roscoe39

Panamanian Dictator Teddy

Bridezilla Teddy

Imelda Teddy

Goin Ona Diet Teddy

You guys seem to have missed some of the Teddys..... herewith Kimono Teddy

lunch in Russell is definitely the Duke of Marlborough. You nay have to book, but it's great. Set right on the beach and it should have marlin on the menu depending on what time of the year you are there. Other wise the fish and chips. Great hotel and world famous. Auckland - have you thought about Hobbitton? I know...I know...but I resisted it fr years and then when I went there I was a convert. Waiheke is a good choice, especially if you like wine, there are a number of vineyards that do tours tastings and serve lunch. The Mud Brick Vineyard is close to the ferry and has a very good reputation. The little town of Oneroa above the beach is a 15 minute walk if you didn't want to catch the bus and has some great cafes. Auckland has a lot of venues, the Museum is fantastic, currently has an Egyptian exhibition on until November, and there is also the Kelly Tarltons. Both accessible from the hop on hop off bus. Another excursion worth while considering is catching the ferry to Devonport - a suburb and village across the harbour from where the ship will dock. A very quant victorian village with a great view back towards the city and a volcano at its back that you can walk up for an added view. that should keep you going for a bit. Any further questions....keep em coming.

oh I know about Tijuana...lol...when I used to go housesitting for my friends at months at a time if I got bored I would hop on the tram and cross the border for an afternoon of margaritas and enchiladas.... pre 911 of course... its a great town, Its where I would live given half a chance. any moe questions just holler. I live in Auckland now but you can take the boy out of the bay but never the bay out of the boy

Hi just want to add to what the others have said. My tradition each time I visit Tauranga is to climb the Mount. The view from the top is stunning, well worth the walk, there are a number of different trails marked as you walk up and they are all marked with various degrees of difficulty and the time it should take to walk up. Some steeper but quicker others longer but more gentle. There are some great bakeries in the shopping centre between the ship and the beginning of the trail - as others have mentioned it is a complete no-no to take food off the ship and there are heavy fines for doing so. The beginning of the walk is about 7 minutes walk away. Have a great climb.

hi, Spent my childhood and early adulthood in the Bay so I know the caves quite well. the glow worms at Kawiti are unfortunately not worth doing if you have other options whereas Waitomo are not to be missed. There is plenty to do in the Bay that I think you will have a day better spent - The Hole in the Rock,, Waitangi Treaty Grounds, Russell, Puketi forest. Compared to Waitmio Im afraid they don't stack up to much....

Hi., firstly welcome from San Diego - my favourite town in the US and where I have spent many happy holidays. I was bought up in the Bay and so know it pretty well. Russell is in dead worth a visit. You can walk from Waitangi where you will more than likely tender to - it's about a 20 minute walk along the beach or you can take the free bus put on by the local businessmen. It will drop you off at the Paihia wharf where you can catch a ferry across the bay. Russell was of course NZs first capital and has been maintained as a pre colonial town with a stunning waterfront, gorgeous old pre colonial buildings and a great hotel for lunch. The Duke of Marlborough. There is a lot of history here, and the old church still has musket balls in its walls where the locals sheltered from the warring tribes. There is a lot to be said for a trip on the water to "The Hole in the Rock". You will be able to google it. Depending on what time your ship is departing there could be time to do the fast boat to the hole (cape Brett) and then get off at Russell on its return and then a ferry back across to Paihia. Happy to answer any questions, I hope you enjoy your day there. The Bay of Islands is truly one of NZs jewels in its crown. regards Roscoe

