Mareblu

3 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

I'll come to your house any time for diner.  Is that a potato cut horizontally? Did you cook beetroot?  How do you pickle cauliflower?   I love fresh cooked beetroot.  My last beetroot from market was a pale colour and was delicious.  I'll probably never see it again.  "What do you mean a pale purple beetroot?"

See my post 7670 above for a quick, tasty pickle method.

Julie's suggestion is a good one, to be modified as you see fit.  For your comfortable convenience, we have homes with spare bedrooms here in Canberra, and at Batemans Bay.  It would be our pleasure to welcome you.

2 hours ago, NSWP said:

I get those, I just chuck the olives, hate them.  The Giardiniera are great with some cheddar cheese and continental meats.

Our first point of difference, Les🙂.  I love olives, to the point of your description of "lubbly jubbly".  I also like to make my own pickles to be used on the same day (not really into preserving.  All you need is the right vegetable (zucchini, beetroot, cauliflower, cucumber all good) and an equal mix of salt and sweetener in a good vinegar.  To that I add garden herbs for flavour, let stand for an hour or so, then drain and serve.  Deliciously crispy, and packed with tangy flavour.

28 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

With the likely change of plan we are looking at our options for flights. I think we will probably fly direct Vancouver to Sydney in Qantas premium economy. It seems like the way to go. We would arrive in Oz mid February 2025; that would give us about 4 weeks in OZ before the cruise.

I'm wondering about the hire car, my original thought was a one way rental (pick up the car in Sydney and leave it in Melbourne) now I wonder if we should plan a round trip. I know we want to meet up with as many CC friends as we can. So Lake Macquarie, the blue mountains, Canberra, and Melbourne are already on the list. We also have someone we would like to visit in Warrnambool. I am aware that this a rather ambitious route to complete on the road in 4 weeks. especially if we do a round trip to Sydney.

Is a one way car hire possible? Especially when we are leaving the car in a different state?

Coincidence!  I have just finished booking our one-way car for Canberra-Sydney before our flight in April.  We are returning car later the same day to Sydney Airport.  We will stay overnight at an Airport hotel, and repeat the exercise when we return after our trip.  It's certainly possible, as we are doing it like we have done many times before.  It's much more expensive, though, to return to a different location.  It is a reluctant, but preferable expense for us, because when we travel, we go for long periods, and we have a lot of luggage.  Bus and train are alternatives, but luggage makes the trip awkward.  We have tried it, and have returned to the door-to-door convenience of car rental, as the rental depot is right next to Rydges Hotel, where we stay. 

Interstate? yes.  Canberra is in the Australian Capital Territory, and Sydney is in New South Wales.  Melbourne to Sydney, or any other state capital city would be the same, Lisle.  We are doing the same in the UK:  pick up Edinburgh Airport, and return several weeks later to Southampton.  Again, there is a surcharge for returning to a different location.

Australians would not consider your planned itinerary ambitious to complete in four weeks.  Like Canada, it's a vast and diverse country, and we are used to distances.  We reach Sydney from here in 3-1/2 hours, Melbourne is 7-9 hours with comfort and rest stops.

We are so looking forward to meeting you and Lynne.

4 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

I agree the service and meals were excellent but I had real problems with those seats. On the way over I ended up pulling a muscle in my back which didn't come right until I paid for an extremely expensive (and extremely good) massage about two weeks later on the Regent cruise.

 

It wasn't so much adjusting the seat that was the problem, it was putting the seat cover on. That's impossible to do until the seat is extended and you're not sitting on it. 

 

Yes, I agree with the initial bed setting.  The attendants always kindly do that for me.  After that, I adjust it to sitting up, reclining, or back to flat bed myself with a simple touch. I have osteoarthritis to a degree that I have a knee and a finger joint replacement, and my spinal discs are not great, and because of this, my only ailments, thankfully at my age, I have had to reluctantly give up golf after many enjoyable years.  I also have, because of disc compression, occasional bouts of severe sciatica.  SA seats and beds are very kind to me (so far😂) after nearly thirty years of travelling on them.  It would be physically impossible to return to the days of economy class, even though  that would be the financially sensible choice.  Last year we chose Cathay because its BC was just over half the fare of SA, but we regretted it all the way to London and back.

2 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Singapore Airlines.

