Live from QE's 2014 World Voyage

After having three wonderful ports in Australia we leave Australian waters in a few hours. Next stop is Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. I have heard mixed reports about it but I signed up to do one of the Cunard tours (didn't feel safe enough to wander on my own).

Ruours persist about whether we will go to Eqypt or not but these are just among the passengers - no word from anybody on the crew.

After having three wonderful ports in Australia we leave Australian waters in a few hours. Next stop is Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. I have heard mixed reports about it but I signed up to do one of the Cunard tours (didn't feel safe enough to wander on my own).

 

Ruours persist about whether we will go to Eqypt or not but these are just among the passengers - no word from anybody on the crew.

Hi Kathi! It is great following your blog and hearing of your adventures. I am looking forward to hearing how Rabaul is as we were wondering about booking a Cunard tour as well versus safety in the area.

Hi Cheryl and Pat. Hope you are both Ok and not got the withdrawal symptons too bad.

Ship is quieter now as Japanese on board and are all quiet, and well dressed in an evening. They are all good dancers also.

We got a new crowd on and the last meet & greet I did around 25 turned up. I am carrying on with the meet and greets, so anyone new arriving in the forthcoming segments add your names to the roll call.

Rabaul tomorrow and it is an interesting place , very dusty and very poor but interesting all the same as this is what world cruises are all about. Showing us how the people around the world live.

I have been to Rabaul before so I will be going walk abouts and handing $ bills to the children who will be flocking around us with their lovely smiles. I will buy a bag off the ladies who make them. The a bags are very colourful and fun.

Regards to all who know me. Maggie. x

Scrapnana,

Have really enjoyed reading along ever since your planning days on the old thread. There is a PBS show running now about volcanos with a very interesting segment on Rabaul. Have a good visit there and stay safe. Looking forward to reading your impressions.

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Hi Cheryl and Pat. Hope you are both Ok and not got the withdrawal symptons too bad.

Ship is quieter now as Japanese on board and are all quiet, and well dressed in an evening. They are all good dancers also.

We got a new crowd on and the last meet & greet I did around 25 turned up. I am carrying on with the meet and greets, so anyone new arriving in the forthcoming segments add your names to the roll call.

Rabaul tomorrow and it is an interesting place , very dusty and very poor but interesting all the same as this is what world cruises are all about. Showing us how the people around the world live.

I have been to Rabaul before so I will be going walk abouts and handing $ bills to the children who will be flocking around us with their lovely smiles. I will buy a bag off the ladies who make them. The a bags are very colourful and fun.

Regards to all who know me. Maggie. x

Maggie Mou, I am so missing you all and being on board. I know I am having a lovely time with my family but still wish I was doing the full world. Had a lovely email today from Rachel and Theresa, World cruise concierge. Have asked them to keep an eye on you all for me!! Please give my love ro everyone. Xxxxxx from Pat

Hi Cheryl and Pat. Hope you are both Ok and not got the withdrawal symptons too bad.

Ship is quieter now as Japanese on board and are all quiet, and well dressed in an evening. They are all good dancers also.

We got a new crowd on and the last meet & greet I did around 25 turned up. I am carrying on with the meet and greets, so anyone new arriving in the forthcoming segments add your names to the roll call.

Rabaul tomorrow and it is an interesting place , very dusty and very poor but interesting all the same as this is what world cruises are all about. Showing us how the people around the world live.

I have been to Rabaul before so I will be going walk abouts and handing $ bills to the children who will be flocking around us with their lovely smiles. I will buy a bag off the ladies who make them. The a bags are very colourful and fun.

Regards to all who know me. Maggie. x

Hi Maggie,

I am missing everyone oh so much. I have already been back at work for 4 days already. thank god this weekend is a long weekend. I so need it. I keep reading all the blogs and it just makes me miss everyone and the ship oh so much more. I wish I was on board with you all still. I had so much fun on this cruise and everyone I met were the best. I have a great photo of you Maggie. Once I get some time to myself I will email it for you. It is you all dressed up for the Luau. I hope to sort everything out so will hopefully will send it to you next week..

Keep on enjoying yourselves and have a great time.

chez

Rabaul, Papua New Guinea was an interesting stop. It was warm but not as dirty (from the volcano) as predicted. I did a tour about the islands role in WWII.

The volcano spews ash almost all the time!

We cross the equator tomorrow and have five wonderful sea days until we get to Japan.

Thanks for the pictures.

Can you tell me if you docked at Rabaul or used the tenders? Can you recall what other tours were available for Rabaul..mainly historical, or scenic, etc? Also, did you dock in Cairns/Yorkeys Knob? I thought I read about a new terminal there?

Loving your blog! Thanks!

Can you tell me if you docked at Rabaul or used the tenders? Can you recall what other tours were available for Rabaul..mainly historical, or scenic, etc? Also, did you dock in Cairns/Yorkeys Knob? I thought I read about a new terminal there?

 

Loving your blog! Thanks!

We were able to dock at Rabaul. There were only two tours - the one I took and "Rabaul Highlights" which visited the volcanological observatory, hot springs, and the Japanese Monument. We did not get a cultural song and dance at a village - I mentioned it to the tour desk and received a note that I would get a 25% refund.

