Live from the 2013 world cruise - on QM2

[charliedalrymple]

Thank you so much for taking the time & trouble to post. I almost feel as I'm coming along for the ride.

 

I agree completely! I haven't read anything on this message board that gives me such a complete picture of what it's like to be on board and in port. I love your attention to detail and your wry commentaries on the sites and especially the people around you. I'm glad you are on such a long voyage, which means we can (hopefully) look forward to many more entries. Keep up the good work, Whitemarsh!

[Michelle25490]

May I ask where your inside stateroom with the noise is located? I'm looking to book an inside stateroom myself for a transatlantic trip.

[Pushka]

Thanks for cabin information Whitemarsh. I am now sorely tempted for the circumnavigation next year. :)

[Louise D]

A very enjoyable read. I suggest Whitemarsh stays on board indefinitely in a paid position writing his warts-and-all daily blogs. It is far more interesting than any promotional materials that Cunard puts out.

 

PS - What was so horrendous about the Countess' shoes (and why no picture of them?).

[Andiamo]

A very enjoyable read. I suggest Whitemarsh stays on board indefinitely in a paid position writing his warts-and-all daily blogs. It is far more interesting than any promotional materials that Cunard puts out.

 

PS - What was so horrendous about the Countess' shoes (and why no picture of them?).

 

I totally agree. Thanks Whitemarsh for taking the time and expense to share your ride. I think you and the good Cap should have regular rotations and keep us all glued to CC on a daily basis.

 

Jeanne

[Kwanzachristmas]

Thanks for posting. Enjoy your cruise

[RobertQM2]

Dear whitemarsh!

Thanks for keeping us update. I just pulled out my diary from our own WC Segment in 2011 from SYD to DXB and it seems you are sitting right on the same chair (not just the same table) in Britannia! Now that is a real coinsitance. We had such a great fun when Commodore Warner showed up at our table (his was next) occasionaly to share some jokes with our (sometimes a bit to loud) company consisting of 2 Brits, 4 Aussies and we two Austrians. The fourty days on QM2 were- by a distance the best time we ever had in our life so far. I have to stop right now 'cause so many things show up in my mind (and the diary) that I can forget my day in the office.

[OceanPatter]

Whitemarsh, I echo the others' accolades. Your accounts are superbly written (and far more engaging than the other trip reports I've read).

 

Having only done a TA on the QM2, you are doing wonders to whet my appetite for a world cruise.

 

BTW, how do you find the Internet speed? (Needless to say, it was frustratingly slow on the TA.)

 

Can't wait to read how your journey unfolds.

[Whitemarsh]

May I ask where your inside stateroom with the noise is located? I'm looking to book an inside stateroom myself for a transatlantic trip.

 

Deck five, which is convenient to most things; only two decks up to deck 7 and two decks down to deck 3.

 

A very enjoyable read. I suggest Whitemarsh stays on board indefinitely in a paid position writing his warts-and-all daily blogs. It is far more interesting than any promotional materials that Cunard puts out.

 

PS - What was so horrendous about the Countess' shoes (and why no picture of them?).

 

Thanks Louise, I would love to do that.

 

There was nothing horrendous about the Countess' shoes, I just wanted to see her in a flap thinking that someone had nicked them :D

[Whitemarsh]

Dear whitemarsh!

Thanks for keeping us update. I just pulled out my diary from our own WC Segment in 2011 from SYD to DXB and it seems you are sitting right on the same chair (not just the same table) in Britannia! Now that is a real coinsitance. We had such a great fun when Commodore Warner showed up at our table (his was next) occasionaly to share some jokes with our (sometimes a bit to loud) company consisting of 2 Brits, 4 Aussies and we two Austrians. The fourty days on QM2 were- by a distance the best time we ever had in our life so far. I have to stop right now 'cause so many things show up in my mind (and the diary) that I can forget my day in the office.

 

I'm about two tables away from the commodore's table, it isn't right next door. But it sounds like we are in the general vicinity, which is a great spot to be in - excellent for people watching etc.

 

Whitemarsh, I echo the others' accolades. Your accounts are superbly written (and far more engaging than the other trip reports I've read).

 

Having only done a TA on the QM2, you are doing wonders to whet my appetite for a world cruise.

 

BTW, how do you find the Internet speed? (Needless to say, it was frustratingly slow on the TA.)

 

Can't wait to read how your journey unfolds.

