QM2 review...My Affair To Remember

[pnhmrk]

Still more coming as long as I don't bore you all to tears!

 

Penny - you're not boring me:) I'm loving it

[ESLO]

Come on Maria...we want you to come out and play with us again...Everyone? Tell Maria to get back here!

Cheers, Penny

 

Dear patwell (Penny),

Ditto.... I totally agree with you about Maria. I know that I was reading the Dec. 2nd Roll Call when Maria did state concern about the work she was trying to complete at home.

 

But Maria (from one Brooklynite to another Brooklynite - from one Dyker Heightite to a Bay Ridgeite) Please We Want You To return to the Cunard Board, we all want to hear from you.

 

M A R I A, P L E A S E C O M E O U T A N D P L A Y !

 

One of your neighbors.......

[pepperrn]

Penny - you're not boring me:) I'm loving it

 

Malcolm

 

Can I second that, I agree with you totally, Penny's words could never be described as boring, this is writing of the highest order. I am captivated. Please Penny, write on, like Malcolm, I'm loving it.

 

(But I'm waiting for the full description of how she tried to hide when they came to throw her off and how she put those claw marks in the carpets)

[pepperrn]

 

Tonight is our first formal night. For months, like so many other women, I agonized over finding the perfect gowns for such a grand ship as the Queen Mary 2. I tried on one after the other, all of which fell short....most likely it was the wearer as the gowns alone were pretty spiffy. Then I found them, on the internet in stores far from my home. And when they came, not only did they fit, they made me feel like a princess. And better than that, I actually looked pretty passable in them too! How appropriate for the setting I think. Tonight I’ll wear that slinky black, one shoulder confection to the Captain’s welcome party. If decadence were a gown, this surely would be it. I don’t dress like this at home very often...what a pity.

 

Penny

________________________________________________

 

Penny, am I allowed to say that I've seen pctures of you in "that slinky black, one shoulder confection"? Folks, Penny did indeed look like a Princess, and, on the staircase in the Britannia Restaurant, making the "Grand Descent", she would have been the envy of every woman in the room.

[patwell]

Penny, am I allowed to say that I've seen pctures of you in "that slinky black, one shoulder confection"? Folks, Penny did indeed look like a Princess, and, on the staircase in the Britannia Restaurant, making the "Grand Descent", she would have been the envy of every woman in the room.

 

 

Yes, Pepper, you are certainly allowed to say that but now I REALLY am blushing. You flatter me! And thank you. And to the rest of oyu, did Pepper happen to mention that he hasn't had his eyes checked since...what was it you said? 1990? ;)

Cheers, Penny...who is going to hide for a bit...I don't blush well!:eek:

[travel-to-go]

Travel-to-go (Karie)- Is mariaemp675 (Maria P.) ok? I sent her a email around the holidays and haven't heard from her. Don't know if she is feeling ok or maybe away. Pls advise.

 

Thank you........

Ed,

It wouldn't hurt to give her a buzz. The holidays are stressful for many, and she has had lots of work due to her position in the Coop with construction and such adding to her stress. Her medical issues, of course have added to her burdens. I think she is doing pretty well, under the circumstances, and I have beggeed her to post here, We talk about once a week. Give her a call, and email, drop her a line.

I will try to give her a buzz and tell her to get her lazy... um, tiara on these boards! I'm ready to book again!

 

Karie,

who is so grateful for the fabulous caring people on this board!

[travel-to-go]

Penny - you're not boring me:) I'm loving it __________________

Malcolm

 

Penny,

You may have to tone it down a bit.

I think you are making a convert of Malcolm!

 

And I believe the reason Pepper hasn't had his eyes checked is that they are PERFECT!

 

I, too, have seen you in that gown, and I swear, if it wasn't for how much I love Marc, I might consider worshiping in the other pew!

 

You look both majestic and sexy, elegant and playful, if those dichotomies are possible!

 

Karie,

who is ready to faint at the thoughts that you have turned QM2's most vociferous detractors into believers!

