Heartgrove

No, thankfully the phone did not go overboard - but could have!

I agree fully on the abilities of a phone vs. a camera today. But five years ago I almost lost my phone over the side while on my balcony of the ship. Seas were a bit rough but the wind was unpredictable. It caught the flat side and I struggled to keep my grip. Only use it with some sort of tether in conditions like that.

I have a cruise on the Rotterdam with Bergen on the itinerary for May 2023 so I am interested in this topic. Your screenshot is not the official website for Bergen port schedules. The Rotterdam has been removed for 24 June 2022. The official Bergen Havn Port Schedule is: https://bergenhavn.no/en/cruise-en/call-schedules-cruise/ This has actually been discussed in Norway since 2021. They feel that cruise ships leave a large climate footprint. The eventual goal is to have only one cruise ship per day call on Bergen. Evidently they are only allowing the Nieuw Statendam and the World Explorer to call in Bergen on the 24th.

Thank you Rich for the Daily Report, thank you Roy for the Cares and Celebration Report, and thank you Debbie for today's recipes. And thank you all for being here! - Jack

This may be the answer to the itinerary change. The Government of Norway just last week released findings from a commission formed after the Viking Sky incident in 2019. With the lull in cruise ships sailing in Norwegian waters, they also looked at the environmental impact that large cruise ships present. Sailing to Svalbard has already been affected by the report with cancellation by the Island Princess leaving FLL today cancelling its port call, and limitations for Geirangerfjord and Naeroyfjord may be implemented by mid-2020s. Also looked at was the necessary preparedness required in case of a maritime accident (Viking Sky). In the winter, they close portions of highways and the logic is that they should do the same with sea lanes. The COVID shutdown has allowed Italy (Venice) to look at cruise ships and now Norway in a different light. More itinerary changes may be coming.

Maxine, We are on the second leg, the British Isles, of your cruise. Looking forward to it too! - Jack

Thank you Rich for the Daily Report, thank you Roy for the Cares and Celebration Report, and thank you Debbie for today's recipes. And thank you all for being here! The doctors have ruled out that my brother suffered a heart attack. He has a therapist working with him to get him to swallow as he has only had a feeding tube. Also he is only semi-coherent with "Yes or No" responses. The plan is another 3 to 4 days being hospitalized and then moved to a rehab facility. It is the week for contractors. Yesterday we had our porch ceiling repaired. The builder had used interior drywall on the exterior porch ceiling. Too much expansion/contraction for material that doesn't. The contractor recovered it with PVC bead board sheeting. Scheduled for today we have a plumber coming to replace the kitchen faucet. We didn't notice that it was leaking until finding water damage in the family room ceiling on the lower level. It is a Delta brand and unlike other brands, when they leak the water runs down the pipingand hose instead of onto the counter. A poor design and obviously we are replacing it with a different brand. Stay Safe! - Jack

Check the SBB site (https://www.sbb.ch/en/timetable.html) for possible connections. It looks like 12 hr 17 min Amsterdam to Barcelona.

Thank you Rich for the Daily Report, thank you Roy for the Cares and Celebration Report, and thank you Debbie for today's recipes. And thank you all for being here! - Jack

@taylortime05We did the ItalyTours EU Pompeii excursion in October 2019 while aboard the Nieuw Statendam. The driver of the minivan met our small group just outside the terminal in Naples. He drove us to Pompeii and handed u@taylors off to a local guide for Pompeii. Then we met him again for the drive to Sorrento where we had maybe two hours for lunch, etc. A quick stop at a Limoncello outlet and scenic outlook stop before being back at the ship with about 45-60 minutes to spare. Recommended! We are back in Italy this October and may do another tour with them.

Thank you Rich for the Daily Report, thank you Roy for the Cares and Celebration Report, and thank you Debbie for today's recipes. And thank you all for being here! No word yesterday on my brother's health. The last I heard on Sunday evening was the hospital was planning to do an electrocardiogram. - Jack

Thank you Rich for the Daily Report, thank you Roy for the Cares and Celebration Report, and thank you Debbie for today's recipes. And thank you all for being here! - Jack

Exactly! There is a good chance that it may have been there.

