Hello from a newby

[SaraSteiner]

Hello everyone.
I worked on board the QE2 as manageress of the Steiner hair & beauty salon from April 1979 - May 1980. I notice Tony Sekker's name mentioned here...remember you well Tony, Chris, who worked with you, was a good pal of mine and I have had contact with her over the last few years...she married a farmer!
Also remember Capt Nick Bates when he was first officer. Heck we had some fun!  Could kick myself as I didn't know he was captain  on board the QM2 when she sailed into Durban (SA) this year. I live in Durban for 8 months of the year and went to see her dock. Could have caught up with you again after all these years.
Sallie (Sara)

[Beardy Rich]

Hi Sallie (Sara), good to have you with us. You'll find that there are several ex-QE2 crew on this forum and I hope you'll enjoy the friendly banter on here.

[SaraSteiner]

Thanks Rich
Can already see I have a lot of catching up to do on here. As I am reading thriugh passed posts Iam seeing names cropping up. I didn't realise Alan Benell had passed away. So sad, such a fun and lovely man.

[Cunardqueen]

SarahSteiner,
 Welcome onboard,Hopefully its all good news you will read fom here on in...
 Cheers
 Myles

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Hello Sallie,

You bring yet another aspect of the QE2 into our Forum -- it is great to have you here!

I'd love to know what it was like to work for Steiner's on QE2! Did you join from outside Steiner's and leave for the outside world again after your stint on QE2, or did you move from ship to ship?

Was working on board very different from working on land (or on other ships) -- and how was it different?

I have the fondest memories of massages on board QE2, and of relaxing in those warm cabins, gently swaying with the motion of the ship, and realising that I was only a few steps short of paradise    !

Did you ever get to see QE2 again after you left the Steiner's on board?

So many questions... forgive my inquisitive nature!

[SaraSteiner]

Hi Isabelle
I typed out a long reply to you answering all your questions but don't know where it went cos I can't see it anywhere. I did keep it in a seperate doc on my computer so I can send it again if you didn't get it. Told you I'm not very good atthis stuff!
Sallie

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Hi Sallie,

As far as I can see, it did not turn up here...

Since you still have it on your computer, could you copy / paste it into a reply here, and it will be great to see it!

Looking forward to that,

Isabelle.

[SaraSteiner]

Hi Isabelle
I will be pleased to answer for you.
I worked for Steiner on shore as an area manager and I was asked if I would go on the QE2 to sort out a staff problem (won't go into detail). I said no 'I'm sea sick' 'No' you won't be, just do one trip ...around the Canary Isles'  (a teapot cruise as we called it)  So I went for 8 days (and was sick) and stayed and stayed and was then officered the world cruise and that was it. Great memories. Great fun times and met great people.
I never went on any other ship but was offered the job of manageress on board the France but turned it down. When I left I also left Steiner as I was officered a superb job with Estee Lauder, also travelling but on land this time. A couple of years later I did think of applying to Cunard to join as cruise staff but she was then sent down to the Falklands.......
I saw her once in St Thomas when I was on a cruise on another ship but she'd been docked a few hours so I didn't see anyone that I knew hanging around plus this was 18 years later.
Yes working on board was so very different from working on shore. For a start I was totally in charge 24 hours a day. My cabin door had to be always open for my staff to pour their hearts out to me and also drink lots of bottles of wine....I could go on and on.
The last time I saw her was when I was flying into Dubai three weeks ago and could see her from the airplane


So is she staying there or is she going to Cape Town as was rumoured. The latter would be wonderful for me as I spend lots of my year in South Africa.
Sallie

[Peter Mugridge]

Cape Town fell through; it would have been for the recent football thing had it happened.

The smart money is currently on Freemantle / Perth, if she ever does get relocated.

[Rob Lightbody]

Hello Sallie,

Welcome aboard and hope you are managing to find your way around.

A great story, and wee bit different too! 

- Rob

[Twynkle]

Hello Sallie
And welcome on board!
It's great that you have joined us - and hope that you will enjoy having a good look round!

When you were working on QE2, it must have been really hard if you were feeling sea-sick
especially as your job must have been pretty demanding.
I wonder, did your team also work with the crew - or was it purely 'just for passengers'?
Cheers
Rosie

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Hi Sallie, what a story! Thank you for starting to tell us. There will be much more to ask and (I hope) much more to tell.

I would love to know more about the kind of stories that were poured out together with the wine in your cabin...

... and about whether the hair styles requested on board were very different from those on land...

... and if you still want to write some more, Cruise Princess (aka Ann) has started a whole new hopeful thread here :

http://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,2154.0.html