2008 World Cruise

Have you ever dreamed of taking a World Cruise but can't quite find the time or the money to make it happen?

Now you can join me in spirit and by E-mail and ultimately by book as was we sail out of New York Harbor on Sunday, January 13, 2008 aboard the magical Queen Elizabeth II for 90 glorious days. Recently, Cunard announced that the QE2 has been sold and she will be taken out of service in November 2008. That means this January's World Cruise will be her very last. So if you wish to join in the experience, now is the time to join our subscription newsletter, blog and after the cruise our book about the voyage.

January 13th will be an historic day in New York City as all three of Cunard's Queens arrive and leave the harbor together. Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Mary II and the brand new Queen Victoria will be together in one place at one time, something that most likely will never happen again in cruising history.

Join me as we plan over the coming months for this voyage. What to pack for 31 ports and over 50 days at sea with all the formal evenings, fancy balls and hundreds the ship board activites. How to actually pack it all and get it to the ship. How to set-up the household accounts to be paid while away for 90 days. What to buy in the way of clothing and personal items, How much to budget for on-board and on-shore expenses and how to obtain the required passports, visas and health inoculations and their costs.

Those of you that decide to come along on this fantastic trip (and who would not) will receive a monthly newsletter describing all that has gone on in the way of planning with details as to expenses, luggage needed, etc., including the delightful suspense of eventually learning where on board I will be staying. I have booked a guaranteed cabin, exact location unknown at this time. Will It be an inside cabin or will it be something grander. Only time will tell, stay tuned.

Before we know it, January 13, 2008 will be here and as we slowly glide out into the Hudson River and head toward the Atlantic and 90 days of grace and excitment, we will hold our champagne glasses high as a toast to the great city of New York. There will be more than the usual excitement that comes with the beginning of a world cruise because of the sailing of all  three Queens at the same time. Truly a memorable event that you will not want to miss.

Beginning on Monday, January 14, you will receive daily E-mail accounts of the prior day's events and hints at what is befoe us on this great voyage. Of course some days we may be out of E-mail range but we will catch up so you will not miss any of the significant events on board and on shore. Come experience with me, such daily enjoyments as the fine dining and bright tablemate conversation (who knows who we shall meet on this journey), daily high tea in the elegant Queens Room, expert guest lecturers on many different subjects, the library, games both inside and on deck, movies, strolling the grand promenade deck and meeting other passengers who make a world cruise an annual event. And of course we shall have to meet the nice lady that actually lives year round on the QE2.

As evening comes upon us we will change into our fine formal attire for dinner and a host of activities. We will dance across the Pacific in the grand ballroom, try our hand, James Bond style, at Black Jack and Roulette, catch a show or concert and then retire to one of the lounges for a night cap before heading off to the midnight buffet.

 Over the 90 days, we will discuss how NOT to arrive on board as a passenger and leave as cargo. Such a state is possible with three delicious multi-course meals every day, plus min-morning Bouillon, High Tea in the afternoon and the Midnight Buffet. Of course should one become hungry between these six events there is always the 24/7 room service menu to delight one's taste buds.

 As we head around the tip of South America, we will stop at the Falkland Islands where we plan on having a round of golf. Then it is on to experience rounding the Cape and stopping at several South American countries before heading out to Easter Island. Another round of golf is planned here along with a look at the ancient statues. Then with a couple of other ports along the way, it will be dinner and either a play or the opera in both Melbourne and Sydney, Austrailia. Shopping in Sigapore, Shanghai and Hong Kong, golf in Vietnam and sightseeing in Japan before sailing back to Hawaii and then Los Angeles. After a passage through the Panama Canal and a slow sail up the East Coast we return to New York City on Saturday, April 12.

Approximately 90 days after returning home, you will receive a signed copy of my book about this fantastic trip "Charlie's World Cruise". Not only will it contain all of the material you will receive via E-mail, it will have daily shipboard menus and activity programs and lots of photos from the ship and the various ports. This book will be a wonderful keepsake from your mental voyage with me and you will want to re-read it every time you begin dreaming of a world cruise and never have quite the time or money to make it actually happen.

Are you ready to join me on this fantastic voyage? Subscription for all of the newsletters, E-mails and the book is only $25 (less than 30 cents a day for the 90 day sailing).

To become part of this exciting trip send your $25 subscription fee along with your name and address where we can send the final book and an E-mail address that will be good until June 2008. Send this to 2008 World Cruise c/o Charles W. Wibel, 67 Cross Street, Farmington, NH 03835

The planning is already under way. Join now so that you do not miss any of the excitment. I look forward to meeting all of you via the newsletter, daily updates and the final book

Cheers

Charlie

What's New?

The 2008 World Cruise on the marvelous QE2 is now complete. It was a wonderful experience. I saw many unique places, met a lot of characters on board and made many a life time friend. Now, I am in the process of putting the actual book together for all to enjoy. It will contain background information about the ship, daily activity lists, menus, places visited, photos and the very best part, stories about the characters that were found sailing on this one of a kind ocean liner. Read about the Great Gatsby crowd, the lady who lives on board, the Opera Diva, Bought and Paid For, The Refigerator Lady and so many more.