On-Board Cunard’s Queen Mary 2

May 1-May 8, 2022

Dear Friends,

Happy May everyone! I love this time of year with the summertime just around the corner.

As I woke in the morning, I noticed the package of earplugs at the back of the nightstand next to my bed
with a note saying, “Dear Guest, we know this city is called the ‘city that never sleeps’, but we want you
to be able to sleep”. I hadn’t noticed the note last night. Now I smiled because I had slept well, maybe
because I was on the 8th floor at the top of the building and noise didn’t travel up that far.

I made my morning coffee and then headed out to Mass at The Guardian Angel Church, which was
about a seven-minute walk from me. As I walked, though, within a few blocks, a feeling came over me
making me stop and really look around. I quickly realized I was in an area much different than where I
had just been. An old lady sat in a wheelchair staring at me with glassy eyes and I saw a young girl
pulling away from another girl saying “I won’t go there! I won’t!” Then the girl let go. In the distance, a
block or two up the street, two men swaying were walking toward me. I instantly turned around and
walked fast back half a block to where I had just been and turned into a nice-looking café with a totally
different feel to it than what I had just experienced.

I made the decision then without questioning it that I would not go to Mass today. It was not safe to do
so. I was grateful to be here in this café painted in spring colors of pale green and white with green and
white coffee cups and smiling waitresses. I found a table and ordered a breakfast of homemade porridge
with warm raspberry sauce and coffee. Then I walked back to the Leo House and collected my luggage
to meet the transfer that would take me to the ship.

At 10:20 I was out front ten minutes early because generally private transfers like this arrive early.
However, I waited a while, and then finally, ten minutes past the time of pickup, I received a text from the
gentleman who was supposed to drive me. He texted that he was caught up in heavy traffic due to a
bike marathon but to please continue waiting. So, I waited half an hour and he wrote again saying it did
not look good and I should try and make other arrangements.

What?! I called the transfer company, “Dial 7”, and asked what I should do and they told me they could
not advise me. “But I don’t know New York. I don’t know who to call.” They told me if I could wait a bit
longer, they would try to locate another driver who was closer to me than the other driver. I agreed and
waited another half hour. I was getting worried. Luckily it was still only 11:30 AM and my check-in time
was not until 1:30 PM. The ship would not leave the dock until after 4:00 PM.

At 11:30 I called the company again and they told me that the driver had “bailed” on me due to so many
roads being closed because of the bike marathon. They said they would try and arrange for someone
else to pick me up. I was really feeling worried now but agreed to let them try again. At the same time, I
decided to see if I could flag down a taxi on my own, but none seemed to be around. By now it was
12:00 and my mind was racing to find a solution. I called the transfer company again and once more
they told me that the driver had backed out. They were sorry but I should try to find an alternative plan.

“Alternative plan?” I had no idea what to do because the taxi companies I called were all booked. I
called then on the Father and Archangel Michael for help. I had no idea what to do. I had to get on that
ship. Then I received a phone call from Dial 7 and a man’s voice said, “Hey, I am right here,” and a black
suburban pulled alongside the curb in front of me. The gentleman inside was smiling and he was holding up a white sign that said “Dial 7” in bold black letters. “Jody?” He asked.

“Yes! Oh, thank you!” I said, “I am so grateful to see you!” I was so happy! “Thank you! Thank you!” I
said to the Father and to Archangel Michael.

Once in the vehicle, I was still concerned about making the QM2 because I was not sure if the streets
would be closed between here and there. I had heard by now that several streets would be closed until
6:00 PM, opening only after the QM2 departed. However, twenty-four minutes later we arrived at the
Brooklyn Terminal. The driver was in awe of the size of the ship. He kept looking up at her and saying,
“Wo-o-w! I have never seen a ship like that.” I smiled but thought it odd with the Brooklyn terminal right
in NYC. Surely, he had dropped other passengers here before?

I passed my suitcase immediately to a porter who was waiting to take my luggage outside the entrance;
he then added the case to the top of the growing stack of suitcases in a luggage cart. I took up my place
at the end of the line going into check-in. This line was already well outside the doors of the terminal.
Everyone was chatting and excited to get on board and a Cunard Representative was walking up and
down the line making sure everyone had the proper paperwork out and ready to show at the various
desks.

Check-in was of course different than the times I checked into QM2 before because of the new
regulations for COVID. However, the line moved steadily along and the representatives were helpful and
friendly, helping people with questions and being patient amongst all the hustle and bustle of boarding.
Yes, the process this time was messy by Cunard standards, but like all of us, they were still adjusting to
the new protocols. I am very impressed with the Cunard employees who were trying to keep everything
and everyone moving efficiently and were still very kind. I spent my time looking around knowing the
passengers I saw would be part of my life over the next six days. Many others seemed to be aware of
this as well and as we passed each other in the long winding lines we struck up conversations, the most
popular passengers being those who had their dog, or dogs, on leashes with them. Later I would learn
that in the kennels on deck 12 there would be 14 dogs and one cat. Poor cat!

