Queen Mary 2 Sydney to New York, March 6 to April 25, 2020

[rafinmd]

I just posted to the Coronavirus thread.  Drastic changes.  I haven't yet really begun my post for Busselton and my tour in Fremantle is approaching.  I will have many sea days to catch up.

 

Roy

[rafinmd]

Day QM2-7, Friday, March 13, 2020, Busselton

The Crystal Serenity is in Darwin.  The sun rose at 6:17 and set at 6:42, The moon set at 10:01AM and rose at 9:20PM.

When I first went out on deck there were force 7 winds and I did not think tendering looked promising.  With a rather strenuous tour planned I walked only once around the promenade deck with one additional lap after returning from the tour.  Somewhat to my surprise the tenders were released around 7:30.

I had a fairly early tour, "Nillgi Cave and Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse".  QM2's tour system is probably the most regimented I have ever seen.  We  enter the Royal Court Theater and are given a numbered/colored sticker and directed to a small section of the auditorium with signs for each number's area.  When the tour is called, we go down as a group to the tender landing and board the tender.  The tenders are fairly standard, just a little bit bigger than most but fairly standard.  As I looked at the hull from close-up, it looks like the ship should be getting fairly close to her next drydock  The tender has facilities for an upper level seating although it was too rough to use it on the way to shore and was only in use for the return trip.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/ashore.jpg

Boarding the tender was easy but it was a rough ride into town with waves often crashing over the tender roof.  Bussleton boasts "the longest wooden jetty in the Southern Hemisphere".  It is actually mostly concrete now after storm damage but it's over a mile long.  I should have been suspicious of riding in on tender 13 on Friday the 13th.  We were almost ashore when they called the driver with "You're on the wrong side of the jetty".  It was almost another 2 miles going around the end of the jetty to get back to the landing spot.  The seas had calmed quite a bit when we first passed the end of the jetty and our driver cracked the hatch above his head.  He was absolutely drenched as a giant wave hit us going back around the end of the dock.  At the shore end of the dock there was a very nice hand drawn sign welcoming us to town.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/longpier.jpg

With our extra tender time our tour ran late all day.  It was about 10:30 when we reached our first stop, the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse on Geographie Bay, roughly 20 miles South of Busselton.  The Keeper's house is apparently now used for private functions; it was not open during our visit.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/keeper.jpg

There are tours of the lighthouse, but they were not part of our tour and we did not have time to do it even if we wanted to purchase one.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/naturaliste.jpg

It was then a short drive to the Ngilgi caves, near the little town of Yallingup (the suffix up in the native language means 'place').  The entrance was from a hole in the top and when we were just in our guide gave us a brief introduction and left us to explore on our own.  There were most of the typical scenes in caves and at one place there was a table with samples of the limestone we could touch.  By the time I reached the end it had been quite a workout.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/ngilgi.jpg

The brochure had said "350 steps".  Some were wooden and easy to negotiate while others were cut into the rock and uneven with a few of the steps had very high rises.  There were generally railings but in a couple of places there were none and it felt a bit scary.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/stepsgalore.jpg

I saw only one traditional column in the cave.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/column.jpg

While in Sydney I had purchased an 8-pack of small bags of potato chips (crisps) and consumed 7 of them before boarding QM2.  The last of those bags was the start of my lunch.  Also in Sydney there was one ice cream product I liked both for size and for a sensible size.  I checked all the stores in Busselton coming up empty until a restaurant had it while I was almost returning to the ship.  A glass on skim milk on board completed my lunch.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/treat.jpg

As I returned to the jetty QM2 was sitting placidly in the distance.  The ride back to the ship was uneventful.  While the upper level of the tender was in use I was on the lower level.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/qm2anchored.jpg

There was one final dinner for all six of us at table 211.  I chose the gourmet greens, spa beef tenderloin, and apple and apricot tart.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/dishes13.jpg

The featured entertainment was a repeat performance by the Valleys with music of the 60's boy bands (Temptations, Bee Gees, Drifters, and Beatles).  I arrived a bit early so I could exit when the encores started.

