Mareblu

Fingers crossed for you both.  In my view, the TA has been remiss in not recording the names correctly, let alone obviously not proofreading with another member of staff.  Just demand to speak to senior management asap.  I’m pretty sure mentioning the word “Ombudsman” should get a response, if you don’t get an immediate and satisfactory response.  Please keep us posted, and best wishes with this.

Please know you have friendship and support here.  We are all thinking of you, and wishing each day is as great as it can be for you.  

What a wonderful voyage, Mic and Rosie.  Is that starter escargot?  🐌 Looks yummy.

yes, leeks, Lyle, I just realised they look like pasta or noodles.  Paprika, leeks, carrots, mushrooms, peas, lemon, a touch of cream, and parsley to finish.  A winter dish really, but felt like some comfort food in the humid conditions we have here right now.

6 hours ago, Ondine said:

 

mmmm I wish.  In fact I am a Pom who never learned to swim much to my dismay.  Think I've left it too late.  When I registered on CC it asked for a name and in my haste I chose Ondine meaning water sprite which sounded appropriate.  I had just been watching a rerun of Margot Fonteyn as Ondine on YouTube.

 

I did not mean to disparage the islands which I have been to many times.  I love IOP, Mare, Santo etc.  Love the people there.  However I usually just go for walks around the place and then queue for 2 hours to get back on the tender in the heat!!  I do wish I was a mermaid then.  Mystery Island is still a mystery for me.  Sick the first time we called, rained like hell the next, couldn't tender the next due to weather and the final time completely missed due to shutting down cruises in March 2020.  The flip side was that we went to Santo instead which was still open and is usually too far from Melb.

 

Not fussed about Fiji although I have done a few shore tours which were ok except that the bus drivers always take you back to their mate's shop and leave you there for 2 hours captive.  Bit too commercial.

 

Just happen to love NZ.

It’s never too late to learn to swim, even just to confidently float on hour back, suspended and relaxed.  Magic.

Boydtown, Eden, NSW?

We can’t let this thread lapse to a second page., so although nowhere near a match for Lyle’s seafood perfection, tonight we had my version of a lighter chicken stroganoff.

The escargot was a dish we actually did enjoy.  As I said above, there were certainly some exceptions.  We found the foie gras overly heavy, so much so that it was a long time before we tried it elsewhere, and it’s a favourite dish.  The same dish in Cunard’s Queens Grill a year ago was exquisite:  aromatic and truly umami:  yet so light it was dancing.  You may try it and disagree, and I would accept that.

7 hours ago, iowananny said:

We were on Vista last month and really enjoyed Ember.  It was a nice change from some of the fancier food we'd been eating and was very enjoyable.  Please don't try it because of things some people who might not have ever been there say.

 

My husband and I were never a fan of Jacques.  My husband worked for a French company for 30 years thus many trips to France, I've probably been there at least 30 times and I hate to think of how many times my husband was there.  We never thought Jacques compared much to the real thing.  At one time there was a restaurant in Des Moines that was had much better French food in my opinion but it's gone now.  To me it seemed more like a 60s or 70s French restaurant which was meant to impress. But many people really enjoyed it and I respect their opinion.  I love mille-feuille and I tried it twice there and both times it was not good.  In fact it was bad.

 

We were very happy with the food on Vista.  One of the highlights of our food experience was the wine luncheon they served.  Yeah, it was expensive, $159 per person plus a $20 service fee but oh it was good.  We were able to taste wines we probably will never buy a bottle of but it sure was fun to taste and the food was really, really good.

 

The new Aquamar Kitchen was excellent and we aren't health food nuts.  It just had good food and we ate there several times and were always impressed..

 

 

 

 

I’m grateful for your post for many reasons, the main one being you’ve voiced exactly what I’ve been reluctant to express:  we have never, in 17 years of sailing Oceania, been great fans of the Jacques experience.  

