pberk

Nice -- but decades from now you will miss your voices and thoughts, even if its just a voice over track.  The music is nice -- but think of the long term.  What's important?  Even now, you can take the same footage and use voice over to make it a real record of how things were back then on the Icon of the Seas.  

If you are headed to Alaska, this is the way to see a Glacier.

15 hours ago, QM2_SYD said:

LOA = Length Over All

I believe Length Over All is correct.  But I wonder this important to publish in the Port schedule of arrivals?  Far better would be the ETA. 

Does anyone know what LOA :964 means in reference to Queen Elizabeth arriving at Port of Los Angeles, World  Cruise Terminal, Berth 93 on August 22, 2023?

On 3/24/2023 at 9:20 AM, joshsc said:

 

Thanks Josh .. nicely done.

I want to get a new camera.  Thinking Sony A7IV.  Is that type of DSLR too big? I really want a full frame camera with viewfinder. 

What a great family video.  Excellent. 

11 hours ago, Victoria2 said:

I'm not sure why any Grill area is different from the rest of the ship.

No disrespect, but I'd go further and ask, why should the Grills or any part of a Cunard ship be any different from the way I dress for dinner at home?  Or the way I dress watching TV in my living room?  Why should I ever have to "dress up" anywhere at all.  Blue Jeans should be fine at the Oscars, at the Nobel Dinner, and at Royal weddings. Why does the world feel a need to dress up at all?  Tradition?  Taste? Fun?

Once upon a time, Cunard was all about maintaining those old standards of dress and behavior associated with the Golden age of the great luxury liners.  Most of us thought it was fun.  We weren't going to win a noble prize, but we could dress up and feel special in the lap of luxury.  It's what we came for.  I, for one, lament it's demise. 

On 2/22/2023 at 5:43 PM, roscoe39 said:

Now I'm not a clothes snob as everyone will attest ......

 

I am.  Jeans in the Grills at any time makes me cringe.

On 2/8/2023 at 1:45 PM, roscoe39 said:

I have to report something I suspect  that will scandalize some and I am surprised that it has not been picked up by anyone before.

 

For years I have walked the promenade deck in the "clockwise" tradition - a personal foible that I am probably best  known for....it seems some old timers consider the correct direction to be Anticlockwise..... a fact, I have always disputed..

 

But .there seems to be a change in policy on board and now the signs point now in the correct direction  to some ....... clockwise

 

Photos on my blog

 

butarewethereyet.blogspot.com

 

Not that I am stirring the pot .......lol....... but thank you you're welcome.

I've always gone with the flow, anti-clockwise but I'll be happy to go the other way now .. Mainly I'll be happy to get back on a ship, you lucky Kiwi !!   We sail on QE this summer in Alaska.  Meanwhile, thanks for posting as I caught up with your fabulous blog.  Cheers old friend.  Keep the blog rolling.

No perks for back to back that I know about.  I love going back to back.  If you have not booked your trip yet, ask Cunard.   Can't hurt.  Maybe they can do some additional onboard credit ??  

19 hours ago, david,Mississauga said:

We are on the 20th June cruise with a scheduled call at Skagway on the 23rd. The CLA Alaska site still shows this. In the last few days the site was updated to show berth assignments. The QE is booked at RRA that day. The legend shows that as Railroad Dock Aft. The other two ships in port are the Norwegian Jewel and Carnival Spirit.

 

It shows the QE also in Skagway on the 10th and 23rd of July and the 12th of August.  There are many days with four ships in port which means two at Railroad Dock. That could be a problem.

 

https://claalaska.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SKG-Skagway-2023.pdf

 

Thanks for this information!  I notice the date on this information is Jan 23, 2023. It would certainly be a major disappointment if QE does not call at all at Skagway this year.

Does this dock information get updated weekly?  

12 hours ago, kmerlin14 said:

we really enjoyed the Hubbard Glacier in 2019 and the Captain was able to get us very close and we had a great view of the calving.

 

We also visited Hubbard in 2019 while on QE .. The calving we saw was quite impressive.

Thanks for posting we were unaware. 

Hubbard likely would have more calving but Tracy Arm feels more intimate to the South Sawyer glacier.  But --- on occasion Tracy Arm has too much ice and then you lose the day completely.  Haines is a poor sub for Skagway, but a delight to us folks who have been to Skagway repeatedly but not Haines.

