Blackduck59

Yes, we will probably be in the MDR then.

I often have trouble getting pictures placed where I want on these boards. So after lobster rolls it was a couple blocks to Cows Ice Cream. It's a proper shop close to the pier, you can see it from the ship, if you know where to look. I tried 2 flavours today the cherry chocolate and the PEI blueberry and even though they were very good I preferred the peach Melba which was peach ice cream with a raspberry swirl, that we got in Halifax. They have a bunch of different swag in the shop, something for everyone. We're back on the ship now, Lynn is resting and I think I'll grab a nap as soon as I post this.

We got back to the ship and the weather is much better we stayed dry by going through the little market and Founders Hall market. From there it's a short walk up the hill to Water-Prince Corner Shop for lobster rolls, they were about $28.00 CDN. We enjoyed them very much.

So it was early morning on the bus. We were on the drive over the Confederation Bridge. Unfortunately the weather was awful. I can see how this tour could be quite nice in good weather, for us not so much. Oh well the weather gods had spoken. Unfortunately the P/A system had some glitches on the way out and this added to the unfortunate weather made for a disappointing tour. We had a stop at Cape Jourimain for an hour. Some people made the long wet trudge out to the lighthouse. We stay close to the bus, there is a little gift shop and small snack stand. I went out the back side of the building along a boardwalk to the nature center, this feels like a work in progress. I was able to get some decent shots of the bridge emerging from the gloom. We all got back on the bus and drove back to town, meanwhile they sorted the P/A while we were stopped. Unfortunately our tour guide seemed a little hesitant to use it. I'm afraid she seemed like a nice woman but terribly unprepared. I think this would have been a pretty good tour with better weather, I think it really threw everyone off.

Oh I'm sorry you missed the baked Alaska it was really good. I'm so glad when people have had good experiences and chose well for themselves. It shows that some of our disappointments are from poor choices on my part. I did mention I felt several time I chose poorly in the MDR. Of course the main thing was slow service. We chose to have a table for 2 tonight and service was quicker.

I hope it comes through for you Lyndon then you can travel some more 😉

I've lived in Victoria for 61 of my 64 years. Kipling's was a great buffet and I the chocolate was part of that. Alas all long gone, and the Bengal Lounge is gone too ( someone stole the tiger skin, serves them right for closing the place) Again the OP has admonished me for drifting so we really need to move on from the Empress.

We just wandered by the Explorer's Lounge and the classical duo are playing. It is basically a full house. That being said not as full as Ocean Bar for trivia. We are trying a new tactic for dinner, wait at the door early and go for a table for 2.

So we just sat through another trivia game 🤔. I will say again it's too hard for vacation.

@OlsSalt at the risk of drifting my own thread. The library in the Empress was The Library Bar in the 70s and early 80s. Quite posh jacket and tie type place where a simple highball required a tray with an empty glass a glass of ice a shot of whatever libation you order and a small glass bottle of the mix you ordered. The drink was assembled at the table. The type of service not seen in many places if any. So before others chastise me for drifting the OP has already chastised me. 😉

So we ended up having lunch in 2 different venues. I wanted to have the Indian street food in the Lido and Lynn didn't find anything she liked so she went to the MDR. We just met back up in our cabin, she enjoyed her luncheon. And frankly from her description she chose more wisely than me. She was by herself and the service was timely, the food tasty and she really enjoyed it. I think perhaps we will see if we can get a table for 2 for tonight.

That table cloth was made by my mom, you will notice there are only 3 place settings. My mom had passed and that was my way of including her.

I was sitting in the Explorations Café this morning and saw some millwork I know I worked on. It was interesting to see "oh that's where that went"

Lynn enjoys puzzles.

Our veranda view.

So here is my lovely wife after her screech in.

Funny enough I've never had afternoon tea at the Empress, it's always been to pricey for me. I did however build the large roll top tea carts and the shroud walls where they park them in the middle of the room. There are other great options in our town.

It is a sea day today. The weather is delightful, it's a bright sunny day with a very light ripple on the sea. We're in Explorations Café, I'm just enjoying the view from my comfy chair and Lynn is working a puzzle. We have met some really nice people and had some great conversations.

Thanks Mic as I mentioned on the observations thread the rum isn't that bad but definitely needs to be mixed, Ron Zacappa it's not. I should clarify the "screech in" at HMCS Quadra, included a fresh cod with big teeth so when I kissed the cod I cut my lip so the dubious quality of the screech combined with the open wound on my lip made for a memorable moment at least there was a certain antiseptic quality to the screech. 😟

Sorry for the placement of my personal photo on the "afternoon tea" comments it was supposed to be under the text. I know I wasn't going to compare HAL but thought I should show that when I say I can do better at home, I can.

I thought I should mention afternoon tea. It seems to be popular but I don't know why. It was sort of a cattle call situation with a rather large line of folks just flowing in and sitting at whatever table. Each table had a number of small 3 tier plate stands. The selection on each was the same, 3 assorted small finger sandwiches, rather plain really. The next layer had 3 scones (if you can call them that) and the top layer was assorted pastries including 1 macaron. All in all not memorable. There was no choice of tea just what was described as "black tea". Where I come from afternoon tea is something else. I put together a better tea at home. This was afternoon tea at our house for Lynn's mom on mother's day.

I'm much like you Mic. I think the old adage that "Good service can save a poor kitchen" is at play here a bit. I'm not saying the service is "bad" but it is slow and sometimes chaotic.

Thanks for your suggestion, we want the flexibility of the open seating. We are new to HAL not new to cruising. I said at the start I wasn't going to compare this cruise with others but would post my observations about this cruise. So for this cruise, so far, the MDR doesn't stand out as a positive. When we finally do get down under after 2 failed attempts we will be in Auckland at least 2 days pre-cruise and in Oz for about a month post cruise.

There seems to be about 3 a day, we happened to be in the Crow's Nest when they were playing once. We followed along but didn't actually participate, we would have been slaughtered. That lead us to conclude it was too hard for vacation time.😟

I will respond to that but only by saying perhaps the Carnival guest has a different view about quality foods 🤔.