Jump to content

Queen Mary 2 New York to Southampton, October 18, 2019


rafinmd
 Share

Recommended Posts

I board Queen Mary 2 Friday on my way to Europe to start a string of 4 total ships, continuing with Crystal Bach (Amsterdam to Basel), Crystal Serenity (Barcelona to Florida), and finally Crystal Symphony (7-day Caribbean).  With the journey divided between 3 Cruise Critic areas I will be posting the journey in 3 separate forums (Cunard, River, and finally Crystal) .  I will also cover the entire trip in a single thread on the Maryland Cruisers forum.  I'll include a link to that if I can do it within the edit time frame.

 

 

My companion blog with Daily Programs and menus will be on my usual blog site:

 

http://getawaysfrom21044.wordpress.com

 

This will be my 29th transatlantic, 13th on QM2, and 16th on Cunard (one each QV, QE2, and QE).

 

Roy

Edited by rafinmd
  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Enjoy your cruise Roy and your train trip. We have done a few train trips, ie Paris to Barcelona, Vancouver to Seattle, the Surfrider to San Diego, so I enjoy reading about your trips.

 

We will be joining the QM2 in Perth to Capetown in 2020 so maybe we can compare our minor trips with your own?

 

Julie

 

 

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bon Voyage, Roy!  I am a frequent cruiser of SB and SS, and one lovely Crystal cruise.  My DH would like to do the QM2 Transatlantic, so I will religiously follow your comments.  Unfortunately, I have found quite negative reviews in the Reviews Section of CC (closed or dirty pools, stained carpets, torn curtains, etc.), and I would appreciate your candid views on the state of the ship.  We would be in the Grills Section, but will interact with all venues.  My best wishes on your voyage!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, rafinmd said:

Just to confirm I am on board.  All luggage found and unpacking underway.  I am usually quite late with my first blog post.  Sailaway should be about 5PM.

 

Roy

Hi Roy! 
I gave my Bon  Voyage on your other blog!!

Have a wonderful time! Glad all went well and your on board. Hope it will be a nice sunrise tomorrow!

Denise😊

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Day QM2-0, Friday, October 18, 2019, Board Queen Mary 2, Brooklyn


I arrived Baltimore's Penn Station about 6AM.  Train 130 is one of only a few that runs just Washington to New York, and it was right on time at 7:14.  I don't really like arriving at the port the day of departure but I had to this time and I had a backup ticket on Bolt Bus just in case there were any problems.


Fridays right now are "Purple" in honor of the Baltimore Ravens.  I really do not care for football but the Ravens are a great asset to the city and I "kind of" support them.  I don't own any Ravens apparel but I brought along a purple Cape Breton tee-shirt as a measure of solidarity.  I also stopped at the Dunkin Donuts shop in Penn station for a Ravens Purple donut as part of my breakfast.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/train130.jpg


Sunrise was officially 7:18 and I got a couple of poor pictures looking through the trees but decided to use instead one form our first river crossing which I thought was pretty good.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/dawn1018.jpg


Train 130 stayed pretty close to schedule arriving at New York about 5 minutes behind the 10AM schedule.  After a brief stop at Tim Hortons I made my way to the subway, disembarking at Wall Street (Ouch, I usually use stairs but not when carrying 50 pounds).  It was a short walk to Pier 11 and the NYC waterways dock where I had another travel hiccup.  


I mistakenly asked an attendant for the ferry to Brooklyn and he said "This is it".  There are 2 and I was on the wrong one.  I had to get off at the next stop, return to the previous stop, and take another ferry to the port.  Fortunately, the ferry dock is REALLY close to the cruise terminal.


I have a total of 3 bags.  The really big one was shipped with Luggage Forward.  I walked the larger backpack to the terminal and left it with the porters, and then headed to the store for some Diet Pepsi.  


At the terminal the security line looked long but it moved really quickly.  Checkin was pretty quick as well and I was in my room about 1:10.  The big bag shipped with Luggage Forward was waiting for me.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/5049.jpg


Like my most recent crossing I have a sheltered balcony, near the A stairway on deck 5.  It is quite nice.  My stateroom steward is Jonathan and I think he is a keeper.  The one issue was no soap in the room but I'll gladly take a minor oversight and have the room ready as soon as I can board.


