Download - New Zealand Automobile Association

TRAVELLER“Cruising retains itssense of occasion andold-world romance.It is nostalgia atits most alive andvibrant and opulent.“PHOTOGRAPHY: CUNARD/H.BARNETT/ K.PUSCHMANNBut this is understandable; afterall, it is called a ‘cruise’ and not a‘rush’. Trying to cram in too muchfeels almost counter-productive, like itwould be missing the point. Instead,over breakfast each morning, weperuse the Daily Progamme, which isdelivered to our room’s letterbox eachday, and mark out the activities we’dlike to get to.One afternoon we visit thePlanetarium and watch the galaxycome to life before our eyes. Anotherafternoon is spent sipping cocktails onsunloungers at one of the four outdoorswimming pools while the bandVibz provides a Caribbean-inspiredsoundtrack. The one greyish afternoonof our trip we while away with friendsin a booth, in the Golden Lion pub.One of the highlights is spent in thegrand Queen’s Room – the largestballroom on the ocean – where weenjoy the pomp and procedure ofHigh Tea. We manage to snaffle aprime table overlooking the dancefloor where the Adagio String Quartetis tuning up. At 3:30pm sharp a handbell rings out, silencing the expectantmurmurings of our fellow guests.Suddenly, the doors on either sideof the dance floor swing open and aflood of white gloved waiters carryingCLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: QM2 in Sydney;it's a hard life at sea; Commodore ChristopherRynd gives a tour of the bridge; a string quartetaids digestion during high tea; dinner beingprepared in the ship's galley.trays and tea pots come streamingout, as the quartet launches into itsset. We partake heartily of sconesand jam, and cakes and slices, andcucumber club sandwiches, andleave the ballroom quite satisfied anddistressingly full.We also manage to make time for amidday visit to the QM2’s day spa. Weopt for a couple’s ‘Rasul’ treatment.Neither of us know what a Rasultreatment entails but, as it’s one of thefew things in our price range that wecan do together, we book it in.After arriving at the three-level Spaand getting changed into robes, we’reled through the Aqua Therapy Centreand into an egg-shaped, blue tiledroom. It is here we are instructed inthe intricacies and exotic mysteries ofthe Rasul, which can be summed upthusly: get muddy, have a shower...While I enjoy my afternoons, it’s theevenings at sea that are the real treat,when I find myself transported to thatmore civilized age of bygone blackand white romanticism. When royaltyheld court on the high sea, peopledressed up and the big band swunginto the wee small hours.I attribute this feeling largely to thedress code, which is strictly enforcedand kicks in at 6pm on the dot. Afterdark, in port, you can get awaywith ‘elegant casual’, which looselytranslates as ‘tidy’. But, there is nothingloose about the tradition of ‘formalattire’ while at sea; suits or tuxedos forgents, evening gowns for the ladies. Atfirst, this intimidates both my partnerand I, but I quickly grow to appreciatehow much nicer things are wheneveryone visibly makes an effort,while she looks forward to spying themore flamboyantly outlandish dresseson parade.We enjoy some splendid diningonboard and each night bringssomething new and exciting to enjoy:we attend a ball, feast on a sevencourseJapanese degustation, enjoy livemusic and bubbles at an outdoor SailAway party where we farewell the Bayof Islands and, on one raucous night,warble karaoke before going clubbing.These activities are fun, but it’s thesmall moments when I catch myselfgazing out into the distance that thefull pleasure of cruising makes itselfknown. Those times, when relaxingon our balcony or taking a strollaround the ship’s 600 metre outdoorpromenade and I look out and realizethat this vast city of the sea – withall its movement and merriment– is surrounded by hundreds andhundreds of miles of emptiness.I find it peculiarly calming. I findit particularly appropriate. ←VISITOR INFORMATIONFor the Queen Mary 2’s worldwideitinerary, visit www.cunard.comFor travel insurance options, visitwww.aa.co.nz/travelVwww.aadirections.co.nz 67