I ended up only doing a section of the WC this year, I cancelled the full world in favour of 2024 as I was thinking that the world wasn't quite ready for it. I think I was right and although those on board I mixed with were having a great time there were a lot of passengers that didn't understand that there was still a world wide pandemic going on and a lot to be sorted by various countries, thus there were a couple of hiccups. Missed ports (as their always was) immigration at some ports not entirely "ready" and various food supplies not being in the right place at the right time (a provedoring problem) I'm back on for 2024 and I am expecting that things will have returned to as much normality as they ever willl. The pandemic cost the cruise industries billions and it has to be made up somewhere, there have been a few cuts that I suspect will remain, the menu was much reduced, the parties were and I wonder if they will will continue to remain restricted to a certain extent and the quality of the entertainment not the usual high standard - (some lecturers being reluctant to travel during COVID apparently) but all in all if that is what it will take for the experience to be affordable then I think it will be acceptable. It was still a fantastic experience and Cunard did their best to give us value for money in my opinion as they always do. I don't think that it will ever return to the way that it was pre covid but then, some would say that about the time before the retirement of the QE2, and of the time before the Queen Mary and Elizabeth before that....and before that the Mauritania...etc..l. Life and Cruising continues to evolve. I didn't find any other blogs during the WC for Queen Victoria this year but my blog covering 6 Feb to 2 march is.. http://butarewethereyet.blogspot.com and safrigals blog is https://whereissafarigal.com although this year you had to contact her to be added to the mail list. Hopefully will see you on board.....

I wouldn't be surprised if they said it had to be Rio as some ports are not capable of doing immigration and have permission to off load passengers in that particular port but there is no harm in asking.

and miserable is a strong word when you are on the most beautiful ship afloat...

hi Blobby, link to the call is here,

can I respectfully suggest you rethink doing it on your own? The cruise lines charge a lot of money for the excursions - and believe me Luxor is incredible, but it is a very long day and a lot can go wrong in Egypt through no fault of your own. Speaking from one who has seen the inside of a Gaol in Port Said, through no fault of my own. Although the "Police Escorts" across the desert are a bit of a rort, you do have the safety of the cruise lines organisational skills and guarantee that they will wait if your bus/transport is late and in Egypt this counts for a lot. I love the country and have been there a number of times but to do this particular trip on your own I would not attempt it.

I gave up.....I keep getting sent in circles.

ahhhhh.....shoes.....aaahhhh sigh...my one big weakness.....

Hi Michael, like Aquadesiac if you take the plunge for a world cruise it will be the experience of a life time but I warn you its addictive.

that better .. hopefully you can blow the photo up... the hull plans show that behind the card room are two ac stations and then the main galley. The advantage of these staterooms over the inside is the natural light and the view between the lifeboats, some of which are better than others. All in all a good choice over an inside. Enjoy your journey regards Roscoe

sorry...will try again with a better photo

great ! Followed....will see you on board at some stage.....regardas Roscoe

I know where you are coming from Ruchard, I despair every time a new block of apartments is launched, the only really good looking ships lately have been the Disney ones. Apart from micky on the exterior they look like the real ships of the past. I never got to sail the Normandie....Im envious, and much as I loved the ambience of the QE2,, I have no desire to see her metamorphosis in Dubai, it would make me very sad. Ah well.....drinks in the commodore sounds good...Ill hold you to that!

really Richard? I just watched the Alan Whicker series of the world cruise QE2 in I think the early 1980s with a friend and we both commented that it seemed almost tacky, Its interesting that the old QE2 (Which I did love and sail on regular) was meant to be the epitome of luxury and the best that there can be but apart from the white star service but she seemed very drab and unluxurious compared to the Queens today.

just sent you an email, hope you re both all sorted and will not be stranded in 'old Blighty. keep up updated and see you next year on the QV? (seriously thought that after your last to trips on the QM2 that you would have learnt that there is no better ship in the fleet than the QV!

thank you for your thoughts. The entire Australasian population is in mourning for our fellow country woman and megastar. The loss of her bridesmaid from our very own dear country Madge a few years ago is still a trauma that we are only just now beginning to come out of and now sadly we are plunged back into a period of deep depression once again that is only equal to that felt by the passing of our late Queen who incidentally was also a great fan. Never again to hear her greeting of "Hello Possum" or be hit in the head by a errant bunch of gladiolus thrown from the stage, the World (and Moonie Ponds) is sadly a little less bright, a little less cheerful and a damned sight less funny. RIP Dame Edna - you will be sadly missed (and incidentally, I did meet her character Barry H once - a great friend of a dear friend of mine - a terrific raconteur and wit around the dinner table and not only an entertainer on stage)