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On board QV to the Caribbean


LadyL1
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I just thought I would write a quick resume of our voyage to the Caribbean, so far.

Check in at Southampton was very busy. We are not travelling in the Grills this time, but heard that there were 1400 with priority boarding at Platinum and Diamond level. It was the first time as Diamond travellers that we were issued with the lettered boarding cards for call up, and I don’t think that the two levels were split in anyway, but stand to be corrected if anyone reading this knows better. I have said before, that this really is a perk that is becoming worthless, significantly so on Southampton round trips. It is rather a shame, as it starts the moaners of with ammunition, and have heard muttering about the boarding process.

We are on late sitting table for 6 as requested, but one couple have been absent to date. In the afternoon after embarkation we saw a considerable queue to visit the M’d, and know that the restaurant is very full for the early sitting. The food so far has been excellent.

The dress code (for which there are forever threads) is being very well adhered to, the majority of gentlemen wearing ties on the informal evenings.

For this voyage the Roll Call was very quiet, but I did meet on the first sea day with only Dancelady and our respective partners for a nice chat, in the Commodore Club.

The noon day address from the Captain, has advised us all that we are heading into a Force 10 for this evening and through night. The little white bags have started to be strategically placed around the public areas. We do have the knowledge that the weather should improve for tomorrow.

This is the first time we have travelled QV since the refit, and what we miss most is the jazz that was so often to be enjoyed in the now extinct Chart Room. A soloist plays jazz in the Yacht Club, but for us it is not the same.

We did stop in the Azores as planned but it was a warm, humid and showery day. This was not ideal for going to the Crater Lakes, so we still have that on our “must visit” list.

Captain Hall has promised fine weather after tomorrow, so let us hope this Caribbean adventure will start to begin in earnest, and the use of the lovely aft space on deck 9 will be reality. The only problem is that I will probably have to then share the pool which I have used daily as sole occupant!

Perhaps if I have time, and there is interest, I will write more later.

 

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Perhaps if I have time, and there is interest, I will write more later.

 

 

yes please! always interested in other peoples experiences aboard the QV, particulary your thoughts on the refitted areas....and of course any onboard crew/shipboard gossip you can glean will be relished with pleasure...

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Please keep posting as it's lovely to read about the transatlantics on the QV rather than QM2.

 

My husband's parents are on board at the moment and they have late dining (in the "naughty" corner on the left as you walk in (lower level) by the window) which they love and are also enjoying the casino, which is usually quiet on this voyage as they did it last year too.

 

Look forward to reading the next instalment.

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The storm last night was not for the faint of heart!

Yesterday evening Captain Hall gave a second address for the day warning of what was to come. By the end of late sitting the ocean was truly pounding the QV, with constant judders, lurching and walking becoming a comedy.

I did not sleep so very much, and probably the crescendo was around 3.00am. One could certainly feel the gradual slide across the mattress and noises abounded. To be honest, I think this is one of the worse storms I have encountered, (the most memorable was on the maiden QM2 TA to NY). It makes you realise you can never answer the often posted question on “what will the weather be like?”

This morning the swells were still around 5m, and the ship is very quiet. Men in blue overalls were very visible. Speaking to one, he told us he had been working all night, and certainly looked tired. On deck 9 in the lido, one of the windows had been smashed.

Another update at 9.30 am from the Captain, on the weather and the normal one at noon, advising we will be running at 17.2 knots to arrive in St Kitts on time. Having looked up the forecast there for next week, it showed rain! But forecasting is fickle, so let us hope it is wrong.

The Gin Fizz bar seems to be well used, the Commodore Club also. Today it is 20c, and the first time the aft pool deck has seen a number of people there and the bar busy. I think this going to be a very popular area for lunch as the temperature rises. Post refit, this venue is a huge improvement, but I dare say, as always, there will be those who want to move to loungers around to another configuration. Sadly both pools are still empty and netted, so another day without a swim.

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Thanks for the updates. Please keep them coming if you can. Have friends onboard who said they have never experienced anything as bad as last night. They ignored the captain’s advice to secure everything and ended up soaking wet when a glass of water came flying at 3am :-( I’m sure the Caribbean will be lovely :-))

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The storm last night was not for the faint of heart!

 

Damn I love a good storm, sorry I missed it. Looking forward to the new bubble loungers on the aft deck, I bet they are popular - and controversial with those trying

to save them in the morning from breakfast.

 

How do you find the new fizz bar only serving Gin? Its a shame if you're not a gin drinker, the midships used to be my favourite bar on board.