 

Thank you :)

 

The internet speed is okay in the public rooms on deck 3. I've sort of given up trying to do anything (especially photos) back in my cabin.

[starbuzz]

Hi Whitemarsh loving travelling on the "Queen" again with your "Live" we were on the "Voyager" last October and did Bangkok, interestingly our coach was also pulled up by the "police" and the tour guide had to pay "the fine!" everyone on the coach was so sorry for the tour guide they had a whip round and guess what - the guide did'nt do "so bad"!!

 

Looking forward to your next instalment!

[Monsoonalblue]

Thoroughly enjoying reading your thread. Your writing style is witty, informative and best of all "wicked". I remember reading and enjoying something you wrote last year ( can't remember if it was a review or live thread), and just wanted to let you know that your time and effort is genuinely appreciated and I look forward to more. Best wishes for a wonderful voyage:)

[spursdebs]

I am also enjoying your trip report, I went to Bangkok last October, I did not care for it at all, the Temples and everything are interesting to see, but I found I got a bit "templed" out. As for the dress code, I went to the Vatican once and people were trying to get in wearing bikini tops, in Hong Kong at the Giant Buddha hot pants and mini skirts!!

[Colin_Cameron]

... As for the dress code, I went to the Vatican once and people were trying to get in wearing bikini tops, in Hong Kong at the Giant Buddha hot pants and mini skirts!!

 

And the women were no better! :D

 

Thoroughly enjoying your reports Whitemarsh.

 

Thanks, Colin.

[Rotterdam]

Thankgoodness there is someone like you(goodlooking, attractive, witty, wordly, tipsy) reporting back...seems you have all you need - faboo clothes (http://www.bergdorfgoodman.com/category.jsp?itemId=cat408903&parentId=cat000025&masterId=cat202802&ecid=BGEC021413mensblue&ncx=n&uEm=ppxBQ67dSalg7) & a Countess!!!

 

Thank you for your wonderful reports.....

 

 

Cheers from NYC!

[Whitemarsh]

Thanks again everyone for your kind feedback. :)

 

Day five - 13th Feb 2013: sea day en route to Saigon.

 

The knock on my door came at 8:30, I opened it to find the countess and her husband already dressed and ready for breakfast. 'Don't wait" I said, "I'm going to be another ten minutes or so". With that they were off and I continued to get ready for the second sea day on this particular sector. Hoping to still get on their table I sprinted up to the Britannia Restaurant and found the countess on a table for eight underneath the Britannia Restaurant staircase on the port side. There was an empty seat next to her so I grabbed that and sat down. It was a mixed bunch on the table, an Australian lady accompanied by her mother and two couples from the U.K. Our waiter was very nice and ensured everything we ordered turned up as quickly as possible. This morning I ordered porridge and a cappuccino (I'm not doing two courses for breakfast anymore). I wasn't particularly interested in any of the conversations around me so I just amused myself by people watching, which is almost as interesting as any given conversation, don't you find. The countess didn't have any firm plans for today and neither did I. My only plan was to do exactly what I felt like.

 

Having finished breakfast before the rest of the table I excused myself and went and got my IPAD from my stateroom. I returned back to deck three and made directly for Sir Samuel's. Being relatively early I got a very nice window seat and was able to watch the waves go by from my seat. Around mid-morning the lady from the hotel in Singapore (the German lady) wandered up and she joined me for a coffee. It turns out that she is a photographer and we discussed the various pros & cons of photography and cameras. It's so impressive when you meet people that can speak multiple languages, I'm always impressed - and slightly jealous. She was very nice and we had a good long chat. She's disembarking in Hong Kong and spending some time there before flying back to Germany.

 

After the German lady had departed I went back to my Ipad and ordered another coffee. A couple of minutes later Julie Rynd walked past and (remembering me from last year's circumnavigation of Australia) said hello and then joined me for a coffee. It's very interesting to hear about all the work and preparation that goes into the port stops - all the considerations they have to take into account etc. Quite daunting actually. We chatted for a while until we were interrupted by her husband who came over the tanoy to give his midday update. The commodore informed everyone that we are already halfway to Saigon and currently 80 miles off the coast of Cambodia. Mrs Rynd said her goodbyes and I continued with what my Ipad. Just then the countess and her husband wander past and she enquires if I would like to accompany her to the photos so we can have a look out ours. That sounds like fun so we head on down to where the photos are and start collecting the ones of us. I decide to get on the photo packages, for $499.95 you get all the photos (digital and prints) that you want. That sounds like a good deal (comparatively) so I sign up for it and hand the staff member all the photos of me that I've managed to find. He offers to take some shots of me down near the lobby and suggests I turn up at around 5:30 as it's quieter then.

