Interactive Winter Crossing - January 10, 2008

(note: check back over time as I add more information to these posts, such as additional video, menus, etc.)

7:30AM and I'm on deck, virtually alone and it's still somewhat dark.  Queen Victoria is back off to our starboard side today.
 

Seas have calmed down and QE2 appears to be going ever so slow; less than 20 knots according to the stats on the cabin TV.  Just look at the minimal wake.  It's also light enough out to make out the brown exhaust streak in the sky from her MAN diesels.  Queen Victoria's exhaust is less apparent, perhaps due to newer equipment fitted to comply with the ever tightening emissions regulations.
 

Surprise, surprise, the Funnel Bar was deserted.

At this point, with no one around, I was able to examine the aluminum superstructure and document the numerous patches at stress points, correcting cracking of the aluminum due to all her years on the Atlantic.  I view them as battle scars.  At forty years old, this is quite acceptable, but in reality, the ship started experiencing these stress cracks shortly after she was put into service.  The second patch below had a patch on top of a previous patch.  Wow!  I've read that there are crew members specifically assigned to repair this while at sea.  The amount of paint on the plating is also apparent around the patch, where the paint was removed to bare aluminum for the rewelding and in the instance below, additional fasteners.

Pool was drained and netted.  Hot tubs filled, but no takers yet......

The real reason I got up early was to see if they would do anything special while we neared the location of the sinking of Titanic.  I could be wrong, but I think I caught the tail end of the wreath ceremony.  Something special was clearly going on.

Thomas was there among other crew and was that some sort of wreath on the table?  Is the window open to toss the wreath overboard?

With the decks empty, I got a chance to photograph the "bubble" in the teak deck that we had kept walking over each time we took a stroll on deck.  The teak planks in these areas had become separated from the steel plates and the deck bulged in this area, creating a mild tripping hazard that I was a bit surprised that Cunard had not addressed or had roped off.  (note: this would be corrected after the completion of the World Cruise during QE2's "wet dock" at Southampton in April)

With the skies brightening, it was time to head back in and get ready for a full breakfast in the Caronia Restaurant, looking forward to orange marmalade on toast, served in those very cool silver toast racks.  If they had sold them on board, I would have definitely bought one.  (hint, hint Cunard, make this so!)

Thankfully, today turned out to be a beautifully sunny, but cold day in the North Atlantic, perfect for exterior photographs of QE2 and Queen Victoria.  Moments like this, Queen Victoria is looking sharp, although still alot like a floating block of apartment flats with all those balconies.

All the photographers were out on deck with the perfect lighting conditions.  After talking to this guy about his camera, I definitely had big zoom lens camera envy!  I think I did pretty good with what I brought for the Sony Minicam has a decent lens, as long as there was decent light. 

Walking on deck, I was reminded of Queen Mary, having seen the scenes shot onboard for the movie Poseidon Adventure, which by the way, was instrumental in starting my facination with ocean liners in my early years.

 Another shot that reminds me of that scene in Titanic where Jack sees Rose from the deck below, looking off into the distance.  Everywhere you walk, the iconic funnel dominates the skyline!

Passengers were posing all day with the new Queen in the background.

A quick pop down to 3 Deck and our cabin, number 3129.  Here's the view forward, showing the original wood panelling.  Our cabin was considered a first class cabin back in the days when QE2 was a two class ship.

On my way back up to deck, I decided to stop by the various restaurants to photograph them empty.  Mauritania Restaurant, where we dined in 2000 is pictured here.  (Iinterestingly, I would dine here again in September in one of the tables on the left).

Another view in the A Stairway at the top landing, with the Britannia figurehead on the right and illustrating the metal balustrade extensions.

Back on Boat Deck in time for a spectacular sunset to end the day.

Back inside again, I spotted carpet repairs going on.  QE2 would be retired in November, yet Cunard was going to have her go out looking good, at least from the passengers perspective.  This would be in sharp contrast to the sad events of the retirement of QE2's namesake, which was only repainted on the side of the ship the Queen would see before the original Lizzie left Southampton for the final time in the early 70's.

Looking all the way down to 5 Deck from the top of A Stair.

