Solent Richard

By 5 years younger @D&N . We were on QM2's 29 Night Caribbean Christmas

Not too dissimilar an angle.... Taken on QM2's Caribbean Christmas Cruise.

I'm going to go with Curacao. That's a nice angle you captured there.... ***** ******

Good afternoon. I've just published my review of a recent cruise onboard Azamara Onward. It's not all a rosy picture but pretty comprehensive all the same. It also includes the full Greek Intensive itinerary.... https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2023/12/05/azamara-onward-truly-a-curates-egg/ ****** Always happy to answer questions.

Oh I don't know. A new line in entertainment? 😂

Not all men I would add... My good lady and I do colour, even on formal nights....

Ah, the good old days. I remember them well.

In fact that's the perfect 'Oxymoron'.

Hi there Phil. I actually 'Hung On' nearly an hour. watching overrun staff trying to check names of passengers disembarking buses so they could be issued with luggage labels. Those then in the line I earlier illustrated then became frustrated when another coach arrived and more chaos ensued. Finally for check in when we had dropped luggage it became apparent that not all check-in desks were manned..... Then of course one has to join a queue onboard to make the speciality dining reservations that you purchased many months in advance... ...only to find the prime times unavailable. Things could only get better? 😂 As I said earlier, 175 cruises and that was the poorest start.

I don't hold out much hope for you. We have recently taken our first Azamara cruise (of 75 others) and it was probably the worst experience yet. Most passengers ignore the times and just turn up, coaches unload and there's a scramble for luggage labels, and zero checks on what status you have. Istanbul last month...

To get back on track with the OP and the Bright Lights Society (BLS), well spotted and surmised @bluemarble and @Bell Boy . It would be my valid assumption that this facility (BLS) is a somewhat more sophisticated reincarnation of the ever popular Limelight Club facility that my wife and I have enjoyed on numerous occasions while sailing with P&O's Britannia and Iona... ...but of course, with a dash of Cunard's more traditional style and character... There would be ample space for dancing/bopping for those wishing to do so and no doubt, as with the P&O versions, there is a retractable stage extension to add to the area of the dance floor....

Having visited Bilbao recently I was pretty impressed on what can be achieved so decided to write a review on my cruise blog. Should anyone be interested here's the link... https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2023/09/26/one-way-to-do-bilbao/ *****

How kind, it's not all that difficult. Thank you.

And I'm just so pleased we experienced it when it was available. Not only for the itinerary either: though that was excellent. It certainly gave one the impression that traditional Cunarders were in the majority and one never heard of any passengers pushing the boundaries of dress standards. We even managed a helicopter flight over the Cape... ...with a pilot who, having accepted who we were sailing with, obligingly provided the perfect photo opportunity... ******

And so much smarter in that cummerbund. 😉😉

Why spoil the ship for a ha’porth of tar? I would never feel properly dressed on a formal night without both patent shoes and a cummerbund. But hey, each to our own.

Have you tried Racing Green? Nice shoes though a little heavy for ballroom dancing. Their website has an enquiry section which may help finding your wider fatten specification

Or those who can remember the QE2's South African 'Line Voyages, 37 nights Funchal - Cape Town, Durban, -Mauritius(Port Louis) - Cape Town - Walvis Bay - St Helena - Santa Cruz de Tenerife - Vigo - Southampton The ship even arrived in daylight...

Tell me about it. Two world cruises and there was only the one port we'd not landed at. If it wasn't for trying out Queen Anne I doubt we would be sailing Cunard for a while. Hence Azamara next as a newby: 7 ports 4 New to us. Isn't it what cruising is all about?

On the ball again @Bell Boy 😁

I would add the late great Ray Rouse to your nomination @sfred though I believe he had Queen Mary 2 in his DNA. You'd certainly have been aware of Ray @exlondoner , a true Cunard character.

Apologies for the late response but I've been on a week's exploration of Yorkshire and time was far more important savouring the delights there rather than online. So, better late than never I guess, how's about this for a Santorini DIY guide, all my own work.... https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2017/07/14/one-way-to-do-santorini/ And yes, I've done it on Queen Victoria as well...

Thank you. Never a problem @bluemarble . Over 700 followers currently.

Well if that's true Cunard appear to have gone to a lot of trouble producing those fliers.

Thank you for confirming and well done on the savings.