New York – July 5 trip
Posted on July 5, 2013
It has begun. Up at 6 AM. It took longer to load the car than to get ready to go but that’s ok, no airlines to placate. By 7 AM we were on the highway having completed a McDonald’s breakfast repast. It was raining, not hard, but raining none-the-less. Between home and the US border at Lewiston the rain diminished to a drizzle and the skies in the east seemed to be clearing. After dinner with Gary and Sue last night Sue indicated that we might see heavy weather on our trip. Sue does a great job of weather forecasting when they are RVing so I checked when I got home after dinner and determined with absolute certainty that we might see rain or we might not. However, while checking weather I took a look at the marine forecasts for the Atlantic and found wave heights forecast to be about 1 to 2 metres and generally fair weather for our crossing. Yahoo!
NEXUS rocks! I almost missed the NEXUS only line at the Lewiston crossing but after I managed to navigate around the other queues it was clear sailing. We flashed our cards at the transponder and the camera flashed back in our faces. The dialog with the gentleman in the booth at Border Security went something like this.
Me (passing him our NEXUS cards): Good morning.
Him: Citizenship?
Two voices: Canadian — Canadian
Him: Where are you going today?
Me: Lyndhurst, New Jersey
Him: What’s in Lyndhurst?
Me: An overnight stop before boarding the Queen Mary 2
Him: Nice, how long will you be gone?
Me: Six weeks!
Him (returning the NEXUS cards): Wow, have a nice trip.
We put our destiny in the care of Penelope, our GPS who has difficulty pronouncing certain words. As we paid our first bridge toll, a whole $1.00 at Grand Island, it was raining again and quite hard but once again the rain diminished as we approached the New York Throughway (I-90) and that was the end of it.
Gail took her turn behind the wheel while I took a nap then returned the controls to me until lunch. Our lunch stop was at the Whitney Point service area along I-81.
Gail normally packs a sandwich and some fruit for the lunch stop so we spend very little time off the road. Such was the case today. We resumed travel again and Gail took another shift at the wheel before the traffic began to build as we approached the Newark area. Traffic never became very heavy and we arrived in Lyndhurst, NJ at the Marriott Courtyard about 8 hours and 20 minutes after we began. When we started the GPS calculated a drive time of 7 hours.
It is now just past 5 PM and we have picked up our supply of wine and had time to relax. Next is dinner at the hotel restaurant. Not quite cruise ship style but a step up from breakfast. If it cools down a bit perhaps an after dinner walk may be in order but not if the heat and humidity persist.
Tomorrow: the QM2. My internet access may be severely limited but I will find a way to keep the journal going.
A few more photos from the day. To New York
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QM2 and New York Harbour
Posted on July 6, 2013
The Queen Mary 2 is usually berthed at Brooklyn’s Red Hook cruise terminal and presents an impressive sight as you enter the terminal area. There is a large parking area adjacent to the terminal building which is where we plan to leave our car for the six weeks we are away. Hopefully there will be no repeat of hurricane Sandy that hit the area and flooded this parking area in October 2012.
From the decks of the QM2 there are impressive views of the New York skyline and the statue of liberty. As she leaves the harbour she sails under the Verrazano Bridge with minimal clearance and is a spectacle both for passengers and onlookers.
Once out of the harbour there is only Atlantic Ocean to see for the remainder of the voyage to Southampton.
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200th Eastbound Transatlantic
Posted on July 7, 2013
The real core of this years travel experience is our 14 days in the Baltic. It was the stimulus for the whole trip. Since that cruise sails from and returns to Southampton, England we needed to find our way to Southampton. While the quickest and probably least expensive choice would have been to travel by air but we decided not to do the flying thing. Instead, we plan to sail into Southampton on the Queen Mary 2 (QM2). Now, since the QM2 sails out of New York the next question was how to get to New York. Well, the quickest way would have been by air, but we decided not to fly at all during this trip so we will travel to New York by automobile.
