Live from Queen Victoria.
All at Sea - one day off the Equator, approaching the South Atlantic Ocean
After the turbulence of all normal services over Christmas and the New Year, we were given the 'all clear' to travel leaving us with just two days to make preparations, before we sailed away. The fog of uncertainty had been profound - and daring to think we'd soon be on board had been well nigh impossible!
Now, after two weeks of experiencing great high seas, temperature changes from freezing to the tropical eighties, flying fish, the gain and loss of hours - not to mention formal, informal nights, and a ship full of people in procession, trying to manage appearing as if Not from the Ministry of Funny Walks, a picture of our bewilderment is almost complete!
There have been several sightings of QE2 on Polo Shirts, caps as well as in the familiar smiling faces of Crew, a few Officers and Guests. She was visited by a senor member of the maritime community last autumn, and very sadly, she was found to be in a pretty poor state.
Queen Victoria is an extremely happy working ship - She just rolls up her sleeves and gets on with it. It's as if she takes the needs of her Guests very seriously during their waking hours, and at the same time she has to have a bit of fun for herself. This usually comes after dark.
For example, she knows perfectly well that we have an inside cabin almost in the fo'c'stle, and on several occasions - usually when there's a F10, she'll try her hardest to tip us out of bed, both side-ways as well as forwards - she's a real show-off with her pitching, rocking and rolling. Usually she meets a huge 15m swell head on, she bumps into it, then stops for a few moments silence, then there's usually an almighty crack, before she completes the process with her unique sexy wiggle-and-shudder. Oh Yes - I nearly forgot - she's also extremely good at keeping secrets -as it seems that no-one beyond approximately Stateroom #15 on any deck is aware of this quirky little dance she does with the sea...this naturally divides her Guests into those who, for very good reasons, stow their life-jackets under the mattress, and those who haven't a clue!
Just two of many things that might give QV a good edge above most; one is the fact that table number 395 is an exceptionally lucky one! This is the table where two can sit alongside a huge window, totally absorbed by the sounds and vibrations from down below, glancing at the seas and sky, and a guess would be that this table and its portside equivalent are bang over her neatly designed pods!
The other is that a seat on deck three is just about over where the waves are broken up by her hull at the bow. Because deck three is lower than the mighty one's deck 7, the sea whizzes past...suitably well- sprayed, Guests are then invited to imagine they could be steaming along at 40mph, when in reality it's her cruising speed of twenty knots!
We missed seeing the Azores - at that stage we may well have been going round in circles - meeting the swirling wind head on,...the weather charts were impressive, and Captain Philpott reported that 'our' Great Storm was in one the top five of his sea-going career.
However half a day in South Beach Miami was wonderful - a bit like being immersed in Mr Whippy's neapolitan ice-cream parlour - The architecture was superb. I loved it all, despite the fact that the guide was inaudible owing to hyperactive AC in the bus!
The legendary Cunard Cough currently has many in its grip - the AC being held responsible...no matter how close a croaking head-waiter came to give a hug! It has had me well in it's grip - no sleep, no choir, not much conversation and certainly no theatre - this is the place where artificial smoke is used in every performance - it's as if there's a permanent need to make it foggy 'inside', specially when it a clear blue sparkling sea 'outside'!
Last but certainly not least - There have been several sightings of QE2 on Polo Shirts, caps as well as recognition in the familiar smiling faces of Crew, a few Officers and Guests.
She was visited by a senior member of the maritime community last autumn, and very sadly, although unsurprisingly - she was found to be in a pretty poor state.
Rosie
Topic: Live from Queen Victoria, World Cruise 2014 (Read 5136 times)
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Dec 26, 2020, 07:37 PM