moggi1964

I guess NJ has a pretty big Expat population given its proximity to NYC.

Britwhore, yes, an easy journey to the ship for us as Englishmum described.

Daisy09, sorry to hear it isn't working out for you on your return to the US. I'll be sure to share our QM2 experience next year so you have something to consider as an alternative to flying, should you choose to go back home.

jemima55

Hi Britwhore, just popping in! I just wanted to add that I always enjoyed the "star guests". We sailed back in 2010 for a holiday, and P D James, the crime writer and Dr Ruth Westheimer the sex therapist, were on the ship, giving talks. I'd have given anything to have dinner with those two!

lf1

. We had "Pudsey" the celeb dog. Glad we didn't have dinner with him as I am not partial to dog biscuits and kibble, although, I do love dogs.

Englishmum

I would have like to have been on the QM2 to see Sting in concert on the QM2 (which he's recently done):

Sting performs songs from his musical The Last Ship on Queen Mary 2 | Daily Mail Online

We didn't get really famous celebrities on our crossing....there was a chap who had some connection with the Football Association (think he was formerly the Chairman or/and on the governing board) a Yorkshireman who gave some very good lectures on the founding of the Welfare State; I was surprised that many Americans came along to those

Also there was an author (I've totally forgotten his name) who is apparently well known for his books on Spies, so he gave a couple of speeches about MI5 and MI6, spying operations and traitors like Kim Philby etc. and that was very interesting too.

Englishmum

Blimey, I remember her being on lots of talk shows (eg. Parkinson) in the late 1970s/early 80s. She was/is a tiny, eccentric Jewish lady and seemed quite old even then.

OK spill the beans.....I bet her talks were packed out, but the thought of the elderly passengers listening to Dr. Ruth for tips for spicing up their love lives isn't exactly palatable lol!

What was Dr. Ruth talking about? Did you learn anything?

britwhore

Yeah Pudsey the dog wasn't a great celebrity guest AND he got to sleep in the cabin not the kennels....unfair! Hopefully we'll have some decent speakers on the next one. It will be nice to do the sailing without the fog of stress and tiredness. I can actually enjoy it and take advantage of all the things the QM2 has to offer. Also it will be lovely to do the sailing with my Mum.

jemima55

English mum, re Dr Ruth, people were whispering under their breath "How old is she?"
One of her talks was "Sex for the over fifties". Sex? Some members of the audience were barely mobile! She was a a game girl, though. She must be one of those people who always looked mature because she looked the same as always, and very tiny!

spouse of scouse

I'm loving reading these posts about the QM2, even if I am a little, well, green

Perth Home School - really?! You're going to go home on the QM2? How very excitement!!

Englishmum

maddie1959

Hi, I don't know how I ended up here was looking up transferring pension etc but happy I did .
i had never thought of going home this way .I have been in Canada for 35 years ,seriously thinking of going home to live in may\ june 2015.
worried about taking my cat and luggage on plane ,maye QE2 is a better option, any info on this would be great, price etc .

Also very concerned about returning to England after so many years here , i'm now 55, I work as a behavioural specialist with children and youth , don't know if my degree is enough there any ideas one this would be great.
I originally come from Hull dont really want to settle there, but the south seems so expensive. Any and all feedback would be welcome .
thanks

not2old

is it possible to sail luxury from Australia to the UK (and the cost) - sort of a reverse "ten-pound pom" only with more class?

Now that would be a journey of a lifetime, after all, its only money

added ...

http://www.cruiseaway.com.au/special...?sd=08/03/2016

http://www.cruiseaway.com.au/special...?sd=15/05/2016

not2old

of course one must add one of these to the 'bucket list' as a journey of a lifetime

Paris-Budapest-Bucharest-Istanbul

Perth

Well...I like the idea of it. But OH knows nothing of this yet. We shall have to see.

spouse of scouse

Alright me old mucker? Yes, we can catch a QM2 Perth - Southampton leg of a world cruise - soooooo tempting! We fly business class for long hauls, so the price to go by sea isn't that much different to airfares (would that it was 10 quid, though!)

It's just impossible for us to make any plans at all at the moment, and it's driving me (and Scouse) crazy. Have to get an insurance claim out the way first as I may find myself the centerpiece of a court trial, and there's no sign yet of when that will happen.

Also, we STILL haven't worked out what to do about Murphy (old furry friend). If he's coming with us, we'd have to book yonks ahead for QM2, and we have no idea of dates yet.

Was thinking that if (if if if if if) the insurance thing is over by March, when QM2 is in Perth, it would be nice to go that way for a holiday. But then, we'd be away for yonks and it's hard to get a house and dog sitter for that amount of time (we wouldn't put Murphy in a kennel).

To cut a long story short, we're currently snookered. Stuck, we're stuck!

P.S. - I might have unintentionally fibbed about the QM2, it might be Queen Victoria. It's some bloody Queen, anyway.

spouse of scouse

Pffft, he can mind his own business, just book it

Nice to think about anyway!