HeinBloed

Now comes the regular sea day that we would have had. For the big premiere, I go to the Silent Disco in the evening wearing a tuxedo - that shows how much fun I have on board. But first, a huge surprise at breakfast: I met the waiter who made my father happy in 2014 and his colleague John. These two are part of why my father was so enthusiastic about the QM2 that he wanted to take the ship model with him on his last voyage. Reynaldo knows our special requests at Café Carinthia, and we don't need to order anything when we sit down. Finally, Club World members will have a big party with Captain Steven and Hotel General Manager James. It's unpleasant: Two trips need to be added to my list. Otherwise, I would be a Diamond member at the end of this trip. So I have to write to Southampton again because Jasmina can't do anything for me on board. However, I learned much about QUEEN ANNE at an event for German-speaking guests. Ravi fulfills our table requests in the main restaurant. Housekeeping Manager Ana Lisa and her assistant make sure I don't get wet again when I wash my hands and replace the pumps in the shower gel/shampoo bottles. The evening is crowned with the show Hollywood Nights. And again, at the end, there is "You Can't Stop the Beat" from "Hairspray". This gets me singing, standing up, and dancing along. I feel wonderful. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2023/10/seetagday-at-sea-6-auf-deron-queen.html

Now comes the regular sea day that we would have had. For the big premiere, I go to the Silent Disco in the evening wearing a tuxedo - that shows how much fun I have on board. But first, a huge surprise at breakfast: I met the waiter who made my father happy in 2014 and his colleague John. These two are part of why my father was so enthusiastic about the QM2 that he wanted to take the ship model with him on his last voyage. Reynaldo knows our special requests at Café Carinthia, and we don't need to order anything when we sit down. Finally, Club World members will have a big party with Captain Steven and Hotel General Manager James. It's unpleasant: Two trips need to be added to my list. Otherwise, I would be a Diamond member at the end of this trip. So I have to write to Southampton again because Jasmina can't do anything for me on board. However, I learned much about QUEEN ANNE at an event for German-speaking guests. Ravi fulfills our table requests in the main restaurant. Housekeeping Manager Ana Lisa and her assistant make sure I don't get wet again when I wash my hands and replace the pumps in the shower gel/shampoo bottles. The evening is crowned with the show Hollywood Nights. And again, at the end, there is "You Can't Stop the Beat" from "Hairspray". This gets me singing, standing up, and dancing along. I feel wonderful. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2023/10/seetagday-at-sea-6-auf-deron-queen.html

Day 5 should have taken us to a port we'd never been to, Ajaccio on Corsica in France. We have never been to Corsica before. A private city tour had already been booked, and we had tickets for the "little train" in the afternoon. But the weather doesn't allow the journey: the port is closed. So we have another day at sea. My disappointment is limited. On board we meet bar manager Brandon again, who we know from many trips. And finally, we have time for tea. It has to be once every trip. It's a shame we won't play a submarine in a car wash again as we did on QUEEN VICTORIA. Today, we looked at the schedule and discovered Martin Vishak is giving an additional guitar concert. We're there on time this time, just the way we love it. I still needed to manage to eat at La Piazza when it was offered. That's why I'm making it to Riviera today. Marianne and her team warmly welcome us. An old friend we have known for a long time is Nitin - he surprised me and asked how my operation went and whether I was feeling better. We ate together again with Nenad and talked about this and that. Not everything is for straight people. We are worse than the Viennese washerwomen. But it has to be done, and it's a lot of fun. We're unlucky at the LGQLTI+ meeting: it's so dominated by lesbians that all the gays have disappeared. If you're a Saltimbocca fan, try to get a seat here. I have never eaten a better saltimbocca in my life. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2023/10/seetagday-at-sea-5-on-queen-elizabeth.html

Day 5 should have taken us to a port we'd never been to, Ajaccio on Corsica in France. We have never been to Corsica before. A private city tour had already been booked, and we had tickets for the "little train" in the afternoon. But the weather doesn't allow the journey: the port is closed. So we have another day at sea. My disappointment is limited. On board we meet bar manager Brandon again, who we know from many trips. And finally, we have time for tea. It has to be once every trip. It's a shame we won't play a submarine in a car wash again as we did on QUEEN VICTORIA. Today, we looked at the schedule and discovered Martin Vishak is giving an additional guitar concert. We're there on time this time, just the way we love it. I still needed to manage to eat at La Piazza when it was offered. That's why I'm making it to Riviera today. Marianne and her team warmly welcome us. An old friend we have known for a long time is Nitin - he surprised me and asked how my operation went and whether I was feeling better. We ate together again with Nenad and talked about this and that. Not everything is for straight people. We are worse than the Viennese washerwomen. But it has to be done, and it's a lot of fun. We're unlucky at the LGQLTI+ meeting: it's so dominated by lesbians that all the gays have disappeared. If you're a Saltimbocca fan, try to get a seat here. I have never eaten a better saltimbocca in my life. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2023/10/seetagday-at-sea-5-on-queen-elizabeth.html

