blew her horn three times, after which the QM2 blew her horn three times (loudly, as we were just forward of the funnel). It was a great sight to see this brand new ship come by. But, our ship was better!

Shortly thereafter, we passed under the VZ Bridge. The QM2 was build specifically to cross from NYC to Southampton and back, and one of the requirements was that she needs to fit under the VZ Bridge. So, the ship’s funnel had to be designed in such a way that she would pass underneath, which we did of course, but just barely (a clearance of only 12 feet).

As soon as we passed under the bridge, people clapped and started to disperse. We went back to deck 8 briefly, where there was a Caribbean band playing. There were some kids swimming in the pool, and a few people dancing.

We headed back to our cabins to finish unpacking and to unwind and get ready for dinner. The winds are picking up now that we are clearing land. The sky is party cloudy and the seas are relatively calm.

It was now around 6:30 pm, and it’s time for dinner. We got a menu that had a daily selection as well as the a la carte menu. The a la carte menu is sort of the permanent collection, while the daily selection represents that night’s specials. You can choose from either, but the a la carte section may take some extra time to prepare. We noted caviar as one of the appetizers, and from that night on we had caviar as an extra course in between the appetizer and the main course. We also noticed that there was a sugar free desert (not Canyon Ranch). We tried several of them, and they were quite good.

Tonight is casual night on the QM2. On Transatlantic crossings there are three types of evenings: casual (dress shirt and pants for men, with blazer optional but no tie), formal (tuxedo or dinner jacket for men), and informal (jacket and tie for men). On this crossing there will be three formal nights (including two balls, the Black & White Ball and the Ascot Ball), one casual, and two informal. This is one more than was stated on the original program. I brought both my tux and my white dinner jacket. My wife has several gowns and cocktail dresses with her.

The light was getting low, and there is some rain in the distance. It was windy out there, now that we are in the open sea. But, the weather was much better than forecast today, so we got lucky. It was supposed to rain and thunder, but instead the sun was out for the most part and it was a humid 70+ degrees. So far the seas are calm and the first night is expected to be smooth, with five to nine foot waves. That would be a lot for our little 36 foot boat, but it’s nothing for the QM2. The ship is now cruising at a speed of about 23 knots.

We had a nice dinner. My wife had Dover sole, prepared tableside. I had a tenderloin steak. The Queens Grill is the kind of restaurant that you would expect on the Queen Mary 2: excellent food and even more excellent service.

After dinner, Our nanny and the kids got ready for bed, and my wife and I did some exploring. We checked out the ballroom, where the band was playing a “cha cha” (we were too tired for dancing but vowed to do so the next night). We went out on deck 7 and took in the fresh air. It was a beautiful night, although we could all definitely feel the motion of the ship (even with only five to nine foot swells).

We set our watches forward one hour before retiring for the evening.

Day 2 – Saturday, June 10

We all slept very well despite the motion, and nobody was seasick. We had breakfast around 8:30 am. Afterwards, our nanny took the kids to the kids’ area on deck 6 (called the Zone). Apparently there are some 200 kids on this crossing, much more than I expected, given that it was early June. My wife went to the gym and to walk around deck 7, while I headed to the Commodore Club on deck 9 to write in my journal. The Commodore Club is really cool, wrapped along the bow of the ship. There is a big replica of the QM2 behind the bar. The room is dark and romantic, with curved blue lights along the ceiling.

Later that morning we met up at the library on deck 8. This is one of the most popular places on the ship. It is beautifully appointed, has 200,000 volumes, and is at the bow of the ship. There is also a nice bookstore there, full of Cunard memorabilia. In fact, the entire ship is a Cunard museum, with many paintings and photographs of current previous Cunard ships displayed everywhere, especially in the stairwells. We bought a wooden puzzle of the QM2, and I got a nautical chart of the North Atlantic, to track the journey (coordinates are announced throughout the voyage). I brought my chart to the concierge to ask her if the Captain would sign it. She said he would and I got my signed chart back on the last day.

