rog747

A small island in the Caribbean >?

Awesome - Castries Airport; Code (SLU). St Lucia. This airport is the secondary one on the Island - the other one is for the big Jets at UVF, Hewanorra International Airport, located near Vieux Fort. Back in the 1970's UK's Court Line bought into the local airline LIAT and actually flew large BAC 1-11 500 Jets into and out of SLU Castries. 3 or 4 1-11's were leased out to LIAT to fly the peak Caribbean routes. A great gig for the Pilots who were UK based with Court Line. The local LIAT girls were the Hosties... Court Line also built/owned some Hotels on St Lucia, Antigua and in the Bahamas. The Halcyon Hotels Group, most of which they remain open today. Court Line had 2 big Lockheed L-1011 400 seat Tristar planes which flew from UK to the Islands for the Package holiday makers getting their first taste of exoctic trips. Court Line went bust spectacularly in summer 1974, along with Clarksons and Horizon Holidays.

Oh...scratches head....

Thanks! Yes you got it - She is the QM2 facing forward. A pre-Xmas 12 night voyage (2013 or 2014?) down to Lisbon, Madeira and Canary Islands on the one occasion when Cunard offered Zero Single Occupancy Supplements, so the 4 of us all had a Sheltered Balcony Cabin each for a Bargain at £499! We had a super time, with super weather. The photo I took (as noted by sfred) was taken up by the statue of Charles I of Austria, in the Monte gardens of Funchal, Madeira. An enchanting place to visit, as are the Gardens lower down. Charles, House of the Habsburgs, The Austro-Hungarian Empire, was exiled for a second time to the Portuguese island of Madeira, where he soon fell ill and died in 1922.

Apologies, and sorry for going Off Piste down memory lane LOL, but it was quite enjoyable... Back OT: How is everyone's opinion on their cruises on the newly refitted ship this past 3 weeks from SOU-NYC-to the Caribbean and back to NYC? I kicked myself for not booking this 19 nighter trip 😑☹️ (I had a super Last Minute Deal on a Inside Single Occ) TIA

Yes indeed, and today you are quite correct, both GWR and Caledonian Sleepers refer to their night train accommodations as 'Cabins or Rooms', the 'Shared Berth' option is still AFAIK available to book, but I reckon that will go soon as 'Solo' options are the way they are going. Belmond Orient Express refers to Cabins or Suites. On my recent trip though to Venice on the Belmond my Attendant (Steward) always said Compartment to me, and asked me if I wanted both Berths made up, or just the lower one - He was a Traditionalist I think LOL. However, historically, Railway carriages always had 'Compartments', both for Corridor seated, and Sleeper ones.

Always a great movie to watch on a Sunday Afternoon after a Roast lunch, and/or before your next Cunard Voyage/Cruise to get you in the traditional 'Liner' mood.

These Stars at that time along with Mr Bogart certainly did....Play it again Sam.

Nevis, or maybe Virgin Gorda or Tortola, BVI's...? The prop is a Cessna Grand Caravan flying for DHL.

May I have my first go at WITW please>? There is much history surrounding the chap in the statue. If you look very close you can just see the Cunard ship...an extra point if you can name her.

Quote: I would apply that to rooms on sleeper trains as well. On a Sleeper, historically (even noted on the most historic Venice Orient Express, or on the London Victoria-Paris 'Night Ferry' train) you have a ''Berth'' in your 'Compartment'. It's quite nice using these old terms. Just watched the old 1942 movie 'Now Voyager' where Bette Davis plays the dowdy Miss Charlotte Vale (one of the lesser Vales) travelling as Miss Renee Beauchamp, and embarks on a Liner for a pleasure cruise from New York to Nassau, and on to South America to recover from her Nervous Breakdown...It was where Paul Henreid as Jerry Durrance (Charlotte's lover) lit two cigarettes before handing one to Charlotte, making women everywhere swoon, and Bette spoke the iconic line, “Don’t let’s ask for the moon, Jerry. We’ve got the stars.” Now she definitely had a nice Suite LOL

Thanks for the latest post re the chaos continues at the Brooklyn terminal for arrivals from QM2! It sounds worse than a 3rd World arrival point.

