At Sea

January 11

Went to bed at 1:27 (after gaining an hour) and slept until 9:32.  I really wanted to roll over and go back to sleep but I had promised myself I would not sleep in every day.  As a compromise I put some pillows behind me and watched the morning show.  It was the usual first day medical talk by Dr. Hawthorne.

You can definitely feel the motion although (knock on wood) not like last year.  The Entertainment Director is calling it "frolicsome".

Went to the 11 am lecture by Diane Janes about Agatha Christie.  She will be doing a series on crime stories (mysteries, as we call them).  The lecture was quite interesting and I plan to go to the others.

Our Cruise Critic Meet & Greet was at noon.  Finally met up with Maggie from last year.  I got to know some of my internet friends.  Judith and Julie and I went for lunch at the Golden Lion Pub.  I had my favorite - fish and chips.

After lunch I went to the library but could not find any new mysteries by any of my favorite authors.  I brought three paperback books with me, so they will probably last me if the other days are as busy as today.

As I was going to Needlework/Knitting group, I bumped (almost literally) into my favorite server, Marina.  She gave me a big hug and asked where my blue was (she called me "the blue lady" because I wear it so often) as I did not have it on today.

Large group for Needlework/Knitting group - about 20 ladies and one gentleman (who is a fellow Virginian).  It was good to see Janice, the Social Hostess, again.

After Needlework/Knitting group, Judith, Fran, and I went to the trivia game.  When we got to the Yacht Club, Mary joined us.  Today it was wipeout trivia - 20 questions worth 100 points each, after being checked, you decided how much to wager on the last question (Jeopardy fans, think Final Jeopardy).  We ended up with a respectable 1500 points but there were at least four groups ahead of us.  The final question was on Phobias.  Now, I hope you are all sitting down because we won!!!  The question was "Papaphobia is a fear of what?"  Somewhere I must of heard or read it because we got it right.  We ended with 3000 points (200 ahead of our closest competitor.  I now have a stamp in my book which I can trade in for a lovely gift (just kidding) before I depart.  The rest of the team is doing the full world so they will likely have a full book of stamps before the end.

Back to the stateroom about 5:15.  Feeling kind of tired (I did get up early for me) so I sat on the sofa and snoozed until about 7.  Then time to shower and get ready for the evening (informal night).

So far this dining when I want has worked out.  I tend to arrive about in the middle so there are others at the table.  We have a table for eight but only 7 present.  Table mates are Elizabeth (retired US teacher), Linda (US), Christine (UK), Ian (retired UK  Royal Navy), Michael (US) and Hugh (UK, works for British Airways).  Ian once was assigned to the ex-Royal Yacht, Britannia, and has some good stories about life in the navy.

Went to watch the dancers and Paul Ritchie and the band perform before the show.  Featured entertainer tonight was Benjamin Makisi, a tenor from New Zealand.  He had a good mix of songs and was very personable.

Got my orange juice for the road (my favorite bartender is not onboard) and headed back to work on the blog.

I am getting up for 10AM trivia in the morning!

My reward book

And my one (and maybe only) stamp!

Smooth sailing until next time!

Embarkation Day

January 10

Back to my old ways and did not go to bed until 2 am.   Woke up at 8  to a dreary, rainy day.  Rolled over and slept off and on for almost two hours then got up.  Watched the news and slowly got ready.

About 11:50 I took my bags down and met Pat in the lobby.  She brought her car around from the car park and it only took a few minutes to get to the stadium.  They took my bags and put them in a truck to take over to the ship.  Pat parked her car and we received numbers for the box we would wait in.  Each one held about ten people and there were dozens of rooms on different levels.  There was tea/coffee/juice, sandwiches and later cookies, candies and chips/crisps.

Pat recognized a magician who is a friend of hers and had her (Mandy) come in and perform for us.  I did not go downstairs to see the Jazz band or the oompah band.

The bigwigs have been by to see how things are going.  The Marketing Director, Angus Struthers and the CEO of Cunard, David Noyes have visited.

I just learned the Grills passengers (suites) were taken to a local hotel to wait while those who arrived late were waiting at the terminal because the stadium was full.