At noon, the Captain announced our position, course (88 degrees), and speed (still 23 knots). Seas are moderate, as is the wind. Temperature is in the sixties, with a combination of sun and clouds. The ship’s in-cabin TV system has the weather and the ocean’s conditions on it, as well as a map with the route plotted (great for a chart junkie like me). So, we can see what the sea, wind and temperature conditions are, not only for today but also the past five days. The sea is rated a “4” which is moderate. The wind is a “6”.

We are clearing the western part of the Atlantic (under Nova Scotia) and are heading over the Continental Shelf now (depth is something like 2 miles). We are heading east north-east at about 86 degrees. We will head straight east until we clear Nova Scotia, and then we will head more northerly and travel in a circular motion north-east and then east, in order to capture the Gulf Stream.

At 1 pm we all went to the Planetarium on deck 3 (called “Illuminations”) to see a show about the galaxies narrated by My son Ford. The kids enjoyed it very much, but it is easy to fall asleep in the seats once they are reclined. Afterwards we had lunch. At each lunch, they provide you with that evening’s dinner selections. If you prefer to have something from the a La Carte menu instead, you can order it at that time so the Chef can get it ready. Standard a La Carte items are Chateau Briand and Duck a L’Orange.

Following lunch, we gave Our nanny a break. My son and I went swimming in the pool on deck 12, followed by a game of ping pong. My wife and my daughter went to the gift shop and played cards. My sister in-law was at Canyon Ranch for a stone massage.

Later that day it was time for us to go to Canyon Ranch, on decks 7 and 8. Deck 8 has the hair salon and deck 7 has the treatment rooms and pool. Perhaps the best thing about the CR on board is the view from the pre-treatment lounge area. It is on the starboard side on deck 7 facing straight out over the ocean. A great way to relax if there every there was one.

There was some confusion as to the actual time that our treatments were supposed to take place. We had booked 3:30 pm, but somehow it had changed to 3 pm. So, my wife only got half her facial and I was rescheduled until tomorrow. Apparently, the times you originally request are not necessarily the times that you get. They don’t differ by much, but enough to potentially miss an appointment. We will make sure to confirm our appointments the next time around.

At around 6 pm our butler stopped by to bring us the daily pre-dinner canapés. She is very good (although the canapés were so so). If we page her, she shows up within a minute or so. We have unlimited supplies of non-alcoholic beverages in our mini bar, and we were also offered a ton of complimentary alcohol. At last count, we have two bottles of Veuve Cliquot, a bottle of wine, and we can select two more bottles of liquor from a list. I’m sure the crew will enjoy it when we leave it for them.

Dinner is formal tonight, black tie for men, gowns for the ladies. Tonight is the Black & White Ball. Just about everybody on board is dressed to the nines. It’s a nice thing to see. The passengers seem to relish the opportunity to dress up. Before our dinner, there was a meet-and-greet for Grill passengers with the ship’s Captain in the Queens Room, which is the ballroom on deck 2. It was announced that the Captain would not shake hands out of concern for the Norovirus (but we did get a photo-op). We stayed down there for a little bit and then went back to deck 7 for dinner.

We had our first (and only) celebrity spotting. Uma Thurman is eating dinner in our dining room with her two kids. Apparently she is staying in one of the duplex suites on deck 10. These are the most expensive suites on the ship, going for close to thirty grand per person.

It’s now 9 pm. After we put the kids to bed, my wife and I returned to the Queens room to go ballroom dancing. However, there didn’t seem to be anyone under 70 on the dance floor, so we felt a bit out of place. Even the tempo of the music appeared to have been slowed down. The main demographic is clearly retired folks, with family and gays as the other two groups. In fact, at the Ball, five “gentlemen hosts” were introduced to the crowd. These were roaming (elderly) bachelors who would dance with unattended women.

We checked out the disco, but that was empty too. Where all the passengers? The crossing is fully booked, which means there are 2,500 passengers on board. They must be in the casino or in the pub (which is showing World Cup games via satellite). Also, the second seating is probably still going on.

