Liner Lady

CHRISTMAS CRUISE

QUEEN ELIZABETH 2

DECEMBER 21-JAN 4

Cabins 4009 – 5179 – 5172

Sunday, December 21 1997 – New York Harbor.  

I flew to La Guardia airport and was met by a Cunard representative who put me in a luxury car all by myself.  Was driven by an Indian man who talked on his cell phone all the way.

Went through the check in and posed for my embarkation photo, then walked onto 2 Deck Midships Lobby.  Gregory, my waiter last January through March, spotted me and we hugged in greeting.  He told me Mrs. Levy is coming on in January.  The “Saga Rose ” has burned again and all passengers for that World Cruise, including the Morrises, have been cancelled.  He delivered me to cabin 5179, which is adequate for a single person, but with Emily (12) and Ben (10),  it will be tight.  I chose the bed on the outside with the single porthole.  My steward is Dennis, a Filipino.  He kindly returned the chilled champagne and secured a $50 credit on my account!   World Club has given me a $200 credit.  With the $550 for the rest of us, we’re doing very well.

I headed for Queens Room for tea around 3:30 and had several sandwiches and a nice lemon mousse cake.  Yum.  Wandered around the familiar haunts and when I stopped by the Library I bought John Maxtone-Graham’s new book about Violet Jessop, the nurse who survived the sinking of both the “Titanic” and “Brittanic,”

It was very cold on deck but I wandered up there till boat drill.  My Station E in the Golden Lion Pub.   I then watched our departure from Boat Deck – Miriam Moran tug – whistle blew two sets of 3, then the final boop.  Yes!!!!!!!  Saw the Statue of Liberty, then the Verrazano Bridge from my porthole.  Then I went to dinner alone at 6:15 in the Mauretania Restaurant, and sat at table 310 on port middle aisle.  Waiters are Martin and Hefid.  I went to my first of many movies to come, Picture Perfect.  Ho-hum.

The cabin is very warm, but fortunately they have added an air conditioner.  The water ight doors are a pain, and I hope this is the last time I ever stay on Five Deck!!!!!!

Monday, December 22 .

I awoke early to the sounds of passing waters and a sense that  something may be loose rattling in the water on the hull, but it may only be a slapping.  Anyway, I managed to drop off again till 8 o’clock.  When I ate in the Lido, I sat with a nice British lady from Kent named Eileen Hewitt.  She is alone and very independent.  We exchanged names and cabin numbers 4183, a small single. 

At ten o’clock I attended a lecture on Pirates, strolled around in the shops and back to the Theatre to see Batman and Robin, but left before it was over.   Being cloudy and rainy on Boat Deck, I opted to stay inside for the afternoon to attend a lecture by ITN Executive, retired Chairman, Sir David Nicholas. He brought us up to date on the life of Diana.  Eileen joined me.  I talked with some English people I recognized from last year.

Spent a short time on deck in the high wind and mild temperatures.  Eileen joined me at my table for dinner, and I had three crème caramels!    Afterward, I looked up John Douglass in the Caronia dining room.  He had seen my name on the list – all the Hufford names!!!!!   I then went to the Theatre to see Brassed Off.  Judy Kolba’s musical and funny show captured my attention late, and then of course, it was time for the ever- tempting Midnight Buffet.  After a short walk on aft deck in humid weather, I returned to the cabin.

Tuesday, December 23 – Miami.

I was awake near five o’clock and could see coastal lights.  Eventually I heard the ship slow down and saw the pilot boat leaving our side.  I quickly dressed and was topside to see us enter the channel and slowly proceed to the “Norway’s” spot.  Weather warm and humid. 

Had breakfast on my own, but returned to be with Eileen, who had come up later.  At ten o’clock I went on land to wait for the family.  Soon three taxis – posh – drove up and first Geoff and Michelle got out with Alec (5) and Jerome (2),  then Chris and the two youngest – then Cherie and the boys.  Mix-ups in Fort Lauderdale caused Cunard to have to order their own transportation since no one was on hand to meet these 10 people.  What an oversight! They had flown overnight from LA!

