Crew as passengers

[cunardqueen]

I wonder if any of the crew sailed as passengers either before or after working onboard ? How did you find the QE2 through your eyes in that position. did you see the ship in a new light? or not?

[Chris Thompson]

Hi There,
I didn't get the opportunity to sail on the QE2, but I have been on several cruises on other lines. As a staff member on Cunard ships we were allowed public room privileges but the Bar stools were Verboten!!!
On the first cruise I went on I made it a point to sit on every Bar stool on the ship!!!!!
Kinda irks me that I've got to wait another year before I can sail on my old favorite the "Vistafjord", now the "Saga Ruby"....you have to be over 50 ....SAGA = Senile & Geriatric Afloat.
Cheers
CasinoChris

[Boris]

I wonder if any of the crew sailed as passengers either before or after working on board ?

Well, there's a third scenario - sailing as pax neither before nor after, but during our employment. Back in the early 70's a group of Officers decided to forgo our leave back to UK in the depths of winter and instead sailed south from NY as supernumeraries and disembarked in Barbados to lie on the beach soaking up the sun. We then caught the ship back on her next voyage northbound to NY.

Many years after I had left, hearing of the QE2's imminent demise in 2008, four of us (The Three Musketeers and The Wench) decided on a reunion on one of her last voyages - to Norway. I spent most of the voyage in my favourite bar - The Midships. The others were more adventurous and explored the ship more thoroughly. I guess she had changed so significantly since I worked on her, I felt more secure secluding myself in The Midships Bar - my comfort zone.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Great idea!

Sailing as supernumeraries -- does this mean you were working as you sailed, helping the crew who were being paid? Did you have passenger cabins?

Great photos! Do tell about your nickname ...

[Boris]

-- does this mean you were working as you sailed, helping the crew who were being paid? Did you have passenger cabins?

Basically it was to get around Immigration and BoT problems. We weren't fare paying pax, so couldn't appear on the pax manifest. We did sign articles though (as supernumerary) and thus appearrd on the crew list (but unpaid) - like photographers, casino staff, etc.  Essentially we were indistinguishable from pax: pax cabins, Britannia restaurant table, walked around in civvies, no work, just sat at the bar all day. The downside is, of course, although not actually working, it was certainly a 'bus man's holiday'. But, Barbados made up for it.