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This morning sees Queen Mary 2 anchored off Newport, Rhode Island.  It’s much cooler today, only 23°C right now, rather than half as warm again in New York.  I have booked a shore excursion. This involves being transferred to Newport by tender.  The 90 minute motor coach trip highlights the city of Newport and surroundings,…

What a time to be both in the U.S.A and on board Queen Mary 2. This once in a lifetime event took me back to the tremendous Cunard 150 celebrations of 1990, the entire British part of the voyage being crammed with special events, sail parades and fly pasts.  We were even blessed with a…

The Eve of Independence Day continues. After getting out of bed at around 06.00 hrs, with every intention of taking a few pictures and going back to bed, some things don’t quite work out.  Seeing New York for the first time since August 2024, was almost as thrilling as seeing it for the first time…

For some, perhaps many, this last full day at sea will start to bring the curtain down on an exciting tour of part of Europe and the U.K.  Around 320, including me, continue their travels on board.  Excitement grows as the 250th anniversary of U.S A. Independence looms towards the very near future.  I learn…

July 1st “Canada Day” has been recognised to a small degree on QM2, with a couple of  appropriately themed events.  However, I do have to think about packing for switching staterooms the day after tomorrow. We arrive around 06.30 hrs at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal.  I’m not sure that I will watch as we sail…

Already, the sense of time passing quickly reminds me that we are now well over half way through the first part of this journey.  Tomorrow morning at 3 o’clock, we ahall pass 160 miles north of the resting place of R.M.S. Titanic, if I have heard the Captain’s noon-day address correctly, over the “din” of…

Last night’s show by what is now the Royal Court Theatre Company was spectacular.  I’m not sure how many make up this “group” but they sang, danced and performed amazing acrobatics to a very high quality background track of (to me) unfamiliar music, apart from almost at the end where there was a mash of…

First of all, I have read through my first two blogs, 204 and 205, something I should have done far more attentively before publishing.  Fortunately, mistakes can be corrected, and parts re-written to flow a little better.  These “corrections” transfer to those who receive these blogs automatically. I “needed” that extra hour in bed last…

Did it really happen – temperatures above 30°c in Buxton?  37°C driving to Southampton.  Desperation for a hint of a cool breeze?  Don’t get me wrong – I am so very happy to be heading westbound across the North Atlantic.   My stateroom, although quite a long way back, is very conveniently positioned, just one flight…

This is a “first!”  Defeated by the heat of an English Summer.  For almost a week, just about all of the U.K. had swealtered under temperatures one could only dream about abroad.  Like many, I have not slept properly for around five days, including last night when I stayed overnight in Southampton prior to boarding…