Oriana (II) & Queen Mary 2
Despite the ships beginning to return slowly from mid-March, the first stalking of the new season for us was the 8th April, and our first without QE2, who was still facing an uncertain future tied up alongside the dock in Dubai.  QM2 was now five years old while Oriana fourteen the following day.  For some reason (probably a stupid P&O decision like many since they took over running Cunard from 2008), Oriana was in QEII with Mary stuck in City!  Everyone thinks of QEII as the Cunard Terminal as much as Mayflower is P&O.  I was instantly reminded how six months before Mary was there but Lizzie in QEII and it made me feel sad.  On Mary was Lizzie's most famous passenger - Bea Muller, who had joined in Dubai with her son Allan.  They were sailing right to New York then she would make up her mind where her ship board future lay.
The new Ocean Terminal, which is due to open in May, didn't look that much different to the last time I saw it back in January.  As wonderful as it is having four, I hope the interior is miles better than the exterior.
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			(C) Copyright Patricia Dempsey 8th April 2009 Not to be reproduced without permission