My parting shot will be difficult and a foreshadowing of uncertainty to come.  At 7:45AM Saturday Captain Hashmi came on the PA with sudden and stunning changes.  Nobody (guest nor crew) would be allowed to board in Fremantle, and several ports would be missed on our upcoming segment.  Even Captain Wells will not be boarding and Captain Hashmi will be continuing.  I have not heard anything definitive but it sounds like we will remain in Fremantle another day to allow guests who wish to leave to pack and make arrangements.  I wish all with their plans disrupted a minimum of further frustrations.

Roy

 

[erewhon]

Roy, 

Thanks for your reports.

Are you still on board the ship?

[rafinmd]

8 hours ago, erewhon said:

Roy, 

Thanks for your reports.

Are you still on board the ship?

Not sailing any further but on board until some time Monday.

 

Roy

[rafinmd]

Day QM2-8, Saturday, March 14, 2020, Perth

Note: This post was written early Sunday morning and only minimally amended for the 8AM bombshell

The Crystal Serenity starts a Corona modified itinerary from Darwin to Broome.  The sun rose at 6:15 and set at 6:37.  The moon set at 11:05AM and rose at 10:01PM.

The day started relatively routinely with a walk of 3 ½ laps around the promenade deck with an eventual total of 5.  We entered the harbor about 6, passing the World on the way to our berth.

It was looking like pretty much a normal port day until Captain Hashmi came on the PA at 7:45 with stunning news.  Due to the coronavirus situation, no guests nor crew will be allowed to embark in Fremantle.  This includes Captain Wells, so Captain Hashmi will be on board until Southampton.  People who wish to leave in Fremantle will be permitted to do so and our departure was extended, first by 2 hours and later by 24 hours.  I learned later in the day that Holland America's World Cruises would end in  a few days in Fremantle, so if we do manage a return to Southampton we will be one of the last World Cruises standing.

I had a tour, "Twin Cities and River Cruise".  We left the dock about 9 and drove pretty quickly across the Swan River and along the North Fremantle coast stopping first at Kings Park with a panoramic view of the landscape.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/kingsview.jpg

Also at Kings Park was a memorial to Australia's war dead.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/warmonument.jpg

We drove through the center of Perth stopping at a ferry landing on the Swan where we boarded our boat.  The tour boat sometimes serves as a ferry to Rottnest Island but I believe the voyage we were on was part of a luncheon cruise out of both Perth and Fremantle.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/swanboat.jpg

Much of the Swan upstream from the cruise terminal is wide, virtually a huge bay, but can never be a home to shipping due to a series of low, fixed bridges just beyond the currently used area.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/swanriver.jpg

Just before the dock where we left the boat and additional lunch passengers embarked we passed QM2, docked and looking serene.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/qm2freo.jpg

We had a brief tour of Fremantle as we re-boarded our coach.  The Roundhouse was originally a temporary detention center for indigenous prisoners who would end up serving their sentences at Rottnest Island.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/roundhouse.jpg

One of the attractions along the way was the Tourist Wheel, part of the Esplanade green space.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/freowheel.jpg

We nearly circled the Fremantle Prison but we did not get a single really good view of it.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/market.jpg

Some people left the coach at the ancient market, just before we returned to the ship.

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When I returned to my cabin the letter that Captain Hashmi had promised was waiting, although things were changing so fast it was already a bit out of date.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/corona14.pdf

I got lunch at the Boardwalk Café and then headed out in search of one final Peters dixie cup.  I was unsuccessful there but did find some blueberries at Coles for a late evening snack.

It was close to 5PM when I first heard that things had changed again.  Apparently Captain Hashmi made a 10AM announcement and we are in port until Sunday evening.  People who wish to leave must do so by 8PM Saturday and there will be 2 1-hour windows on Sunday when Australian Borderforce will be on the scene to process disembarking passengers.

