QV/QM2 Kiel to New York with a Holland America Prelude

[Krazy Kruizers]

Another wonderful report.

 

Those seas do look angry.

 

Great pictures.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thank Roy

 

I went back to the May 20th report -- pictures working and they are great.  That library is very impressive.

[travelnap]

Thanks Roy, the pictures are working fine now, I was able to go back and view them.  I agree that the saddest day of the cruise is when I have to leave the ship and go home again.  No one to spoil me there.

[rafinmd]

Day QM10, Wednesday, May 22, At Sea, Queen Mary 2

Nieuw Statendam is at sea from Stockholm to Kiel.  QV is in Copenhagen.            

This was the most challenging weather day since my day in Zebrugge on the Nieuw Statendam.  It was clear from the outset that there would be no morning walk on the promenade deck, and I walked for a half hour inside the ship.

I have previously mentioned the ship's bell in the deck 3 atrium and on the back wall just to the bell's starboard side there is a large portrait of the Queen, commissioned by Cunard in conjunction with the ship's 2011 refit.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/atrium1.jpg

Continuing counterclockwise around the atrium there's a crystal piece that's brand new to me.  It is a model of QE2, presented to Cunard by the ship's new owners on the occasion of QE2's opening as a hotel in Dubai.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/qe2.jpg

Almost directly across from the QE2 model is a huge silver cup.  The Boston Commemorative Cup now denotes the flagship of the Cunard fleet.  It's been there since my first crossing but I've never noticed it before.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/atrium2.jpg

There were several Cunard Insights talks but I only got to a small piece of one live.  Seth Gopin started things off at 10 with a talk on the World Trade Center.  I skipped it in favor of a tour of the Britannia Galley.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/galley.jpg

At 11:15 we had the senior officers party.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/officers.jpg

When I left the party I paused briefly at Kings Court where the staff had set up a chocolate buffet accompanied by a couple of large ice sculptures.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/sculpture.jpg

I was able to go out briefly on deck 12 in the semi-sheltered area between the Pavilion Pool and the kennels for the noon horn test.  Captain Hashmi indicated the wind was 60 knots and would increase overnight.  Later in the day the ocean was really swirling outside my balcony, and by mid-afternoon all the outside decks were closed off with the exception of deck 8 aft.  By dinner time the TV said "Rough" seas and Force 9 winds which increased to "Very Rough" and Force 11 by show time.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/rough.jpg

With my return to reality coming soon I chose against what would be called a healthy lunch, going to Britannia and straight from appetizer (apricot and mango soup) to desert (carrot cake).

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/lunch22.jpg

There was a 2PM RADA performance, "The Tram Track Tragedy".  I was a bit drowsy and it really wasn't particularly my cup of tea.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/tram.jpg

I had started to pack.  While tea in the Queens Room is elegant I opted instead to go up to Kings Court for tea and a scone, and while a simple environment the food was still very nice.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/kcteatreats.jpg

There were 8 present at table 66 for our final Gala dinner.  One had an invite from an officer while Charles has missed 3 straight nights.  I hope he's ok.  It was the same menu as the Gala night on the 5-day cruise and I again chose the watermelon salad, beef wellington, and ice cream.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/dishes22.jpg

We had a parade of waiters at the end of the meal.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/parade.jpg

The night's entertainment was the Royal Court Theater Company in "Rhythm of the Night", and that will be my parting shot.  The performance was done on very rough seas, and the company didn't even cut back on their high heels.  The cast will be ending their term when the ship returns to Southampton.  Well done and best wishes for their future.

Roy

 

[rafinmd]

Docked in New York but email is not cooperating to post to blog and host pictures.  I'll probably need to try again from Penn Station.

 

Roy

[Summergee]

Thank you for sharing your voyage with us. I look forward to reading the next installment. When are you off again?

[rafinmd]

Miracle of miracles, my email went through from Kings Court.  My disembarkation post may be delayed a couple of days until I merge what I am doing here with the laptop where I have a CD drive to load the ship's photos.

 

Sumergee, my next voyage is October 18, a westbound TA followed by a river cruise on Crystal Bach and cruises on both of Crystal's ocean ship.  After that it's Crystal Serenity in Jan-March LA to Sydney and QM2 onwards to New York starting March 6.