 

The countess and I then depart and go our separate ways. I'm in the mood for further shopping and walk over to the jewellery shop to have a look at the watches. They are some very nice ones on display and I eventually choose a very smart looking watch by Longines; it looks very cool. The man in the shop advises that he will adjust it for me and I can come back in an hour to pick it up. I head back to Sir Samuel's for another coffee and return in due course to pick up my new watch. I'm really pleased I did this as it looks great.

 

Fearful that I have become obese on this trip I decide not to have lunch or afternoon tea. Instead I head for the gym for a workout. Arriving in the gym I am surprised to see that all the treadmills but two are in use. I've never seen that before, it's good to see. The majority of the people using them are the Hong Kong chinese; in fact they've really been getting into this voyage and making use of everything on the ship. I've never seen the casino as busy as it has been on this sector. I was told the other day that a couple of days ago there was a bunch of them waiting for the casino to be opened. I bet that doesn't happen very often.

 

After my workout I head down to my cabin to get changed for dinner. It's a semi-formal night tonight so it will be one of the suits I brought with me. It doesn't take long to get ready and before I know it I'm back up in the Chart Room having pre-dinner drinks with the countess and her husband. The countess has had an interesting afternoon having had an altercation in the laundry. She reveals all, including what she said to the other woman, but based on what the other woman was doing I am not surprised there was an altercation. If it hadn't of been with the countess it would have been with someone else. Everyone in the Chart Room looks wonderful (except one man sitting there in a tracksuit) and it's a pleasure to see everyone looking so smart.

 

A couple of rounds of drinks later we're ready for our next social engagement which is the Cunard World Club party at 19:45. The commodore is doing the meet & greet on the port side of the ship and we line up there. This time he is shaking hands and seems more relaxed than a couple of nights back. There's quite a crowd in attendance and we're offered drinks as soon as we make it to the dance floor. I ask for, and receive, a scotch & dry instead of the champagne and wine on offer. Eventually the commodore comes on the dance floor and introducing Dragana & Petra "your Cunard World Club representatives". I didn't realise this but the 'Drag' and 'ana' in Dragana is pronounced like the word 'tag' not 'banana" (so say it like Dragon with an 'uh' on the end of it). Dragana does her usual shtick and when she's done Petra comes up to announce the names of the passengers who've done the most days at sea. The winners are a couple from the United States and they receive a large bouquet and the pleasure of seeing their name up in lights. After the speeches Dragana & Petra split up more effectively mingle with the crowd.

 

Petra comes over and we have a nice chat, she's recently moved from selling gemstones to being a voyage sales specialist. She remembers the countess from last year's world cruise. When Petra leaves we decide to call it a night and head on through to the restaurant.

 

As we're being seated, the three north QLD ladies turn up and they report that they've spent the entire day relaxing in the Canyon Ranch Spa. They also have some shipboard gossip; apparently, some lady today spent $18 thousand dollars on a necklace from Howard Stern. Supposedly there was a matching bracelet or brooch, but she wasn't interested in that, just the $18 thousand dollar necklace. Imagine being able to drop that kind of a cash on an impulse buy on a sea day!! We also discuss the fact that no one has died on this voyage.

 

We asked where the ladies were during the last formal night and, as we suspected, formal nights are not their favourites. I explained to them that they are on one of four hosted tables in the Britannia Restaurant and on formal nights we get free wine. The ladies didn't know that and discuss changing the booking they had for Todd English (which was on the formal night).

 

Looking around the room I see the 'drive by' FODS ensconced at a table for two in a prime location in the middle of the Britannia Restaurant. They are being very attentively served by the staff and it seems that there is some staff member at their table every couple of minutes. It must be very hard for them to eat their meals before they get cold as they are always having visitors (the waitstaff) at their table. We discuss who the 'drive by' FODS might be and I take to calling them 'Cunard Royalty'. It really is something to see, they've got what is possibly the best table for two in the Britannia Restaurant, there's a constant stream of staff turning up at their table to pay homage and on the formal night they were invited to dine at the commodore's table! 'Cunard Royalty', what else could it be?

