TLCOhio

My strong betting/speculation on the next steps is for dumping the passengers back in Jordan and then going crew-only down the Red Sea, circling Yemen and going up the Sea of Aden towards Muscat, Oman. That gets them there on Jan. 16 and the schedule pretty back on schedule, maybe?? To go back to the Med and do a circumnavigation of Africa would take too, too much time and fuel. A massive number of paid-up and full cruises by the Silver Moon would have to be scrubbed, etc., under that option. As someone who has followed these serious questions since mid October, I am still amazed as to how and why Silversea has "managed" this challenge. We all knew this "situation" was coming. The old saying about "Silence Is Golden" does not apply here. Will be interested to see a copy of the letter that Silversea gave to the passengers currently on the Silver Moon. How do you nicely say "We goofed and are so sorry"? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Sydney to NZ/Auckland Adventure, live/blog 2014 sampling/details with many exciting visuals and key highlights. On page 23, post #571, see a complete index for all of the pictures, postings. Now at 248,049 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

Yes, "WOW!" is the correct reaction in many ways, including as to why Silversea waited and waited so very, very, very long to make this decision and notify those involved and impacted. Appreciate these updates and details. Keep us imformed as to any new info from Silversea as to how they complete these "logistics". From www.cruisemapper.com below is their graphic this morning: There remains the massive "MYSTERY" as to how a potentially passenger-less Silver Moon gets to Muscat and Dubai, including going through the narrow waterway nearby to Yemen territory in later January. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise from Copenhagen, July 2010, to the top of Europe. Scenic visuals with key tips. Live/blog at 250,043 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1172051-livesilver-cloud-norway-coastfjords-july-1-16-reports/

YES!! Very interested to hear your impressions and details for the S.A.L.T. dining experiences. South American has many interesting potentials and look forward to learning more as to how Silversea achieves those creative efforts. Great start with your excellent sharing. Look forward to following along. Also, if possible, interested as to how well things are done with the speakers, entertainment offerings, etc. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Great! Now I "get it". Feel slightly smarter now. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Excellent that things are going well on the Silver Nova. BUT, to help me understand, what does "SA GV Service" mean?? Sorry that these letters don't connect for me. Getting ready to do 18-days on the Silver Moon in February. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Appreciate these excellent, continued updates and details. Look forward to learning more tomorrow. From www.cruisemapper.com below is their graphic this morning showing things still being on schedule for being headed to Muscat and going through the nearby to Yemen territory on Jan. 11-12. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

YES, this is a fascinating "mystery"!!! Below is from the Silversea website this afternoon being clear that on Jan. 16, the Silver Moon will be Muscat, Oman. What will really happen, how, when and why? Hard for both CruiseDig and the SS website to be correct at the same time. Great updating and sharing. Good luck and safe travels. Especially when you need to do "it" for the next few days without the "benefit" of alcohol. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

YES!! Big, BIG bear. Looks cute and fun . . . from a safe distance away. Appreciate this great sharing. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Great to hear that food, service, cabin, etc., are "all fantastic"!! Keep it rolling with these such updates, details, etc. If possible any and all visuals are appreciated from this ship and the crew. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Wonderful details and quick follow-up from our UK friend. You're a superstar!! Keep it coming with more background and details as you sail south on the Silver Moon. Safe travels!! THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

From the Boston Globe and MSN News by Christopher Muther yesterday, they had this headline: “Forget over-hyped tourist hotspots. Here are the best destinations to visit in 2024.” with one of their suggested highlights for why to visit Tromso: “Tourists headed to Europe are gradually migrating north this year as summers in France, Italy, and Spain continue to swelter. Travel advisers have noticed an uptick of vacationers booking trips to Scandinavia. As the rest of the world (finally) discovers Sweden, my advice is to skip ahead to Norway. Oslo is lovely, but save time for Bergen, which is far more charming. One of the country’s true gems is Tromsø, which combines the best of urban conveniences with spectacular Arctic nature. If you want to see more of the country, specifically the Northern lights, Havilia Voyages offers an astronomy cruise with experts. The cruise, which is round-trip from Bergen, has a Northern Lights guarantee. If you don’t see them, you get a new sailing free of charge. If you opt not to sail, you can partake in Tromsø’s annual reindeer races or run a marathon at midnight. The restaurant scene is also not to be missed." Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/forget-over-hyped-tourist-hotspots-here-are-the-best-destinations-to-visit-in-2024/ar-AA1mtAyi THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise from Copenhagen, July 2010, to the top of Europe. Scenic visuals with key tips. Live/blog at 249,946 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1172051-livesilver-cloud-norway-coastfjords-july-1-16-reports/