Finally, I was walking up the gangplank to the ship and there was the Cunard staff in their red uniforms
and red hats smiling and welcoming me on board. I showed them my room card, which also serves as
the charge card onboard, and they directed me to my stateroom on the eleventh deck. It was as I
approached the elevators that I noticed another change since COVID. The elevators only allowed four
passengers on at a time. Just as well, since before everyone would try to squeeze on.

This was my fourth voyage across the ocean from NYC to Southampton, England, and I always booked
the same type of stateroom. This was a sheltered balcony stateroom. I chose this because I liked to have
a deck overlooking the ocean with a full view, yet with some protection from the spray and wind. There
were a few types of balcony rooms including those that had obstructed views. Obstructed balconies
obviously cost less, but you could have a lifeboat or part of the ship blocking your view. There were
other types of staterooms as well including ocean view, interior, and several varieties of Britannia Club
rooms and suites.

Another important fact to consider when booking your stateroom is the location. The more central on
the ship you are the less you will feel the rocking. I usually aim for mid-ship such as the eighth deck and midship, however, this time there were not any of these staterooms left. So, I was on the mid-eleventh deck, midship, which is the highest deck I have ever had a stateroom on.

As I opened the door it was like coming home because the room looked like all the rooms always have
had on the QM2. Laid out the same way, with a queen-sized bed, desk, a small couch, and coffee table-
everything was the same except they had added an electric kettle! Now, this was a surprise in that most
ships do not allow electric kettles, electric stoves, etc. due to being a fire hazard. Once, on a Disney
cruise, I had packed my electric kettle in my suitcase and they confiscated it before bringing my suitcase
to my stateroom. Inside the suitcase was a very “professional” sounding note stating that electric kettles
were not allowed on board. Since then, like this morning, I had left my kettle in the hotel room with a
note telling the hotel staff they could either throw it away or donate it, which was always a terrible
waste. Now, though, there was an electric kettle! Leave it to the British to finally add this comfort. They
do love their tea!

I unpacked and then headed down to Kings Court on the seventh deck for a late lunch. It was the only
restaurant onboard serving due to all the staff helping with bringing luggage on board and settling in
the passengers. The food at Kings Court is served cafeteria-style and they are open more hours than the
other restaurants. At one time you were able to serve yourself from a wide variety of choices, but
now, with COVID, you tell the Cunard staff behind the counter what you would like and they dish it up
for you. Same with the drink station. You let them know what you want and they give it to you. Even the
silverware is handled differently, being already placed on your sanitized table wrapped in paper, so no
one else touches the utensils.

I made it back to my stateroom a little after 4:00 PM expecting to have the announcement soon that we
were to appear at our allotted muster station in case of an emergency. My station was listed on my
stateroom door and I would need to go to 7A, which was on deck seven. However, the steward, who
introduced himself as Butch, told me they had changed the safety briefing and all I needed to do was
watch the emergency brief on the TV, which was continually playing on my TV right now. Then, he told
me, I would need to go to my muster station and they would check me off as having located the muster
station, satisfying them that I knew where it was at. They did this by scanning my room key. He
continued to advise that until I had my room key scanned, I would not be able to use my key to purchase
items on the ship, including drinks.

Wow! Now I like this new setup. Gone was the forty-five minutes of watching someone put on and take
off a life jacket and standing in line at the correct lifeboat while listening to the briefing. I know it is
necessary to have a briefing, but this system was a lot easier. This way everyone knew where to go
without having to go stand around.

I am not sure if you have been on a cruise or voyage before, but if you have not, your steward is very
important to your daily life on board. He or she takes care of so much for you, such as cleaning your
room, turning down your bed at nighttime, and if you choose, they will take your laundry to the cleaners
on board to be washed, pressed, or dry-cleaned. He or she also delivers your messages and your daily
program each evening, along with leaving a piece of chocolate each night on your bed. You see them
every morning and evening. They come in while you are gone making everything nice and ship shape for your return. You share your steward with a few other staterooms near you unless you are in a suite,
then you have your own.

If you have not traveled by ship before you may be asking what the difference is between a “cruise” and
a “voyage”. On a cruise, you stop at different destinations. However, on a voyage, there are no stops. A
lot of transatlantic crossings are voyages unless you stop at islands along the way. I learned this on my
first QM2 crossings. I was calling it a “cruise” and I was constantly being corrected.

