Day 1 - Southampton

 Thursday 9th January 2014

Day 1 -  Friday 10^th 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 2^nd and 3^rd decks.  Our table was no.379 on the 2^nd deck.  We set sail shortly after sitting down and on our table were a French couple celebrating their 50^th 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.

                                                   

Prelude to Cruise

Prelude to “Queen Elizabeth” World Cruise 2014.

Tuesday 7^th January 2014

The two gentlemen who are doing the cruise Mr. Alex Tweddle and Mr. Colin Mustard who normally meet at the ‘Melton Constable’ pub in Seaton Sluice, Northumberland. UK., were invited to a weigh-in.  The locals are running a book to see how much weight Colin will put on in the forthcoming four months.  The winner receives 50% while the other 50% will be donated to the ‘Macmillan Nurses’ cancer charity.

               Alex

                          

                                                                       Colin

                                                                                        

The official weights are:- Alex 13st 7lbs while Colin 17st 6lbs

Thursday 9^th January 2014

With the very wet weather within the South and West of the UK, a ‘Cross Country’ train had been pre-booked from Newcastle direct to Southampton.  Parts of Oxfordshire had been flooded and the direct train was terminating at Birmingham with an onward journey via London.  With the amount of luggage needed for a four month voyage the idea of having to cross London from Euston to Waterloo was not acceptable, therefore, the train journey was abandoned.

A hire car was picked up from ‘Enterprise Cars’ and I left home in Seaton Sluice at 15.15 and Whitley Bay at 15.30 with Colin on board, fully loaded with four suitcases, large hand bag and a banjo.

Route took us through the Tyne Tunnel, A1(M); M18; M1; M25; M3 and with dry conditions, no hold ups and dry conditions we travelled 350 miles arriving at the ‘Premier Inn’, West Quay, Southampton at 22.00.

After booking in, we shot across to the nearest pub, just inside the old city walls called, ‘The Titanic’.  Behind and above the bar was a mural of the North Atlantic showing the position of where the ‘Titanic’ sank.  A fitting reminder of what could happen, as we sank a couple of pints of ‘Old Speckled Hen’. Back in the hotel room, Colin had brought some miniature bottles of ‘Balvenie’ whiskey to sneak on board the cruise ship but we decided to sink them straight away and both had a good night’s sleep.