Moonlit Rail ™

RMS Queen Elizabeth II

Ireland Chronologically
Southampton's waterfront seen from high up on the QE2's deck; England Southampton
Looking down the boat deck of the QE2 Boat Deck
Lifeboat and propellers, seen from below; QE2 Lifeboat
Red Funnel tugboat prepares to maneuver QE2 into Southampton harbor Tugboat
Fuel barge and tug alongside the QE2 Fuel Barge
White deck, red funnel, and deep blue sky behind QE2 Blue Sky
Passengers wave good-bye to friends and family on QE2's pier; Southampton Good Bye
Red Funnel tug pushes QE2 into the harbor from astern Pushing the QE2
Bow of QE2 points into Southampton harbor Heading to Sea
Propeller wash of the QE2 Propeller Wash
Author's stateroom aboard QE2, looking towards bathroom Stateroom
Bed and table in author's stateroom aboard QE2, author in mirror Stateroom bed
Gangway on three deck, QE2, outside author's stateroom Gangway
Looking up the staircase from five deck, QE2 Up from Five
Lifts aboard the Queen Elizabeth II Lifts
Leather panel, depicting sailing ships at sea, on wall of QE2 Leather Panel
Model of the Mauritania outside the so-named dining room aboard the QE2 Mauritania Model
Lounge aboard the QE2, with piano from the Queen Mary Lounge
Interior gangway with seated passengers aboard the QE2 Gangway
Passengers seated in one of the multi-purpose lounge areas aboard QE2 Function Area
The Lido self-service dining area at the stern of the QE2 Lido
Queen Mary display aboard the QE2 Queen Mary
Entrance to the Yacht Club lounge aboard the QE2 Yacht Club
Nightclub/stage aboard QE2 entertains some children during the day Stage
Private first class sun deck, QE2 The Other Half
Fine china and accessories for sale aboard the QE2 Shopping
The "Chart Room" lounge aboard the QE2 Chart Room
Gangway with pleasant sitting area, QE2 Gangways
A second-class dining area aboard the QE2 Second Class
The "Mauritania" dining area aboard the QE2 Mauritania Dining
Typical Mauritania-class dining table aboard the QE2 Dining Table
Another ship plying the Atlantic is spotted from the QE2 Distant Ship
The wake of the QE2, trailing off into the distance Wake
Sunrise against the New York coastline, as seen from the QE2 New York Coastline
A red sky turns to gold as the sun lifts higher over New York; QE2 Red to Gold
The bow of the QE2 heads quietly towards New York City's outer harbor Manhattan Ahead
Poorly exposed photograph of Carol and Anne; QE2 Carol and Anne
The sun finally lifts above the New York horizon; QE2 Sunrise
Queen Elizabeth II steams below a bridge en-route for the Hudson; New York Nearing the Hudson
The Empire State Building, NY, as seen from sea aboard the QE2 Empire State

Instead of flying back to Boston, which would have been a dreary end to such a lovely holiday, I opted to go in style - aboard the Queen Elizabeth II. The voyage here in 1996 took five days; a few years later, the voyage was lengthened to six, slowed up to save fuel.

Sadly, I was unaware of the more sublime uses of the candied ginger so elegantly displayed at the entrance to the dining room. Not even the Dimenhydrinate tablets would help. So save your truly from ignomineous demise required a shot in the posterior whose effects — or should I say, "side effects" — would last four days; I spent most of my time sleeping. Ah, the pictures that could have been otherwise...

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