Tranquility Base

Google………Cerberus heatwave. Place your bets as to weather (sp intended) you think it will be better or worse in two years time.

Would we expect 2026 ATW to be released this year or next ? Personally, hoping it’s time for a westabout.

Yes indeed. High quality and full of flavour.

Yep, An easy day for us today. Wandered the Gothic Quarter for a few hours, leisurely lunch, made all the better by a busker group ( double bass, banjo, clarinet ) near the Cathedral. Very pleasant. On our way back to the shuttle spent some time in the Mercat de la Boqueria for some yummy fruit. Sea day tomorrow then Malaga.

Yep. Nice visit to Gordes, Roussillon and Bonnieux. All pretty villages. Included close up look at some quite large fields of lavender. Currently on our way to Barcelona.

Able was I ere I saw Elba. Nice port stop here. Walked up to a couple of forts and viewpoints for some good photo shots. Back into Portoferraio for light lunch. A number of tours available, and local bus around large parts of the island. As planned an easy DIY, back on ship by 2pm…..last tender is at 4. Marseille tomorrow. Heading up into the hills somewhere to a couple of towns.

Yep. Just back from a nice tour to Civita di Bagnoregio and Orvieto. Portoferraio ( Elba ) tomorrow. Planning a relaxing DIY day ashore.

Their own website, when “ Introducing simply MORE”, now proudly announces “The Best Value in Luxury Cruising “.

Yes, Aqaba stop was simply delayed 24 hrs. 7am - 10:30 pm.

Yep, nice day here. People would have done all sorts of tours here. Just back from our Sorrento - Salerno Amalfi Coast drive. Being a Sunday it was extra busy, but it was still good to go back and find something new. We had a lovely long lunch in Amalfi. Up the old stone steps to the left of the Main Street into an alleyway parallel. A few restaurants along there, far quieter than the main walking street. Civitavecchia tomorrow.

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An enjoyable day here. Whilst some went on tours, naturally many wandered the town. Being a Saturday afternoon, I reckon 50% of the people I saw around town were from the ship. On previous occasions here I had always done tours. This time wandering up & down the hills, and then along the waterfront area, I was impressed by some of the sights to see here. Now on our way to Salerno.

Thank you, very well put. This, I believe, originated from the airline industry in the ‘70s & 80s. They developed their CRM program ( cockpit resource management ) which then developed into crew resource management. In the maritime world this initially became BRM ( bridge resource management ). As you say, there are numerous safety advances in play today which are a result of moving away from the old school blame culture. Modern day incident / accident investigation is far more advanced than that of 40 years ago.

I think they would soon catch on.

I am guessing one of your cruises stops at Tauranga ? If so, you could consider a tour which includes the agrodome show in Rotorua. Rotorua is about an hour from Tauranga. There are also many other worthwhile attractions in Rotorua.

Indeed we are. I am simply reading from their website where Oceania have their paragraph “ “Introducing simply MORE”. They finish with the words……” for the best value in luxury cruising”.

Poor form, what…..simply not cricket ol’ chap. But thanks for the ‘heads up’. Will pay extra close attention.

At the Captain’s talk and Q & A this morning; generator fixed and with the sea temp in the Mediterranean cooler than in the Arabian Sea, we have full capacity again. By my calculation we may be into Messina a little bit ahead of schedule tomorrow. Pub lunch in the MDR today. A nice improvement, seven main course choices as well as all the starters & desserts. Nice outdoor weather today.

Speed is showing as 21 kts which is encouraging ( touch wood ). Will be able to judge ETA more accurately after the noon announcement.

I wouldn’t have thought it would be too difficult for someone on the ship to get the ETD info of other ships there on the day and share that with the passengers. After all, isn’t it those little extra efforts which differentiate a Luxury line from many of the others.

Entered at 5am, Exited at 3pm.

We have just past the mid point Pilot Station where we swap over the Pilots.

If you care to buy me a Long Island Ice Tea or three I would be most appreciative. Hope this helps.

As would we. Although we have sailed on 6 ‘R’ ships on 3 different lines, and enjoyed them all, I have outgrown the ‘ hull cutout ‘ balconies.

Suez update. Now at anchor soon to bunker fuel. At this stage, unless a warship turns up, we are the lead ship. Expect to start out about 4am ( 11am SYD).