April 11th

At Sea

High Risk Area Security Precautions Day

When we left Penang we noticed that the ship’s anti pirate equipment had been installed on deck 3. Today’s Daily Programme advised us that from this evening until after departure from Port Victoria we would be passing through the outskirts of the High Risk Area. We were told that we would notice enhanced security procedures around the ship, in particular on the outside decks. Accordingly, during the hours of darkness, all of the outside lights will be turned off and access to certain areas will be restricted. We are also asked to ensure that our balcony lights are turned off and that our curtains remain closed. All very scary stuff.

The probability that Queen Elizabeth would be subject to a pirate attack seems extremely remote, but the mere fact that there is a possibility is a very sobering thought. I felt grateful to those sailors who regularly face this risk to transport goods to us back home.

It is cloudy and overcast today, not a great pool day. However, all is not lost. As usual there is a very full schedule of activities going on around the ship. Asha de Vos spoke on “The Unorthodox Whales of Sri Lanka”, and Cally Oldershaw on “Flotsam and Jetsam – Trash or Treasure?” Then there was an Asian cookery demonstration and a tap-dance class. I decided not to participate in the latter.

However, they have been holding beginners ballroom dancing classes. I would have loved to go to those. I really enjoy watching the dancers in the Queens Room in the evenings. They all look so elegant, and make it all look so easy. I want to be just like them. Brian and I took a ballroom dancing class many years ago. It did not go well, and I have not been able to get him to go to another one since.

In her noon announcement Captain Inger discussed the measures that the ship has taken to avoid pirates, and also what the passengers need to do should there be an imminent pirate attack. We also have a Royal Navy Liaison Officer who will apparently assist the Captain should a situation occur. They certainly seem to have thought things through very well.

My thoughts turned from pirates to King Neptune. Today was the crossing of the line ceremony, although there is much disagreement as to when we actually do or did cross the equator. You would think something like this would be easy to work out.

Anyway, today is when brave pollywogs, those who have not previously crossed the equator by sea, hope to win Neptune’s permission to graduate to the rank of shellback, someone who has successfully crossed the line. Brian took part in the ceremony on QV last year, and the T-shirt he wore has never been the same since.

The pollywogs are accused of several “crimes” and are brought to the court of King Neptune and Queen Neptuna. They are found “guilty” by the judge (Jo our entertainment director) and the onlookers. Having had to kiss a large smelly fish they then have a series of slimy brightly colored foodstuffs, including spaghetti poured over them. After that they get a chance to jump into the pool to try to rid themselves of the slime.

The ceremony was as messy and fun as usual, and at the end the Deputy Captain and the Hotel Manager ended up in the pool too. Somehow our Captain managed to stay on dry land. It was great to think that this ceremony has been going on for hundreds of years; it is good to keep up traditions. I first crossed the line as a baby, and there is a cine film of me getting covered in slime and dunked in the pool. It looks like I am screaming my head off. I clearly did not approve.

When night fell we closed out curtains and followed the anti pirate instructions. The dining room looked very different with the curtains closed, and I missed being able to look out to sea, although you can’t see much as it is dark out there.

After dinner we went to the Commodore Club to have a drink with friends. Fortunately they had not closed the shades there. We could look out and watch the lightening from the storms all around us. I love the Commodore Club on QM2, but don’t like the way they have to close the shades at night because of the light affecting visibility on the bridge.

When we got back to the cabin I tried to check my emails, but the internet wasn’t working again. Hopefully it will be up and running tomorrow ☺