I don’t know if I mentioned it here, but we elected to get home via cruise ship. One-way airfares to Dallas only cost about $400 per person less than a 7-night mostly-inclusive cruise on the Queen Mary 2, so I decided to take the boat home. One of the things we’ve realized throughout this transition, is that right now we have our (relative) youth, health and time. So let’s take advantage of these facets of our life to do things we might not otherwise do. Bryan hates cruises, so this would never be something he’d enjoy. I am not a virulently anti-cruise, but since he doesn’t like them, I have a hard time enjoying them if he’s with me. So, seeing as I’m on my own with the girls, it worked out perfectly.
We spent the night before the cruise with our friends M and R—the same ones who took us to Corfe Castle. The girls were positively bouncing off walls to see their new friends again and have some other adults to hang onto like spider monkeys.
The next morning, M’s parents drove us to the dock, where we boarded via a surprisingly quick and well-organized three-step process.
All morning, the girls were brimming over with excitement about the cruise. I could only hope the reality didn’t disappoint them.
A chilled split of champagne was waiting for us in the room—nice touch. The room was about the size you’d expect—small for a regular hotel room, average for a New York City room. The low ceilings could have made it nearly-claustrophobic, but it’s furnished with such light, airy colors that it’s offset nicely. The white comforter and pillows were, of course, demolished by disastrous combination of kids and room service trays. But I’m not doing the wash or paying for the bleach, so I’m over it.
Our view left a bit to be desired, but the balcony was worth the extra expense. Over the next few days I appreciated the opportunity to get a full doors-worth of fresh air and have a nice amount of light coming into our tiny room.
The bookstore was the first place where I noticed the presence of memories of the Titanic. I would have thought that the cruise liners would avoid that like Coppolla avoided using the word “mafia” in the Godfather movies. But no. There were several kids’ Titanic sticker books for sale and staff members mentioned the famous wreck (nearing its 100-year anniversary) more than once.
The ship is, huge, but easy to figure out. There are four lettered elevators and 13 numbered decks. We’re staying on Deck 8, right next to elevator B.
If you ever get confused, you make your way to a window, see which way the water’s going and are immediately re-oriented. They gave us handy fold-up maps. A daily itinerary with handy orientation information is provided. Our room steward, Chris, is Filipino. He doesn’t understand quite as much as he lets on. “Yes, yes, okay, I understand, ma’am,” can mean:
· Yes, yes, okay, I understand, ma’am.
· I have some idea what you mean, ma’am, but clarification would be useful for us both.
· I have no idea what you’re talking about, lady.
But the room gets cleaned regularly, he picks up the many room service trays we produce and he hasn’t folded the towels into animals, so I’m good with it.
When we left Southampton, it was sunny…
And gorgeous…
And warm…
And breezy…
And I should’ve taken the opportunity RIGHT THEN to throw on a bathing suit and feel like I was really on a cruise. After night fell, we didn’t have a warm, sunny day again. It wasn’t all rain and cold, but it was never anything less than jacket-weather on deck after that. Truthfully, this was fine, there was plenty to do (or plenty of areas to hole up and read or write, I should admit).
Shuffleboard hopscotch was great fun.
We dwarfed this giant container ship. All sense of perspective is lost on the Queen Mary 2.
Goodbye Southampton.
Helena found a stowaway.
Stupidly, I tried to explain what a lifeboat drill is to the kids. They were both incredibly fearful of it after this. It took me about 15 minutes of explaining and cajoling to get Olivia to stop crying. Her fear infected her sister’s and it was messy for a while there. Eventually, I realized that she thought we’d have to climb over our deck’s rail to get in the lifeboat and actually get lowered down into the ocean. When I said that wasn’t what we were going to do, she was unconvinced. When the captain made the announcement to explain what was going to happen, fresh tears appeared. When the actual alarm was sounded (an innocuous-sounding series of seven short blasts, followed by one long one), she cried again. But once we got into the muster station (buffet seating area), they both calmed down.
Back in our cabin after the drama, we discovered that we had brought a stowaway on board! Stowaway Wabbit was a plastic pirate that kept house in M and R’s fruit bowl in Southampton. The kids spied him, to their great delight, at breakfast. He wrapped himself in a note and jumped into our luggage that morning, apparently! Cheeky rabbit!
He enjoyed the remainder of the champagne after we’d left the cabin, apparently.
We stopped by the ship’s bell.
Apparently it’s run every day at noon, but I’m always picking the kids up the from the day care center at that time, so I never hear it.
The perfume shop on board has this terrific display. Well, it’s terrific if you’re five, I guess. I was ordered to put this photo on my blog, so here you have it, demanding reader.
They also have balloons…
… which they give out to little girls.
Room service rocks! The toast was warm. The eggs were hot. The Caesar salad is TERRIFIC!
These seasickness pills are amazing. We’ve had rolling seas a lot and I know I’d have been sick if I hadn’t been taking these. One night, I had to bring Helena to the ship’s doctor for a stronger medicine. It was the 45 worst minutes of the trip. She didn’t get sick, but she was clearly miserable. But, we got the stronger meds and after that night, it’s been almost like a millpond. Whatever’s in Stugeron, I’m giving it to Helena the next time we fly or do a long drive.
To say the girls love the daycare is a ridiculous understatement. They do three shifts a day with more-or-less organized activities based on a daily theme. I drop them off at 9 and pick them up at noon. After lunch and some relaxation or a nap, I drop them off at 2 until 5. They grab a quick dinner and rush back at 6 and stay until I pick them up. After all that, they still whine that I’m “too early,” every time I pick them up. I’m trying to not get a rejection complex about it. And yes, the time alone has been nice. I’ve gotten some good Zumba workouts on deck (just me and my IPod, I draw quite an audience). I’ve done a lot of reading. I’ve sipped a lot of cups of afternoon tea.
But occasionally I get lonely. Last night I choked down the first hour of the Meryl Streep film “The Iron Lady” before its maudlin theme got to me and I walked out. I got the kids and took them back to the cabin, where they insisted on watching “Gnomeo and Juliet.” Oh well, at least we were together. And with the headphones on, I was able to watch TV adjacent to them while they enjoyed their movie. Ah, togetherness.
For Pirate Day, the girls got eye patches and scars. Here they are looking as fearsome and vicious as they know how.
One afternoon, I discovered the Winter Garden.
I let the kids shoot a few pictures of their favorite parts of it one night while waiting to check them into the day care center.
The tubes that lead the water down are periodically shut off, so the rain sounds change from torrent to trickle—it’s a nice effect.
The deck chairs are often damp and chilly, but they still look inviting.
The décor ranges from luxurious to ridiculous. The kids love the continent themed walls near the main restaurant. Here, they’re being afraid of the crocodile in Egypt.
Hand sanitizer stations are set up in front of each restaurant—a constant reminder that frequent hand washing (and a daily Imodium tablet) is smart on any cruise ship.
As many common areas as possible are arranged in the hallways next to the windows. Board games flank one deck. The restaurants all have great views, of course. Even the doctor’s office had a great view. I’m surprised how much natural light they’ve managed to get into this ship. It’s really pleasant.
I’ve yet to skulk my way into one of the really nice chairs in the library, but I’ll get there someday, I hope.
While wavy, it’s been clear until this morning. But I’ll take this fog and the calm seas we’re having over the clear-sky/crazy waves from two days ago anytime!
