TLCOhio

I strongly vote for Cruise Critic (and cruise ships) being a "snake-free zone"!! Also, no need for those pesky spiders. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

From the Washington Post yesterday, they had this headline: “8 destinations to escape extreme heat this summer” with these highlights for this Caribbean location: “Aruba is always the first destination a travel adviser recommends to clients looking for a vacation destination with consistent weather. 'The temperature is almost always in the 80s,' Elaine Esposito said. 'Aruba is an arid island with a dry climate where trade winds blow to lessen the heat.' Beyond selling points such as pristine beaches and excellent snorkeling, Aruba is south of the hurricane belt, making such disasters rare.” Full story at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/tips/extreme-heat-summer-cooler-destinations/ 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 248,033 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1172051-livesilver-cloud-norway-coastfjords-july-1-16-reports/

How are cruises selling and reaching different markets, demographics, ages, interests? From the New York Times this morning, they had this headline: “Are Cruises ‘Corny’? Some First-Time Passengers Looking for a Deal Say Maybe Not" with this sub-headline: "Younger generations of passengers are venturing onto ships for the first time. And with sky-high airfares and expensive hotels on land, many are saving money.” Here are some of their reporting highlights: “With airfares at a five-year high, limited accommodations in popular destinations and pent-up travel demand, many people are looking to cruising as a high-value alternative to land travel. Interest among younger generations who have never cruised is higher than ever, with 73 percent of millennials and Gen X travelers considering a cruise vacation, according to a survey conducted by Cruise Lines International Association. Out of the 4,500 respondents who took their first cruise, 88 percent of millennials and 86 percent of Gen X said they would do it again, according to CLIA. The association projects cruise tourism to reach 106 percent of 2019 passenger volume in 2023. Jonathon Fishman, a spokesman for the Royal Caribbean Group, said that guests on Royal Caribbean were younger than before the pandemic.” This added perspective might be of interest: "To attract more first-time passengers, cruise companies have been adapting their itineraries to offer more options to target a broader range of demographics like themed sailings, adult-only cruises and short trips for people to 'test the waters.' " Full story at: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/18/travel/first-time-cruise-passengers.html 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 105,155 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1278226

Very much appreciate these details, tips, visuals, etc., from Justpackingmybags in the UK. Very interesting and helpful. Keep it coming with these various options and ideas. Great follow-ups from Dobby36 and ARandomTraveler. Glad to know there is such varied interests for Singapore. When you get back from your upcoming Singapore visits, please come back and post your surprises, loves, etc., here. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Appreciate this helpful info, chart and follow-up. Since I have not won the big PowerBall, Mega Lottery of $900 million+, my investments these days are rather small and limited. Not playing the market too much to be that good at these skills. But, good to know in the event, if and when, that a "Big Win" happens. From financial news website this morning, they had this headline: “Norwegian Cruise stock falls as analyst worries the ‘undeniable’ recovery is already priced in” with these highlights: “Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings was downgraded by Truist analyst C. Patrick Scholes, but it’s hard to say he’s no longer bullish given that his new stock price target is above those of most Wall Street bulls. Scholes said after speaking with senior executives at 'very large' travel agencies specializing in cruises, and after examining data on future bookings, it is 'undeniable' that the cruise industry is on a strong path to recovery. 'We did not observe a second derivative 'additional leg-up' in forward booking and pricing trends from our prior observations,' Scholes wrote in a note to clients. Basically, Scholes said his worry isn’t about whether cruise demand is recovering, but rather 'how much of that recovery is already priced in?' ” Full story at: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/norwegian-cruise-stock-falls-as-analyst-worries-the-undeniable-recovery-is-already-priced-in-8baaf707 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 244,521 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

