Days 10 and 11 - At Sea

Sunday -  I am having a hard time disconnecting with the internet and used up the 500 minutes I purchased in eight days.  So today I purchased the largest package (which is 1920 minutes) and hope it will last me until Sydney.

Went to the 11:00 lecture by Bill Miller about the "The Great Atlantic Liners".  He is a very dynamic speaker and will be doing more lectures that I plan to attend.  We had our second Cruise Critic Meet and Greet and were able to welcome some of the passengers who embarked in New York City.  About 20-25 attended.

Today is blustery out on deck and the Captain announced we had gale force winds.  Lots of white caps and some movement but still not as much as we had in the early days of the crossing.

This evening's show was a singer named David Shannon who has played Jean Valjean in Les Mis and the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera.

Monday - What a difference a day makes!  I woke up around 9 and the sky was blue and the sun was shining into my stateroom.  I decided to stay in the bed and admire the view - I woke up an hour later!  I then stuck my head outside and found the temperature was lovely (about 65F/18C) so I sat on my balcony for almost an hour.  After lunch I finally explored the outside portion of deck 10 and sat in the sun for another hour.  There were a few people in bathing suits and one hearty soul was swimming in the pool.

Since I had no plans for today, I decided to go ahead and do a load of wash.  I had to wait about a half an hour to get one of the three washers but I did learn how to dismantle a dryer - one of the mechanics was in there trying to fix it.  When I went back to put things in the dryer, he was reassembling the machine - now we have three working washers and dryers.  Took about two hours from the start until all was dry.

I sat and watched the dancing for awhile after dinner but made it an early night.

Fort Lauderdale tomorrow and I am looking forward to a few hours of fast, free internet at a Panera!


Smooth sailing until next time!

My stateroom

Day 9 - New York City

I set my alarm for 6:15 (Ugh!!!) to watch us sail into New York City.  It was cold and windy out on deck and still not quite light as we went under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.  I have a couple of pictures that I will post when I can.  We pulled into Pier 88 right next to the Intrepid.  About 700 passengers left today and were replaced by about the same number.

I had signed up for the "Lower Manhattan and 9/11 Memorial" tour through Cunard.  A note telling me to meet in the Queens Room at 8:45 was left for me yesterday.  That part went smoothly.  We were escorted off the ship around 9:15 to find it was snowing!  (The captain had announced that it was supposed to be in the low 40s with no snow or rain a few minutes earlier.)

Going through Customs was easy enough (one of the ladies directing people let me go in a separate line when she saw my US passport) and the CBP agent was amazed I was going around the world by myself.  Then it was outside to meet the guide and get on the bus.

We first drove a few blocks to meet the water taxi that would take us to lower Manhattan.  The guide had trouble getting the tickets but we finally got on.  It was a nice  cruise down the Hudson and saw Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty on the way.

We left the water taxi at Battery Park where the guide tried to take us through but there were fences up (evidently he had not been there recently).  We finally made it to the beginning of Broadway and walked for a couple of blocks.  We saw the old Cunard building, the Charging Bull, the NY Stock Exchange, Trinity Church, and Federal Hall.  By this time many people wanted a bathroom break, a chance to buy a few souvenirs and something hot to drink.  The tour guide mumbled and grumbled but did allow a 10 minute break.  Finally we arrived at what I really wanted to see, the 9/11 Memorial.  We were late arriving (the tickets have a time frame on them) but were allowed in.  The Memorial is very touching and if I ever return to NYC (not my favorite city in the world), I would like to visit the museum set to open later this year.

The bus picked us up and we returned to the ship around 1:30.  I am usually a very generous tipper but this guide did not receive anything from me.  Once on board I had a late lunch in the Lido and then went back to my stateroom.

After a short nap I took advantage of the 3G on my phone to do a few things online and also talked to my daughter and grandkids.  I was going to find a McDonald's or someplace else with free wifi but was too tired and decided I would have all day to do that in Fort Lauderdale.

I told my table-mates last night that I would not be coming to dinner but was going to watch the sailaway out of the harbor.  After eating in the Lido, I ventured out on the aft deck to watch the sailaway.  I had to go in and out a number of times because it was so cold but I lasted until we passed under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.

Smooth sailing until next time.

Day 8 - At Sea

Today is the last day of the Transatlantic Crossing.  A number of people will be leaving us in New York and we will be gaining others.  Because of the out-of-the-way route we had to take, the Captain announced we will be arriving later than expected in New York City.  My tour is supposed to leave at 9:30 but since it is a Cunard excursion, it should go on, just at a later time.

Today I went to two more lectures.  The first was the last in the series by Joyce Gold and was about Grand Central Terminal and the second was by two of the Third Officers and was a virtual tour of the bridge.  Both were interesting.  The amount of fuel the ship burns in a day was amazing.

After a late lunch in the Lido I tried a walk on the open deck but it was a little chilly and way too windy so I gave up quickly.

We were missing three for dinner and the table seemed really large with those empty places.  One table-mate is leaving in New York so we may get someone new in New York or Fort Lauderdale.

Tonight's show was called "Palladium Nights" based on a British TV show.  It featured songs from the 60s and 70s including hits from Tom Jones,  Englebert Humperdink, Dusty Springfield and others.  It was my favorite of the shows for the crossing.

Smooth sailing until next time!

Webcam Alert

For those of you who are webcam addicts (as I am), the QE will be showing up on quite a few for the next week and a half.