[patwell]

(But I'm waiting for the full description of how she tried to hide when they came to throw her off and how she put those claw marks in the carpets)

 

OK, picture this...I'm in my Deck 11 "aerie" 11059(see review)...I hear voices from far down the hall. They're coming for me I know so I gracefully swing from balcony to balcony til I find an open door and dart out from Cabin 11065. I race to the B elevators and catch one going up while everyone else is going down to disembark. Pretty clever of me I think. I dash off on Deck 12 and run nimbly...OK, not exactly nimbly, I haven't done that since I was 10...out onto the deck and up to Deck 13..I climb over that silly railing in front of the funnel and somehow manage to scale the wall up to the funnel itself. I'm wearing basic black so I blend in with the funnel....they'll never see me and then I can escape to Cusyl's lifeboat. Except for that darn white Queen Mary 2 logo on the front of my shirt!!! Bad wardrobe choice I think but it's too late...they have me surrounded. I cling to the funnel and they grab my feet and drag...thus the claw marks...all the way down!!

 

OK? Cheers, Penny...a very delusional Penny

[travel-to-go]

Not only has Penny managed to get the CD and ACD and Captain and his wife to join them, she has managed to attract the Queen!

 

No, not that one! I have just spoken to Queen Maria, and tired though she is from meeting with her constituencies, she has agreed to give us an audience.

Or maybe it is Penny she is bowing to, I'm not sure!

 

Karie,

one of her humble servant

[patwell]

Penny,

You may have to tone it down a bit.

I think you are making a convert of Malcolm!

 

And I believe the reason Pepper hasn't had his eyes checked is that they are PERFECT!

 

I, too, have seen you in that gown, and I swear, if it wasn't for how much I love Marc, I might consider worshiping in the other pew!

 

You look both majestic and sexy, elegant and playful, if those dichotomies are possible!

 

Karie,

who is ready to faint at the thoughts that you have turned QM2's most vociferous detractors into believers!

 

 

Folks....I want to point out here that I am obviously not the only delusional person on this board...I am REALLY blushing here tonight!!!:eek:

 

And Malcolm...I truly appreciate your comments and I am not trying to convert anyone...just open an eye or two to be more receptive. And I'm grateful and honored that you are willing to listen...and hopefully enjoy.:)

[mariaemp675@hotmail.com]

First let me say that I am enthralled with Penny's commentary.

 

Penny, I don't know what to say except when you are ready to publish, let me know so I can talk to my friend at Harper-Collins about getting you an agent. :)

 

Now - for all of you who have expressed concern about me. A Very Big Thank you! :D

 

I don't want to take away from Penny's thread, so I will just say that I am doing well and have some follow up testing scheduled.

 

For all of you who have emailed me - I promise to write to you all soon.

 

Honestly, after reading Penny's words, I am ready for another QM2 cruise myself.

 

Ed and Bev, I wish I was sailing with you in April. I still have your Bon Voyage gifts here, so we better get together before you sail.

 

Karie, Here I am - so there. :p

 

Penny, Keep the marvelous words coming. ;)

 

Smiles, :)

Maria

[travel-to-go]

Wow, Penny!

Your words ARE powerful!

Powerful enough to bring Maria out of self-imposed exile!

 

I was beginning to think she was having a secret affair of her own!

 

Karie,

who is duly impressed!

 

We'll talk soon, Maria!

[patwell]

Maria...thank you , thank you...not for your words of praise which I truly appreciate but because you are back here with all of us who have worried about your absense. If it took my ramblings to do it I'm thrilled. It was great to just see your name here tonight. And you know what? A cruise on QM2 is beyond what the Dr ordered so pull out that brochure and pick a date. I'll make sure all my QM2 fantasies are waiting for you at the gangway to give you a head start!:D

 

Well done Karie...talk about powerful!!!;)

 

Cheers, Penny...who is smart enough to know that if you want something done, turn Karie loose on it! Welcome home Maria!

