December 31st. 2019Firstly, NEW YEAR GREETINGS to all those who have come across this latest blog.It’s that time of year again; there are just ten days before I set sail from Southampton, this time for a continent I have yet to visit, South America. There should be a good atmosphere as R.M.S. Queen Mary 2 and M.V. Queen Victoria sets sail for Australia and South America respectively, the same evening. I expect a super fireworks display, unlike in 2018 when QM2 was delayed and set sail the following morning!I am starting this blog on New Year’s Eve. In fact, the radio pointed out that it’s the start of a new decade tomorrow. Now, there’s a thought, might this be the last decade I see the start of ? 0 With luck, I shall make it for the next one as my 70s end even more suddenly than when they started!It is likely 2020 will be my last year of the “big trips.” I have a huge objection to the four figure cost of travel insurance, and feel unjustly penalised.New Year’s Day 15.00hrsI suspect that if I were to submit a claim, I would be confronted with enough loopholes to confuse a juggler.South America should have been my last “long trip.” However, I succumbed to booking a summer voyage from Vancouver, revisiting Alaska and continuing to Japan for around 10 days of cruising and visiting. The travel insurance industry has “taken me to the cleaners” one more time. Both journeys, however, are worth this mild annoyance of feeling “ripped off,” but one can appreciate the risks of such long journeys.Reaching Vancouver will take around two weeks, by ship and long distance train from New York via Chicago and Seattle.For that trip in August, I have a single cabin booked on QM2’s No 2 Deck. Very nice it is, too, but not quite as spectacular as those on Deck 3 with the two huge circular floor to ceiling picture windows…
January 2nd mid afternoon … Single cabins are usually booked up many months in advance and with well over a year before my crossing, I took the last single on Deck 2. (Just Deck 12 to go “for the set!”)Right now, there is a kind of hiatus. I shall commence packing on Monday or Tuesday.Thursday is the start of it all, a gentle drive to Southampton, a night at the Novotel; and the following day, the sight one never tires of, the white upper superstructure of Cunard’s Queen Victoria and its red and black funnel towering above the quayside buildings, the anticipation of adventures to come, the curiosity of whom one might encounter along the way, and perhaps what the stateroom is like. The balcony cabin which I have reserved, is forward on Deck 5, starboard, the side from which, if close enough, the coast line may be visible at times, during the anti clockwise circumnavigation of South America.Next week’s adventure calls at 24 ports in 14 countries. I hope anybody following the blog will be able to enjoy my almost daily writings. I shall “post” as many pictures as technology will allow. Experience reminds me that the internet can be very difficult from on board ship, and in other remote locations.Today, there are just eight days to go!
Many thanks for reading.
David.
David's Cruise 