Mareblu

Not South Australia

Thanks for an easy one. I read about the redevelopment. That’s always an ominous word these days. Looking for a pic…

The Big Pineapple, Woombye, Queensland.

Maryborough?

He will shine. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Yes, correct unless there’s been a major change

Exactly as I like my martinis, which I only ever drink on a cruise, but never before 6pm. One of life’s little pleasures at sea.

We have done three Tauck tours: New England (Boston return), Scottish Highlands to Edinburgh, and Venice, Florence, Rome by Frezza Rossa (Italy’s fast trains). They were all fabulous, with expert guides and lecturers, and perfectly organised with everything (including luggage) completely taken care of. Tauck’s pace leans to the leisurely side, so relaxing as well. Having driven Italy ourselves many, many times over more than fifty years, we didn’t really need to do a tour, but we both absolutely loved it because we didn’t have to even think for ourselves. I cannot recommend Tauck highly enough.

Ahhh, fabulous, wonderful Queenstown. Our family loves it: scenery, golf, skiing, everything daring and adventurous. Oh, and the food and wines. We took our kids when they were little, and they’re still visiting Queenstown with their own families.

Because they are exquisite. Italian restaurants create a special puff of magic with truffles.

Thank you, Hank, you mirror our sentiments. We have already purchased the upgraded drink package through our TA, several months ago in fact. We've done the same for every Oceania voyage we've sailed, with the exception of the first one many years ago. We soon realised the difference, and upgraded whilst on board in that instance. We love meeting fellow guests and socialising, while sipping a martini in Martinis, or enjoying a single malt in Horizons. Would we ever use the full value of our expenditure in $ terms? Probably not, but for us, there is no price to be levied on enjoyment and convenience, and we consider the cost of upgrading so that we may enjoy ordering a drink without having to sign every time and worry about the added tax, part of the cost of an enjoyable sailing experience. It's that simple.

Welcome back to your own thread, Lyle. The past few weeks have been so challenging for you and Lynn. I hope you can find some serenity in your lives now.

Is Elvis there?

A terrified Triestino machine would have understood and obeyed😂

I made a point of emphasising that I couldn’t comment on Britannia Club food and service. I didn’t, apart from mentioning that one was more expensive than the other, compare suites, because that would have indeed been irrelevant. I instead discussed inclusives and non-inclusives on each line, which may help the OP in arriving at a decision.

I neglected to add that we absolutely love the Cunard experience. It’s the reason we are returning in May. The amazing bonus is being aboard for QA’s Naming Ceremony in Liverpool, and we’re counting the days.

I remember @exlondoner, we had this very discussion some time ago😂. My DH was born in northern Italy too many decades ago to mention, but he and the suite machine still speak the same language. He produces a wonderful, aromatic, Illy caffe every morning.

Thank you, that’s exactly what my original post intended. We confess to being extremely particular about coffee in its purest of Italian origins. I’m certainly not averse to first morning coffee from a machine in desperation, but a glass of fresh water is preferable. All you’ve outlined above is correct.

That’s absolutely correct. Oceania is pricier, generally, and several of the reasons are the inclusions, including internet. However, we are paying much more for a Q3 on Queen Anne than for a PHI on Vista. The preference for us is that the inclusions on Oceania mean we no longer, once we embark, have to think about every extra, big or small, because all are taken care of. In Grills, in our Q3, the situation is the same, unless we venture outside the Grills bubble. The Haven on NCL is the same.

We didn’t go to the buffet for snacks. In the coffee lounge on the man level (not Grills Lounge on 11(?from memory) we had to purchase cappuccinos and buscuits.

I’m referring to real coffee. Espressos, piccolo lattes, cappuccinos, etc.

“My Cunard” site was down yesterday, all good now.

It is today, but you’re probably already aware.

Mario confirms that. He has a boat licence. Batemans Bay, with its channel sandbars, is always a bit tricky, because the markers move over time.