Thank you for the thought but he was only served on the Atlantic. I'm surprised that mesothelioma hasn't gotten us with all of the old asbestos lagging. But if you were over there in 1972 you may have worked on my old ship. We sailed it from Norfolk to Guam in early 1972 along with two other CG cutters for decommissioning in preparation to lend them to the Republic of Vietnam Navy. This was during Nixon's Vietnamization program. My Coast Guard cutter/ship was originally a US Navy PT Boat tender during WWII. Upon decommissioning from the CG it reverted back to the Navy ownership. It made it to the Philippines in 1975 when South Viet Nam fell. - Jack

Thank you all for the thoughts and prayers for my brother and sister. I really appreciate everyone here. Thank you Rich for the Daily Report, thank you Roy for the Cares and Celebration Report, and thank you Debbie for today's recipes. And thank you all for being here! Hoping everyone is having a great weekend! The hospital has been able to bring my brother's temperature back to normal. He is aware of his surroundings and that he is in the hospital. Last evening they were attempting to bring his pulse down. Those who are familiar with Parkinson's Disease know that it in itself is not fatal. It is usually complications related to the disease. On a positive note, my sister-in-law has finally tested negative from COVID. She no longer needs to isolate in the house. That makes Sam happy! - Jack

Thank you, Sandi,. I had just finished my post when my sister called. This is from three years ago when he had pneumonia for the first time. We thought we would lose him then. He also served in the Coast Guard before me.

Thank you Rich for the Daily Report, thank you Roy for the Cares and Celebration Report, and thank you Debbie for today's recipes. And thank you all for being here! Have a great weekend! Just heard from my younger sister that my brother was taken by ambulance to the hospital. He has pneumonia along with a 104 degree temperature. Serious because he has been suffering with Parkinson's for almost 19 years. He is not in the ICU but just a step below so that he could be quickly moved in. My "home" for a portion of the time in the Coast Guard. I am sure that is the reason I love to cruise. - Jack

The staterooms that you are referring to are the Aft-Facing Stern Staterooms. This was done in 2007 and three of the Vista-class have been modified. The last to be built, Noordam, was configured that way when built. The stern originally had about a 45 degree slant. It was raised vertically and lengthened to provide additional staterooms. I believe that the SC Neptune staterooms were created out of Verandah staterooms, or vice versa. Somewhere I have the original deck plan. I am not sure which stateroom you are looking at but the Westerdam was reconfigured almost 15 years ago. Somewhere on line there are descriptions and photos of the historical changes made.

If you are determined to stay with the DSLR platform, I would look for slightly used cameras. There are a number of reputable dealers that offer good warranties and excellent products here in the US.

I think you may have been mislead. If you are referring to Deck 6 6110-6160, 6119-6171 and Deck 7 7090-7134, 7095-7143 being not as deep, they are standard depth for this class (Vista-class) and the Signature-class ships as well. I have attached a photo of VC6114 from one of our cruises aboard the Nieuw Amsterdam. It also shows how the divider can be opened between staterooms.

Thank you Rich for the Daily Report, thank you Roy for the Cares and Celebration Report, and thank you Debbie for today's recipes. And thank you all for being here! Have a great weekend! DSIL is recovering but still isolating as she still showed positive on Wednesday. We have decided to cancel our trip to see my sister until DSIL is able to care for Sam. That entails up early to feed him and then up and down stairs to let him out during the day. Hopefully mid-June we can go. My sister did attend the bridal shower Sunday. My ex who was in attendance mentioned to my older daughter that she was looking frail. I do not think that the doctor has changed the prognosis of 2-3 months. - Jack

Thank you Rich for the Daily Report, thank you Roy for the Cares and Celebration Report, and thank you Debbie for today's recipes. And thank you all for being here! This past weekend was my niece's Bridal Shower. My older sister was able to attend thankfully. According to my younger sister (mother of the bride-to-be) she did well and has not declined further at this point. But it is just question of time. Hopefully she can attend the wedding in July. DSIL has gone this morning for a transfusion to combat her COVID infection. We will probably need to delay the trip to Chicago to see my sister until after Memorial Day. I'm not certain that she would have the strength right now to care for Sam even though I have a dog walker. We visited Dubrovnik in late 2019. Photos of the city have provided Sue with a wealth of subject matter for her artwork. I will try to post some photos later today. Stay safe! - Jack

Welcome to the new norm. The beginning of April I spent two hours on hold for a SWA rep after our flight was cancelled. Not enough employees it seems for the resurgence in travel.

Thank you Rich for the Daily Report, thank you Roy for the Cares and Celebration Report, and thank you Debbie for today's recipes. And thank you all for being here! Have a great weekend! Stay safe! - Jack

Thank you Rich for the Daily Report, thank you Roy for the Cares and Celebration Report, and thank you Debbie for today's recipes. And thank you all for being here! DSIL seems to be feeling a bit better. She has an appointment with the hospital for a treatment on Monday. So far Sue and I seem to be okay but the regular flu (?) is on an increase in the area. Sue did cancel her trip to see her son in Ashland. It has been almost three years since seeing him. We may tack driving from Chicago to see him onto our trip for the wedding in July. With the flight cutbacks from our two nearby regional airports later this month, re-scheduling would take three flights to see him each way. We haven't been to Aarhus but for those interested there is a Danish crime reporter series on Netflix that takes place there. The name of it is "Dicte" and has three seasons. We watched it a few years ago but it still may be available. Stay safe! - Jack