As promised;
Before arrival in New York on back to back trannies, i was contacted by The Cruise Director to say that John Cleese and his wife, plus his PA, would be joining for the trip back to Southampton and that the Embarkation Supervisor would contact me once he arrived, which would be around 1230/1300, and would i escort him onboard, from where the Duty Cruise Staff Member would escort him to his cabin and look after him.
However at around 1045 the Embarkation supervisor radioed me to say the Mr Cleese, plus party, had arrived!!
Proceeding at some haste from my office to the terminal - Pier 90/92 - i tried several times to establish communications with the Duty Cruise Staff by radio, on arriving at the gangway i checked the Security System and discovered that the said Duty Cruise Staff member was ashore!!
Ah right then there is only one person left to sort this 'slight' problem out - moi!
By the time i got into the terminal check-in for Mr Cleese had been completed and they were ready to embark, i managed to 'borrow' a Filipino House Keeping Utility, complete with his trolley, and was able take Mr Cleese, Mrs Cleese, PA and all their luggage onboard. The Utility lad looked at Mr Cleese and it took only a few seconds before he realised who it was! By sheer coincidence Fawlty Towers was showing on loop on the ship's TV system,and had been for many weeks!
So off we went to what, i had been told, was the allocated suite for Mr & Mrs Cleese and '4 Deck' cabin for Ms PA.
Easy, through the Rotunda, up 'C' stairway and the suite was there on the Stbd side right next to the stairway! The suite was ready and in we walked, the keys were waiting on the dresser, what could be easier?
I made a bit of small talk before intending to make my exit and 'scold' the Duty Cruise Staff member for not being around. Then Mr Cleese asked if there was any chance of getting sometime to eat, some sandwiches would do fine, but something a bit more substantial would be even better! Apparently they had missed breakfast at their hotel and the taxi driver bringing them to the ship had refused to stop anywhere for them to grab a bite!
No problem says i, not knowing the problems ahead. So i called Housekeeping and asked for some sandwiches to be sent up, 'The Cabin Stewardess will come up and take their order' was the reply. So more small talk while we waited, and waited and waited! So another phone call to H/K and was told that 'she' was definitely on her way. More small talk, discussion about England playing football that week and would we be able to watch it live, etc, etc. Still no Cabin Stewardess, so i went to the Deck Pantry for a more 'private' phone call. This time i was told that the Stewardess had been to the cabin but there was nobody there! Which cabin did she go to? Ah then we're in the wrong cabin, but it was what i was told by the Embarkation Staff! Quickly back to the 'wrong' cabin, and many apologies before explaining that they would be moving to another suite. Mr Cleese then said something really typical; “I knew it was too good to be true, that suite was just too good!” Little did he know…..
So off we went, forward through the Queens Grill Lounge, where they ‘thought’ that it would have been nice to have enjoyed a pre-dinner cocktail! Through the Queens Grill itself, again envy that it was not where ‘they’ were going to dine! Out onto ‘A’ stairway and forward to the “old radio room”, ‘I knew it’ said Mr C, ‘a former work space, about what I expected!!’
However he was blown away when I opened the door and the New Suite came into view!
For those who have not had the pleasure of seeing this suite, believe me it is magnificent, to the nth degree. It is in fact three rooms connected together, the first being a sort of dining room, the second a sitting room and finally the bedroom. I’m sure someone who has also seen it and possibly taken some photos will post them for all to share, the beauty of this wonderful suite.
When he saw the bedroom Mr C climbed onto the bed and was amazed as it was the first bed he’d spelt in, apart from his own, where he could lie full length and not across the bed.
Eventually the Stewardess rang the bell and I was able to take my leave, arranging to collect them all later to accompany them to the bridge to witness our departure from New York from on the bridge wings.
This they all enjoyed and commented that it was such a unique view of New York only available to those lucky enough to sail out from Pier 90/92. This spectacle has of course gone completely for Carnival/Cunard passenger with the use of the new pier in Brooklyn.
Mr C then really endeared himself to the crew by agreeing to visit the crew mess to chat and have his photo taken with crew members, this he did from 2300 to almost 0030 a few nights later. Not something many other ‘celebrities’ travelling would do!
Topic: Re: The Grand Suites (Read 1601 times)
Similar topics (6)
