Eglesbrech

53 minutes ago, Adawn47 said:

Me too. We're both foodies and love trying all the different foods wherever with go. We've eaten and drunk some weird and wonderful things in our Asian travels, and in some odd places too. Interestingly we've never had one stomach upset when abroad  either🤔

Avril

If you are foodies then you may want to try this if you go to Madeira.

https://www.madeirafoodonfoot.com/
 

we have done several of their events over the years and they are most enjoyable.

8 minutes ago, Adawn47 said:

@kalos

I've been looking at some hotels in Madeira and Malta which are Frank's choices. I thought if I let him choose where he would love to go it would be better.

As you seem to enjoy Madeira I wondered if you could give me any ideas as to good hotels in Funchal, if that's where you stayed of course.

Avril

Kalos will no doubt have some good ideas, we have also stayed in several times in Madeira.

Most of the hotels in Funchal are up on the Avenue Moumental which is up a very steep hill. There are regular local buses into / back from town and you can purchase a giro card from the bus station which takes the price of the journeys right down. We usually walk along the promenade and down the hill via the gardens into town, then get a bus back up it.

There are a couple of hotels in the town centre but they are somewhat quirky. There is the CR7 which is right opposite the port and a flat walk to town but it doesn’t have balcony’s. The Vine is in the centre as well but very modern and no proper balcony. Two along by the funicular are the Quinta bela Sao tira and the porta Santa Maria. I have not stayed in them but they are a handy location, perhaps someone else has stayed there (both have nie front facing rooms but also noisy side and back facing so an upgrade would be essential).

We have stayed in the 

Enotel Lido - it’s about a 20 minute walk into Funchal but has a bus stop close to the hotel with regular buses. This is a nice all inclusive hotel with lovely rooms and decent food. The main restaurant is a buffet but they also provide table service at a Portuguese, Italian and Tepenyaki.  The standard side sea view rooms look out over the side to the sea over a car park so you would need to get a sea and pool facing room or upgrade to a suite (which is lovely). The hotel is down on the lido so you can go out the back gate for a stool of an evening.

Royal Savoy - we enjoyed this hotel as well, beautiful gardens and closer to the town centre. They offer al La carte dining and also some speciality nights, we had dinner and Fado one night for example. If you book a junior / suite the room has a small kitchen for nights when you just want to chill with cheese and wine and admire the lovely view or a light lunch on the balcony

Vida Mar - again near a bus stop. The higher floor rooms in this hotel have amazing views and are very well appointed. There is also a nice spa. Food is buffet service and more basic than the accommodation,  it you won’t starve. They also offer and Italian and Portuguese option included.

There is so much to see in Funchal, great choice for a holiday.

For those who live in Southampton is congestion near to St Mary’s Stadium (Take That concert next weekend) likely to cause congestion further back up the motorway to any extent?

I ask because popular shows at the SEEC or Hydro do cause congestion in Glasgow and I wondered if / how bad any traffic issues are likely to be. Thanks

All this talk of food is making me hungry!

I’m playing my own personal game of ready, steady, cook this week. We are off on our travels next week so using up what’s left. Its not so much what OH wants to eat but what I can “create” from what’s left in the fridges. 
 

I have come up with some good recipes over the years by bunging together what’s left. I discovered roasted cauliflower, fennel and lentil soup as a result of having to use up a whole cauliflower and it’s delicious. Tonight it’s a Mediterranean beef stew as I had olives, red peppers and sun dried tomatoes to use up.

Does anyone else do this before they go away? I hate food waste.

42 minutes ago, majortom10 said:

So therefore they have to accept by booking the lower Saver fare there is the risk that they could end up in a poorly positioned cabin which could impact on the enjoyment of their cruise They then should not whine about the cabin allocated which many seem to do on here.

I agree with you re the principal (though I must have missed the many who are whining?).
 

I often book saver fares but do so in the full knowledge that I could end up with the very worst cabin in the grade. For that reason I am very careful about the grade I pick (and those in the same cabin type grades above it just in case I am “upgraded” to above the disco). On some ships it’s fairly easy as there is not much between one cabin and another, on others it’s a definite gamble so not worth the risk.

In the unlikely scenario that I get a meta grade upgrade, I’ll happily take that….. but it hasn’t happened yet.