New York City - January 18th

We have a delayed arrival (maybe 9 am) and scheduled to leave at 9 pm.

newyorkharborwebcam.com


Fort Lauderdale - January 21

Should arrive around  7 am and sail at 9 pm.  I have requested a webcam wave if they are manning the camera.  We will be under the large "Queen Elizabeth" sign that is near the funnel.

fortlauderdalewebcam.com
portevergladeswebcam.com


Aruba - January 24

Arrival scheduled for 9 am and sailaway at 5 pm.

portarubawebcam.com


Panama Canal - January 27

https://www.pancanal.com/eng/photo/camera-java.html?cam=Gatun

Days 6 and 7 - At Sea

Wednesday

Had fish and chips for lunch today in the Golden Lion Pub - great chips.  I spent quite a bit of time trying to get the blog updated.  I could get to my blog site but could not get the "New Post" page to load.  There is a concierge for the full world cruisers and she is in the special area of the Garden Lounge for a part of the day.  She tried to help me but the internet link was not cooperating.  I was finally able to get it posted a few hours later but am still not having any luck uploading pictures.  Today was just not my computer day.  While I was getting ready for dinner I was going to play some music on my iPad - no music would play and then I discovered I had no sound on anything.  I tried everything I could think of and still no sound.  Finally, I decided I would have to find an Apple store when we are in port Saturday.

Had a drink in the Commodore Club before dinner because I was going to the show after.  For my something different I tried the appetizers they bring around at about 8:00.  One was shrimp and the others I have no idea although one tasted suspiciously like liverwurst which I would eat as a kid but no longer care for.

Dinner was very congenial.  We have a Dutch lady at the table who is trying to get people to choose the healthy options on the menu.  I am a lost cause but she tries with some of the others.

The show tonight was "Vanity Fair" which was postponed from a couple of nights ago because we were having such rough conditions.  It was billed as "music, dance, and culture of a bygone era" and was mainly from the 20s including music from Gershwin and Noel Coward.  The dancers and singers are good but I think I was spoiled with the stage productions on Disney Cruise Line.

When I returned to my stateroom I turned on the iPad and the sound was back.  I still have no idea what I did to make it disappear or to make it return!

Thursday

Having watched some of the lectures rebroadcast on the television, I was determined to make one in person today.  So, after a brief time in the sun and wind on my balcony, I went to the Royal Court Theatre to hear Ellen Baker, a former astronaut, talk about the Earth called "My Favorite Planet".  Met with some of my Cruise Critic friends and talked for a few minutes until the next speaker, Joyce Gold, started her presentation.  She spoke about famous women associated with Greenwich Village.  Both speakers were quite good.

After having lunch in the Lido Buffet I attempted a walk on deck.  The sun was still out but the winds were brisk so I did not last long and went back to my stateroom to check e-mail.  After losing badly at trivia (the winners tied with 18 - I had 10) stopped into the Lido for a spot of afternoon tea.  Dinner included the parade of chefs.  I had Beef Wellington and Baked Alaska - both very good.  The show tonight was a variety show with a pianist, a comedian, and the Cunard singers and dancers.

Smooth sailing until next time!

Days 4 and 5 - At Sea

Monday

I spent another leisurely day on board.  I actually had breakfast (not much of a breakfast eater) in the Lido buffet and met a lovely couple from Grimsby and we chatted  for awhile.  Later, when I went to afternoon tea in the Queens Room, we shared a table and talked some more.  For anyone who is concerned about cruising solo, don't be.  It is so easy to meet people you only have to be alone when you want to be.

If you ever travel on Cunard, be sure to take afternoon tea in the Queens Room.  The tables are set elegantly and white gloved waiters come around with tea sandwiches (cucumber and egg mayonnaise are my favorites), sweets, scones with cream and jam, and of course, tea (coffee if you wish).  You can get the same food in the Lido in the afternoon if you are in a hurry but nothing beats the beautiful service in the Queens Room.

I was invited to a birthday party for one of my Cruise Critic friends in the Commodore Club before dinner.  A very nice event with champagne and appetizers.  Then to dinner (informal night).  Lost a few dollars in the casino after dinner and decided to call it a night.


Tuesday

The sea is still rolling but is supposed to calm down tonight.  I stopped in for a perfume demonstration (not much to it but one lady did win a basket of goodies) and then happened upon the end of the single travelers get together.  While sitting watching the waves after lunch another Cruise Critic friend came by and we sat and talked for quite a time.

The afternoon brought my first encounter with the launderette.  Stories are legendary of the "wars" taking place in there (probably "urban legends" of the seas).  I heard one in the Lido about two women who got into a fist-fight and were put off the ship at the next port.  The people I encountered were quite civilized.  I chose my stateroom based in part on its position relative to the lifts and the launderette, so, while my clothes were in the washer and dryer I went back to my stateroom ( the laundry room is about the size of a walk-in closet so there is not much space to wait).  The dryer was set for 40 minutes and I went back after 35 and someone had taken my clothes out and put them in a basket.  Not sure if the timer is incorrect or someone was in a hurry to get a dryer (one is out of service at the moment so there are three washers but only 2 dryers).

Evening dress was a formal/informal choice and the Elizabethan Ball took place.  There were still a number of smartly dressed people although I did see more casual wear than before.  Only a couple of people had on "Elizabethan" clothing.  Watched the dancers and had (what has become a habit in quick order) my nightly cocktail.  There were not nearly as many dancers as in previous nights.

I had promised lots of pictures but I am having trouble getting my pictures uploaded to attach to my blog.  It has taken 10 minutes to upload about 15% of one photo and I have quit each time I have tried (gets expensive at 35 cents a minute!).  The pictures on my iPad are too large to put on the blog.  I have accounts with flickr and Photobucket.  If anyone has any suggestions please, leave a comment. Otherwise, I will be uploading pictures at free wi-fi spots while we are in port.

Smooth sailing until next time!