TLCOhio

From this financial news website late last week, they had this headline: “1 Stock to Avoid No Matter What” with this sub-headline: "Norwegian Cruise Lines stock is down 41% since July and facing financial headwinds." Here is part of their analysis highlights: “The stock market has been wobbly this year. The S&P 500 index gained 18.5% in the first seven months of 2023 but has dropped back to a year-to-date increase of just 9.6% since then. The cruise line industry strikes me as a sector to avoid in the long run, and Norwegian Cruise Lines is arguably the worst idea in that uncalled-for market. This stock is down by 41% since the end of July, undermined by weak guidance in two earnings reports. First, the cruise sector has been struggling as a whole since the coronavirus crisis kept every ship anchored in 2020. To escape that brutal downturn, they financed their operations with uncomfortable combinations of expensive debt and dilutive stock sales. The best of the best will struggle with these decisions for years to come, especially since annual rates on variable-interest loans have skyrocketed over the last two years." Here are more of their specifics: "Norwegian is absolutely not the best investment in this struggling industry. With less than $700 million in cash balanced against $12.6 billion of long-term debt, the company is buckling under the debt load. That wouldn't be so bad if Norwegian generated cash profits, as Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Lines are doing again after a long period of red ink. But this underperformer burned $356 million of free cash in the third quarter.” Ready to buy Norwegian's challenged stock? This was their bottom-line summary: "I think the cruise industry is full of falling knives that will leave your fingers scarred in the long run if you try to catch them at a low price. And Norwegian Cruise Lines looks more dangerous than its larger and more cash-efficient rivals." Full story at: https://www.fool.com/investing/2023/11/02/1-stock-to-avoid-no-matter-what-and-1-worth-adding/ 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 32,477 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2465580

Yes, sadly, lots of questions and uncertainty in the Middle East. Not certain what happens next, how long things are bad and how widely, if and if, things spread. Including affecting Turkey?? From the Reuters newswire this morning, they had this headline: “Travelers put off holiday trips to Middle East as Israel-Hamas war rages” with these highlights: “Travelers are canceling or postponing planned vacations to the Middle East and North Africa due to fears of the Israel-Hamas conflict worsening, and as touring companies have also altered itineraries and canceled flights. Travel operators say the war is affecting demand for travel to nearby nations including Egypt, Jordan and Turkey. 'We are seeing clients cancel cruises like an Egypt Nile river cruise as far out as December 2024 due to concerns with the war,' said Todd Elliott, CEO of Orlando, Florida-based Cruise Vacation Outlet, a travel agency.” From one booking platform cited in this news report, they have "seen a 70% decline in new bookings for countries in the region. Over 40% of trips to Egypt in November and December have already been canceled on the platform. Cancellation rates in Turkey and Cyprus have doubled for November and December." Also cited: " 'While the conflict in Israel is very geographically limited so far, we suspect some cruise bookers are hesitant to book a European visit, even to the western Mediterranean,' said Truist analyst Patrick Scholes." Full story at: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/travelers-put-off-holiday-trips-middle-east-israel-hamas-war-rages-2023-11-06/ 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 22,183 views. Connect at: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2607054-livenautica-greece-holy-lands-egypt-dubai-terrypix’s/

Yes, sadly, lots of questions and uncertainty in the Middle East. Not certain what happens next, how long things are bad and how widely, if and if, things spread. From the Reuters newswire this morning, they had this headline: “Travelers put off holiday trips to Middle East as Israel-Hamas war rages” with these highlights: “Travelers are canceling or postponing planned vacations to the Middle East and North Africa due to fears of the Israel-Hamas conflict worsening, and as touring companies have also altered itineraries and canceled flights. Travel operators say the war is affecting demand for travel to nearby nations including Egypt, Jordan and Turkey. 'We are seeing clients cancel cruises like an Egypt Nile river cruise as far out as December 2024 due to concerns with the war,' said Todd Elliott, CEO of Orlando, Florida-based Cruise Vacation Outlet, a travel agency.” From one booking platform cited in this news report, they have "seen a 70% decline in new bookings for countries in the region. Over 40% of trips to Egypt in November and December have already been canceled on the platform. Cancellation rates in Turkey and Cyprus have doubled for November and December." Also cited: " 'While the conflict in Israel is very geographically limited so far, we suspect some cruise bookers are hesitant to book a European visit, even to the western Mediterranean,' said Truist analyst Patrick Scholes." Full story at: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/travelers-put-off-holiday-trips-middle-east-israel-hamas-war-rages-2023-11-06/ 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 22,183 views. Connect at: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2607054-livenautica-greece-holy-lands-egypt-dubai-terrypix’s/

