Aug 17 - Sea Day

For the next 7 days after leaving Southampton we will be in the North Atlantic as we head to New York, our final port of call on the Queen Mary 2.

The seas are relatively calm with some 10 to 15 foot swells on our port side. They peak about dinner time. More than a few passengers are feeling uncomfortable as the ship rolls a few degrees. We are also keeping an eye on hurricane Ernesto. Currently it is on a path to pass to the North of our course. I am sure the captain will adust our route if needed. We are currently cruising at about 22 knots, 10 percent faster than our easterly crossing.

The passengers at the adjoining table never return after their first night in Hamburg. Others are seated there each night 30 to 45 minutes after everyone else. Overflow from open dining.

An excellent speaker today shares stories about his adventures rowing across the Atlantic and the Pacific in a rowboat. Unfortunately the procector sytem isn't woring so he is unable to share pictures. I have no qualms about being at sea, but alone in a 21 foot row boat for 186 days? I am sure I will attend his other presentations.

I spend a few hours talking with Buzz and Barbara from Ocala. They have cruised on Cunard many times, the first time on the QM2 20 years ago. In the day if your jacket wasn't the correct shade of black you were banned from the dining room and other pubic spaces after 6 PM.

They are so disappointed with the decline in service and quality they have decided they will never sail Cunard again, preferring Crystal and other upscale lines.

Tonight is another gala night, the red and gold ball. Definitely a different group of passengers from our crossing of 2 weeks ago. I'll just say yes, there were tee shirts and shorts in the dining room for dinner, and no they were not kids but mature adults.

The beef fillet was so tough I was unable to chew it. What a difference 2 weeks can make.

The singers and dancers present an excellent show tonight. So far they have done different shows each night. Something I have not seen since my world cruise years ago on Holland America's M S Amsterdam.

For some unknown reason they have the main entrance to the Chartroom roped off when we head there for jazz. At first I thought maybe a private function, but no. We were allowed in and found our seats at the bar. I thought that maybe it was to control access for only those that were properly dressed, but once I looked around the room it was obvious that was not the reason either. An unsolved mystery. Maybe they were keeping people out until we were seated.

The music is enjoyable as usual. The crowd is definitely louder than what it has been.

No time change tonight. The ship has a gentle roll and creaks and groans with the swells as we call it a night.

Tomorrow is another sea day.

Aug 16 - Southampton

We arrive and are secured to the dock by 7:00 AM. The skies are clear and sunny with a high of 75 expected by noon time.

We take the double decker shuttle bus to the West Quay shopping center.

The Celebrity Apex and a Disney ship are also berthed here today.

The mall is 4 floors of about 150 shops and restaurants. Yes, we find the Lego store. Steve Rebiz had a request for some Lego items. Some of his requested items are not available here, I choose something for him with no guess if it is what he sked for.

We enjoy a lite lunch and begin our trip back to the ship. After a half hour wait the bus arrives, and then takes 35 minutes driving around in circles to return to the pier. Lynn insists she could have walked back in 15. I admit it may have only taken me 30.

Enroute there are many passengers walking towards the pier with luggage in tow. A seldom sight at US docks. Getting back on the ship is fairly quick. Technically being the first day for many passengers there are white gloved uniformed staff members guiding passengers and calling elevators.

Newspapers are being sold in one of the lobby main hallways. A cunard touch.

The kennels are in use again with 19 dogs and 2 cats making the trip to New York. The kennels have not been in use since we arrived in Southampton 2 weeks ago. I have no clue as to the dog fare.

Our usual stop at the Lion Pub before dinner. Major disaster! They have run out of Bombay gin and also Beefeater gin. Hopefully a new supply was part of the many truckloads of provisons loaded today. I will know tomorrow.

There are several new staff members in the dining room, but ours remain. Service timing was good for a turnaround day.

What was not good, was that I was served the wrong meal. I couldn't tell by appearance and had just said to Lynn that I didn't know what it was, it didn't taste like anything I expected. Just then our waiter hurried to the table all apologetic. He swapped out my plate for what I ordered and the evening went on.

There are always a few things that don't go exactly as planned. For example the door knob fell off the inside of my cabin door the other morning. Quickly fixed after a call to the desk. 

One elevator has been out of service since boarding 3 weeks ago. The shower drains, but slowly. Several passengers complain of no hot water. HVAC control is poor. The cabin is often too hot or too cold. The hallways on deck 4 are extremly cold. But overall considering this ship is over 20 years old, she is in fairly good shape.

We have a new captain and a new entertainment director. Neither were announced , the change just happened.

The entertainment tonight is a violin player. Very talented even though it would not be my first choice in musical entertainment.

We forgo jazz, and give the bars a chance to restock. Tonight we set our clocks back, the second of many such adjustments we will make on our way back to New York.