Tuesday April 25, 2023
Although we are still in Southampton and we have no idea of when we are flying to the NY, as we await Cunard’s decision and instructions, we look back on this sensational trip which we have thoroughly enjoyed. It is interesting to see and be on board the ship as there are fewer and fewer people. At this point we would guess that perhaps 500 guests and 1200 crew, the entertainers, the lecturers and all the other people that were contracted to do the crossing are all that remain. Areas are being closed down or reduced. The two shows that are usually done each night have now been reduced to one show tonight as there are so few people. It’s interesting to experience this and we are enjoying seeing things in “slower motion” we know this is a major setback for Cunard and after the COVID time, we hope they survive as it’s a really excellent cruise / voyage line. We have already booked for more trips on this line over the next years.
Today we managed to transfer some of the extra baggage that we don’t need right away to our local home. This was good to get that sorted. We were back before 3PM as that was when the tour of the backstage that we had bid on and won in the Country Fayre, was to take place. Anne decided to skip it but I was in my element and thoroughly enjoyed getting a chance to see the equipment, the backstage and indeed the communication control room, the illuminations theatre and was even allowed to start the planetarium show from inside the booth. Because of my background in theatre (my first lead role in a theatre show was in England in the mid 1960’s) and worked years ago doing lighting – my last lighting design was for an off-Broadway show a couple of years ago, I was taken to the lighting booth and the sound booth and amazed how little space there is backstage for set storage and no space for the cast to cross backstage other than in the general crew area. A lot of questions that I have often wondered about, I had answered. The people are all amazing that work to bring things to life each night. The show tonight was the brilliant Allen Stewart. He is a Scotsman with a good singing voice having starred in the Al Jolson Story and The Producers in London as well as many pantomimes. He had a brilliant sense of humor great interaction with the (small) audience who really appreciated him and gave him a standing ovation. A show not no be missed.
Roger & Anne Travels 