Blog 725 Beginning of The End. Also, Today’s the Day!

Tuesday 8th February 2022.

It is yet another lovely bright day, but deck walking now requires warmer attire.  The sunny side, is very pleasant, the shaded side, the harbinger of the winter towards we are headed.

Following my usual breakfast of porridge, banana, yoghurt, and a cup of tea, I headed to the Purser’s desk to attempt to arrange for the bulk of my luggage to be kept on board for the four days the ship sails to Hamburg and I drive to Buxton.  I don’t particularly want to have to manhandle three bags, two with wheels, on a 410 mile round trip by car, train and taxi.  Cross Country,  whose trains call at Southampton, take a dim view of passengers with bulky baggage clogging up their inadequate trains.  This is not a swipe at Cross Country, but at the rail industry in general where in the past, each train had a guard’s van, with ample storage capacity – even on local commuter trains.  The nice people in the Purser’s Office explained that because of covid, this may not be possible, but later contacted me confirming that the luggage I don’t want to haul around the country will be taken care of and delivered to the cabin eventually assigned to me from 15th February. That is a huge weight off my mind (er…and my wallet!) I am now wondering how much it would cost to have them couriered to Buxton on 15th March!

I have been reminded that whist sessions resume in the Atlantic Room, forward on Deck 11.  Thankfully, this is a convivial couple of hours (usually less).  I hear horror stories of the Bridge sessions elsewhere on board. But that’s all they are, stories – I think!  I also stay away from the launderette.  Right now, I am in my favourite public area, The Carinthia Lounge. Laura was in the middle of an on-board general knowledge quiz, which as ever, remains very popular and well attended. I have come across Laura from Fleetwood on previous Cunard voyages and her dry Lancashire presentation and humour goes down well. By myself, I am usually lucky to answer 3 or 4 out of 20 questions correctly, although on a previous trip, I did assist a team to a full 20 – just once, I think.

Cunard may have missed another trick. Unless I am mistaken, I believe the name of the new Cunarder is being announced at 13.00hrs.  Gala Night, I feel, should have been tonight, thus allowing a welcome extra day to pack the dinner suit. Complimentary drinks could have been offered to each passenger, especially in lieu of the pandemic affected cocktail parties, and also, a general celebration over dinner with souvenir menus might have been quite fitting.  There is not even a mention of this announcement in today’s Daily  Programme.  “Caronia” has been suggested as a contender for name of the new ship.  That would make it the fourth Cunarder to bear the name, the first entering service in 1905, the second, the year of my birth, 1949, and the third in 2000, being the former  Vistafjord of Norwegian American Line which entered service in the early 1970s,  acquired shortly afterwards by Cunard as a First Class only ship.  While in the company of Dean and Julie as well as Alan and Sue, in the Carinthia Lounge, Captain Hall, right on the dot of 1pm addressed all passengers and crew, announcing the name of Cunard’s new ship, QUEEN ANNE.  I do hope I can  be on its maiden voyage at the end of 2024, when I shall be 75. (Unbelievable!)  Cunard will then have a fleet of three cruise ships and one Ocean Liner.

The title of this blog, The Beginning of The End is appropriate. There is now that sense of at least, planning the packing. I have done very little walking today, having already exceeded my cruise target for this voyage. Nevertheless, there’s an hour or two before dinner, and I really should get some walking in.

The laundry has been delivered, with all items folded ready for the dreaded packing.

I shall write again tomorrow. Many thanks for reading, David, 17.57hrs cabin 12053, QM2. There is definite gentle movement of the ship, felt especially on the upper decks.

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