 

There was one weird thing that happened tonight, halfway through our meal the ships vibrations stopped and the countess looked up and said "they've stopped the engines". The lights were still on but it felt as though we were simply drifting towards the next port. Bizarre, although we soon stopped paying attention and continued with the meal.

 

Again, there is no shortage of alcohol tonight and the food and service is again excellent. This Britannia Restaurant is really something. It's been an excellent sea day and I've done exactly what I wanted to do, and nothing else. And that's just how it should be.

 

Time for bed and tomorrow we dock in Saigon.

[fue-fue]

Do let us know who the Cunard Royalty are, when you find out

[Lady Hudson]

Thanks for your reports. Always love to hear from people on QM2. Katherine

[Germancruiser]

Thanks so much for takeing the time to write your great report- I am about to book a Atlantic Islands cruise out of Southampton later this year! I find it so refreshing when you tell you go for a cig- most people nowadays hide their smoking- for beeing afraid of getting the flames. LOL. Great that one can smoke in the Disco- inside that is.

Have fun!

Greetings

Michael

[Whitemarsh]

Some pictures from the sea day.

 

Morning view from the stern.

 

Taking in the view.

.

 

Enjoying the afternoon sun.

 

The Britannia Restaurant before the first sitting.

[Whitemarsh]

The band plays to a packed Queens Room.

 

 

Vibez plays to a less busy G32. I don't really have to say anything here do I, the picture says it all.

 

Late at night up on the decks.

 

The long, long corridors always impress me.

[Whitemarsh]

I am also enjoying your trip report, I went to Bangkok last October, I did not care for it at all, the Temples and everything are interesting to see, but I found I got a bit "templed" out. As for the dress code, I went to the Vatican once and people were trying to get in wearing bikini tops, in Hong Kong at the Giant Buddha hot pants and mini skirts!!

 

That's a really great way to describe it - "templed out". I was "templed out" in Bangkok.

 

Thankgoodness there is someone like you(goodlooking, attractive, witty, wordly, tipsy) reporting back...seems you have all you need - faboo clothes (http://www.bergdorfgoodman.com/category.jsp?itemId=cat408903&parentId=cat000025&masterId=cat202802&ecid=BGEC021413mensblue&ncx=n&uEm=ppxBQ67dSalg7) & a Countess!!!

 

Thank you for your wonderful reports.....

 

 

Cheers from NYC!

 

Thanks for the compliments but I can only honestly accept "tipsy". :) The others are 'gilding the lily' somewhat.

[Germancruiser]

Great pictures- I love the QM 2 sailed her once. Just those prices for a solo traveler kept me away for 5 years. LOL. No I am considering Cunard to be my new favorite cruise line. I forgot to ask- is there background music played in the public rooms of QM 2 for example in the Chart room bar or Sir Samules, Lido Restaurant??? Thanks !

Michael

[Whitemarsh]

Day six - 14th Feb 2013: shore tour to Saigon

 

The tour I am doing today is called 'Highlights of Ho Chi Min City' and the daily program informs me that I have to be in the Queens Room at 08:10 for an 08:30 departure. After a quick breakfast in Kings Court (where I scored one of the elusive window seats) I popped out to deck 7 on the stern of the ship for a quick cigarette. The ship is definitely docked in a river, and a not very wide one at that - I believe it is called the Me Kong River. It's quite warm and I'm enjoying the view when this older lady comes up to me for conspiratorial conversation about non-smokers and how she was told off by one of them for smoking in G32 before six pm. It turns out that we are both in inside rooms and we both agree that being a smoker and not having a balcony is the only downside to this type of cabin. She was quite funny and she put me in an extra good mood.

 

I'd forgotten to change any money into Vietnamese dong so I decided to use the U.S dollars that I was keeping in my safe. This meant I had to go back to my cabin before heading off to the Queens Room. When I got there, there was huge line going all the way from the centre of the dance floor up and around back to the port side doors of G32. Luckily the countess was already in line and was only about 20 people from the front of the queue. Today's bus is brought to us by the number 8, which we attach to our shirts as per usual. Then it's off following one of the gentlemen hosts through the Britannia restaurant and down the stairs to level one. There's a bit of a traffic jam and after a while an announcement comes over the tanoy asking passengers who are not on a tour to refrain from disembarking until 9 am. Finally the line gets moving and we're out on the dock and boarding our bus.

