Sail Away Music

I have found that I like to sit on my balcony during the time the ship unties from the dock and starts to depart the harbor and listen to music. And sip wine or champagne of course.

I listen to Dean Martin or Sinatra or one of the other Rat Pack.

So my question for everyone who wants to participate is:

Do you have a favorite tune or type of music you listen to during Sail Away?

I am always looking for suggestions also.

I have always been on deck for the sail away for every cruise I have taken. Not tried one from the balcony yet. But if I did, I guess the music would be similar to what I would listen to in a car for a road trip. Something to go along with the excitement of the trip. Some Santana, some Allman Brothers, stuff like that. For a Cunard trip, maybe some vintage David Bowie or Stones.

On every cruise after my first, I've had the most satisfying feeling of "it's good to be home" when I stepped aboard QM2, and the song in my heart was Happy Days Are Here Again.

Rod Stewart's "I am sailing, I am sailing, Home again, Across the Sea" gives me chills every time I hear it. Just love being at sea.

I listen

to the cacophony of the forklifts backing away from the pier,

the rhythm of the waves hitting the ship in a resounding applause as the mooring lines are dropped,

the bells from the buoy saying I'm anchored, I wish I could go with you, but I have a job to do here, but don't worry, there's others like me who will guide you safely during your voyage,

the horns from neighboring ships sounding both celebratory and competitive simultaneously.

I listen to the hushed sounds of the pilot boat pushing away from the ship,

and for the excited voices and laughter of my fellow passengers who are on their way to sea.

I listen as the beat of my heart quiets when the ship reaches open waters and we are one with the sea and sky.

It is an opera that I listen to at sail away; it is live and each time it is an original performance.

Salacia

I listen

to the cacophony of the forklifts backing away from the pier,

the rhythm of the waves hitting the ship in a resounding applause as the mooring lines are dropped,

the bells from the buoy saying I'm anchored, I wish I could go with you, but I have a job to do here, but don't worry, there's others like me who will guide you safely during your voyage,

the horns from neighboring ships sounding both celebratory and competitive simultaneously.

 

I listen to the hushed sounds of the pilot boat pushing away from the ship,

and for the excited voices and laughter of my fellow passengers who are on their way to sea.

 

I listen as the beat of my heart quiets when the ship reaches open waters and we are one with the sea and sky.

 

It is an opera that I listen to at sail away; it is live and each time it is an original performance.

 

Salacia

Very well put, Salacia. I agree wholeheartedly.

What passes for music at sailaways these days is, to put it mildly, not to my taste and I head for the other end. I fondly remember sailaways in my earlier days of ocean travel (the 1970s and 80s) when, for example, P&O hired a brass band - military or community - to play for us in Southampton. Cunard, in my experience, didn't have a brass band except for special occasions, but they played "Land of Hope and Glory" on the tannoy.

My most memorable sailaway was in 1977 at Cape Town for the last voyage of Union-Castle's much-loved RMS Windsor Castle. There were two military bands on the dock and an Air Force fly-past and Naval escort. As the ship pulled away, every tugboat and ship in port sounded its whistles and sirens, "Land of Hope and Glory" played on the tannoy and there wasn't a dry eye on the ship.

@Salacia: did you compose those words yourself? It's the most inspiring piece I've read in some months.

@Salacia: did you compose those words yourself? It's the most inspiring piece I've read in some months.

Thanks Shawn; yes, I wrote it. -S.

Is Land of Hope and Glory a British song. I have never heard of it before??? Is there background to it being popular to sail away?

I am just an American from Tennessee and need some education. Thanks

You got my curiosity up so I went to youtube and found it. It's a British patriotic song with the same music that we call Pomp and Circumstance in the U.S. and use for graduations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iROlkMOL9s Hope that works as it has photos and the lyrics on there. Wonderful!

I tried clicking on my youtube link in the reply above and it says that the video doesn't exist. Why??? Anyway, go to youtube.com and type in "song Land of Hope and Glory."

Hi DDBINK,

I am also from Tennessee (Greeneville, east of Knoxville). You would know the song if you heard it. I think we play it a lot for graduations, etc. in the US. Try to find it on You Tube, and you can hear it.

Doug

Edit - Someone else beat me to the punch!

Is Land of Hope and Glory a British song. I have never heard of it before??? Is there background to it being popular to sail away?

I am just an American from Tennessee and need some education. Thanks

Hi DDBINK. Check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomp_and_Circumstance_Marches

I haven't heard that song played at sail away, but most of the QM2 cruises I've taken departed from Brooklyn...so if they played that song over the tannoy, we'd wonder who graduated (thinking hopefully not the Captain) :) -S

My first ever trip on QM2 was a transatlantic to New York. Didn't know what to expect when we boarded, I was blown away. She just looked amazing inside and out. I loved the sailaway with the band playing New York New York. I just knew that I would be booking another trip and that was the start of my love of sailing with Cunard on all their Queens. That was 5 years ago and I can't waiting to be boarding for our B2B in August from Southampton.

Catherine

Land of Hope and Glory is sung by the audience and passenger choir, with much flag-waving, at the two performances of the Last Night of the Cunard Proms on the annual QM2 crossing featuring Anthony Inglis and the National Symphony Orchestra. I have been fortunate to attend this, but only once. :(

Hi Salacia,

well described. That's sailing.

I listen

to the cacophony of the forklifts backing away from the pier,

the rhythm of the waves hitting the ship in a resounding applause as the mooring lines are dropped,

the bells from the buoy saying I'm anchored, I wish I could go with you, but I have a job to do here, but don't worry, there's others like me who will guide you safely during your voyage,

the horns from neighboring ships sounding both celebratory and competitive simultaneously.

 

I listen to the hushed sounds of the pilot boat pushing away from the ship,

and for the excited voices and laughter of my fellow passengers who are on their way to sea.

 

I listen as the beat of my heart quiets when the ship reaches open waters and we are one with the sea and sky.

 

It is an opera that I listen to at sail away; it is live and each time it is an original performance.

 

Salacia

Absolutely wonderful… Exactly how I felt on both occasions we left Southampton.