drron29

Here's a question for all the mind readers out there.

I am obviously an outlier as I have arrived and left Barbados twice flying AA. Breezed in twice even the first time when part of a group. Didn't have a long wait for bags. And I loved Barbados.

And now to something not so serious or philosophical.

Last week there were suspected cases of Avian flu in the South Orkney Islands. They are about half way between South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula. https://scar.org/scar-news/life-sciences/awhn-news/hpai-antarctic-treaty-area https://www.google.com/maps/place/South+Orkney+Islands/@-58.3547396,-60.9967184,4z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0xbbff1e86cc4c6591:0x130ae719f859b714!8m2!3d-60.6402942!4d-45.2419342!16zL20vMDJfcHFo?authuser=0&entry=ttu If it gets to the Peninsula it will really affect Next seasons Antarctic cruises.

We were in South Georgia late in the season. By then the male seal pups were trying to assert themselves and they charged at most of us. I was extremely lucky and had a personal guide to shield me from the seals. And here he is- I thought he was indicating that I should follow him so I did.He proceeded to move everyone out of the way including humans- So for the next 500 metres he dealt with all the seals.He left when I was insight of the destination and seal free. An absolutely fabulous time.

The icebergs have probably broken off from A23a the largest iceberg ever which has recently started to move north.

We have already been sent changes to our May 2025 cruise. We were sailing from Singapore to Athens on the Muse. Now sailing Singapore to Doha arriving 2 days earlier but the Doha to Athens segment leaves 4 days later than originally scheduled. So we have 6 days in Doha. Methinks this has nothing to do with the current problems but has been done to make a 6 day charter possible. I will suggest that they should put us up in a suitable luxury hotel at no charge.

When we visited we were on the Explorer so anchored in the harbour at about the second wiggle of your zodiac course in the harbour. An easy zodiac ride to shore.

All the very best for your stem cell transplant. May it be successful so you can do many more cruises.

Ah but did you see the Tussac bird on West Island. I have a reputation for attracting birds of the feathered variety. I landed there on the same zodiac as Chris the bird man on the Explorer. He told me in all the trips to the Falklands he had never seen the Tussac bird reputed to be the best bird song in the Falklands. I heard a call, mimicked it and this little fellow flew down and walked up to me. Yes it was the Tussac bird and Chris was overjoyed.

We also love Japan. Over 100 trips though a lot were only 1 or 2 days on our way to the USA. Currently we are on our second trip this year and 2 booked for next year including a month driving around Hokkaido.

Having not long ago sailed on the Muse I totally agree. Even the stairs from the Panorama lounge to deck 8 became a vital part of my air conditioned walking track in the tropics.

Agree with @jollyjones. We cruised on Dawn August 2022 and on the Moon March 2023. The major difference was the staff. We knew more on the Moon than on the Dawn.

Having been walking in Tokyo the last 5 days and on the Shinkansen today to Kyoto today I think both places people are more dressed up than the average SS passenger on an informal night in Atlantide. Very few men without a jacket. I don’t count winter coats as jackets. Winter though hasn’t really arrived.