Thursday: 19/25
The day has finally arrived; we are packed and just waiting to leave for Pier 91. I did not see the Queen Elizabeth arrive this morning although I did see the Coral Princess come in. It will be paralleling us to Los Angeles and then will return to Vancouver, B.C.
We arrived at the pier about 1:45, and although our boarding time was 2:30, we walked through all the check points and arrived at our cabin which was ready for us about 2:15. We were really impressed. The cabin is pretty standard with a balcony, one level above the lifeboats. We went to the café for a bite to eat and returned to find our luggage in place, so we could unpack and settle in. There was enough room for all our belongings which was nice.
We explored the boat and went to the sail away celebration which lacked luster. It was not at all like other sail aways we had. But it gave us one last view of Seattle and our condo behind the grain elevator. The Coral Princess left a few minutes before we did.
Dinner was in the Britannia Restaurant. We were seated with three tables for two slightly apart. Only one of the couples arrived. They were from Portland but were Russian dancers. They have spent over 350 days on Cunard ships over the years. After dinner we went to the show, but it was not “our style,” so we left and relaxed in our cabin.
Friday: 9/26
Over the night we sailed out of Puget Sound to the Dungeness Light House where our pilot disembarked. Then it was westerly through the Strait of Juan de Fuca into the North Pacific. We started south abeam of Cape Johnson. Throughout the day we saw whales or porpoises or both traveling with us.
Our first day at sea was somewhat quiet. There is so much to see on the ship. We have always enjoyed trivia on ships, so we started with the Morning Team Trivia after breakfast. This time we were the only members of our team. We did so-so.
After lunch, we did the Chairobics class. It was similar to the aerobics part of my class at home, but we sat for the whole time. I will do this whenever it is offered.
After Chairobics, I went to Afternoon Tea. The Cunard Line is famous for its tea, so I had to try it out. I met Linda who is a solo traveler and we enjoyed the tea and music and conversation.
Before dinner we enjoyed live guitar music in the grand lobby. Then we had a Gala Black and White dinner in the main restaurant. After dinner we retired to our cabin to relax. By sunset we were abeam of Newport, Oregon.
Saturday: 9/27
Over the night we passed Cape Sebastian, named in honor of St. Sebastian in 1603 by the Spanish navigator Sebastian Vizcaino. It is in southern Oregon, nearly to the California border.
Now, we are traveling along the northern California coast, about 24 nautical miles offshore, and the water has become quite choppy. We are scheduled to arrive in San Francisco early tomorrow morning. We continue to have sea mammals accompanying us.
The day started with a buffet breakfast. (We prefer that to a sit-down meal). Then we went to Chairobics. That was followed by morning Team Trivia where we paired up with another couple. After lunch, again in the buffet, we went to a classical guitar concert.
The rest of the afternoon I spent grading papers. Yes, I am teaching thee classes this quarter—online, obviously. The quarter started the week we left on the cruise. What a lovely setting to grade, however. There are many locals throughout the ship to relax with my computer.
Before dinner, we attended the afternoon Trivia. We paired up with new people. The questions are hard, and we are very mediocre. But it is fun. Dinner was very nice. Then we went to the show which was impressive. It was Jeff Newman, a “Mentalist.” I was amazed at what he did and kept looking for clues but found none.
