Marcy and Jakob aboard the Queen Mary 2

Marcia arrived home fine, but her luggage lagged behind — still, it was a wonderful trip on the Queen Mary 2

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Well, I am home Queen Mary 2 docked in Red Hook, Brooklyn, early (really early) Monday morning. I flew out of LaGuardia about 3 p.m .Monday afternoon and arrived in Fort Lauderdale about 7. My suitcase did not. The airline delivered it late yesterday afternoon. While I don’t want to sound like a drama diva, the trip ended on the same discordant note with which it began. Thank goodness, my grandson is fine, he is back in …

Read moreMarcia arrived home fine, but her luggage lagged behind — still, it was a wonderful trip on the Queen Mary 2

Delicious food abounds on the Queen Mary 2, in a variety of venues

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Dining is a science aboard Queen Mary 2. It is a popular past time where continental breakfast is available as early as 4 a.m. in the King’s Court and where a late snack is available until 2 am. In between, three meals a day are available in the Queen’s Grill, Princess Grill and Brittania Club as well as the Brittania Restaurant (where I have been seated all week.) Lunch and dinner are available daily inTodd English where …

Read moreDelicious food abounds on the Queen Mary 2, in a variety of venues

On the Queen Mary 2, it is easy to enjoy a day of inclement weather

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Do you think there is something odd about loving gloomy days at with white caps on the water, steady rain and an almost imperceptible roll of the ship. I probably should feel embarrassed, but I truly enjoy crossing the Atlantic in nasty weather. I don’t expect outdoor pool time, I live in Florida and can enjoy an outdoor pool, sun and heat whenever I want to. There is something about bad weather at sea that makes me …

Read moreOn the Queen Mary 2, it is easy to enjoy a day of inclement weather

After three decades of ship travel, Queen Mary 2 may well be my favorite ship

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Queen Mary 2 may well be my favorite ship. After more than three decades of ship travel on oceans and rivers all over the world, this ocean liner (don’t call her a “ship” or, heaven forbid, a “boat,”) seems to really be the epitome of it all for me. This is my third or fourth crossing on QM2, but I sailed on the Queen Elizabeth 2 in the 1980s where I lectured on guidebook writing, again in …

Read moreAfter three decades of ship travel, Queen Mary 2 may well be my favorite ship

The best laid plans…grandson Jakob ends up flying home from London and Marcy boards the Queen Mary 2

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The best laid plans, etc. Or, more simply, stuff happens. I had planned our trip to London and return via the Queen Mary 2 for six months. On Thursday evening, Jakob and I boarded Virgin Atlantic flight 0006 from Miami to Heathrow. We watched movies – with more then 50 to chose from  we each chose ZERO DARK THIRTY, had dinner and flew serenely and comfortably in Premium Economy at 650 mph. We slept and early next …

Read moreThe best laid plans…grandson Jakob ends up flying home from London and Marcy boards the Queen Mary 2

Another grandparent trip: Marcy and Jakob head to London and then sail back on the Queen Mary 2

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Jakob, my seventh grandchild, turned 13 earlier this year. According to Jewish tradition he became a bar mitzvah in early March. My gift to him was to take him on a cruise. Alaska was my initial destination, but the thought of climbing on a helicopter and then hiking on the glacier or white water rafting, was a little more daunting than when I took his oldest cousin on a similar trip 15 years ago. The Dawn Princess …

Read moreAnother grandparent trip: Marcy and Jakob head to London and then sail back on the Queen Mary 2