Back cruising again, this time on our old favourite, the QM2

After leaving Scotland we headed south to see my 92 year old sister and her son Paul in Leicester. Most of the time was spent listening to radio 4 and the coverage of the Queens death. 

Then it was a cross country drive to Norfolk to stay with our friend Jane. A very pleasant drive through some marvellous countryside.

The weather was glorious, a perfect temperature, not too hot.

Stopped off at Rutland water for a picnic lunch 

Jane took us to plenty of interesting places during our stay. First off down to the beach to look for fossils. None found unfortunately.

Then a drive north for the day to Felbrigg Hall. It materialised that it was an open day, so everything was free.

Great tour of the grounds including the walled garden, church and forest area. Then, an interesting visit inside the house. All in all a great day out.

Judith doing her tree hugging thing

On our last day we had an hours trip along the broads in their electric boat. Headed out from Stalham and up the river network.

 

First day / arrival , confusion, stress and unhelpful staff throughout. 

Bedroom had a whiff about it. Sewage.

But by our return it had been dispersed. One knows not how.

Quick nibble from off the buffet after which we walk the decks. 

Great selection of sushi

Then the trouble starts when we try and book a Covid test prior to our arrival in NY at reception, only to be told that they had stopped testing.

Hours of frustration, uncertainty and despair. 

Spoke to a manager, phoned Imagine, the agent, Norwegian and it materialises that we just have to buy internet and try and sort a test when we arrive. Albeit, that we have to be on board the other ship by 2pm. Should be fun, NOT.

Dinner in the restaurant. Judith didn’t fancy anything on the menu, so opted for a cob salad with grilled salmon. I tried the crab mousse followed by steak Diane. Neither were that special, and the steak Diane was nothing more than sliced braised beef. But the service and the lads were helpful and friendly.

Then into the movie. The Batman

Amazing, dark and menacing. Kept our mind off our troubles for three hours. Walked the deck for fresh air.

But our mind quickly returned to the uncertainty and all the permutations to try and resolve the problem.

First full day . Clocks go forward an hour.

Friday 16th Sep 2022

After the horrendously troubled start to our cruise we succumbed to the fact that what would be would be.

Arrived in Le Harve at 6am, which was quite early considering we hadn’t got to bed until 1am, after watching The Batman. 

Quick breakfast of various delights. So great to be able to pick and mix, the ability to graze the vast array of delicacies.

Then off to the town centre. Initially not impressed, but that soon changed when wine visited the concrete monolith of a cathedral. The Church of st Joseph’s. A 107 metre high lantern tower, filled with stained glass windows, 12768 pieces in total.  Brutal in looks, yet totally calming one’s inside.

Then through delightful gardens, following the tram tracks down to the cobble filled beach. Then a meander through the shops, the smells of fresh baked croissants and coffee, tempting us to taste.

Back on board along with a new tranch of guests. A bus load of excited French.

Met up with Martin on the promenade deck for a quick catch up, prior to lazing in the sun reading a new book. That is until l dozed off. The night before had been stressful and short. Our mind was still frazzled from trying to get to grips with our arrival in New York and the need to have a test prior to boarding the Norwegian Joy.

Dinner in the pizza and pasta restaurant. Gorgeous Caesar salad then a totally moorish pizza, filled with all manner of smoked spicy meats. Judith had a pasta dish with loads of garlic, tomato and chilli oil.

For a change we watched Dr Strange, the movie.

Saturday 17th

Up early and out into the glorious sun. A few laps then Tai Chi at the bow of the ship, down by the forward pool. The place was deserted other than the maintenance team who were welding the steps back to the deck. The QM2 is looking a little worse for wear. A grand old lady that has not touched up her makeup for longtime. It’s not mascara that’s running, it’s the red, brown rust.

The pool looked inviting, a mist of hot air floated above the sparkling  water. We rushed back to the cabin, quickly threw on costumes and gowns and headed back. Water was warm and cold in equal measure. Did take a little effort on my part to initially get in. But the coolness was soon forgotten. A pool to ourselves. 

Once tired, jumped into the steaming hot jacuzzi. Sprawling out and absorbing both the heat from the water and that of the sun as the ship ploughed through the waves. Lands end was coming up on our port side. We will soon be in the rough seas of the Atlantic. Not sure if we will be treated to many more days like this.

After changing back into day cloths we headed to favourite lounge, the Corinthian. 

A relaxed lounge with a sophisticated breakfast selection, away from the thronging mass of humanity to be found at the Kings Court buffet. Then two lectures, one after another. First on New York skyscrapers. The second on being an astronaut, from a Canadian who has been up twice. The second for six months on the space station. Both fascinating. 

