QM2 TA 2011 | FindPenguins

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Trip start
June 25, 2011
Rulocal QM2 TA 2011
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- Saturday, June 25, 2011
- ☁️ 17 °C
- Altitude: 46 ft
- England Millbrook 50.9097, -1.4357150°54’35” N 1°26’9” W
Southampton Port Day 1
June 25, 2011 in England ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Well, this is the first morning onboard... Last night was a good night met some people, John and Maria, from Liverpool. Also a couple from Cape Town, South Africa, Herman and Marta, all lovely people.
On Thursday night we stayed at the Etap hotel in Southampton, a very cheap hotel but clean modern and had everything you need.
Our George turned up he happened to be working nearby. That's if you call an hour away nearby.....lol. It was good to see him and it made Sheila's day.
Anyway back to the trip, this, as I said, is the first morning, the weather is very misty and it's raining, but nevermind I'm sure it will pick up. The saving grace is New York is hot and sunny so we can look forward to that. That's all, for now, will be back later if something exciting happens....lol. Nearly forgot to tell you this... At the sail away party last night, the actor Alan Cumming was there and our Nic tried to say hello to him, but the ignorant bugger was very standoffish. Gave the impression that he was too good to speak to us mere mortals.
Gets my goat when these so-called celebrities think they are above everyone else. They choose to be in a profession that puts them in the public eye, so they should at least be civil to their fans. Right, that's it for now, I'll put the soapbox away.....lol.Read more
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Rulocal QM2 TA 2011
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- Sunday, June 26, 2011 UTC
- Altitude: Sea level
- Celtic Sea 49.0736, -7.9615949°4’25” N 7°57’42” W
Day 2 Sea Day
June 26, 2011, Celtic Sea
Sunday morning and I'm up early again 5 am in fact. Then again it's really 7 am as the clocks went back another hour last night..... I'm getting very star struck on this cruise, as we've met Jerry Springer and the drummer from Squeeze his name is Simon, his surname escapes me at the moment. But both were very approachable and didn't mind saying hello etc. In fact, Simon came over and chatted for a while. Although I must admit he was drunk at the time...LOL, Nice guy though. We all went to the Britannia restaurant last night, the food was excellent, although Sheila and I do prefer to eat in the Kings Court buffet, mainly because Sheila can pick exactly what she wants to eat and we haven't got to go through all the explaining about what she can and can't eat. The weather is better today skies are sunny and blue with just a few clouds, though it's still chilly...Aimee learned to swim today, she can now do a length of the pool...on her own. Although we still go in with her just in case. She'd spend all day in the water if she could! Lol......Read more
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Rulocal QM2 TA 2011
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- Monday, June 27, 2011
- Altitude: Sea level
- North Atlantic Ocean 48.143826, -13.58659248°8’38” N 13°35’12” W
Sea Day
June 27, 2011, North Atlantic Ocean
It's a bit cloudy again this morning, so no outside pool again today... Aimee will be gutted, she can't wait to go outside for a swim...... Last night we went to the Chinese buffet in the lotus, though I must say it wasn't the best we've had..... The production show in the theatre was Viva Italia, and it was brilliant, the four main singers have all got great voices, sometimes you can get one that's a bit iffy, but these are all good, and the dancers, as usual, were fab..... We finished 2nd in the music quiz...... Went to the karaoke later on and it was a good laugh... Well that's about it for now....ttfnRead more
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Rulocal QM2 TA 2011
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- Tuesday, June 28, 2011 UTC
- Altitude: Sea level
- North Atlantic Ocean 47.583317, -18.74806647°34’60” N 18°44’53” W
28th June
June 28, 2011, North Atlantic Ocean
Well, we're over half way to New York, weather not to bad today, but don't think we'll get in the outside pool again :-(
Yesterday Nic and I went to the Britannia restaurant for lunch, it was lovely.
We sat with four Americans who were great company...... Later we all went to see the RADA production of Hamlet, it was very good but not my cup of tea. I'm glad I went though, at least I can say I don't like Shakespear with honesty having seen a proper RADA production.
Obviously, I'm not as cultured as I thought I was...LOL. In the evening we went to see an Irish comic called Adrian Walsh, he was very good.
Then later on Sheila Nic and I joined Marie and John in the pub to watch Chris Giffords songwriting group who sang lots of cover versions, all on the theme of London and New York. They were fantastic and the place was rocking.
Simon the drummer from Squeeze came over for another chat, he's a really nice and genuine guy.
That was about it for yesterday, if I think of anything else I'll let you know........
Spent about 5 hours in the pool with Aimee this afternoon, she's so confident in the water now.Read more
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Rulocal QM2 TA 2011
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- Wednesday, June 29, 2011
- Altitude: Sea level
- North Atlantic Ocean 45.528797, -23.31837945°31’44” N 23°19’6” W
29th June
June 29, 2011, North Atlantic Ocean
It's 5.30am and I'm just having a coffee sitting on the big comfy couches in the atrium.