 

Day QM11, Thursday, May 23, At Sea, Queen Mary 2

Nieuw Statendam is in Kiel where I began my Cunard journey.  QV is at sea from Copenhagen to Gdynia, Poland

My sleep schedule isn't adjusting very well to the time changes and I was up about 4:15.  When I left my room, the messages on the TV were not very promising but things didn't feel quite as bad as they had Wednesday.  I did start the morning with a half hour walk on inside corridors, but when I stepped out in the one place on deck which was listed as open (8 aft), the wind seemed far less brutal and I took it as a positive sign that I could see the moon through the clouds.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/moon0523.jpg

Sunrise was listed as 5:49 and I headed back about that time, noticing that most of the ropes seemed to have been removed from the promenade doors.  When I got aft there were low lying clouds that prevented a nice view and I decided to go around the deck rather than wait.  The same thing happened when I returned aft and I walked a second lap and while there were still clouds I decided the sunrise would not get much better.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/dawn0523.jpg

The last couple of days I've been doing my internet work from the Carinthia Lounge, the former Winter Garden just forward of Kings Court.  There are a couple of tables with power outlets and one of them worked well for me.  I also found on my credit card statement that I had been charged for that mishap with the wifi on the turnaround day and needed a visit to the Purser to straighten it out.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/carinthia.jpg

Cunard Insights went out with a bang.  Ambassador Chase Untermeyer started things off at 10 with a look at the Electoral College.  I skipped Dale Templar's talk at 11 on the BBC Human Planet.

In his noon update Captain Hashmi indicated we would be arriving in New York VERY early, picking up the pilot at 3 and passing under the Verrazano Bridge at 3:30 to be docked at 5:30.

I rushed downstairs for Captain Orchard's 12:15 talk on the future of high speed air travel before heading up to Kings Court for a quick lunch.

Pianist Matthew McCombie had his final classical concert at 2, followed by Seth Gopin at 3 on the latest in New York Architecture including the very recently opened Hudson Yards.  I finished off my afternoon with a walk up to Kings Court for a final tea and scone.

All 10 of us were present at table 66 for our final dinner (All 10 of us disembark in New York).  My choices were the duck consume, steak, and baked Alaska.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/dishes23.jpg

The evening entertainment was a double bill of comedian Ed Regine and singer Lorraine Brown.  I visited the last half of the 7PM show.  In the evening the clouds and wind picked up but I did go out on the promenade deck about 9 for a look at the closing day.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/dusk0523.jpg

By this time my packing was pretty much complete and my first (50 pound) bag went out at 9:13 and the second (33 pounds) at 9:20.  Drowsiness started getting to me about 10:30.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/twoout.jpg

My parting shot will come from the strange but true collection.  I had known one of my Nieuw Statendam tablemates (who does not fly) would be returning on QM2 but for 7 days I hadn't seen her.  
When I put my second bag out in the hall she came by and went into the room right next door to mine.  For 7 days we were so close but never stepped outside at the same time until the very last moment.

Roy

 

[Krazy Kruizers]

On 5/23/2019 at 5:56 AM, rafinmd said:

Day QM10, Wednesday, May 22, At Sea, Queen Mary 2

Nieuw Statendam is at sea from Stockholm to Kiel.  QV is in Copenhagen.            

This was the most challenging weather day since my day in Zebrugge on the Nieuw Statendam.  It was clear from the outset that there would be no morning walk on the promenade deck, and I walked for a half hour inside the ship.

I have previously mentioned the ship's bell in the deck 3 atrium and on the back wall just to the bell's starboard side there is a large portrait of the Queen, commissioned by Cunard in conjunction with the ship's 2011 refit.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/atrium1.jpg

Continuing counterclockwise around the atrium there's a crystal piece that's brand new to me.  It is a model of QE2, presented to Cunard by the ship's new owners on the occasion of QE2's opening as a hotel in Dubai.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/qe2.jpg

Almost directly across from the QE2 model is a huge silver cup.  The Boston Commemorative Cup now denotes the flagship of the Cunard fleet.  It's been there since my first crossing but I've never noticed it before.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/atrium2.jpg

There were several Cunard Insights talks but I only got to a small piece of one live.  Seth Gopin started things off at 10 with a talk on the World Trade Center.  I skipped it in favor of a tour of the Britannia Galley.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/galley.jpg

At 11:15 we had the senior officers party.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/officers.jpg

When I left the party I paused briefly at Kings Court where the staff had set up a chocolate buffet accompanied by a couple of large ice sculptures.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/sculpture.jpg

I was able to go out briefly on deck 12 in the semi-sheltered area between the Pavilion Pool and the kennels for the noon horn test.  Captain Hashmi indicated the wind was 60 knots and would increase overnight.  Later in the day the ocean was really swirling outside my balcony, and by mid-afternoon all the outside decks were closed off with the exception of deck 8 aft.  By dinner time the TV said "Rough" seas and Force 9 winds which increased to "Very Rough" and Force 11 by show time.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/rough.jpg

With my return to reality coming soon I chose against what would be called a healthy lunch, going to Britannia and straight from appetizer (apricot and mango soup) to desert (carrot cake).

