The invitation had gone out to higher-level members of the World Club loyalty scheme. We arrived as requested at 9.45am and checked-in and got given our special 175 lanyards and passes and then waited to board. And waited and waited.......... Unfortunately with QM2 returning from her world cruise, here were exceptional amounts of luggage to get off and passengers were reluctant to disembark after 3 months on board!
Coffee and biscuits were provided and pillow chocolates with a special 175 logo on were handed out! Eventually we were cleared to go through security but the delays meant we were escorted straight to the Queens Room rather than have time to see the ship, not that that worried me as I have spent four weeks on board this beautiful liner.
Once at the Queens Room we found a table and sipped champagne and nibbled delicious canapés as speeches were made by David Dingle of Carnival UK, Commodore Christopher Rynd and the mayor of Southampton. A celebration cake was cut with Captain Chris Wells assisting a past manager of the Southampton offices.
Then it was time for lunch - a delicious three course meal with wine - plentiful wine - before a presentation of a special Robert Lloyd painting to the City of Southampton.
The final parting gift was a goody bag of the commemorative menu, hard--backed 175 book and a slice of the cake. It was a lovely start to a year of celebrations - which I will be marking by joining Queen Victoria for her cruise to meet her sisters in Liverpool in late May.
That evening the three Queens made a special departure from Southampton, sailing in close convoy out on their next voyages.
No comments:
Post a Comment