Live from RMS Queen Mary 2

[Twynkle]

Greetings from the Sea,  Everyone!

Thank you for messages, some mentioning the possibilities of us having nine lives, and other sort adventurous sea stuff - someone too, mentioned the T*tanic!!
Just having been to say goodnight to The Sea, we are fine, hot and sticky!

It's been quite a week for Mighty Mary - in fact it could be her mighty size that is partially at the root of what matters these days!
Trouble is, like her Guests, QM2 doesn't find it easy to stick to a diet.

This time a few days ago - (sorry, but having spent over about 80 days on board, the odd number of days or so get 'lost in translation')
we were sailing North, into Beijing -having had snow in Kyoto, plenty of fog, it was freezing cold and also very windy ashore.
Then - having found ourselves as what can only be described as 'over-watched' again,  we buzzed about Shanghai - loving the colourful and dynamic feel of the city, we then sailed round the outside of Hong Kong harbour - and QM2's magnificent anchor rumbled down and did its stuff well.
It was here that we were required to use what can be best described as small 'boats for the masses!'
It wasn't possible for the ship's tenders to be deployed round the clock, and the Chinese officials of HK not only denied us parking space in the harbour, they evidently thought we'd enjoy being parked as 'junk' in Junk Bay - and worse still, QM2 wasn't able to take on any of the essentials such as Weetabix.
It was a little disturbing to meet passengers from one of Seabourn's  'yachts' on the way down from the Peak, and hear at first hand how they had been delighted to find themselves parked alongside the Ocean Terminal, although they did admit to feeling sea-sick en route.
Hey - This was QE2's old stamping ground - so why was it not Mighty Mary's too?
Commodore Warner has commented on Mary's size, on more than one occasion - and usually in relation to the designated parking places.  Hopefully none of her future guests will be put off by the often long coach journey to and from the desired destination....
Tomorrow - our call is at Singapore, and the shuttle journey (thankfully a 'free' one) will again take one hour plus.
Container ports are interesting - up to a point and hopefully this interest won't wear too thin!!

Anyway - after a damp couple of days in HK, when we treated by friends to a wonderful, typically English liquid picnic complete with rain, we then sailed for Vietnam.
Sailing into the harbour - a couple of fishermen in tiny coracles, each one with a very small paddle, bobbed towards QM2's bow - and then alongside - then away towards a beautiful sunrise and into the wake - they waved, so did we and it was wonderful.

Here, not only did  Mighty Mary's anchor come into its own again, the tenders were up (or rather 'down') and running within minutes (almost seconds)  of our arrival - this was the stuff of such good memories of QE2...and just as awesome.  The speed at which the deck crew worked was incredible, and although it must have been an exhausting day for all concerned, it was one that was truly well worth all their efforts.

On from Vietnam, and another single Sea Day, as we sailed towards Bangkok.
Up early, hoping as usual to beat it up to the Bit Beneath the Bridge before we reached the harbour wall of Laem Chabang, the huge port outside Bangkok city.
To our surprise,  QM2 was being  greeted by thunder, lightening, horizontal rain, a great wind (?80kph) blasting at her beam, and water was being forced through the seals of the heavy wooden doors of deck 7, then into and across the floor of the Winter Garden. The latter adding a second water feature to the waterfall  already in situ...
Needless to say, the Observation Deck could have been the best possible place to be - however for safety reasons, it was out of bounds.

Following a seemingly brilliant bit of parking up against a 'short' bit of wall alongside in a tight space, we went in search of silk, and found traffic gridlocked all the way into the centre of town.
Because of delays to most of the 56 coaches (!) that left the quayside, the ship's departure time was delayed - and delayed again, this time for different reasons.
The Commodore gave us a brief explanation - the doors of the thruster weren't working properly. Some time later, a wee Thai tug was seen giving  the great bow a bit of a nudge.  To this inexperienced pair of eyes,  the exit would have been incredibly challenging, no matter what - and it was just lovely to sail away calmly into the hot and humid night,  after a long and what must have been yet another exhausting day for Officers and Crew alike.

Currently, we are almost rocking, there's a bit of swell - and from 'up front' in the Library, it feels as if QM2 is having her skirt pulled about a bit - as if by an enthusiastic  wee child encouraging it's mother to 'come on'.

There's to be yet another change of Guests tomorrow.
After the influx of 700 in HK, including those having read 'Readers Offers' from 'B'rum', 700 more Aussies are leaving tomorrow to go home with some great memories - we will miss them.

Not many days now until we reach Dubai, hopefully QE2 will quite enjoy the call of her old friend and fleet-mate.

Hope this finds you all well.

Rosie.