Day 4 takes us to Civitavecchia, Italy. We also have a butler: our cabin is surrounded by suites. We ask Joy something, and she calls around for us, even though we aren't suite guests. Losito is our sommelier in the evening, and even though we don't drink alcohol, he never ignores us. We take the express train to Rome, Italy. Cristian, who I know from a Facebook group and lives in Rome, recommends visiting Villa Borghese. We also booked a guided tour here and were competently introduced to the beautiful arts. Later, we met him for lunch at a Chinese restaurant. I'm curious how the noodles are prepared here: soft for Chinese or al dente for Italians. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-4-auf-deron-queen-elizabeth-in.html

Day 4 takes us to Civitavecchia, Italy. We also have a butler: our cabin is surrounded by suites. We ask Joy something, and she calls around for us, even though we aren't suite guests. Losito is our sommelier in the evening, and even though we don't drink alcohol, he never ignores us. We take the express train to Rome, Italy. Cristian, who I know from a Facebook group and lives in Rome, recommends visiting Villa Borghese. We also booked a guided tour here and were competently introduced to the beautiful arts. Later, we met him for lunch at a Chinese restaurant. I'm curious how the noodles are prepared here: soft for Chinese or al dente for Italians. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-4-auf-deron-queen-elizabeth-in.html

Day 3 takes us to Naples, Italy. In the morning, we always have our coffee at Agnieszka's. We tell her boss, Claudia, how nice she is, always making us coffee. We also meet Krishna again, whom we know from a previous trip. Daniel is the unlucky guy at reception: whenever he catches me as a guest, something is going on that means he has to run. On board, we meet Suzy and Blair, who are looking for a way to see Pompeii, Italy. We planned to take the boat to Sorrento, Italy, around 11:00 a.m. and take the train to Pompeii. We booked a guided tour there. Back on board, we look forward to the evening in The Verandah. It's so good that I even want to know the chef, Karin, later. The service from Isai and Lance is excellent. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-3-auf-deron-queen-elizabeth-in.html

Day 3 takes us to Naples, Italy. In the morning, we always have our coffee at Agnieszka's. We tell her boss, Claudia, how nice she is, always making us coffee. We also meet Krishna again, whom we know from a previous trip. Daniel is the unlucky guy at reception: whenever he catches me as a guest, something is going on that means he has to run. On board, we meet Suzy and Blair, who are looking for a way to see Pompeii, Italy. We planned to take the boat to Sorrento, Italy, around 11:00 a.m. and take the train to Pompeii. We booked a guided tour there. Back on board, we look forward to the evening in The Verandah. It's so good that I even want to know the chef, Karin, later. The service from Isai and Lance is excellent. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-3-auf-deron-queen-elizabeth-in.html

I love it when the day after embarkation is a day at sea. You can then arrive in peace, sort yourself out, and relax. I'm relaxing so well that unfortunately, I missed the guitar concert. For this, I booked the QUEEN ANNE on board with benefits. 810 days to embarkation. Thanks to Leah. Now I have a lot of time to look forward to it. It's a black-and-white gala evening. We did well with Joel and JB. We enjoy their attentive and friendly service. Head waiter Tristan made sure I had my favorite breakfast. Maître D'Hotel Anand greets me like an old friend of the company. We already know the show "Be Our Guest" from the last trip on the QUEEN VICTORIA 2022. We met Isabelle and Thierry from France, whom I previously met in a Facebook group, at the bar in person. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2023/10/seetagday-at-sea-2-auf-deron-queen.html

I love it when the day after embarkation is a day at sea. You can then arrive in peace, sort yourself out, and relax. I'm relaxing so well that unfortunately, I missed the guitar concert. For this, I booked the QUEEN ANNE on board with benefits. 810 days to embarkation. Thanks to Leah. Now I have a lot of time to look forward to it. It's a black-and-white gala evening. We did well with Joel and JB. We enjoy their attentive and friendly service. Head waiter Tristan made sure I had my favorite breakfast. Maître D'Hotel Anand greets me like an old friend of the company. We already know the show "Be Our Guest" from the last trip on the QUEEN VICTORIA 2022. We met Isabelle and Thierry from France, whom I previously met in a Facebook group, at the bar in person. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2023/10/seetagday-at-sea-2-auf-deron-queen.html

The first encounter with QUEEN ELIZABETH took place early in the morning. My shipping company ID allows me access to the port area - our office in Barcelona is right in the middle of it. The ship leaves at 23:00 hrs. Our check-in time slot would be 16:00 hrs, but luckily, we have many friends on board who ensure we can enjoy our first coffee before 11:00 hrs. We are at "home"! Day 1 is divided into sections 1.1 and 1.2. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-11-auf-deron-queen-elizabeth-in.html https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-12-auf-deron-queen-elizabeth-in.html