 

Our tour guide today has a better grasp of English that the Bangkok tour guide but he is nowhere near as amusing or engaging. We have a two hour bus ride to Saigon and on the way we get the history of Vietnam and a lot of commentary about what Vietnamese people do during the Chinese New Year celebrations. We're told that on the first day they visit with their parents, on the second day it's the parents in-law and on the third day it's friends etc. They are kept quite busy it seems during this period. The view from the bus window changes from the industrial port to the countryside as we make our way to Saigon. We were warned in a letter we received from the tour desk that they could not guarantee the amenities or standard of the busses that would be provided in Saigon, but as it turns out there is no difference between the buses provided in Bangkok and these ones.

 

Like Bangkok, there are heaps of motorcycles weaving in and out of the traffic. Our guide tells us that the government passed a law saying that everyone needs to wear a helmet and limiting the number of people on a single bike to three. As you can probably guess, I saw lots and lots of bikes with four passengers on them. I also see lots of women wearing those conical hots which we associate with Vietnam. Clearly (unlike berets) this stereotypical item of clothing associated with the country is actually worn by the people, not just tourists.

 

We arrive in Saigon and I'm slightly disappointed that there isn't more colonial french architecture; I'm told later that Hanoi has more of this than Saigon. The first stop on today's tour is at a museum. It contains lots of Vietnamese artefacts from across the ages and (what I imagine) is the official communist party approved version of Vietnam's history. The first room in the museum is dominated by a huge statue of 'Uncle Ho' as he was apparently known…yeah, that's not creepy at all. About the only interesting thing in this museum is the mummified remains of a lady who died around 1869, that was pretty cool. Apart from that, the museum certainly wasn't doing it for me. Something else that didn't do it for me was the water puppet show. I imagine that water puppets are like Punch & Judy, but without understanding what's going on (all the words were in Vietnamese) the result is just a bunch of wooden puppets circling around a pool of water, and sadly, it was kind of boring.

 

Thankfully the puppet show didn't go on for that long and the tour continued through the museum. Having had enough I went outside for a cigarette and after that went in to use the facilities. I'm telling you this because I was shocked to discover that instead of flushing the used toilet paper away, there was a box situated next to the toilet bowl in which previous occupants of the cubicle had deposited their used paper - gross.

 

Outside on the street the hawkers were waiting for us and we spent a few minutes inspecting their wares. Generally, they were selling fake Ralph Lauren Polo shirts, Chanel bags, traditional attire, fans and lacquered boxes. The countess decided to go for a couple of lacquered boxes and it turns out that she drives a hard bargain and will not pay the asking price - which is the correct thing to do with street hawkers. Back on the bus we departed for our next stop - a factory where they make the lacquered boxes that are being sold for $3 U.S dollars out on the street; well supposedly the factory makes a higher quality lacquered box. Happily, on this tour, there are no stragglers so we are not waiting for anyone like we did in Bangkok. In next to no time we arrive at the factory and as you can imagine it's not the most exciting place. I guess if you were a collector of these lacquered boxes you may have thought you'd arrived in heaven but for everyone else (well me anyway) it was more ho-hum than anything. Amusingly the countess attracted another eager salesman who followed her through the showroom. However, this one wasn't as keen as the last one and gave up after a while.

 

As I am not obsessed with lacquer boxes, I made my way out of the showroom and onto the street for a look round. I spy a KFC about a block away and decide to go buy something, just so I can say that I had KFC in Saigon. Unfortunately they do not take U.S dollars (why not - everyone else in Saigon does) so I was unable to indulge in one of my favourite 'sometimes food' treat. I headed back to the showroom and jumped on the bus to await our departure. So far this tour is turing out to be super boring, I should have picked something else. Eventually I'm joined by the rest of the group and we head off to lunch. On the way we pass the U.S consulate which is the very same building where the last American helicopter took off at the end of the Vietnam war - now that's interesting!!!!!! Why didn't we go there for a photo op outside the gates? That would have been great. Oh well, we didn't go there because we had to spend time in a box factory - time that is lost to me forever and which I will never get back.

 

After a short drive (traffic in Saigon is much, much better than Bangkok) we arrive at the Windsor Grand Hotel where we will be having lunch. The lifts take us up to the banqueting hall on level 7 and I see that all the other Cunard tours are having lunch here as well. The buffet is good, not as good as Bangkok, but still very good nonetheless. Our lunch includes a complimentary bottle of water, beer or soft drink. I choose the 7up because I like the look of the Vietnamese can. What was very good about lunch today was the entertainment that was put on by the hotel. There was traditional Vietnamese music followed by traditional dancing. Traditional Vietnamese music is an acquired taste and I certainly sympathised with the occasional grimace from the countess. All in all though, it was a good lunch and I appreciated the entertainment.