Yes, sadly, lots of questions and uncertainty in the Middle East. Not certain what happens next, how long things are bad and how widely, if and if, things spread. From the Reuters newswire this morning, they had this headline: “Travelers put off holiday trips to Middle East as Israel-Hamas war rages” with these highlights: “Travelers are canceling or postponing planned vacations to the Middle East and North Africa due to fears of the Israel-Hamas conflict worsening, and as touring companies have also altered itineraries and canceled flights. Travel operators say the war is affecting demand for travel to nearby nations including Egypt, Jordan and Turkey. 'We are seeing clients cancel cruises like an Egypt Nile river cruise as far out as December 2024 due to concerns with the war,' said Todd Elliott, CEO of Orlando, Florida-based Cruise Vacation Outlet, a travel agency.” From one booking platform cited in this news report, they have "seen a 70% decline in new bookings for countries in the region. Over 40% of trips to Egypt in November and December have already been canceled on the platform. Cancellation rates in Turkey and Cyprus have doubled for November and December." Also cited: " 'While the conflict in Israel is very geographically limited so far, we suspect some cruise bookers are hesitant to book a European visit, even to the western Mediterranean,' said Truist analyst Patrick Scholes." Full story at: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/travelers-put-off-holiday-trips-middle-east-israel-hamas-war-rages-2023-11-06/ 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 249,372 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1172051-livesilver-cloud-norway-coastfjords-july-1-16-reports/

Yes, there are key questions as to . . . how widely will things go in the Middle East? Will it affect ships navigating the Suez Canal such as the Silver Moon in late December? Appreciate this follow-up from our Midwest neighbor in Chicago. Good luck for your Jan. 6 sailing from Jordan to Dubai. From the Reuters newswire this morning, they had this headline: “Travelers put off holiday trips to Middle East as Israel-Hamas war rages” with these highlights: “Travelers are canceling or postponing planned vacations to the Middle East and North Africa due to fears of the Israel-Hamas conflict worsening, and as touring companies have also altered itineraries and canceled flights. Travel operators say the war is affecting demand for travel to nearby nations including Egypt, Jordan and Turkey. 'We are seeing clients cancel cruises like an Egypt Nile river cruise as far out as December 2024 due to concerns with the war,' said Todd Elliott, CEO of Orlando, Florida-based Cruise Vacation Outlet, a travel agency.” From one booking platform cited in this news report, they have "seen a 70% decline in new bookings for countries in the region. Over 40% of trips to Egypt in November and December have already been canceled on the platform. Cancellation rates in Turkey and Cyprus have doubled for November and December." Also cited: " 'While the conflict in Israel is very geographically limited so far, we suspect some cruise bookers are hesitant to book a European visit, even to the western Mediterranean,' said Truist analyst Patrick Scholes." Full story at: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/travelers-put-off-holiday-trips-middle-east-israel-hamas-war-rages-2023-11-06/ 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 32,477 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2465580

From the BBC three days ago, they had this headline: “Sydney Opera House: The monument that represents Australia” with this sub-headline: "In honour of its 50th anniversary, Sydney-based correspondent Nick Bryant explains how the building came to symbolise Australia, and why its original architect never saw it in person." Here are some of his reporting highlights: “The Sydney Opera House recently commemorated its 50th anniversary. The iconic design is one associated with the Australian city the world over, along with the steel arch bridge, which spans the harbour. Considered a triumph of 20th Century architecture, it very nearly didn't get built in the international search to find a design. This vision of modern beauty, with its famous curves covered in more than a million bright white ceramic tiles, was initially placed in the reject pile. But its journey to realisation says much about Australia today.” Additionally, the author shared: "The country's most instantly recognisable building is a landmark to Australian ambiguity. The most obvious interpretation is that it represents Australia's rising post-war self-confidence. The appointment of Jørn Utzon, a little-known Danish architect without a major project to his name, was a sign of a less insular outlook and a new spirit of national assertiveness. The opera house probably would never have been built had it not been financed by lottery money, reflecting the centrality of gambling in Australian life. " Full story at: https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20231102-the-sydney-opera-house-the-monument-that-represents-australia 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 246,053 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