As many are suffering from extreme heat now, here's an interesting and different idea, especially for in the Middle East. From CNN, the cable news network, this morning, they had this headline: “Abu Dhabi has built a white water river in the middle of a scorching desert” with these highlights: "This is no ordinary river; it is the result of a $50 million man-made park constructed between Abu Dhabi’s arid mountains on one side and a sprawling desert on the other. Located in the oasis city of Al Ain, just an hour and a half from Abu Dhabi’s city center, Al Ain Adventure Park proudly claims the title of the Middle East’s first destination for white water rafting, kayaking and surfing. It’s an unusual sight in a region where no natural rivers exist, and summer temperatures often soar upwards of 120 F (49 C).” Here's more: "Al Ain Adventure Park has gained international recognition as a hub for sports professionals seeking to hone their skills in various disciplines. Drawing athletes from across the globe, including surfing champions, rafters and Olympic kayak teams, the park has become a preferred training destination." Full story at: https://www.cnn.com/travel/abu-dhabi-white-water-river-desert-al-ain/index.html 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 a luxury travel news website last month, they had this headline: “Luxury guide to gorgeous Goa, India’s smallest and richest state” with these highlights: “Goa is India’s smallest and wealthiest state attracting more than two million tourists annually, who are drawn to its beaches with swaying palm trees, the sedate pace of life and World Heritage architecture. Ruled by the Portuguese for nearly 500 years, Goa offers visitors a fascinating insight into a rich and vibrant culture and a colourful history. To discover Goa’s historical Portuguese influence I visited the Basilica of Bom Jesus, a UNESCO World Heritage site and an outstanding example of baroque architecture. Located in Old Goa, the basilica is the final resting place of St. Francis Xavier, a Basque Roman Catholic missionary who co founded the Society of Jesus. The Basilica, consecrated in 1605, is recognised as a landmark of Christianity.” For our February 2024 Mumbai to Singapore sailing, we will have a stop for Goa. Many, including me, forget about this long, long history with Portugal and India. Plus, the Christian influences and connections for this part of India. Also noted in this profile: "The Sé Cathedral, the largest church in India, is also located in Old Goa. The cathedral, completed in 1619, was built to celebrate the victory of the Portuguese over a Muslim army, which resulted in the capture of Goa." Other attractions, including those nature- and beach-related, are outlined in this detailed profile. They also listed to learn more about Goa’s attractions, the option to visit goa-tourism.com Full story at: https://www.luxurylifestylemag.co.uk/travel/a-luxury-guide-to-gorgeous-goa-indias-smallest-and-richest-state/ 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/

Have re-sent to your Arizona friend. Hopefully, one of these will go through. From the New York Times this morning, they had this headline: “How a Vast Demographic Shift Will Reshape the World” with these highlights: “The world’s demographics have already been transformed. Europe is shrinking. China is shrinking, with India, a much younger country, overtaking it this year as the world’s most populous nation. But what we’ve seen so far is just the beginning. The projections are reliable, and stark: By 2050, people age 65 and older will make up nearly 40 percent of the population in some parts of East Asia and Europe. That’s almost twice the share of older adults in Florida, America’s retirement capital. Extraordinary numbers of retirees will be dependent on a shrinking number of working-age people to support them.” Interesting projections and details. Especially for India as it grows so much with a younger, hopefully more agile, creative population. Also shared in the profile is that these trends might impact the cruise industry's future cruise potential audiences: "In all of recorded history, no country has ever been as old as these nations are expected to get. As a result, experts predict, things many wealthier countries take for granted — like pensions, retirement ages and strict immigration policies — will need overhauls to be sustainable." Here is one chart shown by the NYT as a future year, who is aging most, what countries are younger and in the middle: Full story at: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/07/16/world/world-demographics.html 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 19,512 views. Live/blog: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2682584-live-terryohio-silver-muse-alaska-canadarockies-pix’s/

Have tried a couple more times. Maybe going into your junk or spam folder. Might check there or do a search for TLCOhio on your overall email file. Just completed watching the one hour and 46 minute film "Viceroy's House" as illustrated well. Parts of it follows, in much shorter format, part of the "Freedom at Midnight" book. It also has and added some "love drama" between a couple of the Indian staff members who worked for Lord Mountbatten. The settings and castings are very well done and gives a decent "overview' for the challenges and history that happened during this time period. Movies cannot give the full depth for that period in time, but it was well worth getting and watching. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio For "Viceroy's House", this cover art gives a nice visual sampling. Two of the lead actors are well-known for their other important roles in The Crown and Downton Abbey, etc.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see this visual larger/better!)

