Day CS8. Friday, October 13,2023, Bayonne, Disembark and home

October 15, 2023 rafinmd 5 Comments

I will start with a couple of photos from the ship, first from embarkation in Quebec:

And from the Crystal Society event with Captain Vincent Taillard:

Queen Mary 2 is in Brooklyn

I was up just about 5 and headed up to deck 13 as we passed under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.

Just about 7 we started backing into the Port Liberty Cruise Terminal in Bayonne, passing “The Tear”, a monument in memory of the 9/11 attacks, a gift of Russia in a time when we had a better relationship.

As we started settling into the berth the sun came up ahead of us somewhat to our port side.

My final breakfast was an omelet with some additional items.

I had booked a Crystal private transfer to Penn Station New York, and I was given an estimate of 8:45 to leave the ship and headed down to the Crystal Cove about 8:30. It was almost 9 when the call to leave came and a series of Concierges and port people escorted me into the terminal and secured a porter for my waiting big bag. We proceeded through the terminal to the exit where a Luggage Forward representative was waiting, and then my carryons were loaded into my car.

It was kind of a wild ride to New York with the driver apparently talking on his phone with an imprisoned relative and made some rather scary moves in traffic but we arrived at the Moynihan Train Hall just before 10.

I was on a regular train but had booked a day pass to Amtrak’s Metropolitan Lounge, normally reserved for the most premium of passengers. On arrival I was asked if I would like a Rec Cap and I thought it a good idea.

My train was scheduled for 2PM and I asked if It was possible to get an earlier train. They couldn’t do it and after I called the Rewards line we determined that it was not possible, but the Metropolitan Lounge is very comfortable and I also enjoyed snacks and a primitive lunch. By about 1:45 the Red Cap group for my train was assembling, and we headed down a back elevator to the platform. It was a long walk to Business Class at the back of the train and a bit fast for my comfort but it generally worked well and I settled into my seat.

The train stayed very close to on time and we arrived at the BWI Amtrak station at 4:48. It was a short walk to the elevators to cross the tracks to the station and then on to my car. I made a stop on the way home for groceries and walked into my front door around 6:30.

Getting back to my QM2 Experience, I don’t really expect to be able to return but I return at least in principle a dedicated Britannia passenger. It’s not a really simple decision and everyone will have their own answer. For one thing, there are 2 “grading” systems that have some effect on the experience, grade of cabin and World Club (past passenger) level.

With respect to the physical facilities, there are only 3 areas of the ship that are not open to all passengers. I did enjoy the Deck 11 Grills Deck but there is ample open aft deck space on other levels of the ship. The Grills Lounge was nice but I equally enjoy the lovely Queens Room and many other lovely public spaces on the ship. I hardly used the Concierge Lounge.

The other aspect is some other perks. The main ones are priority boarding, and I can remember from my early years some LONG queues but as World Club Diamonds that is no longer the case. Almost all cruise lines have priority boarding for their top cabins so Cunard is right in the mainstream there. In many other areas Cunard is among the most egalitarian of the mainstream with very few (I think less than 10) suites getting priority tendering, and don’t have many of the differences you see on some cruise lines like reserved sections in the theater. I enjoyed the chilled soups as a special request but dining in Britannia is perfectly fine. In summary, Britannia on Cunard is one of the top experiences among mainstream cruise lines and I see no need to go beyond it. Your mileage may vary.

As my parting shot, I was a little surprised by how much less capable I was on the cruise compared to past cruises but since returning home I feel more like the way I felt just before the cruise I am pleased with my ability to manage even at a drastically reduced level.

Roy

Day CS7, Thursday, October 12, 2023, Newport RI

October 13, 2023 rafinmd Leave a comment

Queen Mary 2 is at sea enroute to Brooklyn

I was up shortly after 5 and had my final load of laundry in the washer just after 5:30. The load got moved to the dryer about 6:45and then on to breakfast, with the sun rising just as I finished gathering my meal in Marketplace.

After finishing breakfast it was time to pick up the clothes, and packing started in earnest. The anchor dropped about 8:45 and we were situated in what seemed like a rather narrow gap between Rose Island to the north and Fort Adams to the south. I left the ship about 10:30 for a short walk in Newport

I have been in Newport many times (I think most recently in 2017) so there was not a lot I needed to do and took just a short walk around, walking to Queen Ann Square and passing by Trinity Church (Anglican) one of the oldest churches in Newport, and then returned to the tender pier. I was in Newport for about an hour.

