My name is Gabriele, I live in Basel, Switzerland and have been working in the Logistics Industry for nearly 23 years. It was through my work that I got hooked to travel and container ships. I became interested in their design, construction and history. Ocean liners that offered a more stylish and convenient way of travel were not on my radar until the early 90s.
I am a newbie in the Cunard community, having first travelled on the QE2 in 2003.
I got first interested in the QE2 in 1990 when my aunt and uncle moved to the US taking the Transatlantic route on the QE2. Unfortunately my then earnings didn't allow such extravagances so I remained confined to books and films for the next decade and I pretty much read everything I could find.
Some time in 2001 I discovered that my great grand parents emigrated to the States in 1911 taking a ship from Bremerhaven to New York. I was determined to retrace their route and find their immigration records on Ellis Island (which I did) and there was only one way to do it. At the same time a very good friend of my family joined Cunard as a Purser on the QE2.
My first Westbound Transat was in 2003 in her company, which added the benefit of many looks behind the scenes! It took less than the 6 days to fall in love with the ship!
In 2004 my friend transferred to the QM2 and we both travelled together on the Eastbound Maiden Voyage in tandem with the QE2. How I wished I’d been the QE2! To say the Maiden voyage was stressful, frustrating or even painful for both crew and passengers would be an understatement. Again, the looks behind the scenes were fascinating, though I did not want to be in the shoes of those QE2 passengers whose suitcases were piled up in the Pursers office of the QM2….It was a very disappointing experience and I swore never to go on the QM2 again, a vow that didn’t last long: In July 2004 I witnessed what remains for me the best ever reception of a ship in port, in Hamburg. Since then I return to Hamburg every year when she comes in for her annual Transat .
I did another Westbound Transat on QE2 in 2005 and the Final Westbound Transat in October 08. It was during and following those voyages that I experienced what Scott so aptly described in his introduction: That the QE2 brought and is still bringing people together. I met wonderful people on all trips and forged some great relationships with other Cunardites. Ironically some of the best acquaintances I met after the trip on Facebook and other social networks.
I am still in touch with my table mates from the final WB crossing, and 2 of them joined me for the final farewell in Southampton in November when we spent a memorable day and had a great time on the boat escorting the QE2 out of the harbour. I was also able to witness her arrival in Dubai from one of the boats.
Now that the QE2 is out of commission it is time to make the transition to the current Cunard fleet: I am booked for a back-to-back Transat in June, leaving Southampton on June 13 returning from New York June 19.
Apart from Cunard ships I have other hobbies that are important to me: Reading and collecting books, music, travel, dining, wining and writing about it. Writing is taking a lot of my time: I have been writing for my friends who do not have the possibilities to travel afar. I travel a lot for work and try to stay a few days extra, taking photos and publishing these together with my trip reports. I would love to turn this into a profession.
My biggest passion however is wine: I am a wine collector (and drinker of course) and I take great pride in my wine cellar. I started writing reviews and tasting notes for a friend’s wine website and I am helping friends to build their own collection. My dream is to make a living from travel writing and to own a wine bar or store.
I am looking forward to make new acquaintances through this website
