Among the pleasures of travelling are meeting new people, seeing new sites, speaking in a different language or trying to do so, eating new and interesting delicacies, daring to do.
My Bert and I have made some wonderful friends from our years of travelling and we have mingled with some very interesting characters.
Dorians refer to two such fascinating persons. It is not their real name but the characteristics they show put them in this exclusive category.
My first Dorian I met on The QEII, that venerable former flagship of the Cunard Line. It is now sitting at a dock in Dubai awaiting a retrofit into a new seven star hotel. A rebirth I may not live to see as plans are on hold as the owners are either stressed for cash and/or courting investors for the project.
On a cruise ship, or any ship for that matter, the Captain is the boss, the head honcho, a veritable god of all he surveys. We passengers may be paying his salary but on board his or her vessel we are mere peons that must obey all orders of the great master.
We were on a world tour. We would be spending 115 days on board the QEII. We would experience two such exalted personnel, as we knew from experience that the Captain we meet on boarding the ship in New York would change places with another Captain in Sydney, Australia.
It was the Captain’s Welcome party. We were in line for the official introduction to the Master of the ship. The hostesses went down the line, asked your name(s), then you would be presented by name to his majestic awesomeness.
Remember this is the QEII. Pomp and circumstance is a hallmark. The British are champions at this.
It is our turn. I look into this minor god and I try not to do a double take as I see before me a compact man, of medium height. He had dark hair, blue eyes, was polished and adorned with so many medals and gold braid that there was a luminescent halo surrounding his entire frame.
All well and good but what distracted me was that he looked as if he could be my son. How could one so young be Captain of this great ship?
He extended his hand said: “Welcome on board.” I could not help it I looked right into his eyes and said: “Where do you keep your picture.” He raised one eyebrow and with a calm insouciance and a devilish smile said: “It will be up to you to find it, but I assure you it will look the same.” We laughed.
For the rest of his time on board it was our running joke. There were plenty of opportunities to carry it on because as world cruisers the cocktail parties, dinners and opportunities to mingle with the Captain and ship’s officers were twice as many as for those who were doing cruise segments only.
When he had his farewell dinner we greeted each with slight regret that our inside joke was over. In addition to the usual pat phrases of farewell he said: “You will have to ask Oscar where I keep the portrait.” My answer: “I will keep on looking. Oscar is too Wilde for me.” There were quite a few in hearing distance who wondered what the heck we were talking about.
My next Dorian was again the boss of the luxury sailing yacht the Wind Surf. This luxury cruiser was tiny compared to the QEll but no less grand with an intimate, relaxed, and marvelous ambiance.
Prior to the official formal affair we were invited to a meet and greet hosted by the cruise director. It would be an introduction to Windstar Cruises and this particular yacht.
He was telling us about the sails being raised or lowered accompanied by music when a young man dressed in casual sailor’s whites came by. Immediately the cruise director stopped his spiel, went over to the young man and said something to him. He came back to the microphone and said:
“Ladies and gentlemen may I present the Master, Captain of our vessel.” Well knock me down with a feather. Master? Captain? The fellow behind me said: “They are hiring babies now.”
The Master took the microphone and his first words were: “First let me answer the question you all have in mind. Yes, I am old enough to Captain this yacht.” Everyone laughed. You could see some of us including Bert trying to see the stripes to confirm he really was the Captain. Another Dorian!
That night at the formal Captain’s welcome dinner the young fellow was resplendent in his dress uniform, medals flashing, epaulettes set just so. I looked at him and sighed. Despite his assurance he still looked too young to be our Captain. Should I go looking for another hidden picture that was aging sight unseen?
I think all 295 passengers were on deck as our Captain docked at Santorini. He had to parallel park our vessel in between two much larger vessels. We were holding our breaths in trepidation when we saw where he had to go. We wondered if we should go for our life jackets.
He made it in one maneuver. He lined up the yacht perfectly in the middle. He erased any doubts that were left of his capabilities. A spontaneous cheer went up.
The Meander: My Bert and I have been to all corners of the world. We have seen the touristy sites and wandered along paths less travelled. We have been blessed. I have so many travel stories but the ones that stay uppermost are the ones about the people we have met. The Dorians are etched on the canvass of my mind.
On sea or land, the encounters are memorable. (Though being an Oscar, I cannot recall having seen pictures of the captain, thus I must be a different Oscar to whom he referred). – Oscar
Only if you are also a Wilde!
Another fascinating post Paula.
I can just imagine the many colorful characters you & Bert have met over the years, during your travels. Makes me green, with envy. lol And it also makes me miss traveling SOOOO!!!! very much.
I must say, I have never heard of the term Dorian before. That’s a new one for me. I’m guessing that’s a type of person? I think I’ll be looking that one up too, just to satisfy my own curiosity.
I am quite impressed, how you recall the names of these, various ships you’ve voyaged on. Like the QEII . I must admit, I have never heard of it before. But after reading your post, I’m definitely more intrigued about it.
My god, you spent 115 days on aboard that cruise ship? WOW!!! that’s quite a long time to be at sea without stopping. AHHH!!! what an adventure that was for you both.
That’s a bucket list item for me; traveling on a cruise ship. Would just love to do the Alaskin cruise and the Mediteranian cruise. I know people who have been; they just raved about it.
I also, just love how animated and creative you are in your telling of your at sea adventures, especially when your talking about the captains. Literally made me laugh out loud, a few times.
I truly felt like I was right there with you guys; through every word you wrote; through every detail. I was living vicariously through you.
You, my friend have GOT TO WRITE A BOOK!! Like seriously. You are an incredibly story teller. I tell ya right now, I’d buy this book; in a hot second.
Just imagine, what a great escape your book of stories could be, for caregivers like me, like us; like so many more out there. No pressure; just a thought. From one friend to another.
Anyway, loved this post as always.
Don’t Google, just read the book The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. Fascinating. You will get it all then.
The QEII is short for Queen Elizabeth 2, a Cunard ship. It too has a fascinating history. Ask me about it one day. Of course we stop! We visit various ports and spend two or three days sometimes in a port and go off on adventures. BTW This is not the longest cruise we have taken.
Love your comments.
Hmm… read the book you say. Alright,perhaps I’ll do just that. See what it’s all about.
I will have to pay a visit to my local Chapters store. You certainly have peaked my interest about this Dorian stuff. I am definitely intrigued.
Oh so that ship is called the Queen Elizabeth 2; now I got ya. I’m still curious about its history.
LOL well I’m glad you weren’t at sea for the entire 115 days without stopping, or visiting other ports. I’d be a bit more concerned about that. Really, this was not the longest cruise you & Bert were on? Wow, what could be longer than 115 days out at sea? My antenna is up for sure now. Do tell? lol
Just love hearing about your adventures. What fun you 2 must of had. All the various parts of the world, you got to explore, the cultures, the food, the music, the architecture etc.. Oh how I wish I could of been a fly on your guys wall; if that makes any sense. lol
Love it all !!!
Hey, you do not have to buy just borrow the book from your neighbourhood library. It is a classic. Bet it is on a shelf just waiting for you. Seems we will have lots to talk about when next we meet. In the meantime let’s both dream about our next travel adventure.
Paula, thank you for another picturesque story. Please keep them coming. Such experience.
You have been privy to so many of my stories and yet I do have many more. Glad you like them.
The Dorians indeed. Are you not the clever one? What a great meander!
I must confess at the time I did not feel clever. I wondered then if perhaps his awesomeness would think me a bit too much. As I am rather lacking in the instant repartee department I was pleasantly surprised that he brought out a little bit of that in me. He was a reader, no doubt that was the connection.