Updates from the Queen Elizabeth as we head to Australia

[MicCanberra]

Cheers David.

[Kiwi_cruiser]

Hello from the Queen Elizabeth!

Since I last posted an update we have been busy! We stopped at  Walvis Bay, Namibia, spent two days in Cape Town, South Africa and then went to Port Elizabeth, South Africa!

Walvis Bay, Namibia – It’s a small sea side town, with not that much to see in the local area and you really needed to do a tour (Cunard tours here started at $100USD!/pp) or find a private tour, if you can! And the locals tours been sold on the dock are pricy as well!

We ended up getting the Cunard shuttle bus to the shopping centre to pick up a few supply’s and to stretch our legs after 8 days at sea!.

After that we got a taxi to the bay to see the local flamingo, thousands of them. Then it was back to the dock and had a look around the stalls outside the port gate and then back on board.

Cape Town, South Africa – We had two great days. We did the hop on / hop off bus around the place.

On the first day we went up to Tabletop mountain, which took us about an hour to get up the top as the line was long!!, the views where amazing! Then we went all around the city. In the evening we did the Sunset trip up to Signal Hill. The sunset was a bit disappointing as it went in to a cloud bank, we watch as we ate donuts our picnic and  then it was back to the ship to see the local folkloric show.

On the 2nd days we went back on the hop on / hop off bus and did the mini Peninsula tour.

Then we went on a boat trip around the harbour and saw a lots of seals and baby seals.

We were  late leaving Cape Town, as two of the ropes they use to lift up the gangway got caught between the buffer and the wharf, that took them a while to free the ropes!, in the end they had to loosen the ships mooring lines a little bit, so the last cable could get unstuck!. Then the Pipe Band and a singer played as we sailed away

We liked Cape Town and would not mind going back there!

Will write about Port Elizabeth in another post, once I have sorted the photos!.

[Kiwi_cruiser]

[Kiwi Kruzer]

32 minutes ago, Kiwi_cruiser said:

Then the Pipe Band and a singer played as we sailed away

We liked Cape Town and would not mind going back there!

 

Its a great feeling to get a send off . They dont do it much these days.

We loved Capetown too . We had 3 days post cruise there and saw a lot. Attractions are all within an easy drive of the City . We even did the boat trip over to Robben  Island to visit the old prison and cell , where Nelson Mandela was held.

[Kiwi_cruiser]

Hello from the Queen Elizabeth!
On 22nd November 2019 we were in Port Elizabeth, South Africa and we did our first Safari.
It was really good. We saw Zebra, Elephants, Giraffe, Rhinos, Lions with a fresh kill, Warthogs plus lots of Springboks to name a few…. It was a good day!
We where late leaving Port Elizabeth, due to immigration being slow to process all the passports.

The game reserve ask us if we want to post photos of the Rhinos on social media, not to name them, as then poachers, will know that they got rhinos and go and try and poach them!

[Elorac123]

On 11/9/2019 at 5:27 PM, bazzaw said:

Don't know why cruiselines go to Japan - in Typhoon season!!!! 

Same reason as they go up North Qld. In cyclone season

Cheers Carole 

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Great shots of the wildlife . We only did a 1/2 day safari on our call and did not see anywhere the variety of animals that you did.  Thanks for posting .

[By The Bay]

I am impressed with your fantastic photo's. Love the imported Tiger.

[Docker123]

Just to say, I am boarding in Fremantle on Friday for the run home to Melbourne.

 

7143

 

Dockers123 at  yahoo dot com dot uk

Edited December 4, 2019 by Docker123

[Kiwi_cruiser]

Hello from the Queen Elizabeth!

Sorry I have not posted much since my last update, but the internet onboard has been slower than normal and there has not been much wifi ashore.

Since my last update we have been to Le Port, Reunion, and Port Louis, Mauritius

Apparently when we sailed in to Le Port, Reunion, the Queen Elizabeth will appeared in the background of a movie that has been shot on the island :), The captain did not say what the name of the movie was.

 

We tried to do a ships beach tour in Le Port, Reunion, but it was cancelled as not many people wanted to do the tour.

So we got the Cunard Shuttle bus to town, which was quite a drive from the port, then from the town we got a Tuk Tuk to a beach and then went snorkelling!

It had been 4 months since we last snorkelled, (We last snorkelled in Aruba!), so it was nice to get back in!

 

We had a nice day. It did rain a little bit as we were heading back to the ship.

At Port Louis, Mauritius – We did a ships tour. We went sailing on a catamaran and then stopped to snorkel.

The snorkelling was ok, not much coral, but lots of fish! I have to say the snorkelling the day before was better!

