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Solent Richard

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  • Posts

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About Me

  • Location
    Hampshire, England
  • Interests
    Scuba diving, Cruising and Ballroom Dancing
  • Favorite Cruise Line(s)
    Cunard and P&O
  • Favorite Cruise Destination Or Port of Call
    Far East

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  1. What a shame and such a tough call for north (Hue) or south (Hoi An) excursions.
  2. Terrorist precautions? I make a habit of noting what's on offer in the security stakes. It always draws my attention, particularly sailing out of New York onboard Queen Mary 2 with both the NYPD... ***** ...and the US Coast Guard.... ...in armed attendance....
  3. No doubt many members have been following @Roscoe 's blog.... http://exitviathegiftshop.blogspot.com/?view=magazine ...and will have spotted his take on Queen Victoria's anti-pirate measures while sailing in Asian waters... ***** He does also mention additional measures but the stern promenade deck where they were positioned was 'out of bounds'. So I thought it maybe of interest to show what I captured on my trusty Nikon while preparing to sail Trans Atlantic on Queen Mary 2 some years ago. The LRAD (Long Range Acoustic Device) .... ******
  4. Hello again @watsonbeau Here is a link to my offering on Zadar.... A veritable gem of a visit and probably the easiest of your visits to undertake on your own. https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2023/01/27/one-way-to-do-zadar-croatia/ You should be berthed in the same position as the opening photograph which is also indicated on the attached map and within spitting distance of the famous 'Sea Organ'... Whatever you do, do sample Zadar's magnificent seafood... Next up Split and Malta
  5. Good morning @watsonbeau . I can help you on a number of your scheduled port stops. Firstly let me cover visits to Corfu and Kotor. The link that follows covers both though we were not travelling on a Cunard ship. Just scroll down to where we visited the scenic town of Budva and the island of Sveti Stefan on an excursion from Kotor..... https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2014/06/09/ventura-a-perfect-fly-cruise-med-break/ ********* As the blog reiterates, get these musts done early and there is still plenty of time to take in Kotor itself....
  6. Good morning @Pushpit . But surely the subject (Miniatures) was clearly indicated at my # 118 as you quoted @vistaman 's # 119 which referred to my photograph - wearing 'Miniatures'. I find no other reference since that point where medals, as opposed to 'miniatures' was brought up. Of course, when the occasion suits, usually on Remembrance Day at home... ...and when joining my veteran friends at the Cenotaph... ....I do wear medals.
  7. Good morning. As I see you have indicated that your Grills accommodation is a Q3 Penthouse then I accept that you will be sailing on either Queen Victoria, Queen Anne or Queen Elizabeth and not Queen Mary 2. As pointed out earlier, you should not worry that a table for two are too small - this is Cunard... Being allocated a good table, no matter what size one has requested, can depend to a large extent on whether one is going a fresh cruise or joining in between legs of a longer cruise. Whatever, it is most important, as others have mentioned, to head to the grill restaurant as early as possible to take a rain check of table size and position. In all my times sailing either grills only once was a pre-sailing request to the ship, for a particular table, NOT met and that was when joining a world cruise leg. On that occasion I declined the allocated larger table and was given a table for two.
  8. As do hundreds of guests onboard many cruise ships including P&O, Cunard, Saga and even Celebrity. Win them and wear them as the old mess deck saying goes. 😉😉
  9. Good morning @Pushpit . I'd be more than interested to learn from what source your statement regarding the MOD in the UK discourages the wearing of medals. As a retired naval officer, and one whose duties often embraced ceremonial and dress regulations, I would draw your attention to ... https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media/royal-navy-responsive/documents/reference-library/br-3-vol-1/chapter-44.pdf ...and in particular the wearing of medals with 'civilian dress' on formal occasions.
  10. That seems pretty fair to me and it's good to know the Carnival Corporation (aka Cunard & P&O) are at least keeping up with the game. For myself, a pretty senior senior, I have endeavoured to keep up with technology and found no problem not only adding 'Stockperks' to my iPhone but also claiming and getting confirmed OBC for an upcoming cruise. I take the view that those 'elderly' folk who have not embraced IT technology over the years, and now appear to cry wolf, have little to complain about if they find themselves left behind in the C21st world - whether it be P&O, Cunard, or any other cruise line operating similar technology. I have a number of future cruises booked but only one with Cunard. I'd be interested to learn from those with 'multiple' bookings whether or not the App will allow claims for OBC on cruises booked well ahead of the final payment date as someone previously suggested had been available through their stockbroker.
  11. I well remember your time on that 78 night cruise @Bell Boy . Not one to be missed if one is a big fan of Queen Victoria. 😉 I also recall we both did most of the itinerary on Queen Mary 2's circumnavigation in 2009....
  12. Anyone have any first-hand experience? Yes, 12055 while travelling Trans Atlantic solo....
  13. Couldn't agree more @Windsurfboy 😂😂
  14. Generally there will be 'Dance Classes' on a daily basis which will be advertised on the daily programme. (Venue, time and which dance will feature that particular day). This should get you some basic steps and timings however, one session is dedicated to one dance routine Depending on how keen you are I have known the 'Dance hosts' to offer private tuition and when the Queens Room has not been available then they have used the G32. Should private lessons not be conducive my advice would be to download one or two waltzes onto your iPhone and, when you have picked up the basic steps with the instructors, head into G32 on a quiet part of the day and have a practice.
  15. Interesting comments regarding the 'benefit', not just from you @Wonky . The financial aspects have never been an issue where my wife and I are concerned - $70 is neither here nor there in the broader outlook. We have viewed the loyalty 'perk' more in the context of being able to socialise and dine with friends who otherwise we would not have the opportunity to dine with due to their not travelling Grills or being staff members whom we wish to say thank you to: whether it be Todd English on Queen Mary 2.... or the Veranda on Queen Elizabeth or Queen Victoria.... *******
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