Great background and details from Lirio about Manaus and its fascinating history. Brings back excellent memories from visiting that historic German mansion, plus their famed Opera House in 2015. Their wealth at that time was amazing. Plus, how they tried to import parts of Europe to this remote location in the middle of "nowhere". Below is my pix of that German mansion, plus two of my favorites to illustrate the luxury with that unique Manaus Opera House. 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 72,163 views: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2076101-live-amazon-river-caribbean-many-pix’s-terryohio/ For "eye-candy" and relief from the summer heat, here are my visuals from Manaus to supplement what Lirio has shared. This includes two visuals inside of this "jewel-box" performing arts site.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!)

Appreciate this great suggestion and follow-up background. Have gone on our local library website, they have it and will be able to pick it up and watch soon. As I recall, this movie created lots of buzz and I am sure has lots of interesting visuals. Excellent, as always, tip. In checking more, this movie was shot partly in Singapore, but also much in the cheaper sites in Malaysia. The film grossed very, very well and got a 91% high ranking on the Rotten Tomatoes website. It was cited as the first modern story with an all-Asian cast and an Asian-American lead in 25 years. Looking forward to viewing. 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 55,153 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1101008

From MSN News earlier this month, they had this headline: “10 Of The Best Day Trips You Shouldn't Miss From Venice, Italy” with these highlights: “Venice is so charming, and no matter how many days one dedicates to exploring it, it's hard to get enough of it. It's no wonder hundreds of thousands of tourists make trips to the city to experience its unique architecture, learn about its long, fascinating history, and taste the beauty of its canals. One mistake that travelers make when they visit the City of Canals is spending a few days and leaving for other popular destinations in the country. This is why they are missing out on the incredible opportunity of exploring some of the most impressive day trips, which are homes to some of the best travel hidden gems in Italy.” This profile makes detailed suggestions for nearby locations such as: Murano (20-minute ferry ride away, best recognized for its glassmaking art), Burano (beautiful village and home to plenty of brightly colored houses) and Bologna (fascinating medieval history and home to one of the oldest universities in the world). Also mentioned and detailed: Verona, Lake Garda and Florence. Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/10-of-the-best-day-trips-you-shouldnt-miss-from-venice-italy/ar-AA1dklXo 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 33,606 views. Many pictures, details for history, food, culture, etc.: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511358

From the AP/Associated Press this morning, they had this headline: “Tourists, mostly american, packing European hot spots” with these highlights: “Tourists are waiting more than two hours to visit the Acropolis in Athens. Taxi lines at Rome's main train station are running just as long. And so many visitors are gathering around St. Mark's Square in Venice that crowds get backed up crossing bridges — even on weekdays. After three years of pandemic limitations, tourism is expected to exceed 2019 records in some of Europe's most popular destinations this summer, from Barcelona and Rome, Athens and Venice to the scenic islands of Santorini in Greece, Capri in Italy and Mallorca in Spain. While European tourists edged the industry toward recovery last year, the upswing this summer is led largely by Americans, boosted by a strong dollar and in some cases pandemic savings. Many arrive motivated by 'revenge tourism' — so eager to explore again that they're undaunted by higher airfares and hotel costs.” Here is more from this report: "Tourism-dependent Greece expects 30 million visitors this year, still shy of 2019's 34 million record. Still, the number of flights are up so far, and tourist hot spots are taking the brunt. The Culture Ministry will introduce a new ticketing system for the Acropolis this month, providing hourly slots for visitors to even out crowds. But no remedy is being discussed for the parking line of cruise ships on the islands of Mykonos and Santorini on busy mornings." Full story at: https://omaha.com/eedition/sunrise/articles/tourists-mostly-american-packing-european-hot-spots/article_28afbef7-e247-5651-904d-9543beb3812f.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 247,933 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1172051-livesilver-cloud-norway-coastfjords-july-1-16-reports/

Great above suggestion from our neighbor in Pennsylvania. Yes, there are ways to make it happen at luxury hotels in Venice. BUT, it would be nice and helpful to win the big lottery jackpot. From the AP/Associated Press this morning, they had this headline: “Tourists, mostly american, packing European hot spots” with these highlights: “Tourists are waiting more than two hours to visit the Acropolis in Athens. Taxi lines at Rome's main train station are running just as long. And so many visitors are gathering around St. Mark's Square in Venice that crowds get backed up crossing bridges — even on weekdays. After three years of pandemic limitations, tourism is expected to exceed 2019 records in some of Europe's most popular destinations this summer, from Barcelona and Rome, Athens and Venice to the scenic islands of Santorini in Greece, Capri in Italy and Mallorca in Spain. While European tourists edged the industry toward recovery last year, the upswing this summer is led largely by Americans, boosted by a strong dollar and in some cases pandemic savings. Many arrive motivated by 'revenge tourism' — so eager to explore again that they're undaunted by higher airfares and hotel costs.” Full story at: https://omaha.com/eedition/sunrise/articles/tourists-mostly-american-packing-european-hot-spots/article_28afbef7-e247-5651-904d-9543beb3812f.html THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Dubrovnik! Visual samples, tips, details, etc., for this super scenic and historic location. Over 49,798 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1439227