When I went up to Kings Court for coffee, a ferry was just arriving at the dock, VERY close to the ship.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/nywlanding.jpg


The bag I dropped with the porters arrived about 2:30 and I was pretty well finished unpacking before the 4PM muster drill.  I don't think I've previously seen a double lettered muster station but I mm at BC which is towards the aft of the Carinthia Lounge.  No life jackets any more for muster, not on any line I sail.  The drill was done in full in English and German and ran about 35 minutes total.  I had hoped for an early sailing but as of 5PM they were still calling for missing passengers and the fuel barge was still attached.


The fuel barge left about 5:30 and we started pulling in lines soon thereafter. Soon after departing we had our clearest view of Lady Liberty.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/liberty.jpg


 I had hoped we would leave in time for me on deck for the Verrazano bridge and make dinner at 6.  It was not to be.  We passed under the bridge at 6:20 and I was down at the Britannia Restaurant just before the 6:30 cutoff for orders (but I was not the last).  


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/verrazano.jpg


I am at table 322, a 10-top on the upper level (my first assignment there).  On deck 3 the floor is higher near the windows (making way for a passage to the Queens Room), and there is no view.  Our waiters are Francis and Jane.  There were 6 people there the first night, 2 couples and one other "solo" (not quite a solo, he has a dog in the kennel).  They are all Brits, and one is a lecturer for a Roads Scholar seminar.  I do not do "food porn", I'm a pretty simple eater but do a collage of my dinner dishes, this time the greens, roast turkey, and the apple/apricot tart a la mode.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/dishes18.jpg


The featured entertainment was violin virtuoso Izabella Zebrowska after an opening by the Royal Court Theater Company.  Entertainment Director Catherine Kennedy introduced herself.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/kennedy.jpg


As a parting shot when I woke up on the morning of my last full day in Maryland I was without a Congressman.  Rest in Peace Elijah Cummings.


Roy

 

  • Like 3
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 10/15/2019 at 7:58 PM, rafinmd said:

My companion blog with Daily Programs and menus will be on my usual blog site:

http://getawaysfrom21044.wordpress.com

Roy

Roy,

I just tried the above link you posted to try it out and was not directed to the wordpress.com site.

 

Appreciate your attention so we can enjoy all you are offering.

 

Ed..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, rafinmd said:

Day QM2-0, Friday, October 18, 2019, Board Queen Mary 2, Brooklyn


I arrived Baltimore's Penn Station about 6AM.  Train 130 is one of only a few that runs just Washington to New York, and it was right on time at 7:14.  I don't really like arriving at the port the day of departure but I had to this time and I had a backup ticket on Bolt Bus just in case there were any problems.


Fridays right now are "Purple" in honor of the Baltimore Ravens.  I really do not care for football but the Ravens are a great asset to the city and I "kind of" support them.  I don't own any Ravens apparel but I brought along a purple Cape Breton tee-shirt as a measure of solidarity.  I also stopped at the Dunkin Donuts shop in Penn station for a Ravens Purple donut as part of my breakfast.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/train130.jpg


Sunrise was officially 7:18 and I got a couple of poor pictures looking through the trees but decided to use instead one form our first river crossing which I thought was pretty good.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/dawn1018.jpg


Train 130 stayed pretty close to schedule arriving at New York about 5 minutes behind the 10AM schedule.  After a brief stop at Tim Hortons I made my way to the subway, disembarking at Wall Street (Ouch, I usually use stairs but not when carrying 50 pounds).  It was a short walk to Pier 11 and the NYC waterways dock where I had another travel hiccup.  


I mistakenly asked an attendant for the ferry to Brooklyn and he said "This is it".  There are 2 and I was on the wrong one.  I had to get off at the next stop, return to the previous stop, and take another ferry to the port.  Fortunately, the ferry dock is REALLY close to the cruise terminal.


I have a total of 3 bags.  The really big one was shipped with Luggage Forward.  I walked the larger backpack to the terminal and left it with the porters, and then headed to the store for some Diet Pepsi.  


At the terminal the security line looked long but it moved really quickly.  Checkin was pretty quick as well and I was in my room about 1:10.  The big bag shipped with Luggage Forward was waiting for me.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/5049.jpg


Like my most recent crossing I have a sheltered balcony, near the A stairway on deck 5.  It is quite nice.  My stateroom steward is Jonathan and I think he is a keeper.  The one issue was no soap in the room but I'll gladly take a minor oversight and have the room ready as soon as I can board.