From the Boston Globe and MSN News yesterday, they had this headline: “Forget over-hyped tourist hotspots. Here are the best destinations to visit in 2024.” with these highlights for Kotor: “The charming medieval city of Kotor sits between the Dinaric Alps and is perched along the crystal blue Adriatic. That means no matter where you look the views are stunning. Think of it as Dubrovnik minus the “Game of Thrones” groupies. It can get crowded here the days that cruise ships are in the vicinity, but plan your visit strategically, and you’ll have the cobblestone streets to yourself. Well, actually, you won’t have them to yourself. You’ll need to share with the abundant number of cats who call the town center home. There’s even a cat museum to celebrate them. Walk along Kotor’s ancient walls, which were built during between the 9th to 14th centuries, or partake of the lively nightlife. There’s no shortage of historic sites or good seafood.” Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/forget-over-hyped-tourist-hotspots-here-are-the-best-destinations-to-visit-in-2024/ar-AA1mtAyi THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Sydney to NZ/Auckland Adventure, live/blog 2014 sampling/details with many exciting visuals and key highlights. On page 23, post #571, see a complete index for all of the pictures, postings. Now at 247,878 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

Agree with the smart and savvy Fletcher that some "freezing" and delay could be happening with these maps/on-line info sources. Yes, "security" is a biggie right now in this challenged region. Is below on this map, is it still accurate as to your upcoming port stops and planned schedule? Know part of the plan for a port stop in Egypt was scrubbed earlier. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Looking forward to your Silver Moon adventure details. Any and all info items are of interest. Will be following along and hoping for the best, especially during the Jan. 11-12 period for navigating around Yemen and into the Gulf of Aden. Let us know how full is this ship for this sailing, etc. From www.cruisemapper.com it shows the current Silver Moon's position. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

From the Wall Street Journal late Friday afternoon, below are their charts for the three major cruise lines. Well, it's winter time and these past four days looks like a ski slope . . . sliding downhill? Good or bad? Why? What's next? Hard to predict in my view. Clearly these cruise stock slid down, down in a more negative manner than what was affecting other stocks. Observation and predictions for the market direction during the rest of this month and for the first quarter of 2024? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise from Copenhagen, July 2010, to the top of Europe. Scenic visuals with key tips. Live/blog at 249,946 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1172051-livesilver-cloud-norway-coastfjords-july-1-16-reports/ Here are the Wall Street Journal charts to reflect the past four days of trading for the three major cruise lines. It was a holiday-shortened week with New Years Day on Monday. Finally, at the bottom, is the chart for this past week for the overall S&P 500.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!)

From the London/UK Daily Mail this morning, they had this headline: “Every country's must-try food revealed on fascinating world map” with these highlights: “Food is often one of the most exciting parts of going on holiday, especially when it's something you can't find back home. But what are the must-try dishes, snacks and drinks travellers need to tick off? Every country's must-try local delicacy was established by analysing TikTok videos containing hashtags for over 2,600 delicacies in 177 countries. The number of views associated with each hashtag was tallied to produce a ranking.” For the five upcoming nations we will be visiting next month, here are the most noted foods for each country from this "research" method: India: Biryani Sri Lanks: Kottu Thailand: Pad Thai Malaysia: Nasi Lemak Singapore: Laksa As detailed by Wikipedia, "Laksa is a spicy noodle dish popular in Southeast Asia. Laksa consists of various types of noodles, most commonly thick rice noodles, with toppings such as chicken, prawn or fish. Most variations of laksa are prepared with a rich and spicy coconut soup or a broth seasoned with sour asam (tamarind or gelugur). Originating from Peranakan cuisine, laksa recipes are commonly served in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia." Below is one of many options for how this dish might look and be served. Personally, I am big on the sauces and/or gravy that goes with and/or mixed in with the rice, meat, etc. Will need to do more research and talking with Asian food experts. But, this type of "soup" or broth can work well, too. Any insights or tips for these various dishes, country food loves, your favorites, best suggestions, etc.? Full story at: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-12922347/Every-countrys-try-food-revealed-fascinating-world-map-fish-chips-UK-hot-dogs-U-S-pavlova-Australia.html THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Athens & Greece: Visuals, details from two visits in a city and nearby with great history, culture and architecture. Now at 61,592 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1101008

