Dobby_The_Ship_Elf

6 hours ago, yes!yes!yes! said:

he gets on my nerves a bit expecting the audience to sing a long and participate all the time.

Gotta agree with you here.

I got dragged along to one of his shows by Mrs Elf...... she was raving about him pre-show.

I thought it was crap. Even Mrs Elf admitted it wasn't his best.

He seemed to talk more than sing.

I was there to hear music not a monologue.

My 2c

7 hours ago, yes!yes!yes! said:

I like Nick from South Africa who did the trivia this morning.

mum was disappointed that fortuna luck is doing the bingo again. she keeps following the ships mum is on.

I agree with your mother - Fortuna Luck is annoying and didn't bring me any luck!!

8 hours ago, getting older slowly said:

saw the disney Wonder in Auckland while on the Grand... so many people with micky mouse ears... looked at the prices    3 nights in a interior $2700 NZ per head... some how I dont think so

 

Cheers Don     nest cruise Sunday 

We were in Auckland same day, same ship.

Honestly it looked like Mickey Mouse had thrown up on everyone's head.

I don't mind the odd Disney movie here and there but I ain't that enamored or gullible to spend my hard earned on what is essentially a family cruise.

I recently read the whole 'Hobbiton Tour Cancelled'  series of threads here is an update regarding the actual tour itself that CAN be done by Cruise ship pax.

On Monday Dec 4 Hobbiton opened up two new exhibits (those being inside two adjacent Hobbit Holes).  We visited on Tuesday Dec 5 thus were we some of the first to see the new exhibits.  I can report that some minor detail within the exhibit has already been vandalised (stolen) but you have to look hard to find it.  The tour staff are quick to see it and report it to the maintenance crew who come around each night to clean and fix etc.

The tour is so professionally run and their attention to detail / timing and narration / inter-action with visitors is amazing.  They take great care to explain some of the quirky detail as it relates to the movies while also explaining how the sets were designed, constructed and maintained.  Truly a world class tour that should interest both those who are fans of the movies and those who are just interested in seeing what all the fuss is about.

I certainly appreciated the complimentary mug of cool ale in the Green Dragon Inn after the tour.

The Hobbiton folk are aware of the cancellation of tours organised by the Cruise lines.  As it was explained to us; Hobbiton gets approximately 2000 visitors each day (ship or no ship) so they don't need the influx of multiple 40 seater coaches to stay afloat.  Additionally, they know how much the Cruise lines charge to do the tour and therefore how much they skim off the top. So by not offering tours to Cruise lines we pax have do our homework and find local tour operators who offer the tour at a reasonable cost -  thus a win win for pax and local tour operators.

We thoroughly enjoyed our Hobbiton tour organised by myself using an independent operator. 

It was neither difficult nor confusing - do your research and ask around it is still possible to do this tour.

just heard the weather will be 'biblical' for boarding tomorrow ...... be prepared

thanks for the responses folks, I shall stop trying

HI folks,

Has anyone had any luck reserving specialty dining like Sabatinis and paid for it using OBC.

I have tried several times with no luck.

Is there a secret?

TIA

1 minute ago, Over from NZ said:

Very interesting. It's not really a thing at all in New Zealand. Virtually ignored. 

Interesting, there was a good representation of our Kiwi brothers at my local RSL this morning

Cruise Related.

One of the best Remembrance Day observances I was involved in was in Naples Nov 11. 2019 onboard Sapphire Princess.

As most pax were scheduled to be on tours at 1100 hours the ship advised that they would hold an observance at 1700 before we sailed at 1800.

The veterans onboard had a gathering earlier in the cruise where the ship asked if we would like to be involved in hosting the observance.

We had veterans from USA, UK, Canada, Aussie, NZ and some other countries I cant recall. Certain individuals volunteered to make a speech or recite prayers, ode etc.

At 17O0 we gathered in the Vista Lounge and we were joined by the majority of the ships officers in full uniform (jackets & hats). The ship provided a beautiful wreath.The room was packed with very little standing room left.

