You couldn’t make it up! A gorgeous calm sea, a slight wind, and summer-esque temperatures. Sunloungers and steamer chairs are “at a premium” as passengers soak some still much welcome sunshine. Former acquaintances on the South America voyage are on board today. Whist sessions thus resume in the Atlantic Room forward on Deck 11, one time domain exclusive to those travelling on a full World Voyage. This is one area where the Queen Victoria/Elizabeth scores one-up on the revered Queen Mary 2. World Cruise exclusive areas on QV and QE are in much more airy and open spaces where plenty of light gets in. Back in 2020, I did have misgivings about devoting a couple of hours to playing cards, particularly on a glorious afternoon in a windowless but substantial room on Queen Victoria. However, I soon got to enjoy this routine, occasionally winning! The whole covid 19 pandemic separates then from now. Now, I am so very thankful to be where I am right now, once again dodging the cold and winds of the U.K. in February. In 2020 (from 28th March) I hardly left the county. Nevertheless, opportunities opened up to explore the local countryside in lieu of more exotic travel. This was no bad thing, and in fact, some of the more difficult walks in the vicinity of home, stood me in good stead for the rather difficult scenic coastal walk in St. Maarten.
Last night, after a bone rattling afternoon riding around the British Virgin Island of Tortola on a primitive open van (see yesterday’s pictures) it was time to bid farewell to the group of subtropical (I think!) islands in the Caribbean and North Atlantic. Already, we were informed that the next day (today) clocks would be advanced one hour, not at 2am, but at midday when noon becomes 13.00 hrs. This is one of my very few irritations with Cunard. I have never understood what is to be gained changing the hour at noon. Tonight is Gala Night, at one time more elegantly announced as Formal Night. Out will come the white tuxedo and a freshly laundered dress shirt. My diminishing hair will be combed into place, and I shall speak in BBC English, lapsing (inadvertently) into my more usual northern dialect, which I did not get from my parents to whom BBC English came naturally!
Yesterday was the second during which I failed to achieve 10,000 steps (around 3.5 miles). I wasn’t far off at 8,713, but the energy to walk the remaining c1,300 just wasn’t there. I “slept for England” last night and awoke rejuvenated and still debating whether to splurge on a repeat trip, this time via New York in both directions, instead of Lisbon and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Being served delicious porridge and fresh fruit each morning with a sea view is (as the song playing over the P.A. right now) Irresistible!
In just under twenty minutes, noon becomes 13.00 hrs.
Many thanks for reading. David, 11.41hrs The Carinthia Lounge, Deck 7 port side. Time4walkies!
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David's Cruise 