Marcia Levin in sailing on Cunard’s Queen Victoria on a transatlantic cruise.
It is rainy. dark and gloomy and Queen Victoria is sailing in the Bermuda Triangle. It is also April Fool’s Day. There are no doubt a half a dozen jokes there, but instead of laughing I watch my fellow passengers scurrying to breakfast, to hear a lecture or take a class.
At 10 a.m. passengers head to the theater to listen to Concorde Flight Engineer Ian Smith talk about breaking the sound barrier and the technical challenges of building Concorde. An hour later Astronomer John Parkinson will talk about the sun in history. There are also computer classes and in the Queens Room line dance lessons are underway. Then, too, the bridge class in the Card Room is standing room only. Hard bodies are working out in the gym and shoppers are pondering the advantages of an aqua-banded wristwatch or one in a pretty orange.
Oh sure, this isn’t another day at the pool. There are a lot of pre-lunch and mid-afternoon naps; many women will go to the beauty salon to get their hair and nails done for tonight’s formal night, the Black and White Ball.
The lovely green and white Winter Garden, on Deck 9, will function as a reading room and, yes, many will rest their eyes.
Most of those aboard are veterans of many cruises and crossings and many enjoy the ship for the experience of the vessel itself , yet are ready to sample the many enrichment offerings of Cunard.
Sea days – and there are eight on this crossing – are days to do what you like. You can take classes, read that best seller, play cards with new friends or just sit and watch the ever-changing sea. It’s your call.
Heidi, Editor-In-Chief