Agree with the wisdom from our Arizona friend via these comments and follow-up. Lots of sales hype, such as doubling the cruise prices and then offering "Buy One, Get the Second for Free" games. Most people are smarter than falling for such silly "games". From the AP/Associated Press this morning, they had this headline: “Tourists, mostly american, packing European hot spots” with these highlights: “Tourists are waiting more than two hours to visit the Acropolis in Athens. Taxi lines at Rome's main train station are running just as long. And so many visitors are gathering around St. Mark's Square in Venice that crowds get backed up crossing bridges — even on weekdays. After three years of pandemic limitations, tourism is expected to exceed 2019 records in some of Europe's most popular destinations this summer, from Barcelona and Rome, Athens and Venice to the scenic islands of Santorini in Greece, Capri in Italy and Mallorca in Spain. While European tourists edged the industry toward recovery last year, the upswing this summer is led largely by Americans, boosted by a strong dollar and in some cases pandemic savings. Many arrive motivated by 'revenge tourism' — so eager to explore again that they're undaunted by higher airfares and hotel costs.” Full story at: https://omaha.com/eedition/sunrise/articles/tourists-mostly-american-packing-european-hot-spots/article_28afbef7-e247-5651-904d-9543beb3812f.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 72,099 views: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2076101-live-amazon-river-caribbean-many-pix’s-terryohio/

From the New Zealand Herald earlier this month, they had this headline: “First timer’s guide to Sri Lanka: What to see and do” with these highlights: “For an island nation that’s half the size of our own North Island, Sri Lanka sure does pack an oversized punch. Twenty-two million people call this island nation home and it’s often compared favourably against its bigger neighbour, India. Visitors will be pleasantly surprised to discover how relaxed it really is, as well as how much there is to see and do, especially considering its relatively confined dimensions. Ancient cities, wildlife parks, palm-fringed beaches, picturesque hill country… it really does have it all.” For one location we are planning to visit, they noted: "Polonnaruwa became the centre of the Sinhalese empire and its thousand-year-old ruins are in remarkable condition." Full story at: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/first-timers-guide-to-sri-lanka-what-to-see-and-do/HWEG2SL7WBGGZBZY7K4EVBCA2Q/ 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 55,063 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1101008

In addition to the great sharing from agape01, I am doing added research and sharing. From Condé Nast Nast Traveler magazine, they had this headline: “Raffles Singapore" with this sub-headline: "The Queen Mother of luxury hotels in Singapore is as legendary as ever.” Here is some of their reporting highlights: “It may well be that no hotel is more closely associated with its city than Raffles Singapore. It has gone through various mutations in the 130 or so years since it opened, as a modest 10-room bungalow, in 1887. By the early 20th century it had pretty much assumed the physical form that it retains today and attained something like mythical status. A note on the Long Bar. I love it. Some people do not. What sort of person stays here? Very spoiled, very happy people. People who like luscious heritage hotels packed to the rafters with stories. People who could not care less about heritage or stories but who like lusciousness. Make up your own mind. Bottom line: worth it? This question is a vexed one. Given the overall cost of the renovation and the number of rooms—I mean suites—it comes out, I believe, at something like $1.9 million per room. I have been coming here since I was eight years old and, based on what I have seen with my own eyes, I can say, hand on heart, that the joint has not looked better in my lifetime.” We will not be staying at the Raffles, but will definitely being doing a "walk-through" and physically sampling, capturing some visuals, soaking up its character and charm, etc. Lots of history there!! From Wikipedia, they detail it was "established by Armenian hoteliers, the Sarkies Brothers, in 1887. The hotel was named after British statesman Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore. The hotel continued to expand over the years with the addition of wings, a veranda, a ballroom, a bar and billiards room, as well as other buildings and rooms. Upon the start of the Japanese occupation of Singapore on 15 February 1942, it is said that the Japanese soldiers encountered the guests in Raffles Hotel dancing one final waltz. Meanwhile, staff buried the hotel silver—including the silver beef trolley—in the Palm Court. In 1989, the hotel closed to undergo an extensive renovation that lasted two years and cost $160 million. In April 2010, it was reported that a Qatari sovereign wealth fund bought Raffles Hotel for $275 million. A major renovation of the hotel was undertaken starting January 2017. The hotel reopened on 1 August 2019. Raffles Hotel has a shopping arcade with 40 speciality boutiques. The arcade also houses most of the hotel's restaurants." All sounds very interesting. Not a sterile, 1990's modern high-rise, cookie-cutter building. Reactions and added details from those who have been at the Raffles in recent times? Full story/background at: https://www.cntraveler.com/hotels/singapore/dhoby-ghaut/raffles-hotel-singapore https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raffles_Hotel 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 104,879 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1278226