From the BBC three days ago, they had this headline: “Sydney Opera House: The monument that represents Australia” with this sub-headline: "In honour of its 50th anniversary, Sydney-based correspondent Nick Bryant explains how the building came to symbolise Australia, and why its original architect never saw it in person." Here are some of his reporting highlights: “The Sydney Opera House recently commemorated its 50th anniversary. The iconic design is one associated with the Australian city the world over, along with the steel arch bridge, which spans the harbour. Considered a triumph of 20th Century architecture, it very nearly didn't get built in the international search to find a design. This vision of modern beauty, with its famous curves covered in more than a million bright white ceramic tiles, was initially placed in the reject pile. But its journey to realisation says much about Australia today.” Additionally, the author shared: "The country's most instantly recognisable building is a landmark to Australian ambiguity. The most obvious interpretation is that it represents Australia's rising post-war self-confidence. The appointment of Jørn Utzon, a little-known Danish architect without a major project to his name, was a sign of a less insular outlook and a new spirit of national assertiveness. The opera house probably would never have been built had it not been financed by lottery money, reflecting the centrality of gambling in Australian life. " Full story at: https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20231102-the-sydney-opera-house-the-monument-that-represents-australia 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 246,053 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

From the BBC three days ago, they had this headline: “Sydney Opera House: The monument that represents Australia” with this sub-headline: "In honour of its 50th anniversary, Sydney-based correspondent Nick Bryant explains how the building came to symbolise Australia, and why its original architect never saw it in person." Here are some of his reporting highlights: “The Sydney Opera House recently commemorated its 50th anniversary. The iconic design is one associated with the Australian city the world over, along with the steel arch bridge, which spans the harbour. Considered a triumph of 20th Century architecture, it very nearly didn't get built in the international search to find a design. This vision of modern beauty, with its famous curves covered in more than a million bright white ceramic tiles, was initially placed in the reject pile. But its journey to realisation says much about Australia today.” Additionally, the author shared: "The country's most instantly recognisable building is a landmark to Australian ambiguity. The most obvious interpretation is that it represents Australia's rising post-war self-confidence. The appointment of Jørn Utzon, a little-known Danish architect without a major project to his name, was a sign of a less insular outlook and a new spirit of national assertiveness. The opera house probably would never have been built had it not been financed by lottery money, reflecting the centrality of gambling in Australian life. " Full story at: https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20231102-the-sydney-opera-house-the-monument-that-represents-australia 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 59,551 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1101008

From the Washington Post this weekend, they had this headline: “5 big travel lessons and one ‘mistake’ from 50 years of Lonely Planet" with this sub-headline: "Co-founder Tony Wheeler shares his best advice from half a century of publishing guidebooks.” From this interview/profile by Andrea Sachs, here are some of the highlights relating to Venice and what is nearby: “Wheeler’s solution to overtourism is actually a Lonely Planet tenet. He recommends always going 'two streets over' from the main drag for sightseeing as well as shopping, dining and lodging. 'Everyone is in St. Mark’s Square,' he said of Venice. 'There are other parts of the city you can go to and find churches that are not crowded with tourists.' Another option: Skip the popular destination for a lesser-visited city, such as Ravenna, which he described as the opposite of Venice. 'It almost felt like it was undertouristed,' he said.” Full story at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/tips/lonely-planet-wheeler-backpack-guidebook/ THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Kotor/Montenegro: Various visual samples, tips, details, etc., for this scenic, historic location. Over 53,135 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1439193

Good luck, Lois, with your flights and safe travels. Look forward to hearing about this ship and how thing go with the trans-Atlantic sailing. We've never done a T-A. As we are more focused on port itineraries, look forward to read all of the details, about speakers, special offerings, etc., provided during these many sea-days. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

