TLCOhio

Appreciate these great comments and follow-up about gold from Mr. Banjo. Have never gone the gold "roll-of-the-dice" for us. The husksters on TV tout it big-time, but never talk about when these values for gold and silver go down. Or, fail to increase? Did not realize their "fees" are so high for those peddling this "wishing and hoping" product. But, in fairness, inflation is a cruel tax and devaluation thief. Lots of other interesting items posted on this thread. Keep it coming!! For Royal Caribbean , it has been up, UP during the past day and a half of stock trading. Up to $36.19 right now compared to its Monday opening at around $32.62. That is a a jump of nearly 11% in a very short period. Why?? From the Wall Street Journal's sister publication of Barrons mid-day Tuesday, they had this headline: “Cruise Stocks Rally Further After CDC Ends Covid-19 Monitoring Program” with these highlights: “Cruise stocks were rising sharply Tuesday, rallying a day after the Centers for Disease Control ended its Covid-19 program for cruise ships. The CDC’s program, which went into effect in mid-February, required cruise lines to report the number of cases on each ship, and then used a color-coded system to provide the status of Covid-19 cases onboard. Ships also were subject to certain testing requirements and a vaccination threshold.” Full story at: https://www.barrons.com/articles/cruise-stock-cdc-covid-carnival-royal-caribbean-51658246951 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 31,419 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2465580

YES, great follow-up from Mr. Banjo about the Great Lakes advantage in being so close and maybe avoiding those challenged airline flights. From MSN News and The Points Guy website this morning, they had this headline: “You can save big on a cruise right now with ‘kids sail free’ deals” with these highlights: “Cruises are one sweet spot in the current travel economy. There are multiple cruise lines with free offers for kids to come on board several times a year. This may be the first time Princess has ever offered a Kids Sail Free cruise booking opportunity. These free sailings for kids can also be paired with discounts of up to 25% on adult fares.” Know that Silversea cruisers are not big fans for having lots of kinds on their cruises. But, this article reflects that the major cruise lines are cutting their prices to fill up the ships. AND many money from more travelers on board spending on drinks, spa, tours, etc. Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tips/you-can-save-big-on-a-cruise-right-now-with-kids-sail-free-deals/ar-AAZFLXf THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Dubrovnik! Nice visual samples, tips, details, etc., for this super scenic and historic location. Over 48,895 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1439227

Great that your leg is healing. Slowly? Be patient and do not push the recovery too quickly. Future cruises? What's planned? Where headed? What key, exciting, interesting ports/cities? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Appreciate this follow-up by Randy about the plan/tactics used by some of the large, mass-market cruise lines. Not our "thing"!! Yes, some get a cheap cruise, but run up a huge bar bill because the staff is so nice in asking if they want a drink while lounging at the pool. What a "trap"!! From the Chicago Tribune this morning, they had this headline: “After pandemic shutdown, the cruise ship industry is booming on the Great Lakes” with these highlights: “Viking Cruises announcement. building an entirely new ship — one designed specifically for the Great Lakes. Even though this is Viking’s first year on the Great Lakes, commercial cruising has been slowly expanding in the lakes the past decade. 2022 may be setting records, with nine cruise ships setting sail this season, four of them new ships making their inaugural trips through the locks and into the lakes.” Not sure sailing Great Lakes on a cruise ship is our highest priority. BUT, it is interesting that this option is available and growing in market popularity. Maybe a good sign for the seeking-to-recover cruise industry? The Great Lakes are close enough for us that we have visited many of the top areas by car. But for others? Reactions? Full story at: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/environment/ct-great-lakes-cruise-ships-20220717-filkpwejzja3bn6kt3t3vweabq-story.html THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Kotor/Montenegro: Exciting visual samples, tips, details, etc., for this scenic, historic location. Over 49,414 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1439193

From the London/UK Independent a week ago, they had this headline: “Greece Travel Guide” with these highlights by author Lucy Thackray: “Athens is a must-do city break. It comes with truly ancient, bucket-list sights, tons of archaeological and mythical nerdiness for Classics fans, and a fun, affordable bar and restaurant scene.” Here is a great summary for this wonderful country: "Greece is the Mediterranean family’s mellow, hippyish sibling. Its craggy islands topped with distinctive clusters of sugar-cube houses are the stuff of travel ads the world over" Full story and many ideas/options for the various island and other Greek location, check at: https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/greece/greece-country-guide-travel-holiday-b2103555.html THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio AFRICA?!!?: Fun, interesting visuals, plus travel details from this early 2016 live/blog. At 53,014 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

