Can't keep a good Dame down. Encore trip on the QM2.

[JessicaTam]

I have probably asked this before, but what camera is Dame Y using?

 

[Pushka]

I have probably asked this before, but what camera is Dame Y using?

It's my new one. I love it as it wifi transfers to my phone so I'm not using the phone so much and quality and zoom is amazing. It's a pocket size one. I posted on Cruise Critic when I showed these comparison photos using the zoom and no tripod - just hand held.

This on long zoom


Was taken from here - the blob is QM2.


It has a Leica lens.

And this is it

It's the baby version of my other super zoom but takes up no space at all. And a good price. Excellent for minimal luggage for travel.

 

[love_the_life]

And so we say a fond farewell to Penang, though today we only really left the ship to reprovision our tonic. Cunard is one of the few lines that allows passengers to take spirits on board as well as wine. The rest of the day was spent eating, sleeping and lolling in the spa area with saunas/pool etc. it's a hard life.
Pilot boat accompanying us out.

 

[Pushka]

You snooze you lose Dame O
I'm early.


This is another of the free dining venues. Thankfully most people seem blissfully aware of its existence even though it is at the far end of the buffet which at the time was a zoo because people have not eaten since a full breakfast and it's now 2pm.

It's called Chefs Table.





And after all the swimming I was starving.

 

[OZDUCK]

Excellent photos Pushka. I have an older model (2013) Panasonic TZ40 and I have always been amazed at how good the zoom is for the size of the camera. The TZ70 looks like a very worthwhile improvement - and is cheaper than what I paid 4 years ago.

 

[Pushka]

For those interested - this is a screenshot of the settings for taking a photo through a window/glass.

 

[RB]

Excellent photos Pushka. I have an older model (2013) Panasonic TZ40 and I have always been amazed at how good the zoom is for the size of the camera. The TZ70 looks like a very worthwhile improvement - and is cheaper than what I paid 4 years ago.

We have a TZ15 that refuses to die & is still taking good photos in its role as a backup.
Enjoying your report ladies-might end up doing a cruise one day. We still have a Selangor champagne goblet from our time there.

 

[Pushka]

Dinner and it's sequelae last night was interesting. Let's just say there is a bit of a friction going on but just one couple disturbed by it, or even know what is going on. And it isn't us. That's disturbed that is. Might leave it a few days.

Seas a bit lumpy today and quite a bit of a roll. We also gained an hour plus another tonight. Tonight is formal night and even on non formal nights the dress has been fashionable. They turn men away if not wearing jackets on every night.

Passed by a naval ship today with lots of choppers onboard.




Light breakfast today then watched people buying shoe thongs with fancy bling spend all their money like they've never seen them before and would pass by if they were in a street.

Attended a lecture on a crime which was very English centric. Not sure why he talked about the crime as it was not exactly complex to solve.

Lunch was one of those snacks in the Carinthia lounge and was excellent.


The Lion pub serves an excellent curry or pie with mushy peas but it's always packed. Must try once.
As for Grumpy Cat he's gone incognito with his friends.

 

[fairbasa]

Wonder what the USS Somerset is up to.

Loving the report so far. Curious to hear how you compare the QM2 to the Equinox you have sailed on previously?

 

[Pushka]

Wonder what the USS Somerset is up to.

Loving the report so far. Curious to hear how you compare the QM2 to the Equinox you have sailed on previously?

Ah. Thankyou for that info. I think they may be making their way to Colombo to escort us to Dubai as per below.

Love the Equinox. It is very different. And is the size ship we love to take holidays on when MrP is with me. We are on the newer sister ship Silhouette in July on a Baltic Cruise.

Another sea day today. Yesterday the weather was pretty rubbish and a couple of decks closed. It means everyone is inside which means the spa and sanctuary is a good place to hang out.

Last night was Welcome reception and formal night - Night of the Raj. Dame O scrubbed up wonderfully. Prior to the reception we had been invited into a couples cabin for a pre dinner drink. We took the Bolly and they had organised nibbles.

We have found a Denali couple. This couple also had been invited and accepted but then declined once we were invited. Apparently we are very rude to them. Now I was seated next to the lady the first night. The only thing I can think of was that I said it was a shame we weren't going to India. She said we were - Sri Lanka. I suggested they were different countries to which she said that they were all Indians so it made no difference to her. She's the kind of person who does not stand for being corrected. She also told the couple she was switching tables and we started organising her replacement Sadly they bobbed up again. Male partner last night piped up with the statement 'It's so stupid we have to turn our clocks back every night and why did we have to do it. Hint: we are travelling west.

At the welcome reception for new guests the Captain was in a jovial mood. He also said there was just five feet of water underneath us ? Draught? when we sailed out of Penang. That is basically scraping the bottom.

After Colombo as we head to Dubai we are entering Piracy waters and it is company policy to make special security arrangements. This starts today at sea and they are testing the ships water cannons on both sides of the ship. Our balconies will get wet as they have to ensure full water power - ergo Captain Phillips. The security starts in earnest after Colombo.

Dinner last night was formal and enjoyable.
Cheddar cheese soup which was very nice.

I'll post more later as internet patchy.

