TLCOhio

Appreciate this great follow-up from the always savvy Hank. Yes, lots is very fluid for various reasons in the Middle East and in this part of the Eastern Med. Turkey and Istanbul are hoping that they are not caught up in a widening conflict in the Middle East. We will all be watching with interest. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Great question as to any other cruise ships operating in this Red Sea and Gulf of Aden region. My following of these various news stories has not mentioned anything about cruise ship being fired upon and/or impacted. My guess and speculation is that there are not now many, if any, cruise ships operating in this Red Sea region or area of the world. The peak load of ships in the Med have now shifted west-bound to the Caribbean or ships doing Alaska going down to Australia/NZ, etc. We will keep checking and following any and all updates. Good luck to midfield anchor with your Jan. 18 boarding of the Silver Moon. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

From the London/UK Telegraph two days ago, they had this headline: “The 50 winners and losers of travel in 2023” with these highlights for Venice in a negative manner: “It was announced, after years of delays, that tourists visiting Venice would have to pay a €5 (£4.30) entrance fee during busy periods from next spring. The catch? The money won’t go into helping preserve the city or funding infrastructure services, but will instead simply cover the costs of managing the entry fee.” Sad to learn? Full story at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travel-truths/winners-losers-travel-holidays/ THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Lisbon, NWSpain, Bordeaux/Brittany: Live/blog, June 2017 from Portugal to France along scenic Atlantic Coast on the Silver Spirit. Now at 34,255 views. Many pictures, details for history, food, culture, etc.: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511358

From the London/UK Telegraph two days ago, they had this headline: “The 50 winners and losers of travel in 2023” with these highlights for Portugal as a winner: “Lisbon was named by the UK Post Office as the cheapest city break in Europe, while the Algarve and Porto also picked up wins at the World Travel Awards. For an affordable city break, there’s never been a better time to go.” Being popular is good news. Right? Positive for Lisbon and Porto!! Full story at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travel-truths/winners-losers-travel-holidays/ 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 109,194 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1278226

From the London/UK Telegraph two days ago, they had this headline: “The 50 winners and losers of travel in 2023” with these highlights for Turkey: “Despite the devastation of a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in February, the appetite for summer holidays in Turkey remained high. The country saw a 70 per cent rise in visitors compared with pre-pandemic figures, and is set to hit 50 million arrivals in 2023 – meaning it would overtake France as Europe’s second most popular holiday destination, after Spain.” Being popular is good news. Right? Positive for Istanbul and Turkey!! Full story at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travel-truths/winners-losers-travel-holidays/ 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 247,292 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

Appreciate these follow-ups and added information for the upcoming Silver Moon sailing. The ship is now in Greece and we look forward to learning how things will work out during the critical Jan. 11-12 period when needing to navigate around the Yeman shoreline. From MSN News this morning, they had this headline: “Houthi rebels continue Red Sea attacks despite new US-led coalition” with these highlights: “Yemen’s Houthi rebels continued to attack ships in the Red Sea in retaliation for Israel’s war on Gaza, with at least two vessels and a US destroyer targeted with drones over the weekend. The US military said the USS Laboon shot down four drones launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen towards its position in the southern Red Sea on Saturday and responded to distress calls from two commercial vessels. A Gabon-owned, Indian-flagged crude oil tanker was reportedly hit, while a Norwegian-flagged tanker was targeted but not struck, Centcom said.” Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-ae/news/middleeast/houthi-rebels-continue-red-sea-attacks-despite-new-us-led-coalition/ar-AA1lY5oO 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 247,292 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

From a Wall Street Journal-connected financial news website two days ago, they had this headline: “Cruises will be super-popular next year. Be prepared to fight for a pool chair.” with these highlights: “Get ready for crowded cruise ships: A trade group expects a 21% jump in passengers from 2019. More cruise ships will sail fully booked in 2024 than in 2023. Norwegian and Carnival's parent companies have said they're running low on cabins.” This is good news for the cruise companies and finances, but some passengers might not enjoy these "conditions" and costs as much. Changing times?? Also shared in this report: "If you were hoping for a quiet and peaceful cruise vacation, you might be out of luck — 2024 is shaping up to be the year of mass cruising. Throughout 2023, demand for vacations-at-sea has been steadily accelerating past pre-COVID-19 levels. And interest has yet to wane: Royal Caribbean Group's 2024 bookings are already outgrowing 2019 levels 'by a wide margin,' Jason Liberty, the cruise giant's CEO, told investors in late October." Full story at: https://www.businessinsider.com/cruise-vacation-carnival-disney-royal-caribbean-booking-popular-ships-2023-12 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 249,711 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1172051-livesilver-cloud-norway-coastfjords-july-1-16-reports/

