B4 to PMR: Happy Birthday

B⁴ created a 70th birthday surprise for me: a transatlantic crossing aboard the iconic Cunard ship Queen Mary 2.We had discussed this wonderful idea in the past; working through "the World's Greatest Travel Agent," Kathy Sudeikis, she made it happen. This trip is every much a throwback in travel history just as it was when, a few years ago, I booked a berth on "The Palace on Wheels" which is a train that rolls across Rajasthan nestled under Pakistan in northwest India.

There will be ten or more entries into this blog and, because you just got it in your email, that means that either B⁴ or I "subscribed" you. You can "unsubscribe" and, if you don't want to follow us on this journey, please go ahead and unsubscribe; it won't hurt our feelings one bit.

[Cunard "spoiled" the surprise associated with this crossing when, immediately after B⁴ made the booking, they sent me an email saying, "We're delighted that you decided to book a cruise on Queen Mary 2 and we look forward to welcoming you on board in the near future. In this survey we are particularly interested in understanding why you decided to book this holiday and what you're looking forward to the most." I, however, may enjoy the adventure even more because I was given the experience of anticipation.

Aboard Delta to LaGuardia, we opted to spend the night before embarkation at the "redesigned" Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge (using 40,000 Marriott Rewards points). The hotel is only a couple of miles from Pier 12 in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn where the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal handles 50 cruise ships from either Princess or Cunard and their 250,000 yearly passengers. Tomorrow, make that 250,002.

Tonight, we celebrate crossing-eve at Henry's End Restaurant (located under the Brooklyn Bridge, interestingly at the end of Henry Street, in the Dumbo neighborhood of Brooklyn). Since 1973, this neighborhood mainstay owned by Mark Lahm boasts high ceilings, exposed brick walls and an open kitchen but is, somehow, not cacophonous as are so many of today's eateries. Wild game is the hook here where they are in the early phase of their 34th annual Wild Game Festival with offerings ranging from "emu ragu" to "spiced kangaroo" or, for the less adventurous, elk chops.

We meet cousin Ariel and, after dinner, stroll along the East River and to Dumbo (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge) and then back to the Marriott.

But our minds are on the Queen Mary 2 Ocean Liner which will glide into Pier 12--a mile or so from here--early tomorrow morning and where we will board around 12:30. Join us; come along. We hope to publish the consummate accounting of a transatlantic crossing.