West Coast Break Feb 22

[gardenbunny]

I thought I posted this correctly last week, but I don't see it. So, I am trying again. Anyone on this out of LA? My cousin and I are flying from Atlanta, GA just to be onboard QM2 again. Starting in Palm Springs on the 18th - would like recommendations of things to do in Palm Springs.

[curlyQ]

Try this darling:

http://www.palmsprings.com/attractions/index.html

[gardenbunny]

That is a great site - thanks!!!

[Happy ks]

Hi, sorry I didn't see your post earlier, we have a little roll call over here:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=100593

 

Not many on it, but it can be fun to know of a few fellow CCr's.

 

I love Palm Springs, we go out there every couple of years for a long weekend. We mostly just lounge by the pool do a bit of shopping downtown and go out for nice dinners, though. The tram is a highlight, take your warm jacket! I'm sure there are a lot of other things, espeically highlited by curlyQ (didn't look into the link, though).

 

Hope to see you onboard QM2, I have my fingers crossed that the little voyage still takes place!

[gardenbunny]

Upon reading all the posts w/ regard to the pod problem and speed, I am starting to worry about the 3-day trip, too. Doesn't QM2 leave for Hawaii after our trip? When do they plan on fixing the pod to get her speed back up?

[emilygrace]

I don't even want to THINK about this cruise not taking place, after all the agonizing I have done over what to wear for those TWO formal nights!!!!! But, anything is possible....

[Happy ks]

As much as I sympathize with the plight of the current passengers (except the non-tipping ones :mad: ), I'm watching this story unfold both am and pm, wondering if we'll all be cancelled!

 

Ah well, worse things have happened in life, we have our health, our family, each other. We have future plans for travel and look forward to those.

 

I've left the tags on all my new stuff, to be returned if this little cruise is cancelled! It does seem a bit silly to worry over what you wear to dinner in comparison to having an entire journey almost ruined.

[Bow Thrusters]

Palm Springs / QM2

My partner and I were running errands the other evening and had the experience of watching the sail-away of the QE2 from LA Harbor January 23rd. What a beautiful ship, and we can't wait for the QM2 to come into port. We have actually planned a day's activities around the QM2 and her sail-away. Someday soon we'll book a Cunard cruise and get to view the people waving good bye on the piers, instead of being oine of them.

 

gardenbunny, there are a lot of things to do in Palm Springs. Museums, a Desert Zoo, the Tram (highly recommended - in one moment you're in the dry heat of the desert, then moments later you're up in the snow {at certain times of the year} - you should have dinner up there too - a great view!.) If you like antiques, there are many nice little shops downtown on hwy 111 and some out near Smoketree/111. There are several smaller slot and card casinos (the Spa Casino is downtown - you can also arrange top notch massages and day spa treatments - many celebrities used to, and, I suppose, stil do, utilize their services.) D. Trump has a tacky casino on the edge of town. If you enjoy desert flora, a drive through Joshua Tree Nat'l Forrest is a must!

 

Food is good - Europa restaurant located in the Villa Royale hotel is an excellent restaurant, once owned by our good friend, actress, Amy Aquino. Rancho Mirage has excellent Restaurants - the Charthouse - a steak house, has very interesting architecture.

 

El Paseo in Palm Desert is a nice place for above average retail shopping.

 

Of course, no punn intended, golfing is at its best there and has many public and private greens for use.

 

This is "season" in Palm Springs and there are a lot of snowbirds living there for the winter/spring.

 

You'll enjoy PS as it has a lot to do and also is perfect for R & R. Reply if you have other questions.

__________________

[Ldybrnwyn]

Upon reading all the posts w/ regard to the pod problem and speed, I am starting to worry about the 3-day trip, too. Doesn't QM2 leave for Hawaii after our trip? When do they plan on fixing the pod to get her speed back up?

 

I don't know this for a fact but it stands to reason, in my mind, they won't cancel the three day. There's too much press about her meeting up with the QM1 to do that (and it being her inagrual cruise to the West Coast). With the bad press she's gotten from the Rio trip, it's too valuable a cruise to scrap. Not to mention that there are a lot of Cunard bigwigs scheduled for this cruise. You can bet the PR machine will be in overdrive.:) I'm certain everyone will get to wear "the dress" or "the suit"!

 

Tracy

[gardenbunny]

Thanks for all the good advice on Palm Springs. And the encouraging comments that this 3-Day trip will probably still happen. I continue to hope for the best. And I watch my e-mails daily to see if anything comes from Cunard with "changes" - I did call Cunard before all this mess happened to find out if it was sold out - and they told me it is actually even wait listed. Seeing the new report this morning that Cunard refunded all fares, those people got a good deal in my opinion - They basically got the same cruise as a TA for free - I still don't see how some of them can say their trip of of lifetime was ruined - You don't have any ports on a TA - could they have bene that disappointed about not stopping at a few ports?? - I'm only doing my 3-day break to be on board again - I'm not that excited about Ensenada - although I did some research and found that Fox Studios has a movie tour where you can see where the Titanic movie was made - could be fun.

[Sirwinston]

Hello

I will also be on the 3 day...

I was on in June of 2004 Eight day Carib. What a great ship!

 

I wish I was on the N.Y. to Rio segment, I would love to have gotten that cruise for free!! It is around the same amount I am paying to take

the 11 day Hawaii. I have never done a "back to back" and I am really looking forward to it. There are going to be a lot of ship enthusiast on board the 3 day. There is a group from the old QUEEN MARY (actually where I work.) and the Steam Ship Historical Society will be having a group on both cruises. I am doing 4 to inside room with friends for the 3 day

and a "hull hole" balcony with my family for the Hawaii.

 

I look forward to seeing you all onboard!!! Perhaps there will be a CC mixer in one of the lounges ?

