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

[Pushka]

Well, the final preparations are happening, which for me means finishing off the financials, making sure people get paid, keeping the Tax man happy and as per last time finalising a rather large project but that is all done and dusted as of an hour ago (almost) and I am cracking the bottle of sparkling in the fridge and starting our partay!

For those of you who missed it a couple of years ago (where do you live? Under a rock? ) another AFF'er - love_the_life and I are rather fond of the grand old Dame of the sea - the Queen Mary 2, and this will be our third voyage on her. Notice, this is not a cruise. You do not cruise on the QM2, you have a voyage. You do not stay in a cabin, you stay in a stateroom. Getting the nuances right goes a looong way.

Our last trip is here:
[FONT=&amp]2 Old Dames on the best Dame in the World - Queen Mary 2. [/FONT]
Poetic License - this picture was from our first journey.



On the recent voyage we sailed from Australia to Hong Kong.

This time round, a slightly more exotic journey starting in Singapore, then on to KL, Penang, Colombo (Sri Lanka) then across to Dubai. In Dubai the ship commences security procedures as it heads towards nether regions.

We are both flying Emirates from Melbourne to Singapore, me starting from Adelaide first thing Wednesday morning and love_the_life from Canberra. From hereon in, love_the_life will be referred to as Dame O - because she is older than me. I am Dame Y.

We will meet up in the MEL F lounge at around 1.30 pm which leaves us ample time F Lounging until our flight at 6pm. Lordy, I will need a bex and a lie down. Both of us have redeemed award flights - I stumped for F as I was rewarding myself for the event last year which saw me cancel all our wonderful award flights to the US and was literally drowning in points. Dame O is in J. Our plans are for a nice lunch in Q F lounge until later in the afternoon and then we will make our way to the Emirates lounge until boarding.

Yes, I am planning on a shower. Yes I will need a sleep. The flight arrives at midnight but thankfully the end of daylight savings tonight makes that seem not quite so late.

Yes, there will be pictures.

It's all Dame O's fault really. Recently retired she has far too much time on her hands searching for cruise deals. In around May last year she stumbled on a beauty. In total we will have 10 nights on the ship, three (kind of) in Singapore and three (kind of) in Dubai.

We are sharing a room in Singapore - at Marina Bay Sands, and we are not eating until we can get to the buffet on QM2 where we will nourish our ravenous stomachs. Strangely my offer of grabbing all the pringles from the F seats has seen a rebuke from Dame O. She seems to be above all that.

On the ship we each have our own balcony stateroom.

QM2 was recently refurbished. Well, all us Dames need a makeover occasionally So I'm really looking forward to the buffet in particular which was downright dreadful before. The staterooms have all been redecorated and things like kettles have been added. The dreaded Pol Acker sparkling remains.

In Dubai Dame O did it again and found a great deal for um, a Club room somewhere in Dubai through Luxury Escapes. Alcohol is very expensive in Dubai so the coughtail hour will be entirely necessary. I have planned a very full schedule of activities in Dubai and it will be to the top of Khalifa and out to the sails of Al Arab for a visit.

We are both Gold members of Cunard now which gives us two hours internet, an invitation to the Officers coughtail Reception, and a nice shiny pin. It will go well with my brand new WP card that arrived today.

So, Dame O - I am summoning you........

 

[TomVexille]

Looking forward to following along

 

[love_the_life]

Summoned and running to join the party
I don't have to worry about the BAS or tax or anything as mundane; just making sure the clothes will fit in the case! As Dame Y (she is not that much younger than me) has said we both are on award flights. I thought about a paid flight back but in the end used a pile of Avianca miles for Thai J. Originally the plane from BKK to MEL was to be the new A350 but sadly that's been subbed for a 777
So both husbands left to their own devices for 2 and a half weeks, while the ladies play ladies

 

[kermatu]

This will be good. Enjoy the journey!

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

My Mother and my younger sister (in her late 20's) just completed a voyage on the QM2 between Sydney and Hong Kong.

I met up with them both in Hong Kong just last week before they flew home and they both kept going on ( like a broken record ) how good the QM2 was to sail on, in terms of luxury and indulgence.

Speaking for myself I have never been on a cruise in my whole life, ( to be honest I have never really found Cruise ships appealing due to my perceived bias of the demographic of passenger onboard) but all these stories I hear and read of people lapping it up, has me intrigued.

Quite possibly I might find myself on a great ship like the QM2 in the next couple of years, if as I suspect, your TR tells a similiar story of decadent indulgence and life-long memories obtained.

Following on with keen interest.

 

[Pushka]

My Mother and my younger sister (in her late 20's) just completed a voyage on the QM2 between Sydney and Hong Kong.

I met up with them both in Hong Kong just last week before they flew home and they both kept going on ( like a broken record ) how good the QM2 was to sail on, in terms of luxury and indulgence.

Speaking for myself I have never been on a cruise in my whole life, ( to be honest I have never really found Cruise ships appealing due to my perceived bias of the demographic of passenger onboard) but all these stories I hear and read of people lapping it up, has me intrigued.

Quite possibly I might find myself on a great ship like the QM2 in the next couple of years, if as I suspect, your TR tells a similiar story of decadent indulgence and life-long memories obtained.

Following on with keen interest.

Dame O and I have read of another Passenger on that cruise who complained of snobbery and class distinction. We both reckon it's more to do with him rather than the fact he was 'only' dining in Britannia. He does have a chip methinks. A very large one.