 

After lunch there was more haggling down on the street where the buses were parked. This time I made a few purchases and bought a couple of lacquered boxes (because the Vietnamese economy seems to run on them) and a few other items. I haggled as well, as I was not going to pay the $20 U.S dollars that this girl wanted for a traditional chinese shirt. I offered her $15, she came back with $18, I came back with $15 and she came back with $16. We both laughed and I purchased the shirt at $16 U.S dollars.

 

Back on the bus for a photo op outside of the Rex Hotel (where you can purchase real Chanel merchandise in the Chanel boutique next door) or fake Chanel bags outside on the street. One of the passengers bought three fake Chanel bags. I had a look as they were showing their friends, quite good I thought but the chain is a dead giveaway. The lady will have to remove the chain and then she'll be fine (they were clutches, so it won't matter).

 

After our photo-op we got back on the bus and headed off towards the Chinese temple. Now this temple I found interesting, the intricate carvings were very impressive. I didn't mind spending time in this temple and I followed the guide around listening to what he had to say. Soon enough we're back on the bus for the next stop. Being tired I fell asleep and didn't wake up until I heard the countess' husband saying my name. He'd woken me up as we'd reached the final stop on our tour - Notre Dam Cathedral & the Post Office across the street. The countess informed me that she taken a picture of me asleep with my mouth open and claimed that I'd been dribbling. I make a mental note to take incriminating photos of the countess so that I have something to bargain with. The cathedral was locked so I took a few photos and then went across the street to take some photos inside the post office. Taking centre stage was a huge picture of 'Uncle Ho', which just goes to show that if you really put your mind to it you can create a cult around any individual. Which reminds me to tell you that across Vietnam there are these posters of happy, industrious Vietnamese all working for the common good. The posters look exactly like those stereotypical communist propaganda images that you'll be familiar with from the old Soviet Union. In the Post Office shop I purchase more lacquered boxes (gotta do my bit for the Vietnamese economy) and some lacquered coasters. If it's lacquered and made of wood, Vietnam will make it.

 

Back on the bus we're informed that the tour has come to an end and we're heading back to the ship. The countess tells me something interesting about the tour guide and driver, she says that during her last tour in Vietnam the tour guide told her that if either one of them (the driver & guide) says anything negative about 'Uncle Ho' the other one is supposed to report them to the police…..awkward. During the trip back it occurs to me that I haven't seen any dogs today. Which is a total reversal from Thailand where they were abundant. If you know anything about the diet of Vietnamese people than you will understand that that's not a pleasant realisation. Happily I do see two dogs on the way back to the ship, which goes some way to setting my mind at ease. The only other dog related thing we saw was a sign on the door to a building that had a picture of a German Shepard and then text in Vietnamese. We couldn't figure out if it was a 'beware of the dog sign' or an advertisement for a 'meal deal'…….you're terrible Muriel.

 

I fell asleep on the bus again, so there are probably more incriminating pictures of me. When the bus arrived back at the ship we had a perusal of the wares that the hawkers were selling but it was all the same stuff that we'd bought before. All of us decided that we wanted to have a swim before dinner so we went back to our respective cabins to change. Dressed in my robe I wandered up to deck 7 and bypassing the Princess Grill restaurant took the stairs to deck 8. That is the way you're supposed to get to the deck 8 pool area (from deck 7 and below) but most people just walk through Todd English.

 

There were plenty of people in the pool and the water was nice and cold. I looked out over the stern at the riverbank on the other side of the river and thought "wow, I'm in Vietnam on the Mekong River". When you stop and think about it, that's pretty cool. Soon the countess and her husband arrived, as did Vibez to do their setup for the sail away party. The countess commented that the members of the band looked familar and I confirmed for her that the front man hadn't changed since 2010. Regular readers of Cruise Critic will know that I have mentioned Vibez on perhaps one or two occasions. It's a relaxing swim and the calm is broken only by the commodore coming over the tanoy to explain that our departure has been delayed by an hour or so due to an accident involving a passenger down on the dock for which ambulances had been called for, and the junk boats that are sailing very close to the ship. The commodore requests that passenger not through things over the side for the people in the junk boats to pick up, as it is only going to delay us further. Intrigued, I get out of the pool and go and lean over the railing on the port side of deck 8. Sure enough, there are three little junk boats circling just metres from the side of the ship. One of the passengers near me is telling her friend that people are putting money into plastic bags and then throwing the bags into the river for the junk boats to pick up. Almost as soon as the lady has finished talking we see two plastic bags being thrown into the river from the sheltered balconies on decks 4 & 5. The junk boats make an immediate rush for the plastic bags and the children on the boats jump in the water to collect the bags. It's quite a surreal thing to see and reminds me of the stories of P&O passengers tipping locals who would swim under the hull of the liners back in the day.

