chefestelle

This is the best news ever! I look forward to your live reports!

That is the kindest thing ever. Good for you. It really warmed my heart to read this. I hope she feels encouraged.

That had to be a terrible experience! Did you happen to address this with the maitre d? I ask because with vegetarians, vegans, food allergies and gluten intolerant they will usually have you view your menu the night before and order then so there is time to prepare a special meal. I'm told that this system works quite well.

I love Halifax and want to add for your followers who haven't been that the boardwalk is very walkable and you can see sights (including a ship that survived the Halifax explosion and two world wars) and enjoy little shops and eateries (beavertails, bacon with anything) along the way. The rest of the sights are up steep hills. It is such a beautiful city and is renowned for its fantastic restaurants.

I was surprised by that on our Mexican cruise with HAL. The prices were very similar. I

I haven't seen A Man Called Otto but if you loved the book (I did!) then you will love A Man Called Ove which was filmed in Swedish with excellent English dubbing.

This menu is amazing! So many choices

Thanks for this tip! My sister is joining me for our second cruise together next summer. She has mobility challenges and takes a walker but it was more of an encumbrance than a help for her. So a wheelchair for embarkation and disembarkation would be great!

Ok, I've been to Australia a number of times and the coffee is not good. How bad can American coffee be? We import all our coffee in Canada as the climate is not suited for growing it. But the shade grown beans roasted in BC are divine!

Exactly! It has to be a rolling boil. And for tea, the pot has to have hot water in it while the water boils in the kettle. Nothing else tastes as good! - Another Canadian

I once bought a bottle of gin that had a wee bottle of vermouth attached to it. That's the one I glance at (it is unopened) when I pour my martini

Exactly

You set me on a very fun course. I prefer the Churchill but it looks like you are mostly right - which makes me very happy. Of course, I never mind a lemon drop "martini": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martini_(cocktail)

Yes, you're right. Even now to someone who could assess the description, I struggle to think how. Maybe a picture on your cell phone. And a recipe!

Maybe they'll make lamington cakes...

I did not even pick that up! Hahahahah! could you imagine?

I followed your live report ravenously (hence my legendary comment about the pea soup)! I especially noted the seared scallops in Pinnacle because I'm taking my sister there for her birthday dinner. We will avoid them. I love beets, though. Definitely getting them. Thanks again for all the work you did posting current information on your site!

Oh no! I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Or both!

Thank you! I expected entertainment would be geared toward the beauty of the area. I do have some angst about cruise impact and I do get the side eye from my daughter. It's not something I've reconciled yet!

Wow! Mahi Mahi, that is a great review! Thank you. I know we want to do room service a couple of mornings and I am really happy to hear that it was so good. I had room service on Eurodam a couple times but the ship was full and the delivery slow. Thanks for all the helpful tips! I can tell you loved it and my excitement is barely contained too!

Thank you. I've always taken ginger Gravol along just in case. But no one's ever had to use it so I wasn't sure if it even worked!

I've been in a couple of good storms at sea without any negative effects but I don't think my sister ever has! I am looking at alternatives to meclizine (it is not made or sold in Canada anymore). We are not prone to seasickness but would not want a rollicking storm to impact any part of this cruise. What do you use/recommend?

That pea soup sounds legendary! Thanks for the input. I'm just getting more excited!

Thanks! This is great. I love afternoon tea and it sounds like it's still good. I've wanted to try BB King lounge and I've heard a lot about the Earth show. Definitely taking them both in. Thanks again!

Thank you! That's great info about the size of the suite. At least a walker folds too. I love breakfast on the veranda (I have only been on two prior cruises with HAL and had verandas both times). So for sure if it's not raining we'll be doing that! Thanks again. I'm so excited for this trip.