Christmas markets in Europe and Caribbean cruise (RTW)

[RooFlyer]

Far out roo flyer.. Cynical is as cynical does.. sheesh…...

Experience is as experience related.

Since I posted that I’ve been watching the restaurant fill up with various shall we say types of couples (glam, ‘ordinarily dressed’ folk, various degrees of self-importance) and it’s really obvious that there is a certain division of preference in allocated seating . There’s been a number of refusals of allocated tables and self selection of new tables which then had to go back to the maître ‘D.

Supplementary for @drron or @mrs.dr.ron i’m not sure how alike they are but at this Atlantide there is a smaller, upper ‘mezzanine’ section furnished differently and a lower main section. If it’s a common structure across the fleet, is the upper section more exclusive? Appears to be.

To be honest, if there is some sort of status selection, I don’t have a problem with that. Just like Airlines, if you pay a lot, cruise a lot, you deserve to be looked after a bit better.

 

[Quickstatus]

Far out roo flyer.. Cynical is as cynical does.. sheesh…..

i prefer that it is just the expression of the AFF DNA. Status is everywhere especially when it is hidden.....

tachycardia

How much (%) did preexisting conditions increase your TI?

 

[Disco]

Next day, it was over to Salzburg by train. A bit apprehensive about this one, with three segments, 2 on DB Strasbourg-Stuttgart-Munich and 1 on the Austrian OBB Munich-Salzburg (thinking about delays/cancellations). As it happened, all went well; a bit of a delay on the first and last legs, but nothing dramatic.

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Cold and desolate on the Strasbourg platform. I haven't yet got the hang of trains - that you can turn up abt 10 mins prior and just get on. I'm in airline mode an arrive an hour before (but have some breakfast at the station).

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Here's the ride

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DB Navigator app continued to work a charm - constantly updating info, times etc.

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First class seating -the first leg practically deserted

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Wifi continues to be a dead loss

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Been busy and lost track (not intended). Glad the App has been working well, good to know for the future.

 

[RooFlyer]

How much (%) did preexisting conditions increase your TI?

Pre-existing conditions refused coverage for last two annual policies. Didn’t ask for them this last policy. Nervous traveller!

 

[drron]

As far as I am aware there is no status taken into account for seating in Atlantide. I think we have been seated all around the restaurant. I guess we are high status as this year we are in the top 5 of nights sailed on Silversea and on formal nights I am wearing a dinner suit and bow tie.
You do notice though many people have a preference to where they want to sit. Usually a seat near the windows. On one cruise we did have a preference for a table as it was in the area served by the best waiter we have had onboard. A table in his area was kept for us every night. But we were friends with the Maitre'D and the F&B manager on that cruise.

 

[RooFlyer]

Next day, Saturday the day had finally arrive for me to board the cruise. but not before a bit of drama.

My B&B host was away for the day so I was just to lock the place up and pop the keys through the barred kitchen window of her adjacent house. I locked the deadlock of the front door inside during the night but when I went to open it in the morning the key just spun round without disengaging the lock. It was broken and that would be a real problem because all the windows were barred. I could be trapped!

Fortunately, there was an escape route via a door from the bedroom to the outside which had a bench across it, but that was easily moved, the door undone and I was out. Whew.

Taxi to the cruise port and unfortunately I was given a bum steer by the taxi driver who pointed where I should go to clear immigration. A puzzled official there directed me to go outside and into another entrance to the building. Equally puzzled official was there wondered what I was looking for immigration for and told me to go back out, retrace my steps in a bit more and I would see the SilverSea people. The place was incredibly crowded with passengers from three cruise ships including the monster Ovation of the Seas manoeuvring their luggage behind them in the heat.

Went through several stages of Shaw side checking in when my luggage was taken care of, in a fashion.



Then directed to a bus where we sat with no Aircon in the heat for about 10 minutes and then choofed off to the actual boat.



Then on board, directed around a few corners to the theatre where official boarding registration was done photo taken etc. And something strange. I was asked for my ESTA. No ESTA I said, which produced a surprised look. However I said I do have a B1 B2 Visa for the USA but why do they ask? I’m getting off the cruise in Columbia. I think it was basically a mistake, but they didn’t say so. They talked about the cruise ending in Miami ‘and US visas are required because of that’

I made a strong point that I was never informed that I should have an ESTA for the USA even though I’m leaving the cruise Columbia. And wasn’t it lucky that I did in fact have a Visa?

Onto the standard Veranda suite which was almost the same as my Antarctica cruise last year but in fact probably a little bit laid out


I think there’s a refurb a year or so ago and the bathroom certainly has a modern fit out.







Bottle of champagne in the suite which last year was left unopened but it was such a hot day with such a lot of hassle, I treated myself.

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks @drron . I’ll reveal the source of my query maybe tomorrow when I have another data point to substantiate my own theory.

 

[Drakecula]

First stop the State Hall of the Austrian National Library. I love a good library (and I know @Drakecula does too) and this was a great one.