So, we headed up to the Commodore Club for a drink. There was a good pianist there, playing Gershwin. We headed back to our cabin around 10:30 pm.

Time to call it a night, and to set our watches ahead one hour.

Day 3 - Sunday, June 11

I woke up around 8 am, surprised by how late it was. I went out for my cappuccino (from the Sir Samuels lounge on deck 3, opposite the Chart Room) and then for a walk around deck and back to the cabin. Three laps around deck equals 1.1 miles. My wife and I were planning to go around the deck nine times today, and 12 times tomorrow. After my walk, I met My wife and my sister in-law at breakfast in the Queens Grill. Our nanny and the kids joined in shortly thereafter.

The winds were pretty strong. There was some rain, and the seas were moderate. In fact, last night the seas were rough enough to cause the cabinet doors to swing open in the middle of the night! The Captain announced at noon (as he does every day) that the outlook was for more of the same, but with some improvements later in the day.

After breakfast, my wife and I went for our brisk walk around deck, nine times. After that, we picked up the kids to give Our nanny a break. We had to go Britannia (the main dining room) to clear U.K. immigration. That took only a few minutes. From there we headed off to the Queens Room (just aft of Britannia) to play Bingo. That was a lot of fun, even though we didn’t win.

We left Bingo and had a cappuccino at Sir Samuels. From there we went to the gift shops on the same deck. We bought a few souvenirs and also went to the Hermes. Hermes has produced two items specifically for QM2 passengers, a beach towel and a scarf (only available on board). My wife got a QM2 scarf as a memento.

The Captain announced our position and course, and gave the weather outlook: windy and foggy for the rest of the day. Also, we were passing just south of the Titanic.

After lunch, my wife and I both had Canyon Ranch spa appointments. I had a facial and an Ashiatsu massage. With my eyes closed and feeling what appeared to be both hands and feat, I couldn’t help but wonder what position my masseuse was getting into. Our nanny took the kids swimming on deck 12. It hasn’t been great outdoor weather, with the wind and now also fog, but the pool on deck 12 has a retractable glass roof.

We had dinner around 7 pm. It was another formal night. My wife wore a beautiful blue beaded Ralph Lauren gown and I had my white dinner jacket on. There were many white dinner jackets on board, which was of course appropriate given the season. My daughter had a cute white dress on and my son was wearing his blue blazer, Nantucket reds, white shirt, and signature bowtie.

After dinner, Our nanny took the kids back to their cabin for bed, and after stopping by to read to them, my sister in-law, my wife and I went to the Commodore Club for a while, then to the Queens Grill Lounge for some piano entertainment, and then to the ballroom for some dancing. The dances were a little hard to figure out, because the music is somewhat generic sounding, but we danced a Waltz, a Foxtrot, and a Mambo. Again, the music that was played was so generic that it was sometimes difficult to discern what dance was actually being played.

We retired around 11 pm, which was now midnight as we set our watches ahead an hour again. We will do this two more times over the next two nights. A quick look outside on our balcony reveals that it is still very foggy, windy and wet (not rain, but fog moisture). The ship’s mighty fog horn was sounding every few minutes. What a great sound!

That night, they had a sugar free angel food cake for dessert. It was incredible. So good, in fact, that we asked the chef to prepare it again the next night.

Day 4 – Monday, June 12th

I was awoken by the sound of the Captain’s address over the PA system. What? It’s 9 am already! The Captain announced that conditions were foggy and that this would persist for most of the day, with calm seas. We had planned on having the kids sleep in and order breakfast in bed, so there was no need to call them. We head for breakfast with My sister in-law.

Afterwards, my wife and I went for 12 laps around deck, for a 4 mile walk. The weather is weird. On side of the ship there is no wind, then we turn the corner and practically get blown off the ship! It’s dry in some spots and wet in others (the fog, I figure). I hit the gym for some strength training after that.