I know so many on the Oceania threads are loyal to Jacques, and for that reason I’ve been hesitant to say we’ve generally, but with admittedly some exceptions, found the offerings too heavy and overly rich.  Authentic French cuisine, particularly regional fare, is not.  Whether classic or cuisine nouveau, French food is fresh, seasonally sourced, and simple.  Of course, exceptions abound, especially in dessert and bakery items. Even French recipes calling for lashings of butter and other dairy products can be easily digested, if authentically prepared.  
only my humble opinion.  
We won’t miss Jacques on Vista, because we wouldn’t have chosen it as one of our specialty dining experiences anyway.  I deeply respect, however, many CC members’ love of Jacques and all it offers.

I completely agree and concur with all your sentiments.

Some time in February, our TA was advised.  I tried via the App two days ago, but it will not yet allow our passport to be photographed via the App.  Some countries are already eligible.

On 12/24/2023 at 11:55 AM, possum52 said:

What I quoted was from the page for applying for an ETA. How to Apply for an ETA

 

To me it seems that the OP may have applied for tourist visas rather than an ETA and NZeTA and that they have used a third party site rather than the government sites. For an ETA, you have to apply for it using the app. 

It’s the sane for UK now, Leigh.  We need an ETA for entry in May.  It is electronically linked to your passport, providing your passport has the small electronic emblem on front cover.  Otherwise, I expect confirmation emails printed should be carried.  And similarly, our applications are done via the relevant App.

1 hour ago, Colin_Cameron said:

The two are not mutually exclusive. We are currently here on a month long land tour BECAUSE we previously came here on a cruise.

Enjoy your NZ adventure.  Like Scotland, it is beautiful.

There's a marital sequence😉

Mario far too frequently simply rests the lid on top of the bottle in the drawer after barbecuing.  This isn't the first time the floor has had an oil bath.  Worse still are all the shattered glass pieces and shards, all mixed in with the oil (and wasting good olive oil is no fun either).  I usually check that he's screwed the lid tightly before I lift the bottle, but this morning I didn't.  He was on the golf course.  The satanic woman in me innocently posted this photo on our family chat.  He must have heard the phone buzz, as phones switched to volume are forbidden on the course. Just as I was beginning to tackle the mess, after slipping over in it 😤 he was at the door, having rushed home after only nine holes.  Bless him, he cleaned it up.  He did look rather terrified, though😂

I’ve only just read your thread from P.1.  Hilarious, and witty.

Here’s my NGR for today:  how not to start a ragu for a lasagne when all your prep work has been perfect, till lifting the oil from the oil drawer to begin the first cooking step

Seriously, this is exquisite craftsmanship.  My father-in-law was a master carpenter joiner, who actually paid to study under a maestro in Northern Italy.  That was in the first half of last century (feeling old writing this).  He produced the most amazing furniture and intricate cupboards.  A clever, mathematical mindset is a requisite gift for such work.  Congratulations to both you (and St. Hilary😇).

41 minutes ago, clo said:

I finally learned that. We're not regular cruises and are 100% destination focused. So when we think of some place we want to visit - like the Northern Baltic - then we see if we can/should afford it. I can't think of any place we would visit more than once.

Yes, we agree with your philosophy.  Destination first, and only then check for any reductions.

1 hour ago, Cruisey And Boozy said:

My understanding is that they only inspect thirty days before arrival. Given that the ships are sailing fairly constantly, I think that would make compliance difficult if the ship failed inspection. I’m not an expert, of course, but a friend was on a cruise in December that had to anchor off-shore to clean the hull. Weather made it too difficult, so the ship abandoned NZ and went to Tasmania instead

This is Cunard's regular pattern of operation now.  It happened before our QE cruise of January. 2023, and during our cruise.  We also drifted off NZ waters while unsuccessful "attempts" were made to clean the hull.  We were then advised that the waters of iconic bio-sensitive spots would be missed (cruising through the Sounds, Bay of Islands, etc.).  We also completely missed cruising around the tip of the South Island in order to visit Dunedin, and instead sailed direct to the North Island. 

There was a minor mutiny, just about, on board.  We didn't see it, but apparently a petition was raised, with many signatures, and presented to the Captain.  Mainly international tourists, who'd flown long distances to board in Sydney with hopes of visiting the above iconic NZ beauty spots, were furious and disappointed.  We have visited NZ many times, and have enjoyed many hours in these same spots, so although also disappointed, were not as devastated as our fellow passengers from the Northern Hemisphere.  The end result, after I'm assuming some hurried crisis talks with Head Office, was the Captain delivering a letter to our suites and staterooms with Cunard's apology, and an offer of half the cost of the cruise to be used as future cruise credits.  We are using ours on Queen Anne in May.