There were just 3 of us at table 211.  We think the other couple was likely dining at Kings Court.  My 2 remaining tablemates plan to continue to the end as they feel this is not a good time to be at airports and in slender metal tubes.  I chose the beef consume, lamb chops, and poached pear.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/dishes14.jpg

The featured entertainment, clarinetist Amber Jade was caught up in the day's events and unable to embark.  There were 2 movies, 'Doctor Sleep' in Illuminations and 'Hidden Figures' in the Royal Court Theater.  I did not go to either.  I did go up to Café Carinthia to upload documents to my blog.  The March 14 Daily Programme is almost like a collectors item because it was distributed before the changes were announced and a good guide to what should have happened but irrelevant to what actually happened.  Café Carinthia was silent there when I arrived but Fiona McGee was just starting to play her harp as I left.

My parting shot will be a request related to the Cunard Forum of Cruise Critic.  There is a dedicated thread there for Coronavirus.  The situation will have a major impact on the rest of my voyage and I will report on the situation as it affects my experience here but if I have any general information about Cunard and Coronavirus I will post it on that thread.  If readers have questions about Caronavirus please post them on one of the other places I'm reporting.

One is the World Cruise forum of Cruise Critic:

As I write this the internet is not working but that thread should be one of the first listed in the World Cruising forum.

The other is as a comment to the blog at:

http://morethangetaways.wordpress.com

PS: as of the 6AM morning show Paul O'Loughlin indicated we would still get to Southampton.  At 8AM Captain Hashmi came on the PA and the other shoe dropped.  We may stay aboard potentially until 8PM Tuesday.

Roy

 

[hypercafe]

Hello Roy, I have followed your trips on many lines any always enjoyed them very much. Thanks for taking the time and effort to do them. Have a safe trip home, I will be thinking of you.

Tom

 

[USCAdventurer]

roy,

i'm so sorry your world voyage is ending so unexpectedly and abruptly.  following your travels every day has been a highlight of my day and i'll miss reading about your adventures.  

how do i find the world cruising forum at cruise critic?  i'm not having much luck finding it.

 

cheers and safe travels home.

[rafinmd]

Day QM2-9. Sunday, March 15, 2020, End of cruise announcement, Fremantle

The Crystal Serenity starts a Corona modified itinerary from Darwin to Broome for the last few days of her world cruise..  The sun rose at 6:15 and set at 6:37.  The moon set at 11:05AM and rose at 10:01PM.

The day started pretty normally.  When I first went out on deck the moon was almost directly overhead and I caught a view of it between 2 lifeboats.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/moon0315.jpg

The Daily Programme listed a 6AM Morning Show so I took a peek at the morning sky on my 3rd lap around the promenade deck before heading inside.  

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/dawn0315.jpg

The morning show was not quite normal but O'Laughlin indicated that no new lecturers nor entertainers would be boarding so the on board entertainment team would be brainstorming to put together an entertainment and enrichment program for the next 5 weeks.  The first night's program was to be the Royal Theater Orchestra joining the Queens Room vocalist Kelly Young.

I have not posted a lot about the ship so for now I will mention part of the deck 7 food setup.  There is a lounge for guests in Grills accommodations between stairways C and D on the starboard side.  Right next to stairway C there is a small section called "Chefs Galley".  It serves juices and pastries in the morning and burgers, fries, etc. at lunch.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/galley.jpg

Just across from Chefs Galley on the port side is a small serving area with dining tables across from the Grills Lounge.  It serves grill items (pancakes, waffles, etc) at breakfast and pizza and pasta at lunch.  It opens for lunch at 12:30 and I forgot to take a photo of it once it opened.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/grill.jpg

On the wall adjoining stairway D there is a counter with lactose free items.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/lactose.jpg

In between these 2 counters there is an island which serves milk, cereal, and gluten free items in the morning.  In the afternoon the island is not used but gluten free items are available on half the counter with the lactose free selection.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/gluten.jpg

