Harters

I don't do soup in public (or long pasta). Invariably, it ends up down the front of my shirt. Some times I think I've never stopped being a little kid.

The rushed feeling may be due to train times. Looking at their website, the first train doesnt leave Palma until 10.30, arriving in Soller an hour later. It starts its return journey ten minutes later, arriving back in Palma at 12.40. The next train doesnt depart Soller until 14.00 which is, presumably, too late for you. I have family who originate from Soller and I'm sure that, years back, the trains used to be more frequent but I suspect the demand for it, from locals, has reduced considerably since the opening of the road tunnel through the mountains which has made driving (or bus) to Palma so much easier.

We've often holidayed on the island of Mallorca. It used to be the case that many hotels would regard the end of September as being the end of the tourist season. I've recently read that places are now staying open towards the end of October, due to warmer weather in the last couple of years or so. Presumably, in the Eastern Med, the season will extend even further. Certainly something to research as we're considering an autumn break in Cyprus.

We've visited Barcelona a number of times over the years. Most recently, last year, we were only there for one day pre-cruise. We spent the day using the "Hop on, hop off" bus to get around . The highlight was the visit to the Miro Museum which we'd not visited before and is well worth a stop for any art lover.

As you've looked at the Ports forum, I presume you've seen this recent discussion. https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/2958667-tenerife-whale-watching/#comment-66400215 FWIW, I regularly play on the Tenerife Tripadvisor forum and have asked the question for you there. https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g187479-i153-k14637594-Whale_watching_trip_from_Santa_Cruz_cruise_port-Tenerife_Canary_Islands.html John

I visit Tenerife annually, staying in the south. As Vallesan has mentioned the whale tours are only from that side of the island. The whales are resident in the waters between Tenerife and La Gomera and sightings are pretty much guaranteed. It's many years since I did a whale trip but am sure we sailed from Los Cristianos (not least, as Costa Adeje hadnt yet been developed for tourism) and that's the nearer departure port for you. It may be a bit tricky as I note you want to avoid ship's excursions. Whilst there are a goodly number of trip operators (and more agents acting for them), their transport arrangements are usually focussed on tourists staying in the southern resort areas. So, the tricky bit might be finding an operator who picks up in the north and can fit in with the cruise ship schedule. Other than that, you may be looking at travelling between Santa Cruz and Los Cristianos by taxi. Takes about an hour and costs around €100 each way. (EDIT - I've just looked at the ships excursions for Tenerife and see that there isn't one including whale watching)

KIm - I presume you've already spotted that Oceania has 3 or 4 British Isles cruises next year. I think at least one has Portland, Dorset as a port which may be of interest, noting your location. John

Probably chilly and wet. This is Northern Europe after all - we don't generally have good weather that early in the year.

In the UK, it's mainly the bed thing but also the thing for above curtains. Tricky. 😀

The north of Belgium is a relatively small area, well served by trains. If it was me, I'd pick my city, staying there, and using the train to get about. I havent got a recommendation of which city to stay in as, although I've regularly visited the country, I've always stayed in the town of Ieper (my interests havent taken me to even visit the cities)

I have similar fun. When I did this research for our first O cruise, I got a wide range of opinions from Americans on another forum about what their local country club had as a dress code. In the end, I decided to go with the fairly common British phrase "smart casual". By the by, a local Michelin starred restaurant defines this as " smart but informal but no sports wear, ripped denim or shorts". The staff are usually the most formally dressed in the room.

I think you need to check directly with NCL to establish what their ID requirements are. No real point in trying to guess what document might work, without that knowledge from the company.

Me too. My rule of thumb about the quality of any travel restaurant, ship or land, is would it become a regular place for me if it opened near home. Toscana is the only O restaurant that would make that list for me. It's as good and would go on the list as an alternative. I go to better East Asian places than Red Ginger. I go to a better steakhouse than Polo. And I've been to better French restaurants than Jacques. What I don't have at home is a place cooking American dishes. I'm quite excited at the prospect of eating at Ember.

Your comment prompted me to look at my usual London PI (Euston), which I've not stayed since pre-pandemic. For the night of 22/6, it's £248 which I would very much have a sharp intake of breath over. It used to be around £150.

