bluemarble

Here's a view of today's sunrise as seen from QM2 sailing the North Atlantic with two days to go until we reach New York. Generally cloudy conditions plus a lack of ambition on my part to get up early enough have prevented me from posting a sunrise photo previously during this voyage. I'll rectify that situation now.

Thanks for the recommendation. We took your suggestion and visited the Solent Sky Museum during our day in Southampton today. Some very interesting aviation exhibits indeed. I also enjoyed seeing the Calshot Spit Light Vessel on display there. Here is a photo I took of that vessel.

Our day in Hamburg went well. Because of our late arrival (about 3:00pm), I didn't plan anything specific. I took the Cunard shuttle to the Rathaus to explore on my own. I decided to walk to the Elbphilharmonie which I had only seen from a distance before. I managed to get this photo. I suspect our day in Southampton tomorrow will be similar. We'll probably take the Cunard shuttle to Westquay and visit the nearby parks.

Another unusual (unscheduled) opportunity this morning for QM2 to pass Cuxhaven during daylight. Here's a photo I managed to take of that occasion.

During the one QM2 Christmas cruise we have been on (2013), they took down the main Christmas tree in the Grand Lobby on December 31st to make room for New Year's Eve festivities there that evening. The remaining Christmas decorations were taken down by the end of the voyage on January 3rd.

I appreciate the detail of your analysis. Yes this was indeed a designated optional Gala Evening. Per the daily programme: "(Smart Attire is acceptable for guests who are finally disembarking tomorrow if preferred)". I think your stats are spot on with my very general observations in the Britannia restaurant on Gala Evenings during our past several voyages. Just one or two in the "way short" category, such as a gentleman seen in Britannia in a hooded sweatshirt this past May. We only saw him walking toward the restaurant entrance, so I suppose there's always the possibility he was just passing through from G32. One can hope anyway.

Right. I first noticed that only a few days ago. I have my suspicions that change is a proactive step on Cunard's part to avoid another conflict with MSC Meraviglia in Brooklyn on Sunday, May 4, 2025. So far I can only place MSC Meraviglia in Brooklyn up to Sunday, April 27, 2025. But if MSC extends her schedule of mostly Sunday calls at Brooklyn during 2024-2025 into May 2025, that would have caused a conflict with QM2 there on Sunday, May 4, 2025. At any rate, we now know QM2 will not be doing an overnight in New York on May 4-5, 2025. Instead she will be doing an 8-night crossing including a call at Le Havre.

Last year they started decorating QM2 for Christmas on November 27th about half way through the Caribbean cruise that departed New York on November 20th. If they keep to that pattern this year, you may just miss the decorations. The Caribbean cruise departing immediately after your crossing is my best guess for when they'll start decorating QM2 for Christmas this year.

I'm not sure when it started but yes, it has been the pattern during this voyage to have two veggie main courses each evening. One has been marked with a symbol indicating "plant-based" and the other with the symbol for "vegetarian". Someone who understands such details will need to explain that distinction for me.

I thought it tasted OK. My main reaction was I found it spongier than French Toast I'm used to. I suppose the larger Texas Toast size of the bread had a lot to do with why I thought it was different as well.

For the record, this is what the French Toast looks like in Kings Court on QM2. I tried it for the first time this morning (with syrup added after taking the photo) and found it a different interpretation compared to what I'm used to for French Toast as an American.

And here I am on the same cruise thinking how remarkable it was in the Verandah restaurant a couple evenings ago on a Smart Attire evening. Almost all the gentlemen were wearing jackets even though that's no longer required by the Smart Attire dress code. I was pleasantly surprised. I can't comment on the grills and I can't say I've paid attention in the Royal Court Theatre.

Cunard has offered reduced deposits for US bookings in the past. Sometimes it has been a 50% reduced deposit (12.5% instead of 25%). Other times it has been a very low fixed deposit amount such as $100. Often those have been during their limited-time promotions such as their Memorial Day and Labor Day sales. I'm not sure when their last reduced deposit promotion was in the US. Lately their promotions seem to have mostly included extra OBC rather than a reduced deposit. About the best I can suggest is to keep checking new promotions as they are announced. Do be sure to check the terms and conditions if you see a reduced deposit promotion. Sometimes those reduced deposits are non-refundable, especially for promotions offering a low fixed deposit amount.

Playlist from today's matinee performance "An Afternoon of Strings" with the Strings of the National Symphony Orchestra and the Harmony String Trio under the direction of Anthony Inglis on board Queen Mary 2. 1. "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" - Mozart 2. "Serenade for Strings" - Dvorak 3. "Adagio for Strings" - Barber (a tribute to September 11th, the departure date from New York for this NSO crossing)

I recognize this one as Valletta, Malta. That brings back memories of the very first port photo I contributed way back in post #24 on the first page of this amazing thread. Thanks for your contributions.