Appreciate this helpful link and follow-up. The Silver Moon is now at Crete, per this site's below map. Will be following the Silver Moon with interest, especially for Jan. 11-12 as they need to navigate through the southern Red Sea territory near Yemen. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

From the Wall Street Journal from late yesterday afternoon, below are their stock charts for the past week. Yes, up, UP and AWAY! for continuing in a strongly positive manner for these stocks. Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival are at 52-week highs. Norwegian still has a ways to go reach that peak, one-year level. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Early 2020, many visuals and details from New Zealand/South Pacific in going from Auckland to French Polynesia. This includes Bora Bora, Fiji, NZ experiences, etc: Live/blog: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2735732-live-terryohio-“new”-regatta-south-pacificnz-pix’s/ Here are the Wall Street Journal charts to reflect the past five days of trading for the three major cruise lines. Plus, at the bottom, is the WSJ chart for Royal Caribbean during the past 52 week's trading. As you see, RCL is not just at a one-year high, again!!: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) For the past 52 weeks, here is the WSJ RCL chart reflecting its upward movement during the past one-year period.:

YES! Great, correct sense of humor. Unfortunately, my aging eyes did not quite see that "little image detail" with such a small emoji. Appreciate the helpful, educational clarification to those of us whose eyes miss such little visual images. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Appreciate these various updates and the interesting follow-ups. Not sure being on the starboard side guarantees only worrying about Somalian pirates. If I understand correctly, those Yemen rebels have drones that could be navigated to impact on either side of a ship. Hopefully nothing negative happens and that all goes well, people stay safe and are totally secure. Keep us posted as to how things progress, what ship officials have to say you approach the key Jan. 11-12 period when navigating around and through that narrow passage near Yemen. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Appreciate from highplanesdrifters these kind comments and follow-up. Keep it coming!! Yes, best for a safe and enjoyable holiday for everyone. From the Wall Street Journal earlier this afternoon, they had this headline: “Cruise Stocks Rise After Carnival Earnings” with these highlights: “Shares of cruise companies, one of the year’s best-performing industries, are ending 2023 with a bang. Carnival Corp shares gained 6.8% after reporting fourth-quarter results, the second-best gainer in the S&P 500. Other cruise stocks rallied in response. Royal Caribbean stock advanced nearly 3%, on pace for the highest close since before the pandemic. Norwegian Cruise Lines rose nearly 5%. Carnival and Royal Caribbean shares have each more than doubled this year, while Norwegian is up 70%.” Below is the Wall Street Journal chart today that tracks these three cruise stock during the past year: Full story at: https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-dow-jones-12-21-2023/card/cruise-stocks-rise-after-carnival-earnings-280kxUus3e2gbOYWDhlF?mod=lctimeline_finance THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Summer 2019 Calgary, Jasper/Banff National Parks, Western Canada Rocky Mountaineer rail adventure, Vancouver, sailing up to Alaska on Silver Muse, post-cruise excursion to Denali, etc. Many visuals, Our firsts in these scenic areas! Now at 20,329 views. Live/blog: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2682584-live-terryohio-silver-muse-alaska-canadarockies-pix’s/

Like your name, Terri!! Appreciate your kind follow-up and comments. Yes, lots to do in and around Athens. The summer in the Med can have its challenges, but if you bring "patience and water", it helps. Plus, good drinks in the evening!! Don't be shy with any added questions. Keep researching and planning. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Appreciate these above updates. Plus, the excellent above question from our Texas friend. Loved the comments of "Going through the Bab al-Mindab strait will certainly be interesting. Hey, maybe everybody will get a flak helmet with a Silversea logo on it." We keep hoping to learn more as to how these "logistics" will work out and affect Silver Moon passengers. And, wishing the best for all involved. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