 

On the A380 they give you a seat cover, duvet and pillow. The footwell was off to one side, in my case my right, which meant you had to lie at a very odd angle. Even sitting with feet up was not quite comfortable. You had to stand up to set the seat into flat mode and put the seat cover on, then wriggle back into the seat.

 

The Boeing 777 had the footwell on the other side and the angle wasn't quite as awkward especially for sitting. However with this plane you had to get the flight attendant to convert the seat to a bed as the back of the seat folded down. 

 

In the past (ten years ago or so) the seats were staggered in the rows ie in the middle section the two seats were right next to each other on one row but the seats in the next row were closer to the aisle, and so on. So the footwell was always directly in front of the seat. But I don't think those seats reclined fully flat. They were more comfortable though.

Julie, we choose SA because we consider their BC the most comfortable and relaxing service we’ve tried, and there have been many.  I’ve never had to stand to adjust the seat, it’s all at the touch of a finger.  Yes, the full stretch foot area is slightly offset, but nowhere that of Cathay. Lufthansa, etc.  SA’s service is impeccable, and it is consistently rated the best or close  to best BC for so many reasons.  When I step into that sublime ambience, I feel I’ve come home.  We don’t travel and cruise nearly as often as so many CC friends, but when we  do, we would rather do it infrequently, and comfortably.  We’re at the age now that if it’s not almost as relaxing snd comfortable as home, we’re staying home.

38 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

So there may be a new wrinkle in the down under adventure. With my increased disinterest in flying and Lynn isn't that keen either we are looking at changing the itinerary. As it turns out the cruise we have booked is the last of the season for Westerdam, she is leaving from Sydney and heading back north with some interesting stops along the way. It's a 29 day voyage and she stops in Victoria before finishing in Seattle (gee I wonder where we're getting off). This looks like an elegant solution to the long haul flight issue. We are looking at the costs now, it will obviously cost more than flying but hey we don't have to pay for the flight home. We also have to look at as how much would a separate vacation to Fiji and the other ports on this cruise? And let's not forget the flights involved for such a trip.

So I think our 14 day cruise will probably turn into a 43 day cruise, and the road trip which was goin to happen before the cruise will actually happen before the cruise. Hopefully people will still be home in late February, early March 2025. Maybe some of you may decide the Sydney to Seattle itinerary is interesting and we could be ship mates. It's all up in the air right now but I think we are probably going to make this a true down under adventure, with many interesting stops on the way home.

That seems an exciting agenda, Lisle😃

1 minute ago, tigerfan75 said:

Yes, there were Captain's Parties on our three O sailings in 2023.  And the nights were as you stated, either on the second night, or the first sea day.

Thank you so much for this information.  I will now need to consult with my M&M colleague.

Our Sirena voyage in September 2022 did not include a Captain's reception, which was sensible at that time.  I have read somewhere that the cocktail parties have since resumed.   Could some kind soul with certain knowledge enlighten me?  If the tradition has resumed, I also need to know if the former norm of the second night of the voyage, or alternatively, the first sea day after embarkation, is the designated evening.  This will definitely affect the two M&Ms I am assisting to arrange for our Vista Grand Med Voyage in April.  Many thanks in advance.

Linda

Lake Wakatipu?

2 hours ago, cruiser3775 said:

In Victoria, you can buy a little token on a swivel keyring, which you can reuse indefinitely on your Aldi trolley. Yes, you have to buy it first, but it saves faffing around looking for a $2 coin.  It might be the right size to use on Coles or Woolies trolleys, too. I've never tried.

One thing I have bought on board cruise ships is wrist watches.  They have gone out of fashion, as people use their mobile phones to tell the time, but I still like wearing a watch. The ship shops often have sales of more expensive watches deeply discounted, but also some good bargains on budget watches.

I have one I use in Canberra.  It's attached to my keyring.  

28 minutes ago, Jean C said:

They love me too - O+  😪

Jean, I’m also O+, and if there are any tiny flying insects around, they choose me.  Every few years (7 on average apparently, but more frequently during any series of wet summers like now) Canberra is visited by Midges, particularly near water.  We’re not far from the lake, so they love our garden.  Unlike mozzies, they can even enter through screens, which we have on every window and door except our front door.  Two years ago, they drove me crazy, while completely ignoring Mario.  He’s a B blood type, can’t remember which specifically atm, but when I researched this topic, I found that Os are targeted, while Bs are generally ignored if there’s an O around.

