Marlene Dotterer's Blog, page 77

#Titanic Memorial Cruise: Almost There

April 14, 2012

We are almost there. I don’t know our exact schedule, but I believe we are planning on being in place over Titanic’s wreck site by ten o’clock tonight. Today’s schedule of lectures, classes, and games matches all the other sea days, but already you can feel the difference on board. People are quieter. More reflective. We are beginning to ask, “Are you honoring a particular person?” “What are your plans for the service?” “Where will you be tonight?”

The answers are as diverse as w...

#Titanic Memorial Cruise: The Food

Here is my obligatory post to whine about the food I’m having to eat.

This is my first cruise, but I know people who’ve been on several, and the common theme is, you could eat yourself to death on the fantastic food that’s always available.

I don’t know if those reports were exaggerated or not. On this cruise, I have noticed the food is not available all day. For instance, when I get peck-ish in the middle of the afternoon (because I skipped lunch), there is no food to be found. So I’ve learned...

#Titanic Memorial Cruise: Making Progress

April 13, 2012

I’m happy to report that we’ve had two days of unremarkable sailing toward our destination. The weather is decent – partly sunny, sometimes fog, but only a bit cool during the day. I’ve found it possible to go outside without even a sweater, as long as I stay out of the wind.

There’s a routine on board, and we’ve settled in. We have breakfast, then take a walk on the deck outside. Four laps is a mile. That’s not a lot of exercise, but we do get more running up and down stairs and...

#Titanic Memorial Cruise: Shake, Rattle, and Roll

April 11, 2012

What news are you getting? What's the trend? Are the blowhards smirking yet, about tempting the fates, and mocking us for attempting this cruise?

I'm not going to try and defend my position, partly because no matter what happens, I will not be convinced that the universe (or ghoddess forbid, some insulted deity) is going to sink this cruise just to prove a point.

But perhaps we've had more than our share of mishaps in just a few days of cruising.

We had a late start at the...

#Titanic Memorial Cruise: What Can I Say About Cobh?

Did you see it on the news? We don't have much internet connection on board, so I don't know if it showed up on YouTube or anywhere else. I hope so. I hope you get to see it.

It was humbling. It was inspiring. It was very exciting.

We were in the Morning Light Lounge visiting with Facebook friends Rikke and Brenda, when we spotted land. Everyone knew this meant we'd soon be arriving in Cobh, so we all scrambled for jackets and cameras and met again, outside. The ship was passing into the...

Titanic Memorial Cruise: The Rest of Day 1

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Wow.

I could end it right there, and that would pretty much sum up the whole day. But I'll be merciful, and tell you a little about it.

The check-in terminal at the Southampton Pier was a scene not uncommon in Titanic's time. A cavernous room filled with people in queues and bunches, all manner of dress, children running around, the odd dog or two, and baggage of all kinds.

But there was more: A strings quartet played early 20th century music in one corner. Another corner...

Titanic Memorial Cruise: It All Begins

Note: I'm writing my posts ahead of time, and posting them as I get a chance. If it sounds like I'm playing catch-up, I probably am. – Marlene

Sunday, April 8, 2012

It's boarding day and I am all nerves. This is my first cruise, and I have only a general idea of what will happen today, based on TV, movies, books, and first-hand reports from others who have done it. My own experiences with airports, bus stations, and subways also provide a basis to build upon. But I remain uncertain.

This will a...

They Only Do This on Sitcoms

Our travel genie was in a mischievous mood yesterday. We were scheduled to check out of our B&B, hop on a "coach" (bus) to Southampton, and check into our hotel, to await Sunday's embarkation onto our cruise ship.

Easy, right?

We are planners, and we try to plan for contingencies. One might even accuse us of carrying this to extremes. Rick is a master at imagining every possible disaster, and creating a Plan B – just in case. I'm not as obsessive as he is, but I've had reason to be grateful...

Grab Your Broomsticks. Wands at the Ready.

 You didn't think we'd come to London and not trace the footsteps of Harry, Hermione, and Ron, did you?

Not us.

And while the street scenes didn't look exactly like they do on-screen, we had fun, anyway.

Here's Diagon Alley:

and our guide:

More fun tomorrow, outside of London. Y'all take care!

 

 

London, Round 3, in Which the Bout is Clearly in London's Favor

I think "tourist" is my hardest job.

This business of walking around all over a city for hours and hours, taking pictures, studying maps, dashing up and down stairways, is exhausting. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Since landing in London, we have run hither and yon without break. We have a rough itinerary planned out, this being our attempt to squeeze as much as possible into our nine days here. We have, more or less, achieved our goals thus far: a bus tour to get the layout…  in-depth v...