From the New York Times late this morning, they had this headline: “Red Sea Attacks Add Another Snarl to Global Shipping" with this sub-headline: "Already hampered by problems at the Panama Canal, shipping companies are now steering clear of the Suez Canal to avoid being attacked in the Red Sea.” Here are some of their reporting highlights: “The war between Israel and Hamas has so far not had a major impact on the global economy. But a wave of attacks against merchant ships in the Red Sea could change that in a big way. The Houthis have been using drones and missiles to target ships. That has forced some shipping giants and oil companies to avoid the Suez Canal, a development that could hamper global trade and push up the cost of imported goods. The Suez is a vital artery for container ships and fuel tankers. Goods and fuel from Asia and the Middle East have made their way to Europe and the United States through the passage since it opened in 1869.” Additionally in this story of interest: "U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III on Monday announced a new multinational force that would seek 'to jointly address security challenges in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, with the goal of ensuring freedom of navigation for all countries and bolstering regional security and prosperity.' The joint effort, which will include the armed forces of the United States, Britain, Bahrain, Canada and France, was announced after a U.S. warship on Saturday brought down 14 drones launched from Houthi-controlled territory. Maersk said on Tuesday that all of its ships bound for the Red Sea would be rerouted around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope 'to ensure the safety of our crew, vessels and customers’ cargo onboard.' " Maersk is among the biggest of the BIG shippers. If it is not safe for their cargo ships, how would passengers on a cruise ship value their own safety during this challenging period through this zone? Per Wikipedia, Maersk is one of the largest shipping companies with the world's largest fleet capacity, handling 18% of worldwide capacity. Full story at: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/19/business/red-sea-suez-canal-shipping.html 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 249,711 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1172051-livesilver-cloud-norway-coastfjords-july-1-16-reports/

Appreciate these great details and updates from your current Silver Moon sailing. Loved it that the Silver Note worked out so well, including with the lobster tail treat. We are on the Silver Moon in February, Mumbai to Singapore. If handy when in contact with the top officers, hotel director, etc., on your current sailing, you might ask if and how they are going to sail the Silver Moon January 11-12, 2024, through the southern end of the Red Sea as they need go through that narrow passageway near Yemen and into the Gulf of Aden. That's where the rebels are using armed drones and missiles to attack shipping. Most of the major ships have ceased attempting that dangerous passage way. Keep up the great sharing! 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 22,277 views. Connect at: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2607054-livenautica-greece-holy-lands-egypt-dubai-terrypix’s/

Yes, YES, agree with the smart and savvy Fletcher that this is a highly "interesting situation". Given that most other cruise ships have exited the eastern Med raises important questions. As I have posted on other threads, the Suez Canal is not quite as risky right now. Maybe OK there? It is the upcoming Silver Moon Aqaba to Dubai segment that is most challenging and risky now. The southern part of the Red Sea as ships navigate around Yemen on the way to the Gulf of Aden is the "live-fire" zone for rockets and armed drones. That's why BP and most of the major shipping companies have stopped any attempts to navigate through that narrow passage and danger zone. What do cruise lines, especially with the Silver Moon, attempt in early January for sailing through this danger zone? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Appreciate these follow-ups and the agreed wisdom that fortunately we do not have to make these challenging choices as are now facing cruise lines and shipping companies. From the AFP/Agence France-Presse newswire and Barron's business publication earlier today, they had this headline: “Red Sea Attacks Disrupt Sea Shipping” with these highlights: “Following attacks by Yemeni rebels, several shipping firms have said they will avoid the key Red Sea shipping route, which is likely to disrupt global trade by increasing delays and increasing costs. In recent weeks, Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels have launched numerous drone and missile attacks on ships passing through the Red Sea's strategic Bab al-Mandab strait, a narrow passage at the southern tip of the Red Sea that they must navigate when travelling to or from the Suez Canal. Five of the world's six top shipping companies have announced they will not send ships through the Red Sea -- MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd and Evergreen. On Monday, Britain's BP said it would suspend transit of oil through the Red Sea. Cosco, the world's fourth-largest shipping firm, has yet to announce its plans.” If five of the six largest shipping firms are now saying "NO!", what are the others to do? Or not?? Full story at: https://www.barrons.com/news/red-sea-attacks-disrupt-sea-shipping-cff31580 THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Canada 2022/2023: Scenic visuals, details from Canada Maritimes (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton Island). Plus, new from Aug. 2023, exploring historic/charming Quebec City. Visual/Info Summaries: www.flickr.com/photos/196555480@N08/albums

YES, agree that these decisions need to be made very soon. My speculation is that Silversea will need to cut short the upcoming Silver Moon cruise, Athens to Aqaba, Dec. 22-Jan. 6. Maybe shorten it to Dec. 30, disembarking in Athens to allow more flight out options for the passengers. As a distance of approximately 10,000 miles from a Med passenger drop-off location such as Athens, to then sail west and down around to South Africa and go up to Muscat or Dubai would take about 22 days at roughly 16 knots or 19 mph in speed?? Maybe a little more time? And then have passengers start their return or boarding to the ship on Jan. 26 from Dubai in the scheduled sailings to Doha and Muscat. Then, they complete the rest of the Middle East sailings before arriving on Feb. 11 in Mumbai. Reactions? This would be terrible for those who have booked earlier, made various air and ground schedules, etc. But, what are the alternatives to avoid the highly-dangerous area near to Yemen? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Early 2020, many visuals and details from New Zealand/South Pacific in going from Auckland to French Polynesia. This includes Bora Bora, Fiji, NZ experiences, etc: Live/blog: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2735732-live-terryohio-“new”-regatta-south-pacificnz-pix’s/