Something I have never done before is have lunch on the aft Lido deck (Often breakfast but never lunch) and it was just an ideal day for that.

The final Crystal Visions program of the cruise was Jean-Pierre Andrieux on the history of New York, with a special emphasis on passenger ships. I watched on TV while packing continued, and the big bag was pretty much ready before dinner.

Sunset was about 6:10 but I would be busy then and caught it close to setting about 5:55.

My final entertainment event was comedian Steve Caouette in the Stardust Club at 6PM. The show was a bit longer than expected but very nice.

Despite being over half an hour late I was still seated at the usual shared table with 2 Ambassador Hosts and one lady. My selections for my final dinner were Chicken Consume, Homemade Mafaldine Pasta, and Roasted Almond Ice cream.

I am hoping to wrap up ths post and be in bed by about 10.

Quick parting shot. It has been fabulous being back on Crystal one last time.

Roy

Day CS6, Wednesday, October 11, 2023, Portland, ME

October 12, 2023 rafinmd Leave a comment

Queen Mary 2 is in Boston

I slept until about 5:30 but was up in time for coffee in the Bistro a little after 6. I headed up to Marketplace a little before 7 and the sun came up on the aft lido deck about 6:50.

I have been to Portland a number of times, starting I think in 1995 when I first boarded the Ferry Scotia Prince to Nova Scotia on a land trip. I did the same in 2000 with my vehicle on the way to Newfoundland, and have been there on cruises with Blount Small Ship Adventures in 2015 and on the Veendam in 2013,

The terminal in Portland is in the same location as previous cruises but there is a new building, and the city is right on the water.

I had no real plans for Portland but got off for a short walk about 11:30, walking down to where the NCL Pearl was docked. I am told the dock the Scotia Prince used was another half mile down the waterfront but the building it used is gone.

I returned for a late lunch of greens from marketplace, Grilled Ham and Cheese, and Ice Cream.

I returned to the Trident Grill space later in the afternoon to handle some business that required a combination of internet and a good US Cell Phone signal.

All aboard as 3:30 and when I went out shortly after that lines were already being released. The last lines were let go with a sound of the horn at 3:42 and we started pulling out of the harbor, making a wide swing toward the sea. Louis sang at 4:03. A new twist has been added to our departure ritual with Louis followed by a Calypso medley of Over the Rainbow and What A Wonderful World.

Tom DeFrank’s final presentation was at 4:30, more anecdotes of his encounters with our Presidents, primarily Gerald Ford and Bush 41.

Sunrise was officially 6:04 but there was some nice color in the sky a little after that. I also paused for an overview of the pool deck.

It was just me and 2 Ambassador Hosts at the shared table. My choices for the evening were Roast Prime Rib and a Blueberry Slice. I did not see an appetizer I fancied so I had a second type of bread.

The featured entertainment was the Crystal Ensemble of Singers and Dancers with “Crystal on Broadway”. I was getting drowsy and left about a half hour into the show.

My parting shot will come from my own email. Thursday marks the final day before one of our career firefighters heads off to retirement. Wishing Wayne a fantastic retirement.

Roy

Day CS5, Tuesday, October 10, 2023, Saint John, New Brunswick

October 11, 2023 rafinmd 3 Comments

Queen Mary 2 is at sea enroute to Boston

The day started with a bit of a technology hiccup. One of the first things I do in the morning is download the latest Reflections and Dinner menu. There was no online Reflections until about the time we were cleared and I hope people who do not get paper Reflections were not too inconvenienced. I also did not check the day on the menu and it was not until I was in the dining room that I realized I had downloaded the Monday menu.

I was up about 5:30 and down to the Bistro for coffee about 6:10. I went up to Marketplace for breakfast about 7:30 and the sun came up on the aft lido deck just a little later.

We docked in Saint John a little about 8:30 behind Liberty of the Seas. That was supposed to be my first ship of 2023 out of Fort Lauderdale in late April but I cancelled it since I was then still in recovery from Pneumonia. It is a huge ship which dwarfs Serenity. It is just a bit larger than Queen Mary 2 (5%) but carries 40% more passengers.