With a day in port I had planned to do a quick laundry in the morning and visit a local church once that was done.  The deck 8 laundry was already spoken for at 7:15 but I found a washer on deck 6.  As I returned at 8 to move the laundry to the dryer the other shoe dropped.  I was just on the stairs down to deck 6 when Captain Hashmi came on the PA and announced the termination of the World Cruise.  A very limited number of passengers who could document inability to fly would be allowed to continue to Southampton under very limited conditions on a voyage estimated to be 25 days.  The vessel would be operating as a merchant ship (I will guess perhaps the equivalent of a ferry) rather than a cruise ship.

When I returned to the laundry before 9 the dryer had stopped with the clothes still wet.  There was now a backup in the laundry room so I gave the dryer an extra 20 minutes but gave up the dryer with the load still quite damp.  I hung the items around the stateroom to give them a chance to dry more.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/drying.jpg

With the announcement of the termination of the cruise I turned my attention mostly to packing and did not leave the ship at all.  The ship was originally due to sail at 11PM but reality soon set in and our stay was extended to Monday evening.  A letter arrived around 10 with a request for our onward travel preferences.  Cunard has promised us air passage back home with a hotel provided until our flights.  I requested a flight on March 18.  I will probably not know until almost disembarkation time what the actual arrangements will be.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/corona15.pdf

I have a number of open snack items which I will not try to take through Australian Customs.  Lunch was pizza, skim milk, and one of the apples I bought in Melbourne.  I do not know what the airline baggage policies will be so I tried to pack in a manner as universally as possible.  I hope to be able to make a couple of adjustments while in the hotel but wanted to be as prepared as possible.  By the end of the afternoon I had gotten the 2 rolling bags to 50 pounds each.  Updates during the afternoon indicated there are still 1500 people on board needing arrangements.

One of the couples at table 211 had requested termination of their cruise on Saturday and were on their way to the airport by 5PM.  The other couple requested immediate flights but is still waiting on their arrangements.  For my final dinner I chose the chicken and coconut soup, always available chicken, and ice cream for desert.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/dishes15.jpg

The 2 rolling bags went out soon after dinner.  Kelly Young's performance was cancelled and there were movies in both Illuminations and Royal Court Theater.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/wheelies.jpg

I had originally hoped to check just the 2 rolling bags.  I would have liked to pack the smaller backpack in one of those bags as the larger backpack fits in the overhead bin and the collapsible minipack can serve as my personal item.  If I face a carryon limit of 7 kg what I have left will exceed that allowance so I sent my larger backpack out for the porters to pick up around 10.  It was about 11kg.  If the airlines have a limit greater than 50 pounds I may still be able to operate with just 2 checked bags.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/bag3.jpg

My parting shot is simple:  OUCH!

Roy

 

[erewhon]

Thanks for your update.

Sorry that your cruise has finished in Fremantle.

Are you able to get a direct flight to USA from Sydney?

[travelnap]

Roy, so sorry to hear about the end of your world cruise.  Hope you have a safe journey back home, without too many problems.  That is a very long flight for anyone to deal with.  May the good Lord bring you safely home.  Neil

[safarigal]

I am so sorry that I didn't manage to see more of you on board - just a brief hello at the CC meeting. I hope you have your flight details by now. Have a safe flight home, and I hope our paths will cross again in the future.

[rafinmd]

Just got my letter from the Purser.  I will need to disembark at 2PM with no flight arrangements.  I'll be transferred to the Pan Pacific Hotel where there will be a Cunard rep daily from 4 to 6 PM and will receive my flight arrangements there.

 

Still open questions but that's a start on what will be a BIG hassle for Cunard.

 

Roy

[KenzSailing]

 

Roy,

 

So sorry for this outcome.  Well, it gives you the opportunity to start planning your next circumnavigation.

 

I have complete confidence in you Phileas.  If anyone can do this, it's you.