 

fair winds and following seas Ladyl

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Yesterday, saw calm seas and temperatures in the low 20s and today upper 20s. This seems to have heralded a change of atmosphere on the ship, for many their idyl, just lying out on the deck! Yes, the cabanas are popular as when I was taking my early morning swim before breakfast, every one was already occupied. These folk seem to be stuck with super glue to them.

Nothing particularly interesting to report. Yesterday they had technical issue with the emergency systems, and all the fireproof doors closed. In the public areas crew were placed at everyone holding them open for the free flow of pax, without having to heave the days open. The lifts were also out of service. We have seen a few blips at sea, but this was a first. I have to say, Captain Hall is very adept at keeping all well informed of what is happening. Now the Atlantic has given up its attitude. He is very visible around the ship at all times of day.

I am sure I have never sailed with this Captain before, and likewise, many of the officers. However, the charming Bernard Fischer is ever present.

Peter James the thriller author, is a marvellous speaker as is Gloria Barnett her speciality being “life beneath the waves” and she is also an underwater photographer. Both lecture to a full theatre, unlike another on this ship, whom I have not heard anything very positive.

Another formal evening tonight. What we find so pleasant is being able to walk around the deck in the warmth after dinner, in ones finery; it is something one can imagine on film or a bygone era. Sadly not many people today will ever have this pleasure.

One more day at sea before St Kitts.

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Yes, the cabanas are popular as when I was taking my early morning swim before breakfast, every one was already occupied. These folk seem to be stuck with super glue to them.

 

 

 

 

thanks,,,,just as I suspected, guess ill be up at 6am each morning to reserve my cabana....

 

(just kidding)

 

hope the islands are too damaged where you are heading....although its all about the journey. aahhhhhh to be back on board....very envious.

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Today we were made aware of how fragile life can be. At 5.05am the Captain made a call throughout the ship asking if there were any blood donors (with reg.card) for a critically ill patient. On arrival in St. Kitts some 2 hours later the ambulance was waiting.

 

 

For those of you who know this port, we are docked starboard side to the pier. The view from our balcony is now blotted by the Freedom of the Seas. We had a grand morning out on an off-road trip through the forest. The panoramas from the the higher parts were magnificent.

 

 

I swam at South Friars Beach, the waters very clear. However, there are still signs of the recent hurricane with boats and detritus behind the beach area. There is on-going work here to restore the beach, but it certainly did not detract from the visit. If you sun-bathe you look at the sea, and it is hardly visible whilst taking the plunge.

 

 

Very hot this afternoon, and will not be going off the ship again to run the gauntlet of the jewellery shops. It has been announced that there is to be a BBQ on deck 9 this evening, but promised thunderstorms could dampen the good intentions of the food and beverage dept. No doubt it will be packed so happy to be in the Commodore Club, and enjoy a quiet dinner.

 

 

Martinique tomorrow, which is a replacement call on this cruise for St Maarten, that suffered mass destruction a few months back.

 

 

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This morning saw our arrival in Barbados, along with the Azura (which seemed to be on a changeover day), CMV Columbus, Adonia and the very elegant Viking Sea, which I think might be worth some investigation for a future cruise. Chaos was an understatement. Being partly cargo dock one is forbidden to walk to the port entrance, and the authorities had just a few mini buses for ferrying passengers to the terminal and a few small buses. Queues backed onto the ship, and once on dry land, it was standing in the searing heat which was not ideal for the many elderly and infirm. Apologies were given from the hotel manager, but I expect there will be a lot of grumbles tonight.

The deck party a few evenings ago was splendid. The amount of work and preparation obvious( 2 weeks in planning so we were told). The spread of food and what was being cooked a delight. I have never seen the bar staff so busy! The weather was perfect and Captain Hall just had the ship drifting of Martinique for the duration.

St Lucia is a lovely island, but yesterday, fortunately, we went to the Pitons by catamaran in the morning: fabulous trip. The afternoon heralded a tropical storm, a deluge to be more precise and thunderstorms which lasted about 6 hours or more.

For the past 3 days a Canadian company has been on board putting up the. Christmas decorations. Personally I think they are better than last year. They

move on to the QE next.

The Gin and Fizz bar, seems to be very popular. We have found a number of interesting cocktails. A bartender by the name Adam, is a fount of knowledge, and just so helpful. He has tempted us with some splendid offerings, with the most unusual gins. He also does a couple of gin/cocktail tastings, but we have found these are not advertised in the daily paper; you need to put your name on a list at the bar, and they will call you when a session is fixed.

A beautiful evening and we have just set sail for Antigua, our speed will be 22 knots.

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