Liner Lady

1988 HONOLULU TO SOUTHAMPTON

APRIL 10 – MAY 4, 1988

I had booked this voyage for LA to Southampton, but due to a promotion, my travel agent  managed to get me on a plane to Honolulu for four extra days on board.  Consequently, I flew to Hawaii and took a cab straight to Pier 10 by the Aloha Tower, where I had to wait more than three hours before I could go on board QE2.  I chatted with many people, saw and hugged Matthew as he breezed by, and at 3:30 p.m. I checked in and found cabin 4019, very close to A Stairway, which goes right up to Queen’s Grill and Boat Deck, passing the Synagogue and Computer Learning Centre, and Mauretania forward entrance.

I peeked into Queens Grill just as my friend C… was passing through.  I got his attention and he came over to the door with a surprised look on his face.  He showed me the dining room and his station.  He also gave me tea and sandwiches in Queen’s Grill Lounge and departed to change clothes.  While he was away I chatted with Paul  a young waiter from Somerset) and when Pattie Atkins came round the corner, I re-introduced myself to her and thanked her for the information about Penzance etc.  She invited me to visit her in the Crèche again.

C…. reappeared in black silk shirt and speckled jacket.  Got him to button up one more button so he would look more “dressed” for the cocktail party.  He had invited me to join him and we rode for miles in a taxi around Koko Head to a super posh neighborhood.  The “newlyweds” whom he had served on the last segment of the World Cruise up to Honolulu are very rich and had a fabulous house right on the lava and ocean.  Hawaiian entertainment accompanied drinks and buffet.  We stuck together and talked constantly over to this party, during and back to the ship, and then we parted, because he had to return to work, and I returned to my cabin, 4019 This is an outside twin with a very interesting little nook with a dresser and mirror, and nothing else right next to the porthole.   I unpacked my bags and arranged the stuff, took a shower and went to dinner in Columbia Restaurant, where I found table 281 with Len and Bertha and Hampton, a recent widower who used to travel often on QE2 with his wife.  We have an Italian waiter and an English blonde guy – not thrilling. 

I hailed both Matthew and Mark in Mauretania dining room, where Mark is wine steward (dressed in black).  Matthew looks the same!

I attended a concert by the Honolulu Boys Choir, then waited hours in vain for C…. to arrive.  I gave up at midnight and went to bed, but when the ship was ready to cast off, I dressed and went on deck to watch the departure.  I was back in bed by 1:30 a.m.