Maiden Voyage Memoirs 
From A Long Time Cunarder
Wednesday 12 December 2007,
Here we are on our first full day on board Queen Victoria and we are just about to go alongside in Rotterdam. A fireboat has escorted us up river and a good crowd has come to see us. About 20 minutes ago we passed QE2. Both ships greeted each other with several whistle exchanges and we could see hundreds of camera flash bulbs pop as we sailed past her with about 100 metres separating us. It was quite emotional!
But let's go back a little...
Last night's departure from Southampton can only be described as 'stunning'. Queen Victoria began to move away from her berth at the City Cruise Terminal at 1720 hours and as she proceeded forward past Mayflower Park the most amazing firework display I have ever seen erupted and lasted for what seemed like an eternity! We were stood on the deck of our ship awe-struck. It was a great way to start the Maiden Voyage.
It has been interesting to see people's first impressions of the ship and everyone I have seen have been full of praise. The words 'wow' and 'cosy' seem to be the most used at the moment
The remainder of the evening was spent by most of the guests finding their way around the ship and having dinner. I was lucky enough to dine with noted maritime historian John Maxtone- Graham and his wife, Mary. There was a great atmosphere in the Britannia Restaurant. The world record holding comedian John Martin performed after the 'Welcome Aboard Show' in the Royal Court Theatre.
I think most people must have decided to have an early night as is always the case on the first night of a voyage after having travelled to Southampton.
We are now alongside in Rotterdam and the gangways are about to be lowered. More tomorrow.
Thursday 13 December 2007
Today is our first full day at sea which I think both guests and crew are looking forward to. The sea is calm and the Captain advised us yesterday that we should have good sea conditions for the course of the voyage.
Yesterday in Rotterdam we saw a steady flow of people coming down to the Terminal to have a look at the new ship and the excitement of passing QE2 earlier in the morning as we sailed up river was matched by the excitement of seeing several QE2 crew members visit us - there were happy reunions every few moments as QE2 crew bumped into colleagues and QE2 guests.
Cafe Carinthia is fast becoming my favourite place on board. It's such a lovely room and serves great coffees and hot chocolate throughout the day - perfect for people watching too as it looks over the Grand Lobby! But I must try and resist the pastries! Which reminds me that I haven't done my mile walk around deck yet - something I promised I would do each day. I wonder how many times around equals a mile?
The private boxes in the Royal Court Theatre were all booked last night to watch Aled Jones perform. I will try for one later in the voyage. Aled was very good but I kept on expecting him to burst into 'The Snowman', the song which elevated him to star status when he was a child.
We were a little late leaving Rotterdam due to a couple of tour buses getting back late but we enjoyed watching the Rotterdam Seamans Choir perform for us on the dockside and sailing down river escorted by a fireboat was magical.
Must dash now as I want to go to the lecture from maritime historian John Maxtone-Graham. More about the first day at sea tomorrow.
Friday 14 December 2007
We have just arrived alongside the berth at Copenhagen after another special welcome - looking forward to the fireworks tonight.
Wednesday was the first full day at sea which was something appreciated by both guests and crew I think to see how the ship would behave. The sea was very calm but the decks remained relatively clear as it was very chilly. I suppose we should not expect a suntan before Christmas on this voyage!
I spent some time studying the artefacts to be found in the Cunardia Museum yesterday. Very interesting. So, if you want to know what Beatle George Harrison ordered from a Cunard Yank or which clock kept war time on the Queen Mary, then I am the one with the answer - or Cunardia is at least!
Last night was a busy night with the first-ever Captain's Cocktail Reception in the Queens Room and the first formal dinner. Both were very enjoyable but I missed the start of the premiere of Dance Passion in the Royal Court Theatre (others said it was fabulous) so I decided to have an early night and get ready for the overnight in Copenhagen. I have heard that a special visit will be made today by a certain 007 so I'm off to investigate....
Saturday 15 December 2007
Well, yesterday's 007 teaser can now be solved! Film legend (and my personal favourite Bond) Sir Roger Moore visited Queen Victoria yesterday with his wife. They were guests of the Port Authority and attended the Plaque Exchange in Hemispheres before having lunch in Todd English. I was lucky enough to be invited to the Plaque Exchange. Sir Roger made a short speech saying how impressed he was with the ship and how he thought he'd been invited as he was the only English actor still alive who had known Queen Victoria personally!
So that's Aled Jones and Sir Roger Moore I can add to the list of celebs I've seen so far this voyage - and the Opera Babes are performing tonight!
After a good lunch in The Lido I decided to forgo afternoon tea and take the Queen Victoria Art Tour. Even I could use the easy-to-use iPod that you obtain from the Pursers Desk. I probably took longer to take the tour than expected as I spent a lot of time studying the many paintings of past Cunarders. My favourite is the stunning one of Berengaria on B Staircase. The etchings of her dogs by Queen Victoria herself are also very interesting.
There were more fireworks last night at 2200 hours put on for us by the City of Copenhagen and then after that it was time for a quick drink with new friends in the Commodore Club and then bed.
Sunday 16 December
Yesterday was fairly quiet on board as most guests were ashore sampling the delights of Copenhagen. It was a lovely day weather wise - brilliant blue skies and sunshine, but very cold. We have just come alongisde in Oslo and they tell me to expect minus 8 degrees! I suppose it is Scandinavia in December and it is Christmas next week!