[Colin_Cameron]

38 minutes ago, rafinmd said:

 I'll be transferred to the Pan Pacific Hotel where there will be a Cunard rep daily from 4 to 6 PM and will receive my flight arrangements there.

Roy

Roy, try to get a contact number for somebody, anybody, before you leave the ship.

 

We’ve been at the Pan Pacific for three days and haven’t seen anybody yet.

 

Colin.

[MMDown Under]

31 minutes ago, Colin_Cameron said:

Roy, try to get a contact number for somebody, anybody, before you leave the ship.

 

We’ve been at the Pan Pacific for three days and haven’t seen anybody yet.

 

Colin.

This is excellent advice, Roy.  Don't leave the ship until you know someone has spoken to a Cunard rep on land on your behalf  It is not good enough to tell people there will be a Cunard rep daily from 4 to 6 pm at Pan Pacific, when there obviously hasn't been any rep there to date.  Pass this information from Colin, who hasn't seen a Cunard rep for three days at Pan Pacific, on to Senior Management on the ship  They have a duty of care to you and other Seniors, in particular.  You need the name of a responsible person as well as a phone number.  Try to get as direct flight home as possible.  So sorry your World Cruise has ended this way, after all your plans for such an interesting journey.  Wishing you a safe stress free journey home. 

[rog747]

Very sorry to learn of the WC canx'd and most pax (1500+) will now have to fly home - We were due on at CPT to SOU but canx'd 2 weeks ago.

I hope Cunard are telling the airlines to waive all excess baggage charges as many folk will have way over most airlines Y or even J baggage allowances.

I might add if you are a US passenger and are now having to be heading back home then get Cunard to book you going East (over the Pacific) and not West to the UK and then onwards.........Its chaos here with UK-USA air travel.

Edited March 16, 2020 by rog747

[Host Hattie]

8 hours ago, rafinmd said:

Just got my letter from the Purser.  I will need to disembark at 2PM with no flight arrangements.  I'll be transferred to the Pan Pacific Hotel where there will be a Cunard rep daily from 4 to 6 PM and will receive my flight arrangements there.

 

Still open questions but that's a start on what will be a BIG hassle for Cunard.

 

Roy

Good luck and thanks again for keeping us updated in what must be very trying circumstances.

[USCAdventurer]

roy,

hopefully you're in a nice hotel room by now.  pan pacific is a very upscale hotel chain so i'm sure your room is nice for you.  hope you get your air reservations sorted out and won't have too many problems entering the U.S.   it's pure chaos at international arrivals these days.  thinking of you and your next adventure getting home.

 

 

[rafinmd]

Day QM2-10, Monday, March 16, 2020, Disembark Queen Mary 2

The Crystal Serenity is at sea from Broome to Geraldton.  The sun rose at 6:17 and set at 6:34.  The moon set at 1:13PM and rose at 11:35PM.

I ended up very near the midpoint of my intended round the world journey.  It is 9004 air miles from Fremantle to Heathrow, continuing to travel westbound.  Baltimore is 11,586 miles away, and that's returning to the east.  In terms of air time East or West is probably a pretty close match, so the itinerary Cunard comes up will be pretty close to an even match.

I was in no rush to get up this morning but I woke up about 5:15 and was on deck about 5:45.  It was too cloudy to have a sunrise but I walked 3 laps before the crews came out with their pressure hoses and another 1 ½ later.  As I finished the first 3 laps the Costa Deliziosa was pulling in behind us, apparently to discharge her passengers on a cancellation of her world cruise.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/costahere.jpg

The lines for the purser's office have been running back past the elevators most of the time since the announcement of no new embarkations.  The statement on my door this morning showed $350 of non-refundable onboard credit and there was no line at the pursers at 6:40AM.  They were quite cooperative about allowing me to apply that unused credit to additional gratuities.  Things will be tough for the crew so it just seemed like the right thing to do.  I will leave the ship with a zero balance.

