Lovely video and the singing wasn't too bad :wink:

I'm with Terry :D :D The woman just LOVED being there :!: :!: and let it show :D :D

Here is what I have managed to do so far Day 1 We left home at 6.40am and arrived in Preston at just after 7am. The coach arrived on time and we made a couple of stops to pick up more passengers and had a 45 minute lunch break. We arrived in Southampton at about 1.30pm, there were no queues at check-in and as platinum members we got priority check in and embarkation so no waiting around and we were on the ship by 2pm. We went to our cabins and found the first “gift” of the voyage, a certificate signed by the Captain. Went for afternoon tea whilst we waited for the cases to arrive. When we went back to our cabins cases were there so we unpacked and waited for lifeboat drill. After lifeboat drill a mad rush back to the cabins and then up on deck to see the Royal Marines Band. It was well worth the rush as we got a good spot to see the band. We sailed on time and were accompanied by quite a lot of small boats and a fireboat front and rear. At dinner we got the second “gift” a special menu, we got one each night and even a box to put them all in. On returning to the cabin after dinner, we found another “gift” a souvenir glossy booklet about QE2. We had a nice evening and met up with some people from Cruise Critics, nice to put faces to names. Day 2 We spent most of the morning outside watching as we sailed up the coast towards Scarborough. It was very windy, but we managed to find a sheltered spot to sit and enjoy the sunshine. When we arrived in Scarborough we were greeted with fireworks. We got a very good view of the South Bay, but I could not see Alan from the ship. We went in for lunch and then for a bit of retail therapy in the shops. We were back out on deck by a little after 3pm ready for a spectacular arrival into the Tyne. We arrived on time and the Captain made an announcement that we would be turning to starboard and then going seven miles out to sea before turning to starboard again and sailing straight through the entrance. (Well that was the plan.) We were heading for the entrance, but the wind was too high (30 knots) so the captain said he would be turning to port and trying again. After the second failed attempt, we had to go and change for dinner. Third attempt took place whilst we were just about to go in for dinner. We finally made it on the 4th attempt, but two and a half-hours late. We did manage to see the fireworks at the entrance from the dinning room. After dinner we went up on deck and were there in time to see our arrival in Port of Tyne. There were thousands of people lining the river on both sides and lots of camera flashes. Tonight’s “gift” was Carol Thatcher’s book “QE2 Forty years famous”. (Carol Thatcher is the daughter of former Prime Minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher.)

Re video: Some good 'Last night of the Proms music there Stephen.' I think the lady just needed a little more lubrication, but she was braver than Me.! Re report: A good job you wern't flying home, with your extra baggage! All that extra weight.!!!!!!!!!!!! :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

Great, Stephen :D :D :D

Looking foward to the rest of the week :D

Terrific video Stephen.....including the singing :D Thanks for your report so far...am suspecting you received several 'gifts' a day ? Wonderful memories to keep :)

Great review, Stephen! I'm looking forward to reading more! :D Robyn, whatever happened to that video of all of us singing O SOLE MIO in Venice :?: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Is it on a video :?: :D :D :D :D :D Oh please, YES, but I don't think I was there for that :?: BTW, there is even an O SOLO MIO picture on my Prague/Berlin cruise. I'm working on the review, folks, as fast as I can :D

Here is the final part of the report: Day 3 We got on the free shuttle bus to the Metro Station and got the tram to Tynemouth, whilst everyone else was trying to squeeze onto a tram for Newcastle. It was quite cold and windy in Tynemouth but we had a lovely morning looking around and then headed back to the ship for lunch. As we were waiting for the shuttle from the station to the ship, we met a couple who we had met on the ship in 2000. After lunch we took the shuttle bus again to a local outlet shopping village, where I bought a jumper (sweater), well it was cold. That evening, we got a menu commemorating Mauritania, which had left the Tyne on its first sea trials exactly 100 years earlier. When we went to the show that night, we met up with the friends from 2000 and had a good catch up on what we had been up to for the last 7 years. Tonight’s “gift” was a copy of two local newspapers with lots of pictures of QE2 arriving in the Tyne. A little choppy overnight, but not enough to keep me awake. Day 4 South Queensferry, did not make any fuss at all, in fact when we were ashore, most of the shops were not even open, except for the RNLI. Mum bought her Christmas Cards and a Teddy bear. We were not ashore long and then went back to the ship. We spent the afternoon on the ship busy doing nothing. No “gifts” tonight. Day 5 At last a full day at sea. Some interesting speakers, Carol Thatcher, talking about her mother (Margaret Thatcher) and Commodore Ron Warwick, talking about QE2 and the Falklands Campaign. After lunch we met up with some people from Cruise Critic and did what is called a Cabin Cavalcade. This involves having a look at other people’s cabins, as no two cabins on QE2 are the same, this was very interesting. Then a surprise ending, we were invited into the Captain’s private quarters. Day 6 QE2’s 40th Birthday We went ashore after breakfast and it was just starting to rain. A local group was offering free tours of the local area, so we took advantage and off we went. The first stop was a small church with some wonderful stained glass windows (pictures to follow). Then up a large hill where we stopped to admire the view, and it was lovely even if the weather was not too good. The tour ended in the Town Hall where we were given a bookmark and some information on the area. Back to the ship in time for the Red Arrow display, which was incredible. After lunch we went on deck ready to mark the exact time of QE2’s launch at 2.28pm. The launch was marked by 3 cheers and the ships whistle being sounded for 40 seconds, one for each year. The sailaway was quite incredible with thousands of people lining the river and small boats escorting us. Tonight’s “gifts” a copy of the onboard newspaper from 1967 and a the local newspaper. Day 7 An early start to see us dock at the new terminal. Unfortunately, the weather was not very kind to us. We went to meet Alan in Mathew Street and got well and truly soaked through to the skin. Unlike Alan we did not have to get changed in a car park but we did have to go back to our cabins and change before lunch. Following lunch we waited for our transport to the Cathedral for the celebration concert. The concert was just wonderful, there are not words to express just how wonderful. I will post full details of the concert later. After the concert we were taken back to the ship by coach and arrived in plenty of time to change for dinner. After dinner and the show, we went on deck to watch the fireworks. These were very good and the weather was dry and mild. Unfortunately, due to the tides, we did not sail at 11pm as planned. We actually sailed at 3.30am on Saturday, needless to say I did not stay up to watch the sailaway. Tonight’s “gifts” were a glossy booklet on QE2 and a copy of the local newspaper. Day 8 Another nice day at sea, in the morning we had a talk from the former Managing Director of Cunard Line who was responsible for QE2. The afternoon we had a very good talk from Mr Flounder the PR man from Cunard and a presentation on Queen Victoria from Carol Marlow, the current Managing Director of Cunard Line. Tonight’s “gift” was very special one an enamel 40th Anniversary badge. Day 9 It was an early start as breakfast was at 7am, then we sat around waiting to get off. We were off the ship by 9.15am and on our way by 9.30am. A good trip back and we arrived home at 4.30pm.

Thanks for the review, Stephen! I am glad you and Jean enjoyed the cruise! :D

Thanks Terry, it was the best cruise ever!