Tuesday January 3, 2023
Today Anne and Roger embarked on a 4 month world voyage taking us initially across the Atlantic, then through the Mediterranean, Suez Canal Red Sea, Arabian Sea, South China Sea, Around Australia and back across the Indian Ocean, across the bottom of Africa and up the West African Coast and back across the Atlantic Ocean to New York.
We make some 33 Port stops in 17 countries which include: –
United Kingdom – Southampton
Spain – Lisbon, Tenerife
Greece – Crete
Egypt – Luxor, Valley of the Kings
Oman – Salalah, Muscat
United Arab Emirates – Dubai, Abu Dhabi
Malaysia – Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Port Kelang
Singapore
Thailand – Bangkok, Laem Chabang
Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Indonesia – Bali
Australia – Darwin, Whitsunday Islands, Airlie Beach, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Kangaroo Island, Adelaide, Margaret River, Busselton, Perth, Fremantle
Reunion Island – Le Port
Mauritius – Port Louis
South Africa – Durban, Port Elizabeth, CapeTown,
Namibia – Wallis Bay
We had been planning for this trip for some time as it was booked for 2 years ago, then one year ago, but COVID had other plans for our travel! So the final preparations took place in New York and off we set with our 10 pieces of luggage and 2 carry-on’s to the dock on a rainy, foggy day. We could not see the ship (longer than the Empire State Building is tall) until we were some 50 yards away!
We checked in, found our cabin 11.061, chatted with our Cabin Steward (Joseph with 20 years on Cunard) and headed for lunch before heading back to tackle the daunting task of unpacking and finding a place for all our belongings in the 420 SqFt cabin. As we had been packing for a couple of months, we realized that there were several duplicated items! However, all was accommodated. We also went to the dining room to see where the table we we had been assigned was located. This was by a window (nice) but bunched up in a group of 4 (2-person) tables (not so good) in a corner on the much larger and busier 2nd floor, next to where we had sat at a table for 6 of us (Hubps and Cliffords) for the Quebec Cruise some 2 months ago. We spoke to the Maitre D’ after finding the perfect table (745) on the 3rd (upper) floor, overlooking the grand staircase and lower floor. We soon were greeted by the Sommelier – Roger; The waiter – Anthony and the assistant waiter – Jhonel who all said their contracts were up after April 30 when we get off the ship, a big advantage as we will be with them all the way through. Captain Akeem A. Hashmi (an amusing pleasant Captain we had come across on prior voyages) welcomed us and we were well underway.
The show was the Broadway review, introduced by the Entertainment Director – Neil Kelly (a short, middle aged, man with a great sense of humor) performed by the singers and dancers of the Cunard troupe, always fun, well done and rapid costume changes. These four singers we feel are particularly good as compared to others we have seen on board. We were amused that the Music Director and Conductor of the Theatre orchestra was none other than “Grumpy” (Jeff Hughes). I say “Grumpy” as during our last world cruise he was the music director and each time we came across him in person, he was always very grumpy! The other known bartender was Mr. “Pisco Sour” who greeted us like long lost friends as we had made his acquaintance during prior voyages in the Commodore Club (bar). Finally Yoyo, the voyage specialist who books future cruises, will be on board for the 4 months and great hugs and festivities were had when we met up as we had not seen each other since before COVID. Always nice to meet up with people one knows on the ship.
Roger & Anne Travels 