I had forgotten the “joie de vivre” one can experience on a bright sunny and noisy morning in sunny Spain, even if I had been on the lovely isle of Tenerife, only in February! Outside however, the morning remained a little cool with the influence from a northerly breeze. In the shade, it remained not overly hot, but extremely pleasant; in the direct sunlight, piping hot and therapeutic – magnificent!
I was invited by Ronda to lunch at the fabulous boutique Gran Hotel Nagari which she had “stumbled across” while exploring the city. An unexpected pleasure, my plans were merely to walk around a little and take a few photographs. The port lecturer, the day before, had presented a most informative illustrated talk suggesting numerous options.
We departed shortly after 4.30 yesterday afternoon, and once we had cleared the scenic estuary, we were steaming west in a slightly choppy Atlantic ocean.
But today, although cool, the sea is “pancake calm.” My intention to walk around the deck, however, was thwarted by “getting into convivial and meaningful conversation” for around four hours, maybe more, thereby missing lunch! Cake- free afternoon tea would beckon, sabotaging partially my attempts at “staying fit.” This deputised for lunch (never a good idea) but I now have three and a half hours to “make amends.” Outside, it is around 16°C with hopefully light winds.
Finally, for the time being, I now quite like the revised WiFi arrangements on board. One can pay quite a lot for a full cruise package, but the highest level of World Club loyalty should attract refunds which equate to free on board WiFi. However, the Internet seems just as intermittent as it ever was! But now, there isn’t the danger of running out of WiFi minutes as was the case previously, if you forgot to log out.
I doubt whether I have burned off the effects of a scones and sandwiches afternoon tea (in lieu of lunch), but I have managed a modest amount of deck walking. The ship is not as large as Cunard’s flagship QM2 (3 times around the deck = 1.1 miles.) On board Queen Elizabeth (and presumably M.V. Queen Victoria), three laps of the Boat/Promenade Deck equates to nine tenths of one mile.
For a second time, there were mandatory covid-19 tests to comply with current U.S. requirements. As on Queen Mary 2, test booths were set up in the Queens Room. I turned up at the allotted time of 11am and was tested within minutes. What is worrying is that a small number tested positive, as evidenced by the announcements for named passengers to “immediately return to your stateroom and contact the Purser.” So, people did slip through the net at Southampton, huh? None of the covid restrictions in place at the end of the QM2 voyage to New York and the Caribbean in March appear to have been lifted. Masks still have to be worn inside unless partaking of food or drink. However, this is not giving rise to complaint or apparent discontent as far as I can make out. There must be a quarantine area somewhere on board, but as on QM2, I am not aware of the area to avoid. I now understand that the area between A and B stairway on 8 deck has been cordoned off. I am not sure about any other decks, below.
What is also interesting is that yesterday, I received yet another epistle relating to my not having attended the safety drill at the start of the voyage, for reasons explained previously. Attached was a transcript of the safety brief which I was instructed to read carefully. This I did, and I am rather glad I can eventually add this official document to my collection of Cunard memorabilia. What is more important as that Cunard are now absolved of any responsibility as far as I am concerned. Now to continue walking!
Last night, thanks to the diplomatic negotiating skills of Ronda, we were allocated a far nicer table for dinner, where six can be seated in a much more spacious setting with stunning views through the adjacent picture windows of the ship’s wake and the distant horizon aft. This could prove interesting in rough seas! However, this is an infinite improvement on the claustrophobic location to which we were assigned originally. There were just three for dinner tonight. Champa (from Thailand) and Robert didn’t join us, Cecile, Ronda and I. Nevertheless, we were still the last to leave the restaurant.
I was informed earlier today that there are around 1,300 passengers on board. However, at around 11pm, when strolling back to stateroom, the ship felt almost deserted. But the music played on as scheduled, just like on QM2 in January/February. The disco in the Yacht Club, and the Commodore Club, both opposite each other high up on Deck 10, seem to attract those who stay up late habitually.
Today, we were in the same time zone as the U.K. But from tomorrow, the clocks go back an hour each morning until we are five hours behind the U.K. and as we venture to the Pacific Ocean, there will be up to an eight hour time difference.
Many thanks for reading, David, 0033hrs.
David's Cruise 