We had the weekly crew about 10, and while there were a number of announcements, I don’t think the drill ever involved any passenger areas. I left the ship about 10:30. It was a much easier disembarkation than Halifax, with a relatively short ramp to the Diamond Jubilee Cruise Terminal. On the way out I passed a very interesting model of the Original Queen Mary which the caption said was a real remote controlled model which could actually float. While I have never sailed Queen Mary I have visited her a number of times as a hotel in Long Beach.

My only plan for Saint John was lunch at Tim Hortons. It looks like the one I have visited in the past is now closed and is now inside the Skywalk at Brunswick Square. It is up a steep hill from the waterfront but the Skywalk has elevators which make the climb easy. It was small but had all the essentials for my lunch of Chicken Noodle Soup and Steeped Tea.

I walked down by the street and it was a steep drop, and then headed back to the terminal. I left Canadian soil for the last time about 12:35, and headed up to the Lido for skim milk and Ice Cream.

It was a bit of a busy afternoon. Afternoon tea was at 3:30. After my tea and scone I stopped at the library and picked up the latest Sudoku.

All aboard was 5:30 but at 5 I had my Zoom meeting with my church’s finance meeting. I left the meeting at 5:45 and when I went out on deck we were already moving. We started moving forward past Liberty of the Seas before finally turning out to sea. Louis sang at 6:12. Sunset was officially 6:48 but I caught it dropping below the clouds about 6:25.

There were only me, one other guest, and 2 Ambassador Hosts at the shared table for dinner. My choices for the evening were Beef Consume, Torchietti Al Pesto, and Lemon Tart.

There was no evening program in the Galaxy Lounge. Sara Combs had put on a show in the Stardust Club while I was on deck for Sailaway. I spent a little bit of time with Joel Spire in the Avenue Saloon, catching most of his first set. I did not try for a photo until the end of the set while his wife was with him at the piano.

By the time I left the Avenue the White Party had started in the Crystal Cove. I did not stay there long.

We gained an hour as we returned to Eastern Time but most of it was spent at the computer and I headed off to bed about 10PM new time.

My parting shot today comes from an email I received today about a friend from the Holland America forum of Cruise Critic. The friend was an avid World Cruiser and I always followed her writings and we finally met in person on MS Prinsendam’s final Grand Voyage in 2019. While I dined early and she late Kathi sometimes joined us for dinner on special occasions. She boarded a Holland America ship for a planned extended journey but started suffering leg pains and discovered just before the start of the 2023 World Voyage that it was due to a severe cancer diagnosis. We had not heard from her but another Holland America friend who had taken on one of her duties finally caught up with her after over 10 months. Kathi is slowly trying to regain her strength but it is a long struggle and her long cruising days are definitely over. Best wishes to Kathi for the best recovery possible. Thank you Leanne for your diligence in following up. And for those who will be soon to retire, I urge you to see the world while you have the time, stamina, and health to be able to do so. My cruising time is winding down but I am joyful to have been able to get in many good years of seeing the world while still possible.

Roy

Day CS4, Monday, October 9, 2023, Halifax, NS

October 10, 2023 rafinmd Leave a comment

Queen Mary 2 is in Sydney

I was up about 5:30 and down to the Bistro for coffee a little after 6. When I went up to Marketplace for the first stage of breakfast just after 7 the sun was just coming up as viewed from the aft deck.

We docked about 8 at pier 20 and were cleared about8:15 but I remained on the ship until about 10. I did take one full lap around the promenade deck and paused near the bow of the harbor walk where I would later take a brief walk.

I did leave the ship about 10 walking to about Bishop’s landing on the harbor waterfront boardwalk. I think the total walk was somewhat over a mile but much of it was the zig-zag path through the terminal. Along the walk I passed a few statues including one for Woman Volunteers who served the armed forces in WW2, and another to the Immigrants who arrived in Canada through the Port of Halifax.

On the way back I paused for a photo of Serenity at the pier.

Lunch was my typical Trident Lunch but I added a scoop of ice cream from Scoops.