The first encounter with QUEEN ELIZABETH took place early in the morning. My shipping company ID allows me access to the port area - our office in Barcelona is right in the middle of it. The ship leaves at 23:00 hrs. Our check-in time slot would be 16:00 hrs, but luckily, we have many friends on board who ensure we can enjoy our first coffee before 11:00 hrs. We are at "home"! Day 1 is divided into sections 1.1 and 1.2. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-11-auf-deron-queen-elizabeth-in.html https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-12-auf-deron-queen-elizabeth-in.html

In the next section, we continue to Barcelona, Spain, on day 0.C. We were unlucky on the way: the charging stations were only near fast food restaurants. In Barcelona, finally, the first ships can be seen: always a paradise for shipspotters: VALIANT LADY, SEA CLOUD, SEABOURN OVATION, MSC DIVINA, SYMPHONY OF THE SEAS, COSTA TOSCANA. We stayed in a great hotel on Plaza Espana, close to our favorite tapas restaurant. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-0c-auf-dem-weg-zuron-way-to.html

In the next section, we continue to Barcelona, Spain, on day 0.C. We were unlucky on the way: the charging stations were only near fast food restaurants. In Barcelona, finally, the first ships can be seen: always a paradise for shipspotters: VALIANT LADY, SEA CLOUD, SEABOURN OVATION, MSC DIVINA, SYMPHONY OF THE SEAS, COSTA TOSCANA. We stayed in a great hotel on Plaza Espana, close to our favorite tapas restaurant. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-0c-auf-dem-weg-zuron-way-to.html

Day 0.B took us further into Vaud, Switzerland, and Lake Geneva, Switzerland. Memories of childhood come back and a short visit in front of the MSC headquarters. We continue to Lyon, France, - the capital of French cuisine. What my French teacher used to say: he was a gourmetand and liked to eat well and a lot. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-0b-auf-dem-weg-zuron-way-to.html

Day 0.B took us further into Vaud, Switzerland, and Lake Geneva, Switzerland. Memories of childhood come back and a short visit in front of the MSC headquarters. We continue to Lyon, France, - the capital of French cuisine. What my French teacher used to say: he was a gourmetand and liked to eat well and a lot. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-0b-auf-dem-weg-zuron-way-to.html

We went to France and Barcelona, Spain, for a week on QUEEN ELIZABETH. The high flight prices, our curiosity about the long journey with an electric car, and the fact that we had packed a lot meant that we took the opportunity to finally see some of the places and landscapes away from the port cities that we usually fly over on planes. The first section of our journey in the blog takes us to Alsace, France. Later, we continued via Lyon, France, to Barcelona. On the way, we tried restaurants that other forum participants from the Gay Traveling Friends group recommended to us. In Barcelona, we boarded QUEEN ELIZABETH for a week in the Western Mediterranean. We had decided much earlier to spend two more days on the MSC WORLD EUROPA, which ended in Genoa, Italy. So we used the days between trips to drive through the south of France to Genoa and reposition the car. We also discovered a gay resort in the Languedoc, France, via Facebook and Gay Traveling Friends that we wanted to try. We continued along the Côte d'Azur to Genoa. We return by plane to Barcelona and then onto MSC WORLD EUROPA - a ship full of surprises. Far away from what we learned on our first trip on MSC MUSICA 16 years ago. Then we went back home through the Swiss mountains. So now, part 0.A until shortly before Strasbourg, France. Have fun while reading. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-0a-auf-dem-weg-zuron-way-to.html

We went to France and Barcelona, Spain, for a week on QUEEN ELIZABETH. The high flight prices, our curiosity about the long journey with an electric car, and the fact that we had packed a lot meant that we took the opportunity to finally see some of the places and landscapes away from the port cities that we usually fly over on planes. The first section of our journey in the blog takes us to Alsace, France. Later, we continued via Lyon, France, to Barcelona. On the way, we tried restaurants that other forum participants from the Gay Traveling Friends group recommended to us. In Barcelona, we boarded QUEEN ELIZABETH for a week in the Western Mediterranean. We had decided much earlier to spend two more days on the MSC WORLD EUROPA, which ended in Genoa, Italy. So we used the days between trips to drive through the south of France to Genoa and reposition the car. We also discovered a gay resort in the Languedoc, France, via Facebook and Gay Traveling Friends that we wanted to try. We continued along the Côte d'Azur to Genoa. We return by plane to Barcelona and then onto MSC WORLD EUROPA - a ship full of surprises. Far away from what we learned on our first trip on MSC MUSICA 16 years ago. Then we went back home through the Swiss mountains. So now, part 0.A until shortly before Strasbourg, France. Have fun while reading. https://heinbloed-cunard.blogspot.com/2023/10/tagday-0a-auf-dem-weg-zuron-way-to.html

Ninety minutes, Guidicca Canal, and Land-based tenders.... It sounds like offshore Venice is around and not Marghera (an industrial port on the mainland with shipyards around). But generally, it's a brilliant idea. Thanks for your first-hand-input.