 

After watching the antics down on the river for a bit I decide to jump in the hot tubs. I'm joined by a Russian couple (of course) who I recognise from hanging over the balcony from their Q1 suite. In fact, this is the first voyage where I have seen action from almost every Q1; the people have the lights on, the curtains drawn and are using their balconies - it's good to see. After a while I'm ready to get out, so do so and make my way down to my cabin to get changed for dinner. It's elegant casual tonight and I whip out one of my favourite velvet jackets ( I love the deep rich colour) which I love to wear. It's pre-dinner drinks with the countess and her husband (as usual) and this time the only free seats in the Chart Room are at the Britannia Restaurant end of the room. The countess starts with a glass of red, her husband has a Singapore Sling and I have a Canadian Club with ice and dry-ginger ale. The sounds of the piano waft through the bar and makes for a nice atmosphere. Everyone looks nice which really adds to the evening. The pianist begins to play a favourite tune of mine which is a song that got used on 'S.O.S Titanic' the 80's tele-movie (which is quite good and you should check it out if you haven't seen it already), it's great to hear music like this - perfect for QM2.

 

Two rounds of drinks later it was 8:25 and we decided to go down for dinner. Entering the Britannia Restaurant by the side door nearest to the Chart Room we made the grand entrance down the staircase. All the less grand because there was no one but the staff to witness it. The maitre d met us at the bottom of the staircase and advised that the restaurant wasn't open for another ten minutes. The countess asked if it would be alright if we sat down anyway and he was kind enough to let us.

 

Being the first people in the restaurant we were primed and ready to do some people watching as the rest of the passengers on late sitting made their way into the restaurant. I have to admit that there is a burst of activity and a certain buzz that the Grills restaurants don't have, which Britannia does have. Tonight we're joined only by the retired couple as the three north QLD ladies are probably up in Kings Court. Dinner is excellent tonight as is the service. Our head waiter, junior waiter and sommelier are all fantastic and very good at their jobs. Even when we are slightly three sheets to the wind they still manage to keep us on the straight & narrow. As it's St Valentine's day today all the ladies in the restaurant are given a single red rose by one of the waitstaff. I request one as well but the waiter responds "We can not help you at this time". (lol - that's a joke, he didn't say that.) Unfortunately, whilst the roses look wonderful, they have no smell. The retired school teacher fixes that by spraying her rose with some perfume from her handbag.

 

Unbelievably, the 'Cunard Royalty' couple are still being swarmed by eager Britannia Staff. What is it with these two, why do they have waiters at their table every five minutes, why is some staff member coming over to talk to them every second. I'm dying to find out who they are and I say to the countess that I'm going to ask our waiter (as he himself was over there and that table is not even in his section). "No don't, you'll stuff it up" is her response. "Well fine, you do it then" I retort. The countess promises to ask on her last night. Satisfied that the 'Cunard Royalty' mystery is going to be solved we move on to dessert and more wine.

 

After a very enjoyable meal we head up to the shops on deck 3. I purchase a couple of shirts from the souvenir shop and some more aftershave from the cosmetics shop. They have a really good deal going for the t-shirts, three in a bag (different colours) for around $29. Retail therapy completed, we say our goodbyes and arrange to meet for breakfast at 9am tomorrow.

 

It's been a good day, I enjoyed the haggling with the hawkers and watching the countess grimace to the traditional Vietnamese music. Although the 'Highlights of Ho Chi Minh City' turned out to be more like the 'Lowlights of Ho Chi Minh City", I still had a good time. The day was topped off by a relaxing swim and a wonderful dinner - perfection.

[Whitemarsh]

Docked in the Mekong River.

 

 

Waiting for the line to move in the Britannia Restaurant.

 

Making our way towards the buses.