From the Wall Street Journal yesterday morning, they had this headline: “Can Airline Seating Get Any Worse? ‘A New Form of Torture Chamber’ " with this sub-headline: "Passengers have flooded the FAA with complaints about narrow seats and scant legroom; ‘It’s literally painful to fly today’. ” Here are some of their reporting highlights: “Passengers have been sounding off for years about airline seating—no legroom, thin cushions, too narrow. Now politicians are listening. A bill introduced in Congress last month to update aircraft evacuation standards would compel federal regulators to study seat sizes and spacing. U.S. regulations cover aisle width and the number of seats allowed on planes, but not minimum seat sizes. The Federal Aviation Administration has said in court it isn’t required to set seat standards unless it finds they are necessary to protect passenger safety. In late 2019 and early 2020, it simulated emergency evacuations and found seat size and spacing didn’t adversely affect the process. In March, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia denied a petition that would have required the FAA to stipulate minimum seat sizes and spacing. The court said FlyersRights.org, the advocacy group that filed the petition, didn’t prove that seat-size regulations are necessary for passenger safety. The court did agree with one point. 'To be sure, many airline seats are uncomfortably small,' it wrote. 'That is why some passengers pay for wider seats and extra legroom.' ” Safety versus comfort????? Full story at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/airline-seat-size-complaints-legroom-faa-f065e76e?mod=automatedsf_trending_now_article_pos3 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 104,879 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1278226

From Forbes magazine this morning by experienced writer Christopher Elliott, they had this headline: “Is An Expedition Cruise Right For You? Here’s How To Know” with these highlights: “Expedition cruises are one of the fastest-growing segments of the cruise industry. A recent Allianz Partners survey found expedition cruising is becoming increasingly popular this year, especially among travelers making up for lost time. Allianz noted that among the 33% of its respondents who went on a cruise, 22% have been on an expedition cruise, and 74% who haven’t would consider booking one in the future. But what sets an expedition cruise apart from other vacations at sea? Where should you go if you want to experience an expedition cruise? And, is expedition cruising right for you? I've been on several recent expedition cruises, including coastal Norway and the Antarctic. I was consistently surprised by the people I met on the ships and by the overall experience, which is a world away from a traditional ocean cruise.” Silversea has wisely and aggressive positioned itself with more offerings in the expedition category and to reach more unique and interesting locations. Also from this reporting: "Expedition vessels tend to be smaller, allowing the vessel to cruise in more remote areas that larger cruise ships just can’t reach. It's a wild time. Most expedition cruises are about nature. It's educational. 'There are no glamorous theater shows, but you will have fabulous lectures from biologists, geologists and historians,' explains Mitch Krayton, a small ship cruising specialist based in Denver. Oh, and there's the cost. You will definitely pay more for an expedition cr Here's a secret about expedition cruising: It's not a cruise, at least in the traditional sense." Much good background and factors to consider in this detailed profile. Full story at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherelliott/2023/07/15/is-an-expedition-cruise-right-for-you-heres-how-to-know/?sh=461bc9956bf4 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 244,458 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