We checked in on the kids, and they had only just woken up and were now having breakfast. It’s 11 am! We will have to get them to go to bed earlier tonight and wake up earlier the next few days. Otherwise, they will not adjust to the time change and that will make disembarkation at 8 am on Thursday a challenge!

The kids were going to the planetarium again at 1 pm today, with our nanny and my sister in-law. My wife and I had a leisurely lunch at 1 pm, and the rest joined in around 1:30 pm. The kids were not hungry at all, so they were off to do a self-created treasure hunt throughout the ship. A great way to entertain the kids on the Queen Mary 2.

After lunch, my wife and my sister in-law were off to CR for some more pampering, and I went off to write in my journal. The hours were going by way too fast. I wanted to stop the clocks and freeze time, but unfortunately we were already halfway through our crossing.

We were now past Newfoundland and really in the middle of the North Atlantic. I printed out a map of the Atlantic’s sea conditions in the computer room and there is a low pressure front just west of the U.K. that shows 25 foot waves. I wonder if we will get that weather or whether we will stay clear of it. Part of me wanted to see the action, especially now that we had gotten our sea legs.

Dinner that night was semi formal. That meant a jacket and tie for men. They had a sugar free angel food cake for dessert. It was incredible. So good, in fact, that we asked the chef to prepare it again the next night.

After dinner, we headed back to the Commodore Club on 9 deck, our favorite après-dinner stomping ground. We barely ever ventured down to the grand lobby area after dinner. We don’t care much for casinos, the Golden lion pub is to smoky and smelly (fried food greasy), and the Chart room was also kind of smoky, although it did look nice. Besides, the Commodore Club was just forward of our cabin on 9 deck, so the convenience factor was very high.

Back to the cabin around 11 pm. Time to set our watches ahead another houre.

Day 5 – Tuesday, June 13th

I had requested a wake up call for this morning (at 8 am), so as not to lose any day time. Mihaela called right at 8 am, and I got dressed and went to Sir Samuels for my double cappuccino, followed by a quick walk around deck 7. The seas are calm today and the fog is gone.

The kids were having breakfast in bed again, but this time we pre-ordered breakfast for 9 am for them to avoid having them sleep in too late. After all, we all need to adjust to the time difference so we can wake up early on Thursday for disembarkation. The QM2 is expected to arrive in Southampton at 7:30 am, and we are expected to disembark at 9 am or so.

Because the winds had died down today, the observation deck had reopened (it was closed for several days). The kids and I checked that out, took some pictures with Our nanny, and we also went to the Bridge viewing area, which was fun. Large computer screens displayed navigational charts and radar images.

One thing we had noticed when going to the observation deck was that the Atlantic Room, a card room just aft of the deck, seemed to be the most underutilized public space on the ship. There was nobody there.

After lunch I went to 11 deck (aft) and took a great nap overlooking the ship’s wake. At 3:30 pm I met the rest of the gang for tea in the Queen’s Grill lounge. After that it was time for the kids and I to do some exploring. We went to the gift shop and got a 1000 piece puzzle of the QM2.

We also went up to deck 12 by the pool pavilion for some shuffleboard. We went all the way forward. Then we headed back to the cabin and hung out there for a while. The shuffleboard didn’t work too well, because the disks would not slide well on the ship’s deck.

Later that day, my wife and I met up in the Commodore Club for a cappuccino, and then we headed down to the gym for a quick workout before dinner. Tonight is the Ascot Ball, which means formal attire again.

Dinner was at 7 pm. I was wearing my white dinner jacket, and my wife is wearing her glamorous off-white pant suit. My sister in-law and I were having Duck a l’Orange, prepared table side. We had also specially requested an encore helping of the sugar free Angel Food Cake, but after seeing Baked Alaska on the menu I opted for that instead.

After dinner, we read to the kids and head off to meet My sister in-law in the Commodore Club for drinks. We skipped the Ascot Ball altogether, given our experience at the Black & White Ball. The after dinner routine at the Commodore Club was also a good way to catch up on emails (given the WiFi availability there). The club has a good pianist, who played a variety of tunes, from Gershwin to classical.