From 5 Deck, looking upward.  This stairway, used daily in lieu of the lifts, helped the waistline from expanding while on board!

Dinner in Caronia was topped off with an embarrassing gaggle of singing wait staff and a very tasty cake in a belated celebration of my birthday, ending another spectacular day on board QE2.  This was what I expected a crossing on QE2 to be exactly.  The ship was truly living up to all the hype.  Transatlantic Crossings are a unique experience and Cunard has kept the the tradition alive all these years with QE2.  "The only way to cross!"

Interactive Winter Crossing - January 9, 2008

(note: check back over time as I add more information to these posts, such as additional video, menus, etc.)

Third full sea day and we're back to dreary weather again and Queen Victoria is off to port again.  Early in the AM, the switch had been made, with her dropping off speed and then slipping behind us, and then catching back up.  I wonder if we slowed down so she could catch up with all of her engines running!

Once again, my favorite area was off limits due to the high winds.  I spotted activity on the open bridge wing, one of QE2's now somewhat unique features among the current fleet of cruise ships, which predominantly have enclosed bridges, full width of the ship.

Turns out is was Captain McNaught, wearing glasses with what looked like one very lucky passenger.  I would make my attempt once again, writing the Captain to request a bridge tour, on this trip, only to be turned down yet again "due to security reasons."  At least I got a letter signed from the captain expressing his regrets.

Seas and wind pretty much curtailed all outdoor activities for the day.  At this point, I'm starting to appreciate the view a bit better, thinking to myself that at least the stern decks are tiered more like a traditional ocean liner, at least in appearance.  These areas are all large private balconied cabins and not public spaces such as on QE2.  Either way, I'm trying to like Queen Victoria from afar.

Here's a view of the port side Boat Deck, taken from the protected area near the stairs to the forward observation deck.  A few brave passengers were about, but walking on deck today, into the wind, was more challenging and the older passengers stayed indoors.

As you can see, it was windy and the spray off QE2 hull was in the air and wreaking havoc on my camera lens.



























Back inside, at the top of the A stairway, is a model that was once on display in the original configuration of the Britannia Restaurant.  I am not sure what the name or significance of this ship is.  It is not the Cunard's original Britannia as she was a sidewheeler.  The wall coverings and artwork in this stair are essentially as they were since the ship was built.  Carpets have been changed and the balustrade modified over time to comply with newer safety standards.  The A stair is a bit of a mystery to those unfamiliar with the history of the ship.  A few floors are bypassed at the upper levels, a function of the two class layout that the ship had when originally constructed.  I would use this stair every day to go from our 3 Deck level directly to the Boat Deck; a very nice workout to work off all the "Full English" breakfasts, pub lunches (with Guinness), and the wonderful dinners in Caronia Restaurant.

This carving was oddly positioned in the A Stair upper lobby, in front of what is now the Mauretania Restaurant.  This carving of Britannia was commissioned by Lloyds of London and presented to Cunard and one stood on display in the original configuration of the Britannia Restaurant.  Original plastic laminate wall coverings, whose pattern was specifically designed for the ship, along with some of the original modern art on display are visible to the right.  The red balustrade is original, but the metal handrail installed above to increase the height, are a later addition.

Additional information on the history and refurbishment of this iconic carving can be found here, on Commodore Warwick's son's QE2 website.

Queen Victoria turned on all her exterior lights early on in the afternoon as the skies darkened.  She was looking rather smart cutting through the seas now.  I kept saying "she's the future so embrace her."  Still, the funnel, a clear QE2 knock-off, appears oddly placed towards the rear, instead of more amidships as QE2's, probably purely a function of locating the engines farther aft closer to her Asipod propulsion units.

Here, I believe I am standing just outside the revolving door entrance to one of the main gift ships, protected a bit from the elements as it began to rain again.  It appeared that the seas had kicked up a bit too in response to the higher winds.

Those standing beside me, chatting about Cunard's future and clicking away at the same time were treated to a few spectacular moments.  I wished I had a better camera at this time to capture this in the low light conditions.

We were have such a grand time on board doing nothing (well not really since the days were filled with Cunard Enrichment lectures, bridge lessons, and elegant dining) and thoroughly enjoying it
; so much so that these are all the photos I took for the day!