From the London/UK Daily Mail this morning, they had this headline: “Every country's must-try food revealed on fascinating world map” with these highlights: “Food is often one of the most exciting parts of going on holiday, especially when it's something you can't find back home. But what are the must-try dishes, snacks and drinks travellers need to tick off? Every country's must-try local delicacy was established by analysing TikTok videos containing hashtags for over 2,600 delicacies in 177 countries. The number of views associated with each hashtag was tallied to produce a ranking.” For the five upcoming nations we will be visiting next month, here are the most noted foods for each country from this "research" method: India: Biryani Sri Lanks: Kottu Thailand: Pad Thai Malaysia: Nasi Lemak Singapore: Laksa As detailed by Wikipedia, "Kottu roti is a Sri Lankan dish consisting of chopped roti, a meat curry dish of choice (such as mutton, beef, seafood, chicken, or pork), along with scrambled egg, onions, and chillies. A variation of the dish is found in the south Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, known as kothu parotta, which is made using parotta instead of roti. Kottu roti can also be found internationally in restaurants in regions containing Tamil, Sinhalese and Malayali diaspora populations." Below is one of many options for how this dish might look and be served. Personally, I am big on the sauces and/or gravy that goes with and/or mixed in with the rice, meat, etc. Will need to do more research and talking with Asian food experts. Any insights or tips for these various dishes, country food loves, your favorites, best suggestions, etc.? Full story at: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-12922347/Every-countrys-try-food-revealed-fascinating-world-map-fish-chips-UK-hot-dogs-U-S-pavlova-Australia.html THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Amazon River-Caribbean 2015 adventure live/blog starting in Barbados. Many visuals from this amazing river and Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, San Juan, etc.). Now at 73,757 views: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2076101-live-amazon-river-caribbean-many-pix’s-terryohio/

From the London/UK Daily Mail this morning, they had this headline: “Every country's must-try food revealed on fascinating world map” with these highlights: “Food is often one of the most exciting parts of going on holiday, especially when it's something you can't find back home. But what are the must-try dishes, snacks and drinks travellers need to tick off? Every country's must-try local delicacy was established by analysing TikTok videos containing hashtags for over 2,600 delicacies in 177 countries. The number of views associated with each hashtag was tallied to produce a ranking.” For the five upcoming nations we will be visiting next month, here are the most noted foods for each country from this "research" method: India: Biryani Sri Lanks: Kottu Thailand: Pad Thai Malaysia: Nasi Lemak Singapore: Laksa As detailed by Wikipedia, "Biryani is a mixed rice dish that was thought to have originated from Iran before settling in modern India. It is made with rice, some type of meat (chicken, beef, goat, lamb, prawn, or fish) and spices. To cater to vegetarians, in some cases, it is prepared by substituting vegetables for the meat. Biryani is one of the most popular dishes in South Asia. Biryani is the single most-ordered dish on Indian online food ordering and delivery services, and has been labelled as the most popular dish overall in India." Below is one of many options for how this dish might look and be served. Personally, I am big on the sauces and/or gravy that goes with and/or mixed in with the rice, meat, etc. Will need to do more research and talking with Indian food experts. Any insights or tips for these various dishes, country food loves, your favorites, best suggestions, etc.? Full story at: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-12922347/Every-countrys-try-food-revealed-fascinating-world-map-fish-chips-UK-hot-dogs-U-S-pavlova-Australia.html THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Sydney to NZ/Auckland Adventure, live/blog 2014 sampling/details with many exciting visuals and key highlights. On page 23, post #571, see a complete index for all of the pictures, postings. Now at 247,878 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

Appreciate this added background and info above by temerarious, from Fletcher, etc. The map below shows cruise ships and their locations around the world. But, for the far Eastern Med and Red Sea, the blue dot below for the Silver Moon stands out as the only one sailing or nearby. Yes, a number of ship are in and around Dubai. Lots for the rest of the Med, in the Caribbean, near to Australia, eastern Asia, etc. This website does offer a unique world-wide perspective. Clearly the Silver Moon has unique positioning and location compared to the many other cruise ships. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio From www.cruisemapper.com, below is their map showing the Silver Moon, blue in color, as it is the only ship in the Red Sea.:

