Mareblu

In Japan, tipping is considered an insult to the dignity of the person providing the service. It’s always advisable to research cultural sensitivities when money is involved.  Most cruise lines we sail with include gratuities in the fare, but we always tip our butler and room stewards (a lesser amount than the butler).  If bar and restaurant staff are included, it’s never-ending.  Only once did we not tip a butler who was like a ghost.  We never saw him.

I had automatically assumed it was Tiberius, as he ruled from Capri.  A quick google revealed it was Augustus.  Tiberius had wives hurled from the cliffs when he tired of them.  We have been to beautiful Capri many times.

Checking for a photo…

Oops, spelling:  Caesar

Isle of Capri:  Emperor Ceasar Augustus?

3 hours ago, ak1004 said:

 

I learned to take the reviews with grain of salt. Just look at the latest review of the Vista - https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=712929

 

Can it be any more ridiculous and absurd??

It's actually hilarious, and makes absolutely no sense at all, including the spelling.  As it's not a CC review, I'm pretty sure I'm safe in saying that.  I giggled at the Toscana review:  terrible one evening, redeemed itself the next.  How he ended up giving Vista a 1* overall is unfathomable.  His take on Ember:  brilliant.  Yes, others will not be amused.  Thanks, @ak1004 for the link.

4 minutes ago, qbay46 said:

Or is it Table Cape Lighthouse in the same area.

Yes, it is.  Beautiful, ancient volcanic “plug”. The rich soils are cultivated with wheat, barley, tulips, and opium poppies.  The largest  supplier of medicinal opium (strictly controlled) in the southern hemisphere, if not the world.   Your turn.

13 minutes ago, qbay46 said:

Is it Rocky Cape Lighthouse, near Stanley. in Tasmania

No,   BUT…

Not Western Australia either

19 minutes ago, cruiser3775 said:

Looks a bit like the Cape Leeuwin lighthouse, but I don't remember any wheat fields close to it.

Not South Australia 

3 minutes ago, Bowm54 said:

Yes indeed, the Pineapple is still intact however the site is now being “re-developed”.

Thanks for an easy one.  I read about the redevelopment.  That’s always an ominous word these days.  Looking for a pic…

The Big Pineapple, Woombye, Queensland.

15 minutes ago, Kristelle said:

Time to help this along.

 

So you have established it is in Qld and it is a river (  I didnt realise there were so many rivers in Qld! ) 

So, HUGE CLUE! There is also a nearby airport with the same name. 

Maryborough?

12 hours ago, raffles said:

Just to throw a spanner in the works..my husband would normally wear his kilt outfit on formal nights (1st time Cunard). Thoughts?

He will shine.  🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

8 hours ago, AMHuntFerry said:

(Picture horshak from Welcome Back Kotter..."oo, oo, oo!"). 5-6 pm in Horizons and Martinis, and 10:30-11:30 pm in Horizons on my last cruise. Sometimes Martinis only if Horizons has a function. Two of the same drink are charged the single price.

Yes, correct unless there’s been a major change

2 hours ago, WantedOnVoyage said:

You are indeed, kind sir.  Although I like mine wet with an olive.  But at tea??? The sun isn't over my yardarm at that hour.

 

"where's the sun?"

"well over the yard arm sir"

"well pour the gin"

 

The Battle of the River Plate (1956).

Exactly as I like my martinis, which I only ever drink on a cruise, but never before 6pm.  One of life’s little pleasures at sea.

3 hours ago, Hlitner said:

We do agree.  Those large bus tours might be the kind of thing we will do when they have to carry me on an off the bus because I am too old and sick to walk.  Even then, I would not be a happy traveler.  As to self-driving, we have finally run into our first roadblock which is Montenegro where they do not allow folks 75 to drive (they will likely need to change that before they become part of the EU).  In fact, we will again be in Kotor, in a few weeks, and it bugs me that I can no longer rent a car and drive in that country.  To me, an organized bus tour ranks up there with a visit to the dentist.  Driving in Europe is no more difficult than driving at home and GPS has been very helpful in saving my marriage (no longer need to rely on DW's map reading).  