Back to my original question: 1. I am not interested in any information if Trieste is nice or not - I have been there and familiar. 2. I am not interested in any information why Venice is not called anymore - this is clear. 3. I am only interested in first-hand-information of fellow-cruisers who already made the experience with the tender. 4. Marghera is used by MSC and others as embarkation/debarkation port. But passenger handling is done at the terminals in Venice. Guests are taken by tender boats or buses and baggage is transferred by trucks. 5. It would not make too much sense to have the double call in Trieste and Marghera. 6. One guest already reported that she was taken through Canale Grande - but I assume she is talking of Guidecca Canal on the way to the cruise terminal. This would only make sense if they anchor somewhere East of Venice like around Lido and tender through the Canal. From Marghera at the Mainland there would be no canal like Canale Grande to pass through. Any one who did this tendering, here???

As you see: The itinerary starts in Trieste. There is obviously an additional stop around Venice, and other cruisers have already reported that they were taken by tender to the city of Venice. Something you cannot do out of Trieste. WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT TOURS FROM TRIESTE!!!

Now I understand: This sounds like anchoring near Lido. And land based tenders were used. But when you went to the cruise terminal I am sure you went through Giudecca Canal and not Canale Grande (unless you passed the Rialto Bridge). But honestly spoken: When you arrive at cruise terminal you can walk in five minutes to the People Mover which takes you to Piazzale Roma. Here you find many providers of public tours. All major destinations including Murano/Burano and St. Marks, can go by Vaporetto (water bus). I saw many years ago that Princess took their passenger by tender boat directly to St. Mark’s. Thanks for your input. This sounds like an interesting option instead of Trieste, Monfalcone, or Ravenna.

I found it in the 2025 itineraries of NORWEGIAN PEARL: Does it mean they will maybe anchor in front of Lido or call Marghera and take their guests by tender boats to St. Mark’s Square?

We are back in Dover, England, and have to disembark. It was a nice cruise - even if three days were missing. Saying goodbye is difficult for us even after just six days, like from my birthday, twin Aamir from Guest Services. Our vacation is still ongoing. We have some catching up to do. The refinery workers' strike in November 2022 meant we couldn't visit Reims, France. So we catch up today and finally see the Cathedral of Reims. We are staying at Nicolas' in Reims because Frederic and Hervé are already booked. But we can eat with them and look forward to seeing you again. So we are finally concluding our journey on the QUEEN VICTORIA 2022. So we are already looking forward to our next trips on the QUEEN ELIZABETH and MSC WORLD EUROPE in autumn. We're waiting for Carnival's program for 2025 to see if we can catch up on the Scottish part. Otherwise, I would be interested in the hybrid product Costa/Carnival. Now we are still waiting for our money (3/9 of the travel price is still missing back on my credit card), the money for the three days on land has already been notified, and we'll see when we can get the rest of the onboard credit back. There wasn't much to complain about. On the contrary: a lot was better than expected. So, all in all, a great holiday again with many great people who came into our lives and left an imprint. https://heinbloed-ccl.blogspot.com/2023/07/tagday-7-stattinstead-of-10-auf-deron.html

We are back in Dover, England, and have to disembark. It was a nice cruise - even if three days were missing. Saying goodbye is difficult for us even after just six days, like from my birthday, twin Aamir from Guest Services. Our vacation is still ongoing. We have some catching up to do. The refinery workers' strike in November 2022 meant we couldn't visit Reims, France. So we catch up today and finally see the Cathedral of Reims. We are staying at Nicolas' in Reims because Frederic and Hervé are already booked. But we can eat with them and look forward to seeing you again. So we are finally concluding our journey on the QUEEN VICTORIA 2022. So we are already looking forward to our next trips on the QUEEN ELIZABETH and MSC WORLD EUROPE in autumn. We're waiting for Carnival's program for 2025 to see if we can catch up on the Scottish part. Otherwise, I would be interested in the hybrid product Costa/Carnival. Now we are still waiting for our money (3/9 of the travel price is still missing back on my credit card), the money for the three days on land has already been notified, and we'll see when we can get the rest of the onboard credit back. There wasn't much to complain about. On the contrary: a lot was better than expected. So, all in all, a great holiday again with many great people who came into our lives and left an imprint. https://heinbloed-ccl.blogspot.com/2023/07/tagday-7-stattinstead-of-10-auf-deron.html