Good to read a positive mention of Ember. I've read a fair number of negative mentions - most often saying its like Applebee's. Now, as someone who isnt American and who doesnt know what Applebees is like, I'm looking forward to eating there. The food will be as "foreign" for me, as Toscana and Red Ginger and, looking at the menu, sort of even more foreign.

Indeed so. Near the "pier" in Weymouth, there's a plaque commemorating the American troops who embarked from there. My "perhaps oddly" comes from being an amateur military historian (and author) in real life. I found it "perhaps odd" that a group of Britons would establish a museum that pretty much ignores the British contribution. Museum is well worth a visit from anyone interested in D-Day. Also, in Portland, and worth a visit for snacks, etc is the Jailhouse Cafe. Yes, it is a cafe located at HM Prison Verne and it's crewed by serving prisoners.

Next to the Castle, there's a smallish World War 2 D-Day military museum. Perhaps oddly, it focuses mainly on the American contribution. Weymouth is a nice, and very typical, seaside town. We spent a week there in 2022, using the town as a base for touring the area. Post #2 outlines the "what to do" pretty well (there isn't that much). I'd only add a suggestion for you to visit Bennett's, on the harbour side (near the town bridge) for a fish & chips lunch. They really do a good version of cod, chips and mushy peas. Although we never got back to try the mackerel bap

Yes.

On both of my cruises with O, I've worn chinos and polo shirts and felt entirely comfortable and in keeping with the company's dress code. That fact O is relaxed about this, is the major reason why we like it as a cruise line. It's what I might generally wear to a land based restaurant similar to those onboard with O. Coming from a country which doesnt have country clubs, I've never been sure what "country club casual" means (nor were Americans I asked on a food forum I play on). But, certainly, I've not felt out of place in comparison with others

You won't.

The headquarters of the UK's Vegetarian Society is in Manchester, which is the centre of our metro area. Vegetarianism and abstinence (from alcohol) have been quite strong movements since the mid 19th century. I'm a meat eater but no longer drink alcohol.

Yes. We don't have the cooking skills to compete with a professional kitchen, whether a restaurant on a ship or on land.

Perfectly. Perhaps when you've done your trip, you'll come back to this thread and tell us how the day went. In real life, I'm an amateur military historian (and author), with a particular interest in the Great War. Sometimes, with research, you have to take leap of faith. For example, I know my grandfather served in the Great War. I have a photo of his platoon taken just before they went on active service to France in 1915. On the same photo, there's a man of the same surname. He has the same forename and is of the right age of the brother of Grandad, serving in the same small unit which allowed family members who joined up to serve together. Is he a great uncle? I've no absolute proof but, yes, of course he is. So, I've visited where he was killed in 1918, know from a Belgian researcher that he was first buried in someone's front garden in the village and, then after the war moved to a war graves cemetery which I've visited a couple of times. For your family history research, you've got the benefit of a relatively uncommon name and a tie to Norfolk. I can only get back to about 1841 with my family - I know the name of the ancestor as he's included on his daughters marriage certificate but I've never been able to find any info on his birth, marriage or death. And it's too common a surname, in the north of England, to be able to research further. PS: we must be soulmates. Like you, whenever I travel having decided where I'm going, then eating plans are the next to be researched. John

I can only urge you to plan the trip in some detail, leaving sufficient time for things to go wrong. That done, have a great trip. Out of interest, may I ask what's the family connection with Oxburgh?

That's also been my experience in the UK. Our travel agency industry seems to operate differently from those in the States that folk often refer to on this forum. Part of that, I think, is the difference in regulation. British TAs operate in a legal framework that protects customers if they have been sold a "package" (two or more elements - say, cruise and flight). Most will also have to fund their contribution to the industry (ABTA) bond scheme which, again, protects customers in case of the collapse of a business. And, I suspect, a significant difference is that British specialist cruise TAs do not receive the same incentives from O. As far as I know, all of O's preferred TA group (I forget the actual name of the group) are all North American. I understand that. Britons form a smallish % of O's customer base - I recall seeing something suggesting we are only the fifth largest nationality group - smaller than the number of customers from New Zealand. On our recent Nautica cruise, there were only 66 Britons on board.