Harters

You post here several times a week. You know full well that this is a problem only related to Vista. There is no need for you to regularly post your cruise history (although I'm sort of envious that your wealth permits you to take such expensive holidays so regularly). Not least when you already know that this history is not relevant to Vista, as you havent sailed on her and don't appear to have any plans to sail on her.

Stayed concierge on two cruises, PH on the third. Not had a problem booking two tops in the specialities, for 7.30 or 8.00. Never had to wait more than a few minutes for one in the GDR.

I'd recommend the three nights. Two nights won't allow a first time visitor to even scratch the surface of the city.

I suppose this depends on how confident you are in dealing with a potential unpleasant confrontation. We were on Vista earlier in the year and knew of the potential problem from reading this forum. However, the vast majority of guests do not read CC and may be totally unaware of the issue. As such, they may well continue as they have on other ships or, indeed, land based hotels. And I've read the very occasional post on CC from people unconcerned if they cause a problem for their neighbours and would guess that ratio would be higher amongst folk who did not previously know of the issue. For our cruise, we had ear plugs. I never travel anywhere without them and was glad of them last autumn when we stayed in a hotel in Mallorca for 2 weeks and the guy next door was a very loud snorer. We also bought a "white noise" machine. In the event, we didnt need either as we never heard a peep from either neighbour (and hope we didnt cause any problems for them). We hadnt worked out a strategy for what to do if these didnt help and still havent for our cruuse next year (same cabin..,....fingers crossed). I suppose it will depend on the nature of any disruption. There's nothing to be done about a loud snorer, other than put up with it (unless a move to a different cabin was possible). A couple loudly, ahem, enjoying themselves will be a relatively brief disruption - that's happened in hotels more than once. As opposed to the disruption from someone who posted here saying they keep the TV on all night. With something like that, I may well knock on their door, or leave them a note drawing attention to the disruption (which they may not appreciate they are causing). Final resort is guest services. Confrontation is not conducive to a good holiday - but then neither is lack of sleep.

Yes, cabs give change. There are so many of them that I've never considered an Uber or, even,finding out if they are licensed for use in the city. I've never previously heard of cabify so can't help there.

We're doing Vista's Bay of Biscay cruise next year. It will be our third attempt to sail this route - previous two occasions fell by the wayside due to health issues. Fingers crossed................. I don't think there are many (any?) O transatlantic cruises that visit the Bay.

I have been known to start to write a restaurant review before I've been there. Of course, that "start" will be about what I know of the place - location, style, hype even. It's the bits about it that have made us decide to go and eat there - and I rarely find I have much to change in those opening paragraphs after the meal. Poring over an online menu is all part of the anticipation and the fun of eating out. But, of course, you do run the risk of anticipation and then find the restaurant has changed its menu, so that delightful sounding pigeon starter is no longer on offer. Not on O, though. I do agree with you about putting technology to one side while away on holiday. I well remember some years back being in Tenerife and expecting a reply from my publisher as to whether they were going to take a new book I'd written. The reply came and I opened the email - to find that they had rejected it. It was a huge disappointment. Since then, I stick to a complete "no technology" policy - whatever it is will wait a couple of weeks.

I reckon the Kruger National Park is probably the best area for a safari. Mala Mala, which I mentioned upthread, shares an unfenced border with the Park. Not much help if your base is Cape Town though, as it's nearly 2000km north of CT.

From O's website OE (Oceania Exclusive) - excursions limited to group maximum of 16, at additional cost. Usually the same or very similar excursion is also available to open numbered groups. OS (Oceania Select) - excursions which are "so outstanding and awe-inspiring that they merit special recognition". Basically very expensive excursions

Certainly there were day tours from Cape Town along what's marketed as the "Garden Route" along the coast. On our escorted trip, we had three nights staying along the Route, at Knysna, before we ended the trip in CT.

Raised almost weekly on the British Isles Ports of Call forum.

I suspect any discussion on this thread will quickly cross the forum's "no politics" rule. And I'm not going to be the first to cross it.

Yes, you do need to do some research about the particular game reserve. Some are much better organised than others - and with much greater likelihood of seeing all of the "Big Five". We've spent two holidays in South Africa, both of two weeks duration. The first, an escorted group tour, was very wildlife focussed and included a two night stay at a lodge on a privately owned game reserve (Mala Mala). Most lodges operate within government owned reserves which means the vehicles are required to keep to the roads. In the private reserve the vehicles can go off road to get closer to animals. The ranger spotted a herd of elephants making their way down the slope of a small river valley. He was able to drive round to the other side and park. Within a few minutes, the herd came up the valley and passed by our Land Rover, on both sides less than 50 metres from us. It felt we were surrounded by the animals. I don't think I'll ever forget just how wonderful that was. Our second trip was in the province of KwaZulu Natal - inland from Durban. It's main theme was the military history of the area, so we got to visit important battle sites. But, again, there was a two night stay at a safari lodge. Simply not as good as the first - not as many animals, in both number and variety. The trip had been put together by our TA and included our own private driver who moved us between locations but also acted as our guide on some days But there's much to do around Cape Town itself. Table Mountain - assuming good weather. Robben Island. The Cape itself. The penguins at Boulder Beach. Kirstenbosch Gardens - a must for any keen gardener. And the V & A Waterfront is worth sometime, although it is very, very touristy. We also did a tour of one of the "townships" which felt quite edgy but not unsafe - visiting a school, a traditional drinking den and a shamen - all designed to persuade you to part with a few rand. It also included a visit to the apartheid museum

Not stewed prunes, as such. I always associate them with hotel breakfast buffets - and I'm not keen on them for breakfast. But I use prunes in, say, casseroles, when it needs a bit of sweetness. And, for this Friday's dinner, they go in a marinade for chicken thighs - prunes, garlic, oregano, pepper, red wine vinegar, black olives, capers and bay leaves, They sit in the fridge for a few hours and then it all gets baked.