Fortunately the whole family was allowed to pre board and they settled into 5172 and 4009.  I showed the ship to Chris, Ben and Emily, and then we had lunch in the Pavilion at noon.  Geoff and Michelle slept. We kidded Cherie and Chris about having the largest and best cabin.  It rained while we ate but it cleared nicely.  Showed the Spa and Gym to Emily and Ben.

I had some time alone on Boat Deck starboard till time for the movie, Contact.   Met Geoff and Jerome as I was showing Alec the pool.    We took Jerome to the Nursery and he was happy to play.  We left him, Alec and Geoff there and I went to the cabin.  Emily and Lanie (8) were there.    Dinnertime brought only Chris and Cherie plus their family.  The others ate on their own.  Most of us saw Men in Black.  Set the clocks ahead one hour.

Wednesday, December 24.

Chris and I attended the Leonard Maltin talk on movies.  John Willy, our waiter and a young Liverpuddlian who has a three- year old boy, Nathan, loves to see Jerome and sometimes takes him for a bouncy ride around the dining room. 

The Christmas Eve dinner was very fancy.  First, we were all dressed in our formal attire and the tables were decorated with Christmas crackers and tall gold foil -wrapped chocolate favors.  The show included a lovely section of some of the Filipinos singing Christmas carols their style, and fairly well in choir.  I babysat Jerome while Geoff and Michelle enjoyed the gala midnight buffet.   Jerome is in a crib jammed into the cabin space, and maneuvering around it is a challenge to say the least!  They returned to the cabin around 2 a.m. and woke me up, whence I returned just across the ship at F Stairway.

Thursday, 25 December – Merry Christmas.   

When we arrived at the Mauritania Restaurant after 8:30, only Chris, Ben, Lanie and Cherie were there and they were well along.  I finished up with them and we then went to our cabins to collect the presents.  At ten o’clock the Crèche Nannies, Emma etc. guided the little children through a short nativity play.  Stephen was the Angel Gabriel, and Alec was an inn -keeper.  Each child was steered to his/her place, but one sheep toddled over to Mummy every time.  When the play was over, Roy Parkinson used his walkie-talkie to communicate with Santa and there was much anticipation on the part of us all.  Finally Santa and his single reindeer arrived on the stage of the Grand Lounge.  Santa sat in a very impressively large chair and proceeded to take children individually onto his lap while the photographer took individual pictures.  Presents were given to each child, and they were nice ones too, plus a candy stuffed stocking.

After all this, we took our presents to Midships Lounge on Two Deck, where we placed the presents under the lovely tree by the middle pillar.  When all were assembled, the children proceeded to distribute the presents to those seated around the benches.  During all this many people passed through and enjoyed seeing us.  I talked to Olivia, and spotted Helen, my stewardess from two years ago, and several others whose faces I recognized.  Helen, by the way is now on Two Deck aft.  It was a very happy time but quite warm there as usual.

When we dispersed, I took my loot to the cabin, and lunch followed for some of us.  It seems we never completely coordinate, because of Jerome’s naps etc. However, those at the Mauritania restaurant enjoyed lovely chicken kabobs and minute steaks, followed by banana sundaes and chocolate sundaes..  When done, I went up to Boat Deck to see the sunny skies and rather large waves created by rather stiff forward winds.  My skirt flew up much too high, so I tied it up while looking at a distant  freighter through the binoculars.  Then I walked aft, and along the way I met Eileen who was settling down for a good old sun worship.  I was supposed to return to chat, but was waylaid when I looked  up Cherie  in Steiner’s.  She said to go see Michelle who was getting lunch in the Pavilion, so I did that.  Cherie joined us when she was done and we nibbled along with Michelle.  I obtained two Christmas log slices for the girls and none too soon, because all the Lido food was being put away and only the log remained at desserts.

I suddenly remembered that if we are to have our family portrait made tonight, I had better shampoo and set my hair, which I did, and here I sit waiting for it to dry.  We did sit for the portrait in the Queens Room, and will see the results tomorrow night.

