Greetings!
As I’ve excitedly told my mentors on this site, I flew over Dubai enroute from Goa to LGW on Monarch yesterday (19 May). Once the captain announced the route, I was on tenterhooks. From Muscat to Dubai the view from 37.000 feet was absolutely clear with the yellow sands of the desert dominating. Then we got there. And sadly I was on the WRONG side of the aircraft. If you Google a map of Dubai, you can see that the aircraft must have flown along the line of the runway at DBX airport. I was seated in 14K (starboard window seat ) just ahead of the engine on the AB330. I could clearly see Khalid Port and the Al Mazmar lagoons, and although it was on the port side, I could see Palm Jumeirah reflected in the engine cowling. Had I been on the port side I reckon I would have just have been able to see Port Rashid and the old lady. Curses that I missed her, but as Rosie wittily said, “QE2 must have seen you”, and yes Rosie, that does make me feel better! One thought ... with such dry air surely any worries about damp and leaks must be unlikely at present as there was no sign of humidity in the really clear air.
Anyway to get over my chagrin, I reckon it’s time for another Queet ...
Part 4 ~ The visit: Boarding the Queen
August 1997
Our appointed Ship’s visit day arrived. We presented ourselves at the transit office on time and so did Sarah.
“We’re going to see Cruise first”. she announced.
I’d done my homework by then and I knew that Cruise was the name for entertainments staff on board ships, and CD was Cruise Director, the boss. Cruise’s role was to supply an endless programme of activities, music and dance and sports on board ship to keep the passengers amused. Much was done by the Cruise staff themselves, but this was considerably boosted by specialist lecturers and artistes, who were engaged by the shipping line’s shore staff. Cooking Demos were often performed by the QE2’s own cooks, but not always. My specialisation (of curry demos) put me in the category of part ‘entertainer’ or lecturer, on the other hand a cook. Of all those engaged by a ship, the cooking demonstrator is one of the most complex from the point of view of fitting in with the ships’ personnel. I’m not denegrating it, (because I added on board slide show lectures to my QE2 repertiore in 2006) but a lecturer simply walks into a theatre and plugs up the computer and talks through a slide show; a musician / dancer/ comedian etc simply does her/his act and job done. A cooking demonstrator has to organise the procurement of food, its placement in the right place, the delivery of said demo in the allotted time, and the enablement of all passengers, should they so wish it to taste said cooking demonstrator’s food. Such an enterprise requires the co-operation of a number of ship’s departments, and not inconsiderable tact from the demonstrator to achieve said co-operation. Add to that the fact that on board ship, the floor literally moves, which as we were to find later on becomes a fairly huge challenge.
Sarah walked and talked fast, and we were hard pressed to take in the sights and facts. We entered the QE2 Terminal building. Sarah flashed her pass and security opened a pass door, with “allo Sarah”. We took a staff lift up to the first floor to the departure lounge, by-passing the normal passenger entry route.
“There are big crew change overs today”, said Sarah brightly. “The Captains, Engineering, the Hotel and most of the Cruise staff including the Cruise Directors are all changing over. “
The ship was getting closer through the lounge windows.
Excitement more than tingled ... it was almost explosive.
Wow ... she’s HUGE.
Now all we could see was the navy blue hull.
We were at the boarding gangway. More security checks and more “allo Sarah” from landside security.
“Your’s mate, please”.
I was frozen with anticipation. I was about to board the most famous ship in the world.
“Sir. your pass please”.
Sarah was halfway across the gangway, but turned back to see why I was not behind her.
“Are you OK” , she asked.
“Sir”? , said security.
“Oh yes! Sorry ... I was just .. well ... here’s my pass”.
“OK mate, thought you’d changed your mind.”
Across the gangway, we were met by the ship’s own security, in this a man in a smart uniform whose fit appearance screamed frequent workouts.
“Allo Sarah”, he said. I wondered if ‘allo Sarah’ would be the limit of ship’s conversation.
“He’s the master at arms”, she confided, and seeing my blank looks, she said “Head of security. Awesome man ... he used to be a marine. And this is the Midships Lobby.”. Without time to admire this cathedral of naval architecture, we were in an elevator.
“We’re meeting Elaine. She’s the number 3 in Cruise. She’s the Social Hostess.” Sarah emphasises S-o-c-i-a-l H-o-s-t-e-s-s, her voice showing a touch of awe as she name-dropped the most powerful woman on the ship. “She’s meeting us in the Queen’s Room.”
And there she was.