[highlander0108]

For those not following this QM2 World Cruise Blog, here is Commodore Warner's sobering announcement on the precautions the ship will be taking as she sails through the pirate infested waters.  Godspeed QM2 and Rosie!  She's had quite a trip and seeing QE2 is only days away!

http://jryan2011.wordpress.com/

[Twynkle]

Steaming (literally!!!) across the Arabian Sea bit of the Indian Ocean.

Ken - Re the post from another Guest.
 I was of the thinking that the details of all security precautions (now well instated) were probably best maintained as confidential!
The same precautions were implemented last year, too.

Will post more about this magnificent ship later, once the dolphins have gone for breakfast!

All the best

Rosie - at sunrise.

[highlander0108]

I was of the thinking that the details of all security precautions (now well instated) were probably best maintained as confidential!
The same precautions were implemented last year, too.

I guess they should have shut down the internet access onboard! Hopefully, none of the pirates have internet access or the ability to use Google!  Perhaps QM2 will also show her maximum speed as she traverses this area.  She will not be easy to catch at that speed, as was similarily mentioned when QE2 made her last voyage through this area.  I'm sure Cunard has plenty of security measures that they have NOT revealed.

[Jeff Taylor]

I know QM2 has two of those ear-blasting, high intensity sound devices for repelling unwanted "guests", but curious if she has any other defensive measures besides her speed.

[Twynkle]

Here's more about The Day before Yesterday...'fraid it was just about as good as it gets!

.....following a superb swing away from our berth in Cochin, India - tight cornering and hairy looking multi-point turns seem to be the real specialty of  Mary,  thankfully, we were once again
at sea.
And this sea day was all the more enjoyable after the disappointment in Cochin, when we'd been directed to a wrong coach -  (hoping for an eagerly awaited destination, we'd signed up for the 'Backwaters' and hoped to see the Real Kerala -  instead we found ourselves on the 'Best of Cochin'  - Cunard's tourist 'special' range!!)  -  yesterday was well nigh perfect!
It started after midnight, as we left the Queen's Room, we headed off to the Bit Beneath the Bridge to bid goodnight to the sea.
The Beatles Celebration had played and sung lots of their great songs as we danced - rocking in posh frocks, exactly as they had done on QE2's last night in service with Cunard  
Sadly there's been  no opportunity so far to ask the Group more about this - however they are still around, so 'watch this space....' - investigations already under way!

After 'quick sleep', up at 6.20 to see sunrise, firstly from the Bit beneath the Bridge, then down to the foredeck - on deck 7.  
It seemed weird, the surrounding Arabian Sea was almost flat, and at the same time - it was also looking strange and mysteriously bumpy and black in several places. As we approached the darkened areas, it looked as if there was something not too far off, a bit like a huge long squall disturbing the surface.
It was then that the dolphins started jumping!
There were possibly hundreds of them - many having the time of their lives!
The sun rose, sleepily through the mist, then big and a fiery sort of orange - and the schools of dolphins swam through the sun's reflection on the water.
A glance up to the windows of the bridge, the usual morning greetings exchanged with the Quartermaster and Third officer on 4-8 watch, before heading off aft to deck 8 for early morning coffee, time for the deck crew to set up all the green stripy sunbeds and a long gaze at the ship's wake.
Sea and air temperature were the same - over 80 degrees, with a stiff breeze created by QM2's movement through the air (23kph.)
Not sure how and where the sea temp gets measured - is it 80 degrees for the mile and a half beneath our keel? (think possibly not!)

Off to the launderette, and while washing underway - attended to hair, (is there any such thing as a perfect hair-day at sea?!) before heading to the brekkie-time feast.
Since passing through all countries of a tropical nature, dragon fruit and other exotic curiosities have been arranged like Christmas decorations around the strangely named King's Court - (Who was the KIng - anyone know?)
The best thing is the crispy streaky bacon. Unfortunately, the porridge needs a bit of salt, however - and at last, Weetabix is back !  
No food delivered (as previously planned) in Hong Kong  - our Junk Bay anchorage there rendering deliveries impossible, so apparently it was  transported ahead of us to Singapore - and loaded on board while we enjoyed an hour in the Long Bar of Raffles.
Must have Costa Fortune.

Down to Sir Samuel's for coffee - not as comfortable as Cafe Carinthia on QV, but every bit as good in other ways - the seat nearest the window is almost at sea level..
Plans to re-think ship Coffee Club-shop in cabin on hold for the time being - as coffee in Sir S's tastes considerably better than elsewhere on QM2! (although it does cost a dollar or three)
Perhaps the coffee machines in the KC will be replaced during the refit in November!

Meet up with new friends to have a lovely chat about Cornwall, and our favourite places there - especially the North Coast, and it was great fun thinking about ships, wrecks and the Padstow Lifeboat!