We where late leaving Port Louis, as the fuel bunker barge was late getting to us, which meant the ship was late getting her hull scrubbed!. The Queen Elizabeth had to get her hull scrubbed before we got to Australia.

 

We have also had a few ambulances and unwell passengers get off as well.

The first 7 photos are from Le Port, Reunion and the last 8 photos from the catamaran photo is from Port Louis, Mauritius.

[Kiwi_cruiser]

7 hours ago, Docker123 said:

Just to say, I am boarding in Fremantle on Friday for the run home to Melbourne.

 

7143

 

Dockers123 at  yahoo dot com dot uk

 

Might see you around the ship 🙂

[lissie]

@Kiwi_cruiser - someone posted on FB that they go a letter on board saying that  the dress code is relaxing while QE is in Australian waters and men no longer need a  jacket on smart attire night - can you confirm?  

[Docker123]

8 hours ago, lissie said:

@Kiwi_cruiser - someone posted on FB that they go a letter on board saying that  the dress code is relaxing while QE is in Australian waters and men no longer need a  jacket on smart attire night - can you confirm?  

This has been posted in the Cunard forum — Slippery Slope

 

The other interesting comment is the post is a change in dining times, making them earlier.

 

As I am boarding tomorrow, I have not had any advice from Cunard on either point. Plus the voyage personaliser is having serious “issues” as it is being upgraded. 
 

Edited December 5, 2019 by Docker123

[Bell Boy]

12 hours ago, lissie said:

@Kiwi_cruiser - someone posted on FB that they go a letter on board saying that  the dress code is relaxing while QE is in Australian waters and men no longer need a  jacket on smart attire night - can you confirm?  

Check out my post 'Slippery slope for QE'.  over on the Cunard board .

[Frenchberet]

On 11/15/2019 at 2:12 PM, Kiwi_cruiser said:

Hello from the Queen Elizabeth
We are now in the Southern Hemisphere as we crossed the Equator Yesterday! :D

King Neptune came to visited the Queen Elizabeth as we had our crossing the line ceremony! It was good fun!Unavailable

 

What was involved with the crossing ceremony?  Looks messy!  

When we crossed the Arctic Circle there was a ceremony where some of the (brave) passengers jumped in the wadding pool filled with  ice.  They were rewarded with a shot of aquavit and a smidge of blue colored egg white on their nose!  Lots of fun!

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Arrived In Fremantle ....6 Dec 2019

 

 

[Docker123]

Arrived in Fremantle with a balmy 42C forecast.

 

Only 26C at 6.30am

 

Brrrrrr.

 

so looking forward to dealing with luggage, car returns and boarding.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Just now, Docker123 said:

Arrived in Fremantle with a balmy 42C forecast.

 

Only 26C at 6.30am

 

Brrrrrr.

 

so looking forward to dealing with luggage, car returns and boarding.

 

Bon Voyage . Enjoy.

 

 

[NSWP]

On 12/5/2019 at 7:48 AM, lissie said:

@Kiwi_cruiser - someone posted on FB that they go a letter on board saying that  the dress code is relaxing while QE is in Australian waters and men no longer need a  jacket on smart attire night - can you confirm?  

Some of the die hard Cunarders won't like that, on QM2 I saw blokes in jacket and tie at brekkie, having the full English.

[Docker123]

24 minutes ago, NSWP said:

Some of the die hard Cunarders won't like that, on QM2 I saw blokes in jacket and tie at brekkie, having the full English.

there are some serious commentary on the Cunard board, follow the link in my post above for colonial edification.

 

[NSWP]

16 minutes ago, Docker123 said:

there are some serious commentary on the Cunard board, follow the link in my post above for colonial edification.

 

Just read Slipper Slope' on Cunard, they sure paid us Colonials out.  I recommend the below attire be mandatory for smart attire nights on ye olde QE.

[lissie]

You should see the original thread on a Cunard FB group the CC thread is actually quite restrained in comparison! 144 comments there and counting!  

[lissie]

1 hour ago, NSWP said:

Some of the die hard Cunarders won't like that, on QM2 I saw blokes in jacket and tie at brekkie, having the full English.

But that's not an English breakfast! Where's the black pudding?  The hash browns are definitely an American import - not sure about the baked beans. Where's the kippers and  kedgeree! 

[Docker123]

1 hour ago, NSWP said:

Just read Slipper Slope' on Cunard, they sure paid us Colonials out.  I recommend the below attire be mandatory for smart attire nights on ye olde QE.

never seen anything like that since Big Kev shuffled off.

 

anyway, here is my formal night attire, note it is black

 

 

[possum52]

Enjoy your cruise back to Melbourne Adrian.

 

Leigh