Bryan Pearson

Age: Over 50
Occupation: Sales executive
Number of Cruises: Two, plus two crossings from S/hampton-N.Y.
Cruise Line: Cunard Line
Ship: Queen Elizabeth 2
Itinerary: South Pacific

Our second cruise in 4 months, we are addicted and now refer to the QE 2 as "Momma". Can't wait until next January when we shall once again board in Honolulu, where we live, and cruise to New Zealand again by way of Tahiti.

Many of the passengers on this cruise had traveled on the QE2 many times before, in fact several got their gold pins etc. at a cocktail party for Club Members. Quite a few were doing the entire World Cruise, about 5 months, and we envied them but also wondered how anyone could afford that huge sum of money for a pure luxury, non essential, item.

Actually, there is a lady who has been living aboard for over 8 years. She pays a flat rate for an "economy" cabin and seems to enjoy herself hugely, dancing every night with the gentlemen who are hired to entertain single ladies.

We found the food superb in the Caronia dining room, as it was in the Lido for the buffet lunch and midnight buffets. The Lido is so very convenient and one can eat more quickly than in the Caronia, since it is self service. We ate breakfast and lunch there every day and only ate dinner in the Caronia.

Some passengers whined a bit about having four or five formal dinners, tuxedos for the men, but I feel these folks would have been more comfortable on one of the "floating condominium' type ships with the tee shirt and shorts crowd who crave the constant hustle and bustle, cruise directors yelling "everyone in the pool" etc.

Speaking of the pool. We are shellbacks so did not participate in the Crossing the Line ceremony which was very well done and extremely funny. I suppose having a large raw fish rubbed across your hair and then being smeared with some sort of colored cream, before being tossed in the pool, was more amusing to watch than participate in!!

The QE2 is a grand old lady. She is the epitomy of an Ocean Liner and carries herself with dignity and poise wherever she sails. When we crossed the Atlantic last October the seas were quite agitated and there was a lot of wind but the QE2 ploughed through without more than a slight roll at times. In fact, we wouldn't have noticed the roll at all if we hadn't been on the dance floor that morning trying to master some dance steps during the free dance lessons.

Our cabin was a C2 and quite large enough for the two of us. Two large walk-in closets and a huge bathroom. Only complaint was that this cabin had the TV installed on the wall at the side of one of the beds, as opposed to being at the foot of the beds as it was in our cabin on the first cruise. A minor irritation.

We were on 3 deck, a few dozen steps from the flower shop and the launderette. The latter is very convenient, with plenty of washers and dryers and, despite the brochure telling us that soap was available for a small charge, there was ample free soap on hand at all times. I enjoyed the free computer lessons and also being able to send and receive E mails while on board, all incoming E mails are free but there is $5.00 charge to send one.

We found the shore activities quite expensive and did not partake of any of them on either cruise. One negative thing was that, on both cruises, Cunard arranged to arrive at the first port of call on a Sunday (perhaps dock charges are cheaper then?!). This meant that in Bermuda and Pago Pago everything was closed. This was especially annoying as we were not informed of this and took the tender across to Hamilton, Bermuda for nothing. It is a charming and very pretty town with many delightful stores that were all locked up!

Looking forward to 1/26/02.

Bryan Pearson.

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