09/18/11 - DVCers Take Over the Dream (S.S. Member Cruise 2011) - Thread #5

[Truffle]

We're back in the USA!!!
<snip>
More about the QM2 later...

Welcome home! Sorry Laran is sick, and we hope she gets over it as quickly as it came about!

 

[Truffle]

Are we doing both the Food - Walking Tour & the Architecture Tour?

We can, but we don't have to. Debbie and Junior really want to do the river cruise and this is a great price. We have never taken it, but everyone we know who has ever been on it, swears by it. The food tours can each only accommodate 15/16 people. We are game to do both, but are flexible.

 

[Carmouse10]

I looked over to the left just before we crossed under the bridge for Andy, but it was too dark to make anything out....

WELCOME HOME JOHN AND FAMILY!

I do not know how I missed seeing you pass, perhaps I was off towing one of the electronic signs over to the overlook area. I DO know how you missed seeing what I had done so far though... This is a snip from my original post to you: "As you are going under the bridge, look to the starboard side."

Port = Left
Starboard = Right



It does not matter, the important thing is you are home, Laran is feeling better, and we have some good QM2 stories that are forthcoming.

 

[M & N Potter]

Welcome home to john and family!

 

[M & N Potter]

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

Welcome Home John and family. Glad to hear Laran's feeling better. Can't wait to hear more about the ship.

 

[Steamboat WillyNilly]

Are we doing both the Food - Walking Tour & the Architecture Tour?

I was wanting to do both. Maybe lunch at the signature room at 11:00 on Saturday (or where ever else) then the boat tour then watch Ian (if he goes) wobbly walk (thanks to a rum spiked drink) down Michigan Ave carrying all the shopping bags for Laura. On Sunday we do the the food tour as our lunch and then whatever else. What do you guys think?

 

[Hoosier John]

WELCOME HOME JOHN AND FAMILY!

I do not know how I missed seeing you pass, perhaps I was off towing one of the electronic signs over to the overlook area. I DO know how you missed seeing what I had done so far though... This is a snip from my original post to you: "As you are going under the bridge, look to the starboard side."

Port = Left
Starboard = Right



It does not matter, the important thing is you are home, Laran is feeling better, and we have some good QM2 stories that are forthcoming.

Oh, man. I was operating from memory on which side to look (and on lack of sleep). Since I doubt anyone will be sailing into that port before our cruise, could you expain what I missed? A big wall of lights that said, "Welcome Home John!" perhaps?

I forgot that I can use the smilies now (without spelling them out).

Sorry I missed you. I know you went through a lot of effort ... who in thier right mind would get up and go to work early. I remember looking on the other (wrong) side and thinking if there's a firehouse there, it's way too dark to make anything out. Had I been looking on the RIGHT side, I would have at least seen some window lights. We were on the large ship squeezing under the bridge with Coast Guard boats' flashing blue lights around us ... I think Andy fell asleep. I guess we'll have to meet up on the Disney Dream.

And Thank You All for the warm welcome home! Feels nice to be back (now just to get caught up around here).

 

[Hoosier John]

Lara asked me if there would be enough to keep us occupied for a week on a ship without any ports of call. Well there was plenty for everyone to keep busy. The QM2 is the only cruise ship which has a planetarium. She also features the largest library (10,000 books) and the longest teak wood deck complete with wooden deck loungers. The planetarium had 3 twenty minute shows which were repeated several times a day and again the next day. Every two days a new feature would be played. It's a good thing they had duplicate days, because the system broke down on two days.

The same theatre was also used for featured speakers. They had 4 people who gave lectures in their fields. My favorite was a 747 pilot who talked about various topics related to air travel (including several funny stories). The next time I experience a rough landing, I'll use one of his stories. As I'm leaving I'll tell the flight crew that I give the pilot a "9" for the landing ... on the Richter scale!

Another speaker was an author and historian. He gave great history lessons on the cruise ship industry and the harbor at New York. For instance, the cruise industry was set up like our airline industry is today. They had smaller ships (commuter planes) which brought passengers to the hub for the larger ship. He explained that when purchasing a trans Atlantic voyage passengers would pay the same fare for their class (steerage/tourist, cabin, or first class) no matter where they were coming from in the Mediterranean. So you could essentially get 5 days for free if you were coming from the farthest port. Also is the derivation of the term ‘stateroom.’ On US riverboats, their cabins were generally named after states, thus were called staterooms.

