patzimbo

Hi all, we live in Cape Town and are on the upcoming Nautica cruise next week. We have had our Madagascan stop cancelled and I've heard no complaints as we are super aware of the Bubonic and Pneumonic plague on the island. On our last cruise on the Riviera this July we were unable to go ashore by tender to Sorrento due to rough seas.

Insofar as this being the time to cruise around South Africa - yes, it is as it is our summer. However, this is not known as 'The Cape of Storms' for nothing and the coast is littered with ship wrecks from days gone by. Last year an MSC liner had to anchor in Port Elizabeth for a couple of days due to some storm damage and very rough seas between there and Cape Town. We boarded that same ship 2 weeks later and were unable to leave the harbour until about 8 hours after the stated sail away time. Again, seas too rough. But hey, we have glorious sunshine! :cool:

With regard to Maputo and the slow moving, inefficient Customs officers. Give a person a uniform and sometimes it all becomes a heady experience being able to order around a ship load of rich folk! I should imagine this was the case that TwoForTennis etc., experienced. Possibly, had a monetary bribe been offered it would have all gone off very smoothly. But O would be crazy to go down that slippery path.

This is Africa and, hopefully, when you sign up to experience it you are not wanting life to be the same as back home! Theft and corruption are endemic in many places and some of the abject poverty and bad Governance can lead to desperate measures. So be aware and don't get too chummy and act the obvious tourist.

P.s. There is no such place as New London. I think the poster meant East London. ;)

I know that in December she is doing several small excursions out of Cape Town harbour prior to a 30 day cruise from here to Singapore. We are looking forward to that - refit or no refit!

We were on the Riviera in June/July and the Food and Beverage Manager was a really nice South African guy, Evan Willemse. My being from Cape Town meant we obviously had a lot in common.

Why not stay in Mestre and avoid the high prices of actually being IN Venice? It is a 10 minute train trip away and the hotels there are very attractive and very much cheaper than lesser grade ones in Venice. Plus, you have no problem with lugging luggage up and over little bridges or taking an expensive water taxi. Just a thought.

I don't think you can put it to rest. That's up to the mods!

 

But as now one of the seniors on the list -- I remember being younger, sigh -- I haven't seen that the dress code has disintegrated. It CAN depend on the itinerary ... the Caribbean is always most casual.

 

I've mentioned this before, but we had dinner with a lovely couple in the GDR one night -- don't remember the ship -- the husband's first question was about the dress code. Because he was in a suit and tie and he could see that no other man was. So I told him, no, you don't need to do that. We saw him the next evening in one of the specialty restaurants and he'd already dispensed with the jacket and tie.

 

But he didn't come in holey jeans or shorts!

 

I like to dress nicely (not formally) even in the GDR. IF we are tired and don't want to bother we either order in to our suite (yes, we are suite people, sorry about that) or go up to the buffet.

 

All of the dinner venues are fine, at least by us.

 

Mura

I feel as if I know you Mura, having read so many wonderfully balanced, humourous, intelligent, well thought out replies to many postings on this board. I just wish you were on our upcoming cruise on the Riviera in July (Lisbon to Venice) as I would love to meet you. We have sailed on HAL, MSC, plus Tauck river boats, and the dress code varies in all of them. Sadly it has never put me off my food or drink. ;)

Thank you for the input and don't ever change!

We are on the Western Med Riviera cruise embarking in Lisbon in July. Okay, so I found a great wine and spirit shop just a few blocks from our hotel in Lisbon (Gotta love Google!) and I'm planning on getting some hard liquor and wine to carry onboard. However, I am not familiar with the local wines and I would love some input on some very good reds and whites from Portugal and Spain. This will take me all the way to France where I will be able to restock :D with French wines that will take me to Italy, where, yes, wait for it, I will switch to Italian reds! All input will be much appreciated. Price point is not an issue, I am out to experience the various regions' best. Thank you for sharing:cool::D!

Hi from Cape Town ... where we also have some really great wines! And the capacity to actually enjoy drinking most of them! ;p

As we are on the Riviera 'Lisbon to Venice' cruise in July I tried to get some info on Portugeuse wines and came on this very good website. http://www.gncellar.com. They have a 'Chat to us Live' option and their advice was excellent. Not only that but they offer free delivery to your hotel.

By the way, I have just finished reading your postings from 2015. Great being able to get your experiences on our upcoming itinerary. Thanks - but you failed to finish with the promised offering. Darn!

Cheers, Pat

Last night, at about 9:30 local time we passed the rock of Gibraltar. The lights of towns and cities were seen for some time before the actual sighting of Gibraltar however it was very obvious when the huge “rock” came in view. It was lit and what an intriguing sight.

Yesterday we attended a culinary tour in Tangier. After a 30 minute orientation, the fourteen of us boarded a bus and took us to the souk (market). We were ushered through fruits and vegetables, herbs and spices, flowers, fresh meat, a fish market and handmade ceramics. Your senses are bombarded by the smells, colours, sounds, feel and tastes of the marketplace. Our local guide interacted with the stall owners at various locations. As tangine cooking was our central theme, the Oceania staff bought spices, herbs, olives for our cooking.

A typical Moroccan meal was provided which included Moroccan beer, soup, b’stilla, couscous, tangine chicken and vegetables, Moroccan pastries and mint tea. Musicians played while we ate. The people at the restaurant could not have been more accommodating to our group, describing the food and the cooking.

Our walk back to the bus took us through narrow lanes and alleyways, dodging people attempting to sell all manner of crafts and foods. We shared the route with people bustling to market, and motorized vehicles.

Upon return to the ship two different tanginess were prepared along with explanations and sampling of ingredients. Each participant was given a cup of “ras el hanout” spice mix. This Moroccan spice mix varies with each spice shop and means “top shelf”, the term describing this mixture. The smell is exotic and mouth-watering.

We would not have felt comfortable doing this excursion in Tangier on our own.

As our cruise comes to an end in Barcelona in two days, there are certain experiences and events which really stand out. These will be etched in our memories.

• wine tastings
  
• meals at La Reserve
  
• our meal at Privé
  
• the two culinary excursions in Antigua and Tangier
  
• the culinary classes we attended for Greek food, tapas, and bistro cooking
  

We are most impressed by:

• the quality and friendliness of service
  
• the consistently excellent food everywhere in the ship
  
• complimentary buses when the city centre is a distance from the wharf
  
• the ability to bring wine on board
  
• the staff knowing our name
  
• the attention to detail
  
• The number of activities available
  
• baristas
  
• the many nooks and crannies on the ship to enjoy some quieter times
  

I wish you could carry on cruising forever! Not quite in the same manner as the fabled Flying Dutchman, obviously. I have so enjoyed your posts and will be sad when your cruise is over. Your concise manner and use of the English language makes me think you must be a writer. If not - why not? Thank you for the entertaining and informative diary.

Fantastic work, looking forward to sampling some of the offerings! Saving now ... and dieting!