[guernseyguy]

Penny,

 

Love the review, and I'm so glad you had

 

An Affair to Remember

 

Rather than

 

A Night to Remember

 

Peter

[patwell]

Penny,

 

Love the review, and I'm so glad you had

 

An Affair to Remember

 

Rather than

 

A Night to Remember

 

Peter

 

Thank you Peter...I'm so pleased you're enjoying it. I sure did...gosh, there's a surprise!;) And I too am glad it wasn't "A Night To Remember"...altho I came close to one of those on the old Gripsholm when I was 3...thankfully I have no memory of how frightening it was for everyone

Cheers, Penny

[patwell]

Long ago ocean travel was treated as a celebration by the wealthy. Dress was more formal and dinner an event to be lingered over and savored. A time to see and be seen. How we had anticipated this chance to dress to suit our elegant surroundings. We dine fashionably late...how decadently marvelous. Pre dinner drinks in the sophisticated Commodore Club....of course. I don’t think we have ever looked better or felt more glamorous, and where else but the Commodore Club would one go when feeling so extraordinary. Nico, our waiter, brings our drinks without asking...we are “regulars” here you know. We sit there and just smile at each other from the pure joy of it all.

 

All around us we see others dressed in their finery as we all glide through the ship in pursuit of our dreams. I start getting these flashbacks of what the grand old liners must have been like on those gracious bygone evenings. It must have felt just like this....refined, self indulgent and oh-so-elegant. If there is a real world out there somewhere I believe I’ve forgotten it exists. Oh, if life could be this simple all the time.

 

Entering the grandeur of the Britannia restaurant is breathtakingly beautiful at night. And never more so than when one is surrounded by the elegance of fellow travelers. The ladies in exquisite gowns...the men so debonair in their tuxes...it is every little girl’s fantasy come to life and I am living it. To descend that dramatic staircase on the arm of the love of your life is truly the stuff dreams are made of. Royalty could not feel more...well, royal. And it hits me again...this is surely what “privilege” feels like. I reach the bottom and thank the staircase gods that I didn’t trip!

 

All around is the swish of silk... the rustle of satin...subtle fragrances intermingling. The soft light is delightfully flattering. That’s an important thing to a woman of a certain age. It is incredibly, decadently romantic and for the moment, I know what those days of old must have felt like. The famous, the infamous, the ordinary...it’s hard to feel ordinary on a night like this. My mind keeps snapping these mental images of it all so that when I wake up, and this has all been a dream, I’ll be able to retrieve these images and remember how special I dreamed I was. And how incredible the rack of lamb we were served...succulently rare, impossibly juicy, delectibly displayed with the most imaginative presentation of the humble potato I have ever seen. My tastebuds were completely satiated.

 

I do believe if we had lingered any longer we all might just have drifted off in some euphoric state to never-never land. Instead we leisurely stroll the Grand Promenade enjoying the sights. OK, maybe we duck-walk from side to side a bit to compensate for that wonderful rocking...not the easiest thing in high heels and a slinky gown. Since it’s a formal night the photographers are out in full force. I’m not a fan of pretend backdrops and we adroitly avoid them all. Suddenly we stumble, literally, ( must be all that rocking and rolling) on one with a plain background and we acquiesce....what the heck we figure, we don’t have to buy it. And of course we end up with the most fantastic photo of the four of us we’ve ever taken. Somehow he captured that essence of the glorious evening we were all feeling and the smiles we wore were glowing with genuine happiness. A moment in time, never to be repeated in quite the same way and I am delighted we have captured it forever. Someday this small reminder of happy times together will be a special memory.

 

We visit the gods of the Casino and pay our respects in coin of the realm....lots of coin of the realm. A mere pittance for all this sumptuousness. I’d consider giving them my first and only born son if I could stay! All around us are tuxedos and evening gowns...did we detour to Monte Carlo I wonder? I listen to hear if James Bond is being paged...it’s that kind of night. I wouldn’t miss the glamour of a formal night for anything in the world. This is pure fantasy and my wonderful ship has laid it all at my feet for my private amusement. Well, maybe not private. The cacophony of noise in the casino is glaring in contrast to the refinement of the rest of the ship but it sure is fun for a little while. But the Commodore Club calls...again. We cannot resist this place! To sit on this fabulous ship while looking at the incredible model of it behind the bar is almost surrealistic. Actually, the Commodore Club puts me in an almost surrealistic state of mind. What a simply marvelous way to end a night to remember. We return to our cabin where the full moon is shining on our balcony to welcome us home...pure fantasy!

