Heartgrove

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! Feeling so sorry for all the cruisers attempting to sail allong the entire East Coast of the USA! Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack

Well, technology marches on! On our initial trip to Australia in 2003 I used my first Digital camera whch was a Sony Cybershot. It recorded on a proprietary memory stick for which the reader is no longer compatible with my current computer. On our second trip to Oz we started in Auckland, New Zealand and only changed planes on our return flights (3) in Sydney. So here are some aerial photos from our departure on our flight to LAX. Our plans are to return Australia on our way to Japan in 2025. - Jack Sydney skyline Port Jackson Bay Sydney Harbour Bridge Sydney Opera House (unfortunately with so-so accoustics but an iconic landmark) Sydney Ferry returning to Circular Quay HMAS Melbourne FFG-05 decommisioned in 2019 and sold to Chile. The old UAL First Class seat in the nose of a 747-400.

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! We were in Sydney on our first trip to Australia in 2003. I will try to post some photos from back then. Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! My appointments went well yesterday and happy to "see" there is no change in my eyes. My cataract doesn't need to be addressed yet. The snow has surprisingly stayed on the ground. People need to learn how to drive again in winter as I did pass a minor fender bender on my way to the eye doctor. Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! Up early today as I have two medical appointments. We had our first snow last night so hopefully the roads aren't too bad. Amazing considering that we had no snow last year! My first appointment first thing this morning is for my annual eye exam. Then this afternoon is my third and final round of Hyaluronic Acid shots for my knees. Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack

Cartagena and Corfu are doable by yourself. Cartagena you just walk into the city from the pier. For Corfu, there is a city bus outside the port gate that will take you to the edge of the Old Town. My wife did the HAL ship excursion for Seville that included Royal Alcazar while I did Cadiz on my own.

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack

With a 7pm departure, the muster drill will need to be earlier. If possible arrive a day or two earlier than planned and arrange tours for yourself. Besides the Golden Circle tour, a tour to the Snaefelsness Peninsula ot South Coast are doable from Reyjkavik. A 7pm departure is really not much different than the customary 4-5pm departure to squeeze an excursion in. One time we had a 10pm departure from Copenhagen but the muster drill was held at around 5pm. That day we had gone to the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Humlebaek, Denmark on the last day of our "Copenhagen Card." On the way back, our train broke down. We didn't board until close to 6pm. Upon boarding we were given a letter saying that a special makeup muster would be held the next day at 9am.

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack

How does pre-buying compare to the Voyager Club discount?

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! I have been to Pearl Harbor four times, once in uniform. I always consider it my duty to pay my respects there and the "Punchbowl" on every visit. Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack

@seagarsmoker Good luck today on the interview!

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! Sue and I are finally feeling much better. Thankfully DSIL never got it from us. Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! Today's quote makes me smile! Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack

@rafinmd Roy, webcam photos of your train passing through Ashland, VA today. - Jack

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack

The MSC Divina and Queen Victoria on the webcam in Funchal today.

The oldest of this class is MSC Armonia which was built in 2001. The last drydock was March 2022. MSC has a policy to continue using their ships until they are are retired from service and scrapped. That way they are not available to the second-hand market and thus competition for MSC cruises in their particular market.

Thank you Rich, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work. And thank you everyone for being here! Covid aftereffects STILL lingering! Today is 14 days so I guess that is to be expected. Sue and I are taking turns as to who feels worse. 😄 DSIL is still feeling fine. 🤞 Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need. - Jack