From the London/UK Independent a week ago, they had this headline: “Portugal Travel Guide” with these highlights for Lisbon: “Even by European standards Lisbon is a ridiculously pretty capital. The stately, statue-filled squares and elegant monochrome-mosaic pavements of the city’s handsome 18th-century centre sit at the feet of a romantic castle. Lisbon’s neighbourhoods are sprinkled over seven hills. The best way to see it all is to get lost: wander the cobbled wynds of the Bairro Alto.” For Porto: "With winding, church-stippled streets clambering up the side of a steep valley cut by the Douro River, Portugal’s northern capital of Porto has a setting almost as breath-taking as Lisbon." Full story and many ideas/options at: https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/portugal/portugal-country-guide-travel-holiday-b2102589.html 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 31,419 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2465580

Any new updates from Lois? Making progress in walking, feeling better? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Appreciate this nice follow-up and shared visual from bennybear. Yes, many options to experience in Greece, around Athens, etc. From the London/UK Independent late this past week, they had this headline: “How to spend a day in Piraeus, Athens’ rejuvenated seaside neighbourhood” with these highlights: “Although you’ve probably been through Athens’ bustling waterfront, Piraeus’ once tatty and trashy backstreets have had a much-needed makeover, with art galleries, bougie hotels, hip tavernas and designer boutiques popping up all over.” Author Heidi Fuller-Love calls Piraeus "one of the city’s best kept secrets." Many options for food, drinks, entertainment, etc., are shared in this profile. If you have previously seen the top stars in Athens, this might be an options to consider before departing on a cruise from this port. Or, during a port stop here? Full story at: https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/48-hours-in/piraeus-athens-city-guide-neighbourhood-b2110385.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 70,159 views: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2157696

Great suggestion!! Just posted there. Excellent tip. Still appreciate any and all smart ideas and insights for experiencing the Eastern Maritimes Provinces. We are not exactly "cruising" there, but we will take a ferry for the 14-miles as our coach sails across Northumberland Strait from Prince Edward Island to Nova Scotia. A cruise?? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Last month, after Canada dropped its mandatory Covid testing when entering their territory, we booked a Tauck tour of the Eastern Maritime Provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Cape Briton Island, etc. Excited for our first visit to these scenic, historic and charming areas. BUT, this past week Canada has just reversed course, somewhat, and is now saying that there will be mandatory "random" Covid testing of fully-vaccinated visitors when landing at their four major airports. We are fully covered with the four different shots. How good or bad will your "random" chances be for such required, off-site airport testing? In flying on Air Canada from Columbus, we will land in Toronto and then go to Halifax on a separate flight. According to the news reports, if picked randomly, we will not need to be tested till reaching Halifax. But, this new government policy change has us confused and adds to the risks for a disrupted adventure plan. Any suggestions, clarifications or insights? Also, are these Eastern Maritime areas as super wonderful as we have been told? Any special tips for there as "must-do's" and "don't miss"? 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 and details from our first in these scenic areas! Live/blog: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2682584-live-terryohio-silver-muse-alaska-canadarockies-pix’s/

Sorry to jump in the middle of these excellent and super exciting funnies, but have a specific Canada question. Last month, after Canada dropped its mandatory Covid testing when entering their territory, we booked a Tauck tour of the Eastern Maritime Provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Cape Briton Island, etc. Excited for our first visit to these scenic, historic and charming areas. BUT, this past week Canada has just reversed course, somewhat, and is now saying that there will be mandatory "random" Covid testing of fully vaccinated visitors when landing at their four major airports. We are fully covered with the four different shots. How good or bad will your "random" chances be for such required, off-site airport testing? In flying on Air Canada from Columbus, we will land in Toronto and then go to Halifax on a separate flight. According to the news reports, if picked randomly, we will not need to be tested till Halifax. But, this new government policy change has us confused and adds to the risks for a disrupted adventure plan. Any suggestions or insights? Are these areas as wonderful as we have been told? Any special tips for there as "must-do's" and "don't miss"? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Understand fully the hesitation to be getting back on a cruise ship right now. Dr. Fauci is now back to saying, maybe, mask up in interior spaces, if and if. Canada has just reversed course, somewhat, and is now saying that there will be mandatory "random" Covid testing of fully vaccinated visitors when landing at their four major airports. If you do not pass this off-site testing, you are in quarantine for ten days. Is that a fun risk? How good or bad will your "random" chances be for such required, off-site airport testing? From MSN News and a financial news source this morning, they had this headline: “Cruises could be this summer's cheapest travel option with itineraries going for as low as $29 a day” with these highlights: “There are currently 45 cruises sailing for $50 a day or less through 2022. Vacationing this summer has already shaped up to be 'hellish' and expensive. Airlines have canceled thousands of flights. But amid these skyrocketing prices, chaotic travel stories, and inflation, there's one glimmer of hope for budget travelers still looking for a relaxing getaway this year: cruises, many of which are sailing for under $100 a day.” Sound good? Maybe. But who wants to sail in the Caribbean later this summer or in the early fall? Getting to Europe and/or other distant international locations is a major "roll of the dice" with the current air travel messes. Right? But for the next six to twelve months, how do the cruise lines restore their financial stability (profits?) and normality when they are cutting prices in a period of rising fuel, food, debt and staffing inflationary costs? Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/cruises-could-be-this-summers-cheapest-travel-option-with-itineraries-going-for-as-low-as-2429-a-day/ar-AAZDSJ2 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 32,421 views. Many interesting pictures, details for history, food, culture, etc.: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511358