The main section of Kings Court buffet was completely overhauled at a recent drydock.  It is now an open area with an island in the middle.  At the forward end of the area is a line with hot cooked dishes including an omelet station.  The island has breads on one side and pastries on the other.  The aft counter is fruit and other cold dishes.  This morning a couple of sections of the buffet were closed down as a number of people had already left the ship.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/kcbuffet.jpg

There was a morning crew evacuation drill and for a short while my balcony view was clear and boat 3 was circling the water nearby.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/boat3.jpg

When the boats were brought back into position I got a look inside a true lifeboat (as opposed to a tender) before the hatches were closed.  There seem to be 2 levels of benches with even very little foot room around people on the other level.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/inside3.jpg

Borderforce Australia allowed 2 windows for disembarkation, 8-10AM and 2-4PM, although Australian citizens could disembark at any time.  My letter came at 11:20.  I was sent to the Pan Pacific hotel in Perth with flight information to be sent to the hotel.  I got a couple of lunch items at Kings Court but also consumed more of the snacks I would be leaving behind.

When 2PM came there was a long line at the gangway but after a few minutes we were told there was another gangway at C stairway.  That proved to be much quicker.  I was given a blue card indicating I had cleared Australian Customs when entering on the Serenity and did not need to clear again.  Captain Hashmi and Paul O'Laughlin were at the terminal door to see us off.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/debark.jpg

The luggage hall was a real zoo.  The letter had promised trolleys and porters but there were no trolleys and very few porters.  I put the big backpack on my back and the small ones over the handles of the 2 wheelies and got in line.  After about 10 minutes in a barely crawling line I was told there was a separate line for the blue cards but very little path to get there.

We are told to never leave our belongings unattended but most of the bags in the hall were already unattended so I walked one bag at a time through the entrance to my line.  I just handed my blue card to the agent and headed out to the buses which left with many open seats but a jammed baggage compartment.  We arrived at the Pan Pacific just about 4.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/panpacific.jpg

I checked in quickly with the Cunard reps who did not have a lot of information.  They are only there one day and my contact will be through the Concierge.  Checkin was slow but I was finally in room 2101 about 4:45.  I was told that Cunard is covering all meals and even alcohol.   I assume disembarkation ran really slowly because QM2 was told to leave at 6PM but actually departed at 7:30.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/pan2101.jpg

I got chicken wings at the hotel bar and ice cream (preferred brand but not exact same product) at a convenience store across the street.  I did not accomplish a lot in the evening and was in bed early.  My bedtime snack was most of my QM2 chocolates.

As my parting shot I have been on QM2 extensively but very little as a cruise ship.  I had anticipated from the beginning that my longest QM2 cruise ever would end in Fremantle.  She is bigger than I like as a cruise ship but in today's world not as huge (compared to other cruise ships) as she was in her early years.  She passed in this voyage but as a cruise ship I would still prefer QV or QE or many other ships.  The planned journey from Fremantle was to be just 9 ports over 6 weeks with huge stretches of what QM2 was so marvelously designed to do--transit vast ocean passages with dispatch, comfort, safety, and grace.  She will be doing most of that (not so sure about the grace) but sadly without me.

PS: As of 7:45 Tuesday, no flights yet.

Roy

 

[erewhon]

Roy,

Thanks for your reportand photos.

Hopefully you will soon recieve  your flight details.

[rafinmd]

No flights yet but I did just see colin_cameron who was supposed to board in Fremantle.  He is on my floor and just got his flight information, leaving Thursday evening.  His notice came by way of a phone call in the middle of the night (daytime in Southampton), so if I wake up to the phone I guess I'd better wake up enough to be fully attentive.

 

Roy

[MightyQuinn]

4 hours ago, rafinmd said:

The statement on my door this morning showed $350 of non-refundable onboard credit and there was no line at the pursers at 6:40AM.  They were quite cooperative about allowing me to apply that unused credit to additional gratuities.  Things will be tough for the crew so it just seemed like the right thing to do.  I will leave the ship with a zero balance.

