From todays nautical information made available to passengers in the “Daily Programme”:
“During the Day QM 2 shall steer firstly a south westerly course, crossing over Brown Banks,
then Georges Banks. We will then sail a westerly rhumb line course to New York, southeast
of Nantucket Island and enter the westbound traffic line leading to New York.
By 3:45 tomorrow ( 19.9. ) morning we will be entering the Sandy Hook pilot boarding area,
marking the traditional end of the Atlantic passage. A local harbour pilot will board at this
position, assisting us through the Ambrose Channel and underneath the Verrazano Narrows
Bridge, which our funnel will clear by approximately 4 meters. We then manoeuvre to come
alongside Brooklyn’s Red Hook Terminal for 6:30, opposite Governors Island."
It was a gorgeous day whereby it didn’t look like this initially. After my gym routine at around 7:00
it was still very foggy and breeze and only about 1 ½ later it started clearing up turning then to
bright sunshine with a very moderate wind.
The perfect setting for a last day at sea or a last full day on the QM 2.
Some deckchair lounging to get the sun tan even darker. Whilst doing this a whale was passing,
jumping out of the water. Unfortunately I couldn’t get my phone out that quickly to take that picture.
Disembarkation luggage labels have been delivered to my stateroom together with precise details
how and when to disembark. Quite a logistic challenge for the crew as 2760 passengers have to
disembark in N.Y. Luggage needs to be packed and put in front of ones room tonight by latest midnight.
So far the disembarkation details.
Three events have been highlights for me:
- meet the captain Kevin Oprey for a book signing event. I bought a book about QM 2 which he signed
with a personal message
- attended a very interesting lecture about the QM 2 whereby I learned that in addition to the mentioned
number of passengers a crew of 1245 is taking care of the ship and it passengers. Amazing.
I also learned that the official name of the ship is “ RMS Queen Mary 2 “. RMS being the abbreviation
for “Royal Mail Ship”, a title the QM 2 inherited from the original QM which was carrying mail at the time
for the Royal Mail. QM 2 is still having it’s own postmark and the typical Royal Mail Letterbox is standing
in the Grand Lobby.
- before enjoying for the last time dinner in the Britannia Restaurant I enjoyed a pre-dinner show in the
ship’s Royal Court Theatre featuring the Roal Cunard Singers and Dancers and the instrumentalist
Michael Grant. A perfect event to finish the day.
But stop: first of all: packing and making the luggage ready for been taken away tonight.
Then: changing the clock back by one hours and setting the alarm for 3:45
Why: I want to be on deck to see us sailing under the bridge, followed by passing the Statue of Liberty
of the port side and finally reaching the terminal.
Breakfast at 6:30 and then I will make my way to my assembly point to be ready for my disembarkation
slot of 8:40 followed by immigration and customs procedures.
A shuttle bus will then get me straight to La Guardia from where I will be catching a flight to Detroit.
Good night !
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