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March 26, 2008
Queen Mary 2
You may recall that Chis and I saw Cunard’s three queens here in New York. The Queen Elizabeth 2, the Queen Mary 2, the Queen Victoria, and a lot of rain. Then, when I was out for a run in Aruba, I spotted the Queen Victoria at the dock. It seemed like destiny when, on a lark one evening, I went on Cunard’s website to discover that they had an Easter Getaway from New York to Eleuthra in the Bahamas.
So, we went.
I had great constipation over what to pack. Thursday night was casual elegant (which, by New York standards, can mean just about anything). Friday night was formal (ie. black feckin’ tie). Saturday semi-formal (suit & tie). Sunday casual elegant again.
I ditched my tux when we moved onto Platina, and haven’t replaced it. It was a double-breasted job, and at 5-foot something, made me look short and fat. But I can put a bow-tie with a stunning white shirt and look like the Monopoly guy in a dark blue suit!
Thursday evening’s dinner was a sideshow. Casual elegant included sweat pants, velour track suits, tank tops, and flip flops. Now, I realize that I am bordering on the edge of snobbery, but people, even by New York City standards, tank tops and flip flops are not “casual elegant”.
We made the best of things, and by Friday night’s black tie gala, I felt, despite my funky midnight purple bowtie and stunningly gorgeous white shirt, underdressed. Nevertheless, we were the hottest looking gay couple on the ship. (This isn’t saying much on a ship with 2,700 people).
As things warmed up as we moved south, we were early to the deck chairs for some full-on reading. Soon, we arrived in the Bahamas, and I awoke before dawn to enjoy the sunrise. The ship’s landfall was on the southeastern tip of Eleuthra, about 20 miles west of Little San Salvador. We passed through this very stretch of sea in December 2006 on our way to spend Christmas in George Town, Exuma on Platina. There is a relatively shallow shelf between Eleuthra and Little San Salvador, and I was most interested to see how a ship drawing 25 feet could make it through. To be clear, I was shitting my pants with our 7-foot draft.
The captain went very slowly.
We went ashore at Eleuthra, and when we saw the sea of sunbeds, buffet lunches, macramé pot holders, and beer-swizzling at 11am, we returned to the ship to read quietly in the breeze.
In all, it was wonderful to be at sea, feel the wind, breathe the sea air, and relax a bit. Chis couldn’t check his email on his Blackberry, and my condo worries were far and distant. Our only worry was whether we would finish our books before the end of the cruise, sleep enough, and relax.
We succeeded on all accounts.
BUT, check with me before you decide to go on the QM2. I have important and valuable advice!
Posted by dave at March 26, 2008 08:58 PM