We managed to persuade another couple to join us on the QM2 voyage and subsequently discovered that we will be sailing on her 200th crossing of the Atlantic. This voyage features several special events featuring Stephen Payne OBE, who was largely responsible for the overall design of Queen Mary 2. There will also be 16 musicians, plus a band leader and vocalist from the world-renowned Juilliard School of Dance, Drama and Music on board. Apparently they will perform at a full evening concert, an afternoon tea dance, several jam sessions in the Chart Room venue and a late evening concert in Illuminations. Full details here.
I suspect that there may be other unannounced special events, possibly at embarkation and disembarkation but we shall have to wait and see. It seems like the 200th crossing theme could focus some of the shows and formal evening activities on board. Apparently there will be one formal evening and two themed formals presenting great opportunities for celebration. I shall do my best to capture any festivities on film (electronically of course).
This 200th crossing occurs about one year prior to the launch of the Queen Mary 2. so ten years ago she may have looked like this.
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On the decks of the QM2
Posted on July 9, 2013
One of the first things we do when we board a ship is take a look around. The open deck areas of the QM2 are among the first to be seen. The promenade deck is lined with deck chairs. On most modern ships you will find benches and recliners similar to those you might find on your patio at home. On the QM2 there is a row of wooden recliners, a reminder of the earlier years of Trans-Atlantic travel.
A unique vision on the QM2′s deck is a display of spare propeller blades. One wonders if a blade can actually be replaced while at sea and if so who are the brave souls who can perform such a task.
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Dining Rooms and Bars
Posted on July 10, 2013
Like most cruise ships there is no shortage of bars and restaurants on board. The Britannia Restaurant is the main dining room or if you prefer a buffet there is Kings Court.
Should you be among the few traveling in the Grill class suite you can take your meals in the Queens Grill Restaurant.
Around the ship there are several venues available for you to sit with friends and acquaintances while you have a drink or snack. Several present entertainment by day and by night. Views of The Chart Room, The Golden Lion and Sir Samuels are pictured below.
The polished dark wood walls and floors in some instances are typical of the decor on the QM2
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July 6 Eastbound QM2 Sailing
Posted on July 10, 2013
July 6 – Boarding day – QM2
It seems strange, the first long drive of a trip is most tiring. By 9 PM we felt quite ready for sleep but with normal bed times of 10 to 12 PM you know that getting too comfortable at 9 PM will only result in a 5 AM, or earlier, awakening. So there we were, very early this morning, struggling to sleep another few minutes. The clock barely changes between inspections. There is no alternative, we are awake.
Now, there is no point arriving at the cruise terminal until after 11 AM, perhaps that will be too early. Made it to 7 AM. Need to look for breakfast. Hotel buffet? Gail never gets her money’s worth and I rarely do, next. The Subway next door? After walking across the parking lot to find out it won’t be open until 8 AM we look at each other with that, “what were we thinking anyway” look. Finally, we settled at the restaurant associated with the Quality Inn nearby. Acceptable price and taste but way too much food. Final assessment, more than we could eat for half the price of the buffet at our hotel.
Still too early to go to the terminal. Waste some time on the computer and in front of the TV. Finally, 10 AM, get the car from the parking garage. Bring the luggage cart up to the room. Of course, the entry to the room is totally incompatible with a loaded luggage cart. Like trying to thread a needle with mitts on. Finally out. Elevator almost equally incompatible with the luggage cart and human cargo. With the car packed we’re off with Penelope navigating bound for Brooklyn’s Cruise Terminal.
Driving in New York, even for a little while, is always interesting for me. I find it interesting that the GPS works even while in the tunnels under the river while the XM radio does not. I find it interesting that even with the GPS working it is possible to strand myself in the wrong lane. I find it a matter of pride that during my enforced detours I have been able to cause problems for New York cab drivers. I got two this time. Penelope was patient and we arrived at the terminal, gave our large suitcases to the luggage handlers, parked the car (for six weeks) and began the boarding process.
There was no wait to be processed but no one was allowed onto the ship until after noon, then things went quickly and by 1 PM we were in our stateroom. We had just found our way to Kings Court for lunch when a text message arrived from Gary and Sue who had arrived at Newark airport and were now en route to the terminal. They boarded even more quickly than we and actually had luggage delivered before ours. Last in, first out, I suppose.