From CNN, the cable news network, and MSN News two days ago, they had this headline: “Singapore’s Changi Airport fully reopens Terminal 2 following dramatic makeover” with these highlights: “Singapore’s Changi Airport has fully reopened Terminal 2 following a massive 3.5-year expansion project. And given it was voted the world’s best airport in the 2023 Skytrax Airport Awards, it should come as little surprise this was no ordinary makeover. Around 21,000 square meters (226,000 square feet) have been added to the original terminal building, providing additional infrastructure, new systems and more shopping and dining offerings.” Here is more: "Nature is the overriding design theme in the refreshed T2, with one of the star attractions being a 14-meter-high digital waterfall display. Surrounded by a vertical garden, 'The Wonderfall' is located in the departure hall and cascades over megalithic boulders." Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/singapore-s-changi-airport-fully-reopens-terminal-2-following-dramatic-makeover/ar-AA1jk5iQ 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 249,313 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1172051-livesilver-cloud-norway-coastfjords-july-1-16-reports/

Appreciate these continued excellent questions and the wonderful follow-ups from agape01 in Singapore. Our departure to India in early February is now only three months away. Getting closer. The excitement is building!! THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Appreciate ALL of these great visuals and the thoughtful follow-up. Fun and interesting sharing. Keep it coming. Always enjoyable seeing what's on the ships, the variety of options, etc. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

From the London/UK Independent in late October, they had this headline: “Petra guide: Where to stay, eat, drink and shop in Jordan’s rose-red ancient city" with this sub-headline: "With thousands of years of history carved into the rocks, the Rose City’s architectural beauty and links to a forgotten past are as beguiling as ever" in an article by Paul Stafford. Here are some of their reporting highlights: “Petra, in southern Jordan, is a love letter to human civilization from a long-lost empire. The Nabataeans, a nomadic Arabic people, began chiselling away at the natural sandstone surroundings around 2,300 years ago, slowly fanning out into the surrounding wadis (“canyons” in Arabic) over the centuries until it contained, it is believed, between 30,000 and 40,000 people. When Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt put it on the archaeological map in 1812, it was a ghost town, following centuries of abandonment.” Additionally, this story shared: "While much of the city is gone, many of its monumental structures remain, carved straight into the cliffs. It’s a powerful testament to their construction abilities that the buildings most important to the Nabataeans withstood the intervening centuries while so few other civilizations were able to conjure anything quite so magnificent." Full story at: https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/north-africa-middle-east/jordan/petra-travel-guide-jordan-best-best-hotels-b2426639.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 249,313 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1172051-livesilver-cloud-norway-coastfjords-july-1-16-reports/

From the London/UK Telegraph this weekend, they had this headline: “Why pint-sized Montenegro offers the best of Europe in miniature" with this sub-headline: "With beautiful beaches, magnificent mountains, epic lakes and cool cities, this country is a microcosm of the continent’s best bits.” Here are some of their reporting highlights by Teresa Levonian Cole: “You could fancy yourself in the Republic of Venice, under whose protection, from the early 15th Century to 1797, merchants and ship-owners grew rich. In fact, Perast was so famed for her maritime skills, that Peter the Great dispatched his Princes to study at the local naval academy. If Montenegro is a cultural microcosm of Europe, her natural blessings – rugged, pine-blanketed mountains, virgin forests, and cerulean waters – inspired Yugoslav President Tito to turn the 15th-century fortified fishermen’s island of Sveti Stefan into a glittering showcase for his Communist regime.” Here is more background: "For Montenegro also shares the curse of other Mediterranean jewels, such as Venice, Dubrovnik, and Rhodes: flag-waving guides and unspeakable crowds jamming the maze of cobbled streets, taking selfies in churches, and scaring the legion of cats. The solution: go after hours, or off-season." Full story at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/montenegro/pint-sized-montenegro-offers-best-of-europe-in-miniature/ 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 249,313 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1172051-livesilver-cloud-norway-coastfjords-july-1-16-reports/

Appreciate these great comments and follow-ups from R&T and our friend in Miami. Sad but true as to the cruise line attitude of "too bad" with such major cruise schedule changes. In late 2018, we super loved and enjoyed our cruise with Oceania that included as "super-star" stops for Israel and Luxor, etc., during our Athens to Dubai sailing. From the Wall Street Journal late Friday, below are their charts for the three major cruise lines during the past five trading days. Up, UP was the story for Thursday and Friday after Norwegian did their quarterly update with stock analysts. Clearly the uncertainties continue for cruises in the eastern Middle East. What happens with the stock market and for these cruise stocks during November and December? 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 34,066 views. Many pictures, details for history, food, culture, etc.: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511358 From the Wall Street Journal late Friday, below are their charts for the three major cruises and their stock performance during these five trading days.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) Here is another look at Royal Caribbean during the past three months. It was a slow slide downward until the past couple of weeks. Where for the rest of this year?: For comparison, below is the WSJ chart for the overall S&P 500 during the most recent three months.:

