Liner Lady

QUEEN ELIZABETH 2,  WESTBOUND CROSSING,  Cabin 2113  November 4 – 9, 1990

 Sunday, 4 November, 1990 – Southampton

At the Ambassador Hotel, while we (Nancy, Diane and the DeGaetanos) awaited the time to embark Queen Elizabeth 2, I met Robert DeGaetano who is a concert pianist.  We talked about music, naturally.

We shared a taxi directly to the Terminal and I was able to board after a wait and receiving my cabin assignment #2113.  This is the cabin Walter Moffat had in July on my way over from San Diego last spring.  I walked aboard, deposited my “hand luggage” and found my bags had already been delivered outside the cabin.

I first saw friend C. as he was walking down the steps toward Yacht Club bar.  He is now assigned to the Midships Bar again.  I eventually went to Midships Bar and sat near the computer so he and I could catch a little conversation.  He got me a pink fruit punch.  I managed to deliver a note with my cabin number on it, because this booking was a last minute happening.  Briefly, during the Summer I had left England for a trip with Nadine to Germany, and upon my return, when asked how long I was going to stay in England, my answer brought up the fact that most of my previous visit time was still counting, and not being allowed more than six months within a year’s time, I had to leave by the beginning of November.  Thus, I had to activate my open ticket and had to book this November sailing or fly home.  Cunard said they didn’t have a single available in my category for the amount of my open ticket, so the upshot was that I had to pay $1000 extra, and thus secured this posh cabin, which is a Columbia grade one.

I unpacked my bags and settled in, then went to dinner at seven o’clock.  I am at table 211 right by the Starboard windows, and sitting with Phyllis and George from Baltimore and eventually Erik, a German-American from Chicago.  I tried to get my whole dinner finished in an hour.  Nick (my waiter on the way over), recognized me and hugged me.  The other waiter is Kim who must be from Hong Kong.

At eight o’clock I went with C. to 2 Deck – forward to the Pig, where we were able to talk alone nearly the whole hour.

I enjoyed my bathtub tonight with very deep water and foam bath.  As we were going down the Southampton Water and the Solent I sat on the sill of one of the portholes and followed our progress that way.  A colorful sunset was part of the wonderful scene.  I decided that in order to make the extra $1,000 be significant, I could use the baths and porthole gazing as part of the perks.  The portholes would amount to $500 as would the bathtub.  Each day I would sit looking out the portholes and take a daily deep bath!

Monday, 5 November – At Sea:

I arose at a leisurely pace and went to breakfast at the Lido.  The Boat Drill was at 10:30 and my station is number 7, which is starboard side of Grand Lounge.  I then went to the singles party at the Theatre Bar and joined in the mixer questionnaire, but upon seeing no prospects I faded out.  I checked on C. before lunch at the Lido – again having my favorite dessert, Key lime pie. I saw him again at three o’clock when he came to my cabin to relax before work.  Looking out the portholes was one of the major activities!!!  At five o’clock he went back to work and I leisurely watched television and bathed again in my tub of deep water and foam.  I met Christophe my former steward in 1005, and he invited me to tea tomorrow at three. 

I went to the Captain’s cocktail party – skipping the receiving line.  Shortly afterward at 7:30 I dashed into dinner to eat as fast as possible.  Kim is good at getting my stuff fast so I was out by 8:20, when I met C. for the Pig trip.  Saw Gary, Paul and Neil.  Mary Blair is aboard again.  We weren’t alone this time, but it is so nice to have it relatively quiet.

Robert DeGetano’s piano concert was my next goal in the Theatre.  He played Gottschalke and Gershwin, then his own piece “The Challenger” a 28- minute delight of characterization.

After a brief stay in the Pig where I met Debbie, we went to my cabin.  C. took a deep bath.  We had sandwiches, which Keith had delivered.  We shared the idea of a tea shop using my fine china.  He wasn’t at all averse to it.

