The gangway I appreciated most was the one that led into the Midships Lobby in Southampton at embarkation. That one always filled me with extraordinary excitement, and of course it was an extra advantage that we did not have to drag our baggage with us.
The same gangway was also the farewell gangway when disembarking again in Southampton -- the one where I turned around and touched her hull for another time before crossing that bridge into the life we had left behind.
In the ports of call, various gangways were used, depending on the tide and the port. And always, we knew that we would be coming back and joining the ship again, probably by means of the same gangway.
Queen Elizabeth 2 gangwayAnd then of course, there were at the anchor ports, where we descended little steps in order to join the tenders. Even though the anchor ports where exhausting for crew members, I used to love them, stepping straight out onto a smaller boat bobbing on the sea, and then dashing away from QE2, enjoying the views of our beautiful temporary home.
An Anchor Port And then, there was the Welcome Home gangway during the world cruise, so special.
Welcome Home!