All aboard was 3:30 and the gangway was removed right about 4, apparently right after the port agent disembarked. The horn sounded at 4:07 and we started to move. Louis sang at 4:13.

There was one afternoon talk after we left the port with Jean-Pierre Andrieux speaking on the Pine Tree Line, the first of the defensive radar and other networks set up in the Cold War Era.

The Crystal Society Party was in Palm Court at 5:45. Sunset was at 6:45 but it was quite cloudy so I stepped out on deck just before the party to capture the sun as it disappeared behind the clouds.

Captain Vincent Taillard (quite new to Crystal) welcomed us aboard and then Crystal Society Hostess Emmalee Sassi Seager presented awards to several top cruisers. The very top cruiser was a lady with 161 cruises.

I was surprised that Waterside did not have a special Dinner for Canada’s Thanksgiving and decided to try something different, dining for the first time ever in Tastes, a venue on the Lido Deck which uses about half the space originally occupied by the covered aft pool. I found it did not have some of the things I normally expect with dinner but enjoyed the Mongolian Lamb Chops and a double desert, a Key Lime Slice, and a plate of fruit and berries a la mode.

The featured entertainment was Icons in Concert. I had planned to attend at least part of it but fell asleep at my desk and missed it.

As today’s parting shot it is amazing how time flies. It is hard to believe this cruise is more than half over.

Roy

Day CS3, Sunday, October 8, 2023, At Sea, Crystal Serenity

October 9, 2023 rafinmd Leave a comment

Queen Mary 2 is at sea from Quebec to Sydney.

I took few photos but will start with a couple from the ship. When Serenity was almost completely rebuilt the Casino was taken out and the space is now “The Lounge”

A highlight of The Lounge is a large model of Crystal’s first ship, the Crystal Harmony, near the passage to the Galaxy Lounge.

I woke about 5 but was not inspired to get up until about 5:30. I put a load of wash in the laundromat about 6, then surveyed things from the pool deck a and went down to the Bistro for Coffee. For the better part of the morning the ship was moving despite winds upwards of 40kt.

Father Edward Arnister conducted an Interdenominational worship service in the Hollywood Theater at 9. The theme of his message was good stewardship of our opportunities.

The Crystal Visions Enrichment program began at 10 with Tom deFrank providing a number of interesting stories of his encounters with Presidents over the years. He was followed at 11 by Allan Rich with “Talk a Little, Sing A Little”, opening with Crystal Ensemble Vocalist Tom Lowe singing “I Don’t Have the Heart”. I followed both deFrank and Rich on the live TV until my home church livestream began at 11:20 Atlantic time. It was a special service in honor of Indigenous People’s Day and I caught it all except for a short time when Captain Taillard gave his noon update. By this time the winds and swells had changed and really set the ship in motion. He reduced our speed to 12kt for a slightly safer ride.

I opted for an easier version of lunch, just going directly to the Trident Grill and taking a seat next to the counter. Deck crew brought me my skim milk and some pineapple for desert but I did not venture to Marketplace for greens like I would normally do.

The afternoon talk was Jean-Pierre Andrieux on Halifax. I tried to watch on TV but the sound was breaking up so I went down at the last minute to the Hollywood Theater.

After that lecture I watched a couple of previously recorded lectures by Astronaut Dr. Jeff Hoffman, one on what it is like to go into space, and the other on the repair of the Hubble Telescope.

The Crystal Society Party was due to be held at 5:45 in Palm Court but due to the storm was postponed to Monday.

Just before dinner time I visited the Concierge and firmed up the plans for my transfer from Bayonne to Manhattan. I must meet the staff at the Cove at 8:45 and my car is due at 9:15.

I opted to dine solo and was given a window table. While I had not seen the sun all day there was a little bit of color as I sat down to dinner.

My choices for the evening were Bouquet of Garden Greens, New York Sirloin, and Apple Pie A la Mode.

My church has an evening fellowship time via Zoom, normally at 7 but at 8 Atlantic time. It usually runs about 45 minutes but we talked for almost an hour.

The featured entertainment was “A Salute to Sinatra” with vocalist Bruce Hammond but I ended the evening quietly, and was in bed about 10:30.

