QUEEN ELIZABETH 5th January 2012 Part 1

QUEEN ELIZABETH 5th January 2012
Part 1

On 8th October 2010 I was in Southampton with some friends to watch the new Cunard cruise ship come into her home port of Southampton: it was QUEEN ELIZABETH, and she made a splendid sight in the early morning light. We were part of a large flotilla of ships to welcome her in for the first time.

Queen Elizabeth arriving in Southampton October 2010

Fifteen months later I was again in Southampton, and this time I was to sail on the newest Cunarder for myself, for 3 nights from Southampton to Hamburg, on the River Elbe in Germany. There was to be one call at Le Havre, on the way, before a sea day on our way to Hamburg. It was a ‘New Year Getaway’.

It was a wild and damp January winter morning, with trees down on the railway lines in the south of England, faulty signals near Portsmouth, and I felt glad my coastal train was only half an hour late. A taxi whisked me to the Queen Elizabeth II Terminal and on the way there I had a pleasant chat with the driver about the lavender-hulled lovelies of the Union-Castle Line that we both remembered. In the Ocean Terminal I could see BOUDICCA berthed against the quay, held there seemingly only with the help of a large tug nose-in to the side of the hull. The tug seemed to be putting a lot of force into this, as sea water was churning up continuously from her stern. My ticket said I was to embark in Ocean Terminal, so it was a surprise to see BOUDICCA there but I know the weather and wind conditions were dreadful.

I had booked a single use inside grade D8 cabin for my 3 nights on board, and had been happy to be notified of an upgrade to a D1 cabin, so I was pleased to embark and be greeted by cheerful faces as I reached the top of the gangway. My cabin 8031 was large and comfortably furnished, the bathroom was spacious and there was a bottle of champagne in an ice-bucket on the small table next to the settee. Life was already looking good, so I set off to meet my travelling companion. He had booked for the full five days of the cruise from Southampton and back, and had been upgraded four times since booking, so we had a mini cabin-cavalcade between my inside cabin and his outside with balcony.

Then it was time to start to explore the ship and enjoy the new sights and sounds of a ship actually in the sea, and not in a dry dock. My recent experience on COSTA DELIZIOSA and going into the Marseilles dry dock is still so fresh in my mind, that I can’t help comparing it with being here on QUEEN ELIZABETH!

QUEEN ELIZABETH was built for Cunard in 2010 with a gross tonnage of 90,900, to carry 2,068 passengers at a speed of 23.7 knots, and she is another enlarged Vista class of ship (a hybrid Vista/Spirit class), as was COSTA DELIZIOSA. Her home port is Southampton, in Hampshire, England, and she is now registered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Her Captain for this voyage is Captain Christopher Wells. The ship was named by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and I was so pleased to see the golden bust of Her Majesty on board, taken from the QE2 before she sailed to Dubai. There is also a beautiful painting of Her Majesty on board.

There are 12 passenger decks, with Forward A, Midships B and Aft C Stairways and Elevators. The lowest A Deck has the Tender Embarkation access and the Medical Centre. Deck 1 forward of Aft staircase C has staterooms, the Tour Office, Purser’s Office, and Voyage Sales Office. Forward of that is the lower part of the Grand Lobby,

The Linley ship

and then forward of that is the Internet Centre Connexions 1, leading on to more staterooms. Forward again from Forward Stairway A is the lowest level entry to the Royal Court Theatre.

Deck 2 aft is the lower level of the Britannia Restaurant, and forward of the stairway is the Britannia Club, The Verandah,

The Verandah

The Verandah

Cafe Carinthia, the second level of the Grand Lobby, and the lower level of the Library. Forward of Stairway B is the Book shop, Cunard Place, Queens Room,

Queens Room

Queens Arcade, Empire Casino and then Golden Lion pub. Forward again is the Stairway A and then the Royal Court Theatre.

Deck 3 at the stern has the upper level of the Britannia Restaurant,

Britannia Restaurant entrance

A stairway

Stairway C, Images Photo Gallery, Card Room, Midships Bar The Alcove, the top level of the Grand Lobby, and the Emporium/Library.

The Library

Forward of Stairway B is Cunarders’ Gallery, the Queens Room, then Connexions 2 and 3, Art Gallery and Royal Arcade.

Royal Arcade

Prize-winning sculpture

Forward of the Stairway A is the top level seating of the Theatre.

Decks 4 to 8 inclusive are all staterooms.

Deck 9 aft has the Lido Pool, Bar and Grill, and forward of Stairway C is the Lido Restaurant. Forward of Stairway B is the attractive Garden Lounge,

Garden Lounge

The Garden Lounge

which is another of the most attractive areas on the ship to my mind, especially in January when one can sit in very comfortable armchairs, with cushions, and be completely warm and safe from the vagaries of the weather in the North Sea. With a small bar in one corner to provide tea, coffee or whatever was needed, I enjoyed spending time there. Forward of that was the Pavilion Pool and Bar,

Funnel view on deck

Tiling outside the Pavilion

Outside Pool area

and forward and up again was the Yacht Club which was a very popular place at night for music and dancing.

