Mareblu

That’s ridiculous

Several times😜

I found myself appreciating those benches sometimes. The only real QA dislike we have, and it’s a rather intense one, is her size. We occupied an extremely comfortable Q3 (and we didn’t mind the partition) as aft as there is, so the journey to Grills lounge and QG restaurant and back three times a day was quite a trek. When we arrived at Stairway B, I often sought a bench breather. I sat and faced one way, and my husband was posted facing opposite (he never needed to sit, grrr) so that one of us could spot the opening doors and launch into the required sprint. Actually, the doors weren’t quite as swiftly closing as I expected, and yes, fellow passengers, almost without fail, held the doors for others. We enjoyed our British Isles cruise immensely, but if we had a preference, QE or QV would snare our booking. That doesn’t mean we wouldn’t sail on QA again, we simply feel she’s not our preferred size, particularly after a cruise on Oceania’s Vista, which carries approximately 1200 passengers. We do love the Cunard experience , though. It’s our favourite.

Oh dear. The “nineteenth hole” reference is obviously directed at me and my previous post on golf club attire. Those actually familiar with golf clubs would be aware that “polos and chinos” are indeed acceptable in the sports bar of golf clubs, which is where golfers gather for “a round after a round”. For dining, at least at my golf club, Cunard’s directive for “smart casual”, as I describe above, is to be strictly followed, unless for a gala or formal evening (we have them frequently, not unlike Cunard), when formal attire is worn. It is not I who first referenced polos and chinos. Perhaps the poster’s golf club, if it exists, is the “wrong” golf club. I agree that it is sad to witness dress standards lapse. I repeat another remark I previously made: the attire one wears for the evening sets the tone for the evening. Please, may we engage in rational and polite discussion, or even debate, without resorting to condescending remarks and sweeping generalisations?

Sending warmest wishes, and I hope you are able to enjoy life to your maximum possibility. A Cunard experience as often as possible sounds the perfect remedy.

Yes, I certainly would have loved longer hours; opening at 11.30am was ridiculous: too long after breakfast and too soon before lunch. I really enjoyed the lounge, apart from the opening hour restrictions.

OOps. correction: no-one, of course, can sail on the Concordia. I meant our relatives have said they would never sail on Costa, even though one couple had sailed on a Costa vessel many years ago. They are also resolute that they would never do so again.

Yes, we stayed in Zermatt for a week a couple of years ago. I was referring to the glacier.

It looks very much like the Matterhorn.

An important note: There is a vast difference between P&O Australia, and its UK namesake. P&O Australia has "enjoyed" a rather terrible reputation over recent years. There are some who are loyal to the brand, because it certainly offers affordable cruises in local waters, but it is known as "the party ships line", favoured by end-of-year football teams and generally those of a younger generation who still have the stamina (but perhaps not the common sense) to "rage" during a holiday. There was a tragic case several years ago of a lovely middle-aged woman who was date raped by a drunken gang, which ended in the courts only after much outrage, and the most recent scandal has been the outbreak of bedbugs, initially denied by P&O. At the very least, the name had to be changed to save the line. Costa, IMHO, has never really recovered from the tragic running aground of Costa Concordia a few years ago. Our Italian relatives say they would never sail on Concordia. My point in all this is to emphasise that in both cases, public scrutiny and opinion would be the reason for rebranding. I personally don't understand why Cunard would need to be rebranded, when its loyal guests return for the same reasons: the ambience and comfort of sailing on a vessel where standards are hopefully maintained well into the future. I do believe that is possibly a reason for other lines to follow Cunard's lead. We are an ageing population, and if they're lucky enough, the younger generation of cruisers will follow. They will probably, in time, seek the ambience Cunard offers.

It's not a matter of whether "they would kick you out...for wearing a pair of capris and a nice shirt", although I have twice in several Oceania sailings witnessed, at entrance to GDR on different ships, guests being politely requested to perhaps return dressed in something more suitable. Rather, it's how one feels if underdressed. Capris, which when ankle length and nicely cut, present as an elegant evening pant, when matched with a suitable top and lifted even more with some attractive jewellery. To me, "casual all the time" as you describe, is sportswear day and night. Some Oceania guests do dress that way for a dinner in The Terrace, but most don't, and not ever that I've witnessed passing the entrance to any of the other restaurants aboard. "Smart casual", as described by Cunard, is entirely different. That description refers to the type of dress one would wear to dine at one's golf club, or a fine dining restaurant; collared shirt (tie optional) and jacket for him, dressier than that for lunch for her. Smart casual abounds in the evening on Oceania.

I’m extremely impressed that you are able to wear it still.

Oceania is most definitely not “casual”, unless one is dining in The Terrace, where even the “buffet” is not quite that. Grilled seafood (including lobster each evening) lamb and sushi offerings are all served by attendants. No guest touches the implements, or, heaven forbid, the food itself. The GDR has a delightful ambience, and the specialty restaurants are a haven of fine dining, in an elegant setting reflecting the cuisine of that particular venue. As a matter of fact, Oceania, liken Seabourn and Silversea, resemble Cunard in many respects, but not all. Viking, in our opinion, doesn’t come close.

My father fought in the battle of Milne Bay. Thank you for posting.

We seem to have taken a breather, so I’m not terribly confident, but I’ll be brave and suggest this is a beautiful image of somewhere on the Great Barrier Reef.

As an Australian who also needs to travel vast distances to partake in Cunard (or other) voyages to the regions of the northern hemisphere I and DH love to explore and revisit, I empathise with the luggage dilemma. The solution is simple really: dress elegantly (or "formally") for each evening. DH only needs to travel with one dinner jacket (tuxedo) and formal trousers, and add a different bow tie and kerchief to change the look. I simply pack formal pantsuits, evening tops, several pairs of flowing culottes and one or two evening pants. I also understand the "live and let live" philosophy, but here we disagree. I am of the firm conviction that what one wears in the evening sets the tone for the evening. I've often found it interesting to note that once a few couples dress elegantly, on any line we've sailed with, the next evening sees many more following suit. Sometimes, on non-Cunard lines, it's simply a matter of simple attire with elegant jewellery added, and the diamonds don't need to be authentic, just adding an elegant lifting of the attire. Prior to our very recent and delightful two-week Queen Anne voyage, we enjoyed a three-week Med cruise on Oceania's new Vista. Each evening, we dressed for dinner, although admittedly DH was not dressed in his formal dinner attire, but in a jacket and tie nonetheless. Those same clothes served us well on Queen Anne later, with DH bringing out the dinner jacket (tux) for the gala evenings. He also wore it on one or two other evenings on QA. On another note, but to add to other observations above, I find those who claim "ownership" of any particular experience, in this case the proud and revered Cunard line, are condescending in the extreme, and probably suffering delusions of grandeur.

Or Ferntree Gully, Victoria?

Okay, I’m moving from opals to what that vein really looks like: sapphires. New England area of northern NSW?

Lightning Ridge?

Coober Pedy?

Visited Flaam twice, and it was just as lovely on the second occasion..

Somewhere in northern Italy, maybe in the summer, though.

Sorry @qbay46, Asia is correct, but when I opened the screen, @Jean C had already specifically identified it.

Wow, it is indeed. Well done! So many strange rock formations in this fascinating place, including, among so many others, "the queen's head" and this, the rock leopard. The leopard is a replica of the original which was severely damaged in a typhoon about 15 years ago. They are all formed by winds and rain, which can, of course, be incredibly strong in that region. Your turn.

Asia is correct.