Great above added insights as to the airline seating options from our Miami friend. Still have not won the MegaMillions Lottery big prize,so we are needing to maximize our Frequent Flyer miles, etc. Breaking News this afternoon: From the Wall Street Journal, they had this headline: “Royal Caribbean Adjusts 2024 Cruise Schedule to Avoid Israel” with these highlights: “Royal Caribbean has adjusted its cruise itineraries for 2024 to avoid calls to Israel, the second major cruise line to do so. A Royal Caribbean spokesman said. "Due to the continued uncertainty in the area, we're adjusting several itineraries in 2024." Earlier this week, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings said it was canceling its planned calls to Israel for 2024. Royal Caribbean is redeploying its Jewel of the Seas ship from Haifa, Israel, to Boston for 2024. Its Grandeur of the Seas ship will be redeployed from Haifa to Tampa, Fla. The Celebrity Cruises brand canceled all calls to Israel for its Celebrity Infinity ship for 2024. Voyages that were scheduled to visit Israel in 2024 accounted for less than 1.5% of Royal Caribbean's total capacity for the year, Chief Financial Officer Naftali Holtz said last week on a conference call with analysts.” Silversea's changes/impact was not announced as a part of this news release, but I assume this means no Silversea stops will happen for Israel in 2024. Any other insights or background to share? Reactions? Full story at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/royal-caribbean-adjusts-2024-cruise-schedule-to-avoid-israel-522cc80f 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 34,066 views. Many pictures, details for history, food, culture, etc.: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511358

Breaking News this afternoon: From the Wall Street Journal, they had this headline: “Royal Caribbean Adjusts 2024 Cruise Schedule to Avoid Israel” with these highlights: “Royal Caribbean has adjusted its cruise itineraries for 2024 to avoid calls to Israel, the second major cruise line to do so. A Royal Caribbean spokesman said. "Due to the continued uncertainty in the area, we're adjusting several itineraries in 2024." Earlier this week, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings said it was canceling its planned calls to Israel for 2024. Royal Caribbean is redeploying its Jewel of the Seas ship from Haifa, Israel, to Boston for 2024. Its Grandeur of the Seas ship will be redeployed from Haifa to Tampa, Fla. The Celebrity Cruises brand canceled all calls to Israel for its Celebrity Infinity ship for 2024. Voyages that were scheduled to visit Israel in 2024 accounted for less than 1.5% of Royal Caribbean's total capacity for the year, Chief Financial Officer Naftali Holtz said last week on a conference call with analysts.” Silversea's changes/impact was not announced as a part of this news release, but I assume this means no Silversea stops will happen for Israel in 2024. Any other insights or background to share? Reactions? Full story at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/royal-caribbean-adjusts-2024-cruise-schedule-to-avoid-israel-522cc80f 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 34,066 views. Many pictures, details for history, food, culture, etc.: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511358

Breaking News this afternoon: From the Wall Street Journal, they had this headline: “Royal Caribbean Adjusts 2024 Cruise Schedule to Avoid Israel” with these highlights: “Royal Caribbean has adjusted its cruise itineraries for 2024 to avoid calls to Israel, the second major cruise line to do so. A Royal Caribbean spokesman said. "Due to the continued uncertainty in the area, we're adjusting several itineraries in 2024." Earlier this week, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings said it was canceling its planned calls to Israel for 2024. Royal Caribbean is redeploying its Jewel of the Seas ship from Haifa, Israel, to Boston for 2024. Its Grandeur of the Seas ship will be redeployed from Haifa to Tampa, Fla. The Celebrity Cruises brand canceled all calls to Israel for its Celebrity Infinity ship for 2024. Voyages that were scheduled to visit Israel in 2024 accounted for less than 1.5% of Royal Caribbean's total capacity for the year, Chief Financial Officer Naftali Holtz said last week on a conference call with analysts.” Silversea's changes/impact was not announced as a part of this news release, but I assume this means no Silversea stops will happen for Israel in 2024. Any other insights or background to share? Reactions? Full story at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/royal-caribbean-adjusts-2024-cruise-schedule-to-avoid-israel-522cc80f 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 34,066 views. Many pictures, details for history, food, culture, etc.: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511358

