Sailing toward exotic ports, Gaz sat at the bar in one of the Pool Deck areas of the Queen Victoria and pondered all things...engines.
Bet you thought I was going to say bathing beauties. Nope, not today. But, then again he could have been thinking about those beauties baking themselves poolside-it's possible, but that's another blog.
Moving on...as we sipped cocktails, shaken-not-stirred, Gaz mused over the inner-workings of such a vessel. Just what keeps all things up and running for the zany types like us who flutter without a shred of regard for the action going on down under the Queen V, so to speak.
Needing to solve such a mystery, we left top-side and off we went for a tour in the deep recesses (I need to be dramatic, just go with it) of the ship with Chief Engineer, Ronnie. He was both gracious and humorous and we gained a new respect for what makes the ship tick-tock, 24/7.
Chief Ronnie has what appears to me to be an overwhelming task, but he seems to take it seriously, yet in good-natured stride. He has the shipping-chops to back up his position, so passengers such as ourselves should sail along with confidence that straight-irons and ballroom lights will flicker and flutter as needed.
What a rare glimpse we were afforded. It looks and sounds like an enormous amount of machinery, but it seems more the heart and soul of this ship.
Personally, I found it all utterly fascinating and over-whelming. I left the tour feeling exhausted, but grateful for all those folks doing work that goes unseen by regular passengers. Yes, grateful me-plus, I've seen the Poseidon Adventure and I took the opportunity while near the bottom of the ship to search for the thin spots in the hull. If you don't know what that means...sorry.
Post-Tour, Gaz, was able to return to the Pool Deck bar and confidently ponder his next mission aboard the Queen V knowing Chief Ronnie is probably below humming while he and his crew keep things humming. Yep, they keep that motor runnin'!
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