Solent Richard

@Bell Boy and myself are on the Champagne before the lines are cast…

Cunard have the goody bags….

A weather check across the Sooent from our balcony lifter our hearts for a good day….. …so lunchtime finds us meeting up with old friends at Southampton’s Harbour Hotel’s 6th floor HarBar waiting for our Sunseeker taxi service….

Not sure about a blog tonight. We will certainly be out on the water and subject to internet will be adding a few photographs here and on the Cunard facebook sites.

It's on ice @Bell Boy ...and at least you won't have to be up with 'The Lark' 😂😂 😂

In line with my update at # 52 @molecrochip .

Well those of us that are taking part in the 'official' seaborne welcome received an update before lunch today. Without giving too much away the email stated... 'We will now enjoy an afternoon tea and a few drinks onboard once we have made our way out to the Isle of Wight. We will then join Queen Anne in the Solent as she makes her way into port. Queen Anne is due to dock at approximately 19h45, we will enjoy the atmosphere for a while after she docks and we anticipate getting back to the Marina at approx. 20h30.'

Looks a good piece of info. Our Cunard waterborne welcome arrangements have been confirmed. Meanwhile we continue happily cruising down the Moselle.

Sibenik, Croatia has a lot to offer and the sail in along the narrow St Anthony Channel... ...that's it in the top half of the photograph above. Passing along the narrow channel there are easily spotted Submarine pens... Ships berth central and minutes into the town....

Hello @bluemarble Be my guest and post both - though it won't be a 'teaser guess ' anymore: but who cares as long as we get them logged. Then I'll dig out another pair to enhance the theme.

That's my perennial gripe with Cunard. Same old same old. Even when they do find somewhere new its too late, I ticked off Sibinik last year.... I'd better get writing a blog review, its an super port of call with a superior approach/sail away route...

In my 'Itinerary' driven cruising world that would suit me - I have never cruised into Dakar.

Oh I don't know @exlondoner , us chaps have many decisions to make, often in order to assist the spotlight to shine on our good ladies. Single or double breasted, white or black? Heavy decisions.... ******** Dare I go on 😁😄....

Thank you @bluemarble for explaining the situation to @Vikingtraveller2 in a far more kindly manner than I am noted for. 😉

And one more for the 'Aft Balcony Brigade'....

Queen Victoria and Queen Mary 2 now berthed in Cape Town. If ever there was a prime example as to having adequate holiday insurance cover this has to be it.

@david63 My recollection over many Cunard and P&O sailings is that in the main not many chaps actually button up their jackets and, as @Bell Boy says, waistcoats went out with the Ark. Still, it's good to have a debate and maybe soon we will be treated to some photographs of pristine laundered shirts arriving back from the Laundry. Maybe even being enlightened on how much a dress shirt costs to be laundered. 😉😉

Live facebook and they're still not berthed - indeed one might suggest that the tours office could have started tendering excursions to Robben Island which they've passed God knows how many times today.....

Facebook groups have been alive with this problem all morning. Folk missing flights home and others missing booked tours. Here's the track up till 5 minutes ago...

Cheers @Bell Boy . We definitely share the same humour level. 😂

Good morning @Ditchcrawler Being ex Royal Navy I, like you, too take a certain pride in my appearance and often on white and formal shirts use a spray starch: bringing my own. I have never seen any starch spray for sale onboard any of Cunard's ships. Frankly I'd never trust my better evening shirts to the ship's laundry.

Still, I was interested to see both the menu, booking availability and pricing, and in particular the dozen huîtres at $25.00. That should certainly give the old 'libido' a timely boost.... The only downside to that is that I couldn't find one of my favourite tipples on the Sir Samuel's wine list..... 😂😂

Trust me, I'm always at my best before breakfast. 😂😂

Yes, I recognised that having received the Cunard email. The point I was making was that in the event a service fee is to be added to the Sir Samuel's lunch entry fare then the 'credit' would be enough to cover it. The usual communication problems continue as there is no indication as to whether or not a service charge will apply to the speciality restaurant published charges show in the OP's comment. What I can say is that when making my reservation I was only charged the indicated amount with no mention as to that being inclusive or exclusive of a service charge.