On May 14, 2022 Grayden and I flew down to Ft. Lauderdale to board the Queen Elizabeth. Our grandson took us to the airport bright and early. Thank you, Samuel! The last couple of years have put the breaks on our travel wishes. As I've mentioned before, our most recent trip was canceled. Not due to Covid, but the world situation. So we happily booked a trip closer to home. We both are four times vaccinated and tested negative 2 days prior to our embarcation as is required by Cunard. We both always wear masks inside of stores, etc. So masked up we landed in Ft. Lauderdale and in a few hours later boarded the beautiful Queen Elizabeth!
We/I really love traveling onboard a ship. I was really looking forward to no cooking, no cleaning, no worries for 30 days. Every passenger was required to wear a mask inside of the ship. This certainly made us both feel safer to travel now.
The Queen Elizabeth is a lovely ship that is practically identical to Queen Victoria. So we immediately felt at home and began enjoying all the wonderful relaxing times onboard.
Our first port of call was Grand Turk in the beautiful blue Caribbean. We decided to take an excursion to enjoy a day at the beach.
The warm water was refreshing on this very hot day in spite of the coral that filled the shoreline.
A lovely barbeque was included in our excursion.
In 1962 Astronaut John Glenn splashed down near the island of Grand Turk after orbiting the earth three times during the Mercury-Atlas 6 mission aboard the Friendship 7 spacecraft he named. He was rescued by the USS Noa that was in the area.
There are many wild donkeys and horses on Grand Turk. They used to be used in the salt industry on the island. We saw them everywhere!
Heading back to the ship we see that islanders pay a premium for gasoline.
Grayden and I enjoyed our time visiting Grand Turk.
Thank you for coming along with us as we remember our trip on Queen Elizabeth. Our next port of call is Aruba. Do join me!
I've always wanted to do something like this! It looks divine!
ReplyDeleteJeanie, we feel so blessed to travel. It was divine, mostly.
DeleteI’m so happy that you were finally able to enjoy travel by ship again! I applaud the actions Cunard takes to ensure the health and safety of its passengers!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nellie. You understand Cunard standards well.
DeleteI'm always amazed when I see the waters of the Caribbean, so bluish green. The barbecue sounds delicious. And I like that yellow house with the red flowers. A wonderful trip, Martha Ellen. That was so nice of Samuel to take you to the airport. That's one less thing to worry about on a vacation. ; )
ReplyDeleteHappy July days, Martha Ellen.
~Sheri
Sheri, getting to the airport in our area can be difficult especially because we were gone for so long. So we did appreciate Samuel taking us there. Thank you for stopping by. I've missed you!
DeleteHow absolutely wonderful! So glad you and Grayden had another wonderful vacation, and am looking forward to more splendid photos! Very happy you are back! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to be back home, Denise. There has been a lot to catch up on, but we are so glad we went.
DeleteSo pleased you were able to get-away.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photographs you've shared, and I look forward to more on your next post.
Happy July wishes.
All the best Jan
Jan, it's been one of the hardest things about Covid, not being able to travel. Happy July to you as well!
DeleteHow special to get away and enjoy yourselves. Loved seeing your travel photos. Aruba is beautiful. I visited there years ago. Happy travels.
ReplyDeleteLinda, it was good to travel again. Thank you for your visit.
DeleteYour accommodations certainly look comfy! I don't know if I'd enjoy a cross-Atlantic trip on a ship, but having many ports of call would really make the trip much more interesting. I look forward to more posts on your trip!
ReplyDeleteCathy, this trip had many interesting stops. I'm glad you will come along with me.
DeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rajani.
Deletehappy for you that you feel comfortable enough to travel once again. I think you are collecting Queens! You have a little book somewhere with your tick boxes marked as you bag another one!
ReplyDeleteCollecting queens-lol. I do like to escape every now and then, though. xoxo
DeleteAah the ocean looks inviting. Look forward to Aruba. Beautiful pictures!
ReplyDeleteThe ocean always calls me, Betsy. Thank you.
DeleteFirst of all, I am so happy for you and Grayden that you were able to travel . . . on a cruise no less! I know you were in your element! That is a fabulous photo of you. You look beautiful and happy!
ReplyDeleteInteresting facts you shared about Grand Turk. I always learn so much from your posts. I just stopped Ron and Bekah as they were watching (another!) Rockford Files episode so that I could share those tidbits with them. And we all gasped at the price of gas.
I will join you in Aruba!
Cheryl, we were both so happy to finally travel. We are as young as we are going to be, so now is the time for us. Thank you for your sweet comments, my friend.
DeleteWe were shocked when we saw the price of gasoline in Grand Turk! We used to love watching the Rockford Files. I'll have to tell Grayden that we may be able to find reruns. There certainly is little else to view on TV!
See you in Aruba!
Looks like a nice adventure with plenty of sunshine! Glad you could go.
ReplyDeleteWe had a great variety of weather on this trip, Ellen. We were happy to go as well.
DeleteWhat a lovely room! I don’t think I’ve ever heard of the Grand Turks! Interesting place to recover a spaceship and astronaut!
ReplyDelete