Actually, latest research reveals the dominant attraction factor is blood type.

4 minutes ago, Yaya_in_Oz said:

You’re getting close. Further north.

 

Plymouth?

Thanks, as always, Blue Marble.  Queen Anne "British Isles" 24 May, 2024:

May 25:       Black and White

May 30:       Masquerade

June 4:        Roaring Twenties.

We have already done just that (upgraded to Prestige).  Our Vista cruise is not till April.

Falmouth, Cornwall?

55 minutes ago, mr walker said:

not going there mate 🙂 

Nor I😳

54 minutes ago, bluemarble said:

 

I updated my previous post when I saw the Southampton VTS Cruise Ship Schedule has now been updated through the end of May and QA isn't on it yet, even for her scheduled May 3rd maiden voyage and subsequent voyages in May. So I backtracked about using that schedule as any indication of the date for the naming ceremony. Not sure why QA isn't on that cruise ship schedule yet.

 

Edit to add: There is room in Southampton for QA most dates through May. April 28th will be especially busy with QM2 and QV both in Southampton along with two other ships.

Thank you again.   Relieved there’s room in May;  we are booked on “British Isles” on 24 May.  How marvellous:  two Queens on one day.

8 minutes ago, bluemarble said:

 

I'll jump in to help with this one. There's a post stating QA will be named on April 19th in Southampton and her sea trials are rumored to start February 2nd.

 

I see a couple issues with that date for the naming ceremony though. First of all, the Southampton VTS Cruise Ship Schedule is posted through the end of April and Queen Anne is not listed on it.

 

Secondly, recent tradition has been for the naming ceremonies to be no more than a few days before the maiden voyages. QM2's naming ceremony was four days before her maiden voyage. QV's and QE's naming ceremonies were both the day before their maiden voyages. It would be a departure to have QA's naming ceremony a full fourteen days before her maiden voyage on May 3rd.

 

Let's just say I'm skeptical.

Thank you, Blue Marble.  Is there a Southampton “vacancy” 1-4 days before her mv?

1 hour ago, mr walker said:

Someone asked if the ducks are hidden or just left around. I think both.

Not my photo, but this was a duck hidden on Cruisin' Country cruise on Brillance in December.

It was described as having been hidden high up in the A hole of the sign 🙂 . It was posted that someone spotted it & that they needed to stand up on a chair to get it. 

Well, that's where it was alright, just as described😉

5 hours ago, sogne said:

FWIW a QA social media page is giving the alleged date of commencement of sea trials and naming ceremony date.

CC is my only social media, so I'm assuming the one you refer to is the one which can't be named.  Is it possible to kindly relate the details for us here?

11 hours ago, MEFIowa said:

Though we're discussing O and its repeated FAILURE to publish and enforce its own rules! I don't know about you, but I taught my children that actual rules are enforced and have consequences.

 

Tell us, what is the actual ENFORCED RULE on alcohol on O ships?

Why are you shouting?

Yours is the true spirit of Christmas:  courage and acceptance in adversity, and caring for the plight of others, to name a few of the enviable qualities I glimpse in your story.  Wishing and fervently hoping your lives are returned to normal as rapidly as possible.  You deserve a happy, untroubled year of good health and tranquility.  Hang in there.

6 hours ago, Torquer said:

Going back to the original question that was asked, hopefully without creating any more controversy...is there a different policy for the top suites (OS, VS, OC)?  We have not cruised on O since before covid, and I don't ever recall having to wait to drop our carry-on bag in our suite, before going to lunch.  Just want to know what to expect on our upcoming cruise and not violate any rules; we are staying in an Oceania Suite on this cruise.

We were in a Sirena Vista Suite last September, and as on all previous sailings (always in PH1) we were happy to relax with our carry-ons in The Terrace for our "number" to be called.  They do call "stateroom ready" in hierarchical order, which TBH does make us feel a tad uncomfortable and conspicuous, although I can't recall ever hearing the Owner's Suite being called.  We wouldn't dream of disturbing the hard-working stewards to drop off luggage of any description.  They are on the clock as it is.  It's so lovely to simply enjoy the realisation that you're aboard your floating home, to nestle in and enjoy a refreshing drink or bite to eat (the lunch spread on embarkation day is always delicious) and to chat to fellow passengers.  I think I should leave it at that.