Did you know the word skyscraper originated from sailing. It was the highest sail attached to the uppermost sail to give extra speed.

There is a common theme within our cruise routine. Food and exercise. The odd film and many lectures followed by more food.

We are now back in the Corinthian Lounge having a seafood platter and a Mediterranean meat platter, sharing between the two of us. Then it’s walking round the deck. Upto 8000 steps so far, but we need to head down to onto the internet. What a fag, a real hit and miss process. The young man spent 20 minutes trying to get us connected. Eventually he managed to get Judith’s iPad on line for 24hours. But it was so slow, like paint drying. 

Spent next two hours searching for somewhere to get a 30 minute antigen test. Eventually find a company at New York Central Station. Had to book ahead of time 75 dollars each.

Exhausted, checked the email. Three emails from Cunard. We now do not need an observed test on our return journey. So the test can now be changed and used for the Norwegian cruise, saving us using the test at Central Station.

These things change every minute.

Time to relax and head up for afternoon tea. 

We can get back on line later and reschedule the video appointment.

Spent 3hours sorting out the booking in process for the return Cunard sailing.  Had to take and upload more photos, add a credit card and enter passport details. Just kept crashing.

Persevered, and after lots of bad temper, swearing and cursing, managed to complete, only to find that the downloads had mysteriously disappeared.  So it was impossible to print the boarding  documents and luggage tags. 

Misty first thing, in fact it’s foggy. Just heard the horn sounding out.

Last day at sea before we arrive in Manhattan and sea state is calm and the sun is out. Up early to walk the deck and spend 20 minutes relaxing with our tai chi. Although it’s not necessarily peaceful. All the room boys and girls are out, chatting and giggling away as they set out the sun lounger’s around the pool. Not that the pool has any water in it.

Technology is a wonderful thing as long as it works , unfortunately on this cruise, the speed of the internet causes a multitude of difficulties. Especially when you need to organise important information. Such as sourcing a testing centre in Manhattan.

People keep saying” well of course it’s slow, we are in the middle of the Atlantic”

I retort, how is it possible for astronauts to have video calls whilst on the space station. (Only know this because we went to a talk on board given by a Canadian astronaut who had spent six months up there.)

Perhaps it’s down to band width, a technical term. To be honest not sure what it really means, but it’s like a bridge that restricts the flow of traffic. If too much tries to get through at the same time it grinds to a halt. An internet traffic jam, and with a few thousand people trying to surf the net at the same time , there is going to be a sluggish response.

The other challenge comes from the search phraseology used in each country. Google and Safari USA is totally set up differently to that back home. We believe that there is a common language between our cousins across the pond and our selves in old Blighty. But you soon realise that there is a difference albeit small, concerning the English spoken word. Trash means rubbish, a strait forward biscuit is in fact a dinner roll similar to a scone at home. The tenuous variations are a literal minefield.  And for god sake don’t think the reference to a beaver means a furry rodent.

It’s perhaps down to the various influences from differing nations and cultures who have made the United States their home over the years.

But back to searching for a covid test.

Initially we searched for “fit to fly testing”, a term used in the U.K. whereas the US search engine points you clearly towards the aviation industry, flying schools and preparation to become a pilot. 

Refined the search to “fit for travel”, and its amazing how many “you tube” tutorials appear showing a Japanese girl showing you how to fold your shirts and sweaters for travel. 

Ultimately chose “fit to travel covid testing”. Thousands of adds came up, most requesting a zip code for your location. In the end fathomed out a way to find zip codes, hopping between Google map and another search engine that gave you the local code.

Most of the pharmacies provided the service for free to US residents. But it was a PCR test taking between 24 and 48 hours. Considering our window of opportunity lay between the time of arrival, expected 6.30am, clearing US customs 1 hr and travelling across Manhattan to the Norwegian ship and being cleared and on board by 2pm the PCR was a no starter. 

So refined the search again, this time included 30 minute turn around and Antigen test. This brought up only six possibles, two of which were two years old and no longer available, the third had a four hour turn around, but the last seemed a goer. Situated at the Central Station. But you had to book. We had been on the internet for just under three hours by this time, the eyelids were giving up and it was time for bed. So we wrapped it up for the night.

Wake up after another disturbed night, due to the clock being put back another hour, but also the difficulty in arranging a test in New York. So many variables. 

Being a grumpy old bugger at times, decided to drop the CEO of Carnival a line, expressing my displeasure at their inability to communicate effectively and their lack of empathy to their guest. 

