Lunch beckoned and they had Waldorf Salad - yum yum! Rowan just wanted water again. After lunch a stroll around the Prom deck and boy was it windy but at least dry! A couple of hours after seeing Portland Bill, the next lighthouse, Start Point, was on the horizon. Room service was ordered and arrived after we'd passed. By the time we saw Eddystone lighthouse, it was almost dark. Commodore Rynd came on through the TV saying we would turn about fifteen minutes later then subsequently broadcast to the crew. I was on the balcony when we made the manoeuvre and as he warned, we did list. It was formal night but Rowan didn't want to dress up so I went with her to the buffet. Glen did dress and came with us until it was time for him to go to the Britannia. Rowan had told me the acupuncture didn't help a second time, in fact it was a bit worse, and he tried selling her herbal pills worth over $300 which she refused. I was glad I didn't go. Unfortunately, due to Cunard rules, if you don't posh up you are a leper ONLY allowed to go to the Lido and Winter Garden which would be fine if they didn't shut early. So to get a drink since the Winter Garden was in darkness at 10pm, we had to change and went to the Commodore Club. Then bed called. |
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| Since we were doing self-disembarkation, I decided to pack before photographing the ship. I had left my cardigan next to my coat on the sofa when I went to dinner yet now the cardie wasn't there. I searched the room, even behind and under furniture to no avail. I had to go to the Purser's desk anyway to ask for a copy of my bill in case they delivered it too late so decided to report the cardie disappearing into thin air from my cabin. That was the plan until the female Purser objected to being disturbed at all so I thought I'd leave it rather than get more complaining. And they want people who have worked in hotels or five star resorts! That sort of experience doesn't guarantee manners. So I began my saunter around the ship, even braving the deck (partly) in the rain. The Lido was supposed to open at 5.30am and there was a few people waiting when I arrived. One Japanese lady became really angry, demanding "Open!" to any hapless crew member who appeared. It turned out they had been told 6am and had no idea our disembarkation information was half an hour earlier. Rowan and Glen arrived just after it was opened and Glen told me they heard a lady reporting her cardigan was missing the day before when they went to register for self-disembarkation. Back to the cabin until it was time to go to the Queens Room to wait. Despite them seeing Glen's white stick, not one miserable tosser offered him their seat nearer the exit. Instead he had to dodge luggage, chairs and feet. We were allowed off around 7.25am. I went to get my first bus while they waited for their taxi to arrive. |
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| And so that was that. After years of not wanting to go on Vicky, I took the plunge and found I enjoyed her more than I thought I would. I think it's part of moving on. At the time of my first visit, the QE2 was still fresh in my subconscious and after returning to Cunard in 2011 for cruising, it was Mary I chose - seven times! But by the time of my second, brief visit at the end of 2013, I didn't mind her so much and even all the brown didn't make me as claustrophobic. I would definitely book her again one day, though not solo I expect until they reduce their single supplements. The only things which spoiled it a bit was the poor service and my cardigan going walkies from my cabin when my back was turned. |
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