Mareblu

Congratulations for your December golden anniversary. We also celebrated ours with a cruise, and I can’t believe that was five years ago this coming August. You are all spring chickens.

Congratulations, Leigh and Rob. A golden moment in your lives 🥂 Happy Easter, Les, and to all on here. Wishing love and peace in your lives🕊️🌿 We just arrived home after a delicious and relaxing family lunch at Agostinis, an Italian restaurant in East Hotel here in Canberra. The photos we took and shared prove I’m now officially the shortest family member😔

Hope you’ve left that hospital building, Mic.

Oh no! A double tragedy. Hope you didn’t suffer greatly, and made a rapid recovery. The latter tragedy aside, I am, as I read your post, imagining a Basil or Manuel moment😂😂

Gundagai?

It’s a mall, we’ve been there, enjoyed a tasty chowder lunch but can’t remember the name

Thank you, Hank, for your latest comprehensive report. I know from your previous posts that you are never afraid to express objective impressions (good, bad and ugly included), so your post fills us with excitement as we draw closer to joining you aboard on 11 April. I also know that like us for most of our time aboard, we simply love our own company, although we also enjoy meeting and mixing. If at any time you would like to meet for a Martini's martini, we will be in 11033. We also love sea days, so we wish you calm waters and fair breezes until your next report, which we'll be delighted to read.

That's hilarious, although I'm sure you didn't think so at the time. I believe the reason Cunard has dispensed with table linen in high traffic restaurants (as opposed to main dining rooms where one's regular table is assigned) stems from the pandemic. It is far more hygienic to cleanse tables with antibacterial and antiviral solutions and a cloth, than to launder the linen, even though high water temperature and laundry solutions could be used. I must say, however, that it is delightful to be seated at our assigned QG table, bedecked and resplendent (the table, I mean😉)

I can see that Frank really enjoyed his thirtieth birthday. Happy Birthday, Frank🥂🥂🎉🎊

He has to be a patient patient😇

Same for us in Australia. The package has been mia for several years. We were surprised and delighted to receive that special blue pouch with its luggage tags and well-presented (but yes, generic) booklet last Friday.

Congratulations Julie and Rolf. A world voyage is indeed a lifetime odyssey, and your upgrade is the cherry on the icing on the gateau the silver platter 👏

That’s great news. Take it easy and obey docto’s orders😊

Commiserations, Mic and Rosie. So sorry about your necessary cancellations, too. Good luck with your surgery tomorrow, Mic. I know I can say everyone will be thinking of you. Let us know how you're faring, when you can.

Thought you’d be watching live no matter the hour, with your known enthusiasm. Not another word.🤐

That’s a shame. It’s disappointing when you’re looking forward to biting into a tasty pie. Well, you’re obviously still here, so it couldn’t have been beef wellington with dried mushrooms🫢

High drama in Melbourne, Lyle. Beautiful day in Melbourne. Go Ferrari!

Thank you for that exciting information. We will still be aboard Oceania Vista in the Med on 27th, but we’re also counting the days to boarding Cunard Queen Anne on 24th May. Such a privilege to join our fellow QA guests in witnessing and experiencing this iconic voyage.

I’m thrilled to announce that O is once again supplying Australian guests with the luggage pack. We thought we’d have to print, then fold and staple our flimsy paper luggage tags again, as we did for our Sirena cruise in late 2022. Our blue folder with information booklet and four impressive luggage tag holders, and printed tags for insertion therein, arrived yesterday. Delighted and surprised.

St Petersburg?

It was hilarious. Brilliant. Only the Brits can offer such restrained humour.

Thanks, Blue Leader.

Thank you! It does indeed seem a reasonable space overall.

I’m not sure about access to the pools; I haven’t explored that aspect. I’ll let you know☺️

Should lounging beckon, I shall happily enjoy the contrast between our balcony (Q3) and the Grills Terrace, although from a perusal of the deck plans, I don't believe Queen Anne's GT will quite match QE's. However, we most certainly did not reserve our forthcoming British Isles exploration for terraces. We are very much looking forward to another Cunard experience, and relish the thought of witnessing, at first hand, Cunard history. My intention is to review this new vessel honestly and objectively (with the exception of aspects of cuisine, wine, etc. which are always, to a degree, subjective). At our age, we would hardly expect to be entering utopia on embarkation in Southampton, but we are very excited to begin our own Queen Anne experience. I actually wouldn't dream of passing judgement on anything similar to this life moment for many of our fellow passengers from a keyboard. I harbour similar sentiments about our voyage on Oceania's Vista, which we will begin in a little over two weeks. There are some Vista detractors on the Oceania board who have never sailed on her. We may not enjoy either experience, but at least we will be able to say we've given them a shot. It will actually be fascinating to compare two new vessels of different lines. If we don't wish to return to either, then there are other wonderful ships in both lines, and another favourite, Seabourn, awaiting.