Holy moly! Imagine working there?
Speaking of working in libraries, I was at work recently and a visitor came up asking to see the books. I did my usual spiel about closed stacks, requesting material, etc., but they showed me a photo of the inside of a library that I think they thought was the NLA. It was a picture of Trinity College Library in Dublin. A very impressive library to be sure, but most definitely not the NLA!

I wonder if staff at the National Library of Austria get questions about Australia? Haha.

Your trip so far looks amazing! I'd love to go back to do more Christmas markets one day. And happy belated birthday too.

 

[Disco]

Been an interesting few days. The day before I arrived in Vienna my heart irregularity started increasing; it sort of comes and goes but was noticeable all day that day. My cardiologist assures me on several occasions that there isn't really anything that could happen that would require me to rush home. For tachycardia (sustained rapid heartrate >100bps) I have some effective pills and if I were to go into flutter (sustained arrhythmia) , that's OK for a few weeks its just a matter of putting up with some discomfort.

That night, I may well have been in a bit of flutter and when I went to bed my heart was pounding, irregularly. No way I could get to sleep as is, so I took a Stilnox. That worked for sleep and also calmed things down but from then on I was very sensitive to any increase. And increase it did, for hours at a time but it calmed again. And so it went for the next day or so until yesterday when I think I could call it back to normal (ie irreg low levels of irregularity). Anyway, it really put a dampener of doing things, so Vienna was a quiet day. Oh, I also developed what I think is cellulitis in one lower leg, which I'm treating with an antibiotic Cefalexin.

Shame, but I did see more of Vienna than before. Last on the list was the Neue Hofburg. Its worth reading about here

The Neue Burg wing of the Hofburg

A look at this home to various museums, the Austrian national library, and other historical collections.

www.visitingvienna.com

TL;dr is that the huge arc building that looks like the main building is in fact one of the youngest and was begun in the late 19th century as a new palace for the imperial family and completed in the early 20th Century. Unfortunately by that time the imperial family were no more. Amazingly, a mirror building was planned to face it, but never got off the ground.

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There are no State Apartments to view, just the Armory and a music museum via a self guided audio tour which was far too long winded for my interest. The entrance hall is pretty nifty.

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... and so on. At last one of more interest

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Amazing staircase - you can't see it all from any vantage point

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Enjoying the TR and the parts of Vienna and history I haven't yet encountered even after a few visits.

 

[kookaburra75]

.... And you have to admire a pharmac_ that has a good range of booze

For medicinal purposes only I'm sure

Really, really good, Great location, great staff, great food. A bit expensive, but its Barbados .... My 65th birthday was a few days prior so I hung the expense.
My table was along the front - perfect

And a belated happy birthday too. I'm glad you found such a great spot to enjoy it - and damnit, you're younger than me!

 

[love_the_life]

Pre-existing conditions refused coverage for last two annual policies. Didn’t ask for them this last policy. Nervous traveller!

All Clear is one TI company that does cover existing medical conditions. MrLtL's ICD can be covered for a (fingers crossed) South Africa jaunt in May. Not cheap though - about $1,100 for 2 weeks.
But then again Son LtL was quoted over $400 additional for his conditions (diabetes and a psychological condition) for a 3 day cruise from one of the main players.

 

[Pushka]

All Clear is one TI company that does cover existing medical conditions. MrLtL's ICD can be covered for a (fingers crossed) South Africa jaunt in May. Not cheap though - about $1,100 for 2 weeks.
But then again Son LtL was quoted over $400 additional for his conditions (diabetes and a psychological condition) for a 3 day cruise from one of the main players.

BUPA covers me for all my multiples including the blood clotting condition which renders me risk of stroke. An annual policy for $1300! Bargain. You don't have to be a member but members do get 10% discount.

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks @drron . I’ll reveal the source of my query maybe tomorrow when I have another data point to substantiate my own theory.

Right. The reason for my query about status was an obtuse way of seeing if the maitre d’s had a system of preferment in seating. And with now three dinner nights under my belt I can certainly say they do discriminate against some, for instance singles like myself.

I like to eat early, say six or 6:30 pm so the first night I was at SALT shortly after it opened was almost completely empty and I was seated right by the entrance. Subject to all the traffic coming in and within arm’s-length of the maitre d’s desk and the chatter there.

Night two at Atlantide, again virtually empty restaurant and I was seated right next to the servery - noisy clattering of plates and cutlery and waiters is going out all the time. I asked to be moved and there was no problem with being seated at a table more or less on the edge-middle of the restaurant.

Night three was a late dinner at La Terrarza after an excursion was late coming in and I was just after something quick and easy. The restaurant by this time was about half full with plenty of tables available in the middle section. So where do they put me? Around the corner in the wing of the restaurant where there was probably 20 tables but no one else there and I was put at the far corner. The servery was close.

EDIT & correction. There was another couple there and they complained somewhat loudly about the location as opposed to the main section with more restaurant ambiance, As I was just having a starter, I didn't worry that night.

I’m absolutely not the prettiest sight in general but always dress respectively going out to dinner ( no jacket ) and I’m conventionally smiling and polite, yet I’m treated like a leper in these restaurants.