When I went up to Kings Court for coffee, a ferry was just arriving at the dock, VERY close to the ship.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/nywlanding.jpg


The bag I dropped with the porters arrived about 2:30 and I was pretty well finished unpacking before the 4PM muster drill.  I don't think I've previously seen a double lettered muster station but I mm at BC which is towards the aft of the Carinthia Lounge.  No life jackets any more for muster, not on any line I sail.  The drill was done in full in English and German and ran about 35 minutes total.  I had hoped for an early sailing but as of 5PM they were still calling for missing passengers and the fuel barge was still attached.


The fuel barge left about 5:30 and we started pulling in lines soon thereafter. Soon after departing we had our clearest view of Lady Liberty.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/liberty.jpg


 I had hoped we would leave in time for me on deck for the Verrazano bridge and make dinner at 6.  It was not to be.  We passed under the bridge at 6:20 and I was down at the Britannia Restaurant just before the 6:30 cutoff for orders (but I was not the last).  


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/verrazano.jpg


I am at table 322, a 10-top on the upper level (my first assignment there).  On deck 3 the floor is higher near the windows (making way for a passage to the Queens Room), and there is no view.  Our waiters are Francis and Jane.  There were 6 people there the first night, 2 couples and one other "solo" (not quite a solo, he has a dog in the kennel).  They are all Brits, and one is a lecturer for a Roads Scholar seminar.  I do not do "food porn", I'm a pretty simple eater but do a collage of my dinner dishes, this time the greens, roast turkey, and the apple/apricot tart a la mode.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/dishes18.jpg


The featured entertainment was violin virtuoso Izabella Zebrowska after an opening by the Royal Court Theater Company.  Entertainment Director Catherine Kennedy introduced herself.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/kennedy.jpg


As a parting shot when I woke up on the morning of my last full day in Maryland I was without a Congressman.  Rest in Peace Elijah Cummings.


Roy

 

Hi Roy!!!!

First and for most I too am sadden by the passing of Elijah Cummings😞 God bless him!

Thank you for the sunrise!! I love it even though the real  sunrise was not as good! 
Your stateroom is very nice Roy!  What a nice room!

your picture of Lady Liberty 🗽 my DH and I liked.

Roy from all your blogs I have come to know your likes and dislikes with foodLOL.

I always enjoy your food collages👍
Take care Roy!

Looking forward to more’

Demise😊

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very sad loss to our country, and his family and friends, the passing away of Elijah Cummings. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to remember him.

 

And, as always, thank you for taking us along.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 hours ago, BklynBoy8 said:

Roy,

I just tried the above link you posted to try it out and was not directed to the wordpress.com site.

 

Appreciate your attention so we can enjoy all you are offering.

 

Ed..

 Believe the blog is on this link

https://getawaysfrom21044.wordpress.com/

Edited by Pennbank
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Day QM2-1, Saturday, October 19, At Sea, Queen Mary 2, Gala

We spent my first sea day covered with clouds.  When I went on deck we were about 80 miles southeast of Nantucket.  I walked 4 miles, 11 laps on Queen Mary 2's magnificent promenade deck.  I never saw the sun but there was some nice color on the horizon a few minutes before it should have risen.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/dawn1019.jpg


The Cunard Insights series got off to a roaring start with 2 morning and 2 afternoon lectures.  Pilot Andy Wyatt started things off with a talk on the Red Arrows, the British equivalent of the Blue Angels in the US.  He talked about the program history, the pilot selection process, the people behind the scenes, and presented a number of videos.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/wyatt.jpg


Wyatt was followed at 11 by Barbara Gilmore on “Terrorist Hunters”, the global history of terrorism, and how we catch them.  She was quite even handed on the theme of “a terrorist is a terrorist”, it did not matter to her if a terrorist was Islamic, IRA, Neo-Nazi, or whatever.  I was very impressed by the morning speakers although not so much the afternoon ones.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/gilmore.jpg


In his noon update Captain Aseem Hashmi indicated things would continue much the same for the next day but we might see fog Sunday morning off the Grand Banks (8:30am Sunday, so far, so good).  I see in his bio a familiar reference.  Captain Hashmi worked his way up the ranks, apparently exclusively with Cunard.  One of my favorite ships the past 10 years has been Holland America’s Prinsendam.  I assume pretty early in his career, Hashmi had a stint on what was for a while Cunard’s Royal Viking Sun.