All in all it has not been too bad.  Yes, I would rather be on the ship but I feel Cunard has done its best in a trying situation (and at the last minute).  They have been good to make frequent announcements so we knew what was going on and the staff of the stadium have been great replenishing food and drink and checking if we needed anything.

At about twenty before seven we were told we could wait downstairs.  We were loaded on the bus about seven.  When we arrived at Ocean Terminal, Angus Struthers came on the bus and apologized again.  We had to sit on the bus about ten minutes and then entered the terminal to a long queue but it was moving quickly.  Security was tighter than last year and belts and shoes had to be removed.  Was finally on the ship at just about 8 pm.

My luggage had already been placed in my stateroom.  I read the program and then went to eat and meet my table mates  (more about them tomorrow).

Left dinner about 9:30 so I could walk around the ship and spot the differences after last year's drydock.  Back to my stateroom for my life jacket for the 10:30 muster drill which lasted about 25 minutes.  Before the drill the captain apologized and said that everyone was getting $50 of onboard credit (nice gesture on Cunard's part).  Then to my stateroom to exchange my life jacket for my coat so I could be out on deck for sail-away.


I sat in the Lido awaiting departure which finally happened about 12:24 am.  Walked out by the Lido pool but it was cold so did not stay long.

Back to my stateroom and stood out on my balcony for a few minutes and then unpacked.  Finally got my internet up and working then called it a night.

Mandy (the magician) and my friend Pat

 The pitch in the stadium with lights for growing the grass

The Southampton team

Smooth sailing until next time!

Southampton

January 9

What a nice day I have had!

I was asleep by 10:30 last night.  Got to bed and dropped right off (which is unusual for me).  I awoke  a little after eight to a beautiful blue sky and my view of the car park.

Checked the internet and watched a little of the news (almost all about the tragic events in Paris).  I left my room a few minutes before ten.  Last year I had planned to go to the Sea City Museum which has an exhibit on the Titanic.  (Many of the crew lived in or had ties to Southampton from where the Titanic began her fatal crossing.)  I never made it last year but thought I would go this year.  Originally I planned to take a taxi but when I looked at the map it was only .6 miles (within my walking distance) so I decided to give it a try.  Not too bad of a walk as I now know my way around the city centre of Southampton (the map route said 12 minutes and it took me 21 but I walk very slowly).

I was able to get a senior citizen discount at the museum and began my visit.  First stop was the Titanic exhibit.  It was an interesting presentation with a lot of interactive displays.  After a few minutes a number of school groups (including a home schooling group) showed up and they enjoyed themselves.  The other permanent exhibit is "Southampton - Gateway to the World" detailing how people have passed through or settled in Southampton dating back thousands of years.  The temporary exhibition was on the First World War and links to the area.  I enjoyed the museum a great deal and spent about two and a half hours there. 

A large model of the original Queen Mary in the museum

Decided to have a light lunch on my way back.  I was planning on eating at the cafe at Marks and Spencer but it was packed.  Instead I went to the food hall and picked up an egg mayonnaise sandwich and a couple more cokes and brought them back to my room.

As I was eating there was a knock on my door and there was Pat who I had met last year.  We had a nice chat catching up and then she left to do some shopping.  

About a half an hour later my phone rang and two more of my friends from last year, John and Andrea, were in the lobby.  Went down to see them and two people from the roll call introduced themselves as they were checking in.  Had a good time talking to my friends.

The weather was still nice (where are the gale force winds?) so we walked to Ennio's.  We talked (and drank) at the bar before dinner.  A good time was had by all and we stayed until 11 (we were the last customers in the restaurant).  Walked back and the weather was still nice (the high today was about 53F/12C).

Today's weather update is that QE will not arrive until about 3 pm.  We are to go to St. Mary's Stadium where they will take our luggage to the ship and we will stay until everyone has disembarked the ship.  They will have food, drink and entertainment at the Stadium. They will then transfer us to the ship.  I am imagining check-in to be chaotic.  Open setaing for dinner in the restaurants as soon as boarding starts.  They are estimating a 10 pm departure from Southampton.  Tomorrow will be interesting.

Smooth sailing until next time!

Travel Update

January 7

Received an e-mail from Cunard tonight about embarkation.  Strong winds are due in the next couple of days.  This may cause QE to return to port late.  We were being advised that embarkation will be delayed 5-7 hours (My scheduled time was 12 noon).  More information to follow tomorrow.  (How did we survive without e-mail?)