 

I had a blast meeting CC people on my first QE2 trip, January 3rd Trans-Atlantic. The trip and ship were amazing.

[gardenbunny]

I have never met anyone yet from these boards - I did a QE2 crossing June 2003 - Look us up - we will be in 8094 B 5 -

[Happy ks]

We'll have to figure out a meeting place for the CCr's. Normally, I would not suggest the first day, as it's a bit busy. But, only being 3 days and the second being our only port day, it may be better to meet up the first afternoon.

 

I would vote for a cocktail lounge, or perhaps the library, around 3pm, plenty of time before sail-away at 4pm. It would be nice to have a few people to wave hello to throughout this little voyage!

 

I have met CCr's before. It's weird to be in the company of people just as, or even more obsessed as you are! My husband did not understand what he called "inside jokes".

 

Any suggestions?

[emilygrace]

The library at 3 sounds good. I'll try to get away from my friends for a few minutes. This way we can all sign the CC guest book while we're there.

 

My last two cruises I have met up with CC people on the first afternoon, and it's been fun crossing paths for the rest of the cruise. I'm still in touch with some of them and plan to cruise in June with a couple we met this way. We've also stayed in touch with some of our table mates and plan to see at least one of them when I go to Boston in October. It is fun to meet people who share the same interest (or obsession) that you do.

[stowaway2k]

The library at 3pm

I'll try to remember...

I plan on boarding soon after 12 noon.

[gardenbunny]

Library at 3 on the first day - window seat - see you then!

[Sirwinston]

O.K. the library at 3:00 p.m. See you there Everyone ...

[stowaway2k]

Has the West Coast Break been cancelled?

 

New information now on this website

http://www.thequeenmarysmeet.com/

 

has QM2 in Long Beach at noon on 23 Feb, when she should be in Ensenada, Mexico.

[greatam]

Has the West Coast Break been cancelled?

 

New information now on this website

http://www.thequeenmarysmeet.com/

 

has QM2 in Long Beach at noon on 23 Feb, when she should be in Ensenada, Mexico.

 

Oh, geez, don't tell me this. I am not going on the cruise, but had booked the QM hotel for the evening of the 21st to see all the festivities. Guess a phone call to the Long Beach visitors bureau is in order first thing Monday. And it looks like the whole shindig has now been reduced to about 1.5 hours, not an entire day, as was posted last week.

[curlyQ]

I telephoned Cunard as we have friends on the Ensenada sailing -

they advise that they have heard nothing about any QM2 schedule

change for Los Angeles and that all was running as planned.

 

Perhaps the L.B. visitor website made an error? Guess we will

have to wait till tomorrow to find out.

 

Curls.

[emilygrace]

I emailed the link to my TA, who is my cabin mate for this cruise, and she emailed back, saying to only believe the "official" website of Cunard. She sent a link with a press release about the two Marys, but it was written on January 11th, before any of the disaster had happened.

 

Maybe if we have to miss Ensenade as a port we should demand 1/2 our fare back.....and I wasn't even going to get off the ship there!!!

 

BTW, does anyone know about any shore excursions on the cruise? The preliminary booklet we got (before final docs) said it included "detailed information about shore excursions and life on board", but I didn't see anything about excursions. I just wonder if Cunard is going to have anything available.

[gardenbunny]

My heart has sunk to my sick stomach - please let this be a big typo by Long Beach -

I will check the boards again as soon as possible after all the time lapse as I am on the East Coast.

I may call Cunard myself -

I was just reading the blog from Jack and they are on schedule - I don't understand where the glich might be.

[Happy ks]

I think Long Beach got the date wrong on its press release, here is a link (from the same site) from Cunard:

 

http://www.thequeenmarysmeet.com/CONTACT/index.html#C

[Happy ks]

I have emailed the visitors bureau in Long Beach, linking this post and asking if the ship will be a day late.

[Sirwinston]

Hello West Coast Beakers:

Sorry if I started a panic. :confused:

O.K. This is my take on it. I was at a Steam Ship Historical Society function on Board the RMS QUEEN MARY on Saturday. Lovetta Kramer who works for the QUEEN MARY and is helping to arrange the media event for the ships meeting told us that the meeting had been moved to a midday time because of concern over morning fog, From the 7. A.M. to noon the following day... :D

(I think that the 5 p.m. may have been dropped because of concern about getting everyone board by 4 p.m.)

So according to Lovetta we are supposed to all board and leave port of L.A. on the 22nd as planned. Then sail around lazily until noon the next day (the 23rd). The Queen Mary 2 then will sail about a mile away from the QM1 before noon and stay in place for a full hour instead of the two planned 5 minute sail bys.... We will then sail for Ensenada so all that is happening is that Cunard is switching the order of the sea day for the Ensenada day, Part of our sea day will be sailing By the QM1. Lovetta is also going on the West Coast Break so like us She has a "vested interest"

 

Like all of you I have friends that are coming to Ensenada to greet me getting off of the QUEEN MARY 2, They all have booked non refundable private jets and stays at the Ensenada Four Seasons. So once again Cunard has ruined Everything.

 

All joking aside I was looking forward to trying to get some pictures of both ships the morning before my cruise, I guess I will just have to grap someone elses of the internet...:rolleyes: But we have had several "pea soup" fog mornings lately .:eek:

All for now, Tom In Long Beach (AKA chicken little)

 

P.S. I do not know why Cunard has not changed the info on their site yet.

Then again through all of this pod business this site has been the better for getting info.

Also there still may be reason to stay on QM1 on the 21st ( well besides the maple burr and art deco ) Ted Scull will be doing a lecture about all four Cunard Queens @ 8:00 in the Coronia room. Several West Coast Breakers are still planning to spend the night.