From MSN News and a financial news source this morning, they had this headline: “Cruises could be this summer's cheapest travel option with itineraries going for as low as $29 a day” with these highlights: “There are currently 45 cruises sailing for $50 a day or less through 2022. Vacationing this summer has already shaped up to be 'hellish' and expensive. Airlines have canceled thousands of flights. But amid these skyrocketing prices, chaotic travel stories, and inflation, there's one glimmer of hope for budget travelers still looking for a relaxing getaway this year: cruises, many of which are sailing for under $100 a day.” Sound good? Maybe. But who wants to sail in the Caribbean later this summer or in the early fall? Getting to Europe and/or other distant international locations is a major "roll of the dice" with the current air travel messes. Right? But for the next six to twelve months, how do the cruise lines restore their financial stability (profits?) and normality when they are cutting prices in a period of rising fuel, food, debt and staffing inflationary costs? Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/cruises-could-be-this-summers-cheapest-travel-option-with-itineraries-going-for-as-low-as-2429-a-day/ar-AAZDSJ2 THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio AFRICA?!!?: Fun, interesting visuals, plus travel details from this early 2016 live/blog. At 52,960 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

Very good summary above by Randy. Yes, these "economic stimulus" government actions have been "two-edged-swords". Keynesian economics (thanks to British economist John Maynard Keynes) always looks good on the front-end as politicians are so very, very good at spending money during challenged times. BUT, when the economy is back in good times, they cannot stop spending, nor raise taxes to cover what they had dished out earlier. Then, the debt level goes up . . . and UP!! Then, the currency value gets watered down and we have serious inflation!! Surprised? Nice economic theory, but how does it work in real life? For those living on a fixed income and/or off of low-yielding assets, inflation is a cruel tax caused by governmental malpractice?? Cruise lines are caught in the middle and challenged by these economic pressures. Right? Below are a couple of our "Let them eat cake" (or dessert) examples . Fun sharing these great memories!!! THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Athens & Greece: Many visuals, details from two visits in a city with great history, culture and architecture. Now at 44,995 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1101008 From our 2016 Silver Cloud South Africa sailing, below are a couple of "tasty treat" examples. Make you hungry?: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!)

Yes, interesting "economic measure" in checking with the "Pawn Shop Meter" as an indicator being offered by Randy. Appreciate these great follow-ups on cruise ship cake. Love Black Forrest cake!! .The visual from Catlover54 looks super wonderful. Very tasty!!! From the Wall Street Journal late Friday afternoon, below are their charts for the three major cruise lines as to how they were viewed by the financial traders. Some differences in how Royal Caribbean was more rocky/up-and-down than what happened with Carnival and Norwegian last week. On Thursday, July 14, RCL hit a 52-week low of $31.10. Wall Street is still not very confident that a return to profitability is that close. Right or wrong? Predictions for next week or next month? Is now a good time to buy cruise ship stocks? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Dubrovnik! Nice visual samples, tips, details, etc., for this super scenic and historic location. Over 48,860 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1439227 From the Wall Street Journal, below are their charts for the three major cruise lines during this past week. Rocky or more like a roller coaster?: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) For the past three months, the below WSJ chart shows how Royal Caribbean has been headed on the downward slide/trend during this period since mid-April 2022.:

