Day 4 Evening.

Tomorrow, it will be time to move on, and I wonder if I may return one last time. Here are some final pictures taken yesterday and today. While initially underwhelmed by my stateroom, I realised, in fact, I was staying in an “absolute treasure”. The layout remains the same as when QM first entered service. The electric fire is still in place. I wish it worked! The floor to ceiling wood panelling remains largely intact. The bakerlite wardrobe and other handles all appear original. A couple of chairs, while resembling closely the dining chairs of the Cabin Class dining room, I am told are reproductions, confirming the attention to detail sort after by those looking after the ship. Many original fittings remain but no longer work.

1st picture: Enlarged image of the front cover of the souvenir launch brochure of the launch. The original run of these brochures was entitled “Launch of 534”. Demand was far greater than anticipated and thus a second almost identical issue was produced as below.

2nd and 3rd pictures: Inside the Cabin Class smoking room. This was not opened to the public this evening, but the door was not locked!

4th 5th and 6th pictures were taken of the stage and ceiling of the former Cabin/First Class lounge. A member of staff opened this place up for me.

Apart from a final image of the wall map in the Cabin dining room, as well as a QM life ring, all other images are labelled.

My time on board Queen Mary has been hugely enjoyable and, I feel, very well worth while. Unimaginable efforts are put in to ensure this remarkable piece of history can enthrall generations to come. I was sorry not to visit the Cabin swimming pool; it awaits repair as it is no longer safe to visit. However, I did get to see where the Second Class pool used to be; it is now a small cinema for short documentaries in 4D. I found the special effects irritating!

A new chapter tomorrow.

All the best, and thanks for reading,

David.

Cabin Class lounge.

Carnival Imagination.

Below, Carnival Imagination

Engine room views

(Below) Control panel, engine room.

Below, Entrance to the Cabin/First Class swimming pool.