Today’s parting shot is a happy one from my home church. I have been a member of the team livestreaming our services for about the last 6 months. One of the members of the team has had some medical issues and been home since before I became part of the team. I learned that he was back in person and is now ready to return to the rotation in the team. Great news for Nigel and great news for the rest of the team. Welcome back.

Roy

Day CS2, Saturday, October 7, 2023, At Sea, Crystal Serenity

October 8, 2023 rafinmd 1 Comment

Queen Mary 2 remained for the day in Quebec.

I was up about 5:30. The first coffee is now at the Bistro rather than Marketplace and I was down about 6:15 for my first coffee, then up to deck 13 for the sunrise. It was rather cloudy and there was a chilly wind but there was still a fairly decent sunrise.

Breakfast this morning was primarily an omelet.

There were 2 morning Crystal Visions presentations in the Galaxy Lounge. At 10AM Songwriter Allan Rich with “Shoe salesman to Grammy Nominated”, his story of perseverance and good fortune in achieving his life long dream.

At 11 we had Tom deFrank with “Buckle Up for 2024″ his look at the coming US election. I tended to agree with most of his comments.

There was still a chilly wind at noon and I listened to Captain Vincent Taillard’s noon update from the covered portion of the Trident Grill area. We had sailed 342 miles since leaving Quebec with 526 to go to arrive in Halifax. We are off the Gaspe Peninsula with Anticosti Island to our starboard side. The winds are expected to be stronger on Sunday.

Lunch was my usual Trident Ham and Cheese with supplements from Marketplace, taken inside the covered area rather than on the pool deck.

The afternoon presentation was at 1:30 in the Hollywood Theater, Jean-Pierre Andrieux speaking about “La Belle Provence”, a look at Quebec which to my taste was a little too centered on fishing and less on the various regions.

I had some quiet afternoon time but also checked with Crystal Society Rep Emmalee Sassi Seager and this is listed as my 53rd Crystal cruise. They do not have detailed guest records of sailings, just the number of voyages. I also checked Shore Excursions and Concierge and inquired about the October 29 visit to Brooklyn. They are hoping to have a shuttle but no details yet. I think we also came up with a price I can live with for a private transfer to Moynihan Train Hall at the end of the cruise. If this private transfer is anything like the one I had leaving the ship in Sydney it will be a huge bonus for me.

There was an early show in the Stardust club, “The Crystal Show Band and Friends with the Ensemble Vocalists and Cruise Director Raphael Derkson on his Trumpet as well as violinist Nadia Matiunina.. One surprise was that Vocalist Karin Kovacova started and ended one of her songs playing the opening and closing of the song. She is not a talented pianist and I think missed some of the keys but I loved seeing her contributing outside her comfort zone.

Dinner in Waterside was a bit different. I was a bit late for the usual shared table but was seated with 2 couples from California who cruise a lot together and the conversation flowed quite well. My choices for the evening were Chicken Consume, Grilled Lamb Chops, and a mix of Vanilla and Banana Ice Cream.

The featured entertainment was Comedian Tony Daro. I’ve seen him a couple of times, most recently on Crystal Serenity in January 2020 and he’s good but I passed due to moving the clocks forward overnight.

My parting shot may go into dangerous territory. We need peace in the Middle East and I have empathy for both sides. I cannot see positive outcomes either for the Hamas attacks nor for Israel’s lock down and continued settling in territory that is supposed to be for the arabs. Sadly, I think the issue goes back many decades after the horrid treatment of Jewish people by the Nazis by carving out a big Jewish homeland in the Middle East where the Nazi’s had no influence. It seems to me a decision made to fail, and I find it difficult to imagine a satisfactory solution. I do hope one is possible.

PS, Sunday morning we are experiencing 40kt winds with the outer decks closed. Captain Taillard just announced (9:50AM) that we are currently heading into the wind and the ship is riding well, but by early afternoon we will turn South and the swells will be hitting us broadside with more problematic movement.

Roy

dinner1008.pdf

reflections1008.pdf

Day CS1, Friday, October 6, 2023, Leave Quebec, Crystal Serenity

October 7, 2023 rafinmd Leave a comment

This was the official turnaround day for Queen Mary 2.

I slept until about 5:30 and went up to Deck 13 to catch the sunrise about 6:45.

