After a bus trip with the New York bus-driver-from-hell, we eventually arrived at the Brooklyn Cunard terminal. What is it about New York bus drivers that makes them persist in slamming their right feet to the floor the moment a light turns green, only to slam on the brakes and send all the passengers hurtling through the windshield at the next red light? Do they teach that in bus driver school?
Anyway, we got to the Brooklyn terminal around noon to check in. Embarkation was similar to checking in for a flight, without the whole "line up like cattle and remove your shoes" part. We were escorted down a corridor and onto the ship, where the Captain and several staff members were there to greet us. The whole process was so much more laid-back and civilized than boarding a flight. If it didn't take 6 days to make the crossing, I'd be tempted to travel this way every time I go home for a visit.
Our view of the Queen Mary from the outside didn't prepare us for how massive the ship really is. To be specific, she's 1132' long, 236' tall and weighs more than 150 tons. And she carries 3000 passengers, which is amazing considering that we rarely found anyplace onboard to be particularly crowded. (Notice I'm calling the ship "she"? Makes me sounds like such an experienced sailor, doesn't it?)
In case you're having trouble picturing such a massive vessel, here's how it compares to some typical vehicles:
According to the Cunard website, the QM2 is as long as 41 double-decker buses, and its whistle is audible for 10 miles. A handy feature, considering that we passed within 150 miles of the place where the Titanic sank.
Once onboard, we found our cabin with the luggage already waiting outside. Usually, this is where I'd show you a photo of the cabin. Any normal traveler would immediately snap a picture of the place they'll call home for the next six days, right? Well, I've never been what you'd call "normal." That's right: the professional scrapbooker forgot to take a single photo of our cabin! Cunard website to the rescue again:
I did, however, take a photo of the endless hallway leading from our cabin.
A couple of creepy twins and a river of blood would just about complete the picture, don't you think? ("The Shining," people. Come on, keep up.)
After unpacking, we explored the ship a bit. Can you believe this is the lobby?
I'm sure you can, since it says "Grand Lobby" in big letters. But it's still hard to believe this is the lobby of a ship, you know? It even had a glass-walled elevator covering all twelve decks.
And here's the main staircase to the shops. Fancy shops, at that. Hermes, Harrods, Chopard...all with the ability to charge purchases to your shipboard account. A girl could go crazy here. Not that I did. I'm just saying.
Let's see: 5-star restaurants, great shopping, a Canyon Ranch Spa, 24-hour food...what more could a girl want? There was even a pub.
Seriously, if I hadn't been dragged kicking and screaming off the ship when we docked at Southampton, I could have lived the rest of my life here. (Note to cabin staff: sorry about the clawmarks on the doorjambs. I'm sure a little sandpaper will take them right out.)
Next time: Leaving New York.