The Yacht Club

Deck 9 forward had the Royal Spa and Fitness Centre.

Deck 10 forward had the Churchill’s Cigar Lounge, and then the Commodore Club which again was such a lovely venue especially at night time. The Games Deck was above this, with its canvas and rope-bound canopies to protect us from the weather.

Chess pieces

I was hoping to learn to play croquet but others had the same idea so that must be for another time.

There were other vessels in Southampton port, including ORIANA, BALMORAL and BOUDICCA, but it was a lovely surprise to look out and see a familiar but unusual small ship coming down Southampton Water towards us: it was the T.H.V. PATRICIA, the Flag Ship of Trinity House, going very slowly past us. We later discovered she went to shelter against the Isle of Wight, presumably to avoid the rough weather out in the English Channel.

THV Patricia

Lifeboat drill was next, in the wonderfully tiered theatre, and we soon departed from Southampton in the dark with the sound of suitable maritime music playing in the background and being blown towards us on the high wind on deck.

The Commodore Club was ideal for a pre-dinner drink, and then the Britannia Restaurant was our next destination for dinner. I had been allocated a table with seven other passengers on the upper level on Deck 3, which surrounded the lower level on Deck 2, and was accessed with the sort of light-edged curved staircase where one can ‘sweep down’ in a very feminine and elegant way. My travelling companion was with other congenial passengers on a table on the lower level, but the Maitre d’ had said he would arrange for us to sit together on subsequent nights. The menu was varied and full of desirable things to choose, so it was a pleasant occasion.

I sat in the middle of an oval table for eight, with my back to a wall. The Wine Waiter appeared with Wine Lists which she rapidly gave to the two men on the table, before rushing away and taking orders at other tables. I wanted to order a glass of wine, but was unable to do so until about 10 minutes later when I managed to catch her eye and wave as she rushed past again. She seemed rather surprised, but gathered herself and gave me a Wine List. It took another 5 minutes before she reappeared to take my small order and then another 10 minutes before the glass of wine appeared. It was obvious the member of staff was under intense pressure and perhaps Cunard need to think again about the number of Wine Stewards they have in this restaurant.

Plates of After Dinner Mints and small pieces of crystallised ginger were outside the Restaurant (welcome back to Cunard, Ann, I thought) and then it was time for the Welcome Aboard Show in the three-deck-high Royal Court Theatre. The Queen Elizabeth Theatre Company and eight-piece Theatre Orchestra entertained us after we were welcomed by the Entertainment Director Amanda; after that Show it was time to head up to the Yacht Club for music and dancing, with the wonderful silver model of QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 in a glass case at the entrance to the room.

Clocks have to go forward one hour tonight to put us on Continental time, so it was a short night ahead of me despite the beautiful linen and pillows on my bed.

Ships seen: Queen Elizabeth, Oriana, Balmoral, Boudicca (held alongside with a tug), Autostar, Great Expectations, Red Jet 4, Svitzer Ferriby tug, Patricia

To be concluded...

Costa Deliziosa 18th December 2011 Part 1

Costa Deliziosa 18th December 2011

Saturday 17th December
I’m to sail on my first Farcus-styled ship on Sunday; I’ve looked at the brochure pictures and also remember William Mayes’ talk to the Ocean Liner Society some time ago about CARNIVAL LEGEND, when I think my jaw dropped on seeing the pictures of urns. Today I flew to Genoa ready to go to Savona on Sunday to join COSTA DELIZIOSA for 4 nights.

So this was the plan – until 17 hours before I was to leave home there was a telephone call from Costa in London telling me the ship had technical problems, and I could choose to join her still for her short trip to dry dock in Marseille, or not take the planned cruise. The terms offered by Costa were so enticing that I chose to go into dry dock with the ship in Marseille. My travelling companions chose the same so we knew we were likely to share an unusual experience.

I arrived at Genoa airport, flying in from east to west with a turbulent wind making it impossible to photograph anything from the plane. However, I could see lots of ships in the harbour as the aircraft wings rose and fell during landing. The Airport to City Volabus driver sold me a ticket and since I was the only passenger he took me almost to my destination hotel in the Porto Antico area of the city. I was slightly bemused that he decided to avoid all the usual bus stops en route but obviously my scanty Italian and his scanty English seemed to work some kind of chemistry and I was soon checking into my hotel thanks to his kindness. This whole trip already promises to be interesting…

Having met one of my friends we strolled to the harbour for coffee and then ship-watching, so I could put names to the vessels I had seen from the aircraft.