Now it was lunch time for Gary and Sue followed by a bit of QM2 orientation. We did spend some time on deck even though temperatures were well into the 30°C range with high humidity but need little persuading to return inside which, while air conditioned, was still quite humid. This is rather normal during embarkation since many exterior openings on the ship admit hot air along with goods and passengers. After more ship orientation we returned to the open deck for sail away on the QM2′s 200th Trans-Atlantic crossing.
She sailed very near to Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty was given a great view of the Queen Mary 2 from all angles. All four of us went to our staterooms to dress for dinner and watch the continuation of the sail away from our balconies. We took care of the first bottle of sparkling wine found in our rooms on embarkation, the second will be useful at another time. Off now to the Britannia Restaurant and table 165 for our first dinner afloat. We were joined at the table by three of four in a family returning to England after a vacation in New York City. We all seemed quite compatible and thus began our first evening.
After dinner we went separate ways with Gail and I doing what many of you would expect us to do, dance in the Queens Room. The orchestra in the Queens Room turned in a great performance with good music and tempo choices and a good balance of dances. The first set consisted of several waltzes, quicksteps, foxtrots, cha chas, rumbas, swings and tangos with a viennese waltz, samba, west coast swing and, by request, a bolero.
July 7 – First Day – QM2
We took our first breakfast in the dining room and it was pretty much like most ships. Too many breads offered plus usual choices. I managed to leave a pair of reading glasses on the table but we were reunited a few hours later when I returned to the room.
We were surprised, pleasantly, that UK Immigration processing was to be done on board. We attended shortly after breakfast and were done in no time at all. I believe it was after the visit to immigration that we walked to the opposite end of the ship to get tickets for the first show in the Planetarium. Next we split up. Gary and Sue to the gym and Gail and I to the Cruise Critic Meet and Greet, We met several but not all of the cruisers who posted to the online roll call over the past several months. That seem often to be the case. It is impossible to avoid conflicts since we have no ship schedule at the time the M&G is arranged.
Time for lunch, needed or not. There was a nice sandwich bar that Gary had noticed as a part of the Kings Court buffet. It turned out to be a very pleasant and not too busy spot. Well satisfied, we made our way to the Illuminations theatre which was now set up as a planetarium. It can be difficult to remain awake in the reclining chairs with a beautiful night sky above. It is only about 20 to 30 minutes in duration and very relaxing.
The remainder of the afternoon was passed wandering the ship, playing a game of euchre and taking an afternoon tea break. I think we will have to make a point of attending at least one of the high teas in the Queens Room but it was not to be today.
It was this morning when Gail noticed that the refrigerator in the stateroom had turned into a simple storage cupboard. It was certainly not making its contents cooler. At 8 AM a call was made to the Purser and a promise of repair “today” was offered. I mentioned it to our cabin stewardess too, however, “today” apparently did not mean “this morning” so early in the afternoon I called again. “Today,” was the reply once again. When we came back to the stateroom to dress for our first formal evening she had not a repaired fridge but another fridge occupying a new position of honour underneath the desk. No real problem as we were using the desk of nothing more than a horizontal storage area.
Now dressed for dinner and the Black and White ball the four of us set off once again for the Britannia Room looking spectacular! Dinner was once again delicious and more than expected. I have at times attempted to photograph food served but I have given up. It never looks anywhere near as good as what was experienced. Gail and I enjoyed ourselves dancing to the band and the recorded music before the Ball was announced. Floors are much less crowded. When it came time for the Black and White Ball the band leader sand bagged Gail and I. The first dance with the Queens Room now full to standing room was announced as a Bolero. Truth-be-told, he learned of the existence of the Bolero on the previous evening, from us. Having announced a Bolero, only Gail and I took the floor. So we set up in the centre of the Queens Room floor and let it go. Thank goodness for those solo appearances at comps. A few brave folks joined us on the floor once it was apparent that they could also dance a rumba but everyone left us the majority of the floor. What fun!