It’s because I’m a single, obviously, and they simply automatically put me away when no one else might want to sit, even though place might be empty. And by the responses to my query about status, they’re not being kept clear due to being kept clear for status passengers.

If they try it on tonight or again, there is going to be a fuss.

Next post will be a much more uplifting continuation of trip report in the Caribbean islands

 

[drron]

Well this year we have been seated in all the positions you have mentioned and we have status.
If you don't like the seat just tell the person who is taking you to your table that you would prefer a different one. Occasionally we have done that usually because we were going to be seated next to people we really didn't want to be near.
Every night you hear people asking for a different table.

 

[Port Power]

At dinner on SS cruises I have usually been at a share table, so cannot comment on treatment as a solo. However, at lunch in Atlantide I have been seated all over the place. If heading to an aisle-edge table, I will often request another location. Like @drron, I will also ask for a table in a favourite waiter’s section. @RooFlyer, I really do not believe solos are treated less favourably. Definitely speak up and ask to be seated in an area you prefer.

 

[RooFlyer]

I had a few issues with the suite to get sorted out - safe didn't work, something spilled that hadn't been picked up, something up with the veranda door mechanism but there resolved in turn. My butler and room attendant introduced themselves (respectively an Indian and an Indonesian, much like my antarctica cruise) and I happy started my cruise. Various health lurgies on the improve, too.

We docked at about 9am at Scarbough, the capital of Tobago. Nice green rolling hills on approach.





I was on an included tour of some 'highlights. The first and main stop was at a 'botanic garden' and place where hummingbirds can be seen. They certainly were - dozens of them at feeders, and whizzing past out heads. I have a video to upload, but ship's wifi far too slow.



This is a mot-mot.



Maybe a woodpecker?







Then through the botanic gardens (actually a privately owned sanctuary) and some flowers to admire.

 

[RooFlyer]

@drron and @Port Power I don’t doubt what you say in the slightest but why anyone should be given shall we say a less desirable if not arguably the worst table in a near empty restaurant (being the operative issue) 2/3 times and almost that 1/3 is beyond me.

 

[RooFlyer]

A brief stop at Forrt James, built by the British against the French in the late 1700s. Ammunition store.









Cannonballs were put into an oven to make them very hot; on firing, they would do much more damage to the target if red/white hot.



The earliest people of Tobago were the Ortoiroid people, and others 3.5- 1 '000 years BC. Later, there were the Island Caribs and Amerindians.

Wikipedia:

Tobago was seen by Christopher Columbus on 14 August 1498, during his third voyage. Columbus did not land, but named the island Belaforme, "because from a distance it seemed beautiful". Spanish friar Antonio Vázquez de Espinosa recorded that the Kalina (mainland Caribs) called the island Urupaina because of its resemblance to a big snail,  while the Kalinago (Island Caribs) called it Aloubaéra, believed to be a reference to the fact that it resembled alloüebéra, the giant snake which was supposed to live in a cave on the island of Dominica.  The name Tabaco was first recorded in a Spanish royal order, issued in 1511. This name references the shape of the island, which resembles the fat cigars smoked by the Taíno inhabitants of the Greater Antilles.

In 1628 Jan de Moor, the burgomaster of Vlissingen in the Netherlands, acquired the rights to colonise Tobago from the Dutch West India Company. He established a colony of a hundred settlers called Nieuw Walcheren at Great Courland Bay and built a fort, Nieuw Vlissingen, near the modern town of Plymouth. The goal of the colony was to grow tobacco for export, but the colonists were also permitted to trade with the indigenous inhabitants

The indigenous inhabitants of Tobago were hostile to the colonisers; in 1628 a visiting warship from Zeeland lost 54 men in an encounter with a group of Amerindians whose identity was not recorded. The town was also subject to attack by Kalinago from Grenada and St. Vincent. The colony was abandoned in 1630, but was reestablished in 1633 by a fresh group of 200 settlers.[1]: 115–119  The Dutch traded with the Nepoyo in Trinidad and established fortified trading posts on the east and south coasts of that island. They allied with Hierreyma, a Nepoyo chief, in his rebellion against the Spanish. In retaliation, the Spanish destroyed the Dutch outposts in Trinidad before gathering a force which captured the Dutch colony in Tobago in December 1636. In violation of the terms of their surrender agreement, all but two of the Dutch prisoners were shipped to Margarita, where almost all of them were executed.

English settlers from Barbados attempted to establish a colony in Tobago in 1637, but they were attacked by Caribs shortly after their arrival and the colony was abandoned. This was followed by a series of attempts to settle the island by colonists under the patronage of the Earl of Warwick. In 1639 a group of "a few hundred" settlers established a colony, but they abandoned it in 1640 after attacks by Kalinago from St. Vincent. A new group of colonists arrived in 1642 and established tobacco and indigo plantations. This settlement was abandoned as a consequence of Carib attacks and a shortage of supplies. A fourth English colony was established in 1646 but only lasted a few months.

Our host claimed that Tobago changed hand 33 times!

Nearby cricket ground ... with sheep.



Nearby was the 'mystery tombstone. Can you work out what the inscription means?