Had a fairly quiet day on board myself and just wandered around taking some photos. It surprises me just how much more you notice about this ship each day. The attention to detail with the furnishings is amazing. The lift lobbies alone take a day at least to study and are superbly done. The wood finishes and marble give the ship a warmth which appeals when you're sitting having a hot chocolate in Cafe Carinthia while looking out at a cold dock!
I was passing through the Queens Room and was amazed to watch a fencing lesson being given to some very brave guests. I'd love to have a go so may sign up for the next lesson! Fencing at sea? Fancy!
Dockside activities yesterday included the Tivoli Boys Guard performing for us in the afternoon. Our sailaway at 1700 hours was heralded with Christmas carols by the Women's Marine Orchestra. As we slipped away into the darkness, guests on deck burst into 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas' to the crowd that had assembled below and two children ashore shouted 'We Love you Queen Victoria' repeatedly. It was very moving!
Let's see what Oslo has to offer us today....
Monday 17 December
The temperature in Oslo yesterday lived up to expectations - extremely cold! But the city and surrounding hills looked stunning as always in one of my favourite capitals. I had a quick walk around the Castle in the morning and then spent the rest of the day on board.
I had the good fortune to bump into an old friend who had been invited on board for the Plaque Exchange. He was most impressed with the ship too and the word 'cosy' was once again used by him to sum up his first thoughts of her interior.
I had hoped to go on the Quote Quest but afraid the weather soon sent me back indoors. The Quest is a series of historical quotes dotted about the open decks - I might finish it today.
Had dinner in The Lido last night as it was the first time the space had offered a Carvery. Previous nights have included Indian and Fondue sections. Each night in The Lido has been steady and there is a nice quiet atmosphere up there. I think it must be difficult to persuade people to leave the Britannia Restaurant and Grills and Todd English seems to be busy each evening.
It's our second day at sea today and have ticked a few things in the Daily Programme I wish to do. But first a cup of tea I think!
Tuesday 18 December
Yesterday was spent at sea on a lovely flat sea - we have been very lucky with that this voyage.
It was an ideal time to enjoy some of the lectures being offered so I spent the morning enjoying John Maxtone-Graham, listening to Giancarlo Impiglia about Art Deco and being fascinated by Glenmore Trenear-Harvey who lectured on intelligence and espionage!
I heard that the queue for the Maiden Voyage merchandise sale started to form at 05:15 hours! I saw the queue poor Captain Wright had to deal with during his book signing. In fact, people were getting him to sign anything they could lay their hands on!
I'm pleased to report that I completed the Quote Quest and felt satisfied that I'd also been exercising while walking round.
The day went very quickly and before I knew it it was time to have a look at the Royal Ascot Ball in the Queens Room before another excellent dinner. The show in the Royal Court was an Elton John Tribute by a man - Jonathan Kane - who looked and sounded very much like the real thing!
We are now alongside in Hamburg today and hear great things about their planned fireworks for tonight.....
Wednesday 19 December 2007
Our call at Hamburg yesterday certainly lived up to expectations with a good crowd lining the Elbe as we sailed in very early - we were alongside by 0730 hours and it was still quite dark. Throughout the day the river boats (normally empty in December we were told) were packed full of people wanting to get a good view of Queen Victoria, but everyone who came down to the Hamburg Cruise Terminal got a great view of her as she dominated the area. There is a great deal of building work going on in the area with a residential and office development, a new underground station and a new Opera House (bigger than the one in Sydney) currently being built for completion by 2011.
At exactly 2150 hours the sky erupted with a fantastic firework display and Queen Victoria left just over an hour later for her long passage back to sea. We were followed for a while downriver by the paddlewheeler Mississippi Queen and many exchanges between the people on both ships were made.
The day was a busy one for the ship with many visitors and I seem to have got into a nice routine on board but I have endeavoured to do something different each day. Food is unfortunately never far from my mind so I tried the Golden Lion Pub for lunch and can recommend the steak and mushroom pie! As I entered the pub the Dent & Co clock in the Royal Arcade was chiming as it does every 15 minutes. (The other famous Dent & Co clock is, of course, Big Ben!) It was back to the pub later for a busy Karaoke session before a quick walk around deck and bed - ready for our final sea day today.
Friday 20 December 2007
So here we are on our final full day of this wonderful Maiden Voyage. We are currently berthed in Zeebrugge but haven't been able to see anything yet as we are enveloped in dense fog! We can't complain about this really as the weather has been great all the way - apart from the cold, but we can't complain about that either. It was another calm day at sea yesterday.
I was lucky enough to be invited along on the Backstage tour of the magnificent Royal Court Theatre where we saw the facilities that enable them to do what they do! I have to say that I was surprised at just how little space there is behind-the-scenes and amazed at how they utilise the space and facilities to put on the excellent productions they do. The tour was very informative and we met some of the cast who are delighted to be performing in such a venue on such a ship. I made sure I got a good seat for Victoriana last night - one of four shows specially written for Queen Victoria. It was superb and the crowd really got into the swing of things by waving hankies and Union Jacks during the show. Everyone was full of praise and there was a great 'buzz' afterwards about the ship last night.
So... we have almost completed this first voyage. The Highlights? There are many but I think my personal highlights were sailing past QE2 in Rotterdam; the Christmas exchanges between ship and shore in Copenhagen and the sailing into the night from Oslo. But overall it has been great to see just what a lovely ship this is - and hear the comments from many, many regular Cunarders who are full of praise for her - plus how the crew have quickly established a warm atmosphere and an efficient memorable service.
