I stayed up later than usual last night. The “Show Time” offering after dinner featured a juggler. To me, that sounded as appealing as an early morning shift in the depths of a Derbyshire winter! Nonetheless, I went, prepared for the same old ship-board humour and a repertoire of unremarkable but impossible to perform stunts. Entertainment Director Neil Kelly burst on to the stage with his usual exaggerated introduction to that evening’s artiste.On came the “Premier Comedy Juggler,” Pete Matthews. Immediately, he captured the attention of his audience with his mind boggling display of bouncing ball dexterity. For the next forty five minutes, I sat spell-bound by everything about his show. The Royal Court Theatre Orchestra provided superb music to accompany the performance. He engaged with his audience in a way which had them creased up with laughter throughout; I came away at the end having enjoyed the show.
I ventured along to the Queens Room where the ballroom aficionados “strutted their stuff” with the well practiced expertise of professional snooker players. However, no female dance host risked inviting me on to the dance floor…thank heaven! It has always been a regret of mine that I was never “built” for dancing, ballroom or any other kind. Quite why I later ventured to the “disco” in the Yacht Club on Deck 10, I’m not quite sure, except that although very late, I didn’t feel ready to abandon the now, almost deserted evening quite yet. I sat quietly in the very sparsely populated Yacht Club, adding to my blog, the writing of which seems to have become something of an addiction.
*****************************************So what has it been like so far?
I have already described the excitement and the usual anticipations and apprehensions as one approaches the quayside with the huge ship dwarfing the surrounding terminal buildings, the dread of sea-sickness and other things that could, but usually don’t go wrong. However, such pessimism is negated by the excitement of a brand new journey to places I have only seen on the “telly,” or in geographic magazines etc.
M.V. Queen Victoria is a purpose built cruise ship, which Cunard likes to market as an ocean liner. Certainly, on board, the decor, service, amenities, and entertainment as well as the restaurants and much more, all bear more than a passing resemblance to those glamorous days of the past. But, in those “good old days,” passengers were relied upon to make much more of their own entertainment. (This still happens today.) Of course, there was dancing in the loveliest ballrooms at sea; there were shops and usually a cinema, and also a gym and swimming pools.
On board libraries provided opportunities to enjoy a good read, and games would be set up during the voyage, even bingo on the original Queen Mary. I therefore enjoy my privileged time on board any of the Cunard vessels.
M.V. Queen Victoria entered service in December 2007, it’s now almost identical sister M.V Queen Elizabeth, joining what had become (temporarily) the youngest cruise fleet at sea, almost three years later in 2010. Each have 12 decks for passengers, the highest of which is available only to those in the “Grills.” Cunard, therefore, maintains the semblance of a class system. “Grills” is the unlikely current name of the former First Class, which in earlier times was known as Cabin, and before that, Saloon. More recently, Cunard introduced Britannia Club, perhaps the maritime version of “Premium Economy,” or, perhaps, Business Class. Guests here enjoy single sitting dining in the evening, enhanced cabins and services, but no access to areas set apart for those in Grill Class.
There is a huge variation in cruise fares. Passengers enjoy (as part of the deal) all on board entertainment, meals in the restaurant assigned to your cabin grade, afternoon tea and hotel services. Extras include drinks, speciality coffee other than at meal times, laundry, shore excursions, items bought on board in the numerous retail outlets on Deck 3. Room service is “on the house,” and is excellent. Internet is complimentary to frequent passengers, but quite expensive otherwise.
Travelling by ship affords the distinct advantage of (apart from during the night) seeing where you are going; even being at sea with no land in sight is an experience I seldom tire of. Usually, a cruise takes one to several countries in one voyage. You may not see any particular country in the same depth as spending several days there, or back packing, but the shore excursions available provide usually the best opportunity to see as much as possible in the time available. As the maps indicate below, we have almost completed a south westerly crossing of the Atlantic. Each eight days at sea have been disappointingly rough. But, it is winter. I would have thought that things might have calmed down as we came near to Bermuda, but one of those pesky weather systems blanketing North America had some influence over where we are right now.
This morning, as we approach Port Canaveral, the sea continues to emphasise “who’s the boss.” Laura, that nice lady from Winter Garden area, set aside for those on the entire voyage only, who deals with (among other things) shore excursions had expectedly, performed the miracle of finding me a place on the four day “overland” to Iguassu Falls. Booking late has penalised me a further 300 Dollars on top of the already eye-wateringly….I daren’t say how much in this blog….
$ x,k00!
This had better be good!
The maps below were taken last night. Other pictures should be self explanatory and were taken on board.
All the best,
David.
First picture, “Up on the Roof….Dancing on the Ceiling? !
David's Cruise 