MSC Splendida


Carthage



Handy Tankers Miracle

Work in progress on Costa NeoRomantica

Ships and a ship lover

Corsica Shuttle

Genoa skyline

another view in wonderful light

Our evening meal was taken in one of the Eataly Restaurants on the top floor of the Renzo Piano Building overlooking the harbour, so fresh pasta and salad went down well with the views, and from our table I could also see some of the Piano glass chandeliers in another restaurant.

Ships seen: Pacific, Sardinia Vera, Corsica Marina Seconda, Moby Ale, Moby Fantasy, Moby Aki, SNAV Toscana, Excellent, Splendid, Majestic (memorably sailed on in July 2008), Aurelia, Splendida, Carthage (another memorable trip in 2010), Costa NeoRomantica, Vento di Aliseo, Linea Marina Jolly Blu or Jolly Corallo, and Handy Tankers Miracle (lovely name), MSC Splendida, Italia (for coffee), and Oceania Cruises Riviera still under construction at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard just beside the airport.

Sunday 18th December
Early breakfast was followed by a treat, when our other travelling companion arrived, together with a famous Italian maritime author who wanted to say hello again. There was lots of ship talk until it was time to take the train to Savona for our Costa cruise into dry dock. A local bus took us from Savona station to the cruise terminal, and we were soon going over the gangway to get on board my first Farcus-styled ship. Oh my, what an incredible, amazing and awe-inspiring vessel. The brochure pictures hardly prepared me for what I saw as I stepped aboard into the nine-deck-high atrium, with its glory of light, colour, noise and decoration including the Arnaldo Pomodoro sphere, here on the COSTA DELIZIOSA.

The Pomodoro Globe


Part of the 9 deck high Atrium





my cabin 5385

The original C door handles, with the double quote signs

We soon dropped our bags into our cabins, and set off to explore the ship on the way to a buffet lunch up on Deck 9 Orchidea in the Muscadins Self-Service Restaurant. Just aft of this was the Lido Acqua Regina, with its blue bucket-style seats around the pool.


Chilly Lido pool area

The restaurant ceiling was covered in nautical flag prints, the walls were covered in more nautical items, and the carpet was busy too.

Muscadins Self-Service Restaurant

Fortunately we could look out to the waters of the harbour as a calming balance to our senses. The food was good and plentiful and the self-service worked well enough.

COSTA DELIZIOSA was built for Costa Cruises in 2010 by Fincantieri in Venice, Italy, with 12 passenger decks and a gross tonnage of 92,600, and is a Vista/Spirit class of ship design. Her interior designer is Mr Joseph (Joe) Farcus. She was christened at Port Rashid, in the United Arab Emirates, to coincide with the opening of the new cruise terminal there. Her passenger capacity is 2,826 with a crew of 934, she has 4 restaurants, 11 bars, a Spa and other well-being facilities, and numerous entertainment opportunities including a 3-level theatre, a 4D cinema, a golf simulator, Playstation world, Costa Team virtual racing car, roller skating, a Casino and shops.

Some of the wonderful photographs in the stairways

We had our first sight of the Restaurant, which rendered us almost speechless,


Albatros Restaurant seen from the top level

Lower level of the Restaurant

The Casino


Ristorante Samsara

and then prepared for Life Boat Drill, followed by a Welcome on Board Presentation for English speakers. We seemed to be amongst about 40 people speaking English, with other presentations available for Italian, Spanish and German speakers. When we boarded we expected to see few other passengers, but I found out there were about 2000 of us on the ship.

Fun chairs

Magradome roof over the pools

We sailed at 5.00 p.m. from Savona, heading the 213 nautical miles to Marseille, although we didn’t yet know our arrival time there. Dinner was at 6.30 first sitting, which meant we actually started eating after 7 p.m., which we thought was better than second sitting starting at 8.45 p.m. and ending goodness knows when. The evening’s entertainment was available in many areas of the ship, and we went to the Casino show in the Duse Theatre. There was no live music, which we thought was rather unexpected. We also enjoyed the live music in the Atrium bar and the Chocolate Bar, and the sight of some of the items for sale in the ship’s shops which were now open.

There was lots of noise, music and dancing and we enjoyed walking around or sitting amongst it all.


The Ballroom (Grand Bar Mirabilis)

Ballroom lights of aqua-coloured glass

We also had to get away from it now and again and venture out onto the deck to check on the weather and get some air. This is when we found what we called the two conservatories – small seating areas jutting out onto the deck, one each side, but completely isolated from the wild weather outside.



Many families with small children were around the public rooms or bars, with the toddlers swaying with the rhythm of the band, or the tinies fast asleep in their pushchairs; we were all on holiday and enjoying the facilities of this large ship in our different ways.

The beautiful butterflies

So, with the ship hurtling into the night at 20 knots into a 70 km wind, we reluctantly left the ballroom and the wonderful butterflies artwork to seek temporary oblivion in sleep.

Ships seen: Artania, seen in Genoa’s harbour, from the train

To be concluded...