From the Associated Press/AP newswire late yesterday, they had this headline: “US and Britain say their navies shot down 15 attack drones over the Red Sea” with these highlights: “A U.S. warship shot down 14 suspected attack drones over the Red Sea on Saturday, and a Royal Navy destroyer downed another drone that was targeting commercial ships, the British and American militaries said. Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, one of the world’s busiest shipping routes. The threat to trade has grown as container ships and oil tankers flagged to countries like Norway and Liberia have been attacked or drawn missile fire while traversing the waterway between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.” From the DC-based publication Politico late yesterday, they had this headline: “US weighs strike options to deter Houthis from more Red Sea attacks" with this sub-headline: "The Biden administration has been reluctant to respond militarily against the Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in recent weeks for fear of provoking Iran.” Here are some of their story highlights: “Top Biden administration officials are actively weighing options to strike back at Houthis in Yemen after the Iran-backed group launched new attacks on naval and commercial ships in the Red Sea on Saturday. The Pentagon has in recent days moved the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group from the Persian Gulf into the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Yemen, to support a potential U.S. response to attacks.” There are reports that Oman is trying to work out a "deal" in order better limit what attacks against ships will be done by these Yemen rebels in this critical shipping/sailing area. Clearly, this narrow passage way is a "hot button" that is making decisions very challenging for cruise ship executives such as at Silversea. How do you decide now as to how the Silver Moon gets from the Mediterranean to the Arabian Sea in early to mid January? Full stories at: https://apnews.com/article/royal-navy-shot-down-drone-red-sea-38940c6d0f653f7a6a53920c47b19097 https://www.politico.com/news/2023/12/16/us-strike-options-houthi-red-sea-00132160 THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Summer 2019 Calgary, Jasper/Banff National Parks, Western Canada Rocky Mountaineer rail adventure, Vancouver, sailing up to Alaska on Silver Muse, post-cruise excursion to Denali, etc. Many visuals, Our firsts in these scenic areas! Now at 20,329 views. Live/blog: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2682584-live-terryohio-silver-muse-alaska-canadarockies-pix’s/

Super appreciate ALL of these great comments, info details and follow-ups, especially from JimChar and Dobby36. All very interesting and helpful!! Keep it coming. Good reminder as to bringing the right electrical connectors, etc. From MSN News today, they had this headline: “Travel Guide: Discovering the Magic of Singapore" on a story by John Guanzon with these highlights: “Singapore, a vibrant and dynamic city-state in Southeast Asia, offers an enchanting blend of modernity and tradition. Whether you’re a food enthusiast, an architecture admirer, or a nature lover, Singapore has something to offer everyone. From the clean and seamlessly functional infrastructure to the surreal and captivating cultural attraction, my time in Singapore almost felt like a dream. I can see why the city’s becoming a melting pot of cultures, filled with migrants, expats, and generations of locals, choosing to call the city home.” On weather, the author shared: "Singapore’s climate is typically hot and humid year-round with an average humidity of over 80%. However, it’s essential to note that from November to January, the city experiences its rainy season, which brings cooler temperatures but more precipitation. The best time to travel for pleasant weather is between February and October." Glad that our timing for Singapore will be Feb. 28-March 2, 2024. There are a wide range of food, drink and dining options outlined in this profile. The excitement is building for our visit there in a little over two months. Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/travel-guide-discovering-the-magic-of-singapore/ar-AA1lCGgZ 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 73,612 views: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2076101-live-amazon-river-caribbean-many-pix’s-terryohio/

Appreciate this great follow-up question from our travel friend in Australia. So far nothing has come up as to Silversea or any other cruise ship lines stopping their sailing in the southern part of the Red Sea and around in the Gulf of Aden near Yemen. The good news is that "things" seem relatively stable for the Suez Canal passages. BUT, conditions appear to be getting much more challenges farther south near where the rebels in Yemen are creating real danger and risk. From the BBC and MSN News late yesterday, they had this headline: “More shipping firms stop Red Sea routes over Houthi attacks” with these highlights: “The world's largest shipping group, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), has announced it is diverting its ships away from the Read Sea after an increased threat of attacks. French company CMA CGM took a similar step a day after Danish shipping giant Maersk and German transport company Hapag-Lloyd suspended Red Sea journeys.” This report also detailed: "The Red Sea is one the world's most important routes for oil and fuel shipments. But the Houthis have been stepping up their attacks, using drones and rockets against foreign-owned vessels. Avoiding it means vessels must take much longer routes, for example navigating around southern Africa. About 17,000 ships and 10% of global trade pass through it every year. " For the Silver Moon, if this cruise ship and others would have to be re-routed around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa, it would cause major scheduling challenges and disruptions. If all of these major shipping companies are now taking this step to avoid this location, when does Silversea make such a decision and notify scheduled passengers? The clock is ticketing!!! Right or wrong? Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/more-shipping-firms-stop-red-sea-routes-over-houthi-attacks/ar-AA1lBumW 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 22,277 views. Connect at: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2607054-livenautica-greece-holy-lands-egypt-dubai-terrypix’s/