From MSN News and Condé Nast Traveler magazine this morning, they had this headline: “Visited Aruba More Than 30 Times — Here's How to Plan the Perfect Trip” with these highlights: “There’s something about the turquoise waters, pristine white sand, and incomparable sunsets that keep people coming back, year after year. I've visited the island more than 30 times, continuing to make my annual pilgrimage each winter.” Among the top tips are: "Catch one of Aruba’s famous sunsets from a catamaran cruise and enjoy one-of-a-kind views of the island. Drive out to Savaneta for lunch at Zeerover, an oceanfront restaurant where the menu features whatever the fisherman caught that day. Spend a day on Eagle Beach, consistently voted one of the best beaches in the world. Given Aruba is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, there’s a lot of Dutch influence on the island and this extends to the grocery store as well. I always make time to stop at a local supermarket to browse the aisles, and there’s no better place to do that in Aruba than Super Food." Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/i-ve-visited-aruba-more-than-30-times-here-s-how-to-plan-the-perfect-trip/ar-AA1mp64S THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Venice: Loving It & Why??!! Is one of your future desires or past favorites? See these many visual samples for its great history and architecture. This posting is now at 110,204 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1278226

Winging it?? That's possible, maybe. While I have done driving in London, Paris, Rome, etc., there are "trade-offs" to consider for driving in Europe, larger cities, etc. The GPS technology can help. There are also benefit to consider with a skilled private guide who can explain much as to what you are seeing and doing. Also, who knows the best routes, where to park, etc.?? Portugal is wonderful, but navigating and getting the background for what you are seeing/experiencing can be another question. Lots of options!! Much depends on your budget, what you most desired to see and do, etc. Good luck with your research and planning. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise from Copenhagen, July 2010, to the top of Europe. Scenic visuals with key tips. Live/blog at 249,946 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1172051-livesilver-cloud-norway-coastfjords-july-1-16-reports/

Appreciate these greetings, charts and year-end follow-ups from highplanesdrifters. From the Wall Street Journal for the stock action yesterday. WOW!! What a huge one-day drop for the cruise stocks. See the chart below for Royal Caribbean: Yesterday, to start the year off, Norwegian was down even more, dropping 8.58%. Carnival fell. 6.74%. What happened, why and how? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Barcelona/Med: June 2011, with stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Great visuals with key highlights, tips, etc. Live/blog now at 257,595 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1362155-solstice-livefirst-timer-reportspix’s-italycroatian-june-7-19/

Based on our 2018 experiences sailing down the Red Sea toward Yemen, the "added security" personnel will come on the ship at the last port before heading south. Those "specialist" will not board at Aqaba (Petra). Most likely to board at the Saudi ports of Yanbu, Ras Al Abyadh or Jeddah, Jan. 8 or 9. But, it is not just about these "specialists", but, more important as to what "equipment" they bring on board the ship with them. From years sailing in these challenged waters, the various shipping companies have had a variety of options, including special sound, high-pressure water, etc., devices. However, now the ships are worrying about drones, missiles, etc. It's a different, changing world with these rebels. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Appreciate this excellent sharing and follow-ups from our Southern California friend. Keep it coming. Ouch!! No alcohol??? What's the point of cruising without being able to get a little 'BUZZ"? But, yes, understand those are the rules for Saudi Arabia. Loving the info flow. Is the ship still only about half full? How's the food and entertainment? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

From the London/UK Daily Mail this past week, they had this headline: “India's gold stars: From a 24-carat temple to a mountain retreat with hypnotic views, prepare to be dazzled” with one of these highlights: “India has a population of 1.4 billion and, as travelling here can be a culture shock.” This story highlighted a few locations in the north that we will not be visiting in our first trip there. They noted that many "many holidaymakers prefer to come on an escorted tour" due to the complex nature of India. This story did share these insights for life in India’s capital: "We admire red and white Mughal-era architecture, learn the art of paper-cutting and make perfume. And there’s the local Punjab specialty of ‘Kulcha’ to try, India’s answer to a Cornish pasty – hot bread stuffed with meat, cheese or vegetables served with sweet chutney. Best of all is a cycle-rickshaw ride through the old town’s noisy tangle of alleys, inhaling the heady scents of incense as we pedal past stalls selling saris and street-food. A tour of India isn’t restful. It’s intense – but it’s a feast. For body and soul." Full story at: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-12896385/Indias-gold-stars-24-carat-temple-mountain-retreat-hypnotic-views-prepare-dazzled.html THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio From late 2018, see “Holy Lands, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Dubai, Greece, etc.”, with many visuals, details and ideas for the historic and scenic Middle East. Now at 22,294 views. Connect at: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2607054-livenautica-greece-holy-lands-egypt-dubai-terrypix’s/