The Port of Los Angeles at San Pedro, California. Although not the largest port in the world by any means, the Port of Los Angeles is among the largest. The Queen Victoria docked at the same pier on the World Cruise in 2009 as she did when we boarded her in February 2011. Carol Anne took this photograph of the Port from the deck of the Queen Victoria in January 2009.
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LOS ANGELES
On February 17, 2011, we boarded the Cunard Queen Victoria in San Pedro (Port of Los Angeles) and set out for 14 days to four Hawaiian islands and Ensenada, Mexico – ending our journey right where we had begun in Los Angeles.
The Queen Victoria's Cunard funnel. Cunard is both proud and anal about the funnels on her three ships and passengers sailing Cunard ought to climb up and have a closer look. They are handsome and closer up they are a bit different than one might expect. Go look.
We were back not only on a ship that we knew well, but also living in the same cabin where we have lived in from Singapore to Southampton in 2009 (Cabin 7125). We liked the location of the cabin — four floors above the Britannia Dining Room (Deck 2 and 3), and two floors below the Lido buffet (Deck 9). Not the cheapest cabin on board (low decks and inside cabins are substantially less expensive), we liked the cabin’s outside deck and location.
BAD BEHAVIOR TUTORIAL
Checking out places where you do not belong.
The Victoria only has two classes and you’re going to want to see both. By far the largest class, with a wide range of fares and cabins, is “Britannia”. The other class is “Grills” (Princess Grill and the more expensive Queen’s Grill). The Grills are today’s “First Class”.
The Grills cabins are scattered in among the Britannia cabins so having a look in them is a piece of cake. Slow up when the rooms are being cleaned, or step in while the cabin stewart is cleaning the room and ask “Is suchandsuch here?” If they aren’t — and they shouldn’t be — glance around, apologize and retreat to the hallway. If, geech!, the resident is in his/her cabin, apologize profusely “I thought Melba and Ned had this cabin — I’m so lost! I’m so sorry!” Apologize profusely, glances around and clear out.
The prime difference between Grills and Britania is access to a private dining room and other Grills private areas, to include the veranda, on Deck 11. The Deck 11 amenities are accessible by a specially keyed Grills card which can be used on some, although not all elevators. Obviously you do not have a Grills access card, so just ride up with someone who does, or just walk up from Deck 10 to Deck 11. To walk up, you will have to ignor the signs which say “Grills only”, not a moral issue for me, although it may be with your wife.
Sniffing around up in the Grills works fine on the first day or so; your presence confuses them and they’re not sure who you are, especially if you act like you belong, keep moving briskly but deliberately and make friendly eye contact with everyone (“hi! — how’s it going?” — keep blathering).
The same poking around in places you do not belong also applies if you want to walk the Burma Road on Deck 1. Here, instead of acting like you belong, you will plead ignorance and confusion if you get caught or challenged. “Where am?” “Is there medical centre somewhere around here? Yes, it is. If confronted, turn around looking at this thing and that. But until confronted, walk smartly, deliberately and always make eye contact and speak with everybody. Do not act confused unless confronted. Act confused and you’ll be confronted immediately by people who want to help. You do not want help. Cruise on by saying “how are you?” or “good to see you!” and nodding, as if you have ever seen these people before in your life.
Now. There is a chance they will nab you, but probably not. If they do, you’ll have seen most of what you wanted to see anyway.
What they won’t do is throw you off the ship or sic those US Transportation Security Agency bulls on you — short of that, who cares?
GRILLS verus BRITANNIA
The problem we have with the Grills, besides the added expense, are two-fold:
First, in Grills we could either be served in our cabin or dine in the elegant, small, Grills restaurant on Deck 11. In Grills we would not be eating in the Britannia where we love the diversity of people who wind up at our table (we always choose a table for eight).
Second, while Cunard rightly prides itself on its Grills service, the problem is we’re Americans. To be cared for 24/7 in this manner, even if we could afford Grills (and we can) it is just too much of a bygone era for us — charming, yes, but vaguely embarrassing. Even those who book Grills sometimes flee to the Lido Buffet for a more egalitarian experience.
TRAVELING COMPANIONS
How we came to sail The Queen Vic again
We were joined on the Queen Victoria by old friends, a couple we have traveled the world with. The genesis of this trip was the realization that we had been together in a year and that all four of us wished to spend time together and visit. Traveling to far away places means we have always a week or two together, versus merely a visit of a day or two when we visit homes.
Planning began with thoughts that we would go to New Zealand and Australia. We have been to both places, and our friends had been to neither and wished to go. But as discussion progressed, they began to savor less the prospect of sailing several weeks down, and the prospect of a long flight back. Moreover, they wanted to explore Hawaii and soon enough we found the Queen Victoria was about to chug out there, loop around and return. The duration of the trip (14 days) worked as did the February dates. All four of us liked the itinerary. Moreover, Carol Anne and I loved the idea of sailing again on the Queen Victoria, our home for more than 3 months.
Done!
We booked passage and separately made our ways to Los Angeles. We met up on board the afternoon we sailed.
Old friends, off to see the world again.
THE QUEEN VICTORIA MATURING
No longer New, and no longer in her Terrible Twos
The Vic in February 2011 was just over three years old, versus entering year two when we boarded her in 2009. We had questions. Nothing big …
Had they corrected the minor problems noted elsewhere on this blog that she had in 2009? — Yup.
Would there be any crew on board that we knew? — Yup, yup.
Was the internet still a disaster? — No, but … we’ll explain in a few minutes.
We like this ship or we would not be back on her.
At 90,000 tons she is bigger than the old Queen Elizabeth II, but not huge. We find her roomy, wood paneled, tasteful and relaxed. Carnival Corporation does own her, but they don’t run her like a Carnival ship where women in short skirts work the decks hawking drinks, and gawdy colors jar us. Carnival lets the Brits run the Victoria with all of their mannered refinement and and we love that.
Bottom line? In 2011 we would find the Queen Victoria doing quite well – immaculately maintained, good-to-great food and a fine crew which is ever friendly and attentive. The Victoria is British, and we like the British a lot. We enjoy them and frequently are as bemused by them as they appear to be bemused by us as Americans.
BON VOYAGE
Santa Catalina Island, then open ocean to Hawaii
(Click to Enlarge) The Queen Victoria followed a Great Circle course from Los Angeles to Hawaii heading southerly and westerly.
Four days ahead, Hawaii.
Between Santa Catalina and Hawaii? Nothing.
Free of the American coastal waters, the Victoria’s officers turned the ship onto a Great Circle route, set throttles at 22 knots and for the next four days, sailed alone.
Passengers would see neither ships nor land.
“All Aboard, Cunard” is copyrighted property of Seine/Habour® Productions and Peter Michael Crow, © 2009-2011, all rights reserved.
All Aboard, the Cunard Queens 