| It would be a busy night. Derek had threatened to sing Happy Birthday at me and reminded me during his first set as well as the past couple of days. He waited until the pub was a bit more full but I had the Senior Officers booze up to go to so he did it earlier than he'd have liked. At least that was over with! I'd left earlier than the booze up in the hope the queue wouldn't be too long but both sides of the Queens Room joined by the lifts! It was totally ridiculous. Then, as you entered, many pushed in rather than go to the back. The place was HEAVING. Far too many Platinum and Diamonds. While in the queue, many people were discussing the World Club possibly changing to points per night instead of credits and moaning how unfair it was. Look at all the people around you. Is it unfair to try and reduce numbers??? How many reached their Diamond status but doing cruises longer than a week and how many less? The whole system is unfair and with others having already changed (including Carnival), it's inevitable Cunard will at some point. Sapphire is the rumoured new tier but then this has been talked about in the past and nothing happened. I had a chat with Captain Oprey while he was stood at the door and no one came. He told me he has the same camera and same colour as it matches his car. We also discussed the Jubilee cruise and arrival. I left before the end to go to dinner. It was too boring. Dinner was great as usual. Almost a full house but Adrian and Jean had already told me they were going to Coriander in Kings Court. Singing by the waiters, cake which was lovely then the chef parade. Then the show, Apassionata, which sounded awful but was actually very good. A nightcap in the Commodore Club where some woman still wearing her mask from the Masquerade Ball, was stood by the piano gazing at pianist, Anatolie Roget. I have no idea if she was bothering him, but she bothered us. Ann bought me a virgin Pina Colada which was lovely. Had a look at the midnight buffet but even the bananas were beginning to look unwell so we left. I returned to my room after the best birthday I'd had in several years. |
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| Last sea day and another lazy one. I was up in time to get outside this time and get Mary's noon whistle. It really doesn't help when doors are shut off or I'm asleep thanks to those wonderful pillows. We had to get the cases out but I pack as I go anyway so there wasn't much to do. A brief chat with Nico as he passed the theatre and he told me all three ships were doing Cinderella over Christmas and he was an ugly sister. Wish I could have seen that! I wonder what non-Brits make of the weird and wacky world of panto? A few drinks in the Chart Room before dinner then our final night at table 201. Adrian and Jean didn't go again but it didn't matter. We still had a great night. A quickie in the Golden Lion before going to bed as it was an early start. |
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| Due to the late departures of Oriana and Saga Ruby by over four hours, I was going to see them as they passed. And, better than that, due to our moving into the lane for Nab, they would pass my balcony instead of being port so I wouldn't have to rush on deck! It was a beautiful clear night and I hoped my photo of the stars and Jupiter would come out. Once Rubes had gone, I tried to sleep. |
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I managed about forty minutes dozing which is annoying. Annoyingly, we would be docking the right way round. It was another odd thing this year. As I mentioned at the beginning, we had been starboard for my last Lizzie cruise in 2008, reversing into the Itchen to turn (as we did on this). When we returned then, we were port, just like now. The end to a weird year with too many coincidences to certain cruises in 2008 and 2009. Anyway, my dad had told me we would be turning at Dock Head rather than by Ocean Dock do I had to go up for that. Like when we left, it would have been better in daylight so I hoped there would be another time. Azura was difficult to see behind us and once she went out of sight at the Brambles, I went up. It was flipping windy, coming from the port side, and pouring. I was so glad by the time we were turning it stopped. Once we were close to docking, I went back to shelter for Azura and typically my camera battery died as she was passing. While she was going astern back in the naughty corner where she's started the same day we had, lifeboat 7 was lowered and tootled off somewhere. |
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| As we didn't have to leave the cabin until 8.30am, I decided to go for breakfast in the Britannia rather than trying to find a seat in Kings Court. I really shouldn't have been shocked by the queue outside long before opening. I asked for a table for two so I could be served faster noticed both sides of the menu were identical bar the type of omelette you could have. Daft! My waiters, Carmello and Jimmy appeared briefly before returning to the other side of the restaurant. On the way back to the cabin, some workmen were busy around the Grand Foyer. |
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| I killed time before having to leave then headed to the Queens Room. All the while I and others waited, there was no crew member to tell us anything and no announcements. Aqua were from 10pm yet several just got up and went while browns waited. By 9.50pm, five minutes after my disembarkation time, I decided to go myself, bumping into David, Ali and Adrian outside. As I joined the queue walking through the Britannia, Dermot, entertainments officer appeared, saying he was the ONLY one doing this and going from room to room. He also said many were just leaving so there was a massive queue. He wasn't kidding! It was a complete joke and the worst disembarkation I've had. A couple behind me were moaning about people queue jumping but when I reached the end I found they'd vanished, having done just that! I was finally off more than twenty minutes later, my back absolutely killing me. |
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My dad met me and helped me with my luggage. It was a shame to leave after one of the best cruises I've had. The only thing spoiling it was the dietary requirement handling after the initial couple of days, the obviously processed food at dinner and disembarkation joke. But I love Mary like I loved Lizzie, I had a wonderful cruise to round off a busy cruising year and can't wait to return in 2013. To see more photos of the other ships, go to the Other Stalking while Albatros is at Various Ships in Port. To see the ships in Southampton, click here while my Azura review can be found here. |
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