Steps 4,402. Day 2/5 Reykjavik to New York.

Today, I feel vastly better than yesterday when I needed to smile through a degree of self-inflicted gastric discomfort.   I passed on eating in the main restaurant, choosing to have very simple food in the Kings Court Buffet where I enjoyed fine sunset views which had followed a typical north Atlantic mist.  It was the same for much of today and not yet really beginning to warm up.

There’s another eclipse next year with almost 5 minutes of totality in Tunisia.  I’ve never been to Tunisia, but will be there next year on board Queen Victoria, so much for staying at home throughout 2027!  

I was inspired to attend the final of four lectures by Erich Hoyt O.B.E  speaking passionately on his life long quest to research, study, and promote the welfare of the world’s whale population.  His quiet enthusiasm was infectious and if at the earlier part of my life, I too, might have enjoyed a life-long interest.  It seems like eclipses of the sun has caught my geriatric attention!

This last part of the voyage, to New York and back to Southampton involves 11 days at sea, five between Reykjavik and New York, and six east bound to Southampton.  In my previous blogs, I have included photographs mainly of QM2’s. public rooms, and numerous outside shots.  What I have done very little of is documenting the artwork around the ship.  I shall try and and rectify this in the next few days.

Around the entire ship, there’s a permanent exhibition of wall plaques or panels, and actual artefacts entitled Maritime Quest.  Read, mark  learn and inwardly digest all the information these have to offer, and one could write the definitive history of the Cunard Line. (almost).  In over twenty voyages on QM2, I have never achieved anything but looking at a few panels that I have walked past.  There are also interesting sculpures, reminiscent of what was not uncommon on liners of the past. 

Next year, QM2 has its second major refit.  Rumours abound as to what will be added, as well as discontinued and removed.  I fear the massive deck and games space on Deck 13 will be given over to further accommodation, as mentioned on YouTube.

The Book Shop adjacent to the Library forward on Deck 8 is expected to be repurposed as a Queens Grill suite.  That’s a pity.  They say the Library itself is going to be reduced in size.  The stern end of Deck 6 is also up for development, probably the addition of further cabins.  As QM2 seems to be fully booked frequently, I can see that this might make commercial sense.  However, I might have preferred to see an “ocean liner running mate” for Queen Mary 2. However, I’m sure that is probably not viable. 

I returned to join my table companions in the Britannia Restaurant tonight being careful with my menu choices.  Afterwards we all went to see American comedian Tom Briscoe, Showtime in the Royal Court Theatre.  He generated much levity from those familiar with American humour, a lot of which I found funny.  There was some of course which I couldn’t understand, that left the rest of the audience in stitches.

Tomorrow is the third of five sea days.  My shore experience to The Edge and other places has been cancelled again.  I shall have to be very careful about how I spend perhaps my last day in New York. I am determined to experience this new high rise structure, which reminds me a little of London’s Shard.

Many thanks for reading,

David, in his stateroom, 00.13hrs Ship’s time, i.e. B.S.T. -3.