QM2 has Talent & Cocktails

Prolonged sea days provides the ship with an opportunity to show off it's hospitality!

As a result, the afternoon and evening was dedicated to just that, first off were cocktails. Two parties dedicated to our guests who are on board for the whole navigation of planet earth. A gathering of around 1000 split across two parties to recognise their loyalty and celebrate their world voyage. We've entered a moment of the voyage where we are beginning to encounter milestones.

Canapes, a free bar, ice sculptures and a world voyage cake alongside the ships officers dressed in the classic Richard Gere outfits were the order of the evening.

From our perspective this is always an interesting experience, we're encouraged to host and mingle, the jeopardy is always based on who you might get. My strategy is always to aim for those who have taken to the dance floor as it's likely they're the most interesting. I wasn't disappointed, I met a couple who were from Brighton and were on there 10th world voyage!!!!! 10!!!!!! And by their own admission they weren't our top sailors, they've completed over a year at sea but had endured the sobering experience of speaking to fellow guests who had completed four!!!!!

By very simple maths I reckon I've completed shy of three and I get paid to be here. Four years is crazy, especially if you were to Google what that might equate to financially as a paying guest.

It's testament to what our guests enjoy, how much they're prepared to invest in that enjoyment and just how good we are at delivering what they want.

I have a small but significant routine on cocktail night when the right people are on board. Attend the first cocktail party, meet an old friend who've I known since my first ship, enjoy a chat in the Golden Lion before heading back to the second cocktail party. And that's exactly how it played out, after the second party, with some more chatting to guests done it was time to eat.

A lot of the various teams take the opportunity to head upstairs and enjoy the various dining choices, I chose the officers mess and was not disappointed. I demolished a steak dinner with horseradish cabbage, some gratin potatoes and a lovely gravy before heading to the officers wardroom to establish what the night offered 

Sean is one of our entertainment team, a member of the Royal Court Theatre Cast. He's a former Team GB gymnast with a unique selling point of being able to tumble! However, he also scrubs up well as a drag Queen!!

Why? Well that's probably for him to answer but on this occasion he was part of this evenings Crew Talent Show that was being held in the Royal Court Theatre for our guests!

I pondered over whether I should go but when Sean rocked up in full drag there wasn't a choice, I needed to go

The show opened with a Filipino baker singer who was frankly amazing. The theatre was packed with guests and was standing room only for us as crew

This was followed by a range of crew members whose talent way exceeds their job role, one of the entertainment guys recited Shakespeare whilst an art consultant provided comedy. These guys are wasted here!!