Thursday May 5th on the Queen Elizabeth

 It’s Thursday morning, we are somewhere out in the Atlantic. The sea is very calm, almost glasslike. After Monday’s nightmare embarkation, I wasn’t feeling very well on Tuesday. Nothing respiratory, it was my old nemesis, diverticulosis, which flares up when I am super stressed. It’s flared up a few times on this trip—bad stomach cramps, tiredness. Which of course makes me even more nervous that this could be some new version of COVID; no respiratory problems, all digestive.

And we are testing again this morning. Just tested actually, about 10 minutes ago. Sitting and wondering if our names will be called on the intercom to go directly to our stateroom. Do not pass go, walk of shame, off to COVID jail (the term the lady on the Queen Mary 2 used) for 10 days. Actually, just after we sat down, they announced the list of names from the last lot of testing before us. We all froze while they read it out, everyone literally stopping in their tracks on the walkways to listen. And then a collective sigh of relief and the wheelchairs start rolling again (see comment a little further.) And this won’t be the end; we will be tested at least once more, either before the ship docks at Port Canaveral or just before docking at Fort Lauderdale. Yep, turns out it was a crazy time to cruise but who knew there would be so many tests or that the COVID rules would be far more draconian on board ship than they are on land. Certainly not us. 

On Tuesday I wasn’t sure I’d feel up to going into Vigo but yesterday morning I felt fine, almost all better: still some stomach twinges but nothing major. Richard hadn’t been sure he’d go because we had spoken to some people who said Vigo was disappointing as far as scenery went. He also didn’t want to pay for any excursions until the morning of when he changed his mind and said, oh why not just pick something, but it was too late to book on anyway. I suggested we just walk off the ship and into the town, so that’s what we did. The weather was beautiful, some lovely architecture and a scenic park. Which was at the top of a hill, a long winding walk. Richard had put his knee brace on and took it slowly. He was uncomfortable by the time he got to the top but he made it. We sat at a cafe for awhile, drinking fresh orange juice and picking at a very strange pastry with sardines that we didn’t realize we’d ordered with the juice but were too polite to say ‘no’ to. And then we slowly stepped back down—loads and loads of steps. 

Richard went back to the ship a little before I did while I did a bit of shopping. Our son-in-law CJ lived here in Vigo about 20 years ago for a summer so I wanted to buy him a t-shirt memento. And I wanted to buy some cans of Pepsi Max, cheaper than on board. Amazing how many of our fellow passengers were loading up with bottles of booze; good times will be had back at certain staterooms? 

Back on the ship it was a lazy afternoon of sitting on the deck in the sunshine, reading, walking around a bit, talking with other cruise passengers. Major topics of conversation always begin with either where are you from and are you taking the whole cruise or COVID testing and the terrible experience on Monday’s embarkation…. I spoke with a couple from London who said they had done their own testing the day before embarkation and were told they’d STILL have to test. I was glad to hear that they had been as nervous and panic stricken as we had.

We then moved on to travel in general. So many people I’ve spoken to on these voyages cruise at least once a year, sometimes more. It amazes me. Also the general health of the people on board this particular cruise is sobering. I would say a good third of the passengers have canes, walkers, wheelchairs. Are bent over with osteo. I spoke with a lady at lunch yesterday who’d taken the bus tour around Vigo. There really wasn’t much to actually see in Vigo if you didn’t get off the bus and walk but she said she’s really not capable of doing much walking. I suppose if that’s the case then cruising is the last thing left to you if you want to get away. Hmmm…. 

Have finished my latest book “Mermaid’s Scream” by Kate Ellis—she always writes such a good story—so went back to the library this morning to see what else might be available. Yes I have books on my iPad but while I have access to a library, why not use it :) The ship really is like another world, much more like a grand old liner than the Queen Mary 2 was actually. Lots of wood paneling and comfortable seating, fewer lectures and things happening like exercise classes and so on. Seems to appeal to that group of people who just like to sit and read, check their emails—people have been learning to congregate where the signal is the strongest, Decks 2 and 3–and people watch.

We listened to a very good piano recital on Tuesday and last night I caught the end of a string trio performance in the main lobby. Perhaps tonight I will feel up to going to hear a musical performance in the theatre onboard. That is if I am not locked up in COVID jail. No word yet but they seem to group their announcements about an hour afterward so who knows. I will put in a P.S. before I actually upload this to confirm that I “passed.” 

Oh that’s the other thing. Internet on the Queen Elizabeth is still as wonky as it was on the Queen Mary 2. A woman across from us just now was complaining because she said she needs to stay in touch with her business. I almost asked her why, if it’s that important, she would cruise with a company that’s known to have not-that-great Internet onboard but instead I made sympathetic noises. Let me rephrase that, the ship’s Internet is awful. They have even closed the computer complaints department down and put it all on the poor librarian: imagine 80-something’s in wheelchairs trying to understand why they are paying $250+ for a service where they can’t send cheery “wish you were here” messages to Mabel next door or Alf across the road? Or to remind Gladys to feed the cat…. I I hasten to say I do NOT pay $250 for Internet, I go for a cheaper version using credits I get because of our previous cruises. I am not THAT addicted. I write all of my correspondence out offline and then just cut-and-paste when I sign on for my next 24 hours of Internet time. But if you actually DO read this message today, May 5th, it will be a testament to my tenacity and ingenuity.

P.S. Unless they are sorely lagging in the announcements, three hours later, our names have not come across the PA system so we can still wander at will around the ship, looking for an Internet signal.