Stay tuned for an update tomorrow.

Smooth sailing until next time!

To Southampton

January 8

The flight seemed to go on forever.  I listened to the twenty songs on my iPad, I played games on the plane system and on my iPad, I even managed to sleep for about an hour but time dragged.  They came around with breakfast just before 5AM.  I ate a little but was not very hungry.  At about a quarter to six the pilot announced that there were a number of other planes ready to land at six so we would circle until it was our turn.  I was watching the flight map on the console and it was strange watching the little plane going around and around and the information showing our distance to London (going up and down, up and down) and the ETA getting later and later.  We finally were able to land about 6:20.

Since I was close to the front of the Premium Economy cabin I was able to be one of the first off.  Then there was the hike through the airport.  It seemed like a couple of miles but I'm sure it wasn't.  Terminal 3 at Heathrow was not busy in comparison to Terminal 5 last year.  I waited for ages in the Immigration line last year, this year I walked right up to the front and did not have to wait.  The nice Immigration officer asked about my cruise, stamped my passport and I was on my way.  Walked down a few more corridors and down a ramp to the baggage claim area.  Before I was even able to get a trolley I saw my suitcase on the carousel.

On my way out there was an ATM where I could get cash to pay the driver.  Walked through Customs (nothing to declare) and saw the driver from Smiths for Airorts (it is kind of cool to have someone waiting just for you).  He grabbed the trolley and we went out to the car park.  We were headed out by about 7AM.

It was still dark and raining buckets.  If it had been me behind the wheel I would still be driving around Heathrow but the driver got us on the highway headed to Southampton in no time.  It took about an hour and a half to get to Southampton because of the rain, lots of traffic, and some road works.  Arrived at the Premier Inn about 8:45.

Although check-in time is 2 PM, I was able to get a room straight away (just like last year).  They have stopped charging for wi-fi so that was nice.  By 9:05 I was in bed starting my nap (yes, I know you are supposed to continue on to normal bedtime but I get cranky when I am tired so I slept).  Finally got up about 1:30 and found the rainy day of this morning had turned into a beautiful afternoon with blue skies.

Left around 2:30 to walk over to the shops.  First stop was Poundland(Americans, think Dollar Store) where I needed a few things.  Then went into West Quay shopping centre.  Hadn't gone very far when I saw a kiosk that said "The Watch Lab" - just what I needed!  They were able to change the battery in my dead watch for £9.95.  I just had a battery replaced at home for $15 so not a bad deal (I was expecting to pay more).  Then I noticed a Thomas Cook travel agency that exchanged foreign currency.  I have had two £20 Traveller's Checques since the 1990s.  They have gone back and forth with me a number of times.  I had not found any place to use or cash them last year.  Turns out Thomas Cook was going to stop cashing Traveller's Cheques as of the end of March.   The man told me that many banks in the UK had also stopped cashing them.   I gladly cashed them and paid the £3 service charge.  

Walked through the food hall at Marks and Spencer and picked up a couple of Cokes (the machine in the hotel is broken) and then through the car park and back to the hotel before dark.

Spending the evening catching up on the blog, checking out things on the internet and (shock and surprise) going to bed early!

Smooth sailing until next time!

Travel Day

January 7


I started packing last Saturday.  I am not taking many clothes and only two pairs of shoes other than what I am wearing.  One evening bag and one for day use.

My clothes filled about half of my suitcase and I spent the next couple of days throwing in odds and ends (like my knitting).  Shut the case this morning and weighed it.  It was only 30 pounds and quite manageable.  My carry-on weighed 13 pounds and my handbag not quite 5.

Woke this morning feeling like a herd of elephants were stampeding through my stomach (no mere butterflies for me).  Knowing that it would be close to 30 hours before I could sleep again, I made my self stay in bed.  Eventually I fell asleep and woke up again at 7.  Some of the herd had left and I was able to go back to sleep until 8.  Awoke to the sound of waves crashing (from the Nightstand app on my iPad)  A few more elephants had gone.

Did a few last minute chores and left the house about 9.  My friend Carolyn had offered to drive me to the airport and I got to her house and transferred my luggage to her car.  We arrived at the airport just before 10.

