safarigal

Just now, Jack E Dawson said:

While exploring historic Southampton today, in anticipation of boarding the QM2 tomorrow, we stopped in to Saint Michael’s. A small but very beautiful church. Instead of kneelers, individual kneeling cushions are provided, each one beautifully and individually done in needlepoint. One in particular caught our eye. We are taking this as a good omen. 

That is so lovely! Bon voyage 🙂

Just now, exlondoner said:

I have no way of knowing this, but wouldn’t you surmise the escalators were not available because they were adjacent to where the unfortunate person collapsed, not because they weren’t actually working?

Our porter told us that the medical emergency actually happened on the escalator, and that's why that area was off limits. It does sound like a very serious medical situation. So sad.

I do think that the ship should have redirected us to disembark on Deck 1. When we got to the lift queue we were deemed able bodied by the lady there, and told that it was a very short flight of stairs. My friend could not manage her bag, so I had to struggle down several flights of stairs with both my and my friend's case.. 

Still all is well, despite the awful traffic situation at Heathrow, and I have got as far as Reykjavik on my long and winding road home.

For those of you who will be traveling on Queen Anne - don't forget to sign the Cruise Critic book. The librarian has it on a shelf near her desk 🙂

1 hour ago, AeroArcher said:

That sounds fantastic! Make sure to pack layers for the unpredictable weather, and don't miss the afternoon tea on board. The guided shore excursions are a must for unique local insights. Have an amazing trip! 🌊🚢

We did! It was fantastic, highly recommended. I am currently doing a British Isles cruise on a big ship (Cunard's Queen Anne) and thinking about the good times we had on the Hebridean Princess 🙂

Just now, Megabear2 said:

I forgot to mention the wreaths on the Mauritania Memorial were laid by Cunard and the ship in memory. A very dignified moment.

Lusitania?

Just now, bluemarble said:

Cunard have posted this 15:30 highlights video of the Queen Anne naming ceremony on their YouTube channel.

 

It's frustrating that with the basic Cunard internet plan you can't watch YouTube,  will just have to do a lot of watching when I get home 🙂I

Just now, Victoria2 said:

If legally, Cunard can not stop 'them' from roaming around then their hands are tied, whatever anyone might say and as 'they' are probably not nasty enough to be disembarked, to be 'rewarded' with such an upgrade [ship not full obviously] does seem to be unfair to those who would do the right thing.

There was a reporter for a Mersey Side radio station in the stateroom next to ours, and he disembarked this morning - I am assuming that's the stateroom they are getting.

2 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

Unfortunately I'm witnessing a very unfortunate episode and am not being allowed to leave this area.

 

A couple have unfortunately contracted covid and are involved in a screaming match with the officers who are trying to get them to a doctor and moved to a balcony cabin.

 

I'm sitting drinking my coffee and its getting very unpleasant. They've even shouted at me that it's me and people like me who've made them ill by not wearing a mask. 

 

It's become most distasteful. I did have a sense of pity for them to start but now they're shouting about their rights and suing Cunard that has rapidly disappeared.

I was at the pursers desk this morning when Callum was trying to talk with them. I feel they were rather inappropriate with him, as he was trying to be so diplomatic in what is certainly a very difficult situation. I understand that they must be frustrated, and hope that they do not get really sick, but it really was unnecessary for them to be like that, especially in earshot of all of us in the lobby.

I have no idea who her Godparent will be but I think I have solved the mystery of breaking the champagne bottle.

There is a pulley that goes from just above the Commodore Club to the front of the ship. At the front of the ship there is a board that says Queen Anne June 2024.

Do you think that the bottle will be attached to the pulley and at the designated moment when the Godparent pushes the bottle or give a signal, the bottle will be released to go whizzing down the wire and smash into the board at the bottom, scattering glass in the designated area and not in the Mersey?

There seems to be a camera there waiting for something.

9 hours ago, exlondoner said:

Just out of interest, has anyone on this cruise had a survey???

