Our Fantasy Cruise Part 3 April 2nd QM2 8 Night

[Chuck & Phyllis]

THE CONCLUSION, COMING HOME

 

I’m almost embarrassed to say this but we didn’t end up going to the balls.:o We planned on going to the Black and White Ball, but actually forgot about it and to tell you the truth, I can’t remember what we did instead that night. It’s hard to remember each night because so many things are going on. For instance, we attended a lecture by Jeremy Bitz who is a news producer with Time Warner and we also went to the Planetarium show. I know this was during the last 2 sea days coming home but I can’t remember which. We attended the last art auction, didn’t buy anything but we did buy a limited edition print commissioned by and signed by Captain Warwick and the artist Loyde. It came with a Certificate of Authenticity signed by them also. That was $100 and they have them in the library. If you want one, you have to give the librarian your name and cabin # and they will bring one up the next day. Now we figured it would be great to have that in a QM2 frame. At the photo gallery, they had a 24X18 frame with an 18X12 QM2 picture for $150. It was designed like all the other frames they had 10X13 with your picture $50, 8X10 with your picture, $40. It has a brass plaque on top engraved CUNARD and one on the bottom engraved QUEEN MARY 2. We asked if they could discount the large picture since we bought one at the library but the man said he wasn’t allowed to do that. Oh well, we wanted it so we bought it. We also bought the 8X10 because the COA will fit that. Our Captain’s Dinner picture is in the 10X13. We’re going to try to match up a couple of small frames for our Captain’s Dinner place cards and three for all the cards we received from the Captain. Add that to the limited edition plate we bought, and a couple of other pictures, we’ll be able to fill up a small wall. We will have to get matting cut for the print because it’s a little smaller than the 12X18 matting in the frame now. We also bought some QM2 crystal, a Harrods tote for a friend, fridge magnets and coffee mugs. On the first sea day coming home, we wrote Captain Wright a "thank you" letter for everything he did for us and the following day he sent a bottle of wine to our cabin with a card that read "Thank you for blowing the whistle so eloquently leaving St. Maarten! Yours Sincerely, Captain Wright". That’s one of the cards going in a frame also. We couldn’t have imagined a cruise better than this with all that happened to us. Courtesy of Captain Wright of course and I guess we also have to thank Cruise Critic for giving us the opportunity to be noticed. But most of all, the QM2 herself. We would have had awonderful cruise even without all the attention we received on THE MOTHER OF ALL SHIPS.

 

The planetarium show we saw was very good. Something "Express", can’t remember. We have all the programs but don’t know where Phyllis put them right now or I could tell you. It was kind of like being on a ride with the chairs reclined and 360` view traveling through space very fast. Educational too. Jeremy Bitz was a very good speaker; sorry we missed his first talk. It was about how the news is focused on how it will be perceived so to speak. I asked him afterwards if reporters are influenced by political peer pressuring to not focus on things that could be politically dangerous to the powers to be. He said yes. I said should someone champion that? He said it would be very difficult and didn’t elaborate.

 

On the last sea day, it was quite depressing knowing that it was almost over. We packed early so as to have the afternoon and evening free. We went to the Murder Mystery Show. Everyone participates and that's all I'll say so as not to give it away. We said our goodbye to Kristoff and Hadj at dinner. More shopping afterwards and to the casino where we would give back a few dollars. Retired to our room and drank the wine Captain Wright sent. Then to bed. We had to go to immigration at the Planetarium at 5:30 AM. That took about ½ hour and back to bed I went. Got up at 7:30 and had a little cereal and coffee. We had to leave our cabin at 8:00 so Ana Lisa could prepare it for the next lucky couple sailing. We went to the Queens Room and all the seats were taken. We walked back to G32 and it was empty, quiet and we could still here all the announcements. Soon others discovered us and before you know it was pretty full too. We sat there until about 10:15 and then debarked (Phyllis almost started crying). It takes a long time to empty a ship and I don’t think too many people did self help early debarkation. I couldn’t imagine being able to dress nicely for all these nights with just two bags, but there were people who didn’t dress up at all. Not many, but a few. Not in the dining room of course. It’s even sad thinking that it would be at least a year before we would sail the Queen again :( and really feeling jealous that all you guys still have your cruise coming up. Pack all your nice gowns (Phyllis packed 4 and wore them all). Guys pack or rent your tux (we did see quite a few dark suits though). Now it will probably be quite awhile till I wear those formal shoes I bought for this cruise. All you guys have a great cruise now and come back and tell us about it. When you see Captain Wright, tell him Chuck & Phyllis says hello. PS Don't forget to sign the CC book in the library.

 

Thanks a million Captain Wright for the Dream Cruise!:)

 

Fond regards, Chuck & Phyllis

 

[The Golds]

Chuck & Phyllis

Thank you for a great review, we are looking forward to our crossing on August 9th.

[2moose]

wonderfull thanx jim and ang

[deb7073]

WOW!

What a wonderful cruise you had. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

I couldn't wait to read your third installment.

I've copied and pasted all your info, and look forward to our 5/22 cruise, so we'll look like we know what we're doing!

 

You've been a great help.

 

Debbie and Michael

[guernseyguy]

Chuck & Phyllis,

 

Delighted to hear you enjoyed your cruise - and thank you for sharing your experience.

 

Peter

[bonni99]

This has been a great review- has really whetted my appetite for my May 22 crossing- thanks for all your views and comments- sounds like you had a fantastic time! I remember the feeling when we got off the QM2 last May- even though we were in Manhattan we were so used to being looked after and cosseted by such great staff that we felt quite abandoned in an ordinary Hilton hotel- we couldnt wait to get back on board! Not long now!

[Zipper25]

Thank you so much for this effort, Chuck and Phyllis!

[iceman666]

Chuck and Phyllis,

 

Your hands must be hurting from so much typing. Well done, we have lived your cruise with you.

 

We head off to Southampton tomorrow morning for our first time on QM2 and our first ever cruise. The packing is nearly completed !! We are so excited about going aboard and seeing everything we have read about from you and others on these notices.

 

Andrew and Pat

[Kruizefan]

Chuck and Phyllis,

thank you very much for your nice review!

 

You have really no idea, why you got your invitations for the captains table and the senior officers party, do you?

 

We are looking forward to our cruise to the Norwegian fjords in July! Wow!

 

regards

Peter

[Cunard Cruiser]

Thank you so much for your review. It was wonderful to read about enjoyable travels. I am looking forward to our cruise in December. I wasn’t a big fan of QM2 in the beginning, a die hard of QE2 loyalty, but now starting to warm up to her.

[yojimbo]

C & P, many thanks for your thoughtful and well-presented review.

[Chuck & Phyllis]

Chuck and Phyllis,

thank you very much for your nice review!

 

You have really no idea, why you got your invitations for the captains table and the senior officers party, do you?

 

We are looking forward to our cruise to the Norwegian fjords in July! Wow!

 

regards

Peter

 

Yes, we have a pretty good idea. We (or Chuck mostly) posts a lot, Captain Wright reads the board all the time, and we use both our names which made it easier for him to find us. Soooo... all you couples out there waiting for your dream cruise, start posting and use your real names so he can find you.

 

If it happened to us, it can happen to you. I think Captain Wright enjoys making it happen.

 

Phyllis