It's 5:30 a.m. here in Southampton, and I'm still aboard the Queen Mary 2. I would imagine most of my fellow overnighters are still sound asleep. I'm up early because I made the mistake of returning to my cabin after dinner last night to drop off some things, sat down and fell sound asleep. I missed the late-night festivities. But that's what a voyage is all about, right, doing your own thing at your own pace?
So, it's time to roll the credits and wrap this up.
• There was distinct absence of sequins and extra body weight on nearly all of last night's guests. I attribute that to the absence of U.S. citizens. Yes, let those cards and letters pour in.
• The ceremonies and toasts all have been on time, on target, far from cloying, blessedly brief and, for the most part, compelling. In retrospect, the entire ceremony was one in a million.
• Grace before dinner, delivered by the ship's master, Commodore Warwick, was about one sentence long. Something like bless this food and this ship. Amen. Sit down.
A U.S. version of same? I won't answer that. Not in a million years. Any attempt would guarantee that I would be seat-belt-strapped into the next hot rod to hell.
• THE Toast. Did you get that? ONE toast. From a member of the British governing body. I quote: "To the Queen." That was it. Stand up, sit down, eat, eat, eat.
(We did eat, by the way. Trilogie de Canard - which I take to mean duck prepared three ways - fantastic. Consommé en Croute, which would be essence of pheasant with pistachio crust. Braised Maine Lobster in Champagne Sauce, "nestled" in papardelle pasta with green asparagus. And champagne, and wine and dessert.)
• The ship is huge, and grand. Would I sail on her? I'm not sure. Honestly, I am not one for cruises. So how did I get the travel editor's job? Who knows? That said, a crossing of the Atlantic, an entirely different affair, is appealing - and that's what the Queen Mary 2 is built for. But this ship is not inexpensive. You can see some of the prices in an earlier entry.
But it might behoove you to wait until the ship has settled into its normal runs, and then watch for discounts. Check with travel agents who specialize in cruises. The discounts will come. Maybe not for a while, but they will. A majority of the early bookings on this ship are from the U.S. The Europeans aren't using her - yet. I would imagine, from conversations here, that they will do what they always do: Wait for the impetuous, suckers-for-any-trend Americans to have their way with the ship, move on to the next fleeting passion, and leave room for those who really do like to sail.
• I like Southampton. I wasn't here long enough to see much of it, though. Our schedule was quite understandably jammed and focused on the Queen Mary 2. But I like this town. Reminds me of home. And I've enjoyed the folks I've met here very much. (Including the two guys I met at a pub the other night who slaughtered me in darts but who still insisted that I skip one of the press dinners and come with them to a game at their new football stadium. I regret not having done that.)
• Did you know that Southampton was the departure spot for the founding fathers and mothers of what we know now as the United States?
• "Would you all please be upstanding..." is a much more appealing way of saying "Please stand up." Sadly, it's not something we brought with us to the colonies.
• "Ladies and gentlemen please note that all prices on board are quoted in U.S. dollars which makes the shopping even more inviting." I had to reread that a couple times. It's a line from the Daily Programme issued on board, a rundown of what we overnighters would be doing, seeing, eating, etc. "More inviting?" It was absolutely frightening. At least with quotes in pounds we can pretend - for a few minutes.
• There was scant mention of the folks who died in the production of this vessel - and there have been several - except by religious figures brought aboard for the ceremonies. Frankly, I find that appalling.
• And it's que-NARD. Like the que ball.
With that, I'm outta here. It's been grins. Cheers.
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