Appreciate these above comments and follow-ups. Agree that when folks start too early to celebrate "Mission Accomplished" that things do not always work out perfectly as they spin and have hoped. Later this week, the head of the NY Fed indicated that the potential 2024 rate cuts might not be a total certainty. Many if's and uncertainties in this current U.S. and world economy. From the Wall Street Journal, below are their charts for the three cruise lines during the past week's trading. Clearly the interest rate announcement from the Feds help bump things up, UP even more in the later part of the recent week. From Barron's, a sister publication to the Wall Street Journal Wednesday, they had this headline: “These 4 Stocks Cut Their Dividends. Now Is the Time to Bring Them Back.” with these highlights: “The New Year is almost here, and that means it’s time for four of the last dividend cutters of 2020—Boeing, American Airlines Group, Royal Caribbean Group, and Carnival—to bring back their payouts to shareholders.” Full story at: https://www.barrons.com/articles/american-airlines-carnival-should-reinstate-dividends-now-ec90097e 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 22,277 views. Connect at: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2607054-livenautica-greece-holy-lands-egypt-dubai-terrypix’s/ Here are the Wall Street Journal charts to reflect the past five days of trading for the three major cruise lines. Plus, at the bottom, is the WSJ chart for Royal Caribbean during the past three years. As you see, RCL is not just at a one-year high, but this is now their best level in the three years since Covid caused the negative slide financially.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) Royal Caribbean Chart from WSJ for the past three years:

From the Wall Street Journal for this weekend, they have this headline: “A Traveler’s Walking Guide to Sydney’s Buzzing City Center" with this sub-headline: "Sydney’s Central Business District is no longer just a place for work meetings and conferences. It’s hopping with genre-bending restaurants, an absorbing art museum complex and happening hotels that await the wandering tourist, too.” Here are some of their reporting highlights: “The area’s diversions—including a new museum, a bustling Chinatown and a rambling botanical garden—are all tucked into a compact, thoroughly walkable footprint.” A number of options for what to see, where to stay, what to eat, etc., are detailed. Also included was this colorful map graphic: Here were some specifics detailed, including: "Art Gallery of NSW North Building: This new stand-alone annex—nicknamed the Sydney Modern—opened in 2022 as part of a $344 million expansion of the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW). A swooping glass atrium in the entrance teases what’s inside. The expansion nearly doubles AGNSW’s exhibition space, and brings First Nations art front and center." Full story at: https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/travel/travelers-walking-guide-sydney-central-business-district-be399b88?mod=lifestyle_lead_story THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Panama Canal? Early 2017, Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco adventure through Panama Canal. Our first stops in Colombia, Central America and Mexico, plus added time in the great Golden Gate City. Now at 32,524 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2465580

From the Wall Street Journal for this weekend, they have this headline: “A Traveler’s Walking Guide to Sydney’s Buzzing City Center" with this sub-headline: "Sydney’s Central Business District is no longer just a place for work meetings and conferences. It’s hopping with genre-bending restaurants, an absorbing art museum complex and happening hotels that await the wandering tourist, too.” Here are some of their reporting highlights: “The area’s diversions—including a new museum, a bustling Chinatown and a rambling botanical garden—are all tucked into a compact, thoroughly walkable footprint.” Is this summary and hype merited? A number of options for what to see, where to stay, what to eat, etc., are detailed. Also included was this colorful map graphic: Here were some specifics detailed, including: "Art Gallery of NSW North Building: This new stand-alone annex—nicknamed the Sydney Modern—opened in 2022 as part of a $344 million expansion of the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW). A swooping glass atrium in the entrance teases what’s inside. The expansion nearly doubles AGNSW’s exhibition space, and brings First Nations art front and center." Full story at: https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/travel/travelers-walking-guide-sydney-central-business-district-be399b88?mod=lifestyle_lead_story 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 247,027 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/