Today’s cruising speed was about 23-25 knots, from what I can gather. The seas were pretty calm all day and the wind was low.

Day 6 – Wednesday, June 14th

I got my wake up call from Mihaela at 7:30 am. I get dressed and head straight down to 3 deck to Sir Samuels for my morning double cappuccino. After that, I checked emails in Connexions and head back up to our cabin. We got ready for breakfast and headed down to the QG.

Today’s weather looked promising. The skies were clear and the seas were calm. The ship kept plowing along at what seems to be the same speed, about 25 knots. Amazing how the ship just kept on plowing, day and night, without rest. I couldn’t believe it was the last full day already. What a bummer. This was way too much fun to end.

It’s Bingo time at 11 am again today. The jackpot kept growing and it was now up to $850 if you got all the numbers on your cards by the 54th turn. We all meet up in the Queen’s Lounge and, as usual, nobody in our group won anything. There was still no winner for the big jackpot and the last Bingo game was announced for 2 pm that afternoon. The jackpot will be $900 with no limit, so needless to say we needed to come back for that one.

Time for lunch. It seems as though we spend much of our time at one meal or another, but the meals are good and the company is great. In a way, the meals act as an anchoring point for all of us to be together. The rest of the time we are often split into groups, getting spa treatments, or exploring the ship, etc. After lunch we head back to Bingo for the final game of the crossing. We didn’t win again but some lucky woman walked away with the $900.

After Bingo we headed for tea in the Queen’s Grill Lounge. This was a nice way to do tea, given the intimate setting, but tea in the Queen’s Lounge looks nice as well, just a lot bigger.

After tea, my wife and I headed out to 11 deck, which is the “private” deck for Queens grill passengers. We found a nice spot on the port side of the ship where the wind was blocked, and took a nice nap and did some reading. It was very sunny now. So sunny, in fact, that we both got color on our faces even though it was about 4 in the afternoon.

It was time to pack and get ready for dinner. It was about 6 pm. We had to have our luggage packed that night and have it outside our cabin in the hallway between 6 pm and 11:30 pm. That way, the crew could place the luggage in the staging area, sorted by disembarkation priority, so that it could be loaded off the ship shortly after the QM2 docks in Southampton.

We got most of our luggage sorted out and got dressed for dinner. It’s casual night, which means we could pack all of our formal wear in suitcases ahead of time. For tonight’s dinner we pre-ordered Chateau Briand. It was great. I had caviar once again tonight between the appetizer and the main course. I think I am five for six now. Upon leaving the dining room we give our wait staff their gratuity, for which they were most appreciative. We will see them at breakfast tomorrow but given the festive mood at the last dinner, it seemed more fitting to do this now.

We headed back to our cabins, read to the kids, put them to bed, finish packing, put the bags outside, and headed to the Commodore club one last time for drinks. Tonight there was a different pianist, one who also sang. He was very good. He even sang our wedding song “Someone to watch over me.”

11 am: Time to call it a night. Tomorrow will be a busy day and one that will start early. There was no need to set our watches ahead, given that we had already done it give times.

Day 7 – Thursday, June 15th

It’s 6 am and we woke up to the frequent sounds of the PA system. I looked out the window and saw land for the first time in five days. We were arriving in Southampton. The announcements concerned the various landmarks that we were passing. I took a quick shower and called the kids’ cabin and everyone was already awake. We headed over to breakfast around 7 am. There was lots of activity everywhere, with people scurrying about.

By 8 am we were done, said our goodbyes to the excellent wait staff and headed back to our cabins to grab our carry-on luggage. My son and I first went to the starboard side of deck 7 to watch the harbor crew prepare the gangway and other loading platforms for disembarkation. It was pretty cool to see.

We then proceeded to the concierge lounge where we waited for our disembarkation signal. The first passengers to get off were the ones who “self disembark.” That meant they had to carry their own luggage. Next off were the passengers who arranged for transfers or tours through Cunard. After that it’s the suites, so that’s us. We made our way to the B elevators and headed down to the grand lobby on 3 deck.