There was no line at check-in (flying Delta) although it took a bit of explaining why I did not have a ticket for a flight back to the US.  Checked my watch and realized the battery had died since yesterday (something else to do in Southampton).  Walked on to security.  There was nobody in line.  When I had walked through the maze of barriers I walked right up to the TSA officer, handed her my boarding pass and passport and she told me I did not have to take off my shoes or get out any electronic equipment.  My stuff went through the machine and I walked through the old fashioned style scanner and was through by 10:16 (had to check my phone - you would think an airport would have more clocks).

The elephants have all returned to their proper habitat.  I do this every trip - very nervous until I get to the airport and then I am fine.

I love airports for people watching.  Trying to guess what people do for a living, where they are going and why.   I am sitting in the airport now marveling at how dead the place is.  Although it is called Richmond International Airport, the airport is small with mostly commuter type jets and some just a little larger (no jumbo jets).  In the 45 minutes I have been sitting here I have seen only one plane take off.  Much different than what I will have at Atlanta which is reported to be the busiest in the world.

Boarding started on time and we took off at 12:20 as advertised.  It is only an hour and twenty-seven minutes flying time.  The plane is an MD88 and it is full.  They made a few people check carry-ons that were overly big.

Arrived in Atlanta at 1:54.  Walked through lots of corridors and finally got to the International Terminal by way of the "Plane Train".  It was very well signed and had a late lunch in front of me by 2:30 (ate at the food court and had Mongolian beef which was surprisingly good).

Although the airport has free wi-fi for some reason I can't send an e-mail from either my AOL or Comcast account.

Boarding started on time but was very slow.  There were about ten people wheeled on and a number of people traveling with children (actually a surprising number of school age children). I am in premium economy which is only about half full.  There was a young lady next to me but she asked to move to a vacant row which means I have an empty seat next to me put my stuff on (unfortunately the arm rest is fixed so I can't spread out).

The captain came on around the time we were scheduled to leave to tell us we were going to sit for awhile.  There is a strong tail wind thanks to the cold weather (just like I had last year) and the trip would only take 6 3/4 hours instead of the normal eight.  That would put us into London about 5:15 and, because of a noise abatement law, planes can't land at Heathrow until 6:00.

We finally left the gate at 6:05 instead of the scheduled 5:30.

 The plane to Atlanta

The very quiet runway at RIC

The plane to London

Smooth sailing until next time!

A Visit from the Upgrade Fairy

If you are not too familiar with cruising you may not have heard of the Upgrade Fairy.  For a variety of reasons (some of which we, the cruising public, are not sure of), cruise ships will put  passengers in a higher grade cabin than that for which they paid.  This is called a visit from the Upgrade Fairy.  (Sometimes her less benevolent sister, the Upsell Fairy comes calling.  This is when the ship is offering a better cabin but with an additional cost [usually less than you would have paid for the higher grade cabin to start with]).  Why one passenger is offered an upgrade and another one, in a cabin just like it, is not, is one of the reasons why the Upgrade Fairy is so mysterious.

Last Saturday morning I received a phone call from my travel agent.  I was rather surprised to see her number on caller ID so I answered the phone with a bit of trepidation.  The news, however, was good - Cunard had upgraded me from a regular Britannia balcony to Britannia Club.  The major difference between the two has little to do with the actual stateroom (other than all Britannia Club staterooms are on deck 8) but with where and when you eat.  Britannia Club has its own, small restaurant rather than the large Britannia main dining room.  In Britannia Club you may choose your own dining time between 6:30 and 9:00 instead of eary sitting (6:00) or late (8:30).  You still sit at the same table each night but the people may come and go from that table at different times.

I'm not sure how I am going to like people starting at different times (may end up I am eating alone sometimes) but it is only for ten nights (I was given one dinner in the Veranda, the fancy - extra cost - restaurant.  It will be interesting and a new experience and I will let you know how I feel about it.  It will likely be my only time in Britannia Club (unless the Upgrade Fairy comes calling again) because it normally runs 10-30% more than a regular balcony.  Stay tuned for my observations on life in Britannia Club.

Season's Greetings to all!

Smooth sailing until next time.