Day 1 - Friday 10th
January 2014 – Southampton.
Day 1 - Friday 10th January 2014 - Southampton
Arise at
07.45 and returned hire car to ‘Enterprise Cars’ depot near to Dock Gate No.8
and walked back to the hotel for breakfast at 09.00, a full English buffet
style and very nice.
The hotel was full, as three cruise ships were in port all changing passengers. The Cunarders, ‘Queen Elizabeth’; ‘Queen Mary 2’ and P&O’s, ‘Arcadia’.
We had
booked a taxi for 13.00 but due to traffic hold ups we postponed this to 13.30
which did not make much difference as the heavy showers were now adding to the
problem. Taxi arrived at 14.15 driven by
a friendly Greek who certainly knew his way around Southampton docks and had us
at the terminal by 14.30, to commence boarding proceedings.
This involved checking passports, visas, picture taken for security and issue of plastic card which does everything, cabin door and swiped for all of your payments which will amassed in US dollars.
Through the final security checks and x-ray machines, happy picture
taken before boarding, then out of the terminal and you wait in line with this
magnificent ocean liner towering above.
Its shining black hull with its gleaming white accommodation above, fork lift trucks scurring about placing pallets full of luggage into the ship’s doors. You end up at the steep gangway
and ushered up, the last security check with the plastic card and you are on
board and hit by the splendour of the grand lobby on Deck No.1.
You make
your own way after been given directions to your own cabin which are called staterooms
on the ship, ours being number 4120 and situated midships on Deck 4, it is now
15.30. Our voyage Philipino cabin
stewardess Cristina introduced herself and told us everything will be taken of.
 |
| Commodore Room |
There was an invitation to all around the world cruises to a reception in the
Commodore Club on Deck 10 up till 16.00.
We shot up there to this magnificent room at the top deck and most
forward with a magnificent view over the Solent.
On entry we
were served with champagne and hors d’oeuvres by our East European
waiters. This was a great and impressive
way of starting the cruise
 |
| The Cake |
Within the
room was this magnificent cake and ice
sculptures showing us the world and the ports we would be visiting.
After the
reception, it was back to the cabin to do the unpacking and before too long it
was getting near to the firework display.
Also in port was another Cunarder ‘Queen May 2” who was celebrating ten year’s in service.
 |
| Queen Mary 2 |
Fireworks blasted off at 20.00, this
wonderful display was spoilt by the heavy rain showers, I watched it from
inside the ship in the ‘Lido’.
20.30 and it
was time for our second sitting in the Britannia Resturant situated at the
stern of the ships on the 2nd and 3rd decks. Our table was no.379 on the 2nd
deck. We set sail shortly after sitting
down and on our table were a French couple celebrating their 50th
wedding anniversary, they spoke very little English and our French is
minimal. While dining on an excellent
meal of soup, venison and cheesecake we had a good laugh, scribbling down
diagrams and using hand gestures trying to communicate.
After dinner
we toured the interiors of the ship, literally gob-smacked by the splendour and
opulence of it all. Found the ‘Golden
Lion’ pub on Deck 2. They were closing early and we were directed to the ‘Yacht Club’ on Deck 10 for our gin and tonic nite caps. There were not many people
around at 01.00, it had all been a long day, so off to bed after a very
eventful day.
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