 

[JohnK]

And so we say a fond farewell to Penang, though today we only really left the ship to reprovision our tonic. Cunard is one of the few lines that allows passengers to take spirits on board as well as wine.

Phew. That's great to know after seeing the beverage prices Pushka posted earlier.

 

[fairbasa]

Love the Equinox. It is very different. And is the size ship we love to take holidays on when MrP is with me. We are on the newer sister ship Silhouette in July on a Baltic Cruise.

I'm jealous! It's a region I'm quite familiar with but haven't had the chance to do a cruise there (ferries don't count)!

You will love the Silhouette, I sailed it from Venice 2 years ago. Lawn Club Grill is such a better use of space than the glass blowing.

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>
We have found a Denali couple. <snip>

Delhi?

extra letters

 

[Pushka]

Delhi?

extra letters

Denali is great at finding people who somehow feel the planet revolves around them. We have a perfect example on our table each night and they provide great fodder for our later discussions. They are seriously in need of a 'you are not WYTYA'.

I'm jealous! It's a region I'm quite familiar with but haven't had the chance to do a cruise there (ferries don't count)!

You will love the Silhouette, I sailed it from Venice 2 years ago. Lawn Club Grill is such a better use of space than the glass blowing.

Already booked for a night.

 

[Pushka]

Internet is fast currently so the rest of last nights dinner.
Lamb is so expensive so I order it whenever possible. It was so tender.


And TWO sweets.



Woke up to a wet and cool day. Another sea day so nothing planned. I hit the buffet around 9ish and it was delightfully quiet so took some pictures.

 

[Denali]

Delhi?

extra letters

I sometimes give live commentary in the Off Topic thread on people at airports or lounges that are extremely loud about themselves. Sometimes I find a real winner.

Loving all the Dame's photos!!! Wonderful trip!

 

[Pushka]

It's around 5.45am and the lights of Colombo are in the distance. MrP and I were here 31 years ago to collect our six week old son through adoption. It was in the midst of their Civil War and basically a war zone. We figured as a couple we had nothing to lose. Once we saw him we were not going to leave him behind even if it meant smuggling him out like we had read about during the Vietnam War.

 

[Denali]

Gosh, that sounds like a story to tell.

 

[Pushka]

Unfortunately it's a Public Holiday today ahead of New Year. It's the same as Songkram in Thailand. A day of cleaning the house etc in preparation for the new year Friday. All the museums are closed and only some shops open. Not really great timing but the only plans we have for today are experiencing the city and walking along Galle Face to the Hotel.

I think the weather has cleared.

The ship was prepared yesterday with water cannons for Piracy. Tonight I suspect they will brief us some more. I might wait posting anything in more detail until after we are cleared into Dubai.

Yesterday was a bludge day. Dame O has been battling a case of hay fever and the other day I came down with a sore throat and didn't sleep well the night before. Felt a bit tired and rubbish like so best I could manage was a lounge in the spa area and watch everyone else pound the boardwalk. I didn't dare go to sleep as with the congestion I would have snored my head off. Dame O joined me and she rested her eyes as my Dad would say

We summoned the energy to go to another free venue for lunch. The Old Lion pub. This is the venue for Trivia and Darts plus a traditional pub meal in the day. It's usually packed but we got a seat next to a nice couple from Newcastle Aus.



We both chose the curry. It was pretty good but I'd say it was on the sweet side.


Maple syrup pie and custard.


I had an Indian pale ale and Dame O a white wine.

I like the look of the ploughmans lunch - love a good strong cheddar - so might try for another time.

After that I had to go visit Guest services as I had person who smoked on the balcony next to me and their smoke gets into my cabin. Plus it's banned. I think there may be a cultural issue involved. It's happened a few times and I'm getting a bit sick of the smoke. But I didn't want to create retribution situations - people act weird sometimes - so hope Cunard were discrete.

Came back to the stateroom and took a nap. Three hours later I woke and felt so much better. So off to commodore club on deck 9 for a pre dinner drink with Dame - a Bellini and a Hendricks G&T and I was ready for dinner.

Which was very enjoyable as our problematic couple wasn't there. I'm afraid she brings out my inner cough. On a few fronts. She whinges about everything. Our Indian friend said before we arrived that after three nights of whinging she said to the woman's husband - let's have a 'happy' night and so he took the lead and everything became much more positive. But then this woman took a dislike to another new comer on the table who is a wine geek. Now ok, he does go on a bit but he does have a lot of info in his head. Dame O and I let him choose our wine each night. So things took a dive again.

Then Dame O and I boarded and things went to sh@t with her. Apparently we are rude to her - well I did say that her notion that India and Sri Lanka was a bit ummm, incorrect on the basis that 'they are all Indians'. And bear in mind we have a lovely Indian lady on our table.

The other night as DameO was about to say something - she put her hand in a stop sign to silence her. I didn't see it - I would have had to have said something.

So last night was very enjoyable as we all related our stories of nasty. It's a shame as we have meet some fabulous English people elsewhere with whom we all would have had a rollicking night and made great friends.

 

[Pushka]

Whiling away the time and good access to Optus so am posting a few pictures around the ship
The lobby was refurbished back in May and looks stunning.




The solarium pool. We haven't been there yet this time.


Views from Deck 12 and 13. These are usually closed and with good reason. The rails are low and minimal.