Travels with my Wife

Cube Houses Rotterdam

We remain moored in Rotterdam and following breakfast we take the free shuttle bus which is running from outside the cruise terminal to the Markthall. Shuttle buses are running about every 15 minutes and take about 15 minutes with driver commentary on the surroundings. He refers extensively to “livings” – flats or apartments. The Erasmus bridge is one way for cars and buses so we take a slightly longer route across a couple of other bridges to reach our destination.

Even so we had no need to start this early as the Market does not open until 10 so we have time to look at the outside of the Kubuis houses – surely the result of a joke rather than a serious design approach plus a building with all the pipework on the exterior which houses the library (and a Starbucks).

Surfing in the Street Rotterdam

We walk through the Markthall stopping to buy some local cheese and then in the direction of the main shopping area just to see some of the City. In a small cut off the city has placed some water and a wave machine and the local surfers are all practicing their craft on this resource in the bright sun which we have today. Not quite a beach – but earlier the bus driver had pointed out another end of a waterway where a beach is being created in a former port area with diggers and so on at work spreading sand – a little late for this summer but it should be ready for next year!

We wander through the City and then back over the Erasmus bridge to Queen Anne – and soon enough as it is quite warm walking through the city today.

Queen Anne Rotterdam

One delight of Cunard is of course afternoon tea and so to the Queen’s Room at 3 for tea. Sandwiches, cakes and the obligatory scone, jam first and cream to go with the tea all delivered with silver service. Excellent and as it is later than lunchtime ideal for the late dinner we are planning after going to the Bright Lights Society!

Tonight is also gala night – so DJ and dress shirt are donned – the latter with more difficulty than anticipated as it seems I am no longer 16 1/2″ around the collar – doing up top buttons on my old shirts is proving distressing as it seems I have expanded. I do manage it eventually.

We take a drink up in the Commodore Club – deck 14 (there is no 13) forward with a view of the outside world and listen to some jazz before our 19:30 appointment at the Bright Light Society back down deck 2. When we get there we find that the performance tonight is cancelled due to illness – disappointing.

However we determine to simply advance dinner and go to the Queen’s Grill where as it is on the main menu we can have chateaubriand tonight. Another lovely piece of steak and so stomachs sated we retire earlier than planned.

Queen Anne casts off in the middle of the night and commences the return journey to Southampton.

Queen Anne Staircase

As breakfast serving time feels early, especially given the lost hour, we have ordered room service with an omelette and accompaniments which gets the day off to a very solid start. Nicely delivered and a little touch of luxury. We have a decent size couch for two, a rotating single chair and a very solid table. Outside on the balcony are two comfortable loungers and another smaller table.

Various sounds and noises disrupted sleep last night, in particular when I think the engines were working harder than they do throughout most of the cruise – I suspect we were given a specific period to traverse the narrowest section of the English Channel between Dover and Calais. Otherwise given the sailing times on this holiday we are progressing at fairly low speeds. Google reports that the distance is 221 nautical miles (254 land miles). Given that the outward sailing is around 20 hours in elapsed time we are doing little more than 10 knots – Queen Anne is capable of just over 20 knots which is slower than either MS Queen Elizabeth or MS Queen Victoria as a top speed.

Queen Anne Deck 11

Jackie wants to play bingo this morning which is in the Golden Lion, which is forward on deck 2. Once she is there I take myself up to the Terrace on Deck 11 to do some listening and some reading. There is some low level music playing on the Terrace but it is not too intrusive as I am using earphones. Given that the weather is looking good we decide, after taking a light bite in the Carinthia lounge – just to maximise our sampling of all outlets, to return to the Terrace. Notable aspect of our light bite was that the yolk of the egg was still slightly frozen! Although regrettably the sun disappears behind clouds whilst we proceed along many miles of industrial docklands as we head towards Rotterdam.

Eventually we reach our berth which is very conveniently located in the centre of the city, immediately adjacent to the Erasmus Bridge. We are adjacent to a terminal building and can see coaches parked alongside for those going on trips this afternoon. We are taking it easy and I manage to get a booking for the Bright Lights Society which is a second entertainment venue on board. This seems to have limited capacity and books up rapidly but I can get into the earlier session tomorrow evening – although I think I bag the last availability.

We dine in the Queens Grill tonight and then head to the Royal Court Theatre for a stage version of Noel Coward’s Brief Encounter. This stage version was devised by Emma Rice in 2007 and adds some additional detail around the lives of the supporting class plus an express train headed by U class 1638 which is based on the Bluebell so I assume the other trains projected at various points are also from filming at the Bluebell – all very clever. Although filmed in Carnforth station the setting is supposed to be somewhere in Southern England in the early thirties. The locomotive is currently stored awaiting a full overhaul – which will be expensive as it will need boiler and firebox repairs and new tyres.

Tag: Rotterdam

Queen Anne 30.8.24

Queen Anne 29.8.24