QUEEN ELIZABETH: 02/21/13

Day 2 on board Queen Elizabeth

Dinner last night was delicious, silver cutlery and Wedgewood dinnerware just added that extra touch. The after dinner show in the Royal Court theatre was a welcome aboard show hosted by the Entertainment Director Amanda Reid. It was a sample of what to expect during the next three weeks. Looks really good, and speaking to those who have been on board since Southampton or Los Angeles their comments have been that the shows and entertainers have been some of the best they’ve experienced. There are just over 1900 passengers on board and there are two shows every night for everyone to enjoy.

We stopped by at the Queens Ballroom for a while and enjoyed seeing the ‘Gigolos’’….just kidding….the ‘Gentlemen Dance Hosts’ dancing with women who are travelling without a partner. We counted six gentlemen and they were all much occupied during the time we were watching. I suggested to Roy he could take that up as a new job, to which he replied “It takes me all my time to keep up with you on the dance floor, let alone several women nonstop, one after the other….hahaha.”

Our bed is very comfortable, in fact it’s the best we’ve ever had. What woke us up was a knock knock on the door when our morning wake up tea was brought to us. This is complimentary on Cunard 24 hours a day.

We were already docked when we opened the curtains……didn’t feel a thing. Thank you Captain Chris Wells.

Tauranga turned on perfect weather, blue skies and sunshine all day. After a leisurely breakfast up in the Lido Buffet we went for a little wander around the shops. As we walked out the gates of the port there were plenty of tour operators offering great prices for half or full day tours.

Our friends picked us up and took us to their place for a lovely lunch and catch up. Nothing could beat sitting out on their deck enjoying a nice glass of NZ wine and a lovely lunch looking across the harbour to Mount Maunganui, Queen Elizabeth and the Diamond Princess. How wonderful to have such a view.

Our visit to Tauranga today is a Maiden port of call for Queen Elizabeth. A plaque was presented to the Captain commemorating her first visit.

Well that was fun. We’ve been standing out on our balcony listening to the Queen Elizabeth and Diamond Princess have a horn blowing competition with our tug doing the Falsetto in between as we sailed away. Lots of waving, whistling and singing out could be heard between ships. The crew of the Diamond Princess had a huge white hand which they were enthusiastically waving to us from up on the Bridge. As we departed there were well in excess of a thousand people lined up along the beach and around ‘The Mount’ waving us farewell. Many small craft joined us together with the Pilot boat until the Pilot disembarked the ship from his rope with much cheering and clapping from the guests on board on a job well done.

After all that excitement of the day, it’s now time to relax…...with glass in hand before we get ready for dinner at 8.30….. cheers!