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/lunch22.jpg

There was a 2PM RADA performance, "The Tram Track Tragedy".  I was a bit drowsy and it really wasn't particularly my cup of tea.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/tram.jpg

I had started to pack.  While tea in the Queens Room is elegant I opted instead to go up to Kings Court for tea and a scone, and while a simple environment the food was still very nice.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/kcteatreats.jpg

There were 8 present at table 66 for our final Gala dinner.  One had an invite from an officer while Charles has missed 3 straight nights.  I hope he's ok.  It was the same menu as the Gala night on the 5-day cruise and I again chose the watermelon salad, beef wellington, and ice cream.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/dishes22.jpg

We had a parade of waiters at the end of the meal.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/parade.jpg

The night's entertainment was the Royal Court Theater Company in "Rhythm of the Night", and that will be my parting shot.  The performance was done on very rough seas, and the company didn't even cut back on their high heels.  The cast will be ending their term when the ship returns to Southampton.  Well done and best wishes for their future.

Roy

 

 

Still so many offerings of activities even though many people have to get packed.

 

Those seas are looking worse.

 

Love the pictures.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Hard to believe that this cruise / voyage is over.  And you don't have anything until October.  Whatever are we going to do for sun rises and sun sets?

 

Glad you got your bill straightened out.

 

Have a safe trip home.

[Jimbo59]

Roy - sounds like internet on QM2 is not good. Were you ever able to access WiFi from your cabin?

[rafinmd]

1 hour ago, Jimbo59 said:

Roy - sounds like internet on QM2 is not good. Were you ever able to access WiFi from your cabin?

Definitely would not call it good but very variable.  I was left wondering if the transmitters in the cabin areas had a very limited capacity because it was a lot more variable than in the lounges.  Something that took me 30 seconds to do on the Prinsendam probably took about 50 average in a QM2 lounge and more like 90 most of the time in my room.  The wifi is there and it was actually pretty good in my room starting about 7AM but that was the exception.

 

Roy

[steve1young]

Hello Roy, I so appreciate you posting the Daily Programmes. They’ve been fun to follow. Will you be correcting the links to May 19, 20? They repeat the May 17, 18 links. Thank you, Roy. Hope all is well!

[North West Newbie]

8 minutes ago, steve1young said:

Hello Roy, I so appreciate you posting the Daily Programmes. They’ve been fun to follow. Will you be correcting the links to May 19, 20? They repeat the May 17, 18 links. Thank you, Roy. Hope all is well!

I'm sure Roy will correct the links when he finally gets home. In the meantime you can see May 19 and 20 simply by changing the date in the browser address bar to "19" and "20" respectively.

 

Like so, https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/program19.pdf and https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/program20.pdf

Edited May 24, 2019 by North West Newbie

[travelnap]

Roy, thanks again for taking us all along on your voyages from ship to ship to ship.  Have a safe trip home.

[erewhon]

Am catching  up with  your reports,  thanks for taking us along with you, and sharing your photos.

We believe you will be back here on the Crystal Serenity, on your way to Sydney.

[rafinmd]

Day QM12, Friday, May 24, Disembark QM2,  New York and home

Nieuw Statendam is in Aarhus, Denmark.  QV is Gdynia

Captain Hashmi had told us Thursday our New York arrival would be very early, with out passage under the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge coming about 3:30.  I woke up for a toilet call just after 3 and figured I might as well go out for a look.  When I got out on deck the moon was shining brightly.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/moon0525.jpg

We were still a couple miles short of the bridge and I hung out among a surprisingly large crowd, many of them in bathrobes.  It was well ahead of us when I stepped up to deck 13 but it got steadily closer and we passed under it at 3:32 followed by the funnel.  It looked extremely close but in fact there was a 4 meter (13 foot) clearance. and then the bridge started to fade into our background.  I went back to bed for a while.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/verrazzano.jpg

When I got back up at 5 we were rotating at the dock to face the sea.  I walked 4 laps around the ship as the sun came up over a crane at the next dock.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/dawn0524.jpg