If you book a saver you need to be aware of the risks that go with it. If you must have a certain area or a certain dining time then it’s not for you. The problem is that it seems this is rarely explained fully to new cruisers, which is a shame.

16 minutes ago, longhorn54321 said:

Hi cruise critic family, First timer on MSC. Sailing on Seashore in July '24.

 

I'm looking to go purchase the dining experience package. Is there a limit on how many times we can go to a certain restaurant? ie: can we go to Butchers Cut 4 times with the specialty dining experience? 

 

 

You get different restaurants depending on the package you purchase with a mix of experiences. So no you can’t choose the same one 4 times.

If you look at your cruise personaliser it describes which restaurants or shows each individual package includes.

2 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

It's easy to apply for a postal vote, and you dont need to remember your identity card.

Thanks but I already have a postal vote and have had for many years. This will also be the first election up here that requires ID (not required for Scottish elections).

The issue is that many, many more people will be applying for postal votes given the timing. Not fun or the local councils when coupled with boundary changes.

2 hours ago, mcoler181 said:

On the online portal it is only showing a shipboard credit for myself and not my wife, i daren't ring up MSC and query it in case they balls something up on the booking. 

 

Will I be able to rectify it once on board? Its only $50 so wont lose any sleep if not but might as well have it if we can. 

I’m the same. Only showing for one of us.

Just now, Megabear2 said:

I cannot believe my luck to be honest.  I waited patiently through the pandemic and beyond and finally got to Marostica in 2022 and last year we made Taormina.  I'll probably cry, I normally do!

I’m envious, fabulous voice.
 

Cry away, music has the power to move the soul. I cry every time I hear Dougie McLean sing the scythe song as it reminds me of my dad.

I shall avoid any further comments on a subject which is close to my heart but not one for this particular forum.

Onto safer ground, I should not bake because I then eat it? That’s why I am, shall I say, cuddly.

Three feta bites and a large chunk of rocky road!

4 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

I am watching the TV.

4 July won’t be popular up here. Start of the school holidays and trades holidays.

Folks you might watch to turn on your televisions for 5pm. Announcement being made from Downing Street.

Well it was beautiful here this morning and now the rain is Storting down, bouncing odd the windows and there is thunder and lightening. I have had to put on a lamp as it is dark.

I think I’ll do some baking - comfort food for sitting out the storm.

Nope. They take forever to answer the phone and ignore the online forms as well, I tried that.
 

The only thing that seems to have had a prompt response (for me anyway) was Facebook messenger, they have always come back within an hour on two on that (but they can’t do everything that they can on the phone).

Last cruise I wanted to book a Bon voyage package and eventually just gave up after holding on the phone, the only way to do it apparently.

56 minutes ago, Peanut006 said:

Same as you Avril, my gran was a cook in a mill owners house in Bradford and she taught me to cook and bake. I still cook her recipes 

 

Michelle

My next door neighbour when I was young was the head cook at the local hospital. She taught me how to make many amazing recipes from basics like Scotch Broth and stovies to much more complicated dishes.

Tonight I have made a fish curry, the smell is permeating the whole house. Mrs M would be proud, God rest her.

Glad you enjoyed your day in Lerwick. It’s unusual for it to be a tender port, most ships are in at berth. It must be because the Virtuosa is so big.
 

Once you get home if you want to look at some of the places you have visited there is a good crime drama called “Shetland”. The stories are good but the star of the show is the scenery.

Enjoy your cruise

16 minutes ago, Purdey16 said:

Good morning all, it’s bright and sunny here and I hope you all had a great weekend, well today is my last day before flying tomorrow to Tokyo to meet the Queen Elizabeth ship for our 2 week cruise, it will be our first time on Cunard and our first fly cruise but as yet we can not check in but check-in is open on the app it says so a little concerned there, I will try and post some pictures while I’m a way of nature only using the free internet while on land .

 

Megabear I hope you have a lovely cruise on Cunard too later this week.

Anyone else going on holiday soon i hope you all have a great holiday and everyone else staying home I hope the weather will be warm and sunny for you all.

 

So all my work is done, cases packed, beauty regime done , Andys hair has been scalped to the bear skin 😡 new hair dresser, off out to dinner tonight to our favourite restaurant so a chill out day apart from checking in .

Have a wonderful cruise, glad all the planning is done and dusted. Just relax and enjoy now. Look forward to hearing all about it.

