Harters

Yep, I used that PDF as well. And bought a two tags through Amazon, for a couple of quid.

For our last cruise and our forthcoming one, we've selected excursions. Drinks package is no use - I don't drink alcohol and my companion only sparingly. For most ports, we like to do our own thing, usually having a wander round the town. But sometimes, the actual port isnt that interesting, so the O excursions were a decent way of visiting last time. If that proves not to be the case this time around, if there's a future cruise, we'd probably go with the OBC (perhaps treating ourselves to a purchase in the boutiques that we wouldnt usually choose to afford).

Not even then for me. Can't abide the taste of tea.

I used to play on a now defunct food/restaurant forum where most contributors were North American, with a scattering of folk, like me, from elsewhere in the world. There "foodie" (or the alternative spelling "foody" which I generally use to describe myself in such cicumstances) was only ever mentioned by way of insult. The intent, much advocated by the site owners, was that contributors were different and better than foodies. Contributors set standards, foodies only followed the crowd. It's not a view I was ever at all comfortable with. I'm not sure exactly how I define it, although I'm happy to describe myself as such to others. It's a word that generally conveys my interest in food and is readily understood (if not necessarily accurately) by others who don't have that level of interest. I rather like the extract you found "To a foodie, food is a hobby". I enjoy the whole process of, say, visiting a restaurant - deciding where to go, thinking about what I might eat from the online menu, the food when I get there, the atmosphere of the place and, finally, writing a review (for my own records but they also usually appear somewhere online). And, at home, I enjoy the planning of meals, shopping for ingredients, cooking them and, of course, eating them. So, if folk want to discuss peanut butter as part of that hobby, then yes, they are foodies (disclosure - always smooth peanut butter in this house, not chunky). As for ketchup, Felicity Cloake's "Red Sauce, Brown Sauce", devotes a whole book to whether a cooked breakfast should be accompanied by brown sauce or red (ketchup). I'm a red person. Full disclosure. Fat greedy Briton who has eaten at many places over the years, from back street "rice and three" curry cafes to Michelin starred places (63 of those).

Gosh, you'd like to hope so. It's getting on for 10 years since we were last in Douglas. We went to an Indian restaurant that had been a finalist in the British Curry Awards. but it was absolutely dire. But we did have some excellent seafood on another night.

This is a duplicate thread. Reason was discussed fully on the other version. For tea to be made properly, the water has to be nearly boiling - effectively straight from the kettle as it comes to the boil. Somebody bringing hot water isnt the same. I don't think I've ever been in a British hotel room that didnt have a kettle so, like the OP, I was a tad surprised that Oceania cabins not only dn't have a kettle but, also, O bans passengers from bringing aboard a travel kettle. Of course, O is mainly catering to an American customer base with folk like the OP and me being sort of interlopers - last time I cruised with O it was just like visting America, although the cruise was from/to the UK. 😀

Interesting. I'd Googled for it in the UK,as I'd not heard of it before, and got no hits at all. And checked three local kosher bakeries, thinking they would be the most likely, but nothing there either. Makes me wonder that, as your daughter has eaten them here, some places might be actually producing bialy but selling them as bagel,as that's a name known here.

Exactly the question we've been asking ourselves about our upcoming cruise in a PH. Using the forum search facility, I've read just about every post in the last couple of years that mentions "butler" to gain an idea what they might be able to do. And I think we've pretty much concluded that there's really nothing that they do, that we want her/him to do for us. Maybe press a pair of trousers if needed when we first unpack but that's it. Don't want them doing the unpacking. No need for extra speciality restaurants - the four reservations will be fine (and maybe more than we want). No need for afternoon chocolates, or whatever. No need for this , that or the other. So, s/he's going to find us very low maintenance.

I'm curious now. I've visited America on several occasions over the last 40+ years and have eaten in a goodly number of places, some of which have had the word "diner" in their name. Like the "West Taghkanic Diner" in Ancram, NY. But I've never really understood the difference between a "diner" and a "restaurant". Is it about how casual a place may be - although I've had very casual food in places that call themselves restaurants? Is it about furnishings and decoration - although I know that diners are not always all chrome or fake railways carriages. The one I mentioned earlier is all chrome but Henry's Diner in Burlington, VT isn't. So what might make a place a diner or a restaurant?

