Follow me on Queen Elizabeth

Parts of Britain have had the heaviest November snow in living memory. Temperatures continue to fall faster than house prices. Time for me to escape. I’m off in search of the sun, though I’ll have to cross the Bay of Biscay first.
This afternoon I’ll be submitting to the security checks at Southampton’s Ocean Terminal and boarding Cunard’s shiny new Queen Elizabeth (above) to sail to Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands, calling at Vigo, Lisbon and Cadiz on the way.
It’s the same itinerary as the ship’s maiden voyage which departed seven weeks ago, and the first time Capt Chris Wells will not have to take part in those plaque-exchanging ceremonies which are arranged when a ship makes its maiden visit to a port. He can save his handshakes for guests in the Queens Room at the Cunard ball tomorrow night.
I’m hoping for a rather more relaxing time than my three days on board Allure of the Seas last week – unless you bombard me with absurd suggestions to occupy my time. Probably about as much chance of that as there is of temperatures in Britain being in the 70s when I fly home next Tuesday.
But I will try to keep you up to date through the miracle of ship-board internet. So don’t go away.