5 hours ago, roscoe39 said:

 ... in plain sight ..

Absolutely in plain sight on QE .. she sails onward, never missing a party ... 

17 hours ago, roscoe39 said:

...and sigh....Elaine...wonder what she would make of the world now!

Yes.  I wonder too.  But it's certain she'd have much to say once the martini arrived.

Those were the days when we could look forward to meeting up for drinks in the Commodore without a care in the world.  The conversation was always spot on to the truly important issue of the day like how at afternoon tea they ran out of cucumber sandwiches.   Disgraceful. 

>>Sadly I think that we are deluded to think that the world will ever be the same and carefree that it was pre 2020...

To your point Roscoe, I sadly agree.  It's doubtful we can be that carefree again any time soon.  

5 hours ago, roscoe39 said:

....in my experiences the maiden world voyages of the QV and the QE of which I was on were almost disappointing for the recognition the maiden ports gave - save the odd fireworks ...

 

We were on QV back in 2008 as she left Sydney (after her maiden call)  with QE2 in port at the same time  .. I know you were there too Roscoe -- and of course so was Elaine.  We had just changed ships.  How can you forget it?  It was amazing.  I'd never seen anything like it before -- and nothing like like it since. 

QV maiden call and Departure Sydney 2008 with QE2

I'm an old Cunarder .. Food on Cunard's ships has always been excellent.  Main dinning room may have fewer choices on the menu compared to the Grills, but generally the food is the same.  Quality excellent.  I'm quite sure it will match up well to your past experience on Holland America. 

We love the Britannia Club .. Great experience ... But a table full of friends is more appealing to me. 

Great advice given above.  Rely on the Club Maitre D' to find a solution you'll be happy with.

What's the cabin number?  Royal Suite does appear to have a balcony. ???  Maybe I'm confused?

@safarigalReading your blog of the trip to Antarctica .. brilliant .. lovely traveling with you vicariously .. but wish I was there.  You have the right idea.  No matter how challenging the place, moderate with champagne and caviar.  Auntie Mame said it best "Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving."   Carry on.

9 hours ago, EasternMarket said:

It does happen. Be on good terms with the maitre d', ask politely, and be appreciative. An easier case to make if you're a solo passenger in the Grills, and thus already paying as much as two people.

Yes.  I does happen exactly as described by EasternMarket above.  We've done it a few times,  so I speak from experience.  Inviting people up for Drinks to the Grill Lounge is easier and done more often.  Regards the lounge, common sense applies as to space available.  Common sense also applies to having Britannia guests for dinner.   Remember, it is NOT done as a rule, so it is a rare privilege, not a right. 

44 minutes ago, safarigal said:

Yes, that's the one I was thinking about. I also did a video, and used a monopod, but the video really is awful, so I listen to the audio, it brings back so many wonderful memories of that cruise. I am looking forward to yours!

 

We are in Antarctica, so I can't really blame the cruise line. It's probably a miracle that there is internet here at all 🙂

Lucky you, Safarigal .. Antarctica has always been on our bucket list .. We missed the Penguins in 2008 when we were on QE2 going round the horn .. bad weather .. Capt McNaught canceled two ports in a row (Falklands and Punta Arenas) but kept us safe ... So, you're living our dream.  Hope the weather's good.  We understood Jan-Feb is better down there???

8 minutes ago, safarigal said:

I'm on a cruise at the moment, and I can't get to see your video due to poor internet connections, but I look forward to watching your video when I get back home. Cunard never made a DVD unfortunately due to issues with royalties and equity, so we have to rely on audience videos. There is a great full length one by Margaret Gradwell, but I can't access the link right now (grrr when will the internet on board ships improve/) but someone may have that link to share. That was truly one of the best concerts ever. We were so lucky to be there!

Hi Safarigal (can't remember your real name??) .. The full length version, by someone named ARIZONAGCS,  runs an hour and 47 min.   The audio is fairly good (I borrowed some of it) but the video is a bit bumpy .. I don't know how anyone can hold a camera steady for that long ..

So Safariga, where in the world are you cruising?

Cunard's 175th Anniversary Concert held at the Liverpool Cathedral on July 4, 2015.  To my knowledge, Cunard never released a DVD or video of this event.  The concert ran 2 ½ hours.  This is my 22 min version.  This should be of value to those interested in Cunard history.  Considering that I was merely a member of the audience, I'm quite proud of how this video was shot and edited.