Solent Richard

Of course as a Carnival shareholder, and assuming there are others on this board, I do often advise folk to book direct. On a purely self interest pecuniary basis that is. 😉😈

I spotted that particular one too and was very surprised at its inclusion. I'm a member of it along with another on the list.

Good afternoon @Oopsa. It would appear there aren't too many members offering you advice. Your problem in Hong Kong will be the distance between the cruise terminal and the tourist heart of Hong Kong. The good news is that the ship will offer a simple transfer into Hong Kong and there is also the Kai Tag Metro with free shuttle.... https://www.kaitakcruiseterminal.com.hk/passenger-info/ Depending on where in Hong Kong Island/Kowloon you alight you may wish to pick up an idea from my cruise blog on Hong Kong.... https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2017/12/01/one-way-to-do-hong-kong/

You are correct @david63 because the subject is a Queen Mary 2 cruise. Of course, when one gets 'out and about' around the ship one will meet many passengers from shores outside of the UK: mainly American and German.

Having done 14, 21, 24 and 56 nights (+ others of course) onboard Queen Mary 2 all I can say @bunny76 is that our only problem with the entertainment is fitting it all in. Of course, having said that, one does need a broad interest & outlook across many subjects.

😂 Time certainly is money and that can work both ways. I've obviously been 'barking up the wrong tree' these past twenty odd years - along with thousands of other fellow cruisers. I'd always thought shopping around was an secondary national cruising sport which certainly occupied many a conversation at dinner tables across cruise lines: even at Grills level. I mean to say, surely we wouldn't accept a new insurance policy or utility quote without first checking the market? Meanwhile it's good to have noted earlier that the scourge of inflation has also had an effect on covid cruise cancellation figures. 😉

Ah yes, Star Clipper and Vangelis and you are spot on there. Having done in the Far East... https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2017/11/04/star-clipper-java-sea-limited-edition-cruise/ ...and I still dream of Star Clipper returning to their Singapore?Thailand round trips.

I see Quest has safely berthed on time at Rio de Janeiro. Bit of an eerie silence from onboard members since Ushuaia. 😈

Hello there @Minnie29 You can find most of the information that you require on Bruges from these two links to my cruise blog... https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2015/06/15/zeebrugge-for-dummies/ And... https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2015/06/15/one-way-to-do-bruges/ *****

And of course those 'Special' occasions for special guests @Bell Boy 😉😂...

And a drink at Catherine's Bar.... ***** ******

Ah ha. Now that is a must for us Brits. So good I wrote a review.... https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2021/01/06/death-in-paradise/

I know a Grills maître d' who was most grateful to receive an envelope with all my unspent Turkish Lira. 😂

My wife and I have done all those ports however we have not been excluded from walking as you appear to be. Personally I feel you need to bite the bullet and be prepared to invest in ships excursions otherwise most of those visits are going to be non starters - particularly as distances from ship's berths to centre of attractions are invariably great. For instance the opportunity to visit Hue would be for me a must - despite the distance from Chan May being some 60 Km.... ***** ***** Similarly to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) from Phu My is a similar distance but a must... ******* Of course I have no knowledge of your interests so you may like to take a look at how we did Hong Kong... https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2017/12/01/one-way-to-do-hong-kong/ and Darwin..... https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2020/02/15/one-way-to-do-darwin/

Well done you. Fortunately in addition to cruising circles, my wife and I also move in social circles shore side where standards of dress and dress codes are adhered to. ****** It is such a shame that Cunard are now turning a blind eye to what their core support still cherish. But hey ho, there are fortunately alternatives out there on the high seas.

LOL. No prizes for guessing who that was. 😂

By 5 years younger @D&N . We were on QM2's 29 Night Caribbean Christmas

Not too dissimilar an angle.... Taken on QM2's Caribbean Christmas Cruise.

I'm going to go with Curacao. That's a nice angle you captured there.... ***** ******

Good afternoon. I've just published my review of a recent cruise onboard Azamara Onward. It's not all a rosy picture but pretty comprehensive all the same. It also includes the full Greek Intensive itinerary.... https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2023/12/05/azamara-onward-truly-a-curates-egg/ ****** Always happy to answer questions.

Oh I don't know. A new line in entertainment? 😂

Not all men I would add... My good lady and I do colour, even on formal nights....

Ah, the good old days. I remember them well.

In fact that's the perfect 'Oxymoron'.

Hi there Phil. I actually 'Hung On' nearly an hour. watching overrun staff trying to check names of passengers disembarking buses so they could be issued with luggage labels. Those then in the line I earlier illustrated then became frustrated when another coach arrived and more chaos ensued. Finally for check in when we had dropped luggage it became apparent that not all check-in desks were manned..... Then of course one has to join a queue onboard to make the speciality dining reservations that you purchased many months in advance... ...only to find the prime times unavailable. Things could only get better? 😂 As I said earlier, 175 cruises and that was the poorest start.