My point in providing all this background (forgive the lengthy explanation) is to register my dismay that Cunard has obviously continued with the facade through subsequent cruises, and has only now realised that the cat's out of the bag and it needs to eliminate NZ altogether, in preference to spending copious funds on hull cleansing in order to comply with NZ regulations, and enter these pristine waters.

Welcome to Cruise Critic.  I’m sure you’ll enjoy the Oceania experience.  The cuisine on all our six cruises has always  been of a high standard, and often reflects the food of ports visited on particular cruises.  The Terrace Buffet offers a great choice for a casual dinner, and the GDR, while somewhat more formal, changes its menu daily, while always retaining three or more favourites.  The specialty restaurants offer individual menus, reflecting the tastes and culture of their titles.  Having said all that, our last O cruise was in September 22.  Our next is this April, on Vista.  We hope the standard of cuisine remains high.

On 2/14/2024 at 2:27 AM, EJL2023 said:

You act as if ongoing sales are just an Oceania thing. I just opened the sites for Regent, Viking, Silversea, Seabourn and Azamara.  They all have a current sales indicated on their home page. I get ads weekly in the mail throughout the year from either their marketing departments or my travel agency. Therefore, I feel confident that those of us that take cruises have a decent understanding of the concept of sales.

Cunard has a sale at the moment, and does so regularly.  Like most cruise companies, the sales only relate to specific cruises.

Just now, qbay46 said:

Yes it is the Ord River and yes it is at Kununurra, but it isn't the Old River Dam, that holds back Lake Argyle.

Okay.  I defer to other posters who will have much sounder knowledge.  I was cheating by using Google anyway😂

Okay, so it’s the Ord River Dam, Kununurra.  Good tip from Mic.

I've been waiting for this announcement.  Our QE cruise a year ago suddenly dropped many NZ itinerary stops.  The reason is the strict bio-regulations for hulls.  QE unsuccessfully attempted to clean the hull while we drifted off NZ waters.  Too little, too late.  All passengers on that cruise were granted half the cost of the voyage in CCs for a future cruise.  We're using ours for a Queen Anne voyage in May.  We were so disappointed for the many British and American passengers who'd flown so many hours to board in Sydney, and who were really looking forward to the NZ heritage stops and cruise-bys.  We have visited and enjoyed NZ many times, so although saddened that we were missing Dunedin, the Sounds and Bay of Islands on that cruise, our disappointment was nothing compared to those who'd not visited these iconic spots.

Umm, no room on the lifeboats though😔 

Happy Valentines Day to you, Les.  What a lovely, thoughtful message.  We’ll be picturing you happily enjoying a delicious Raymonds dinner and a glass or two.  Don’t do a Barnaby😂.     For Valentines Day I let Mario play golf.  I enjoyed the solitude, and he enjoyed the volf.  Way to last 54 years😂

I’ll ring you tomorrow to set up a date before 29 Feb.  Take it as easy as you can, moving is a stressful job.  Our best wishes to your daughter and her partner, too.  She’s a lucky girl.

10 hours ago, lyndarra said:

My plot (or Estate for which I have a Title and can call myself Lord or Laird) is, more correctly, at Glencoe Wood which is a short distance away from Glenco proper.

You can buy a little piece of Scotland in Glencoe Wood (www.highlandtitles.com).

My grandfather was from Seatown of Cowie on the east coast. I have traced family back to late only late 1600s. I'm from a long line of whitefishers.

My cousin bought me a square metre of the Fletcher Clan's Castle Dunans estate, on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll and Bute.  The certificate attests that I'm "Lady Linda of Dunans".  Hysterical nonsense, of course, but a bit of fun, and a good revenue-raiser for all the estates, which these days do need to be run as a commercial enterprise to make ends meet.  The original Fletcher castle, now in ruins, is by Loch Tulla, near Glencoe.  Driving through the sheer beauty and majesty of the Pass of Glencoe always takes my breath away.

Anyway, we've drifted totally off topic, sorry to all the "Where Was I?" folk😂