There was an informal Cruise Critic gathering in the Commodore Club at 2PM.There were about 8 of us, most of us are sailing QM2 eastbound and returning to North America on a variety of other ships.  Most also were first time on Cunard.  We talked for a full hour.


Cunard Insights continued at 3 with photojournalist Ken Lennox on “Decisive Moments”.  I found his talk pretty disjointed and hard to follow.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/lennox.jpg


The last talk of the day was Clara Barnett with “The Amazing Ocean World”.  She was pretty good but there was not much that was new to me.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/barnett.jpg


At the first Gala dinner table 322 was almost full.  The newcomers were 3 ladies traveling together and one solo lady.  The couple lecturing for Road Scholar was not there.  I decided on the orange and brown rice salad, the beef medallion, and Peach tart.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/dishes19.jpg


Captain Hashmi’s welcome aboard celebration for early seating was held at 7:30 in the Queens Room.  He indicated there were 30 nationalities among the passengers and 60 nationalities among the crew.  About 1700 guests are newly embarked while 700 are continuing from either Quebec or Southampton.  The 3 largest countries represented in the manifest are The UK with about 1100, the USA with 700, and 400 from Germany.  Captain Hashmi goes on vacation when we reach Southampton.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/qmwelcome.jpg


Finally, Captain Hashmi introduced the senior staff.  I found it a bit confusing.  Second in command on the Bridge is DEPUTY Captain Aureliano Mazzella while his technical counterpart is STAFF Chief Engineer Miroslav Georgiev.  Ah, consistency.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/qmstaff.jpg


The featured entertainment was the Royal Court Theater Company with the venerable Passionata.  Entertainment Director Carolyn Kennedy indicated on the morning show that the show is within a couple years of retirement.  I found myself pretty drowsy and dozed off mor much of the show and was a bit too tired to look in on the Royal Cunard Ball.  Photography is forbidden but I did take a picture of the Royal Court Theater before the show started..


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/rylcttheater.jpg


Being late posting again I will take my parting shot from Catherine Kennedy’s morning show.  It’s originally by John Lenin “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans”.


Roy

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks all.  Glad you found the blog although I haven't quite got started posting the daily programs yet.  I have been scanning them and hope to post them soon, internet gods willing.  OK, slow reaction from Cruise Critic.  Just uploaded the first 3 daily programs to the "Programs" tab.

 

Roy

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

What a great blog Roy! I loved the promenade picture with the cozy lounge chairs and the wonderful colors over the horizon! To me you nailed a great pic!

Sounds like very informative lectures especially Terrorist Hunters. That wouldd of been intriguing to me!

Gala night pic looked like Titanic with everyone in their tuxes etc.

Have a smooth sails tomorrow!!

Take care Roy

Denise😊

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Day QM2-2, Sunday, October 20, 2019, At Sea, Queen Mary 2


Sunday weather started out much like Saturday.  As I walked we were about 250 miles from the French outpost St. Pierre and Miquelon.  I was feeling a bit less than tip top and decided to only walk 3 miles but as that ended I decided to extend my walk to a 4th mile.  There was no real sunrise but about 20 minutes later there was enough of a break in the clouds that visible beams verified the sun was trying to get out.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/dawn1020.jpg


I have a number of readers who have not sailed QM2 and want some views of the ship.  I'll start with one of the pools, this one is Deck 6 aft, just below the Promenade Deck.  The port side is part of the kids club and there are gates between the play area, the pool, and the stairs to deck 7, leaving a nice place for the kids to play in safety and go for a swim when there is supervision.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/6aft.jpg


I really do not frequent bars and will probably not show them at their best. My first 2 are on deck 3 just forward of the restaurant.  The first one leaving the restaurant going forward on the starboard side is the Chart Room.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/champagne.jpg


Just ahead of it at the edge of the Atrium is the Champaign bar.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/chart.jpg


I am officially in the United Kingdom.  Cunard does 2 nice things on Eastbound Transatlantics.  Instead of losing several hours of sleep they move the clocks forward at noon on 5 of the 6 sea days.  They also carry a UK Immigration officer who does the processing at sea and today was my day to see her.  There is often a queue and I went down at 9:30 to have a good place for her 9:30 opening.  The doors actually opened at 9:15 and I was finished at about 9:25.


