Adventures in aging with intention
The Alphabet Adventures With Nancy Hubbell Fournier (pronounced Fourn yay)
Journey along with our resident humorist Nancy as she embarks on unusual adventures from A to Z. With the alphabet as her guide to new experiences, Nancy rates her excursions as a “Fourn-Yay” or “Fourn-Nay.” Got something fun on your bucket list she should try? We’d love to hear your suggestions at intentfullyfit@gmail.com.
Letter Q — A quintet queues up for an afternoon quest on the Queen Mary
“Who’s up for a cruise? We’ll be back by dinner.”
That’s easy to do on the Queen Mary, an iconic symbol of nearby Long Beach, Calif. In search of a “Q” column, and not wanting to take up quilting, my friends and I embarked on a (stationary) voyage for a day.
With gray, rainy skies and cool temperatures, the weather was downright British, and a perfect accompaniment for our adventure.
The five of us (Sue, Joanna, Karen, Christine and myself) arrived at the entrance and I checked us in for our lunch at the Promenade Café. With a reservation on Open Table, we were able to secure tickets with the cost being refunded from our lunch bill.
As we waited for our reservation time, we took in the Art Deco surroundings and perused some of the displays that show the history and significant events for the cruise liner. Launched in 1936, the Queen Mary was larger, more powerful and…obviously…far more sea-worthy than the Titanic.
Despite its size, the Queen Mary was once the fastest ship crossing the Atlantic and hosted celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn and Clark Gable. The Duke of Duchess of Windsor, Winston Churchill and Queen Elizabeth were among the dignitaries. However, when World War II began, the ship was put into military service and transported troops. At one point, in 1943, upwards of 16,000 troops were aboard (although I’m not sure how), the most people ever aboard a floating vessel.
After the war, the Queen Mary was retrofitted for passenger use once again, but luxury ocean cruises were not on most people’s agenda and the Cunard Line put her up for sale and she was soon purchased for display in Long Beach in 1967.
I asked Sue, our (now) resident Brit, “Do you think the English were sad to see the Queen Mary being bought by the United States?” She enlightened us with a history lesson, “England was basically bankrupt and was selling anything it could to recoup monies to pay for the war.” She had previously talked about the post-war years in Britain and it’s eye-opening to realize that while the U.S. was booming, Europe was limping back to normal.
The history of the Queen Mary is evident everywhere you look on the ship and further information can be garnered through a wide selection of tours with seemingly every nook and cranny available for viewing and discussion:
We had our own private tour guide in Sue, because she and her husband got married in the Queen Mary chapel in 1998. It was the perfect location to begin the melding of their British/American partnership. Sue’s British family and friends were excited to come to sunny So Cal, while Steve’s L.A. family got to enjoy the hotel, restaurants and ballroom that residents wouldn’t normally experience on a day trip.
As we strolled along the deck, we saw many of the restaurant and bar offerings throughout the ship, each with its own character. We dined at the Promenade Café, which didn’t have a lot of atmosphere, but did have a lovely view of Long Beach Harbor, as well as a nice variety of lunch options. With the gray weather, it was the perfect day for tea, soup, hot appetizers, short rib grilled cheese sandwiches, and more. There might have even been some wine and bubbles consumed. We were on an afternoon cruise, after all!
When the bill arrived, we were told that the ship’s internet was down and they could only take cash. Fortunately, we were able to come up with enough to cover the bill. At the table next to us, the patrons inquired of the waitress, “Is one of the ghosts playing a trick?” She replied, “I don’t know, but I hope so. That’s why I took the job here…to see the ghosts!”
Ghosts or not, we decided that we should come back and enjoy the cool Observation Bar for drinks or the dinner-only Chelsea Chowder House. Other weekend dining experiences include an afternoon tea on Saturdays and a Royal Brunch on Sundays.
There’s a full slate of entertainment, as well. I’m not likely to participate in the karaoke night, but a silent disco would be fun. The Queen Mary also hosts seasonal events and even yoga on the deck. Bet they didn’t do that on Atlantic crossings!
As we exited our lunch, the clouds had moved on and the sun was peeking through, encouraging us to explore more of the outdoor decks and imagining the Queen Mary in her heyday. She’s still a magnificent ship and it was a pleasure cruising to a different time, if only for an afternoon.
Bon Voyage!
Fourn-yay: Traveling back in time was great fun with my friends. We enjoyed wandering around the Queen Mary and our lunch was tasty. If you haven’t been back since your 4th-grade field trip, it might be time to take a trip!
Fourn-nay: Some of the restaurants and the bar on the Queen Mary looked to be elegant, which didn’t really carry over to the Promenade Café. As it was the only restaurant open for lunch, our choices were limited, but we still had a lovely time.
Other Q adventures to consider: Quilting, Quidditch (for those Harry Potter fans) and quiet meditation retreats (not up my alley!).
Got something fun on your bucket list I should try? Share your suggestions to intentfullyfit@gmail.com
It’s a wrap: (Please note: This adventure was fully paid for, this is not a promotion or partnership)
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