Thursday May 9, 2024 – At Sea on route to Southampton
The last sea day and full day of the Maiden Voyage of Queen Anne. All the bugs, have been very efficiently and effectively been managed and all appears to be operating in “ship shape”. The minor inconveniences, were soon sorted. Unfortunately, on many social media postings, people will focus on the negatives, but from our standpoint it has been absolutely amazing. We have been impressed as to how the start of a new ship, new restaurants, new facilities have gone with so few issues. A real tribute to the excellence that is Cunard and the people that serve on the ships of this great company that will soon reach its 200 year anniversary. A major feat given all the other companies that folded when the Jet age took over from the seafaring age.
Today was another beautiful sea day, sunny and calm. The first lecture was once again the maritime historian – Chris Frame who spoke on the evolution of the passenger ships, from the first paddle steamers of the 19th century to the 2024 Queen Anne. He started off by explaining the difference between an Ocean liner and the modern cruise vessels. The Ocean Liners were built to travel on a set schedule between two points, thus required a strong narrow bow, the ability to travel faster and able to cover the distance in the allotted time irrespective of the weather. The main one being the UK to NY, but others UK to South Africa, Australia etc are all part of this. Cruise ships tend to be in less fierce waters and if a port is skipped because of weather it is not as critical. Imagine airlines where you book in advance to go from A to B leaving at a certain time and arriving at a certain time are similar to ocean liners. They don’t say well, we decided to skip that location and will stop at our next planned location or go somewhere totally different. He went from the original paddle steamers that were powered by coal being shoveled by hand to create steam to turn the paddle wheels, to the single screw (propeller), all still having sails, just in case power was lost or the engines failed. Then to the 2 and 3 screw motors and through the sophisticated motors of today that can travel very long distances without refueling or even refueling at sea if necessary.
The second lecture was the final one of the Chief Yeoman Warder who spoke of the Tower of London being built by William the Conqueror / William 1 (1066-1987) but first occupied by William II (1087 – 1100). It was the residence of the monarch for 500 years, but is mainly known as being a prison and torture house, where some 70 individuals of Royal Blood were imprisoned and / or beheaded. Some, like King Henry VIII’s 2 wives were beheaded within the walls in private but most were beheaded in view of crowds of onlookers on Tower hill. The bodies of the nobles were buried in the crypt of the church with the heads being placed on Tower Bridge for all to see. He regailed us with the tales of the two small princes (whose bodies were found there) to the different forms of torture and grueling actions taken. Most of this is part of the public tour, but some rooms are only open if one takes the “Secrets of the Tower” tour only offered periodically to limited numbers of individuals.
The Captain’s noon watch comments indicated that we had travelled some 673 nautical miles from Lisbon and had 216 nautical miles to go to Southampton at an average speed of 16.5 nautical miles/hour.
We opted for lunch in the Britania and sat next to an interesting couple from the UK. He worked for Procter & Gamble in Research (like I did, some 50 years ago) and was just told a few days before he left that a half-sister, who he never knew existed, their mother had given her up for adoption, would like to contact him. His parents and his mother’s 3 siblings are all dead, so he is intrigued to find out more when he gets home tomorrow. The afternoon was spent writing and posting the blog and after dinner we went to the Ventriloquist show of Jerry Goodspeed, who was the winner of the international ventriloquist show and famous in the field. While we were mildly entertained and appreciated his talent, we opted to leave early and enjoy a drink in the Commodore Club, which we visited for the first time. A very large well appointed bar at the front of the ship on the 12th floor (the bridge is on the 8th floor, just forward of our cabin). A point of interest – the “Bridge” is so called as there was literally an open Bridge between the two paddles of the paddle steamers, where the Captain, or officer of the watch would have to tie themselves to the railings of the bridge to avoid being thrown overboard in inclement weather. It was not until the paddle steamers were gone, that a covered “bridge” was added high up and on.the front of ships.
Tomorrow is the official end of the “Maiden Voyage” and we assume many if not most, will be getting off. We are staying on for another 7 weeks.
Roger & Anne Travels 