roscoe39

I will miss Carl who the last I heard was doing crystal, he was so talented and he could down those Manhattens like no ones business.

sorry Victoria ....slight misunderstanding I didn't mean they should do it on a "money spent" basis it was just an example of what you have to spend to have had 1000 nights onboard and I think you would be surprised at how many are in the 1000 plus category. The World Cruise Sectors are filled with those winning the most cruised prizes with well over 1400 nights...thats quite an investment in any grade!

lol.....I was ducking in case some flaming balls came my way.......

funny...I don't think there is enough, its too easy go up a stage if you count voyages as opposed to days and the top tier is not hight enough or there should be another tier. this with over 1000 days feel a bit aggrieved that there is nothing more to aim for apart from the unofficial 1400 club

received nothing Down here Downunder. I don't think we have ever received the surveys..... I guess our opinion doesn't matter. Im trusting you guys speak up for us!

I think they mean a dinner suit..........as my hero Norma Desmond declared "tuxedos are for waiters"

heya Frank!

from either, there are day tours from Auckland - Tauranga is closer however often they are booked out so its another option.

hi yo Philly, don't panic if the excursions to Russell have sold out. There will be a free bus from the jetty at Waitangi where the tenders should berth into Paihia and you will be dropped off at the wharf. It's a short ferry ride across to Russell from there....about 20 minutes, You can easily walk the town and visit all the sites while eating an ice cream and for a bit of excercise walk up to the top of the hill to the flagstaff and view the stunning bay from there. any questions just ask - I was bought up in the Bay and even though I live in Auckland I know it pretty well. ps...there is plenty to do there, from the Hole in the Rock boat trip to visiting Waitangi treaty grounds and Marae which is a short walk from the jetty., there's a beautiful Kauri Forest and some good restaurants. Paihia is a beautiful beach town.

yes quite right....she seemed to think that as she was Imelda she should have more shoes....she doesn't....... still smarting over stripper teddy....it was only a small cork afterall.....

Panamanian Dictator Teddy

Bridezilla Teddy

Imelda Teddy

Goin Ona Diet Teddy

You guys seem to have missed some of the Teddys..... herewith Kimono Teddy

lunch in Russell is definitely the Duke of Marlborough. You nay have to book, but it's great. Set right on the beach and it should have marlin on the menu depending on what time of the year you are there. Other wise the fish and chips. Great hotel and world famous. Auckland - have you thought about Hobbitton? I know...I know...but I resisted it fr years and then when I went there I was a convert. Waiheke is a good choice, especially if you like wine, there are a number of vineyards that do tours tastings and serve lunch. The Mud Brick Vineyard is close to the ferry and has a very good reputation. The little town of Oneroa above the beach is a 15 minute walk if you didn't want to catch the bus and has some great cafes. Auckland has a lot of venues, the Museum is fantastic, currently has an Egyptian exhibition on until November, and there is also the Kelly Tarltons. Both accessible from the hop on hop off bus. Another excursion worth while considering is catching the ferry to Devonport - a suburb and village across the harbour from where the ship will dock. A very quant victorian village with a great view back towards the city and a volcano at its back that you can walk up for an added view. that should keep you going for a bit. Any further questions....keep em coming.

oh I know about Tijuana...lol...when I used to go housesitting for my friends at months at a time if I got bored I would hop on the tram and cross the border for an afternoon of margaritas and enchiladas.... pre 911 of course... its a great town, Its where I would live given half a chance. any moe questions just holler. I live in Auckland now but you can take the boy out of the bay but never the bay out of the boy

Hi just want to add to what the others have said. My tradition each time I visit Tauranga is to climb the Mount. The view from the top is stunning, well worth the walk, there are a number of different trails marked as you walk up and they are all marked with various degrees of difficulty and the time it should take to walk up. Some steeper but quicker others longer but more gentle. There are some great bakeries in the shopping centre between the ship and the beginning of the trail - as others have mentioned it is a complete no-no to take food off the ship and there are heavy fines for doing so. The beginning of the walk is about 7 minutes walk away. Have a great climb.

hi, Spent my childhood and early adulthood in the Bay so I know the caves quite well. the glow worms at Kawiti are unfortunately not worth doing if you have other options whereas Waitomo are not to be missed. There is plenty to do in the Bay that I think you will have a day better spent - The Hole in the Rock,, Waitangi Treaty Grounds, Russell, Puketi forest. Compared to Waitmio Im afraid they don't stack up to much....

Hi., firstly welcome from San Diego - my favourite town in the US and where I have spent many happy holidays. I was bought up in the Bay and so know it pretty well. Russell is in dead worth a visit. You can walk from Waitangi where you will more than likely tender to - it's about a 20 minute walk along the beach or you can take the free bus put on by the local businessmen. It will drop you off at the Paihia wharf where you can catch a ferry across the bay. Russell was of course NZs first capital and has been maintained as a pre colonial town with a stunning waterfront, gorgeous old pre colonial buildings and a great hotel for lunch. The Duke of Marlborough. There is a lot of history here, and the old church still has musket balls in its walls where the locals sheltered from the warring tribes. There is a lot to be said for a trip on the water to "The Hole in the Rock". You will be able to google it. Depending on what time your ship is departing there could be time to do the fast boat to the hole (cape Brett) and then get off at Russell on its return and then a ferry back across to Paihia. Happy to answer any questions, I hope you enjoy your day there. The Bay of Islands is truly one of NZs jewels in its crown. regards Roscoe

I ended up only doing a section of the WC this year, I cancelled the full world in favour of 2024 as I was thinking that the world wasn't quite ready for it. I think I was right and although those on board I mixed with were having a great time there were a lot of passengers that didn't understand that there was still a world wide pandemic going on and a lot to be sorted by various countries, thus there were a couple of hiccups. Missed ports (as their always was) immigration at some ports not entirely "ready" and various food supplies not being in the right place at the right time (a provedoring problem) I'm back on for 2024 and I am expecting that things will have returned to as much normality as they ever willl. The pandemic cost the cruise industries billions and it has to be made up somewhere, there have been a few cuts that I suspect will remain, the menu was much reduced, the parties were and I wonder if they will will continue to remain restricted to a certain extent and the quality of the entertainment not the usual high standard - (some lecturers being reluctant to travel during COVID apparently) but all in all if that is what it will take for the experience to be affordable then I think it will be acceptable. It was still a fantastic experience and Cunard did their best to give us value for money in my opinion as they always do. I don't think that it will ever return to the way that it was pre covid but then, some would say that about the time before the retirement of the QE2, and of the time before the Queen Mary and Elizabeth before that....and before that the Mauritania...etc..l. Life and Cruising continues to evolve. I didn't find any other blogs during the WC for Queen Victoria this year but my blog covering 6 Feb to 2 march is.. http://butarewethereyet.blogspot.com and safrigals blog is https://whereissafarigal.com although this year you had to contact her to be added to the mail list. Hopefully will see you on board.....

I wouldn't be surprised if they said it had to be Rio as some ports are not capable of doing immigration and have permission to off load passengers in that particular port but there is no harm in asking.

and miserable is a strong word when you are on the most beautiful ship afloat...