We disembarked at about 9 am, went the luggage retrieval area, got a porter, and went to find our luggage. We got all our luggage and said goodbye to My sister in-law, who was on her way to London for a few days before heading off to Belgium on the Eurostar.

As we walked off the ship, we noticed a black BMW right on the dock next to the ship, at the end of what appeared to be a private gangway. This must be the VIP exit for the super expensive suites.

By about 9:30 am we are in our car heading off to Heathrow for a 1:25 pm flight to Amsterdam. There was one mishap with our car service, however, in that we were supposed to get a van but it had broken down. So, instead they sent us two sedans, one of which was there upon arrival, but the other one was still in transit. So, my wife, Our nanny, and the kids went off in the first car, and I waited for the second. When it wasn’t coming I started calling. After getting very unconvincing messages about the car’s whereabouts, I decided to hop in a cab and get to Heathrow that way (90 pounds). I got there pretty quickly (a little over an hour), and met up with the rest of the gang.

We said goodbye to Our nanny, who was on a later flight back to Boston, and we checked in for our flight. We had gotten to Heathrow at 11 am or so, so we had plenty of time for lunch. We board our flight and make our way to Holland, where Omi and Opi are awaiting our arrival.

Our crossing can best be summarized as wonderful, exciting, memorable, fun, romantic, etc. It was a great experience and one we will remember for a long time.

[pepperrn]

Once again I have to say that your journal is outstanding in every regard. It answers so many of the questions that often come up here. I have a feeling that it will be refered to (and become recommended reading) again and again. I will re-read it myself many times I'm sure. It gives me a standard to aim at when I come to write a review of my voyages on QM and QE this year and next. I know that anything I write will be but a pale imitation of your brilliant work and not even a tenth as good or comprehensive.

 

Many, many thanks for taking the time and trouble to share your experiences aboard.

 

Very best wishes

[TomKel]

It's a shame that your Nanny does not have a name.

[curlyQ]

It's a shame that your Nanny does not have a name.

 

Quite simply darling, I'm sure everyone refers to her as just that, "Nanny", we did as kids, and we loved her...

[imacruizer]

Excellent review. Thanks so much for taking the time to include so many details. So glad you had such a good crossing.

[jtimmer]

Thanks for the nice words. Given that this is a public forum, I changed all of the names to "nanny", "wife", etc. In the journal that I am giving to family, etc, the names are all there.

[tartegnin]

Such an excellent report and makes me even more excited about our upcoming crossing - thanks for taking the time to post it. A few small questions, if you don't mind ...

 

1. which spa treatments were "must haves"?

 

2. what car company did you use in S'hampton? It's good that they managed to replace the van with 2 cars (responsible action) but very bad that they left you stranded with no communication (irresponsible action) - I'd like to avoid using the same company, learning from your misfortune ...

 

3. not cruise related, and maybe too personal (in which case, disregard), but are the Dutch-based family originally from Austria? I called my grandparents "Omi" and "Opi" too ... they were from Vienna.

 

Thanks again for the EXCELLENT journal.

[Pincus]

Thanks for the nice words. Given that this is a public forum, I changed all of the names to "nanny", "wife", etc. In the journal that I am giving to family, etc, the names are all there.

 

Those of us who love a crossing on either of the Queens are most indebted to you for your excellent journal. I plan to save it for re-reading. Once, when my next crossing nears, and secondly, on a cold, snowy day when the winds blow, and no one is going anywhere!

 

Thanks...so glad you and your family had such a good time.

 

Pincus

[signman]

An extremely competent and reliable car service based out of Southampton is http://www.woodfordchauffeurcars.co.uk

[Decebal]

The Nanny's name is Nicole, I remember from reading the journal when the journey started. So sad, I remember everything I read. LOL!!!

 

Thanks for the great journal and all the wonderful information.