Having met another couple at the dance I did get a Viennese Waltz with Jenna a former resident of Markham. All went quite brilliantly there too. Shortly after that the pros Nadya Synelnyk and Volodymyr Hrabovyi performed a Viennese Waltz show dance. While their performance was very beautiful I was actually quite pleased with my VW. Thanks Patricia!
July 8 – Second Day
This morning we find ourselves at approximately the same latitude as Toronto and east of the Nova Scotia coast at a heading of about 69° and speed of 18.5 knots. By decree, we experience our first time change of one hour and at noon rather than while sleeping. Having discovered most of the ship today was even more relaxed. We thought some 200th crossing memorabilia might be on sale today but no such luck. In fact, it may be that there will be very little available at all. We shall see tomorrow what will be available.
The sea has been millpond like since we left port. Waves listed as 1.5 to 4 feet and winds light to nil. We have yet to actually feel the ship in motion. In the very middle of the vessel on decks 2 and 3 some vibration and engine rumble is apparent when there is no music in the nearby bars.
We dressed for the second formal dinner which included an optional receiving line and cocktail party to meet Commodore Christopher Rynd, the Queen Mary 2′s master and Commodore of the fleet. Having been introduced to all the senior staff and enjoyed the free drink (free indeed) we continued to dinner.
Gary, Sue, Gail and I have been seated with four fascinating table companions. Amanda, with her mother Patricia and father Ken, operated a tourism business emphasizing heritage memorabilia. The business is called Bygones and is located in Torquay. Chris, Amanda’s son, also traveling, is part of a second business involving stationery, among other things, operated by his paternal family. About 5 years out of high school, Chris has had the opportunity to work and play in the Swiss Alps. We have had great interaction with our table companions.
July 9 – Third Day
We are now well into a routine of sorts and can hang up the formal clothes for a couple of days. It does appear to have rained overnight but the stillness of the North Atlantic is almost erie. There are no waves. None! The ship’s wake is the only disturbance visible. Throughout the day the weather deteriorated but sea conditions changed very little.
Given that this is the 200th crossing, a fact that is evident throughout the ship, we expected items of memorabilia to be offered for sale in the shops. The only evidence of this was the offer of a polo shirt with a special patch on the left chest. The supply was quite limited and the price was $35. It seems to us that there was a missed opportunity here.
I have been conscripted as a fourth for Euchre on this trip having been told that it is no fun to play three handed. As it turned out with the cards I was dealt this day they may as well have been playing three handed. They refused to allow me to make 9s the trump suit–spoil sports!
The Royal Court Theatre offered an excellent musical production performed this evening by the four principle vocalists accompanied by nearly every musician on board with the exception of the party band. Their choices of music were much more compatible with our tastes than on the previous evening. Roger Wrights performance was well done and he has a remarkable talent but his repertoire was less appealing to Gail and me.
The party band, Xtasea, took over the Queens Room while the regular Queens Room orchestra performed on stage in the Royal Court Theatre. During their break Nadya Synelnyk and Volodymyr Hrabovyi, the pro dance couple, treated us to a very showy samba. We packed up and went home before the 11:30 balloon drop.
July 10 – Fourth Day and Halfway
We are now south of eastern Greenland and at about the same latitude as Paris and passed the mid point sometime last night. We have picked up some wind and the seas are no longer still. We awoke to a foggy Atlantic morning.
I am going to publish this today and resume writing later in the day. I have managed to post a few photos in these albums.
Posted on July 14, 2013
July 11 – Day Five
I never did return to the computer on the tenth but crossings are simple voyages unlike cruises with daily ports and excursions. One outstanding feature of this crossing has been and continues to be the weather, there has been none. Should the glassy seas continue for the remainder of the voyage it may qualify a one of the smoothest. I can attest to have sailed on none smoother.