Christmas dinner proved to be a super special affair with traditional party crackers and lovely chocolate cylinders wrapped in shiny gold foil, making for a very colorful table.  Chris and company sat with their family, and I was with the others, Geoff, Michelle, Alec and Jerome.   We had choices of roast beef, lobster Newburg (stuffed shells, or pork, followed by plum pudding,) which Cherie, Michelle and I tried.  We ordered the soufflé in addition and I had a few spoonfuls of Alec’s ice cream to top it all off. 

We gals wore our lovely jewelry, Michelle her Russian necklace and bracelet, I my opal ring etc. and Cherie, her long purple necklace. 

After the feast we split up to go to the movies, Jingle all the Way.  Others stayed in their cabins.   When midnight came along, several of us attended the buffet preliminaries.  I had a Horlicks then left to relieve Geoffrey who was baby-sitting.   While in their cabin I heard water splashing on the hull, so I watched out the porthole for quite a while and saw rather large waves humping toward the ship while we plowed forward in and over the troughs.  Occasionally the waves slapped against the hull and caused solid water to slop onto the porthole!!!!

Friday, December 26. – Aruba.

The Ship had slipped into the channel and docked at Oranjestad, and when I looked out my porthole all I could see was the low and long barrier reef on which were occasional mangrove trees somewhat isolated from other tufts of vegetation.  Dockside we could see the city with typical Dutch pastel buildings backed by occasional steeples.  It seems to be less flavored with Dutch influence than Curaçao, but of course I haven’t penetrated the countryside.

Cherie, Emily and Lanie joined me for a stroll of the city, which turned out to be exclusively the shopping area.  With very warm, humid weather in bright sun, I was very hot, so it took little persuasion for me to join Eileen who was returning to the ship.  There was a steel drum band playing dockside.

Back on the ship I joined various family groups throughout the rest of the day, including lunch with Chris and Eileen, joined by Lanie.   Saw Conspiracy Theory on my own, but was later joined by Eileen.   More wandering to check on family, followed by some time on Boat Deck facing the city and enjoying the rather brisk warm breezes.

When time came to leave, I watched the gangway being shipped, and joined the rest of the family briefly on the seaside.  However, as we pulled away I had to do my usual running to the strategic points where the tugs did their pulling, and then to the bow to watch us ease away from the city shoreline.  I returned to the starboard Boat Deck and saw the pilot boat take away the pilot.  We were all disappointed that the whistle didn’t blow in the accustomed way.

Dinner was informal, but we tried something different.  The Lido is now open for dinner and we all had three tables put together and all enjoyed eating together as opposed to two tables in the Mauritania.  Chocolate Christmas trees with mousse laced with Bailey’s were in the offing, and Cherie took one, which several shared since it was rather large for one. 

After dinner, some of us went to see the movie, A Thousand Acres, about two sisters versus their Dad and sister Caroline.  I headed to the cabin after that, showered and slipped into bed.

Saturday, December 27 –La Guira, Venezuela.

When I awoke we were nearly in the harbor, and while we were at breakfast in the Mauritania restaurant the ship was turned around and appeared to be backing at a pretty fast speed toward the dock. By the time I was finished, we were all tied up to the long, wide concrete dock with numerous containers stacked up all along it in many rows.  The other side of the dock was an equally long bulwark, which was part of the unit, and to seaward we could see the blue-green ocean with white caps everywhere, because the wind was rather brisk all day.  Further in the background there was a Tanker anchored all day. 

Around two o’clock the crew had a large emergency drill with many lifeboats lowered to the water and driven around the harbor to exercise the motors and practice skills.  I took the kids up to Boat Deck with me for a short while to observe the action, but we were soon asked to leave that side because we might interfere with the maneuvers.

I was baby sitting for Alec and Jerome while everyone else took the tour to Caracas.  Nothing much of consequence worth recording, but when they arrived home, I joined the Geoff’s for lunch at the Lido.  Most of the afternoon I was on my own and I sat for a time on the Boat Deck feeling the lovely warm stiff breeze and resting up.  A large ketch came up from the East flying only its two staysails and even with that little canvas, it was clipping along at a pretty good pace.  Strolled around the deck a time or two, then Christopher came up to visit a little while. 