 

River cruises can be fun although it is not my favorite way in Europe.  But our river cruises in Egypt and China were fantastic and got us places that would have been difficult to accomplish on land.  We are also very open to the idea of taking small group tours from companies such as Tauck.

We have done three Tauck tours:  New England (Boston return), Scottish Highlands to Edinburgh, and Venice, Florence, Rome by Frezza Rossa (Italy’s fast trains).  They were all fabulous, with expert guides and lecturers, and perfectly organised with everything (including luggage) completely taken care of.  Tauck’s pace leans to the leisurely side, so relaxing as well.  Having driven Italy ourselves many, many times over more than fifty years, we didn’t really need to do a tour, but we both absolutely loved it because we didn’t have to even think for ourselves.  I cannot recommend Tauck highly enough.

6 hours ago, Hlitner said:

No argument on that point.  We have done a few river cruises (Europe, Egypt and China) and enjoyed the experience.  But as long as I am able to drive, it is my preferable way to travel in Europe.  When we did a Viking River cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest (a fantastic itinerary) DW and I were not happy with only having 3 hours to explore an entire city/country (i.e. Bratislava).  When we do our driving trips we can stay where we want, when we want, as long as we want.  

 

Getting back to river cruises, see if that works to get to our favorite city in New Zealand which is Queenstown :).

 

Hank

Ahhh, fabulous, wonderful Queenstown.  Our family loves it:  scenery, golf, skiing, everything daring and adventurous.  Oh, and the food and wines.  We took our kids when they were little, and they’re still visiting Queenstown with their own families.

2 hours ago, oskidunker said:

For some reason, I really dont like truffles. Intead somewhere if you are lacking an enzyme, you could find them awful.  I have trie alot and not only dont like them but find they have a bad taste. Every restaurant now is on the truffle and kale craze.  

Because they are exquisite.  Italian restaurants create a special puff of magic with truffles.  

7 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

Thanks all for this thread 🙂  We have an upcoming 35 days on the Vista and have been discussing whether we want to upgrade our drink package.  Reading through the thread reminds me that if do upgrade it is not because we must, but because we want!  For us. socialization is a major part of cruising and much of that happens in bars/lounges and sometimes by sharing tables at meals.  Is it worth a couple of thousand dollars to socialize with a drink in hand?  That it the question :).  Not our normal style to sit by ourselves, in a cabin, sipping booze.  

 

 

Hank

Thank you, Hank, you mirror our sentiments.  We have already purchased the upgraded drink package through our TA, several months ago in fact.  We've done the same for every Oceania voyage we've sailed, with the exception of the first one many years ago.  We soon realised the difference, and upgraded whilst on board in that instance.  We love meeting fellow guests and socialising, while sipping a martini in Martinis, or enjoying a single malt in Horizons.  Would we ever use the full value of our expenditure in $ terms?  Probably not, but for us, there is no price to be levied on enjoyment and convenience, and we consider the cost of upgrading so that we may enjoy ordering a drink without having to sign every time and worry about the added tax, part of the cost of an enjoyable sailing experience.  It's that simple.

Welcome back to your own thread, Lyle.  The past few weeks have been so challenging for you and Lynn.  I hope you can find some serenity in your lives now.

2 hours ago, MicCanberra said:

Correct, it is Memphis

Is Elvis there?

33 minutes ago, NE John said:

I too remember that discussion as my Southern Italian DW operated the Illy machine with ease. She may have used a few choice words in her Neapolitan dialect though…

A terrified Triestino machine would have understood and obeyed😂

I made a point of emphasising that I couldn’t comment on Britannia Club food and service.  I didn’t, apart from mentioning that one was more expensive than the other, compare suites, because that would have indeed been irrelevant.  I instead discussed inclusives and non-inclusives on each line, which may help the OP in arriving at a decision.