15 of us gathered in the Board Room, Deck 9, adjacent to the Commodore Club for the final Christian Fellowship meeting of this section of the voyage.  All but two of us are disembarking tomorrow. Us?  I only joined the group this morning because at 5am, my body clock was kidding me that it was 9 am and for a short while, I was wide awake. For some reason, I felt I should attend and am very glad that I did.  I belong to a similar gathering in Buxton but still admit to being spiritually out of my depth. (I always have been).   Nevertheless, I felt genuinely welcome.  Once again, it was as if I wasn’t on QM2 but more like in the sitting room of somebody’s nice house with a rather splendid sea view.   

It was much warmer today, but rather wet outside until late afternoon.  I walked a little bit on the open decks.  I had worked out a way of going to New York’s latest high-rise, The Edge, but in the end, chose to play it safe and book a Cunard Shore Experience to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.  It’s not a bad use of my short time on New York City.

The Guest Choir, formed at the beginning of the voyage had practiced hard to produce an entertaining repertoir for this afternoon’s concert  in the Royal Court Theatre.

Only a few passengers are staying on to Southampton and Hamburg. But there is that last day of the cruise atmosphere.  I was and am still sorry to have said Goodbye to Janet, Frank, Trina,  and Colleen after their final dinner. Let’s hope that we all stay in touch, and that I can get over my travel insurance issues and see the sky over North America not just one, but several more times. 

I have to be up early tomorrow so I have gone straight to my stateroom tonight.  Time for some sleep.

Many thanks for reading,

David. 12.48 hrs the next day in the cafeteria, Ellis Island.

👭