Christopher and Emily helped me learn about the Smartsound program.  It is all installed now and I can play with it any time I want.  It was fortunate Chris could feed in a number for the serial number because this particular package doesn’t have the instruction booklet and thus no number.

Around six, the ship left the dock with the aid of three tugs of varying size.  All they did was hold us in till the landlines were shipped, then they backed off for us to proceed forward out of the harbor.  Again I was disappointed not to hear the three toots of the whistle.

Tonight is supposed to be our cocktail party, but since the Staff Captain, Nick Bates is presiding due to the fact that Captain Hassel has to be on the bridge, we are opting out and again will head for the Lido.  That having finished, we dispersed to our separate activities for the evening. I checked out some of the floorshow called Memories.  Bed followed shortly thereafter.

Sunday, December 28 – Grenada.

Today we awoke to our new venue, and  Geoff and family joined me for the tender ride to St. Georges where we took a small van up the steep, windy narrow roads to the State Park where we did an interesting walk in the rain forest.  The summit afforded a vista to the Atlantic Ocean, and a short walk down afforded a close view of the old volcano crater, which is now a very deep lake now used for a reservoir.  We were shown a fern, which shrinks back when you touch it, so of course, Geoff and Alec had to try it several times with the desired results.  Jerome was with us riding in his backpack and weathered his little ordeal fairly well, for which I was grateful.  Back at the town, we went right to the tender and returned to “home” for lunch in the Pavilion.  I then spent a nice long time on port Boat Deck facing the island.  I watched the progress of a nice sailboat making its way to port.  Actually fell asleep up there which was great, Boat Deck being my favorite place to relax and nap plus do some reading.

At four o’clock I went to the Grand Lounge to listen to the Angel Harps Steel Orchestra, made up of local players.  Geoff was already there so I joined him up front where we could share our thrill and amazement at the fantastic technique of nuance and virtuosity, not to mention steel drum noise, which is unique.  Michelle joined us for a while before attending the Catholic Mass in the Theatre.  I collected Jerome from the Crèche at six o’clock.  We all ate dinner at the Mauritania Restaurant.

After dinner we split up and various people did the Yacht Club.  I went with Chris and Emily to the Computer room for instruction on the word processor on PC, then we parted after a short chat in the sitting area outside the computer room.  I walked Boat Deck in the strong wind toward G Stairway and discovered the stores were open so I browsed a bit and bought two leather purses for wallet and mini-vanity for now.   Back to the cabin after a brief listen to Judy Kolba and here I am with Ben and Emily settling in for sleep, and I settling in for a read etc.

Monday, December 29 — Bridgetown, Barbados.

I awoke in time to see the ship slowly entering the harbor and pivoting around the end of the long jetting pier.  A lot of water was being churned as the starboard propeller wailed in reverse and the stern tug pushed on the hull.  We ever so slowly eased sideways into the long narrow cement dock. 

I went topside near eight o’clock, ate my poached eggs on toast alone in the restaurant, then reported to Geoff and Michelle’s cabin for orders regarding baby sitting for Jerome.  They delivered him to the nursery and left for their catamaran sail and snorkeling, and I went up to Boat Deck for my long sit on the shady side, which happened to be the port side facing all the cruise ships in port.  They were, “Nieuw Amsterdam, ” “Freewind, ”  “Carousel” and “Princess Danae.”  Occasionally I strolled around the deck for exercise and went into the Board Room to snoop around.  Apparently they use it for a card room when not otherwise occupied, and next week I imagine it will be completely converted to be the Sam Cunard Club.

Took Jerome to lunch at the Pavilion, then returned him to the nursery for his nap.  I then searched for the other family and found them finishing up their lunch in the Mauretania Restaurant.   We then eventually headed into town by bus to the terminal then by taxi into the heart of the city.  We walked around among the crowds, took pictures of the Lord Nelson statue in Trafalgar Square, shopped and returned by four o’clock.     We connected with Geoff and Michelle, had ice cream with them, then returned to the cabin.