It was nearly 5:00 PM and still, people were coming onto the ship. I could see them coming into the
terminal below my balcony. Normally the ship would have left by now and I wondered if it was due to
the bike marathon and they were waiting for more passengers to board. I was surprised that the ship
was still in the dock because I didn’t think they would wait for anyone unless it was one of their own Cunard transfers.

I knew I would need to leave for dinner in the Britannia Restaurant soon. I was reserved for first seating
with an arrival time between 6:00 and 6:30. Before, on QM2, I always like to watch the ship leave the
port before going to dinner. Leaving New York, I always found it exciting and special because you can see
the tug boat pulling you out as you go by the Statue of Liberty. It is always such an uplifting feeling going
by her and thinking about how she has always welcomed people to the United States. Then there is the
bridge we pass under that is metal latticework. You can look up and see the cars going by above. I like
to take pictures as we go underneath capturing the changing shadows as the sun came through.

I did not want to miss going into dinner, though, because I was booked with five other passengers who I
would sit with each evening for the whole voyage and I wanted to meet them. So, I asked myself, should
I wait and watch the ship leave port so I could take pictures? I could have dinner at the King’s Court later.
Or should I go to dinner? Dinner won out since I had already taken several pictures on voyages before
and I wasn’t sure how long it would be before we left.

The first night on a voyage or cruise typically is not a dress-up affair. It is casual since so many have been
traveling and may have just boarded. This has been the rule, I believe, since luxury passenger ships have
been around. So, I headed to the Britannia Restaurant which has always been the restaurant I am given
with the type of stateroom I am in. Everyone has a seat, either first seating or second seating, at the
Britannia, unless you have a suite or penthouse. If you are in that category then you would have a seat
assigned in a different restaurant.

I love the Britannia Restaurant. In fact, if I was in a suite, I would ask to be seated in the Britannia. It is
gorgeous! On decks two and three, it is open through the center, so that if you are on deck two you can
look up to those seated on deck three on the balcony that wraps around above. On the back wall is a
two-story piece of artwork of QM2 made of tiny tiles. The tables are all formal with white linen table
cloths and napkins with silver silverware. For dinner, you sit with the same group of passengers so that
you are able to get to know them if you choose. You can also request at the time you book your room
to have a table to yourself or request a table for two, four, six, or eight. I always choose to be at a table
of six, except once, I choose a table of eight but found there were too many conversations going on.
I was the first one to our table of six. The waiter pulled out the chair for me so I could sit down. Soon
after an elderly gentleman, along with his two daughters, who were maybe in their mid-fifties, joined
me. It was just the four of us for some time and the elderly gentleman regaled me with stories about his days as a fighter pilot. His one daughter, sitting next to him, made sure her dad had what he needed and
the other sister sat quietly next to me listening. Our waiter, who would be with us every evening,
introduced himself and handed us leather-bound menus, menus that would change each evening. Then
the Sommelier came over and introduced himself. He would take care of our wine and drink selection
for the next six days we were on board. I ordered a bottle of Greek wine on his recommendation
because I knew he would keep the bottle for me, returning it to the table each evening until I had
finished it.

About this time, right at 6:30, the last two of our party of six came and sat down. They too were elderly,
but they had a very young air about them. The lady, Marguerite, was from France. She had red hair that
she braided to one side, clipping the bottom with a butterfly barrette that matched her light coral
blouse. Her husband, Rich, was from England originally, and he had his thin white hair pulled back into a
small ponytail in the back. He too had on a fun shirt, flowing with tropical flowers on it.

I instantly liked this couple and over the next few days would have several conversations with them,
especially Marguerite. I would find out that they lived in Florida half the year and the other half in south
France, not far from the Spanish border, near Galicia, one of my favorite places in the world. Her husband, who was very quiet, always smiled and looked like he was seeing everything for the first time.

That was when the sister sitting next to me, said. “Did anyone notice we were moving?” And I realized
we were. We had finally left port. This opening led to everyone recounting their crazy trips that day to
the terminal due to the bike marathon. It was then I discovered that the passengers I had seen coming
on board at 5:00 were from a Cunard transfer and indeed the ship had had to wait for them. I hoped
everyone who needed to get on board was able to!

Our appetizers arrived and we all waited till everyone had their food before we began eating. For my
appetizer, I had a vegetable consommé. It was delicious. The British do know how to make an excellent
soup. Next came the main entrée, which for me was grilled salmon, and then for dessert I chose a
passion fruit souffle with warm custard, followed by coffee with fancy chocolates and petit fours.
Before we all knew it, it was 7:45 and the passengers for second seating were starting to arrive. It was
time to go.

Each evening onboard QM2, there is a show at 8:00 and 10:00. It was the same show both times, but
each night the show was different. One night would be a comedy show, another, the Cunard dancers, or
perhaps a piano concert. The shows were always changing. The first night, though, there was an
amazing trumpet player who mixed his show up with some comedy. After that, I was pretty much ready
for bed and headed back to my stateroom for the night. I did not want to stay up late because I wanted
to get up in time for Mass the next morning at 8:30.