 

Morning arrives all too soon...it’ll do that when one stays up very late and then forgets, again, to close the drapes! And for that bit of forgetfulness the balcony rewards me with a memory I’ll never forget. Looking towards the bow the QM2 sails into the rising sun....a tapestry of apricot colored clouds with the sun straining to peek out. When I glance to the stern there is the full moon still suspended in the dark night sky. Did I mention how romantic a full moon at sea can be? The ocean is illuminated with the purest of light and in a moment of illusion I feel it shines on us alone. Magic!

 

Later in the morning, in yet another moment of forgetfulness I run back to the cabin to retrieve something and there, under the door, is this handsome white envelope, beautifully inscribed. I open it to find an invitation to dine at the Captain’s table that night. NOW I’m speechless! I think I did an impromptu dance around the bed...or maybe it was on the bed. Thankfully someone in the Captain’s office knew we were traveling together and our friends received their invitation as well. I breathe a sigh of real relief. We float through the day on our little piece of heaven on earth.

 

Cheers, Penny...tomorrow some moments of reflection

[pnhmrk]

You may have to tone it down a bit.

I think you are making a convert of Malcolm!

 

Karie - What have I been converted from and to? I still think that the QM2 is designed to look the part of a liner whilst not being the best design for the job of transatlantic sailings; I still think that the Cunard of old was much better (and a lot more expensive) then the Cunard of today; I still think that the QE2 looks more like a proper boat then the QM2.

 

The only change that has happened in the past few months is that I would now consider the QM2 - if she happened to be going where I wanted when I wanted (unlike the QE2 when I would make my travel plans fit her schedule).

 

You have turned QM2's most vociferous detractors into believers!

 

Penny - I'm enjoying your review but you haven't made me think any more highly of that ship - I'm enjoying your reaction, the innocent way that you describe your time onboard, the obvious delight you got when you experienced something.

[patwell]

 

Penny - I'm enjoying your review but you haven't made me think any more highly of that ship - I'm enjoying your reaction, the innocent way that you describe your time onboard, the obvious delight you got when you experienced something.

 

And that, my dear Malcolm, is just what I was hoping to convey. Thank you...I'd never try to convert anyone from anything! But boy, do I love that ship!

 

Cheers, Penny

[Bramcruiser]

Sounds like Penny will have to take Malcolm on a voyage on the QM2 so he'll have no choice but to be enthuised (is that a word?). So Penny, better start planning. (Something tells me she already is!)

 

David

[pnhmrk]

So Penny, better start planning. (Something tells me she already is!)

 

Penny - if you're planning just remember that I've talked about a penthouse lifeboat and meals in the QG when it comes to my turn to take you on the QE2 - I'd expect nothing less on the QM2

[Joyfredsblondecruiser]

Penny I have enjoyed your review so much and I want to thank you for sharing it with us. Your writing style makes me feel we are there on the ship with you. Happy Sailing, Joy

[The Scotsman]

Penny

 

I think you should be in charge of Cunard's next brochure. I can't think of a better advert for cruising on the QM2. I have had to refrain myself from booking a trip I was so taken with your diary (2 upcoming cruises on Celebrity this year). Maybe next year.

 

Thanks for giving us the opportunity to relive your memories.

[Finch]

Penny: Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us. It is poetically written, and brings me back to my experiences on the QM2 and the QE2. Such joy! I hope to go back this summer. Great writing!!

 

Karie: Sorry to hear about Marc's aunt. You are both in my thoughts and prayers.

 

Maria: It's great to hear from you on the Board! I hope that you are feeling better. You are in my thoughts and prayers as well.

[travel-to-go]

Malcolm,

I'll shut up now. I don't want anything to break into Penny's marvelous fantasy. We'll save the QE2/QM2 debate for a less magical thread.

 

Finch, thank you for your kind words. I all seems so unreal. I keep having to remind myself we are not going to SEE her. I guess it's the price of getting older. Suddenly you know more people who die, recognize more names in the obits, and I guess you get used to it.

 

Pennny, please, do go one with your real-life fairy tale. Sorry to have interrupted!

 

Karie,

who will be quiet now.

[Dame Delilah]

love your beautiful music--keep it coming. Can't wait for the next episode!!