Live from the Solent for Queen Anne’s arrival

[Solent Richard]

10 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

I assume the experience has even more enhanced your hopeful anticipation of the maiden voyage.

It's all down to perception and expectations @exlondoner .

 

Over the years we've done a number of Maidens, the most recent one being P&O's Britannia ...

 

https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2015/03/30/britannia-the-maiden-cruise/

 

...the summary of which I wrote...

 

'All in all this was an excellent cruise and  it would be very difficult to find any valid criticism outside of the ‘minor’ hiccups to be expected on a maiden cruise. Indeed, those that did occur paled into insignificance when balanced with the overall enjoyment of the occasion.'

 

[Solent Richard]

As a humorous aside, @Bell Boy is known on Cunard as to have a penchant for crisps with his daily tipple. 

 

Even that was catered for yesterday....

 

 

...along with that rather special champagne. 😉😁

[buchanan101]

3 minutes ago, Solent Richard said:

As always Cunard have been keeping events tight to their chest.

 

Don't worry though, if yesterday's events are anything to go by, it's going to be just amazing.

How is the blog coming along Richard?

 

How far forward on the ship can passengers walk? Saw people on the area in front of the main superstructur

[Solent Richard]

3 minutes ago, buchanan101 said:

How is the blog coming along Richard?

 

How far forward on the ship can passengers walk? Saw people on the area in front of the main superstructur

 

Have you missed it?

 

 

 

Looked like staff and workers to me.

 

 

 

 

[buchanan101]

3 minutes ago, Solent Richard said:

 

Have you missed it?

 

 

 

Looked like staff and workers to me.

 

 

 

 

Thanks - but wondering if that area is publicly accessible on voyages - be great if it is

[buchanan101]

14 hours ago, Solent Richard said:

And a meeting with Ventura…

Certainly better looking than that monstrosity - with what look like afterthoughts to support the bridge and one of the ugliest backends at sea.  The unbroken rows of balconies are also really quite ugly - better QA with bits (the PGs etc) sticking out further. Still think they've overdone the front superstructure on QA though - aesthetically speaking though doesn't look as bad side on: the bridge is too low... being 10% longer than other Pinnacles helps too

[richard_london]

2 hours ago, buchanan101 said:

How far forward on the ship can passengers walk? Saw people on the area in front of the main superstructur

I wonder that too. When we did a Isle of Mull scenic cruise on the QV a couple of years back they did open up the deck at the front so we had better views of the scenery but on every other cruise on the QV and QE that has never been possible for me and it has been closed off  So I am not expecting it to be the norm. It would be nice if you couls though as I like doing that on the QM2. 

[NE John]

3 hours ago, buchanan101 said:

Thanks - but wondering if that area is publicly accessible on voyages - be great if it is

They open the front crew deck area on QE while (whilst) in Alaska. 
 

Edited May 1 by NE John

[Victoria2]

44 minutes ago, NE John said:

They open the front crew deck area on QE while (whilst) in Alaska. 
 

and on QV when transiting the Panama Canal.

[Solent Richard]

On 4/30/2024 at 5:54 PM, Solent Richard said:

Spot the police escort…

 

 

I was a little surprised nobody passed comment on my Queen Anne's police escort on Tuesday as certainly for myself it was the first occasion I had seen that particular craft.

 

Anyway, here's two more a little closer in both respects....

 

 

*********

 

[NE John]

3 hours ago, Solent Richard said:

 

I was a little surprised nobody passed comment on my Queen Anne's police escort on Tuesday as certainly for myself it was the first occasion I had seen that particular craft.

 

Anyway, here's two more a little closer in both respects....

 

 

*********

 

Used to police in NYC, even in the harbor. 
 

 

Edited May 2 by NE John

[D&N]

7 hours ago, Solent Richard said:

 

I was a little surprised nobody passed comment on my Queen Anne's police escort on Tuesday as certainly for myself it was the first occasion I had seen that particular craft.

Marine Traffic doesn't offer a photo of that one. It's an unusual livery, quite intimidating, probably intentionally so.

I think there was one fore and one aft. The other was a more conventional livery, SP Pathfinder possibly?

[Solent Richard]

10 minutes ago, D&N said:

Marine Traffic doesn't offer a photo of that one. It's an unusual livery, quite intimidating, probably intentionally so.

I think there was one fore and one aft. The other was a more conventional livery, SP Pathfinder possibly?

I filed it under 'discreet' precautions.

[exlondoner]

6 minutes ago, Solent Richard said:

I filed it under 'discreet' precautions.

Or perhaps they just fancied a look.

[Solent Richard]

2 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Or perhaps they just fancied a look.

The only 'look' they were interested in was us.

 

They came in pretty close as can be seen from my photograph over the bow rail.

 

 

[exlondoner]

5 minutes ago, Solent Richard said:

The only 'look' they were interested in was us.

 

They came in pretty close as can be seen from my photograph over the bow rail.

 

 

All good fun. What else would they want to look at?