Host Hattie

It was on the last cruise...

Thanks for reporting back, have a great time

Now in large bottles

Thanks for the update, enjoy the rest of your stay and the sail home.

He's fine thank you, he was feeling pretty much back to normal by Wednesday and he's been out with his chainsaw today. He was much worse when he had Covid last year.

Thanks for reporting back, can you tell how it's working? Are there queues?

I don't know, I didn't try and it wasn't advertised

I didn't notice anyone that's why I am puzzled why people are claiming that they weren't mandatory. Anyone who heard the Captain's announcements and read the letter would have understood that it was an instruction not a suggestion. At this stage I had to wear a mask outside my cabin any way. I did see someone wearing a face visor with a sunflower lanyard saying he was exempt.

Let's not disrupt this Live from please. I have posted a copy of the letter and the Captain's words on my thread. There was very high compliance so everyone understood the intent.

There is no need to rely on Facebook, I was on the previous cruise and posted regularly on this board. There was no vagueness, masks were required.

We're home, it's a lovely sunny day here so the first loads of holiday washing are drying in the garden and I'm sitting in the sun with Biggles on my lap. He behaved himself for his cat sitters but he seems pleased to have us home.

Sounds like a great start, was there any explanation for the delay, 5 hours seems quite a lot ?

Have a great trip, I look forward to reading all about it.

Have a great trip

There is a US socket at the desk so as long as your laptop has a reasonable battery life you should be OK.

Thanks for all your comments, it's been lovely to have so much company on this somewhat unusual trip. We drove home through brilliant sunshine in England and pouring rain in Wales, typical. Insurance claim forms have been submitted. I'll probably post a few final thoughts but for the moment some things I might not have mentioned - Key cards - my previous cruises have involved numerous trips to the Purser's Office for a new/repaired card. Since the redesign they are much more robust, just don't punch a hole in them. My voyage - it only works when you're connected to the ship's wifi but when it works it's useful to be able to keep track of your spending, check bar menus and read the Daily Programme. New wifi - was fine, we would have been able share one account via Bluetooth if we'd stayed together. That combined with roaming during our port stops would have made our diamond allowance last the whole trip. I had my additional spend refunded when I made that point. It was more relaxing being able to browse when you wanted/needed to rather than rushing because the minutes are ticking away. Service was poor in 4014, good in the public areas and so-so in 5153. Cabin - I wouldn't choose 4014 again, I like the Deck 4 balconies but it was too far forward and the bow thrusters were noisy and made the bed vibrate. (I did get used to it though) You can also hear singing from the theatre during rehearsals and performances. I didn't find it particularly annoying but others might. Toiletries - I didn't mind the big bottles, I found them easier to use but the body wash seemed watered down. Insight Talks - I like the system of showing them live and recorded. Apologies @frankp01 I didn't check out power sockets.

The next Cunard ship is going to be Queen Anne, I think the one after that might be a long time coming!

Nothing booked until QM2 next June, we were considering booking onboard but didn't!

We had the curtains changed while we were waiting. There was a final call for all passengers to disembark at about 9.20. I tried to call the Purser's Office to check whether that included us. There was no answer so we used our initiative and left. To be met by quite a lot of luggage with the same tags and a slightly harassed member of staff saying you should have waited to be collected to another couple. We told him we'd been released and he let us go. I called the taxi and they arrived very quickly so we were on our way to the hotel to collect our car by 9.45.

Thank you, have a great time.

It was "Party Night" in the Queens Room, there were lots of people leaving as we got there so we'd obviously just missed the first set. The DJ got people up and dancing (not us) until Remixed came back for their second set. I hadn't seen their show in the theatre but they were fun and it was a good way to finish the trip. We're currently waiting to be told we can leave. Our instructions were it would be between 9.30 & 10 but we're ready just in case.

Lunch is an option but the menu is more limited and there's no platter.

After lunch in the Chart Room we had a few hours in the sun around the Pavilion Pool. The pool was netted and spilling water at regular intervals. The ship wasn't moving that much so it made me wish I'd concentrated a bit more in Fluid Dynamics lectures! There was an unpleasant smell in the Winter Garden, I did wonder if it was a Covid test, anyone who didn't wrinkle their nose was in need of a test. Disembarkation information had arrived so we packed our big cases. We've also had confirmation of Mr HH's test result and isolation dates for our insurance claim. We went to the Commodore Club for just after 6, it was very quiet. Mr HH enjoyed his first proper beer in a week and I had a QE2 cocktail. When I thought tonight was the only night I was going to be able to eat outside the cabin I'd booked the Verandah for dinner. It was a great way to celebrate being reunited. (See above!).

Did someone ask for food pictures?

I don't think that works in the regular restaurants or bars. We had 3 Spanish ports on this trip and we definitely paid the tax at least once.