Yes, my husband has. I didn't, but maybe that's because they just send one per stateroom, or because I am still on board.

We are getting closer to the islands.......

That probably explains our unusual course. We are trying to get within helicopter range of Ireland. I hope all goes well.

Just now, Selbourne said:

Thank you. I will ask if he is still onboard. 
 

I raised these issues at the Pursers Desk on the day we embarked when asking for a raised toilet seat, and also twice with our deck manager when he called to follow up our concerns. However, I have no confidence whatsoever that anything will be done about them, so will try this route. 

Callum is still on board, and I have found him to be very responsive to concerns. Do make an appointment to meet with him 🙂

Well it’s a rainy day on Culloden moor, but that somehow makes it even more meaningful ☔️

5 minutes ago, DamianG said:

Thanks for starting & updating this thread @Megabear2 & also to @Selbourne for your regular contributions. Loved the Orkney photos especially and having bands quayside must have made it even more special. The big question though is were there any pier runners? 😉

I didn’t see any pier runners! We really had a lovely send off, and blew our whistle magnificently 😀

Just now, exlondoner said:

Interesting to see that Nieuw Statendam, which is the same design, is also there today. Perhaps some pictures of the sisters.

Not a great photo - hopefully someone will get a photo of the sisters together.

I am soooooo glad we are not tendering today. But at least they do not have the weather problems we had the day before yesterday, so their tendering operations should go better than ours did 🙂

I was awoken this morning by the sound of the gentleman playing the bagpipes on the dock. It's not even raining, and there are patches of blue skies, it's going to be a good day! There are loads of flags on the dock - an interesting assortment of countries. Welcome to Kirkwall.

14 hours ago, exlondoner said:

Incidentally the ship you saw at Tenerife is the La Palma of 1912. Sorry this is the wrong place.

Thank you so much for letting me know this :). She must have been a real beauty in her day!

The Commodore Club was totally packed this morning. There was a plaque ceremony going on so the Captain was there, but I don't think this was the only attraction. It is the perfect place to sit in comfort and watch the rain and the fog outside while we are waiting to see if the weather will improve enough for the tenders to take us ashore in South Queens Ferry. 

There were clearly disembarking passengers still on board at 11:00. I had taken the shuttle into town to do some shopping, and got back to the ship just after 11. At that time there were still crowds of people trying to leave the ship and collect their luggage, as well as folks in the queue to drop their bags and check in.

I looked at this and couldn't see a clear path for me to get back to the ship. Luckily I must have been looking stunned as a kind gentleman saw me and escorted me back to the ship through the crew entrance. Phew! 

Just now, exlondoner said:

I went to the Library to sign the book, and Ashley knew about it but couldn’t find it.

That's ridiculous! I gave it to her this morning. She wanted to put it out on one of the tables, but I told her to keep it in her little section otherwise it was bound to get lost. It is is the library - so do try again tomorrow and I will remind Ashley 🙂

Just now, exlondoner said:

That is lovely of you. I never saw the other books, so what is the format?

The Madeira book just had blank pages - lovely books, but for those of us who can no longer write in a straight line, not good for the job!

Well we now have our Cruise Critic Queen Anne book. The Madeira one didn't work, so I will drop this one off at the library tomorrow morning so hopefully all of you onboard can sign it 🙂

Just now, exlondoner said:

Our waiters last night were very assiduous in making sure we knew, presumably partly as a result of last week’s chaos. It is on the TV, but you have to turn the TV on. They used to leave the TV on when they made up the room, so not even I  could miss it.

The TV was on when we got back to our room 🙂

One of my blog followers suggested that we get a Cruise Critic book to keep in the library that we can all sign when we are on board. I spoke with the librarian and she is in favor of that, but just needs to check with her manager that that is OK.

Does anyone on board have a suitable book that we could use? I am happy to use the note book we were given in Madeira, but if you have something better that would be great.

It is such a shame that the QE2/QM2 book got lost during the COVID clean up of the library on QM2.