From this below-connected financial website this morning, they had this headline: “Can Carnival Stock Recover or Are More Rough Waters Ahead?” with these highlights: “It has been one challenge after another for the cruise industry, with more on the horizon. Bookings and revenue have begun to return, making it tempting to bottom-fish for Carnival stock. But things aren't always as they seem. In this case, look to the enterprise value to tell the story.” Many details are cited as to the affects of inflation and falling consumer "confidence". This impacts people's willingness to spend on "luxuries" such as travel, cruises, etc. In the U.S. this morning, the headline of "U.S. Inflation Hits New Four-Decade High of 9.1%" will make a serious, sobering impact on consumers and their future spending. Full story at: https://www.fool.com/investing/2022/07/13/can-carnival-stock-recover-or-are-more-rough-water/ THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Kotor/Montenegro: Exciting visual samples, tips, details, etc., for this scenic, historic location. Over 49,375 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1439193

Sad situation!! Appreciate this sharing. The re-enforces in my mind why you want to avoid sailing on any ship when it is too "new", either after being built and/or when coming out of a major re-building. In many cases, all of the "bugs" are not worked out and/or the staff has not gotten fully into their routines. It takes time for the staff to be fully practiced to make thing happening at the highest, expected levels of service. Also, the Shadow is an older ship and those system can require more time to fix and fine-tune. Good luck to future Silver Shadow passengers. 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 244,604 views. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

Hate to share bad news, but Royal Caribbean just hit a new 52-week low this morning when its stock dropped down to only $31.87 per share. What is happening? And, why? Carnival and Norwegian were down about 2% this morning. RCL is now down 4.11% this morning at 10:18 am. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Yes, corporate boards can be a big part of the "problem" when these folks do not hold failing executives accountable for mis-management. From the Wall Street Journal Monday afternoon, they had this headline: “Cruises Are the Cheapest Way to Travel This Summer." Here are a few of their story highlights: “As the cost of hotels, airfares and nearly every other part of the travel experience surges, one industry is cutting: cruises. There are nearly 2,000 cruises that cost under $100 a day for an interior stateroom through the end of the year. Meanwhile, the average daily rate for a hotel room was up nearly 20% compared with 2019 levels. Airfares rose almost 13% between April and May alone.” Is this good news for those seeking to cruise? Yes, sounds great to find more cruise bargains. BUT, as cruise lines seek to restore profits, pay off billions of dollars in loans, pump up their stock prices, deal with rising fuel-food-labor costs, etc., how will ALL of this work out? Will this cruise price-cutting cause the cruise company stock price to remain depressed and make it harder for them to raise new cash? When and how? Full WSJ story at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/cheap-travel-cruises-sales-bargains-11657485614 THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio AFRICA?!!?: Fun, interesting visuals, plus travel details from this early 2016 live/blog. At 52,960 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

Yes, appreciate this sharing about the "mess" at London Heathrow. Had heard a reference yesterday to this story about the airport challenges there. It seems to be making a bad situation with their major airport getting even worse. Not fun to be traveling in and around Europe (or the USA, etc.) this summer. Right or wrong? From the Wall Street Journal Monday afternoon, they had this headline: “Cruises Are the Cheapest Way to Travel This Summer" with this sub- headline: "With prices high for airfare, hotel rooms and gas, leisure travelers are finding bargains out at sea.” Here are some of their story highlights: “As the cost of hotels, airfares and nearly every other part of the travel experience surges, one industry is cutting: cruises. There are nearly 2,000 cruises that cost under $100 a day for an interior stateroom through the end of the year. Meanwhile, the average daily rate for a hotel room was up nearly 20% compared with 2019 levels. Airfares rose almost 13% between April and May alone.” Is this good news for those seeking to cruise? Yes, sounds great to find more cruise bargains. BUT, as cruise lines seek to restore profits, pay off billions of dollars in loans, pump up their stock prices, deal with rising fuel-food-labor costs, etc., how will ALL of this work out? Will this cruise price-cutting cause the cruise company stock price to remain depressed and make it harder for them to raise new cash? When and how? Full WSJ story at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/cheap-travel-cruises-sales-bargains-11657485614 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 70,109 views: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2157696

Agree many CEO's are better at Board politics and picking their friends to be on these bodies. The Boards need to hold the executives who fail accountable for their mismanagement. From the Wall Street Journal late this afternoon, their below chart reflects a new 52-week low today for Royal Caribbean. Both Carnival and Norwegian dropped down around 5% in value today. What are the stock finance types seeing and fearing that is ahead for these three major cruise lines? Something does not seem right and/or good for the months ahead?? 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 70,109 views: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2157696

