LIFE ON BOARD

Here are some photos to give you a idea of the luxury in which we live.

Harry, our Australian Post bear

The hallway at the aft end of the shiop

Ricky, our steward

The Library

My really “Happy Birthday” was celebrated on the 5th of March with two of the lovelies people I know:  Katariina (not a typo, the spelling is Finnish) and Alistair.  We had dinner in the Verandah, a semi-private restaurant aboard.  QM2 has or had a branch of Todd English and QV has a Verandah but the service here on the QE was the best ever experienced, by far.

After a disastrous dinner in 2014 at the QV Verandah, I had decided never to go back to any private restaurant but am extremely glad that I did.  

Normally I give up sweets for Lent with the exception of my birthday - my birthday is always during Lent - and the World Voyage Concierge, the same Katariina, had arranged for cupcakes with a candle instead of a cake.  It was fabulous and the perfect ending to a leisurely and delicious dinner.

THE WORLD VOYAGE

It is not “around the world” because we do not circumnavigate the Earth - our route started in Southampton, the out into the North Atlantic, down the coast of West Africa, around the Cape of Good Hope, across the India Ocean, along the southern coast of Australia, up the eastern coast following the coastline of the Great Barrier Reef, continuing north to Papua, New Guinea (one of my favourite ports), then on to the Philippines - Palawan which was a very welcome substitute for the original port of Cebu and then Manila, Hong Kong, Shanghai and now, yesterday and today (15 and 16 March) Korea - Busan and the island of Jeju-Do.

The number of World Voyagers differs from year to year but the number is dwindling, probably because of Carnival’s attempt to squeeze every penny possible from Cunard, to the point of ruining it.

In 2011, the World Voyage had 4 segments, each approximately 1 month long.  Now there are segments as short as 3 days, constant turmoil and a general lowering of the standard of guests:  men trying to go to the dining room without a jacket, wearing jeans in the public rooms on a formal evening, picking up food with their fingers and then licking their fingers and yesterday, their knives.  Mostly they are Australians who get really cheap tickets because Carnival (1) wants to fill the ship and (2) hopes they will book longer trips.  Generally, they don’t.

There are cruise lines where this might be acceptable, although I doubt if such table manners would ever be acceptable.  But, Cunard was known for elegance, at least until Carnival took it over.  Sadly, there is no viable alternative so I intend to enjoy what I can for as long as it lasts and then  rely on the memories.

THE CONCIERGE

Each WV has a Concierge, a person hired to work only for the WV guests.    I have experienced 4 and Katariina is (along with Saengeeta) the best.  She is extremely competent, unfailingly cheerful and just plain fun.  The woman who had the job on QV in 2014 had no interest in her job other than the title and supposed status which (she felt) was involved.  At the end of the voyage most of us gave her a negative rating but she has friends at Carnival so…………………

BLIND DATES

An invitation to dine with the Captain or any senior officer is exactly like a blind date.  You are thrown together with (usually) strangers without any idea as to why you are there.  The Captain’s table seats 10 so you are only able to speak with the people closest to you, one of whom is your husband, wife or partner.

As in real life, occasionally a blind date works out well, as our German- language table (of 8) did.  We spent over 3 hours with intelligent, stimulating conversation, lots of laughter and regret that one couple was leaving in Hong Kong.

On the other hand, we had dinner with some of the strangest people aboard.  One couple showed up drunk and proceeded to drink more.  Normally alcohol and soft drinks are not included in the food and drinks provided and apparently alcohol is rather expensive.  However, at a hosted table, the drinks are free.  Both red and white wine are served as well as anything else which can be obtained from the bar.   The couple had large glasses both both and then something (port?) after dinner.  The husband was an authority on most things when they arrived but as the dinner progressed his fund of knowledge seemed to expand, and loudly.

The two next to them were sufficiently intimidated as to do nothing other than nod agreement with the pontifications of the drunk.

The third couple’s reputation proceeded them.  Elaine, one of the Carrots (more about that below), had warned me about them but I was seated next to them.  

The man had the conversational skills of an anteater while his wife gurgled and belched throughout the meal.  As opposed to the German- language dinner which was delightful and ended too quickly, this dinner dragged on and on.   One is not supposed to leave before the host signals the end but this officer is an engineer and he and Per had a wonderful evening discussing automatic control (of nuclear power plants, for example) while the rest of us had a choice between strangling sounds or Australian-accented monologues.  Of course the belcher ordered lots of food and as we know, it takes extra time to eat, gurgle and belch!

BUGS BUNNY AND THE CARROTS

About 4 years ago, I meet Glen and Elaine aboard QUEEN MARY 2, and through circumstances long forgotten, we began to do the brainteaser quizzes together.  And we won, often.  Most people form teams of 6 to better their chances of winning but we three were happy together and usually found the input of others distracting.  

For a win (the highest correct number out of 20 questions) each member of the team gets a stamp, redeemable for rather tacky (sometimes desirable) Cunard promotional items, starting with a pencil stamped with the name of the ship.

They left in Australia and I stopped for a while but have begun again.  Now, I do the quizzes alone and sometimes win, all due to my misspent youth reading the World Book Encyclopaedia.

Other activities which interest me:  Chairobics, more strenuous than it sounds; Line Dancing which should be fun but is too full of country music and leaders with Scottish accents exhorting us to twirl our las-oops - as they pronounce it; and other dance classes.

There are also lectures by well-known writers, scientists and politicians, films - ‘SPECTRE’ was shown last week: bridge lessons and duplicate tournaments: napkin folding lessons (really); computer and smart phone classes; classes and lectures offered by the Spa, some with a fee: fencing lessons, croquet, paddle ball, bingo - all sporting activities and lessons are free unless from the Spa; the Casino, machines all the time and tables in the evening; ballroom dance classes; a sports’ club with weights and machines and in each stairwell, 10 decks of stars to climb.