Had dinner in the Mauretania with Chris and family.  We had Beef Wellington and trimmings.  I just remembered we either weren’t served Yorkshire pudding or they didn’t have it on the menu.  Hmmmm!   G. and M. arranged for a baby sitter so we adults could attend the movie,  The Full Monty  together, and we all had a smashing hilarious time.   We next gathered for a concert by the Barbados Police Band, founded in 1889.  They weren’t all that proficient, but I maintain that if they got rid of the reeds, the brass would be pretty good.   Next came the art of watching us depart from port.  We gathered at the rail on port Boat Deck, where I speculated the aft tug would pull the stern into the harbor and pivot us around the 90 degrees to go straight out the channel, which is exactly what did happen.  When ready to clear the long jetty-pier, I dashed forward to see us clear the end, then walked and then trotted back to keep even with the jetty light.  By the time I neared the end of Boat Deck, I was running to keep up.  I then headed for the cabin and bed.

Tuesday, December 30 –St. Lucia.

We are now anchored outside St. Ludia  harbor and the tenders have been lowered. The island appears on the near horizon with several layers of mountain ranges, albeit rather small.  The main feature is the two Petons, which are conical shaped mountains in the distance from where we are anchored.  We spent the morning on the ship, some doing laundry and others doing computer work, while I attempted to sit on Boat Deck, but the wind was coming exactly from the bow and not enough was coming on the deck to keep me cool enough, so I went inside and visited the various families.

Geoff, Ben, Alec and I went ashore before noon and walked from the docking place into Castries where we encountered another docking area, this one being for the cruise ships.  “Horizon” of the Celebritiy Cruises was near our docking point and “Carousel” was along side a quay,  as was another smaller ship whose name I have forgotten.  Anyway, once at that area we took the water taxi back to the QE2 docking point to await the arrival of Michelle.  We then all took a taxi to the marina where G and M got their sailboat several years ago;  got wet in a passing heavy downpour;  then returned via a short deviation to see the village of Balata where the taxi driver lives.  We also saw avocado groves, banana tree groves and several large mango trees.   Once back at the staging area we did a few errands, which included my purchasing a nice new gold bracelet.   Back “home” via tender.

We all had dinner in the Mauritania in formal attire.  Michelle borrowed the sapphire jewelry.  The specialty this evening was Bananas Foster, which most people had.  I enjoyed ice cream.   Then I departed and headed for the Theatre where I saw the movie, Out to Sea , with Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon.   Eileen soon joined me and stayed with me when we went for a cocoa in the Lido and returned to the Theatre for the vocal concert by Victoria Livengood and her opera friends.   That was followed by a brief stay at the Grand Lounge to hear the sixties band.  I joined the gang briefly in Yacht Club where they were dancing, then again at the midnight buffet.   Fudge cake tempted me and I gave in!

A word about the Christmas decorations!  Along the corridors on Quarter Deck, garlands of greens and red ribbons deck the doorways.  Christmas trees are placed around Queens Room,  in the Lido, and of course,  in the Midships rotunda.  Hanging garlands grace the pillars here and there, making the ship look tastefully festive.

Wednesday, December 31 – Dominica.

 We were at anchor off Dominica  by the time I roused myself around eight o’clock.  The family members eventually made our separate ways to the Lido for breakfast, and while there,  Captain Hassel informed us there was a difficulty about the landing arrangements and there would be delays.  Around eleven, Cherie, Lanie and I took a tender to shore where we found the entrance along the wharf was a fairly narrow one and I surmised this narrowness was the trouble with free flow of tenders in and out.  While it was happening, however, I didn’t feel we were detained very much.   We had come in before Chris and company so we simply waited on the wharf and were somewhat drenched by a large passing cloud.  I rode back on an ensuing tender to get the passes for the others, and on the way, I noticed Geoff etc. passing us on the way to shore.  I had to wait a while for my tender to unload and load up again, so by the time I returned to shore, all had taken off for their taxi tour.  I eventually returned to the ship along with many of the locals including members of their government and musicians who were doing the protocol for a Maiden call of the QE2.  I didn’t see any of the ceremonies, because I looked up Michelle, found Emily and Ben still here and eventually, we all went to lunch at 1:30.  Meanwhile, I had checked out an Agatha Christie mystery collection and started reading on Boat Deck.

