exlondoner

Indeed, but I can’t help feeling that, in these circumstances, one shouldn’t have to ask.

Hmm. A kind thought, but I think minibinos might get me into more trouble than peering from closer quarters than usual.

I am pretty myopic and getting close enough to men’s legs to notice whether they are striped or not might require a degree of closeness I would otherwise avoid.

And a simple way of conforming to the dress code, which I have no wish to break.

Well, I would never wear trousers or trainers, but that is just me, nothing to do with Cunard, and in the day I usually wear dresses, not to look elegant, but because it spares me the tiresomeness of finding tops and bottoms that match. I also still wear the long black dress I bought for my first Cunard crossing in 1997. Luckily (very luckily) it is a loose fitting style, otherwise it wouldn’t be possible.

I must say when I was on a Med. cruise with 400 Australians, they were in no way conspicuous by failure to conform to the dress code.

Sorry, you are wrong. I’m female and I know no such thing. Why trail around with more garments then necessary? Clothes are deeply boring, but absolutely necessary.

And, if you find clothes as boring as I do, you could daringly wear the black and white night dress again!!!

I think they will accommodate you together. How stupid would it look to reject your companion? For disembarkation, s/he may well be allotted a different time, but, if you leave together, I don’t think they will notice.

In short, no. In long, definitely not acceptable. Other than that, did you have a nice time?

You are so right that this lunch is of limited importance, given the meals yet to come. Nonetheless, I find my first meal in QG, which is never the most exciting of menus (right again), a really soothing experience, indicating that all the things I was anxious about are over and the holiday has begun. A glass of rosé with it makes it perfect.

Sorry BM, I’ve just noticed my post overlapped yours, without my noticing. At least I didn’t contradict.

The check in process is operated by Intercruises at all terminals, and the priority system is the same.

Well, Stena Line Ferries are supposed to be very good. But QV always looks fine to me. Mind you, now the rust on QM2 has apparently been dealt with, QV must be next in line for criticism. And they really should get to grips with the, obviously intermittent, smell. Nothing could be more off putting.

This summer the Lido on QV was open for lunch on embarkation day until 4 pm. Don’t know how much food there was left towards the end though.

And perhaps, more to the point, why didn’t they offer you a move? Such an easy way for them to solve the problem.

So you didn’t actually ask to move cabins?

Good gracious. How extraordinary. I think they must have stopped before 1997. A friend who sailed on the original QM as a child won the children’s fancy dress comp, but I don’t think that is quite the same.

What are those?

Isn’t that cheating?

We had fireworks in Hamburg once when QM2 and a vista were there. And years ago for QE2 in Halifax for no special reason I can remember.

Strange that. Had the sun been out, there would have been swarms of people even in the winter. And, if it’s windy, there are sometimes surfers, though the surf isn’t significant.

The rooms are ready. The luggage usually arrives pretty promptly, but you might want to have lunch first. Muster drills are individual rather than mass experiences now. You go down to your muster station at your convenience and check in with the staff there.

Wouldn't it be nice?

And to add another: Here is our balcony railing on QV as we sailed past New Brighton on Merseyside with the abandoned Perch Rock Lighthouse.