I would say your ''Cabin'' is a totally safe bet and 100% understood by anyone on-board lol. The Cunard Grills Suites experience - Accommodations - In a Queens Grill or Princess Grill Suite, you'll find attentive service and even more space in which to relax in comfort and style. If you're lucky enough to have booked in one of the high grade and Historically 'named' Queens Grill's accomodations then your ''Suite'' is most appropriate. As for Princess Grill, then 'Suite or Stateroom' is a good one. As for Britannia Cabins, then Stateroom or Cabin is as good as for me LOL

Ships sailing on 'Liner voyages' usually had 'Cabins' and you reserved a Berth (or Berths) on your Sailing, or aka 'Passage...' There is an early reference to 'Staterooms' on White Star Lines 'big ships' in the Edwardian times - I guess these were First Class. The term Stateroom is also mentioned in Matson Lines Cruise Brochures of the 1930's along with the Lanai Suites (with a private Balcony) were seen on the rather lovely Matson Lines 'White Ships' that sailed from San Francisco to Hawaii, the South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia in the 1930's. The four original "white ships" - MALOLO (later MATSONIA), MARIPOSA, MONTEREY and LURLINE - were built from 1927 and the 1930s, the heyday of steamship travel. 3 of them ended up with Greece's X Chandris Lines as the RHMS's Queen Frederica, Britanis, and the Ellinis.

Thank you! Do I get the next go then LOL ? I've cruised on Cunard since my first Voyage on QM2 in OCT 2008 (Tandem TA with the QE2 Eastbound to SOU, which was her last ever TA crossing, trailing her very long Paying Off Pennant) My Pals were on QE2 and we were daily sending messages across to each other! I like this friendly and informative Group, and have met some very nice folk off it. My take on Cunard: I love my trips, I love the old traditions and Dressing for the Formal Evenings, and the Big Bands. The QM2 which is of course, unique and stunning, but QE is my Fav ship, and I miss her leaving British Waters yet again. QV is 'nice' but I prefer her with the pretty raked stern as built in 2007. Before my first Cunard trip, I flew over to NYC to watch on the 13th January 2008 all three Cunard Liners, the Queen Mary 2, the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) and the new Queen Victoria (on her Maiden Transatlantic voyage) arrive, and then leave NYC. We went out on the Hudson from the Manhattan Piers on an Edwardian 1930's yacht in the evening in the freezing cold and the snow, to watch and follow the stunning departure of the 3 great ships. QE2 and QV were berthed all day on the Manhattan Piers and QM2 was in Brooklyn. It's a shame that all 3 could not have been berthed in Manhattan for this. The previous week I had been out on a motor launch (also cold and freezing) following the QE2 with her Tugs leave SOU for NYC and proceed slowly in the dark down Southampton Water to Calshot. Memorable times. I've not been back on-board Cunard since 2019 (July, QM2 SOU-NYC via LPL, Iceland and Halifax, then QE down to the Canaries for pre-Xmas). I was going to book a few weeks ago on QM2 on her 19 night Voyage that has just left SOU on Sunday for NYC (after her lovely refit) then down to the Caribbean Islands and back to NYC, then fly home, BUT I dithered LOL.... What an Idiot I was !

I first went to Corfu (Benitses) in 1973 - first time to Greece - loved it - go back every year the Greek Islands for Hopping once or twice a year. First time to Budva and Dubrovnik (pre Earthquake) 1972

Lanzarote is a nice call, as is La Palma too (not sure if this island is on this voyage>>?)

The old fortress of Corfu - I was going to say Dubrovnik at first but its Corfu Town - great for a wander

Cunard are making a 'thing' of the Pavillion Pool area with dance floor and a stage for nights dancing under the stars....