Yes, the chorus to "Rule Britannia", "Jerusalem" and "Land of Hope and Glory" were all sing alongs. They did a reprise of "Land of Hope and Glory" as an encore. "Hornpipe" was a clap along.

Tonight's playlist from "Last Night of the Cunard Proms", Anthony Inglis and the National Symphony Orchestra on board Queen Mary 2. 1. "God Save the King" 2. "Patience: Overture" - Gilbert and Sullivan 3. "Aircrew on Parade" - Haywood 4. "Romance for Violin and Orchestra" - Inglis 5. "Pop Looks Bach" from "Ski Sunday" - Fonteyn 6. "We'll Meet Again" - Lynn/Parker/Charles 7. "Hornpipe" from "Fantasia on British Sea Songs" - Wood (guest conductor Captain Hashmi) 8. "Rule Britannia" - Thomson/Arne 9. "Jerusalem" - Parry/Blake 10. "Land of Hope and Glory" - Elgar/Benson

"Stars and Stripes Forever" would have been the conventional choice for a Sousa selection and one I was expecting. I suspect "Liberty Bell March" was chosen to better fit in with the comedic bits involving Captain Hashmi playing the bell and briefly swapping places with Maestro Inglis as conductor. It's also an appropriate choice for the British contingent in the audience since it was adopted as the theme song for "Monty Python's Flying Circus".

The pianist who performed with the NSO at last evening's concert is Katherine Rockhill. Apart from the comedic bit with Captain Hashmi at the piano, she played the remainder of the concert. I was extremely impressed with her performance.

Here's the general process we followed when moving from one Britannia cabin to another between back-to-back voyages this past May. We were asked to pack all our belongings in our luggage. In that past, I've read where garments on hangers in the closets would be moved without having to be packed, but we were asked to pack everything so we did so. We left our luggage in our cabin on the morning of changeover day and proceeded to the guest services desk to pick up our new keycards for the next portion of our voyage. We then scanned off the ship using our old keycards and when we returned later in the early afternoon we scanned back onto the ship with our new keycards. Our luggage was waiting for us in our new cabin. A relatively simple and seamless process. Now if you don't intend to go ashore (and don't have to disembark such as in Southampton), you may want to discuss the timing of the move with the stewards who are in charge of the cabins involved in the move. You will still need to scan off the ship using your old keycard and back on the ship with your new keycard even if you don't actually leave the ship.

Tonight's playlist from "The First Night of the Cunard Proms: An American Evening", Anthony Inglis and the National Symphony Orchestra on board Queen Mary 2. 1) "The Star-Spangled Banner" 2) "The Carousel Waltz" - Rodgers and Hammerstein 3) "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" (guest pianist Captain Hashmi) 4) "Liberty Bell March" - Sousa (guest bell ringer/conductor Captain Hashmi) 5) "Rhapsody in Blue" - Gershwin 6) "Maple Leaf Rag" - Joplin 7) Medley from "South Pacific" - Rodgers and Hammerstein

Yes, we did book the Cunard tour to Miniatur Wunderland last May when we were on board for a cruise to Norway via Hamburg. That was an absolutely fantastic way to enjoy our first visit to Hamburg. That cruise included two stops at Hamburg. During the second stop, we visited the Internationales Maritimes Museum to see the marvelous Lego model of QM2 there. This time in Hamburg, I think we may do an Elbe river tour.

Tomorrow evening is the first NSO concert. It's advertised as an "All-Anerican concert ... dedicated to music by American composers with the very popular Rhapsody in Blue as the main item." Tomorrow is also sign up for the guest choir to participate later in the NSO's "Best of British concert ... with all the favourites including Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia, plus a very well known solo piece for the choir."

Sure, I'll be glad to post a play list. I understand one of their traditional performances is called "Last Night at the Cunard Proms". So I'm figuring we might hear the selections traditionally played at the finale of the Proms. I think it's a pretty safe bet "Rule Britannia" and "Land of Hope and Glory" will be performed among others.

I just spoke to the gentleman selling drinks packages on board QM2 on day 2 of the current eastbound crossing (which will be followed a 4-night Hamburg segment). He was aware it was not yet possible to purchase the new packages for voyages of four nights or less online via My Cunard to receive the pre-booking discount. He was not able to offer any insight as to when that funtionality might be implemented. I wonder if it might be possible to purchase them via a call to Cunard customer service.