Wednesday 14th March 2018.
Today is the first of three sea days before for we dock at our final port of call in Australia. The seas are calm and already it’s a scorcher. And, it can only get hotter. Last night on deck, the heat of the day lingered on. Any southeasterlies have lost their cooling influence, probably in part, because, they are now trailing winds. Right now, there is little to see from the ship, save for an occasional school of flying fish. Few clouds decorate the sky, and the sea is that wonderful shade of azure blue. While I don’t intend spending time inside, there are interesting lectures to attend. This afternoon, we are assured of further glorious scenery as we steam to the area of the Great Barrier Reef.
So, what did I expect from this voyage of four months. Were there disappointments? What was unexpected? What exceeded expectations? (a phrase often used in Cunard publicity material).
Despite a life long desire to go around the world, the reality of having commited myself to such an expedition did fill me with (I suppose) a few misgivings. Many of these were negated, however, by the fact that this journey was a cruise where “everything is taken care of….all I would have to do is sit back and let it all happen”. At each of the 43 ports of call in 23 countries, there would be a huge choice of arranged shore excursions…understandably at an appreciable cost. Extravagant they may be, but visiting most of these places for the first and probably only time, I remain convinced these arranged trips are the most efficient way of seeing as much as possible.(and guaranteeing safe return to the ship!) The evening prior to each port of call, very comprehensive details are issued to each guest along with the following day’s Daily Programme. Thus it is not difficult to arrange your own worthwhile visit if one so wishes. However, there was no mention of the Railway Museum at Ipswich, not a great distance from Brisbane, or, the one at Adelaide. I was more amused than disappointed! I factored all these tour costs in when assessing the overall expected cost and feasibility of this global voyage, as well as other incidentals….but not the expense of necessary trips to the Medical Centre!
In August 2016, I contacted my travel agent and booked the Cunard QM2 World Voyage 2018, and looked forward with considerable pleasure and just a “smidgen” of apprehension to a trip to the other side of the world and back. I had chosen one of the new inside stateroom on deck 13, which I had a look at during a 4 night mini cruise in November 2016.
In April 2017, I was rushed to hospital having suffered(unknown to me) a heart attack. Within days, a quadruple bypass operation had been performed and I came out of hospital rebuilt but fragile. It turned out to be a very close run thing, and in a brief period of utter blackness when I thought it might all be over, I thought in that dark wilderness, “I can’t even make it to January 10th….let alone an autograph from the reigning monarch!” Thankfully, I came round and thus began the long road to recovery….and the real possibility that I could go on this voyage after all. In this blog, I wish to record my enormous gratitude to ALL the staff at Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester for their compassion, patience, and expertise for the hugely efficient way they dealt immediately with this sudden and unexpected health issue. Away from hospital, my appreciation goes out to friends and neighbours, my sister and her family, and others, as well as the NHS who helped me through those early alarming stages of recovery. (This blog started out as a “cruise critic”).
I have been on this voyage for 64 very enjoyable days. Generally, the Cunard brochures have kept to their word, and, indeed, have exceeded my expectations….but the “complainers” will be relieved to hear, not entirely! However, I have little to comment about publicly at the moment.
So what has pleased me? I expected the menus to follow what might become a monotonous pattern. Main and other courses do make frequent but welcome appearances. Their lamb shank is as good and tender as I have enjoyed anywhere. But local food is sourced and adds interest to the evening and perhaps also the luncheon menu. The King’s Court, which people, and even I sometimes, love to hate, continually has the widest ranges of food available for most of the day. This area was remodelled in 2016 and although much improved in layout and decor, doesn’t seem to work very much better than previously. But, the food is now hot when previously it often wasn’t. There’s an amazingly wide choice. However, for some reason, guests are not issued with trays on which to carry their food. For such an unjustifiably maligned eatery, it is difficult to find a seat, particularly in the bay windows. This place is always busy and often chaotic. In the evening, sections are converted to speciality dining at modest extra cost. As far as I am concerned, all this is very good. Next door forward, is the Carinthia Lounge, a magnificently reworked area with comfortable seating and low tables. Food is available here too, and today, I shall try this place for lunch. (Right now, very little choice, I will try again in a few minutes). The recently delivered Captain’s noon day address promised temperatures of 84 degrees Fahrenheit…that’ll do!
I do have one complaint that shouldn’t offend too many people, and unlikely to generate “sympathy”. In Melbourne, I booked a shore excursion for which the starring feature was a ride on the Puffing Billy Steam train. A photo of this train crossing a spectacular trestle bridge was featured in the brochure’s description. I booked accordingly, expecting the railway trip to be along the lines of Thomas the Tank engine, and not to be taken too seriously. How wrong I was. We were taken to a superb section of a lovely restored narrow gauge railway, reminiscent of what the Leek and Manifold Railway might have been like today had it not closed in the 1930s. Our coach party took their allocated seats. As promised in the brochure, we travelled for around 20 minutes through exciting terrain to Menzies Creek. This was about 3.5 miles. I would discover that the entire line was around 14 miles. Far better to complete the entire journey than visit further places of (for me) lesser interest. However, all was made up for with two stunning railtours in New Zealand. In fact, ALL the shore excursions have been worth taking and I am impressed greatly with the amount of options on offer. And I can revisit Melbourne’s preserved railway on a future visit.
Given the opportunity, would I do this journey again..? Without hesitation!
Thanks again for reading.
David.
David's Cruise 