Hong Kong, Good Friday and Easter Saturday 2018

Written up on Easter Sunday.

I awoke early on Good Friday, just in time to observe as our ship, Queen Mary 2 berthed in front of Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth at Hong Kong’s spectacular new cruise terminal, creating a rare two Queens event. For the first time, I was looking at Hong Kong’s backdrop of peaks and high-rises. Photo opportunities were aplenty. Friday would be busy; in the morning, a sight seeing coach and boat tour, and in the evening, the much anticipated World Cruise Dinner, this year, held at the Kerry Hotel in Hong Kong.

It was a fairly early start today even ‘though the tour commenced at the respectable hour of 09.15hrs. Our first call was at Victoria Peak. This would be ascended partly by coach, and then escalators through a tourist complex of shops, cafes and other tourist attractions, to an observation deck at the top.

Enough time was allowed for looking around and shopping, before we continued to Stanley Market. I took this opportunity for a spot of lunch at a waterside cafe. I think it was pork in tripe! It had no adverse effects! We continued to a minute temple, and then a brief but pleasant river trip. As on all these Asian trips, we visited, this time, a jade factory and retail outlet. Again, we were enticed with soft drinks. We saw much of the surrounding area including Repulse Bay, now highly developed with top end residential properties, and sporting a fine beach.

Boat trip.

On the river.

After returning to the ship, I caught up on some sleep before preparing for the Gala Dinner. Needless to say, the dress code was “formal”.

I am told that around 1,000 attended this grand event. The dinner was preceded by a reception which spilled out onto a terrace and garden which overlooked the water and a magnificent backdrop of hills and high rises which would gradually become illuminated as the sun went down.

Queen Mary 2 in front of Queen Elizabeth as seen from the terrace of the Kerry Hotel.

These photographs do not quite capture the magnificent setting for the World Cruise Dinner!

I have to say, this has to be the most lavish event I have ever had the privilege of being a guest at. The dining room was more the size of a football pitch, or so it seemed. At the opposite end of the wide entrance, a stage and screen which spanned most of the room’s width. Sophisticated lighting filled the entire space like that of a rock concert. Screens down one side of the room relayed what was taking place on stage. Local style entertainment enthralled all attendees of this gala banquet. There were dancers, acrobats etc. The drink flowed; addresses were delivered. And the guests, all those deemed to be taking the full world cruise were accommodated at round tables of around 8. I chose to start with a tomato and beetroot salad, continue with one of the finest beef-steaks I can ever recall and a parsimonious portion of vegetables and finally, a tropical fruit salad. The two salads were to cater for my dietary requirements….I would have much preferred the rich creamy dessert everybody else enjoyed. This was a splendid occasion to say the least. However, I was very tired at the end of the day and awoke at a later hour on Easter Saturday.

Determined to do at least something the following day before an early evening departure, after failing to get on to a helicopter trip & tea at the Peninsula Hotel (That would have been nice), I took the shuttle bus to the waterfront opposite the Shangri La Hotel. From there, I walked along the waterfront, taking a few photographs along the way. Eventually, I found a cheap eatery in a shopping mall and enjoyed, again, pork, this time with boiled rice and some green stuff. I returned to the ship and joined table companions Nick and Geraldine in the Atlantic Room, for the exclusive use of those taking the full world cruise. At dinner, all seven of us shared our day’s experiences. I then went with one of our group to see the film “Secret Scripture”, about a young woman being detained against her will in a mental institution. All very thought provoking and very well filmed. I then made the mistake of going to bed very late after getting talking to a dance host in the Kings Court, and then writing texts until almost 2am. I overslept this morning, missing the Easter worship. For that, I am not at all pleased!

Cunard World Cruise Dinner 2018 Captain Peter Philpot calls for a chat towards the end of the evening.

Yesterday evening, the departure from Hong Kong, as the sun set, and the light gradually faded, was magical. At the stern on deck 8, the band played and some people danced. I had seen nothing like it, and was thrilled, particularly with the crescendo of lighting from the forests of high-rises as darkness fell.

Today is beautiful as we now steam South West to our next destination, Nha Trang in Vietnam. No over sleeping tomorrow; I have booked a river trip.

All the best, David.