As mentioned upthread, I am one such. We have a three week stay in Tenerife each year, usually in January (although we were there for Christmas last year). I've never stayed in November but I know that, whilst the Canaries is a year round tourist area, that month is probably the quietest. Some tourist businesses will close for the own holidays or to undertake refurbishment work. They then reopen for the very busy Christmas period. The weather between late autumn and mid spring is usually very pleasant. Shorts & T shirts during the day, with temperatures in the mid-20s. Usually a bit chilly in the evening - I need long trousers and a light jacket. You can get some rain but its often at night and showers don't usually last long. John Bull mentions a sand storm - known in Tenerife as a calima. These develop at fairly short notice and can be quite severe. Folk, like me, who have chest issues may find it particularly difficult. I've only experienced a calima once and that was on the last day of the holiday. I did find it difficult to breathe - had it not been the last day and needing to get to the airport, I would have stayed indoors.

I can only comment on the spring transatlantic that prompted this thread. I am sure that we made the right decision to go west to east. It meant we had a full day in Miami to recover from the long flight. And it meant we disembarked in Rome with only an hour's time difference from home - so very nicely relaxed and no jet lag. I would urge anyone not ignore these considerations, which would suggest a reverse direction for North Americans. As for the weather, it was generally fine. Except for a couple or so days in mid-Atlantic when it was chilly and rainy. And, even so, we sat out (under cover) on one of the rainy days - but were one of the very few doing so (but, hey, we're from the UK, so live with drab weather). My recollection is that there was really only one day with fairly rough seas.

Obviously. I had a very nice few days break on my own in Bournemouth some years back. Mrs H and her sisters had taken their elderly parents away somewhere and I just thought "I'll have a break as well". I remember a very nice seafood restaurant on the beach. More recently, my nephew did his cinematography Masters degree at Bournemouth University. He particularly like the beach at sunrise and sunset.

On the map above, Hope Square is on the headland to the south of the estuary - approximately where "SCTC Weymouth" is labelled. Most of the town is to the north, crossing at the Town Bridge. You'll have passed Bennett's Fish & Chips (also labelled on the map) - it has a few tables and also does takeaway. It's excellent - and it's a rare occurrence hearing a northerner praise southern fish & chips. We spent a week in Weymouth in 2022, using it a a base for touring the area. But you could happily spend a day wandering round town. It's a typical small seaside place which, like most, has unfortunately lost some of its shine over recent decades due to a decline in tourism.

The system will invite you to upload ID photos of yourselves. Don't sweat it if it doesn't work, as they'll take photos at the cruise terminal with no problem instead. Uploads have failed on our last two cruises and we gave up after several attempts.

Sorry to say but the policies of other lines are not relevant. The only thing relevant is O's terms and conditions that apply where you are in the world. It's cancellation policy should be clearly set out in them. As mentioned above, your travel insurance may a route worth trying. That said, I wouldnt hold my breath. I had a similar issue with a knee replacement some years back. This was post surgery but within the period when I was not advised to fly. I claimed on the insurance but was refused on the grounds I hadnt properly declared the pre-existing arthritis condition. That was a lesson learned.

That would be me. Or, to be precise, would have been me 20+ years back when I drank alcohol. Now, it's an alcohol free version which, I suppose, doesnt really count. I buy off a specialist alcohol free merchant and buy according to price - cheapest they have available of Cab Sauv, Merlot or Shiraz

When we were on Vista's transatlantic earlier this year, they had an art "scavenger hunt". You were given a sheet with photos of parts of many of the artworks and the game was to identify exactly what piece had been photographed. It gave some purpose to wandering round looking at what is quite an extensive collection. In terms of the photos you've just posted, I'd say the "food stylist" has been at work there. Presentation, particularly in the GDR, is much more simplistic. Nothing wrong with it as such - except that, with a number of dishes, we reckoned our local bistro does a better job plating. Suggest you check out the Preisman's website and check out a recent cruise. Go to the menus page - lots of photos to accompany the actual menus day-by-day. https://www.thepreismans.com/

We usually have FeverTree at home. It's Mrs H's preferred tonic with her gin. I occasionally have it as a stand-alone drink but, frankly, can't taste a difference between it and Schweppes. I suppose that, in this age of globalisation, it's good to know that FeverTree hasnt yet been bought by one of the big American corporations and remains a British owned product. Only a matter of time though......

It's not something I've ever considered but I think the first question to ask is will they take you as a customer. My guess is that there's a catch somewhere along the line. Otherwise, as they are cheaper, everyone would have started using American TAs and all the British ones would be long out of business

I'll have that as tomorrow's learning. I guess the "wark" relates to something defensive - like "bulwark"