 

Roy, you're a stand-up guy and I'm sure the crew will be very grateful for your contribution. 

 

I'm so sorry to hear how your well planned odyssey has ended but I know you'll be planning another adventure soon.  I hope your flight back home will be safe and uneventful.  All the best.

[exlondoner]

7 hours ago, MightyQuinn said:

 

Roy, you're a stand-up guy and I'm sure the crew will be very grateful for your contribution. 

 

I'm so sorry to hear how your well planned odyssey has ended but I know you'll be planning another adventure soon.  I hope your flight back home will be safe and uneventful.  All the best.

 

Imalso think GMT leaving unused OBC, as extra gratuity for the crew is admirable and sensible. I hope many emulate you. Much better than moaning about losing it.

[rafinmd]

Day QM2+1, Tuesday, March 17, 2020, Perth

 

The Crystal Serenity was to be at sea from Broome to Geraldton but was denied permission for a port call and is proceeding to Fremantle where her world cruise will terminate.  Queen Mary 2 is proceeding to Mauritius for refueling with a few passengers medically unable to fly and a reported skeleton crew of less than 100.  The sun rose at 6:17 and set at 6:33.  The moon set at 2:11PM.
 

As I start this post I do not yet have flight arrangements and spent the majority of the day in my room to be ready for any announcements.  It was a cloudy day and chilly but the sun did produce some nice color a about 6:30.  

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/dawn0317.jpg

Cunard is covering full board and the nicest meal of the day is probably breakfast with a large buffet.  When I returned from breakfast a note had been slipped under my door from a Cruise Critic member who was supposed to board QM2 on Saturday.  He has finally gotten an update from Cunard and will fly home Thursday night.  I met a few other passengers in the elevator who were leaving this evening.

Lunch and dinners have been from the hotel's Hill Street Sports Bar.  Both Monday dinner and Tuesday lunch were the chicken wings.  I had planned on going out for dinner but when I started off it started raining and that was a washout.

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/lunch17.jpg

I did get a short walk in after lunch.  There's a free bus that runs near the hotel and I walked southeast along the route to be able to catch the bus back if the rain resumed.  I got as far as Queens Park, a nice little green space where a former brick yard had been converted to a pond.  A tower in the background of the photo is the WACA (Western Australia Cricket Association).

https://morethangetaways.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/queenspark.jpg

Dinner at the Hill Street Sports Bar was a burger.  It came with some stuff I scraped off and was a mess by the time I thought of taking a photo.

My parting shot should still be somewhat relevant for Americans although it may be too late for Brits.  I hadn't really thought about it but may St. Patrick's Day be a great one.

Roy

 

[rafinmd]

2 hours ago, exlondoner said:

 

Imalso think GMT leaving unused OBC, as extra gratuity for the crew is admirable and sensible. I hope many emulate you. Much better than moaning about losing it.

 

10 hours ago, MightyQuinn said:

 

Roy, you're a stand-up guy and I'm sure the crew will be very grateful for your contribution. 

 

I'm so sorry to hear how your well planned odyssey has ended but I know you'll be planning another adventure soon.  I hope your flight back home will be safe and uneventful.  All the best.

I doubt that many others did largely because of logistics.  I would not have stood in line for probably 2 hours to have done but did find the right opportunity.  I felt a bit bad about giving the pursers additional work but I think the gal was a bit pleased to have someone come up without a complaint or earthshaking problem for a change.

 

I think it is very nice of Cunard to make that a possible option.  I know some cruise lines don't permit that including somewhat related Seabourn.  Thanks Cunard for a sensible option.

 

I do wish they would take things one additional step.  I was faced with a lot of OBC once, probably on a Transatlantic where there is little to spend it on, and asked about giving some of it to the Prince's Trust.  That, unfortunately, is not permitted.

 

Roy