{"id":1047,"date":"2015-05-04T11:09:04","date_gmt":"2015-05-04T11:09:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/travelwithus.us\/?p=1047"},"modified":"2015-05-04T11:09:04","modified_gmt":"2015-05-04T11:09:04","slug":"sail-away-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/travelwithus.us\/?p=1047","title":{"rendered":"Sail Away"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"IMG_20150503_181011077\"<\/a>Yesterday we got up early, ate, packed, said goodbye to Waggers, and were ready in plenty of time for the car would take us to the cruise terminal in Southhampton. The drive was uneventful, and the driver pleasant. As an aside, we really like the car service we’ve been using in England, Blackberry, and only wish we’d used it to get from Gatwick to the hotel, instead of the just as expensive and not nearly as comfortable train and taxi combo we used.<\/p>\n

Once we got close to the docks, we ended up in a couple traffic jams. Each time, we thought it was because all three Cunard ships (Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Victoria) were in port, and leaving at the same time, plus there might be a few people come down to watch them. But our driver said no, and he was right – the first traffic jam was because of some construction, and the second was backed up traffic from a nearby shopping mall.<\/p>\n

We were dropped off at Ocean Terminal, where the real traffic jam began. This is our second sailing on the Queen Mary 2, and our second embarkation nightmare. Though this one, really, wasn’t that bad – it just took forever. Last time, we actually had to stand in line (or sit, as eventually they distributed fold up chairs) for two hours in an un-airconditioned warehouse-like structure in Florida heat. This time, they gave us boarding letters (ours was ‘V’, and they were boarding ‘E’ when we arrived) and then we found comfortable seats in the pleasant, air conditioned terminal. We also had access to bathrooms and overpriced food. So, much better than last time, but still took over 2 hours to get through the boarding process.<\/p>\n

All three ships were supposed to sail away together, but ours (QM2) was running way behind – in addition to general boarding pokiness, the ramp to the ship actually came detached at one point, further delaying the boarding process as they hooked it back up again. So the other two Queens, who apparently had completed their boarding in a timely manner, had to just sit around and wait for us.<\/p>\n

We did finally get on the ship, and to our room. Lis read in Daily Programme there that the Band of the Welsh Guards would serenade our departure from the quayside. We thought that sounded cool, but looking at the timing of everything described in the program, it looked like we would be in our required passenger muster drill at that time, and miss it. All the timing of our grand departure seemed off, and I was worried, because I had been SO looking forward to it. Lis commented that we had switched roles, with me fretting about how it would all come off, and Lis occupying the “don’t worry, it will all work out” space.<\/p>\n

We went to the buffet for some late lunch, then back to our room to wait for the muster drill, which had been pushed back from 4pm to 4:30pm to 4:45pm. Lis went out on our balcony (thanks, Sandra!!) to take some pictures, then hollered for me to come quick – the Welsh Guards were performing just below us. They were fun, and sounded good (not all marching bands do) – we watched them until it was time for our muster drill, which took place an hour late at 5pm.<\/p>\n

Then it was time for our sail away, and it was the best. I love cruising because I love to be on a ship at sea, and my favorite part of any voyage is sailing in to and out of port. I especially love it if any other ships are arriving or departing at the same time, or any other local ships or people are around, as we all wave to each other. So this departure, with two other ships, and countless local ships, and people along the shore, and waving to everybody, and the ships sounding their horns back and forth, and music and British flags and a sense of occasion, was just awesome! We sailed along the English Channel, accompanied by our sister ships, for about two hours.<\/p>\n

The QM2 started out in the lead, followed by the Queen Elizabeth and then the Queen Victoria, in single file. Eventually, the channel widened, and the ships fanned out so that they were kind of abreast, but not side by side. We travelled this way past a jetty full of people snapping pictures and cheering – I waved my little British flag and felt like a celebrity. Then, we slowed down, and the two ships came abreast of us (but at a fair distance, as the channel was quite wide now) and then passed us, and we followed them out to sea. The sun came out and illuminated the Queen Elizabeth, now in the lead, and eventually she and Queen Victoria went one way, and we went another, out in to the open Atlantic and toward home.<\/p>\n

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Yesterday we got up early, ate, packed, said goodbye to Waggers, and were ready in plenty of time for the car would take us to the cruise terminal in Southhampton. The drive was uneventful, and the driver pleasant. As an aside, we really like the car service we’ve been using in England, Blackberry, and only … Continue reading Sail Away<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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