It is the middle of June. I have been on land too long, and the summer has been extremely hot in Florida. I find a cruise on the Queen Mary 2 from New York to Norway and back. Without much hesitation we book it.
I have never sailed with Cunard before. I booked a trip with them before covid, but it was cancelled by the pandemic. With the cruise originating in New York, the flight from Orlando will be short. 7 days across the Atlantic to Southampton, then on to Norway via Hamburg. The return trip will follow the same route in reverse. From Norway to Hamburgh, Southhampton and finally return to New York 27 days later.
Prices are very similar regardless of supplier, so I decide to book through a travel agent friend, Hillary. We secure the last balcony available. An enclosed balcony to be more exact. More on that later.
We book shore excursions directly from Cunard. Sightseeing in Norway is the objective.
There are many flights to New York each day from Orlando. We choose Delta as they also have economy plus seating with extra legroom. To help ensure connections, the travel agent books the air through Cunard. Hopefully if something happens to our flight, Cunard will step in and get us to the ship on time.
It took more than a dozen attempts and many phone calls to get the seats upgraded to Economy Plus. In the meantime I was billed many times for the upgrade. It took weeks, but finally the travel agent was able to get it straightened out. She earned her commission on this booking.
The week before our departure, a major computer software glitch shuts down thousands of computer systems around the world. Delta has cancelled many flights. I nervously watch the recovery of the airlines. By Thursday, 48 hours before our flight most of the Delta flight schedule has been restored.
Only a few days after I book the shore excursions, one of the main ones in Norway is cancelled because the road conditions have deteriorated so much, the government has closed the road indefinitely until major repairs can be made. Not much can be done about it.
24 hours before leaving home, I get an email that another of our tours has been cancelled. No explanation is given, nothing available on line. I call Cunard. they don't know why, but suggest that when I get to the ship we spit up and one of us go to the shore excursion desk and inquire, and the other go to our cabin and verify that there are sheets on the bed and that there is running water in the bathroom. She was polite, but dead serious. Such are the risks with travel. What are we getting into?
The driver is in my driveway at 3:45 AM to take us to the airport. 45 minutes after arriving we have our bags checked, have cleared security without issue, and are on our way to the gate. The plane pulls away from the gate essentially on time and we are off to New York.
The flight s uneventful. Upon landing and claiming our luggage it is only a few minutes before our "shared ride" arrives to take us to the pier. Arranged thru Cunard and provided by InterCruise it takes about an hour to get to the terminal. We are early, but that is the way we planned it. Security and check-in proceeds quickly, however unlike most of the lines I sail with, everyone just waits in the terminal instead of boarding. Slowly the room fills up with a thousand or more passengers ready to board. Every 30 minutes the drug sniffing dog sniffs for drugs, fortunately none are found.
We forgo the shore excursion desk and instead go directly to our cabin where we drop our carry on. Yes there are sheets and water.
Since I booked this cruise so late, and have no perks with Cunard, I was not able to get a dining reservation. A stop at the dining room and that is quickly taken care of. Next check in at our assembly station. As is the usual procedure now, just scan our sea pass card.
Our luggage arrives before 3:00 and the challenge begins on finding where to store everything. Needless to say the design of the Queen Mary 2 took place about 25 years ago. Functionality is not nearly as efficient and well thought out as it is on the newer ships.