Good to see you Dame O. Got the stuff packed yet? MrP was on the same flight as me ADL - MEL on Wednesday. He made the comment that he was in Y and I was in J and not something he'd do to me. Except. I had used my points to upgrade him also. But that got cancelled as he wanted to go the night before. I would have shared the limo with him too.

 

[Pushka]

I mean really. He described this restaurant as steerage. Sheesh.

 

[love_the_life]

....... to be honest I have never really found Cruise ships appealing due to my perceived bias of the demographic of passenger onboard.........

Following on with keen interest.

Mr LtL is not a fan of this style of cruising and is more than happy for me to go solo as he knows I love being on a ship. On the other hand, he does like the more adventurous type expeditions with zodiacs and lots of wildlife etc. He does manage an itinerary with a new port every day. It's the sea days that sends him stir crazy, whereas I love to spend time reading, looking at the sea or attending lectures.
I think he is counting down as well

Four sleeps!

 

[Pushka]

Dame O and I are on Cruise Critic. One poster there had the good idea of each day posting one of the following:
Miss Manners regrets: and an example of some boorish or unacceptable issue
Gripe of the day:
Image of the day:

To that I reckon we'll add - Drink of the day. That should work.

 

[JessicaTam]

I shall be following on with interest.

It looks like it will a great trip. Don't do anything that I wouldn't do.

Edit: Actually, go on.

 

[JohnM]

I shall be following on with interest.

It looks like it will a great trip. Don't do anything that I wouldn't do.

Edit: Actually, go on.

What the Dames do on the Dame stays on the Dame...

 

[Pushka]

What the Dames do on the Dame stays on the Dame...

You betcha. Except what we post on here

 

[VPS]

Following with interest

 

[Pushka]

Phone call this morning from the Chauffeur booking service - in Adelaide this is Hughes Limousine. They had two bookings for me, as I had originally booked a later flight out of Adelaide but when Dame O mentioned she was arriving into Melbourne at 1pm, well clearly I needed to be in Melbourne much earlier than originally booked in order to supervise her. There was a kefuffle a few weeks ago that madrooster very kindly sorted out for me but clearly the limo advice didnt catch up. I knew I had cancelled the original booking and it warned me when changing it would be cancelled but clearly the work experience folk have been detailed to the chauffeur booking system. Anyways, we are all sorted for an 8.25 am pick up.

I am now pretty much packed. I am in to rolling clothes. For all the T'shirts and stuff I have rolled and packed into large Ikea bags then squished all the air out. Makes a lot of difference. I bought a new hard case a few weeks ago and it was much smaller than my old one. MrP was quite worried I wouldnt fit everything in. As it turned out he was kinda right so I ended up putting all those junky sized things - shoes, toiletries etc in a carry on bag but will check it through as luggage so I just have to get to and fro the first airport. I now have a lot of free space in my luggage - and we all know that means - SHOPPING SPACE.

Grumpy Cat is smiling as I put him in my carry on. Oh, wait, he's just upside down. He isnt smiling after all.

 

[Major]

I know you will enjoy the trip ladies. Go for it

 

[love_the_life]

Oi, what's this bit about needing supervision Pushka? As the senior partner I think I have the rank here :mrgreen:
Having done almost no travel (paid that is) in the past 12 months I find sadly I have slipped further down the QFF status ladder I need Pushka to guest me into the Flounge (but don't tell her that....yet)
Not quite as organised as Dame Y (but certainly I think ahead of one TommyV where it was getting close to lift off and case not even out). Only a few things to 'fit' in. Should manage with one case (unlike someone else), though certainly not HLO.

 

[Kolo]

Looking forward to reports of the refurb. Did you use the thermal pool before? Especially keen to know if it's been upgraded.

 

[Pushka]

Should manage with one case (unlike someone else), though certainly not HLO.

Well, I'm taller than you and my feet are larger

Looking forward to reports of the refurb. Did you use the thermal pool before? Especially keen to know if it's been upgraded.

Yes - we both purchased a 5 day pass to the spa. It was wonderful. And loved the thermal pool. I believe it was also upgraded last May. Dame O already has it on her list. Me? Same. Also going to buy a Cunard Furla bag unless it has too many zeroes!

 

[TomVexille]

Oi, what's this bit about needing supervision Pushka? As the senior partner I think I have the rank here :mrgreen:
Having done almost no travel (paid that is) in the past 12 months I find sadly I have slipped further down the QFF status ladder I need Pushka to guest me into the Flounge (but don't tell her that....yet)
Not quite as organised as Dame Y (but certainly I think ahead of one TommyV where it was getting close to lift off and case not even out). Only a few things to 'fit' in. Should manage with one case (unlike someone else), though certainly not HLO.

Surely the height of organization is when you pack your HLO bag 25 minutes before you leave for the airport

 

[love_the_life]

Yes - we both purchased a 5 day pass to the spa. It was wonderful. And loved the thermal pool. I believe it was also upgraded last May. Dame O already has it on her list. Me? Same. Also going to buy a Cunard Furla bag unless it has too many zeroes!

The spa pass was fantastic and I will be interested to see if that area was part of the refurb. I'm not sure it was as it didn't seem to feature at all and I had a feeling there was to be a spa area upgrade at some stage in the next few years (though that may well be another cruise line as my memory is custard).