Another Live from thread - Queen Victoria Greek Islands

[NE John]

Regarding the Daily Programme that @rakkorhas kindly downloaded for us each day and reviewed the Insight lectures. I’m surprised there are no port lectures to prep pax on what’s going on at each port. This itinerary looks great with lots of history to see but background talks onboard would enhance the tours. I believe they had some “recon” talks of ports on other cruises.

Am I missing something in the Programme?

Plus, has Greek/Eastern Med food been more emphasized on this voyage? I’ve seen nice dishes and read good feedback but not too much regional specific food offerings. Maybe the buffet adds some regional foods. 
Thoughts?

[Host Hattie]

From October 2nd

 

[sogne]

49 minutes ago, Host Hattie said:

From October 2nd

 

There have been port presentations on all ports bar Heraklion 

[rakkor]

@NE John Unfortunately I've not got @rafinmd's scanner so I'm unable to post the daily menus in real-time they will have to wait for my return, but we've not had any noticeable Greek dishes on the PG menu. We did have a chicken pitta as a lunch sandwich and I've seen honey cake but no Kleftiko or Stifado so far

 

Yesterday's Blog and today's Daily Programme have been posted https://blog.rakkor.uk

[aday10]

27 minutes ago, rakkor said:

@NE John Unfortunately I've not got @rafinmd's scanner so I'm unable to post the daily menus in real-time they will have to wait for my return, but we've not had any noticeable Greek dishes on the PG menu. We did have a chicken pitta as a lunch sandwich and I've seen honey cake but no Kleftiko or Stifado so far

 

Yesterday's Blog and today's Daily Programme have been posted https://blog.rakkor.uk

Morning @rakkor, I’m really enjoying reading your blogs each day, sounds like you are both enjoying yourselves! 
 

I use an app on my phone called ‘CamScanner’ when I need to scan a document etc but no scanner around. It’s not brilliant, but it does the job 🙂 

[exlondoner]

1 hour ago, rakkor said:

@NE John Unfortunately I've not got @rafinmd's scanner so I'm unable to post the daily menus in real-time they will have to wait for my return, but we've not had any noticeable Greek dishes on the PG menu. We did have a chicken pitta as a lunch sandwich and I've seen honey cake but no Kleftiko or Stifado so far

 

Yesterday's Blog and today's Daily Programme have been posted https://blog.rakkor.uk

Yes, the ship’s whistle (what do you think it should be called?) sounds at noon only when at sea. 

[sogne]

1 minute ago, exlondoner said:

Yes, the ship’s whistle (what do you think it should be called?) sounds at noon only when at sea. 

Whistle ia Old seafaring term

[exlondoner]

3 minutes ago, sogne said:

Whistle ia Old seafaring term

Well, I’ve never heard it called anything else. I just wondered.

[rakkor]

1 hour ago, exlondoner said:

Yes, the ship’s whistle (what do you think it should be called?) sounds at noon only when at sea. 

 

Bloody great hooter is a possibility!

[ballroom-cruisers]

It's been a really fabulous voyage all the way through, and a gorgeous day in Santorini today. I'm attaching a few pictures of this wonderful port of call.

[Host Hattie]

I know there were some concerns about the cable car in Santorini, I hope the queues aren't too bad.

[ballroom-cruisers]

There were huge queues, but with careful timing it was not too bad. We walked up avoiding the donkeys and got the cable car down before the queues built up. So a quiet evening of revival is planned!

[rakkor]

Our tablemats said it was awful, not helped by the MSC tenders being disembarked half way along the queue

[SedNabokos]

14 hours ago, rakkor said:

Bloody great hooter is a possibility!

I agree, the term "whistle" brings to mind a much different sound

 

 

But of course they are called a whistle because originally the sound was produced by venting steam through a much larger version of the same thing.  Just like steam trains.

 

 

[sogne]

21 hours ago, Host Hattie said:

I know there were some concerns about the cable car in Santorini, I hope the queues aren't too bad.

This was our 4th visit and easily the worst ref cable car. It took me 50 minutes from centre of town to the cable car but it seemed much longer. Not helped by a group of Italian women both large and very loud who tried to push past everybody and blocked those coming from the cable car. Eventually they were stopped by others and some sort of normality was restored. I fell in with 4 Americans on their first visit who were not impressed. 

[rakkor]

Yesterday's Santorini visit and today's Daily Programme have now been published https://blog.rakkor.uk 

 

Luckily we never had the tribulations that @sogne had with the cable car as our shore excursion left from the new port at Athinios, but we had the cliff road to negotiate which was a scary proposition

 

[sogne]

2 hours ago, rakkor said:

Yesterday's Santorini visit and today's Daily Programme have now been published https://blog.rakkor.uk 

 

Luckily we never had the tribulations that @sogne had with the cable car as our shore excursion left from the new port at Athinios, but we had the cliff road to negotiate which was a scary proposition

 

Have you experienced the mountain road from Andalnes that really is exciting especially when you meet another coach coming the other way?

[Host Hattie]

What a shame Jane missed Santorini, I hate heights and cable cars but I've managed the journey down twice!

[techteach]

I just read the posts to DH, who hasn’t been to Santorini, and we’ve decided if we should visit we will spend the day in the Spa and enjoy the sunset.

[NE John]

2 hours ago, techteach said:

I just read the posts to DH, who hasn’t been to Santorini, and we’ve decided if we should visit we will spend the day in the Spa and enjoy the sunset.

If I ever went back to Santorini, I’d stay on the ship and avoid that crowded, yet beautiful, tourist trap. Santorini personifies my worst fears of cruising. 
It’s so beautiful just to hang out on the ship surrounded by the caldera and enjoy the best weather in the world. 

[sogne]

19 minutes ago, NE John said:

If I ever went back to Santorini, I’d stay on the ship and avoid that crowded, yet beautiful, tourist trap. Santorini personifies my worst fears of cruising. 
It’s so beautiful just to hang out on the ship surrounded by the caldera and enjoy the best weather in the world. 

If we ever go back that will be our plan.

[rakkor]

3 hours ago, Host Hattie said:

What a shame Jane missed Santorini, I hate heights and cable cars but I've managed the journey down twice!

I'm not sure she feels she missed out after speaking to our table mates. Also our tour never went to Fira, so those views were never an option. She is looking forward to Cephalonia tomorrow though

[rakkor]

4 hours ago, sogne said:

Have you experienced the mountain road from Andalnes that really is exciting especially when you meet another coach coming the other way?

To be honest the wiggly cliff road wasn't the issue, it was reversing at the top of the mountain with a massive drop either side I wasn't so keen on..

[rakkor]

I've eventually got around to updating the blog etc as I didn't have a picture of Jane in her dress for the Gala night, I got a copy of the table photo belonging to our tablemates tonight and updated my blog with that at https://blog.rakkor.uk

[techteach]

Great posts on your blog @rakkor. Love Jane’s red dress.