Day 93 of 102, and now, Day 94.

Written yesterday, 13th April.

Rarely on any voyage are 11 sea days punctuated by just one final port of call, unless perhaps while returning home via Africa’s West coast.  From Cape Town, our ship takes a Northwesterly course as we steam directly towards Tenerife, crossing the Equator tomorrow. (See above)

I have happy memories of Tenerife, especially a trip in 1981 organised by Hartle’s Tours of Buxton.  Mother treated me to that particular vacation, and I would return many times since.  Of course, I am no longer in my early thirties, more like approaching my mid seventies, but still with a young head!   And, Tenerife is probably not now my first choice of holiday destination.  I feel a bit old for late nights and “clubbing.”  

On board ship, I can not sit in the sun for long, which is probably a good thing.  Today, Thursday, 13th April, it is humid outside, and I didn’t get a very good sleep. Tonight is Gala Night (yet again). This afternoon, after lunch in the Britannia Restaurant, I shall attempt to walk off some of the calories consumed over breakfast and lunch.  I feel as if I have lost some weight.  A jacket bought in 2018 is now obviously too large.  But it might have been when I bought it.  However, I have walked around 354 miles since January 11th, impressive until one calculates it down to an average of 3.8 miles/day, or just over 10 laps of Deck 7 each day, 3 laps equalling 1.1 miles.  But, don’t think for one moment that all my walking has been around Deck 7! It still feels a real effort using the stairs from Deck 2 to 7, and then to 12. And, needless to say, I have also explored sometimes on foot, several cities, and other places ashore in Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa.

At the moment, I am resisting the temptation to book further cruises, a temptation that increases as this voyage begins to draw to a close, and while it remains lovely and hot outside. However, I have been to most of what is on offer, except Japan.  My nine days away from the ship in Australia re-awakened my desire for travel on ordinary trains and buses, very much like my travels last year in the U.S A.   However, I really am enjoying this run of eight sea days in the Atlantic.  It’s absolutely brilliant to just relax and cogitate options, which, not so long ago, would merely be pie in the sky, and which may well be again not so long from now.

Continued today over breakfast in the Kings Court Buffet, 10.18 hrs.

Day 94 of 102. “Farewell, Southern Hemisphere “

Ye Gods! The days left of this voyage are down to single figures. Of course, I have mixed feelings. The days of having absolutely everything done for me are drawing to a close. (To be fair, I do little for myself at home also!) And perhaps I shouldn’t expect the warmest of welcomes when I do finally get home. Yet again, I have dodged a lousy winter! But, I won’t be dodging it next year, I don’t think. Yep, 2024 is rumoured to be the last year Queen Mary 2 embarks on a World Voyage. There are a few differences to that of this year, but seeing the Golden Buddha for a third time is not high on my list of priorities.

If it’s true that Cunard’s Flagship is being deployed elsewhere after 2024, next year’s World Voyage will bring the curtain down on an era that started in 2007. In 2025, new-build Queen Anne embarks on her maiden World Cruise, which actually does circumnavigate the world in a westbound direction. More or less at the same time, Cunard’s Queen Victoria returns to South America.

Today, we leave the Southern Hemisphere at 21.56 hrs tonight (according to Neil Kelly in his daily morning broadcast on the stateroom T.V.). This means authorisation from King Neptune earlier this afternoon after the centuries old naval traditions of crossing the Equator are enacted at the Terrace Pool, aft on Deck 8. I really ought to go, as this may well be my last crossing of the Equator. Cunard seems to have given up issuing passengers with certificates confirming having crossed from one hemisphere to the next. These were/are always nice documents. I do have a very battered one originally belonging to Caroline Sachter, passenger on the first World Cruise of 1922/23. Is this the only surviving example anywhere?

I slept well last night after dressing up for the Masquerade Gala Night. Several entered the spirit of the occasion with some very imaginative face masks. The show, which didn’t come across as unmissable when I read the details, was superb, with a West End artist putting his fabulous tenor voice through its virtuoso paces. His rendition of the iconic Italian song O Sole Mio was fabulous, especially when he broke into the 1981 re-write, Just One Cornetto! The almost 100% standing ovation was justified on this occasion. Such occurrences should be rare, but these days, “a standing” is almost nightly, especially at the front row. I remain amazed at the flexibility of the (usually) eight-piece Royal Court Theatre Orchestra. But I suspect they are pretty familiar with Nessun Dorma!

Not surprisingly, as we steam ever Northwest, it’s quite hot and humid, and I have lacked the energy or inclination to walk much today. It even rained this morning, and more rain is forecast for tomorrow.

The fundraising Country Fayre is scheduled for Sunday. Its origins go back to the days when the very wealthy would take long voyages and end up with far more than they came away with. Excess clothes, souvenirs, presents, etc, which could not be packed would form a kind of jumble sale. Over the years, this has evolved into a kind of indoor garden party with various stalls where games, etc, are set up. The afternoon concludes with an auction, mainly of ship related items. I have come away with some good items, the first being a 1969 heavy silver plated sugar dispenser from (latterly) the Queens Grill on the QE2. It would be interesting to see what Cunard memorabilia comes to light on Sunday.

I have been able to acquire my cruise history today. Not including this 102 night voyage, I have completed 41 Cunard sailings since December 1988, and have been on board for 701 nights.

Saturday 15th April, 00.37 hrs

We have, within the last few minutes, passed into the Northern Hemisphere just before midnight. A week on Sunday, will see a harsh return to normality as we eventually walk away from our home for the last 102 nights. Many will have future travel in the bag. My next firm booking is the maiden voyage of Queen Anne next year.

Many thanks for reading, David, 00.43 hrs, 15/4/23. in his stateroom.