Tuesday, 6 November – At Sea:

I can’t account for much today, except that my schedule was very open, highlighted by meals.  I tried to locate Robert, but wasn’t successful till I left a note under his door #5199.  Meanwhile, I went to keep my date with Christophe who had prepared a tray of tea and cherry-strawberry rolls.  I followed him into cabin 2085, which is one of the very posh ones, and unoccupied this time.  We found conversation very easy.  He will return to university after December.

When I returned to my cabin, 2113, Robert called me and we met at the Theatre to go through several songs.  Father D’Arcy put us out for Mass so we finished up at Midships Lobby.  Robert likes my voice and will accompany me, in the Talent Show.  Christophe came through and heard me.  Guess what was next!  A BATH!

I was at dinner from seven to eight as usual, but I still haven’t met the two English people who are supposed to be at my table.

A big storm is imminent, and the ship was tossing in rough sea when we went to the Pig.  I had to be careful as it tossed and we talked, again more or less by ourselves.  C. walked me back to G stairway along the alley, and then when I felt on the brink, C. gave me a bag and I dashed, too late to make it to the cabin.  I slept off and on, waking when things flew off the dresser, fruits, glasses, ash tray, (a beer bottle rolled from under the bunk (NOT MINE)) and so on.  The ship was wallowing in deep troughs and it was really rough.  C. came by in the morning. I felt better by that time, so we sat at the portholes watching the show out there on the ocean.  I think this was the time when C. had taken my key to put in his waiter’s jacket, and when we headed aft, he remembered he had left the jacket behind, and he went to retrieve it.  This was when I “lost it” and we had to clean up the mess.  He was a good sport when he returned!  Fortunately, there was a trash bag on hand to receive the towels we had to use.]

 Wednesday, 7 November – Mid Atlantic

I was up by 8:30.  However, I returned to bed and only got up for breakfast at eleven o’clock.  I saw Nancy in the Library “resting” her eyes.  She joined me at Midships Bar where C. served us tea and drinks.  I introduced them.  We went to her cabin 4011, then to lunch together at the Lido.  Diane met us inside on portside.  At 2:30 I was at Queens Grill A stairway to join the bridge tour.  We walked up the stairs in officers’ quarters.  I saw the radar, water tight door panel, small ship’s wheel, chart table, and great views from top of the bow, Very enjoyable!

C. had a great rest this afternoon, and I didn’t see him till just before the World Club cocktail party.  I dined quickly as usual to join C. for the Pig.   The pattern has long been set.  I returned to my cabin for another great bubble bath.   I wanted to hear Robert’s second concert, but had been dozing and let the time go by.   

Thursday, 8 November – At Sea:

I found Robert and apologized for missing his concert, and made arrangements for the Talent Show at four.  As usual I checked with C. at Midships Bar.

The show was okay.  I wore my long black skirt and silver blouse and did an acceptable performance.  I got ahead of Robert so we got reoriented.  Good “Queen of the Night.” Pinging all those high fs.  Good response from the audience.

Tonight was our last dinner already, and Erik, Phyllis and George were there, just us four.  I followed that with the Pub run as usual.

 Friday, 9 November – New York Harbor

I awoke early so we could locate Muredach, who had been harboring the QE2 bear C. had bought me a long time ago.  The two guys returned with the bear, which I name JACH.  This bear had spent many a month at the sailors’ Mission in Southampton.  C. had bought him for me long ago, but when at the mission before going on leave, he left it by mistake.  At one time I had tried to retrieve him, giving my name and the fact that I was a friend of C. Horne, and they wouldn’t surrender that bear to just anyone, so he spent more time till today, waiting for his new owner!

Following my last breakfast with my table mates, I went through customs and sat at Midships Bar with Phyllis and George and later Erik, but the disembarking time came at 9:30 and I had to leave for the bus to La Guardia with Erik and no proper goodbye to C.

Once more, goodbye QE2 – my favorite ship.  This is my eighth time on the ship.