My first morning was a bit strange as there was an issue getting Cruise Director Raphel’s morning update on my TV and after my Butler (Tristan) worked for a while he put in a call to the tech crew. At times there were up to 4 of them working for about an hour until the issue was finally solved.

Lunch was my normal Grilled Ham and Cheese with additions from the Marketplace. (Waterside was closed for the port day).

Pier 102 is about 1 ½ miles upstream from the center of town and we were docked next to Sky Princess. I was undecided about going in to town but did decide to leave about 1:30. The shuttle was provided by the port and as far as I could see the pickup point was midway between the ships which was a fairly long walk. As I got off I noticed a very long line to board the return shuttle and was dreading the idea. I walked up to the ferry terminal and as I got there discovered that I had actually been on the Princess Shuttle. There was a very nice shuttle back to Serenity, comfortable as opposed to a school bus, and I was easily able to get on the first shuttle which dropped me right at the gangway.

I went up to Afternoon Tea in Palm Court for tea and a scone. Unlike Old Crystal where waiters came around with trays of items from various categories (sandwiches, pastry, scones) they now delivered everything at once on a tiered caddy. Violinist Nadia Matiunina provided the music.

At 5 we had my first old school Muster Drill since 2020, actually going down to our stations following the Emergency Alert signal. My station was in the Galaxy lounge.

All aboard was 5:30 and we were due to leave at 6. I went down about 5:40 and the gangway was still out. One couple arrived about 5:45 but we still waited (not sure why). It was just about 6 when an officer stepped out and gave the signal to leave. A crane removed the gangway and we let the lines go about 6:05, and we rotated around to face the ocean. Louis sang at 6:10 (For those new to me and Crystal, the Crystal tradition is that at sailaway “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong is played over the PA system, and “Louis sang” is kind of my shorthand for a departure. I stayed on the Promenade deck until about 6:30 when we passed Pier 22 and I got one last look at QM2.

There were 7 of us at the shared table. My choices were Vegetable Soup, Braised Beef Short Rib, and Strawberry ice cream.

The featured entertainment was James Fox presenting the music of Billy Joel accompanied by the show band and the Crystal Ensemble of Singers. As it has always been it was a fabulous show although it was way too close to my bed time when it ended.

As my parting shot it is wonderful to be at sea on a Crystal ship once again.

Roy

dinner1007.pdf

reflections1007.pdf

Day QM2-6, Thursday, October 5, 2023, Arrive Quebec, Queen Mary 2

October 6, 2023 rafinmd 5 Comments

Queen Mary 2 is at Pier 22 and Crystal Serenity is at Pier 30.

I was up early and spent the first hours writing and packing. I checked my GPS early and decided it would be close to 9 when we got to Quebec. I headed into Princess Grill for a quick breakfast (mainly an omelet) and said farewell to my waiters.

I watched from the promenade deck as we approached the port, getting views of the waiting Crystal Serenity as we went past her berth.

Captain Hashmi came on the PA just after 9 and indicated the gangway would use Stairway B&C from Deck 3. I did a little reconnaissance and noted that it would actually be much closer to the B elevators.

I left my room about 10. Dragging heavy bags across a carpet is a challenge so I had a plan for the easiest way of getting it done. I started with one bag at a time for the C elevators, leaving the big bag in sight at the elevator landing while I went back for the rollaboard. I left the big bag halfway in the car while I grabbed the rollaboard and did the same leaving the car as I got off on deck 7. It was much easier to pull the bags across the hard floor of Kings Court than it would have been on the carpets of Deck 3, and I arrived relatively easily at the B elevators.

There were people already on the B elevator car who took care of the door while I entered and exited. From the B landing to the actual gangway was just a short distance but I sat and rested for a while anyway.

Despite my rant about the gangway operations at Halifax and Saguenay this one was a breeze. There was virtually no line and once physically off the ship Security rolled the big bag down the ramp to the terminal where the walk was level.

There remained a fairly long walk to the terminal, about the distance from Stairway B to Stairway D and I could have managed but a helpful passenger took care of the big bag for that stretch. Once in the terminal another short rest, followed by the elevator to the street.