In recent years, bagels have become commonplace in the UK. I'm pretty sure that bialys havent yet made an appearance here

Back in 1965/6, when I was studying for my GCSEs (school leaving certificates), our English Literature book was Cecil Woodham-Smith's "The Reason Why". It discusses the history between the two commanders at the battle , culminating in the disaster. I re-read it about 10 years ago and it was still a fascinating account of 19th century upperclass Britain. By the by, English Literature was one of my several GCSE failures. As was history. Who would have thought that, some 50 years later, my new paying hobby would have seen me write and have published four books on military history. 😀

I have a hunch you're more right than wrong here. Your speculation makes sense. What you were told on board doesnt seem to.

The bugler who sounded the charge is buried a few miles from my home.

Having read through the thread, I agree that, obviously, there must have been reason to cancel. But it seems that the reason given was not supported by the facts - no actual strikes on the days involved. As such, there has not been transparency with passengers about what the actual reason was. I could speculate on a number of circumstances that prompted a decision to cancel - some good, some probably reflecting less than well on whoever made the decision. But, it seems to me the lack of transparency is a valid criticism.

When we were last there (2017) there were more taxis in the rank than private hire vehicles waiting for pre-booked trips. By the by, I got a bollocking from some port jobsworth for parking in the cab rank and taking up an "official" space, while we loaded the bags. The fact that the signage couldnt be seen because it was blocked by a minibus cut no ice with the a&sewipe.

Yeah, not far away. I'm at the North Cheshire end of the A34. I thought that might be the case about the travel kettle. Good luck with your quest. Maybe you'll just have to settle for decent tea at the port calls,

My companion in life is a regular tea drinker but, when we're away from home staying somewhere without a kettle, sticks to coffee. As you say, it has to be straight from the kettle. For the OP - could you not bring a travel kettle with you? I know they are not that great (which is why we don't use one any more) but may work for you. Or are they specifically banned by O?

My understanding (which may be wrong) is that this may not be out of choice but a legal requirement to give notice of strike dates. It'd be another fairly recent imposition by the government to minimise the effectiveness of industrial action.

Thanks for the various comments a number of contributors have been able to offer to correct me on several occasions. Not only do I fail to express myself well (which annoys me as I'm an author, with four books to my name), but I'm clearly completely and utterly wrong and misguided on this subject. I'll leave the thread to others with obviously far greater knowledge. I'll try and remember not to contribute to any future "border" threads, so as not to potentially mislead readers.

Yes. I was making the distinction between travelling to Ireland and travelling to other EU countries. Apologies if my wording was unclear for you.

Not in the case of Ireland & UK passport holders, as mentioned upthread. There are separate arrangements which pre-date either country joining the EU and which are not affected by Brexit. In fact, if I cross into Ireland through its land border with the UK, there are no checks whatsoever - I just keep driving. The only difference I notice is that the road signs change from miles to kilometres. But you are correct about our loss of "free movement". When I take the Dover - Calais ferry, I need to produce my passport.

Until my mid 20s, I would avoid raw tomato. Then I got a free packet of seeds with a magazine and decided to grow them. Picked straight from the vine, I thought they were fine. Since then, I don't avoid them but still am not that keen. So, if they are in a salad, I'll eat them but I generally wouldnt add them if I was making the salad.

Absolutely. In the UK, even cheap hotels always supply shower gel (sometimes in larger wall mounted dispensers). It's sort of unthinkable that there wouldnt be gel on a cruise ship.

Well, I can only ask when I'm there. My favourite local Italian offers some of its pasta dishes, including lasagne, in starter or main course size, but some others are are main course only.

Folk often cut back on their insurance hoping "it'll never happen to me". I've had two medical claims. One successful, one not. The "not" because they said I hadnt declared a medical condition. Strictly true, so couldnt appeal however unjustified I thought their stance was. And one cancellation claim when a close family member died literally on the day we were due to travel. That was also successful. Eventually.