Day 9 Calm Pacific.

We crossed a ninth time zone this morning, affording an extra hour in bed. This was needed as after dinner, last night, I joined table companions Daphne and Nigel firstly in the Queens Room where passengers danced with the elegance of royalty, and then for a Tia Maria in the Commodore Club. Even so, I still managed to miss breakfast, having instead, a substantial salad of ham, mackerel, and a token slice of brie for lunch. Seats by the window in the Lido are much easier to come by than in Queen Mary 2’s Kings Court. I was joined by a couple both of whom were churchwardens at Coventry. They sail to Auckland from where they endure the flight back to the UK. Rather them than me! Also, much to my delight, I met a Swedish couple from last year’s Queen Mary 2 World Voyage, in the Royal Court Theatre where one time Cunard employee, Maureen Ryan gave a well illustrated presentation on her times aboard the QE2. She remains respected greatly, both by seasoned Cunard passengers and present day personnel alike. Miss Ryan had earned her living, not only on the original Queens Mary and Elizabeth as well as QE2, but also on the second Mauretania, second, and possibly third Caronia (ex Vistafjord) as well as other passenger ships which she mentioned during her talk. Ironically, she bought her own ticket for the last voyage of QE2 to Dubai!

Outside, the bright sunshine of morning has given way, late this afternoon to cloudy skies, and, for the first time, small bits of “white” appear on the ocean. I see no evidence of the millions of tons of plastic I am told blight this ocean and washes up on island shorelines. That doesn’t mean to say it’s not there.

My Swedish friends tell me they do not like this ship anything like as much as the “perfect” Queen Mary 2. And the weather hasn’t been much to write home about either. Surely it was hot while transiting the Panama Canal. Certainly, there is a far less exuberant atmosphere on board, this time around. Last year, at Cape Town, around 1,400 disembarked, being replaced by a similar number of Aussies who rather livened the place up. And I was so thrilled to be on that first mega long trip.

What thrills me this year is that once again, my view is of endless ocean, day after day. I shall have to drag myself off the ship in Sydney, but there, the joyous prospect of endless train journeys takes over. But that’s a long time from now. Two more sea days, and then we call at Honolulu. I was spoiled for choice with shore excursions. I chose whale watching. The last time I went whale watching, in San Diego, none appeared! It was a nice boat ride ‘though.

Now, for a few pictures.