Sailing the High Seas on a Queen

On our recent trip to New York and Boston, we travelled  back across the Atlantic on the Grand Circle route – with the Queen Mary II.

Amazing how you can lose 3500 thousand or so people on a ship such that, except for lunch in the buffet or sitting in the theatre listening to a lecture, it appears (relatively) quiet. With nearly always a place to sit..but limited outlets for your phone or computer. There was a lot of entertainment including lectures, a knitting club, cinema and daily fitness classes plus a mile walk after breakfast round the deck. Think a Warners for adults heritage hotel (see the Art Deco interiors) but bigger with very few children and fewer electric scooters. Though I do confess, I ended up borrowing one of their wheelchairs as the distances were very long when you traversed from end to end in  search of the library at one end and the pool at another and so on…

OUr cabin was initially a challange for the three of us bearing in mind that our daughter slept on a put-u-up sofa –  but enough space – just – needed to be kept tidy, though surprisingly, there were more wardrobes and crucially, more hangers than we had been offered at either hotel which was why we had kept all the hangers that had come back with our washing.

We had a full balcony – not obscured in any way but we never managed to sit on it, despite the three chairs – as the weather was never good enough. We were later told that we should have opted for a window room as this was the same size as the ones with balcony included.. things you learn.

Look how long a corridor was – from end to end of the Queen.

Whilst on board we opted for the Asian Tasting menu on one night which was pretty good and they did manage – just – to rustle up some tofu fror me though clearly this was a challenge for them.

Would we do it again?

Well, it was our first real long distance boat trip – as going up and down the Nile didn’t really count and we were only 60 people that time – and the answer is ‘no’. Not across the Atlantic as it got boring by the end of the trip – only one act in the theatre interested us, and we walked out of the one film that we hadn’t seen as it was so bad. I only once managed to grab a desk in the library – only about 8 of them – so failed to  write anything – the internet was extortionate and so we were out of circulation completely – which is both good and bad; and there are just so many books you can read, which is saying something from me as the weather was such we couldn’t outside much at all and so were stuck in the coffee bar – shame you cry – almost all the time.

Also, the shops stocked stuff we didn’t want to buy! So the only thing we came away with was a fridge magnet and a key ring. They totally failed to sell to us!

However, some – older – women mostly – loved it and not only travelled it both ways without getting off(!!) but also did it every year. Total luxury of course. Silver service for eating, with waiters changing three times a day and always immaculate and sparkling white; lots of staff and dedicated room stewards; and generally speaking everyone was friendly and helpful.

I think we will cruise again, but stick to the rivers – smaller boats and more to see out of the portholes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Art Deco teatime by the sea

At Richoux, in London. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Been a while since I posted anything, but I have been writing, just not able to upload for various reasons.

Thought I’d start with:

Tea and cake in Bournemouth

The first of June augured well perhaps for the rest of the month? It was sunny and the temperature reached into the 20s. it Ws so nice that people were out by the beach and by the pool-side, sunning themselves and enjoying this, so far this year the most unusual experience of not shivering, and, obtaining some vitamin D.

Not to be left out, we decided to go out for tea. We were visiting an elderly relative and so decided a nice beach front café or hotel would do and driving down the East Overcliff we found the Cumberland Hotel. And we were not the only ones as the outdoor area was pretty crowded..

Anyway, we managed to find a table and ordered a cream tea or two.

The hotel is modern but very interestingly down out in Art Deco style, all black and white and mirrors. It has a nice Terrace by the outdoor pool (apparently there is an indoor one too but we didn’t explore), but not enough Ladies loos for when they are busy. A common fault we find with public spaces here in the UK. There are always the same numbers of cubicles whether the Restrooms are for males or females, but the men get urinals in addition. So there is always a queue and on this hot day, some of the cubicles were occupied with people changing in and out of bathing costumes.

The bar also has Costa Coffee but afternoon tea is what we wanted and the scones came fresh and warm and were clearly made in house. They were wholemeal with walnuts as well as raisins and were supplied with not only the expected clotted cream and jam, but also a large amount of butter. This was too much. We shared the 4 scones (2 per helping) between 3 of us and ate the cream and jam but ignored the butter completely.

We were also given a nice large jug of hot water to top up our pots. Our only complaint was that the tea was in bags. It would have been so nice if it had been leaf tea.

That said at £6.50 for tea and 2 scones with cream and jam, it was possibly good value, especially considering we in Ibiza – or at least it appeared so…. Sitting poolside on a terrace with the sun shining and people splashing around and generally enjoying themselves..

If you would like to push the boat out, they also do the full afternoon tea with sandwiches and little cakes, but we weren’t up to that.

The hotel also has function rooms and often hosts events.

It says it is a 3 star hotel at 3 star prices but with 5 star service.  Not sure about what the 5 star service could include for us but the staff were pleasant and smiling despite being extremely busy due to the nice weather.

Just a note: we didn’t try and othe the Artisan Teas – see: http://cumberlandbournemout1-px.rtrk.co.uk/bar-dining/all-new-artisan-teas/ Just plain English Breakfast! the hotel describes itself as:

The Hotel resembles one of Miami’s great Art Deco hotel’s of Ocean Drive. The decadent splendour of the 1930s combined with today’s urban chic style, our striking image and Miami style pool area, stands unique in its offering in Bournemouth.