With the major changes to Middle East cruises, how are the various lines treating their customers, including for those affecting by Silversea? From USA Today and MSN News this morning, they had this headline: “Stuck with a $20,000 bill? Oceania guests struggle for refunds amid major cruise changes” with these highlights: “Janet and Joe Sherwood's bucket list trip became a burden. The couple booked a Nov. 29 cruise from Istanbul to Dubai with Oceania Cruises, but in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, the cruise line – like many others – adjusted its plans, altering the itinerary dramatically. The roughly three-week sailing aboard the Riviera ship, set to visit Haifa, Luxor, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere, only retains about half of its original ports, including the start and end points.” Here is more: "The couple is among several Oceania guests who have struggled to get refunds or compensation in the wake of drastic changes to planned sailings. Multiple guests said they felt locked into cruises they wouldn’t have chosen to take. After appealing their case, the line's Vice President, Global Guest Services, Carlos Ortega told the Sherwoods Oceania would not issue any compensation or future cruise credits for canceled reservations. The couple also bought travel insurance through Oceania but said their policy would not cover those kinds of itinerary changes." Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/stuck-with-a-20000-bill-oceania-guests-struggle-for-refunds-amid-major-cruise-changes/ar-AA1jiv5f THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio AFRICA?!!?: Fun, interesting visuals, plus travel details from this early 2016 live/blog. At 55,164 views. Featuring Cape Town, South Africa’s coast, Mozambique, Victoria Falls/Zambia and Botswana's famed Okavango Delta. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2310337

With the major changes to Middle East cruises, how are the various lines treating their customers, including for those affecting by Silversea? From USA Today and MSN News this morning, they had this headline: “Stuck with a $20,000 bill? Oceania guests struggle for refunds amid major cruise changes” with these highlights: “Janet and Joe Sherwood's bucket list trip became a burden. The couple booked a Nov. 29 cruise from Istanbul to Dubai with Oceania Cruises, but in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, the cruise line – like many others – adjusted its plans, altering the itinerary dramatically. The roughly three-week sailing aboard the Riviera ship, set to visit Haifa, Luxor, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere, only retains about half of its original ports, including the start and end points.” Here is more: "The couple is among several Oceania guests who have struggled to get refunds or compensation in the wake of drastic changes to planned sailings. Multiple guests said they felt locked into cruises they wouldn’t have chosen to take. After appealing their case, the line's Vice President, Global Guest Services, Carlos Ortega told the Sherwoods Oceania would not issue any compensation or future cruise credits for canceled reservations. The couple also bought travel insurance through Oceania but said their policy would not cover those kinds of itinerary changes." Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/stuck-with-a-20000-bill-oceania-guests-struggle-for-refunds-amid-major-cruise-changes/ar-AA1jiv5f THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio AFRICA?!!?: Fun, interesting visuals, plus travel details from this early 2016 live/blog. At 55,164 views. Featuring Cape Town, South Africa’s coast, Mozambique, Victoria Falls/Zambia and Botswana's famed Okavango Delta. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2310337

As a follow-up from Wednesday's quarterly stock analyst briefing by the Norwegian CEO, here below are more details as to the impact for this major cruise company scrubbing stops in Israel later this year and for all of next year. Will Royal Caribbean and Silversea cancel ALL of its 2024 cruises stopping in Israel? Below is the map just posted by Silversea as to how their 15-day, Dec. 22-Jan. 6 cruise has changed so dramatically. The stops have been adjusted with the skipping of planned/promised ports for Israel and Egypt. Could future war events impact the finish of this cruise in the southern tip of Jordan? From this business news website yesterday, they had this headline: “Norwegian Cruise Line cancels all Israel sailings for 2024” with these highlights: “Norwegian Cruise Line has canceled all calls in Israel ports in 2024, due to the Israel-Hamas war. When asked why it was necessary to cancel sailings so far ahead, Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Harry Sommer said, 'I think it will take time before people feel safe about returning to Israel and so we have canceled cruises to Israel in 2024, even if the conflict, as we hope, ends in a short time.' The company said that 7% of its capacity in the fourth quarter was connected to the Middle East (including Cyprus) and about 4% of expected capacity in 2024.” Also from this report: "Royal Caribbean has 14 cruises that call at Israel ports each year, Norwegian Cruise Line ten and Carnival only six." Full story at: https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-norwegian-cruise-line-cancels-all-israel-sailings-for-2024-1001461614 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 59,465 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1101008