Given the rather disappointing offering of 200th crossing memorabilia other elements have been some very interesting. Stephen Payne’s description of how he came to design the Queen Mary 2 was extremely enlightening. For him, it was a childhood dream come true. Having almost abandon his ambition to become a naval architect in favour of chemistry, he was redirected back to his original goal by a teacher to whom he dedicated this ship. Embedded behind a bulkhead somewhere on the QM2 is a tribute to this teacher.
Another bright spot has been the group of Juilliard students on board. They are all so very young and so very, very talented. Drawing musicians from Juilliard is not a new practice for Cunard and the QM2 but we have a full jazz orchestra of 13 to entertain. They also perform as small groups but whenever and wherever I have seen and heard them their performances have been superb.
This evening’s formal embodied an Ascot theme, at least for a few minutes and a few passengers. Hats were more evident this evening. Fascinators (I believe that is what they are called) adorning numerous female heads. At the Ascot Ball there were wild apparitions featuring unusual shapes, colours and balloons, including one model of the QM2 herself. Strange brew indeed.
The show tonight featured the dancing talents of the troupe, and they were absolutely excellent. We enjoyed this show as much as the vocal concert performed a few evenings ago. Both of these shows took the place of Vegas style shows presented on other ships. I found them equally entertaining and quite refreshing.
We managed a few trips to the dance floor this evening but returned to chair dancing as the floor filled. While it pleases me to see a dance floor well used regardless of the skill or training demonstrated by the dancers some behaviour mystifies me completely. Stepping blindly onto a crowed dance floor directly into the path of oncoming traffic seems both ill advised and inconsiderate to me as does engaging in a lengthy group conversation blockade of the dance floor.
July 12 – Day 6
This is our last full day at sea. By this time, 10 AM, tomorrow we shall be preparing to disembark the Queen Mary 2 after her 200th crossing of the Atlantic. We were reminded yesterday that the 200th crossing of the Queen Mary occurred in 1945 and the weather for that crossing was as terrible as ours has been wonderful. As we approach eight degrees longitude, just south of Ireland, the seas remain barely rippled and we have a clear, sunny day for our approach to the English Channel.
The major task for the day was repacking. The Entertainment Director reminded us today to retain clothes to wear for disembarkation. Although I find it very hard to believe he claims a couple recently had to leave the ship in dressing robes having packed all of their clothes. How remarkable! I have heard of passengers packing passports and boarding passes in checked luggage.
The evening meal was once again very nice and we enjoyed the company of our table companions one more time. The dining room crew performed their ritual march about and Baked Alaska was on the desert menu. Good byes were exchanged and we parted to continue evening activities. Later we said our farewells to the dancers with whom we had shared the Queens Room then returned to the stateroom.
July 13 – Disembarkation
Disembarkation is always a bit crazy. Everyone is trying to take breakfast at the same time and services are compromised by the extra work for the crew in getting things ready. Things were a little more tense for Gary, Sue, Gail and I since our good nights sleep didn’t go so well. There was the normal clatter of equipment and luggage moving in the halls which seemed to continue well after midnight. Just as things were becoming quiet, as in The Night Before Christmas, “there arose such a clatter.” ‘Twas a jolly elf replacing a section of hallway carpet–at 2 AM? Really? By morning some of us were less than jolly.
Breakfast in the dining room was somewhat less hectic than in the buffet. Then it was time to get our remaining luggage out of our staterooms and park in an assigned waiting area to wait for the appointed time. It was about 10 AM, as expected, when we were directed to the gangway. Once off the ship our large suitcases were easily located, placed neatly in the “Brown 1″ area. Brown 1 was our secret disembarkation identity. Gary cleverly grabbed a luggage cart as I was trying to figure out where I had stored the tether straps that would allow small bag to piggy-back large bag. Piled high with suitcases I followed the others pushing the cart through the terminal. There was no customs inspection, the immigration process done earlier was apparently sufficient to make us welcome visitors to the UK. After a wait of about 45 minutes we reached the front of the Taxi queue and were quickly off from Southampton’s QE2 terminal to the Mayflower terminal where the Crown Princess lay waiting for us to begin phase two.
A few more photos added: Trans-Atlantic Eastbound
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