Author: davidscruise

QM2 was delayed this morning following a tempestuous east bound crossing from New York. I boarded shortly before 1pm, and enjoyed a huge plate of different pastas in the Kings Court “eatery updated tastefully from its original attractive style from 2004. My cabin is a new-build inside stateroom on deck 13. It feels slightly smaller than the originals lower down in the ship and it will be interesting to see how I get on up there with my “home” of 17 weeks in almost the highest part of the ship. Views from so high in the ship are fabulous and I would like certainly to chose a cabin on deck 13 when

leaving New York or passing any spectacular scenery.

However, tonight sees me having dinner with my neighbour from home, back at the Ibis Hotel….an unexpected turn up for the books. Departure of QM2 on its 2018 world cruise has been rescheduled for 6am tomorrow. The Captain announced that this would not “impact on the first port of call, Madeira, on Sunday. According to Roger’s phone, storm force 10 conditions await not only in the Bay of Biscay, but further south also.

Today in Southampton was bright sunny and cheerful. I am not sorry we are still here.

I will write again soon.

This is the eve of a much anticipated voyage to the Antipodes. My neighbour Roger Horne took on the role of hatless chauffeur as I relaxed on the five hour journey from Harpur Hill, bathed in a cool mountain mist to a not much warmer less appealing Southampton. Gradually, it will become less cool as Queen Mary 2 steams south towards Portugal’s sunshine isle of Madeira, where it never really gets cold. One might experience the unpleasant condition of “mal de mer” as QM2 fights the strange currents in a turbulent Bay of Biscay.

Dinner tonight at the Ibis Hotel in Southampton consisted of sea bass and rice. The wall immediately next to our table has a map of the world, as if put there specially to mark my first trip to the other side of the World.

Watch this space…but don’t hold your breath!

There are less than four weeks to go before I set off on my longest ever journey; 35,973 nautical miles. Christmas and the New Year intervenes leaving little time to prepare for four months on the high seas. My childhood ambition to see the other side of the World suddenly becomes a reality and I shall celebrate my 69th birthday in New Zealand hopefully on a train journey. During the 120 night voyage, I anticipate seeing iconic wildlife in South Africa, the Sydney Opera House, the world’s greatest light show in Hong Kong, and perhaps enjoying a coffee at Raffles in Singapore.

This is a “trial blog”. The intention is to write fairly frequently to compliment a journal of the voyage and to let anyone who wishes, to know how this journey progresses.

All the best,

David.