As a follow-up from Wednesday's quarterly stock analyst briefing by the Norwegian CEO, here below are more details as to the impact for this major cruise company scrubbing stops in Israel later this year and for all of next year. Will Royal Caribbean and Silversea cancel ALL of its 2024 cruises stopping in Israel? Below is the map just posted by Silversea as to how their 15-day, Dec. 22-Jan. 6 cruise has changed so dramatically. The stops have been adjusted with the skipping of planned/promised ports for Israel and Egypt. Could future war events impact the finish of this cruise in the southern tip of Jordan? From this business news website yesterday, they had this headline: “Norwegian Cruise Line cancels all Israel sailings for 2024” with these highlights: “Norwegian Cruise Line has canceled all calls in Israel ports in 2024, due to the Israel-Hamas war. When asked why it was necessary to cancel sailings so far ahead, Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Harry Sommer said, 'I think it will take time before people feel safe about returning to Israel and so we have canceled cruises to Israel in 2024, even if the conflict, as we hope, ends in a short time.' The company said that 7% of its capacity in the fourth quarter was connected to the Middle East (including Cyprus) and about 4% of expected capacity in 2024.” Also from this report: "Royal Caribbean has 14 cruises that call at Israel ports each year, Norwegian Cruise Line ten and Carnival only six." Full story at: https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-norwegian-cruise-line-cancels-all-israel-sailings-for-2024-1001461614 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 59,465 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1101008

As a follow-up from Wednesday's quarterly stock analyst briefing by the Norwegian CEO, here are more details as to the impact for this major cruise company scrubbing stops in Israel later this year and for all of next year. From this business news website yesterday, they had this headline: “Norwegian Cruise Line cancels all Israel sailings for 2024” with these highlights: “Norwegian Cruise Line has canceled all calls in Israel ports in 2024, due to the Israel-Hamas war. When asked why it was necessary to cancel sailings so far ahead, Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Harry Sommer said, 'I think it will take time before people feel safe about returning to Israel and so we have canceled cruises to Israel in 2024, even if the conflict, as we hope, ends in a short time.' The company said that 7% of its capacity in the fourth quarter was connected to the Middle East (including Cyprus) and about 4% of expected capacity in 2024.” Full story at: https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-norwegian-cruise-line-cancels-all-israel-sailings-for-2024-1001461614 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 59,465 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1101008

Just completed listening to the various questions from the Wall Street analysts on the live quarterly report from Norwegian's CEO and CFO. There was interest as to . . . . 2024 outlook?? Next year’s costs? Eastern Med impacts? They are hoping for that current war to be a “short-term event”. They noted that for every month for the next year they are booked at higher level than what they saw during the previous year. They have a number of dry-dock costs in 2024. They are seeking to avoid discounting and keep pricing, plus "Load and yield" steady. There was mention as to the potential of Turkey as indirect impact on cruises. It was indicated they have about a third of their future fuel costs as hedged. They will be doing “alternative itineraries” to replace the Israel stops in ALL of 2024. There was a question as to their future marketing costs as they have less new ship deliveries next year. Their next new ship will be in spring of 2025 with two new ships coming then. As to competition from new luxury brands, they do not view that as having a “meaningful impact”. From the Associated Press/AP newswire and a newspaper this morning, they had this headline: “Norwegian Cruise Line: Q3 Earnings Snapshot” with these highlights: “Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) on Wednesday reported third-quarter profit of $345.9 million. On a per-share basis, the Miami-based company said it had profit of 71 cents. Earnings, adjusted for stock option expense, were 76 cents per share. The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of six analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 69 cents per share.” Hope these rough notes and background are of help. Might share more later. Full AP story at: https://www.ctpost.com/business/article/norwegian-cruise-line-q3-earnings-snapshot-18461413.php 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 73,238 views: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2076101-live-amazon-river-caribbean-many-pix’s-terryohio/ Upping the competition to Silversea, etc., for new meanings of luxury? Below is one of charts from today's Norwegian quarterly briefing that shares details as to Regent Seven Sea's newest ship coming out later this year. Looking lux?? Second is one of their charts sharing more details as to their liquidity.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!)