In the last couple of years a ferry has started operating between Red Hook and south Manhattan.  The ferry landing is visible from the promenade deck barely a stone's throw from the terminal.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/ferrydock.jpg

I now have the photos taken by the ship.  The first is for a Gala night.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/gala.jpg

The next one is from a sea day which was under the "Smart" dress code.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/smart.jpg

My next voyage will be a transatlantic in October in a cabin on the Starboard side almost identical to the one I had this voyage.  When I return for a segment of the World Cruise in March it will be in an obstructed view cabin.  On the turn around day in Southampton I was able to look into that cabin.  I will be directly behind a lifeboat for those 47 days.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/wcview.jpg

When I return in August 2020 it will be in one of the solo cabins.  I was able to pick out the location from the tender at St. Peter Port.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/home2020.jpg

I left my cabin about 7:45 and headed to the Royal Court Theater to wait for my Red 6 tag to be called.  My big bags went to Luggage Forward just past customs.  They are now in Maryland to be delivered Tuesday.

My Cunard transfer had me at Penn Station about 9:30 where I spent most of my time walking around the area near the station.  I did pass one of the sites Seth Gopin mentioned in his talks, a tower in Hudson Yards with an observation deck hanging ut over the side with a glass floor.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/lookout.jpg

My train left precisely at 1 and arrived at BWI airport station a couple of minutes before the scheduled 3:31.  My last meal I wasn't personally responsible for was Chicken Marsala.

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/lastmeal.jpg

The Airport Shuttle had some delays waiting for a passenger in a delayed flight but I was home about 5:15.  Friday evening and Saturday morning mostly consisted of getting my mail from the UPS store and Post Office and restocking my fridge.  

As a parting shot this is Memorial Day weekend in the US, honoring all those who have died in wars since the first World War.  Thank you for your sacrifice, and may healing come to those left behind, particularly for families still reeling from losses in recent years.  And for all other Americans may it be a safe and sane weekend.

Roy

 

[rafinmd]

22 hours ago, erewhon said:

Am catching  up with  your reports,  thanks for taking us along with you, and sharing your photos.

We believe you will be back here on the Crystal Serenity, on your way to Sydney.

February 26.

 

Roy

[rafinmd]

22 hours ago, erewhon said:

Am catching  up with  your reports,  thanks for taking us along with you, and sharing your photos.

We believe you will be back here on the Crystal Serenity, on your way to Sydney.

 

On 5/24/2019 at 7:30 AM, Krazy Kruizers said:

Hard to believe that this cruise / voyage is over.  And you don't have anything until October.  Whatever are we going to do for sun rises and sun sets?

 

Glad you got your bill straightened out.

 

Have a safe trip home.

 

Hard to believe I have nothing on Holland America until September 2020.  I just came off a similar drought on Cunard.

 

Roy

[Tonopah]

Thank you for allowing me to travel vicariously through your posts. I look forward to reading more of your adventures in the future. 

[Happily@Sea]

Glad to see you made it home okay. Do you take one of the Amtrak regional trains to get to get an airport stop or is it a commuter train? 

 

I'll be looking forward to your next cruise itinerary.

 

Just a note - Juneau on Monday - we are not likely to have a cam operator for the ships.

 

[rafinmd]

4 minutes ago, Happily@Sea said:

Glad to see you made it home okay. Do you take one of the Amtrak regional trains to get to get an airport stop or is it a commuter train? 

 

I'll be looking forward to your next cruise itinerary.

 

Just a note - Juneau on Monday - we are not likely to have a cam operator for the ships.

 

The majority of trains in the Northeast region (as far as Boston to Richmond and Norfolk) stop there but none of the real long distance trains.  About  half the Acela Express trains call there, and that is what I was on.

 

Surprisingly, while many Acela trains stop at BWI airport, none call on the New Jersey Capitol, Trenton.

 

Roy

[Happily@Sea]

Thanks for your answer, I didn't know any of the trains went to the airports - except in Europe. No, I'm not looking to fly anywhere.

 

I know they have trains to O'Hare airport in Chicago but I believe those are expressly set for O'Hare as the final destination. That was back in the 60s - when I was stationed there. I have no idea of their current set-up. 😄

 

[naturelovergirl]

Thanks for sharing your grand voyage with all of us! 

[Thaxted]

Roy, welcome home! It was a pleasure, as always, to follow your journey. 

[erewhon]

4 hours ago, rafinmd said:

February 26.

 

Roy

Hopefully we can see you again, we will send you an e-mail later this year.