www.cunard.com/en-gb/cunard-stories/captains-log-february-2024
Cunard’s SS China in 1871
My good friend Christopher Green emailed me tonight. He is reading a book by a Mr WF Rae published in 1871. Mr Rae was intending to travel by train from New York to San Francisco. To get from Liverpool to New York, Mr Rae sailed on Cunard’s SS China.
Chris only sent me a copy of Page 3 of the book but Mr Rae’s thoughts about deckchairs, seating in the saloon for dinner and the costs of Cunard’s Atlantic voyages are intriguing!
QUEEN ANNE – her Maiden Voyage
She had arrived at last!
The transport arrived on time. Jane Strother to drive the adapted Peugeot and Shaun of Radio Taxis with his massive van to carry me and all the equipment.
We were soon on our way. The two drivers chose completely different routes but arrived at the Mayflower Terminal at exactly the same time.
There were hoards of people queuing to get into the terminal. The wheelchair helps to get you to the front, and after some cross examination about whether we had completed the wheelchair forms correctly, we were through to security.
You know the form – laptops out the bags, Rolexes off and disappearing into boxes worryingly going in different directions to you and your trousers round your ankles because the belt has been removed. And then the hassle of recovering them all and getting dressed while others behind want you out the way.
But the whole process was almost painless, even for an irritable old man who thinks he ought to be first on board.
Then the young man greets you as you step aboard Cunard’s latest ship Queen Anne
More tomorrow!
Queen Anne
A new Cunarder. It’s nearly 14 years since the maiden voyage of the last one, Queen Elizabeth, so for us this is something memorable. The first voyage that Jane and I took together was the maiden voyage of Queen Mary 2 in 2004. We also managed to get cabins aboard the maiden voyages of Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth but we knew this new ship would be different – this was designed for a new generation.
We found our cabin very easily. An adapted wheelchair cabin on deck 5 on the starboard side of the ship. It is just round a corner from Kim’s cabin so it is perfect.
I’m afraid that the blog and the blogger are having problems at the moment. The computer systems on the ship are highly sophisticated and it may be a few days before the blogger can resume normal service.
Be patient! He will be back!