I love it on board ship in the early morning, went on deck and it's lovely and warm and pitch-black out at sea.
We all went to the Britannia restaurant last night, so Aimee could get something to eat that she liked.
The reason for this is that the buffet restaurant at night is transformed into four themed restaurants, with 3 of them carrying a $10 cover charge with just one being free if you can call it free with the price some of us have paid for this trip.
Last year they did the theme thing with the buffet but there was no cover charge.
I suppose this is one of the downsides to Cunard being taken over by Carnival.
Much as I love America, not all things are good...
There endeth the lesson..... LOL.
The rest of the evening was passed watching the singer Jordan Bennet in the theatre and then doing the quiz in the Golden Lion pub..... Oh yes, I nearly forgot the Captains, or on this trip it's the Commodores cocktail party for past passengers, which we all attended mainly for the free drinks.
No make that only for the free drinks, why else would you want to socialise with the staff.....lmao.Read more
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Rulocal QM2 TA 2011
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- Thursday, June 30, 2011
- Altitude: Sea level
- North Atlantic Ocean 38.487275, -60.23244238°29’14” N 60°13’57” W
30th June
June 30, 2011, North Atlantic Ocean
Last day, looking forward to NYC.
Yesterday afternoon the RADA company did an adaptation of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, it was one of the funniest things I've seen and I'd recommend it if it's on if you travel on QM2.
In the evening we had dinner in the Britannia restaurant again and it was fabulous.
The girls then went to bed, (that's what they get for drinking in the afternoon...lol.)
Sheila and I went to see the show, La Passionata in the theatre, it was mainly dance and was brilliant.
Sheila then went to bed, so I went to the Golden Lion and did the quiz with John and Marie, stayed for the Karaoke then went to bed myself.

Spent the morning in the indoor pool with Aimee, she's brilliant in the water now, no fear at all.Read more
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Rulocal QM2 TA 2011
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- Friday, July 1, 2011
- ☀️ 26 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- United States Kings Bluff 40.762165, -74.01067140°45’44” N 74°0’38” W
1st July
July 1, 2011 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Got up at 4 am had a quick shower then went up on deck, we were approaching the Verrazano bridge so I phoned Nic and Neeta, they met me with Aimee on the observation deck for the approach to Manhattan.
It's definitely one of the sights not to be missed.
Aimee was amazed at the statue of Liberty.
Arrived at the hotel early, the taxi ride from the cruise terminal cost less than $10.
Limo men wanted to charge $10pp so keep away from them, lol.
Anyway, all checked in and going for a walkRead more
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Rulocal QM2 TA 2011
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- Saturday, July 2, 2011
- ⛅ 27 °C
- Altitude: 95 ft
- United States DeWitt Clinton Park 40.765964, -73.99811840°45’57” N 73°59’53” W
2nd July
July 2, 2011 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Guess what I'm up early again, just nipped over to Mackie D's for a coffee, now sitting in the hotel foyer writing this.
After we arrived yesterday we went for a walk, we went up to the Top of the Rock, it was brilliant, much better than the Empire State Building, though not quite as high.
We then walked to the Chrysler Building and Grand Central Station, where we had a coffee. Then it was off again to Times Square and the Toys R Us shop where we took Aimee on the indoor Ferris wheel, it was brill.
Then we had a beer in a Times Square bar, I forget the name.
Then back to the hotel for a rest.
Later that afternoon we walked down to the Highline, which has now been extended to 30th St. Later we went to a local Irish bar in the evening for a few drinks.
Then off to bed... Nite nite...lol.Read more
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Rulocal QM2 TA 2011
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- Sunday, July 3, 2011
- 🌧 22 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- United States Ducksberry Point 40.642076, -74.06815640°38’31” N 74°4’5” W
3rd July
July 3, 2011 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 22 °C
It's 6.30am in mid-Manhattan and I'm having a coffee and watching the world go by.
This really is the city that never sleeps.
We all got up early yesterday, had breakfast and then walked up to Madame Tussauds in Times Square to pick up the 'HoHo' bus tickets.
It really is a good way to see the city.
We started on the downtown tour, got off at the stop for Ground Zero, I believe most New Yorkers don't like to call it that, they call it the WTC the World Trade Center, which is what it is I suppose.
The re-building work has really come on it looks about halfway built, last year all we saw was the foundations.
We then walked through the Financial district and over to Battery Park and on to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal.
This imho is the best way to see the Statue of Liberty as long as you don't want to get off and walk around it and it's completely free.
When we returned from Staten Island we got back on the downtown loop bus and continued with the site-seeing.
We got off at 50th and 8th ave and went for a drink and then back to the hotel for a siesta.
We all came back out about 7 pm and had a bit of a walk, but we were all too tired so Nic and Neeta got a pizza and Aimee got a Mackie D's and went back to the hotel.
Sheila and I went to Dunkin Donuts for a coffee, oh yes we also finished off a box of 6 donuts between us, then went back to the hotel.
New York is definitely not a restful vacation, but it is one of the best places in the world........Read more
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Trip end
July 12, 2011