A number of "items" are bubbling out there as to what affects decisions as to whether to cruise or not, how to get to the port in order to board and return home, etc. Have several news articles to share. Reactions as to how this affects your booking decisions and travel priorities? From a key travel trade publication four days ago, they had this headline: “Luxury Cruise Line Extends Multiple Booking Perks" with this sub-headline: "Royal Caribbean-owned Silversea Cruises is extending its Suite Upgrades promotion for new bookings by the end of August 2023.” Here are some of their reporting highlights: “Silversea announced it has extended an earlier promotion that provided three booking incentives. Travelers who book a Silversea’s sailing by August 31, 2023, will qualify for a three-pronged incentive that offers a suite upgrade (up to two categories), a $1,000 per stateroom onboard credit ($500 per guest), and reduced deposits of just 15%. Cruisers can choose from a wide variety of sailings departing in an 18-month time frame, between November 2023 and May 2025.” For our upcoming February 2024 Mumbai to Singapore sailing, these sales options do not help us as we had previously booked much earlier when the base prices were significantly lower. Full story at: https://www.cruisehive.com/luxury-cruise-line-extends-multiple-booking-perks/106134 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 247,933 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1172051-livesilver-cloud-norway-coastfjords-july-1-16-reports/

Significantly appreciate these additional follow-ups and background items. YES, having more time in Singapore would be nice, but there are always limits in time and budget. My wife always worries about what these "things" cost and time away from home, our young puppy, grandsons, etc. I'm still working some and there are "limits". It would great to have time pre-cruise for added stops and experiences in India, plus in Singapore and Japan. But, we are just going to have manage "it" as best we can. That's why this advanced research is so important to help focus our time and resources most efficiently and effectively. Will keep looking out for added, helpful background. Will share here any interest news articles that I discover. For agape01 and any others, don't be shy with the continued, great contributions. Or, in asking any and all follow-up questions. 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 21,941 views. Connect at: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2607054-livenautica-greece-holy-lands-egypt-dubai-terrypix’s/

Looks like an interesting itinerary for Lois in doing Ireland, Scotland and these other locations. Been in and around for a few and some of these good and stimulating locations. Look forward to following along as you travel and hopefully post a small sampling of the sights and experiences. Appreciate the other details shared as to the entertainment future and other options on these upcoming Silversea sailings. Fun!! THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

It's a little over my head to understand about "inverted yield curves", but these are interesting and challenging times in trying to guess the future direction for the economy. From the Wall Street Journal this morning, they had this headline: “Economists Are Cutting Back Their Recession Expectations" with this sub-headline: "Forecasters still expect GDP to eventually contract, but later, and by less, than previously.” Here are some of their reporting and analysis highlights: “Economists are dialing back recession risks. Easing inflation, a still-strong labor market and economic resilience led business and academic economists polled by The Wall Street Journal to lower the probability of a recession in the next 12 months to 54% from 61% in the prior two surveys. While that probability is still high by historical comparison, it represents the largest month-over-month percentage-point drop since August 2020, as the economy was recovering from a short but sharp recession induced by the Covid-19 pandemic. It reflects the fact that the economy has kept growing even as the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates and inflation declined.” Here was more from the WSJ: "Nearly 60% of economists said their main reason for optimism about the economic outlook is their expectation that inflation will continue to slow. The Labor Department’s consumer-price index climbed 3% in June from a year earlier, sharply lower than the peak of 9.1% in June 2022 and the slowest in more than two years." It's all about the question for whether or not we are on the way with a "pathway to a soft landing". Is that the right and important question? And, given the negative selling by those on Wall Street during the past week for the three major cruise lines, what does it mean for the future of those three stocks? Full story at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/economists-are-cutting-back-their-recession-expectations-74118938?mod=hp_lead_pos1 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 247,933 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1172051-livesilver-cloud-norway-coastfjords-july-1-16-reports/

That must make your life interesting and stimulating. Never boring with Rojaan?? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Appreciate these great, various follow-ups, including about the Voices of Silversea. Glad that the Silver Moon has finally been able to "sail away" after its little hull "situation". Hopefully, things are very smooth after this incident. When handy, would love to hear any feedback and added info that the CD and.or singers might share as to what is coming to replace the "Voices" for the future after the ends of their contracts in later August. Excellent sharing, visuals on this thread. Keep it coming, including lots of interesting visuals, food porn, etc., etc. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio