Judyrem

I browsed through their extensive wine list and I think I am going to try some wines from countries I have never had before e.g.. India, Israel, UK!

Ok so I buy a bottle at 20% off, how bad can it be?!

On 3/29/2024 at 12:48 PM, BklynBoy8 said:

 

Cheers........... with you drinks and toasts.......Bon Voyage....

 

BTW...... Marinara with Seafood and pasta is known as Zuppa Di Pesce

or Frutti di mare which is my favorite dish in the whole world!  I just had over in Tuscany and Sicily two weeks ago.

Our first visit included the Tattoo and the Fringe Festival after that we were hooked!

On 5/4/2024 at 12:06 PM, D&N said:

Is this the one?  

 

If so, we'd probably prefer it as well. Vivino claims it's fractionally less dry, slightly less acidic and has stronger flavour. In France it would sell for about a third of the price of Whispering Angel.

We have thousands of rosés to choose from here and there are many Cote de Provence Cru Class wines much cheaper than W.A.  I get the impression most W.A. goes for export. I only see it here on overpriced restaurant wine lists.

I love this bottle and I love the wine too.

WA is just trending now IMO,

On 1/13/2024 at 12:35 PM, cruisemom42 said:

As I posted on the other thread where you mentioned this, I had the opportunity to hire a private driver to visit this newly opened site (with separate museum), as well as the site (and museum) at Vergina. 
 

I noticed in my research online in advance of my visits that some websites conflate the two places, but they are different places. Aigai was the old traditional Macedonian capital, used in the time of Alexander the Great mainly for traditional events and burials of the royal family.

 

Nearby Vergina was the “new” capital, built by the immediate predecessors of Alexander and his father, Philip II in an effort to compete with the cities of their Greek rivals.

 

Both places are well worth a visit and easily take up a full day. The Aigai site still has that “new museum” smell. The showstopper is the reconstruction of one of the facades of the Royal Palace at Aigai in a courtyard of the museum.

 

The places I mention above are all separate from the Museum of the Royal Tombs, also in the vicinity and DEFINITELY worth a visit as well (I had seen it on an earlier visit). It includes a walk through the underground tumulus of Philip II and assorted burial finds from his tomb and other royal tombs — amazing gold and silver work!

 

I’m traveling now but when I get home I’ll try to post a few photos.

I want to go there!  We have an overnight at the port and it looks like we can take a train there!

On 1/13/2024 at 12:35 PM, cruisemom42 said:

As I posted on the other thread where you mentioned this, I had the opportunity to hire a private driver to visit this newly opened site (with separate museum), as well as the site (and museum) at Vergina. 
 

I noticed in my research online in advance of my visits that some websites conflate the two places, but they are different places. Aigai was the old traditional Macedonian capital, used in the time of Alexander the Great mainly for traditional events and burials of the royal family.

 

Nearby Vergina was the “new” capital, built by the immediate predecessors of Alexander and his father, Philip II in an effort to compete with the cities of their Greek rivals.

 

Both places are well worth a visit and easily take up a full day. The Aigai site still has that “new museum” smell. The showstopper is the reconstruction of one of the facades of the Royal Palace at Aigai in a courtyard of the museum.

 

The places I mention above are all separate from the Museum of the Royal Tombs, also in the vicinity and DEFINITELY worth a visit as well (I had seen it on an earlier visit). It includes a walk through the underground tumulus of Philip II and assorted burial finds from his tomb and other royal tombs — amazing gold and silver work!

 

I’m traveling now but when I get home I’ll try to post a few photos.

ilki

23 minutes ago, edinburgher said:

i think only one member so far

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?q=aigai&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=463

 

Vergina past threads here

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?q=aigai&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=463

 

 

Thanks edinburgher, I didn't do my due diligence!

BTW, you joined CC on my birthday and you are from one of my favorite cities in the world.  I have been there four times!

Lucky you! 

This place looks magnificent!  Philip of Macedon and son Alexander lived there.  Vergina is the modern name.

13 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

You need to reserve the pop up. There is usually a list in your cabin of,which one is which night. 

I just cancelled The Verandah and did two pop ups, Italian and Indian.

I realized I didn't really want to schedule The Veranda on a formal night.

That's why I am here,  learning from the experts!😀

BTW, can we do a pop up without a reservation?

I also have The Veranda on a formal night and I think I need to change or cancel it.

27 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

I would do a pop up rather than the Verandah. There is a fair degree of overlap with the Grills Menus, and I find the Verandah rather unwelcoming and intimidating whereas the pop ups have always seemed fun.

Thanks, good to know!  I may just cancel it!

We are more of a fun type of friends. 🙂

We do love our ethnic food and we live in a very diverse community!

This is my first sailing with Cunard and I was just wondering if we would be getting a bit blasé about the Grills every night.

We are dining at The Verandah one night.

Thank you both for the feedback!

We would like to do the Italian and the Indian, maybe even the Asian pop up for a ten day TA to Hamburg.

Should we book ahead of time or wait until we get on board?   Are they worth it?.

We will be in the Princess Grills.

Thanks for the info, we will get a taxi, we have a 9:10 train to Winchester booked.

We also have a local tour booked,  I have been there before with my husband but my friend has not so I thought a tour would be best.

18 hours ago, Tduenas said:

Do you mind saying what the offer was? I'm in a princess grill as well and considering calling in to request an upgrade

Me too.

9 hours ago, exlondoner said:

Or, if you are feeling energetic, it is not far to walk.

We are taking the train for a day in Winchester, is walkable or should we do a shuttle?

On 4/3/2024 at 9:23 PM, Rina155 said:

Loving your live review!  The pictures are amazing.  I have been looking at this itinerary for 2025 and your candid review is enlightening.  Thanks for bringing us all along your amazing journey!

We are going in March with a similar itinerary!  Can't wait.

On 2/20/2024 at 5:03 AM, Victoria2 said:

Your take on Regent is interesting as it's a line, along with Crystal and Silversea we would consider should we fall out of loved with Cunard.

At the moment Cunard suits us. Itineraries are repeated but as has been said, the world is shrinking a bit as far as cruise ship [and ones of a certain size] visits are concerned.

I suppose we're lucky as we have visited the major part of the world in past decades and now the ship is our destination most of the time.

 

I would be very interested in any review you have written, or might write of Regent.

Me too. 

I am doing a TA on QM2 because I wanted to spend more time exploring the ship.

I am considering Oceana or Chrystal for a European cruise.

I hope so!

It seems very petty to take this path.

This is my first Cunard cruise.

I just called Customer service and I ordered a few extras for the  trip.  I asked about the Grills drink packages and he said the limit is 12$ not 13.50.  I asked why and of course he did not know why but it is what it is, yes?

That seems to me that they are being "pennywise pound foolish".

1 hour ago, D&N said:

Some of our best pro photos are from QM2's Grand Lobby 3rd floor balcony.

One problem there is that the photographers don't seem to appreciate the bright spotlight on ceiling at other side of lobby as shown on this photo between our cheeks. I've blurred us as our expressions aren't great in that one. We haven't used it for anything else. We're to blame for the dance pose, which other than the hold isn't technically correct. I've removed the spotlight from most of the pics that we've used for display.

 

Agree the best staircase ones are of my wife sitting alone. Indeed it's often the case that portraits of her alone look better than those that I appear in! 🙂

Beautiful dress and a handsome couple!

1 hour ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

The "Prom pose" is so last century!!  I refuse to do a stiffly posed picture. 

 

One of my favorite cruise photos is one I posed for us on QM2. DH had Parkinsons and standing up straight was a problem. I was coming down with a cold, but it was New Year's Eve and we were all dressed up. They were doing staircase photos. Rather than stand, he sat on a stair, and I sat one stair up, with my arm around his shoulder. Our smiles weren't great--his PH and my cold. A friend said we looked "elegant and a little world weary," which is kind of how we felt.

 

My flapper picture was funny. She asked if I could do the one foot "flapper pose," which is normally done with the woman's hand on the man's shoulder for balance. I told her to count to three and take the shot while I quickly got into position. We were both laughing, and it's a fun picture.

 

For Halloween, I wore purple and black with a big dollar store purple and black flower in my hair. I had gloves from a skeleton costume, and I held the glass so that the bones printed on the glove show. Photog was very helpful about posing. 

 

 

Wonderful post,thanks.

29 minutes ago, NE John said:

We bought masks on Amazon for $4 each and took a picture onboard during Masquerade Night. Then we put them away and moved on. The picture was fun though!

Sounds fun but I will be solo, it could be cringey for me.

1 hour ago, Ciadan said:

For our R&G night I plan to wear either a green or wine velvet dress with a gold wrap, handbag & hair accessory. My husband will wear a black suit with a gold bow tie & pocket square. For the masquerade night I hope to wear a navy velvet dress with silver accessories. My husband will wear a black suit with navy paisley bow tie and pocket square. We have black & silver masks which we’re not sure about yet - we’ll see how popular the masks are on the night.

I will do an ensemble but no masks!

5 hours ago, Pushpit said:

I wouldn't overthink it. Most passengers stick to the core Gala dress code. If you are male and happen to have a gold and yellow bow tie, or similar, then bring it along. For ladies, if you have say a brooch or jewellery which is gold and/or red, that will do fine. Or a throw or scarf. If you don't, that's also fine.

Thanks, makes sense.

I am not getting the red and gold theme, that seems quite precise.  I can't really see it together unless it's a red dress with gold jewelry.

I have two very dressy navy attire and I don't want to buy a red or gold /dressy pants.