Southampton to Fort Lauderdale

                      I LOVE ROCK AND ROLL, 

PUT ANOTHER BAR ON THE WIND CHART, BABY!

January 3rd

 January 4th

 January 5th

 January 6th, morning and afternoon

The posts for this trip have been difficult to load because the computer system has been very overloaded, even at midnight.  This is probably because everyone with a computer and/or smart phone has been relaying the news about the weather.

The intense cold which North America is experiencing has produced storms on almost the entire North and Mid-Atlantic, with torrential rains in Britain, and probably Germany but we see British news.  We have rocked and rolled and bounced for days, with winds gusting up to 60 knots and waves up to 10 meters.  The dining room has had many empty tables most nights.

We (my Main Man, hereafter referred to MM or MH – my Honey) and I have danced through most of it, only sorry that the promenade deck has been closed until today.   But today, the wind is still so strong that it was impossible to open the door.

Last night, at the same time, you could hear Dixieland jazz in the pub, a Rock and Roll night in the ballroom or an Abba night in the disco.  The pub was too crowded so that was out but we managed the rest.  The new singer is rather full of herself and always lets us know where she studied music or where she first heard or learned a song.  It is somewhat wearing.  Last night she did not sing a rock and roll song – torch ballads from the 20’s - and the band had a bit of trouble with the syncopation so it was on to the disco.  No smoking allowed!!  Unlike QM2, where we reeked after 30 seconds in the disco, the air only smelled liked dancers having fun.

My midnight “snack” is now that – a snack!  Fresh fruit, chopped and ready to eat and decaf tea end the evening.

Many of us were disappointed not to be able to stop at the Azores.  Friends from last year said they had been booked 3 times on cruises which included the Azores and had not landed once.  And, it was the same captain each time!!  He will get off in South America, we will get a female captain and the Commodore will be back for the end of the World Voyage.  

The storm held us up so that we would have been days late and then even later in Florida, the next port.  I feel very sorry for those who booked the Southampton-Fort Lauderdale segment and have been sick since Southampton.

The crew seems less manic than on MARY and I would have said friendlier except for a bitch in the shop. Two days ago, I bought what I thought was the facial soap I used in Germany.  When I looked closely, I saw that it was for oily skin – something I last had when I was about 16.  As I attempted to exchange, she got quite huffy, saying I has specifically asked for soap for oily skin.  She continued to argue with me and insisted that I had to wait for a refund from the manager.  Duh!!  So, she, the manager and I will have a talk later.  Unfortunately, I think my skin color confused her – I do not work here!  And, even if I did ........

However, tonight will be party night in the ballroom and I had calf liver for lunch.  Of course it’s not included in the average  vegetarian/pescatarian diet, one must make allowances, especially now that I do not eat spare ribs at midnight.  

MS QUEEN VICTORIA seems to be about ¾’s the size of RMS QUEEN MARY 2.  The ship and the public rooms are just that bit smaller – more intimate according to some crew members – more crowded for line dancing, according to me.  But, the stateroom seems to be the same size. 

Difference??  Now that I am not travelling alone, I have to share the closet