Yorkey's Knob was not a stop for passengers. The Australian officials completed their business and then we were off. We were not stopped very long.

QM2 is tendering at Yorkeys Knob next week.

One of the ladies at my dinner table ate with the captain last week. He said that the QE was getting single staterooms at the next drydock. When I asked Janice (the social hostess) about this, she said she thought that single rooms were going to be added for the entertainers. She said she did not know anything about passenger single staterooms. Also, something was going to be done to the casino in relation to these staterooms (maybe moving the casino to make room for them).

We are having an internet "Happy Hour" - 2 minutes for the price of 1 between 5 and 6 pm.

That's interesting, the new cabin grades which have been used for the 175th Anniversary cruises mentioned singles on Deck 2 on QE.

KC Single Oceanview 2 FWD-MID

LC Single Inside 2 FWD-MID

Thanks for the confirmation & the great blog, I've really enjoyed following your trip.

That's interesting, the new cabin grades which have been used for the 175th Anniversary cruises mentioned singles on Deck 2 on QE.

 

KC Single Oceanview 2 FWD-MID

LC Single Inside 2 FWD-MID

 

 

Thanks for the confirmation & the great blog, I've really enjoyed following your trip.

Maybe Janice does not know what will actually happen.

Unless they seriously rework deck 2 those staterooms are going to be noisy with the pub, casino, Queens Room, MDR, Cafe Carinthia and the theatre all on that deck.

Thanks for reading the blog!:)

One of the ladies at my dinner table ate with the captain last week. He said that the QE was getting single staterooms at the next drydock. When I asked Janice (the social hostess) about this, she said she thought that single rooms were going to be added for the entertainers. She said she did not know anything about passenger single staterooms. Also, something was going to be done to the casino in relation to these staterooms (maybe moving the casino to make room for them).

 

We are having an internet "Happy Hour" - 2 minutes for the price of 1 between 5 and 6 pm.

I just wish they would do single rooms with balconys. I just love my balcony when cruising.

Glad you are still having a great time Kathi. Still wish I was onboard still.

Chez

Tomorrow is our first of four ports in Japan over the next week. Kagoshima is a maiden call for QE.

Especially looking forward to these reports for planning our visits next year. You are very kind to take the time to post.

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Hi All on this cruise adventure!

Scrapnana I have been following your blog and it has been very enjoyable. I am living viciously through your great blogging.

Hope you feel better soon; sounds like you have as nasty virus.

Continued good and safe cruising!

Caron :)

I just wish they would do single rooms with balconys. I just love my balcony when cruising.

Glad you are still having a great time Kathi. Still wish I was onboard still.

 

Chez

I totally agree with you Cheryl. Still wishing I was back on board! Saving up for next uear now. Keep in touch.

Hi Scrapnana. Sorry you aren't feeling well. I hope the weather improves so you can get as much fresh air and sunshine as soon as possible.

By the way, you were right in your observations about QE passing under the Yokohama Bay Bridge:

"The three-year-old Cunard cruise ship known as QE3 [sic] barely managed to pass under the Yokohama Bay Bridge at low tide. The 56.6-meter-tall ship exceeds the normal 55m clearance of the suspension bridge. -copied from http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/video-news/video-qe3-cruise-ship-squeezes-under-yokohama-bay-bridge-japan-30103218.html

PS. just a suggestion: order a couple of extra glasses of orange juice with your room service breakfast, put the rest in your cabin refrigerator to sip later...ask your stewardess for an extra blanket in case you need to take a nap on your sofa or wrap up on your balcony. I hope you feel better soon.

Great video, Salacia. She just cleared the bridge!!

Thanks for all the well wishes! I seem to be on the mend!

We were in Shanghai yesterday. The shuttle bus into town took a little over an hour and then left you at the "Silk Museum" which was a good half hour walk from anywhere. You needed to get a taxi to really go to interesting parts of the city. I will be putting that on my evaluation.

Xiamen tomorrow.

Hi Scrapnana

I have been following this thread as we are getting on in Dubai, so a big thank you to all for keeping us updated.

Just a quick question, is there a problme getting limes with the drinks at the moment? Been reported that the prices have shot up from $14 to $100 (in whatever weight they normally buy limes!) so some US ships are no longer serving limes. As a drinker of G&T with lime I wondered if there are any such problems on QE?

Thanks

Lyn

I read this on CNBC, but here in Europe prices don't move much yet.

I would assume the the ships stores are filled with long preordered fruits anf restocked locslly on the WC.

Hi Scrapnana

 

I have been following this thread as we are getting on in Dubai, so a big thank you to all for keeping us updated.

 

Just a quick question, is there a problme getting limes with the drinks at the moment? Been reported that the prices have shot up from $14 to $100 (in whatever weight they normally buy limes!) so some US ships are no longer serving limes. As a drinker of G&T with lime I wondered if there are any such problems on QE?

 

Thanks

Lyn

I have not seen a lime recently but I have not been looking, either. I will scout out the bars and report back.