@Megabear2 have a good trip, hope the weather up here stays nice for your visit.

Good morning all. Yet another nice day here again today, I could get used to this (but won’t as it won’t last long).

The garden is in full bloom and while the grass needs a tremi I’m leaving it as with thr warm weather it will just burn, being a bit longer helps.

Have a good day all.

The Maleth saga seems to be dragging on. 

One of the bloggers, Travel Blog Jamie, was affected by a long delay and has been pursuing this via the CAA. He did a video update on it recently.
 

It seems that no one has had the prescribed compensation as yet (unless someone knows differently). 

53 minutes ago, sweep2907 said:

What is the point in smuggling a bottle on board to save £3-4? The mindset of some beggars belief.

Personally I used to take onboard a decent aged cask strength whisky which is generally hundreds of pounds worth. P&O don’t sell that or anything vaguely near that quality. Consequently it’s not to “save £3-4” its to have a decent drink on my balcony.
 

For a week or two I can live without it however, I won’t smuggle as I tend to follow rules.

I do however object to unfounded assumptions. The mindset of some does indeed beggar belief.

The following is from the MSC FAQs. If any of you has a drinks package it may be of interest to note before linking.
 

If guests wish to dine together at the same table, whether traveling in separates cabins as individuals or as part of a group, is it necessary for them to reserve the same drinks package?

Yes, in order for all guests to dine together at the restaurant, they must all subscribe to the same drinks package. 
This means that if one guest chooses a certain drinks package, all other guests who wish to dine together with them must book the same type of drinks package (Easy, Premium, ...). 
This ensures a consistent dining experience for all members of the group. This includes minors, for whom the Minors Package must be booked.

1 hour ago, showingdiva said:

 

Me.   Would never use the butler / concierge etc.   Hate where YC is positioned (high deck, forward).   Don't drink alcohol.  Don't need a separate deck to sunbathe, being very pale and Scottish 👻 

Absolutely, we all choose what suits our personal needs, preferences, budgets etc best. 

As another pale and pasty Scot I avoid too much sun as well. I never get a suntan, it just adds more freckles!

9 hours ago, Snow Hill said:

I have a hot composter as well as a standard dalek composter, grass cuttings I have found need to go in the composter in small amounts I have found, so about a quarter goes in the composter, to which I add the partially compost bark, shredded paper & cardboard (brown material) give the newly added a layer to mix, I occasionally add a handful of pelleted chicken manure. 
 

I don’t add food waste, other than green food waste, chopped up into small pieces as recommended. You need to “feed” the composter a few times a week to keep it going.
 

My 25 year old dalek bin is about to be exterminated as the side has cracked, extermination will mean being thrown in skip I am due to get in a couple of weeks, the contents will be transferred to the dalek replacement, which is square. 

Thanks very much for that. I have just been dumping all the cuttings in at one time so that’s obviously why it’s not working properly. At the moment I have a green smelly mush.

Do you use an excellerator? I bought the powder that you are supposed to sprinkle on after adding a new layer but it doesn’t seem to achieve much (could be user error of course).

1 hour ago, SailorfromBrazil said:

There will be an assortment of snacks at the YC Sundeck Bar as well, finger food, pastries, and many more.

We enjoy breakfast up there some days. Yes nice snacks and food up in the fresh air.

2 hours ago, mcoler181 said:

Thanks. 

 

Its Virtuosa in 6 weeks time, not that I'm counting.

If you haven’t done it before I’m sure you will enjoy it.

If you like little snacks then there are also “surprises” delivered to you suite ever night. There are also snacks left in your fridge, a coffee machine, a full mini bar and don’t forget to select your litre bottle of spirits for the room and your daily newspaper.

Room service is complimentry and if you like pizza and calzone then it’s some of the best available on a cruise ship. 
 

Don’t be restricted by the YC menus in the restaurant. If you want one of the excellent pastas or risottos as a smaller portion starter or intermediate course rather than as a main then just ask. Any reasonable request is considered. Want cheese after pudding, there is a nice cheese trolley to choose from and add a nice liquor or dessert wine - all included.

We only found YC by accident a few years ago when a cruise on another line was cancelled at the very last minute due to an engine. We have used it many times since and always had an enjoyable cruise. I hope you do too.