Agree with the comments above that most of us, more experienced travelers, have long understood the value and need to get to your cruise departure port a day or days ahead of the departure time. BUT, there are many, many others who do not fully appreciate that need. Some have legitimate time limitations/pressures, etc. Others are just not as well-traveled, nor fully experienced. That timing point is especially important now to push as the airlines are not able to be fully staffed in a period of rapid, rising demand to resume traveling/exploring. From the Washington Post as a top, lead story this morning, they had this headline: “As the BA.5 variant spreads, the risk of coronavirus reinfection grows.” Here are some of their key reporting highlights: “America has decided the pandemic is over. The coronavirus has other ideas. The latest omicron offshoot, BA.5, has quickly become dominant in the United States, and thanks to its elusiveness when encountering the human immune system, is driving a wave of cases across the country. The size of that wave is unclear because most people are testing at home or not testing at all. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the past week has reported a little more than 100,000 new cases a day on average. But infectious-disease experts know that wildly underestimates the true number, which may be as many as a million, said Eric Topol, a professor at Scripps Research who closely tracks pandemic trends. Antibodies from vaccines and previous coronavirus infections offer limited protection against BA.5, leading Topol to call it 'the worst version of the virus that we’ve seen.' ” Also shared as a summary from this report: "There is widespread agreement among infectious-disease experts that this remains a dangerous virus that causes illnesses of unpredictable severity — and they say the country is not doing enough to limit transmission. Restrictions and mandates are long gone. Air travel is nearly back to pre-pandemic levels. Political leaders aren’t talking about the virus — it’s virtually a nonissue on the campaign trail. Most people are done with masking, social distancing and the pandemic generally. They’re taking their chances with the virus. 'It’s the Wild West out there,' said Ziyad Al-Aly, an epidemiologist at Washington University in St. Louis. 'There are no public health measures at all. We’re in a very peculiar spot, where the risk is vivid and it’s out there, but we’ve let our guard down and we’ve chosen, deliberately, to expose ourselves and make ourselves more vulnerable.' " Is this discouraging and scary? Or, just being realistic as to the "New Normal"? Full story at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/07/10/omicron-variant-ba5-covid-reinfection/ 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 96,840 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1278226

From the London/UK Guardian by John Malathronas earlier this Spring, they had this headline: “Hidden Greece: where to stay and what to do away from the beaten track.” This included some specific ideas, locations and suggestion for option to visit in and around Athens. Here are some of the story highlights: “Gorgeous Greece has always been a classic, go-to summer holiday destination, and the pandemic served as a stark reminder that tourism is the main motor driving the economy. As a result, many new initiatives were rushed through: from improving infrastructure and promoting sustainability to developing lesser-known destinations. Early projections suggest that these measures have succeeded and, if all goes well, 2022 could be a bumper season, with tourism reaching 80-90% of pre-Covid levels. So maybe this is the year to discover an out-of-the-way beach or an underrated resort, to recharge those sun-depleted batteries far from the madding holiday-deprived crowds, or to embark on a scenic mountain trek. For trips to the islands, ferry timetables change from week to week, so it’s best to book tickets one to two days in advance using an agent such as First Choice Travel, which has the latest dates and times.” Full story at: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/apr/02/hidden-greece-where-to-stay-and-what-to-do-away-from-the-beaten-track 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 96,840 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1278226

Agree, 34 people on a Silversea excursion sounds too crowded, especially for this cruise line that prides itself on being more upscale and above average. Is this type of crowding the "new normal"? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

You asked for more comments and suggestions? Yes, agree that you will fit in fine with Silversea, etc. Below you can look through my life blog and see many visuals, tips from doing this adventure in late July 2019. Great trip and experience!! Super enjoyable in sailing with Silversea with their smaller-ship, more personal style. But, I will raise a few questions, ideas to consider. Are you locked into the late May timing? You will have more weather risks with that schedule. Maybe you will get lucky to have decent weather at that early-season time. But late May runs many, more risks for cold, windy, maybe even snowy weather, etc. Worth the risk? Second, have you done Vancouver before? It's a super great, charming town that merit? two or three days there prior to and/or after your cruise. What about added time in the main part of Alaska for Fairbanks, Denali, etc.? Done the amazing Rocky Mountaineer rail adventure? Don't be shy with any added questions, etc. Happy to share more. 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 and details from our first in these scenic areas! Live/blog: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2682584-live-terryohio-silver-muse-alaska-canadarockies-pix’s/