Sunday June 23, 2024 – Southampton, UK – Arrive on Queen Anne, Board Queen Mary II for Transatlantic Crossing to New York.
We were up early, did our final packing and were ready to disembark Queen Anne by 8:30 AM. However we were not allowed off even though we had been told as we and 95 others were going from one ship to another and could get off any time. Eventually we were able to get out, collect our luggage and found the coach that would take our luggage to queen Mary II. We chatted with the driver for a while and then eventually about 10:30 we and about 40 people were taken over to the Queen Elizabeth II terminal where the Queen Mary II was docked. Our luggage went automatically through the process and we next saw it in the new room on Queen Mary. We had been told that we could check in and take our hand luggage into our room then get off the ship and spend the day in Southampton. Well, after a bit of confusion at the QM2 terminal, we did check in, but no-one was allowed on the ship as guests were still getting off the ship. So with 6 pieces of hand luggage we contacted Suzanne and Neil Davidson, who kindly drove down to join us for lunch and they picked us up and off to a nice restaurant overlooking the marina, which was terrific. It was great to hear of their recent trip to the wilds of Africa, where they rented a “home on wheels” and went off into the wilds, with only the animals to keep them company. It sounded like a truly amazing trip.
They then kindly dropped us back at the terminal, we boarded, got our cabin, met our Cabin Steward – Rhoderick; and got it sorted. We enjoyed dinner at our “unusual” table! There are a group of 5 tables at the entrance on the 3rd deck port side, that we like to sit at. “Our” table was taken by the same couple that took over that table after the World trip last year and had it again this year. They are from the USA and get on for 4 months each summer, sit at the same table and go wherever the ship goes, mostly back and forth across the Atlantic. They have been doing this for about 12 years, so “our” table is theirs, but we did get 741, which is the one we use when 745 is occupied. This is really important stuff!! Anyway, after dinner we enjoyed the show – the Argentinian, with Italian father living in Los Angeles – Fabio Zuni – what he can do with a guitar is nothing but amazing. A true talent on the acoustic guitar.
For this journey the Captain – Aseem Hashmi – who is not one of our favorites, is the Master. We embarked on the 6 day voyage at high speed as it usually is done in 7 days.
Roger & Anne Travels 