So, we left the Hebridean Princess after a magical week exploring the Scottish Western Isles and headed out to the real world to travel around Scotland, Wales, and England on various train lines to visit friends and family who we had not been able to see for the past 2 years.
It was fun, but quite exhausting. We ended up in a rental flat in Earls Court on Friday May 27th to watch the Jubilee celebrations. Well, that turned out to be quite exhausting too, although I would not have missed it for anything. It was an amazing 10 days, something we will never experience again. However, when our transport arrived at 10:00 on Sunday June 5th, I was more than ready to jump into the car and head for Southampton.
A 2-week cruise on Queen Victoria is just what I needed.
Queen Victoria has been out of passenger service since cruising stopped due to the pandemic. So, this is her first real cruise since then.
We arrived at Ocean Terminal in Southampton at 12:00, and very quickly went through the check in process. Yay, I thought we are about to board. However, it was not to be. The Captain declared that no one could board until 1:00, so we sat waiting expectantly listening to a band playing “Consider Yourself at Home” and other relevant music until finally we were told we could go through security, and board the ship.
No problems bringing our supply of Veuve Clicquot and Laphroig on board, and we were soon entering Queen Victoria on deck 1. It’s not the same as boarding through the Grand Lobby on Queen Mary 2, but with a piano playing in the background and uniformed bell boys welcoming us back, it did feel like we were home again. I considered myself at home.
We had left our suitcases in storage with Cunard after disembarking from Queen Mary 2, and we had hoped that they would be in our stateroom when we boarded, but no such luck. So not having any real unpacking to do we headed off to lunch and then familiarized ourselves with the ship again.
By 3:30 there was still no sign of the suitcases so I went to the Purser’s Desk to see if they could track them down, but all they did was reassure me that the cases would definitely be on board and not to worry.
We put on our jackets and headed up to the Lido Pool to hear the British Imperial Band give a recital for our sail away. They did a good job and sheltered under the canopy while the rest of us stood in the drizzle with a glass of champagne in one hand, waving a flag in the other. Yay for Rule Britannia and Pomp and Circumstance. At the end of the recital, we all gave 3 hearty cheers for Her Majesty and waited for the Red Arrows to fly overhead. It was not to be, the low cloud cover caused them to cancel, but we were not alone. As we were standing around the pool in the drizzle cheering the Queen, she was standing on the balcony at Buckingham Palace also awaiting the fly past of the Red Arrows. I bet she was as upset as I was that they were grounded by the weather.
It was now 4:30, and we were due to sail at 5:00 and there was still no sign of our suitcases. As my visit to the Purser’s desk had not been helpful I decided to seek assistance from the Grills Concierge. When I arrived at her desk there was a crowd of people around her, all flummoxed by the new internet system, and I had to patiently await my turn to see her.
Finally, I let Iulia know about the missing suitcases. She was more concerned than the person I spoke with at the Pursers desk and immediately called housekeeping to find out what was happening. As I listened to her alerting them to the problem I heard our whistle blow, and we were underway, sailing down the Solent.
Again, we were reassured that they were on board and would be delivered to our cabin later on in the evening. By eleven o’clock it was becoming clear that they had not joined the ship, despite another visit to the Purser’s desk where I was reassured that they were on board.
However, this did not dampen my excitement about being back on board. I can happily say that Queen Victoria is in as good a shape as ever. Yes our balcony has a fair amount of rust, but I am yet to have a stateroom where there is no rust on the balcony. Otherwise she is as beautiful as ever, and the staff are just as eager to please, the food is excellent, and that Cunard mattresses is beckoning.
I’ll update on what it’s like on board in the time of COVID tomorrow………………..
This is worse than waiting to find out who shot JR!!!!
Hope the bags show up soon. I assume you did bring a significant wardrobe from the Hebridean Princess.
Your time in London sounds specular. When we were there in May the rehearsals were in full stride.
Jack
All will be revealed soon! London was absolutely wonderful – I am so glad we were there to experience it all.
We were last on QV in March 2011 (LA – Fort Lauderdale) and joined you and Brian on a day trip to Antigua in Guatemala.
I hope you both enjoy your latest cruise and your luggage turns up today.
I remember that well! It was a wonderful cruise, and we really enjoyed the tour. Queen Victoria is a lovely as ever, it is great to be back on her again 🙂
Just remember… Scarlett O’Hara made a dress from the drapes at Tara and I suppose that there are ample supplies on the Queen Victoria in case the luggage has set sail in another direction. There are always sheets and duct tape! Keep calm and carry on, Safari Gal!
Trust me I have been searching the ship for appropriate drapes that might work for the red and gold Gala night…………………..
Have not sailed on Cunard yet. Had two cruises booked to get us from NYC to Southampton to Cape Town … but then … well, COVID happened.
Crossing the Atlantic is a wonderful, lazy experience – highly recommended. I do hope you get to do it soon! We hope to be on NYC to Southampton to Cape Town in 2023 (just have to see those penguins at Boulders Beach in Cape Town), fingers crossed that it will actually happen!