The Queen Elizabeth was launched in 2010, just before many major changes to technology. There isn’t a single USB port to be found on the ship. If you remembered to bring your 2010 Apple iPOD, you would be able to place it in the Bose Speaker - however that is the only device that fits! We have a Penthouse Suite and it is so poorly designed that much of the space is wasted. While I enjoy physical contact with Cindy whenever I can get it, it isn’t as much fun when we are trying to get dressed and we have to be in the same place at the same time. As Cindy always says whomever designs cabins or hotel rooms should be forced to live in that space for a week, then they can start over and get it right. We have a very large balcony with two cushioned chaise lounges but no chairs or table. We have ample room for the additional furniture - and other balconies have them - but the designers must have thought lounging was more important than eating or drinking on the balcony.
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The food for the most part is meh! The Queen’s Grill is supposed to be the epitome of fine dining on the high seas, order what you want, when you want it and no request is too over the top. And yet it still seems to come out the same kitchen as the main restaurants. On five occasions we have had to send food back or simply not eat it. For example, you would think that the Brits could do venison well, but mine, despite my request for rare came out over cooked and tough. The maitre’d came to our table on the first night to see if we had any allergies or requests for food such as salt free or no oil, etc. We said we just didn’t want any raw onions on any of our dishes, a request we make on every cruise. Five times in four days we have either had to scrape off the onion or return the dish for another. Now I know these are first world problems, but when you are willing to pay the going rate for a service, you have every right to expect what was promised.
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Being sick on a holiday is never any fun, especially when you are cruising and they are checking for Covid. Cindy developed a cough on the second day in Southampton. Cindy is SUPER cautious about Covid and how she could get the flu or a cold amazed us, but she did and therefore a few days later so did I. We were very relieved to find out that we did not have Covid after our tests came back from the cruise test site but we were hacking and coughing and just generally miserable. We skipped dinner on the third night since I had a temp of 102.6. At six pm I put on a long sleeved tee, sweatpants, heavy wool socks and I drank a lot of water with the meds that Dr. Emmans provided. I pulled the covers up to my chin and started what in my family is called the Byxbee Sweat Tent. It starts with shivering like you are possessed and then the sweat starts and by eleven pm my pillow was soaked and I had to get up and change into dry clothes. Cindy administered more meds and I was out for the count for eight hours with just one more interruption for a change of clothes. The next morning the fever had broken and I was down to 99.8. Cindy collected all my damp clothes from overnight, had me take off the latest ones, put them all in a basket and did laundry at 7:30 in the morning! No greater love! We are both still weak, we cough far less and my fever is gone. Yesterday we had to be tested again for Covid and we would hear announcements from staff asking certain people to return to their rooms and call the Purser, which meant they had tested positive and were going to be placed in quarantine. Now that would have been a real bummer.
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I was sitting in a lounge enjoying an ice cold Prosecco when I overheard a conversation between a woman from New Jersey and a husband and wife from England. It was truly amazing to hear these folks speaking over one another to make sure they established who had travelled more! From what I heard they were all very well traveled but the ferocity of the conversation indicated that there was some real competition, especially on the part of the woman from Jersey. What was really interesting is how they all agreed that there is a lot of funny food around the world. Jersey still can’t get over having eaten reindeer in Norway since she thought it was filet mignon and really didn’t like it once she knew it was reindeer. She also can’t understand people that eat garlic, escargot, frogs’ legs and other organs that they eat in France. So well traveled and yet so isolated.
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Another incident marred our excellent cruising plans: As many of you know, we cruise to dance. Well, wouldn’t you know, on the very first evening we were on the dance floor and I twirled Cindy and she kept twirling right down to the floor. Her left wrist/ forearm was badly bruised so we hustled back to our cabin and I iced it for her and put her feet up and calmed her down because she went into shock for a bit. Needless to say, no dancing for a few days!
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Never come between a Brit and his/her cream tea! Cream Tea is served every day at 3pm sharp. You can have it all over the ship but the prime venue is the Queen’s Room which fills up at 2:45. It would fill up sooner except for the concerts that are scheduled there until 2:30 and they need a few minutes to set up. They have to place notices in the daily schedule saying that you can’t save seats. It appears that groups would leave totes, hats, bags, etc. on chairs so as to “reserve” them for tea. This “saving space” thing spills out into other areas and venues all over the ship. There are no fewer than twelve quiz events during the day, and sometimes hours before they begin the room is filled with those wanting the best tables, which all seem the same to us. We enjoy a morning espresso in the Garden Lounge and usually get there by 9 am and it is empty. Yesterday we arrived at 10:00 and could not find a place to sit since the first quiz of the morning was getting started at 10:15!
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Which brings me to another quirk about this ship. Most of the food is free so mealtimes are usually quite busy. However if you want a special hot beverage like espresso, lattes, etc. there is a charge. Places like the Garden Lounge serve excellent coffees and special teas but 95% of everyone seating there orders nothing, many opting to bring their own water from their cabin. Bars are not particularly crowded since drinks cost extra. Due to Covid you can no longer sit at any of the bars so you have to find a chair and wait to be served, which can be awhile even without crowds.
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The weather continues to be dreadful. Cold, rainy, grey, not at all like our crossing when we took the southern route. It is starting to take a toll on the passengers who continue to wear shorts and tee shirts from morning to night since they thought they were going on a warm weather cruise. All of the outside decks have been closed despite the promenade deck being undercover. Today when Cindy asked why she was told it was too windy. When she told them there was no wind today, just fog, they said they would pass that information on! Everything is still closed!
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