Day 24, and the morning of Day 25 of 102

Friday 3rd February.

Now, I know the inadequacy of the soundproofing  in those lovely single cabins on Deck 2.  I must be careful not to talk to myself like I do back home, especially with the industrial expletives few people hear me come out with!  I don’t mean to exaggerate, but I think it was shortly after 06.30 hrs that I was aroused from a much needed deep sleep to lively conversation seemingly from next door.  The light through the tightly shut curtains indicated I may have overslept.  With weary heavy eyes, I looked at my watch.  To my abject disgust, it was reading around 25 minutes to 7 o’clock.  That is 02.35 hrs back home, 21.35hrs in New York!  (I think).  I hope this wake-up call is a one-off, but I, in turn, must be ultra careful with the TV, which I must keep extremely low.  It was explained to me that the cabins are partitioned by a metal sound-conducting bulk head, not the wisest place to affix the nice flat screen Samsung television! 

Some 300 passengers disembarked at Dubai, and a similar number joined Queen Mary 2 yesterday. From what I gather, many are sailing to Singapore, some as an alternative to flying. 

Captain Hashmi left the ship yesterday to be “relieved” by Captain Andrew Hall, whom I hope will also sign my Laconia portfolio.   To those new to this blog, Laconia was the first ship to complete a full world cruise between November 1922 and April 1923.  Previous “world voyages” had involved changes of ship and/or transfer to trains, and I think date back to 1890, such trips being run by Canadian Pacific, and later by Hamburg Amerika around 1913.  Cunard, in 2023, have designated their two World Voyages as Centenary Voyages, one around the world, and the cruise I am on, out to Australia via the Mediterranean and Asia, back via Mauritius,  South Africa, and the Canary Islands.

I tried to stay up to watch as we left Dubai. By the time I went to bed at 00.30 hrs this morning, we were still tied up indicating a later departure than originally planned.  According to Captain Hall’s maiden noonday address, we left Dubai Cruise Harbour (much nicer than that at Port Rashid despite its proximity to QE2), sometime after 02 00hrs owing to delayed official administration procedures.

Today, the sea is calm as we return the way we came.  See the Current Position and other details  below.

Tomorrow, we arrive at Muscat, Oman, at around 07.00 hrs. I shall take  a short shore excursion if one is still available.  This will be our second visit to the country of Oman before we venture further southeast.  We are now, well into the fourth week  of this fourteen and a half weeks voyage.

At noon, we were passing through the Straits of Hormuz towards the Gulf of Oman.  The temperature at midday was a most acceptable 25°C and the sea, wonderfully calm.  Tomorrow promises to be warmer still. 

For just the third time on this voyage, I failed to reach my ideal target of 11,000 steps. For some reason, I felt bereft of energy all day. Presumably, this was due to being woken up just after 6.30 this morning after a late night waiting for Queen Mary 2 to depart from Dubai.

Continued Saturday morning, 4th February. Being unexpectedly momentarily breathless a few times did concern me slightly. Jo and I enjoyed the Black and White themed Gala Night Dinner in the Britannia Restaurant, as well as the show Apassionata, a sleek compilation of very skilled and energetic dancing inspired by different countries. I have seen this show several times, but disappointingly, the Cossak dancing remains out of the repertoire, possibly replaced by a fabulous River Dance scene representing Ireland. This was received with rapturous enthusiasm from a respectably sized audience. Unfortunately, photography and video recording is prohibited – what a pity!

I feel much better this morning! I was not awakened in the early hours, and I feel ready for a good day in Muscat.

I have booked an afternoon three hour “cruise” on a Dhow, which the literature promises to be a wonderful scenic experience.

Yesterday was more one of relaxing than being energetic. This morning, I feel suitably rejuvenated from a decent sleep.

Many thanks for reading, David, in my stateroom, Saturday 4th February, 09.14 hrs.