A Cunard tradition is for the Captain to lead an interdenominational worship service on Sundays at sea.  That  was followed at 11 by a talk from our fifth lecturer, critic George McGhee.  His talk was on Alfred Hitchcock; the room was very crowded, and I did not stay long.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/mcghee.jpg


In his noon update Captain Hashmi indicated that things would continue pretty much as they are with the wind and sea state picking up slightly.  A little bit of blue sky was visible at noon.


On this voyage I have 2 vouchers for meals at the Verandah Steakhouse.  One is from my travel agency and I will have dinner there Monday.  The other is from the Cunard World Club and is specifically for lunch; I used that one today. The lunch menu is slightly different from the dinner menu.  In addition to the huge roll (I only ate one third of it) I chose the chicken breast with mashed potatoes.  I was going to get just ice cream for desert but fell victim to the apple pie.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/verlunch.jpg


A RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts) group is on board this voyage.  One of the things they do is abbreviated versions of classic drama, performing "Much Ado About Nothing" today.  I might have gone but the performance was at 2, and with the hour lost at noon my Verandah lunch began at 1:30.


There were only 3 of us at Table 322 and the meal went quite quickly.  I chose the Parsnip and Pear soup (I tasted more parsnip than pear, the Rigatoni, and Raspberry Tart.  I remember holding off taking a photo of the pasta until the cheese came and when it did I forgot about the photo and started eating.  Oops!


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/dishes20.jpg


The featured entertainment was a 3-man vocal group the Knights.  On the morning show they indicated that they chose the name because all the music they play has some connection to people who have been knighted, not just performers but also directors, songwriters, composers, and others.  Names that come to mind from the show included Sir Elton John, Sir Paul McCartney, and Lord Andrew Lloyd Weber.  I was expecting a rock show but there was much more including not just Elton John and the Beatles but music from Phantom of the Opera and standards like Smile and My Favorite Things.  Perhaps the highest praise I can give them is I remained awake and alert through the entire show!  I did run out of gas soon after returning to my room and did not really do anything after 9:30.


https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/knights.jpg


I'll take today's parting shot from the interdenominational worship service.  Cunard tradition on Sundays at sea is for the Captain to lead a service based largely on the Anglican Liturgy.  Cunard captains are not ordained and the service generally does not include a sermon.  What there is is 2 "lessons".  The first was a biblical passage from Jeremiah read by a Deck Cadet from the bridge.  The second lesson was more personal by Captain Hashmi.  He noted that we will pass the remains of Titanic this evening and that on the westbound crossing he had spoken of the heroes of the Titanic including the 2 chaplains who had given comfort to passengers right up the end even though they also faced imminent death.  Today he turned to the other side.  While Titanic had far fewer lifeboats than needed the lifeboats that were launched were far from capacity, and only 4 of 22 made any effort once launched to pick up any freezing swimmers begging for help.  If they had made that effort about another 400 people could have been saved.  Nice history.  Hashmi then went on to say that he has fielded questions like "If you encountered a group of refugees stranded in the Mediterranean what would you do?"  He reported many are stunned when he answers "Of Course, I would pick them up".  That answer technically is required, as it is his legal obligation under Maritime Law and the SOLAS code.  He continued to stress that it is not only his legal duty but also his human and Christian duty to show compassion not to "refugees", migrants" or whatever but to fellow human beings.  He is required to say "Of Course" but going beyond that to explain his view in human, compassionate, eloquent, and Christian terms just far elevated his standing in my view.  Well done.


Roy

 

PS:  The first 4 Daily Programmes are now loaded.  I have not included the "Discover" pages that are mostly advertising.  If anybody wants to see them let me know.  Here's a direct link to the Daily Programmes page:

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.wordpress.com/programs/qm2dailyoct19/

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you for the ongoing tales Roy. As one who is yet to sail on Cunard I am finding them fascinating. Photos are good as well.😀

 

That is a wonderful story about Captain Hashmi. I am very touched by his compassion and reasons for helping others. It is lovely to hear of someone who follows these kind beliefs in a sometimes very harsh world.

 

Julie

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was at a Q and A session with Captain H once. He was asked the question about picking up refugees (though of course no-one would know they were refugees until afterwards) and gave the answer you described. I was genuinely shocked that some were clearly surprised at this. Would anyone honestly say they would just sail on past and ignore them? I do hope not.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...