And a little miracle!

I have not exactly hit the ground running.  However, I recovered the remains of my glasses I sat on while QM2 was berthed at Brooklyn Cruise Terminal,  took them to my opticians in Bakewell where they were restored to their former specification, albeit slightly more fragile now.  It was strongly recommended that I sat on them no more!  Nevertheless, I no longer need to make friends with my travel insurance company. There was no charge for this quick but effective repair.

So, what does Day 1/331 signify?  Well, that’s the  number of days from today, 26th August 2026 to July 23rd 2027 when I have a second and final stab at a total eclipse of the sun, which is said to be the most significant of the 21st century, over six minutes long in Egypt, 4.5 minutes in Morocco, where I should be, at the ungodly hour of 07.45hrs on August 2nd.

Day 4/331. Saturday 29th August.

Yep. I succumbed to the temptation of booking what will be my 58th Cunard voyage, a cruise on Queen Victoria to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco where a 4 minutes 51 seconds total eclipse of the sun occurs between 08.44.41 seconds and 08.49.33 seconds.  I had better not oversleep! 

It seems as if I have missed most of the heatwaves this summer.  Crossing the Atlantic could mot be classified as a sunshine cruise.  It was hot in New York, but no more than usual.

Today, Saturday, is the fourth full day at home and I am still awaiting two refunds I should have received long ago.  Cross Country owe me £83 for a heavily delayed ride home from Southampton in July.  And I should be getting a promised refund for a parking fine issued while enjoying a coffee at the hotel I would eventually stay a night in on August 3rd. 

My thoughts on both QM2 voyages.

The first, Cunard Cruise 55 beginning on June 26th, back to back with Cunard Cruise 56, boarding at Brooklyn on 3rd July was historically significant.  Queen Mary 2 would be part of the U.S.A  semiquintencennial celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of America’s Independence from Britain.  I anticipated a wonderful celebration for July 4th, and was not disappointed.   There was just one slight irritstion right at the end.  QM2 appeared to be positioned (or repositioned) much too far away from the magnificent fireworks display for them to, in the distance, look anything other than distant and ordinary. Rumours suggest this was to accommodate J.D. Vance’s speech delivered from a closer military vessel.  I heard what he had to say on a big screen and was somewhat unmoved!   Passengers were issued with a nice frameable certificate and a most acceptable large cloth tote bag with the official logo printed on the side, making a decent souvenir.  But, there was no further merchandising I could see on board. Oh yes!  All passengers received a dispsable cardboard “top hat” with U.S.A. 250 styling and very colourful, not made in China, but actually in the U.S.A.   Although bent in transit home, mine remains in my collection!

I had opted for anytime dining for dinner in the Britannia Restaurant which while convenient, meant eating alone on most occasions.  That didn’t always feel ideal, and I’m not sure that the waiters like this new option.  While served efficiently, everything seemed to feel urgent and hurried. It probably was! 

Cunard Cruise 57, from 3rd August was a rather nice extended transatlantic crossing, out via Belgium, Norway and Iceland, to New York before returning directly to Southampton.  This provided a rare opportunity to experience a total eclipse of the sun….from the hallowed decks of Queen Mary 2.   Calling at Zeebrugge reminded me of one of those not overly expensive mini-cruises on a lacklustre day.   I took a modest two to three hour shore experience to the local countryside which was quite pleasant.  Departure from Zeebrugge was fairly interesting when viewed through the restaurant windows.  I might like to do that again, staying out on deck rather than at dinner.

Friday 4th September.

Day 10/331

The raison d’etre of this voyage was, as mentioned previously, was to experience a total eclipse of the sun.  Reykjavik being part of the long route to New York was where QM2 would be at the time of the late afternoon eclipse.  On the way, we would call at the rather lovely small but pretty settlemrnt of Olden, now set up for frequent cruise ship calls, and the equally attractive fjord-side,settlement of Skjolden, allowing for two days of phenomenal scenic cruising, with the extended daylight hours of a northern summer.

There were two days in Iceland, the first, a beautiful clear day at Isafjordur, the day before the eclipse, and the next day in Reykjavik the crucial day when the Almighty chose to reward QM2 passengers with a day of prolonged cloud cover with just one momentary split second sighting of a partially eclipsed sun.  It did go dark, obviously, but for I think, 59 seconds.  And yes, it was an amazing experience which my camera on this device was not able to reproduce as experienced.

Nevertheless, “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world!”  …and yes, I should be in Morocco on August 2nd next year.

Travel by ship remains my preferred means of overseas travel, and still feel after 38 years, there is still a sense of great anticipation as the first day of any sea journey approaches, particularly on R.M.S Queen Mary 2.  I am rarely (if ever) disappointed.

Many thanks for reading,

David, Saturday 5th September at home.