The Captain made a short speech as did the First Officer, then the US guy said a speech, the Canadian said a prayer, the NZ guy said the Ode, the Aussie guy said the Navy Ode (it's a thing, Google it) and one guy had even brought his travelling bagpipes and played the hymn Abide With Me.

In the end a very moving observance which was the hot topic of conversation around the dinner table that evening.

Well done Princess Cruises and those involved.

Lest We Forget

bugger ....... was considering a stealthy stowaway ....... 

enjoy .......

4 hours ago, cheznandy said:

A bleak 12c day in Hobart. Thinking of Mr Gut today.

Is you stoppaging in our fair city while on this jaunt?

fixed

Yes, a sad day, thoughts and best wishes to his family

1 minute ago, Aus Traveller said:

I posted the comment about pronouns as a bit of a joke. 😁

so did I

😎

5 hours ago, Aus Traveller said:

I have an idea the OP is a 'she' but it might be a 'they'. 😁

 

I wonder is the mariners in olden times referred to their ships as 'she' because they were at sea without any females in sight. This could start a whole new conversation. 🤣

you folks gotta think outside the box ......

Simply lower the water level of the harbour and you can get plenty of ships under the coat hanger.

See - simples!

For those who are interested in what is required, we requested a power strip - this is what we were provided.

1 hour ago, Aus Traveller said:

Sometimes their Caesar salad is nothing more than lettuce, grated parmesan, some dressing and some croutons. Not a Caesar salad.

except if you are on Carnival Splendor ........then you get lettuce and a wave of the parmasan from somewhere in the galley - you  'may' get dressing and croutons ....... i sh!t you not!

2 hours ago, NSWP said:

At least Princess is still giving it to us, but for how much longer?

Agree, and who know how long for ... but the original question was about Carnival.

So lets just stick the boots (pun intended) into em here and leave Princess for their own thread.

Happy to share I have been to Noumea about 7 times previously and expected same old - same old.

Once I found the new area and wifi service I passed this info on to other folk who were obviously struggling to get a signal at the Cruise Terminal.

42 minutes ago, bazzaw said:

Yes - it has always depended on the length of cruise - my question is - has it been cancelled here in Oz?? 

YES

Can confirm.  Carnival has made that decision for the AU market not US.

Thus when they had a Military Appreciation Day on Carnival Splendor I made sure the sickeningly gushing Cruise Director knew just how appreciated I felt.  Her response was nothing more than spin.

I only found out after I had booked, I will not be back purely based on the principle of the matter.

Hi Folks,

The following is provided for folks going to Noumea and hoping to pick up some free WIFI while in town.

I recently returned to Noumea for the first time in about 5 years.

I was hoping to grab some coffee and free WIFI ate the cruise terminal however the coffee shop is now vacant and has been turned into a WIFI hub of sorts.

The network (Q20.NCL) is hopelessly slow and averaged between 1/2 and 1 bar of signal strength.  Add to that every person there trying to access it and I am sure you get the picture.

There are three new buildings (to me) which have gone up since I was last there (see image).

Facing the water, I turned right and walked approximately 100 - 150 metres down the dock along the new buildings.

This is a new development which has several shops, eateries, bars, coffee shops etc some with WIFI.

In between the buildings is the Noumea Tourist Information Office which has an excellent free WIFI service (5 bar signal strength).  All I needed to do was sign in via an email address (I used my junk gmail  account which I keep for exactly this situation).  The area has seating, shade and as mentioned refreshments are located close by. 

I never used them but I did see signs for public toilets so I cannot vouch for either their cleanliness of functionality.

Hope it helps.

Bah humbug - day 4 of COVID iso ........ spent NYE under the doona grumbling at merry-makers, drunk 'woo woo' girls and yahooing blokes, burn out knobs, fire work manufacturers - everyone in general actually.

I know it sucks to be me so I decided to have my hull scraped at the same time for good measure!

At least I made a start on cataloguing cruise photographs - notice I said 'start' it looks like a never ending task.

11 hours ago, sewgood said:

Was that on the Southampton to Singapore cruise?

picked it in one ......  congrats😁