That is one very good point I would like to make about traveling onboard QM2. For those who are
Catholic, there is a Mass each morning at 8:30. Now, that may depend on if a priest is available. The
priest is always one of the passengers and so each week the priest will be different. The way I
understand it is that Cunard gives them a discount if they agree to say Mass each morning for the
passengers. I have been blessed in that of each of the four crossings I have been on, there has been a
priest and daily Mass.

Over the next days, I found myself relaxing into the leisurely comfort that comes with being onboard a ship. I had put my phone and computer into the safe in my room because I had no intention of paying for
Internet when the internet was terrible on board. Besides, I use these voyages to remove myself from
the every day and a good way to do this is to disconnect. Around me, I would hear people complaining
about how bad the Internet service was and how hard it was to connect, and how only certain places on
the ship had decent service… no thank you.

Instead, I rose and went first to Mass, then breakfast, and then I would do whatever I wanted such as
read, listen to music, meditate, go to a lecture (they always have about three lectures each day to
choose from), or I work on my travel post or scrapbook. For those that are interested in the social scene,
there are also different classes like watercolor, bridge, ballroom dancing, as well as Zumba. There is a
library as well as shops and a spa and groups you can join like the solo group. On the QM2 you can also
enjoy wine tasting and champagne classes as well as High Tea; which the QM2 is well known for. Each
afternoon with a great ceremony, in the ballroom, they serve tea, fancy tea sandwiches, scones with
clotted cream and strawberry jam, and fancy tea cakes.

As the days passed, I spent a lot of time writing in my journal and making sketches of the trip so far. Basically, connecting to the child inside me which is vital I believe on a pilgrimage. I did find a band that I
began to follow on the ship. Wherever they played during lunch or after dinner I would go and listen to them. They were called the Amethyst Duo. They were a husband-and-wife team and she sang and he played the guitar and sang. They were both amazing, but he, Paul, played the guitar better than anyone I had heard before. Twice he played a 22-string guitar that he had had made for himself. They played everything from Fleetwood Mac to Johnny Cash. I asked if I could take a picture of him and he said yes. I also bought their CD, which is very good.

While on board, there were two formal nights. One was the “Red and Gold Ball” and the other was the “Roaring 20’s”. The “Roaring 20’s” was especially fun to see so many people dressed from that era.
Some of the costumes were done very well, down to including the long dangling pearl necklaces, the flapper dresses, headbands with feathers, long silk gloves, and the quellazaire; which is the long black cigarette holder that we sometimes see in pictures of ladies from the 1920s using. The men too- some of them wore striped suits with bright-colored bow ties, suspenders, and oxford-style dress shoes. I have been to a “Roaring 20’s” ball before on the QM2, but this trip the passengers really did go all out. I think
everyone is just happy to be out and about and traveling again after COVID.

It was a wonderful voyage across. The ocean was very calm, sometimes it didn’t even feel like we were
moving. We did have fog one night halfway through the crossing and then just as we passed below the
southern tip of Ireland going towards Cornwall. However, the fog broke and I could see Cornwall, the
rocky shore, primitive and raw, as we passed by it. I knew these waters now. Back in 2010, I had taken a
four-month intensive Skipper course out of Southampton and I had sailed along the Cornish shore. It
had been exhilarating. Not to mention, Cornwall was my favorite place on earth. I have been there more
times than I can count. Seeing the land there floating past, I wanted desperately to change part of my
trip plans this time and go there, but that would have to wait for another trip.

I did not sleep very well the last night on QM2. I was too excited. I knew we would be coming into the
Southampton port early in the morning, between 5:00-6:00 AM. I wanted to be awake to watch as we
came into the Solent and made our way up to the docks. I did finally drift off to sleep but I dreamt of an
earthquake only to wake and find the familiar shutter of the ship as it was pulled along by tug boats the last length of the voyage. I looked out over my balcony just as the morning was beginning to dawn and
saw the familiar buildings of Southampton and I remembered the first time I had seen the Queen Mary 2. It had been my first day skippering on the sailing course and I had to cross the Solent, but coming
down the middle of the strait was the QM2. I had looked up at her and she towered above the small
sailing ship. The instructor asked me what I was going to do and I said, “I will put the engine on.” He
said, “No, you’re not, this is a sailboat.” Looking back, it is quite funny really, but I decided then looking
up at the ship’s towering frame that one day I would be on that ship and not looking up at her as I was
then. So, here I am! This next week I will be traveling to a very sacred place in England, a place called
Holy Island off the northeast coast of Northumberland. I looked forward to telling you all about it in
next week’s letter. Bon Voyage- Jody