The rest of the gang returned while we were eating.   The adults and Ben saw Brassed Off  (the fourth time for me).  Then I returned to Boat Deck to read some more as I faced the lush green and mountainous shore of Dominica.  There was a rather old schooner in my line of vision, which added to a lovely picture, with the town off to the right.  A rather small cruise ship was at the dock to the right, but I don’t know what it was.  Someone mentioned it was a Russian Cruise Ship, but I’m not really sure.

At some point Chris, Cherie and I had walked through the Mauritania dining room and found it decorated with the many nation flags, balloons etc.  Also the Grand Lounge was being decorated around the same time.  Also balloons galore.

As departure time neared, I watched the anchor raising process, which is as follows.  The chain lock is raised on both anchors.  A man stands poised to hose down the links as they come up; a man stands at the controls in the middle; the “brakes” are released by being twisted clockwise, then at the proper time, the officer who stands on the little wing bridge to starboard gives the order and the electric winch starts to turn.   Another man stands at a brass bell and during the course of the raising the gong 7 – 6 – 5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 – and then a series of gongs when the job is done.  I imagine that was to mark the number of fathoms of chain that had been raised at those times, but I am not sure.  Chris and Stephen joined me for the process.  When the anchor broke from the water, the black ball was lowered on the tripod mast, and eventually the mast itself was taken down.  Also the Cunard mast and flag were taken down at the stem.   The whole deck was washed down and various other securing steps were taken, topped off by the lowering of the chain locks on both chains.  

This being New Years Eve, we are all getting dressed to the nines for the gala dinner and party to follow.  We arranged to have the late sitting so the festivities can go on uninterrupted for us.  Only Alec and Jerome will be absent from the party.   The table was decorated with fucia and white streamers around the poinsettia, and a silver -wrapped package of chocolates was placed on the butter plates.  Within the horse sculpture were placed multi color balloons.  I had rack of lamb.  The late evening meal meant that we were late in finishing, so there was just time to attend a portion of the stage show which included dancing and good singing of songs from Grease, to Les Mis.  We then headed for the Yacht Club to await the arrival of the New Year.  Most of us gathered behind the balcony on the aft part of the room well out of the way of the milling thousands, and when midnight came we blew on the horns, rang the ratchet noise makers and threw the streamers around our necks as we all embraced or kissed in new years greeting.  The kids really liked all of this.    We then had to wait till twelve fifteen to attend the fabulous midnight buffet, which was complete with a strawberry tree, a butter squirrel, various ice sculptures, including a long Happy New Year sculpture at the aft window wall, which I missed seeing.  I didn’t eat much, and when only Chris and Ben lingered for a while, I decided to head for the cabin for the night.

Thursday, January 1, 1998 –St. Kitts.

 We all awoke rather late to see the newest island of our itinerary,  St. Kitts.  I had breakfast at the Lido with Michelle, Alec and Jerome.   I went up to Boat Deck to enjoy the beautiful scenery toward the island, which is rather long and has a large volcano to the north, and a long peninsula to the south.  While there, a four-masted Windjammer sailed within my view and just as I took a picture of it with the island in the background, the four staysails were lowered and they dropped anchor.   Eventually I looked up family who were soon to head to the shore for a look around.  I joined them.

We motored to a very long pier and walked a long way to the terminal and through that to the center of town, where we hesitated at the town clock for a picture.   Shopped a bit, and then moseyed back to the ship.  At the terminal there were six or seven young girls singing songs with accompaniment of guitar and gourds.  Not bad.

Back on the ship, we split up and Michelle, Alec and I ate lunch at the Mauritania.  John Willy entertained Alec and us by folding napkins into different shapes, a boat, a banana, a ship etc.  We tried some of the shapes.  Lovely Cajun chicken, asparagus soup, and ice cream. 

I spent most of the afternoon on Boat Deck reading and resting, being careful to avoid the sun.  In fact I had to change sides to avoid it as the ship turned in the wind, which had pretty well freshened to create dusty white caps.  The windjammer had moved on down the coast to anchor in a more rural area, and another cruise ship docked.