You do feel better when you get something off your chest. So before settling down to watch the queen’s burial, decided to compose my letter. 

Watched the service and procession with a mixture of emotions, sad to see her go, but very proud to belong to a nation that has had a steadying hand at the helm for the past 70 years.

Such a women, devoted to the cause. Remarkable.

Everywhere, within the ship you could sense the feeling of history being made, an end of an era. Such pageantry. No matter what you say, the U.K. is brilliant when it comes to this type of thing. The armed forces, especially the naval contingency pulling the gun carriage that bore the Queens coffin.

So pleased she was laid to rest with her husband and parents in Windsor.

Raised a glass of beer to wish her a safe journey. Sure our new King will follow in her footsteps.

Reviewed my letter to Carnival, amended and emailed off. 

Whilst on line, out of the blue we receive an email from Cunard. Materialises that we don’t now require an observed test before getting back on board the QM2. This now alters things. We are able to amend the date and time of our video appointment of the observed test, using it for our NCL cruise. 

Such excitement. Go online again and navigate through the site and click the link to amend the details.

Guess what!

A page comes up to say the booking has been cancelled. Another cold sweat envelopes me. Try and stay calm. Read everything. It seems that if you go back to the original email you are able to reinstate. Blood pressure levels out. You wonder how older people can cope with this. Judith reminds me l am coming up to 72. But l am quite savy where technology is concerned, or at least l think l am.

Find the email, click on the link, but the same message comes up.

Spend another hour going through different options. Eventually send them an email explains our dilemma and asking what to do.

Within seconds we get a reply, advising us that they have received the email. Brilliant.

Down side, they say they will endeavour to get back with 24 to 72 hours. Good job we don’t get into NY until Friday morning.

Anyway, they were on the ball. Within an hour they emailed to say the new booking was set and confirmed. Scary.

Next step. If we are having a video call we need internet. Not a problem, l can purchase a days roaming with 3 on my phone on the day. Used to have this service included, but after Brexit the company made it an add on.

Sat down. Back online once again to see what l had to do. Fairly straight forward. Every time you arrive in a new country, they send you a text and you can press a link and your days service starts. Excellent, simple.

Read on. Small print. If your phone has a spend cap activated, you won’t be able to down load the service.

Once again search 3 for how to remove. Go to 3 app, sign in, go to accounts, billing, amend spending cap.

Go on to 3 app, sign in. INCORRECT PASSWORD. Bloody hell. 

When you have eye and finger recognition you tend to forget passwords. Tried all variations on a theme. Each time same message. INCORRECT PASSWORD, INCORRECT PASSWORD, INCORRECT PASSWORD.

So go to forgotten password. Go through the process and eventually reset.

Start again. Open 3 app. Enter phone number. OK.

Enter password, success.

Then it sends a six number pass by text. Go to text, copy number, go back to the app and we have start the process again. Eventual get the code page up and enter the number, only to have it say it’s incorrect. Unbeknown to me, every time l go back to the open page it sends a new pass number. It’s an never ending cycle. Impossible to do.

Eventually, Judith comes up with the idea to open 3 up in safari, therefore enabling me to keep the said page open whilst opening a text.

She’s bloody clever at times. It works. And we get it. Manoeuvre through the pages, eventually  get to the billing page and the page freezes. Had enough.

Try a few more times and the same thing happens.

Reboot the iPad and start again, but this time l go to the online help page to talk to someone.

Message comes up. Sorry but we are carrying out important updates so our server is down. Call back later.

You just couldn’t make this up.

Return to the cabin for a wee snifter to enliven the mood, or perhaps dull the pain. Notice a blinking light on the phone notifying me of a message.

It materialises that the CEO, God has already read my email and contacted the ship. The head purser advises me that he has been asked to apologise for the problems. Explains he has been in touch with Cunard’s ground handlers who are also the handlers for NCL. Tests will be available for us at the terminal. He also advised that he has notified all the other guests who are transferring to NCL that this service is available. A result. Yet for us, now unnecessary, as we have moved our observed test due to the change of protocol on our return journey. As l explain this, you can see a frown appear. “But we haven’t changed it”. Show him my email and he is flabbergasted. He says he will check it out, and if an observed test is still required he will let us know, and not to worry. As they will have testing facilities available for us if necessary. Definitely a result.

So we now have all bases covered and we have only lost three days of our cruise to stress and worry over the bloody covid test. If NCL don’t ask to see my results on Friday, l am likely to murder the check in person.

Will let you know how it turns out!!!!!!

We have arrived on New York, 5.30am

Packed and ready to leave at 7am.