Best Laid Plans Sometimes Go Astray

Towards the end of last February our son, Jeremy, met my hubby and me for breakfast and at that time gifted us with a transatlantic cruise on the Queen Mary 2 scheduled to depart New York City on April 30th.  I was shocked and beyond grateful.  It was a dream I never thought would come to fruition.

I immediately began planning the itinerary.  After the 7-day voyage and disembarkation in Southampton, 11 days would be spent traveling around England [Bath, Bampton, Woodstock [Bleinheim Palace], Richmond and London, and 2 days in Paris via the Eurostar.   

Our room on deck 4 had a sheltered balcony, and I could hardly wait to dine in the gorgeous Britannia restaurant... 

... and have tea every afternoon in the Queen's Room.

Days were spent selecting hotels and making reservations, and purchasing train tickets and admittance requirements to multiple events.  Finally we were in the home stretch with just seven days until embarkation.  

Yesterday, on the ride home from church I decided to check e-mails on my iPhone and saw one from Cunard with the subject heading, 'Important information about your upcoming voyage.'  I eagerly opened it, and was shocked to learn the cruise had been cancelled!  What????  When the ship came into the port at Southampton on April 22nd it was assessed with undisclosed technical issues and unable to sail until corrected - which is going to take longer than anticipated.

While disappointed, I wasn't sad because I believe everything happens for a reason, but I hated the thought of having to begin the task of canceling all the reservations today, and all that time expended for nothing, but at least we won't be stranded in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean with difficulties.

We'll rebook at a later time and life will go on with gratitude that God sees the big picture and diligently watches over us. The silver lining is that we will now be able to attend granddaughter Brooke's college graduation that we would have otherwise missed while on the cruise.

Last Saturday was busy [as usual] at The Whitney with 86 guests.  For the second week in a row it was fun to see familiar faces at tea time - a lady from church and her son's fiancée.  He recently proposed to her in Paris.  How romantic!