Lunch - salad, frilly pancakes and ice-cold lemonade flavoured ship-water, and onto Deck 7 to continue reading a shippie's book - written by one of QE2's earlier Captains,
Reached page 90, and still no mention of QE2...

Then off to a meeting of anyone who sailed on Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth - fairly well attended, more Guests than ex-Crew members.
Had to leave early, as there was a talk by QM2's Navigator about the History of Navigation that was high on my agenda - the talk was excellent,  - very interesting, although it underlined the fact that the work of Navigators past and present  includes a huge amount of highly complex maths - so sadly, all personal aspirations previously held were now in dire need of abandonment!
Later I learnt that at the QE / QM meeting, the member of the Entertainment Team took names, and would be forwarding these plus the photograph to Mr Greener for the We are Cunard blog

Tea, -  a neat cucumber and tomato sandwich, warm scone, and wee bit of cream  - before heading back to the setting sun on deck 7.
Fun to dress up for another formal evening, with late dinner to follow....
(Just 4 different evening outfits - all very simple  'separates', each time with a different 'twist' - nothing too flashy or, I hasten to add - costly!)

Hopefully each sea day will be as good as today, yesterday and the day before.... after tomorrow there'll be just 9 sea days left.

TOMORROW - we'll see QE2...
(Clocks go back tonight - a big pity, as I doubt I'll sleep...much.)

Rob, The Cunard Pictures of the meeting QE and QE2 have been greatly admired by a number of ship's company who have worked on board QE2 for many years
It's been good to show them her smoke - and see that access across the quayside looks much better than I'd first imagined.
The Forum is getting a good 'airing' via my lap top, and I will take labels and a print of the index page with me as i go.

All good wishes to EveryOne,
and of course, still wishing very, very much that  you were all here too.

Rosie.


Oh yes, nearly forgot
Security on QM2 is very good indeed

[skilly56]

Thanks Rosie,

Another really good read about the side of life I never see.

But, I have mentally already begun packing my bags

Cheers

Skilly

[Janice Naylor]

Rosie - Dolphins, orange sunrises, warm breezes, leisurely afternoons, dinner and dancing at sea ... what a perfect day.  Your reports from sea read like the great adventure it has been.  I'm sure you will enjoy those final nine days ... I will enjoy them vicariously through your reports!

Janice

[QE2forever]

Hi Rosie,

Great read, as always!

Enjoy the meeting with QE2 tomorrow!

[Lynda Bradford]

Hello Rosie

An excellent report - must be the best yet.  

I particularly liked you description of the dolphins.  That is the sort of experience that will stay with your forever.  

I am looking forward to seeing photos from your cruise when you return home.  

[Rob Lightbody]

http://jryan2011.wordpress.com/2011/04/04/shes-still-beautiful/

[Janice Naylor]

Thanks for the Ryan's post, "shes-still-beautiful," Rob.   It's easier to use these icons than try to find the words to express everything I felt when I read the article.   

Janice

[Rob Lightbody]

QE followed QM2 through the Messina straights yesterday, and is currently docked right in front of QM2 in Civitavecchia.

[Twynkle]

Now it's a question of hoping, praying and begging Queen Mary 2 to take things slowly!

Every morning, she's 'there', during each day, there's always something 'sea-wise' going on, she's managed a superb transit of the Suez Canal - and yes, there was a bit of a breeze as we turned one of the several corners (the canal ain't straight!!), we noticed her stern was keen to touch one side - and yet her bow wasn't
After 2 utterly wonderful days in Egypt - desert, - where the silence amongst the mountains was like a warm sort of heavy blanket, and the majesty of the high spiky reddish mountains rising from the sand - the bedouin, spitting  camels and the mirages made it feel completely timeless - and after Suez it was on to Rome where we sailed into port with a stiffening wind - calling for the aid of a couple of tugs - sometime after fleetmate Elizabeth.  A quick visit to see QE2's Builders plate etc, then on to  Monaco for a beautiful day in St Paul en Vence and then time in Barcelona, before giving the Gibralterians a bit of a blast...now we are counting the seconds - and maybe the Commodore is too - he 'retires from the sea' in Southampton.
Will post more soon - however, this has been a nineteen hour day, sleep beckons and  Mary's ready to rock us across the Bay of Biscay - another night of heaven!

Rosie.

(Some of the voyage has deserved more than a brief glance - and it'll be easier to post more in retrospect, and from my wifi at home!)

[Janice Naylor]

Thanks for the post, Rosie.  I can't believe you're still at sea ... seems such a long time to me.  The Commodore certainly had an eventful last World Cruise!  Safe home.

Janice