There was also a rather young professor who gave talks about planets, stars and universes. The first lecture concentrated on earth and the sensors we have used through time to view and measure it. This is right in my field, so I found it quite educational. Later lectures continued deeper into space and into the future. He made rather a technical subject easy and entertaining to follow. For example he did a segment on future travel brochures we might see… what to expect and travel agent claims to be dubious of.

The most eloquent speaker was a British author. While only half of the passengers were British, the theater was always standing room only. Unlike the other presentations, she used no props (except for an invitation to the Royal Wedding which a friend let her borrow for the cruise). She talked about Royal family history and kept the audience entertained by describing the sexy escapades, yet without being crude, often pausing for your imagination to fill in the details. I can’t put into words the way she spoke. Rolling her ‘Rs’, pausing for emphasis, and walking in her knee-high boot around the stage at times, all added to her story. If I had a better understanding of British Royalty I would have learned a lot more.

Lara took several computer classes. I’m not sure what all she went to, but I attended one on iPods, iPhones and iPads, and one on Photoshop. We were going to spring for the ‘nominal’ fee to attend the class on Family History, but the fee was $30 per person and they wouldn’t allow one of us to watch over the shoulder of the other, so we left. I believe the fee was probably for using their satellite internet which would otherwise cost something like $75 for 2 hours.

I would say the main act they had along was the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) students who performed stage song/dance and plays. They packed in early and late shows. Other acts included a comic magician from Las Vegas and a Rat Pack trio. This was in addition to QM2s dance team. Of course they had ballroom dance lessons, a casino, Bingo, trivia contests, karaoke, a spa, a health club, etc. The British author hosted one of the trivia nights on English history. We teamed up with our table mates, who almost single-handedly answered the questions for us. Our team got 15/28 which was way below the top score of 26, but I bet we had the best score among non-British. The British couple in the next door cabin told me they only scored 5, so I felt pretty good (for our table mates).

With this cruise being the final leg for those who just finished the 103 day around the world cruise, several people were just reading, playing board games and putting together puzzles. Plus the world cruisers have a dedicated area in their garden-like lounge where newspapers from around the world were reprinted onboard each day. Oh, I should also note that each night we too got a digest of the news from USA Today with our nightly schedule of tomorrow’s events. British folks also got a similar news brief from the UK.

Up next a comparison of the ships we have cruised on…

 

[W@LL-E]

Welcome Back John, Lara & Laran. Glad to hear Little Laran is doing better.

 

[lilliansmommy]

The moon base will be divided into two units: Moon Unit Alpha and Moon Unit Zappa.

Moon Unit ZAPPA is my cousin!!

 

[M & N Potter]

John - - -It sounds like you guys had a good time. I would have have loved to listen to the woman speaking about the British Royal Family history. It sounds like it was very interesting.

 

[M & N Potter]

Moon Unit ZAPPA is my cousin!!

An excellent Zappa !

 

[M & N Potter]

 

[lilliansmommy]

An excellent Zappa !

So was her father, from what I hear.

 

[lilliansmommy]

Welcome back John, Lara, and Laran!!! We missed you. Sounds like you had a great time!! Well maybe not little Laran toward the end, but in all....GREAT time. Thanks for all the cool trip reports!! I really enjoy reading them. Take care, Laran!

 

[lilliansmommy]

I was wanting to do both. Maybe lunch at the signature room at 11:00 on Saturday (or where ever else) then the boat tour then watch Ian (if he goes) wobbly walk (thanks to a rum spiked drink) down Michigan Ave carrying all the shopping bags for Laura. On Sunday we do the the food tour as our lunch and then whatever else. What do you guys think?

I would like to do both as well. Signature Room sounds great too!!

 

[W@LL-E]

“My family knows ever’thing there is to know ’bout the shrimpin’ bidness”

 

[W@LL-E]

“My mama always said life was like a box a chocolates, never know what you’re gonna get”

 

[W@LL-E]

“You seem somewhat familiar; have I threatened you before”