Steps for today: 9,000 exactly.

Back in the day, I would travel by train directly from Macclesfield to Southampton, hop in a taxi to the appropriate cruise ship terminal and be on board in a relatively short time.  The risk of doing that was the rare possibility of the train being severely delayed, enough to miss the boat.  That never happened, but there’s always a first time!  From 2018, I chose to (as advised in several brochures) travel down the day before.  Last night, Roger, my “one or two days a year chauffeur,” drove me to a hotel I had never heard of, the Voco in Southampton.  No wonder – it only opened its doors in 2025 after taking over a structure from the 1960s and starting again. This place is newer than The Crescent in Buxton, which reopened as a modern hotel in October 2020.  As the pictures illustrate, I enjoyed a perfect view of the City Cruise Terminal opened in 2003 with major upgrades in 2007 and 2015. This is one of five such terminals in Southampton. 

Dinner at the Voco was of high-end quality – not always a good thing if one is feeling hungry!  Fortunately, my main course of chicken, Austrian potatoes and “greens” was more “filling” than it first appeared and was superbly prepared by an excellent chef.  Because I had “confessed” to an intolerance to fish, crustations and eggs, the chef would not allow me anything with even just a hint of those in the ingredients.  So, I was not allowed trifle, a dessert I was rather looking forward to – just this once!   Nevertheless, I enjoyed a delicious dinner and was hugely impressed with the attention to detail and standard of service. 

All this was a good prelude to the last ocean voyage I would take for sixteen months, or so I keep telling people.  And, what a lovely voyage to come. 

After checking in at the Queen Elizabeth II Terminal at 12.30, we were scheduled to sail for Zeebrugge at 16.00 hrs. We left around 10 minutes later.

Now for breakfast!

Roger and I were joined by people we got into conversation with last night, Richard and Diane, after a splendid breakfast. The conversation continued between finishing breakfast and awaiting an appropriate time to drive to the QEII Terminal.  It was from here that I would, back in the day, board the real QE2, even sometimes from a genuine boat train – those were the days. Such memories of glorious days (plenteous black hair and fading youth) come flooding back, adding to the continued pleasure of boarding again the still magnificent Queen Mary 2.

The boarding procedure was quick and efficient with people being processed with minimal delay.  My cabin is on Deck 13, next door to cabin 13021, my home for 120 nights back in 2018 will be ready for occupation at around 13.30 hrs.  I have left my carry-on luggage outside my stateroom door, and made myself comfortable in the Golden Lion Pub, where lunch would be a little more leisurely than the “help–your self” scrum of Day 1 in the Kings Court Buffet.  First Class (known officially as Grills Class, or unofficially the “Mixed Grills”) passengers (guests) have their own allotted high-end Grills Restaurants.  Not so the rest of us!   Surprisingly, the Golden Lion was not packed out.  Sausage, mash and rather nice French fries were among the not so healthy goodies on offer.  Simon and Liz from the previous recent cruise caught up with me in the Golden Lion.  They are now neighbours of mine on Deck 13  and have a balcony stateroom up there.  Richard and Diane whom Roger and I joined in conversation last night, joined me in the Commodore Club.  I spared them my version of a tour round the ship!   They are, however, happy to be inmortalised in my blogs. 

I have completed my unpacking, but in so doing, missed seeing Ryde and Portsmouth, something I usually make a point of doing when sailing from Southampton.

We are still in sight of land, just about.  Tomorrow, I wake up in Belgium where I have booked a two hour trip around some of the countryside.  That should be long enough!   At our four ports of call in Belgium, Norway,  Iceland and New York,  there is a good selection of rather pricey shore experiences (a posh name for bus trips!)  Dinner under the total eclipse of the sun comes in at over $1,100 and is sold out!   Almost all the total eclipse trips are also fully subscribed  However, seeing this darkening occurrence from the open decks of Queen Mary 2 has to be as special as it comes.  I need not have worried,  all passengers are being supplied with eclipse glasses.  

Dinner is in less than an hour.  I shall amble back from my wooden bench on the Boat Deck to my cabin six decks higher.

22.56 hrs

I ventured to the Britannia Restaurant at around 20.30 hrs and was shown to Table 404 in what I feel is a prime location at the centre of the lower level not far from the big table for twelve in front of the tapestry.  Seven places were set. Five made up tonight’s party, Michael from Paddington, Janet and Frank from west Canada, and Trina also from Canada, whose late husband hailed from…Stoke on Trent.  I enjoyed everybody’s company and look forward to up to another twenty such evenings.

Many thanks for reading,  David, 19.35 hrs B.S.T. on Deck 7.