Joined Chris and family in the Mauritania while Geoff and company did the Lido.  Geoff didn’t want to dress up, even informal.   Had the capon entree, broccoli soup and ended with the usual ice cream because the cake we ordered had cherries in it, and having said we wanted the cherries left off, John informed us just in time to re-order!   When we adjourned we all joined together in cabin 4009 for a game of nerts, which Cherie and Ben won.  I didn’t do too badly helping Michelle get rid of the nerts pile.  At ten o’clock, Geoff, Chris and I headed for the Theatre where we heard the third recital by Victoria Livengood and her cohorts.  We all agree that the Irish tenor should never be on the same stage as Victoria.  The Italian singer and his wife pianist did a series of Mama songs, which was quite interesting.   After the concert I headed for the cabin and a relatively early bedtime.   Ben babysat and never did come home, having fallen asleep in his parents’ cabin. 

There was a very loud wailing motor sound all night, which drove us nuts, but we managed to get to sleep eventually.   The motor stopped around seven in the morning, and it was blessed silence.  I hope that doesn’t happen again, and I don’t know what it could have been for. 

 Friday, january 2, St. Croix

I awoke at a normal time and joined Michelle and little ones for breakfast.  Geoff eventually joined us.   Around ten thirty everyone left for shore on St. Croix to seek out a beach, while Emily and I stayed on board to care for Jerome when the nursery closed at noon.   Emily and I meanwhile went up to the shady side of Boat Deck to face the island and read.  Below us was the great big diesel fuel barge I had seen earlier being dragged toward us.  Two tugs tied along side the barge.   Had a chat with the Librarian for a while, and she said June is on vacation in Cornwall and will join the ship in New York.  We also talked about various jobs on board and she mentioned the very worst one, which is sorting the garbage, a constant occupation for several of the Filipinos.  Wow!

I checked with the Purser’s office again and ascertained that Emily’s account is still being charged so we transferred the charges to mine and at the moment I owe $7.28.   Emily and I added to that by having a drink in the Chart Room Bar before lunch.  After lunch we took Jerome back to the nursery and returned to our cabin, soon after which we were visited by Geoff and company having returned from shore.  I joined them for lunch, although I had eaten, then Chris and I went to the Theatre to see Absolute Power, a film with Clint Eastwood.  I liked it, but Chris wasn’t impressed.  About a President who covers up a murder in which he was involved.  Back at the cabin, I washed some clothes and watched the departure from St. Croix on the television channel five

Saturday, January 3.

The waves were still rather boisterous, and I enjoyed again seeing the water and foam splash all over the porthole.   Being our last day at sea, I had lots of things to do such as money matters, Ben’s card and present,  and rehearse for and perform the talent show.  The latter was somewhat fun, but being first on the program, I was a bit annoyed to find that the whole youth program had planned a costume parade, which took nearly a half hour. Anyway, the “Old Mother Hubbard” routine went well, and my gift was a nice thin hard cover book on the QE2, which is really rather nice. After all that was over, I returned to the cabin to commence the packing routine and remained there essentially till dinner when we all went to the Mauritania for our last dinner.  John Willy was in good form as usual, and Hafid blamed him for anything amiss!  Good pair they are!

Evening activities for me included seeing the dumb movie, Liar Liar.   Eileen sat with me, and we went to the Lido for an Ovaltine and exchanged addresses.  We parted after I showed her my cabin and Geoff asked me to baby sit temporarily while they went on deck for a last time.    I thought back on the day, and realized I had not set foot outside all day, but it didn’t matter to me.  Packing done, I headed for bed quite late.

Sunday, January 4 – Miami, Florida.

I awoke to the whining sound of the revving down engines and looked out to see the Florida skyline.  I went on deck to see us go up the channel to the Norway’s Dockside, and noted several cruise ships ready to disembark their passengers.  At present I can’t remember the name of a single one, but Carnival was well represented.  A lady watching from the bow related that Cunard went to Miami because the city offered them $40 million to transfer their offices etc. to Miami.

Breakfast at different tables with the family.   Cleared out of the cabin by nine and set off to the Yacht Club eventually to await the signal to disembark.  The two families were up there and Geoff etc. were playing shuffleboard.  When they were calling Three Deck, I slipped off with them. Au revoir QE2!