The limited runway extension of 164m allows for the current larger types that use SOU Airport such as the A319/320 and A320Neo (up to 186 seats) to be able to now fly further with an economical payload such as to Faro and Alicante which Easyjet Europe have just added for next summer, along with a couple of Domestic routes with Easyjet UK flying in from GLA and BFS, it is a start. DUB EDI GLA NCL ABZ and Belfast City are served too with the likes of Loganair and Aer Lingus, but these are all small planes. (along with the Channel Islands and KLM Amsterdam as well) Sadly CDG has not come back to SOU which is a shame. But SOU Airport cannot and will not, ever see the likes of Ryanair, Jet2, TUI, or any airline using the Boeing 737-800NG or 737-M8/M8-200 as the runway operating limitations for these types mean inhibiting very restrictive payload restrictions which are not economical. The 737NG and the 737 MAX (as it was known as) is a slippery beast, meaning higher approach speeds and longer stopping distances which inhibit the use of SOU at high gross weights for take off or landing. Yes, it did use SEN Southend which as a similar length runway but obstacle clearances at SOU means the type cannot. Back on Topic, Train Tickets have been booked for ages from Dorsetshire to Waterloo and back on the 6th DEC for a very important ENT Consultant Surgeon appointment 10:15 at the UCH Euston and guess what, the 6th is ASLEF Union strike day and NO trains will run from my neck of the woods. And now my 'escape route' using the other line from Weymouth up to Westbury then change for Paddington has had the first early 05:45 train from Weymouth cancelled out of the GWR Timetable. Got to now go up the day before and come back the day after - Don't have to buy new tickets as SWR say they can be used anytime any day next week, on any trains. Lucky I have a good pal in SW3 who can put me up, so Dinner and a Show is on the cards. I agree using SOU is a dream - love the KLM AMS connex's

Do not rely on any Trains here in UK right now; there are strikes, daily delays and engineering works, all are out of control on the SWR line from Waterloo-Southampton-Weymouth (where I live) so travel on a Train at your peril lol. National Express Coaches, as mentioned here are really great (and quite cheap usually) and go from LHR Terminals, or from London Victoria Coach Station (if you're staying in Town). The coaches go to the coach station in SOU where you can grab a quick Taxi ride to the Ship's berth or to your Hotel (you cannot walk it with luggage to the Ship) or, there are a few good chauffeur driven car firms listed above on here that will meet and greet you at LHR.

If your wife needs Assistance to Board the ship at RedHook and has mobility needs and thus likely requires a WCHR then you should request Special Assistance with Cunard well in advance of your sailing.

For the daytime and wandering yes but not for the evening

As you say it's only still a rendering being just of a glimpse of the 🎭 theatre. From what the designers are pulling out of the hat is a nod to the glamorous days of Art Deco so IMHO I would say be prepared to be wowed. The ships theme are definitely art deco minimalist tones light bright with beiges blacks and chrome. Don't get too downhearted and try to compare it with the other ships all which have different takes on traditions where the Qm2 and the Qe are both heavy and darker art deco whereas the Qv is more Edwardian Country House. The Queen Anne as much as I dislike the name does I think leave us wanting to see the finished article in its understated magnificance of which the designers have only just given us snippets of her themes. I only have two reservations of the ship and that is the name I would have liked it to have been the Aquitania or the Mauretania and also the fact of the promenade deck is so lacking in space.

Here's the thing... The term Cunarder harks back from the days of the Southern Railway's named Boat Trains from London Waterloo to Southampton Docks. Arguably the most famous of these Ocean Liner Special’s was the ''Cunarder''. The Southern Railway ran many special Ocean Liner Boat Trains from Waterloo to carry the passengers to the Liners that docked at Southampton Docks, The Cunarder usually running to the stunning Ocean Terminal at Berth 44 built in 1950 (The White Star Berth) that was sadly knocked down in the 1980's). The Cunard Line had some of the most glamorous ships of the Era sailing on the New York run with the RMS Queen Mary and RMS Queen Elizabeth and that glamour and prestige began when the passenger stepped on board the Boat train at Waterloo. The Cunarder had a specially designed Headboard on the Locomotive with name boards on its coaches with the typical train being comprised of Pullman Cars and ordinary First Class stock. The inaugural run of The “Cunarder” was on July 2 1952 hauled by “Merchant Navy” Class Locomotive 35004 “Cunard White Star”. A similar Waterloo-Southampton Boat express the “Statesman” made the connection with United States Lines brand new ship the SS United States. Other Shipping Lines also wanted the prestige of having their own Boat Train so services like the “Union-Castle Express”, “South American”, “Holland-American” and “Greek Line” became common place on the Mainline run to Southampton. Just saying like LOL.