It turns out that I was very fortunate with QM2 as she is at the favored spot for her entire 3 day stay. Other ships seem to have Pier 30 for just a day at a time, and we had to leave for a distant pier at 7PM. I caught just a glimpse of the lit up Queen Mary 2 as we made our way to Pier 102,

A half mile away I could see my destination but it was across a channel and no easy pedestrian walkway.

The taxi ride was not long but quite a roundabout route. A representative met me, asked some questions and then said “follow me”. Only problem was in all the confusion I had not paid for the taxi but the driver got our attention and the issue was finally cleared up.

On through security and then up to the first stage of checkin with some preliminary questions. By 11 I was at a waiting area sipping a cup of Crystal coffee but boarding would not begin until noon. Once onboard, registration was in the area formerly used by the Casino and I was told my room was ready.

7056 is on the Promenade deck midway between the forward and midship stairs. There were a lot more drawers and other storage than I was expecting.

Then on to lunch. Despite it being a turnaround day I think all the usual venues were open, Waterside, Marketplace, Trident Grill, and Tastes.

I went first to Marketplace for a bowl of greens, then to Trident for my usual Grilled Ham and Cheese, much the favorite I remembered.

Most of the rest of the afternoon involved getting online (more challenging that I expected) and getting unpacked.

I caught a glimpse of the setting sun about 6:15 and was down at Waterside at the shared table at 6:30 with a lady on her first Crystal Cruise, a Crystal Veteran, and 2 Ambassador Hosts. My choices for my first Waterside dinner were Veal Consume, Grilled Pork Medallions, Steak Fries, and Rhubarb Tart a la mode.

I pretty well crashed for the evening.

Parting shot: I do see some differences in the culture but this is very much the Crystal I have loved over the years,

Roy

reflections1006.pdf

dinner1005.pdf

dinner1006.pdf

Day QM2-5, Wednesday October 4, Saguenay, Quebec

October 5, 2023 rafinmd 2 Comments

Crystal Serenity arrives in Quebec (Pier 30) this evening.

I was up a little before 5. With the door ajar to allow the signal in the internet was fairly decent and I got my daily post done about 6:15, then went up to the Grills Deck to check things out. We were probably 10 miles from the port and the sun would not rise until 6:45. I went back out then and the sky was quite bright although the sun was hiding behind the hills.

We docked about 7:30 and had our first gangway out about 8. Breakfast this morning was french toast and English Bacon.

There was a strong, chilly breeze throughout the morning. I left the ship about 10. I thought I knew the most likely place to find a cane and the tourist information desk I looked briefly and it should work but is back in the carrying case.

Tim Hortons was right next to the Pharmacy, and it was a good time for lunch. It was crowded inside but the outdoor tables were well sheltered from the wind. Kind of ironically, a couple asked to share the table with me and we checked back and forth and they were on QM2, and they actually live within about 10 miles from me. Small world.

There was still a chilly wind on the way back but it was mostly behind me, and the grade was down rather than up.

On the approach to the port I stopped for a photo of the ship and also got a look at the position of my cabin.

One thing I have found very poor on this voyage is the ship exit and entry. Both getting back on in Halifax and both directions in Saguenay have been very SLOW and they should not have been peak times. Cunard, you can surely do better.

We share the port today with Explora1, tendering in the harbor.

I did as much of my packing as I could after returning to the ship as well as stepping out for the Kings Court version of Afternoon Tea, buffet food and a waiter coming around with the tea.

Sailaway was at 6 with the chilly wind back. I met 3 of my tablemates on the Grills Deck and caught a nice sunset before we dropped our lines.

I watched with them as we started backing to our turnaround spot but the chill became a bit much for me and I bid them farewell about 6:15.

I was the only early bird at table 118. My final dinner was Chilled Mango Banana Soup, Ribeye, and Strawberry Ice Cream.

The evening was spent in a combination of organizing photos, a little bit of writing, and a lot of packing. I settled in bed just after 10,

Today’s parting shot will be about the word Grill. It conveys so many different meanings, from Cunard’s premier restaurants to Crystal’s Trident Grill (equivalent to QM2’s Boardwalk Café or HAL’s Dive-in) to the neighborhood Bar and Grill, kind of like I suppose a British Pub. It also is used as a verb, as to be grilled at a police station. I guess the common thread is heat whether physical or in some cases emotional. One word, so many and such different meanings.

Roy