sfred

I find it interesting, and more than a little sad, to observe the sorts of jobs that exist in both the private and public sector these days. A pity that Cunard doesn't have a "retrieve luggage that has fallen overboard" manager. That would be an "activation" worthy of attention.

Another consideration is that Cunard intends to base QE in the Pacific full time for the next few years (at least), rotating between Aus/NZ, Japan, and Alaska. So Cunard will likely do what it takes to safely get QE out from the Med and down to Australia. Should worse come to worse and the Suez becomes an issue, she could get to Australia by going back out past Gibralter, around Africa, and across to Fremantle. Different ports and probably more sea days, but the ship would likely get you home to Melbourne, maybe plus or minus a few days. I hope some peaceful resolution can be found for the events in Israel, but it is hard to imagine what that might take. Sympathies for all those affected.

Really interesting - thanks for posting. I wish that videos like these could exist of the construction of the great ocean liners of their day in Belfast, Newcastle, or Glasgow. I wonder what people 100 years from now will think of QM2/QV/QE/QA's construction and design.

Admittedly, QV and QE are fairly indistinguishable at that distance and resolution. By the time you're close enough to make out the physical differences between the two, you can sometimes see the name on the bow! For me, the key clues were the photo being a webcam, and the three blue poles at the cargo wharf. That, plus the recent country locations of QV/QE, led me to Skagen.

I think this is Skagen Denmark, previously seen in @rafinmd's post 3815 on 27 August 2021. Roy's photo was a statue of two of the famous Skagen painters, Michael Ancher and P. S. Krøyer, which @bluemarble identified in post 3820. The ship is likely QV during one of her Baltic trips? If so, it is interesting that according to Wikipedia, another of the Skagen painters Laurits Tuxen is famous for his portraits of European royal personalities, including Queen Victoria, Christian IX of Denmark, and Czar Nicholas II.

Correct on both - Queen Elizabeth (the first one), and the buildings of Manhattan as seen from the Hudson. QE's (the third one) Staircase A had several other excellent paintings of historical Cunard ships. I would often pause to admire them during my early morning strolls around the decks. I took photos of two other paintings, one of Aquitania in Liverpool and the other of Berengaria (originally the SS Inperator of Hamburg America Line) in NY.

From one of QE's program guides on our recent voyage... Theatre Box Programme Available on production show evenings. Enjoy a cocktail in a private lounge area before the show. Indulge in chocolate treats and Laurent-Perrier Champagne in your private box. To make a reservation, please dial 33000. Reservations close at 1.30p on the day of the performance. US$60 plus a 15% service charge per couple. We have not done this ourselves. We sometimes sit in the boxes during the daytime insight lectures, and they are a great location to watch the occasional cooking demonstrations.

Easy so far - we're still in Spain. 🙂 After getting off QE in Barcelona we took the train to Madrid. There are some work contacts I wanted to see this week. We start the long trip home on Saturday, connecting in London and Singapore.

Beautiful sight - thanks @Host Hattie. Wish we were still aboard.

These are the Captains and Commodores wine lists from QE for August/September 2023. Apologies for the markings and creases - the list got a lot of use on our recent voyage. We purchased the 12 bottle Commodore package prior to departing from Australia, by phoning the Sydney contact centre and buying the package in A$. On our embarkation day, the sommelier supplied us with the coupon book. We could use the 12 coupons on any combination of wines in the collection that we wanted.

I hope you have a wonderful voyage! Caution - it can be tough to go back. 🙂

36 nights! It has been our longest journey but it went so fast. There were so many highlights. The Canal transit. Bermuda. The Med ports. QE seadays with the amazingly excellent weather we had. The PG service from Maître d' Sanjay and waiters Sanjoy, Rene, and Jayson. The list is a long one... Can't wait to be back in February. Best wishes to @alibabacruisers, @BeachTunes, and all others for their upcoming voyages. QE is a great ship.

Me too! It is the only consolation on disembarking day. Yes we are back on QE in February for a Sydney return to several South Pacific islands.

Upon arriving in our cabin I expected to see a letter from Cunard saying that due to our custom, loyalty, style, and general good looks, they would be providing us with complementary QE passage all the way home to Australia in our current PG cabin, and there would be no need to disembark tomorrow. Instead we encountered the dreaded bed protector, along with luggage tags and a note saying, in effect, to pack up all our things and go away. So sad...

Fueled by sangria and beer, we had a pleasant walk back to the ship along the waterfront.

It is the "dreading" one, by far. We've had a wonderful voyage! Thanks for your kind words. Palma today has been amazing. A deep blue sky, and a pleasant 25c. We've walked every street and placa, and are now having a well deserved sangria and beer.

QE is in Palma de Mallorca Spain today Sunday 24 September. A bright sunny morning start to the last full day of our voyage.

I have only our 2019 voyage to personally compare, but back then PG was as @david,Mississauga indicated. Lots of local fish selections, some crab. I was maybe hoping for "moose wellington" but no. 😀 Most of our local cuisine dining and the freshest salmon was in port restaurants at lunch. @martinmct was on the 2023 QE voyages and kindly posted the actual Frontier specialty dining menu. See post 329 of the Queen Elizabeth location thread. Frontier hadn't been invented yet in 2019. I hope you decide to go, @NE John. Alaska ranks as one of our most favourite Cunard voyages.

Today 23 September is our last sea day aboard QE before a port day in Palma tomorrow and disembarking in Barcelona on Monday. It has been a great voyage for sunrises. I've treasured every morning with a coffee out on deck. Look forward to seeing more photos from everyone's future voyages. 🌞

The Ajaccio skies opened with a thoroughly drenching downpour, lightning and thunder at midday. Thankfully, at the time we were under cover at a local restaurant with a tasty lunch, and several carafes of red wine until conditions eased. I hope other QE passengers weren't caught in the open and had as enjoyable day in Ajaccio as we had.

QE is in Ajaccio Corsica France today 22 September. No sunrise this morning. A rather dark wet day ahead...

Thanks @MrsPeel55! Sunsets or sunrises -- when they are on the water they are beautiful.

Indeed!

Symphony of the Seas towers over QE. But I know which ship I'd rather be on.

Civitavecchia cleared to a pleasant sunny day, thereby continuing our record stretch of nice weather. Having previously been to Rome before and after a QV cruise and on several other business trips, we stayed in Civitavecchia for the day.