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New article on Travel Weekly: https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/West-Africa-uncharted-waters

New article on SeaTrade Cruise: Cruise boosts Saga’s profit, search continues for strategic partner

And Cruise Critic respects copyrights.

Just being nosy, but since you are such a great font of information: will the cruise lines try to get these dates back in sync [to simplify planning], or just keep spattering inspections around whenever due?

The minor child seems to add to the logic of this request. But I'm a human being, it may be necessary to convince a computer!

Couldn't you take the Hurtigruten or Havila voyage from Bergen to Tromsø, spend time at the Ice Domes Hotel, and take the southbound voyage back to Bergen? [Or better yet for Northern Lights viewing, continue on the Tromsø to Trondheim voyage, then return Trondheim to Bergen]

The Google wasn't able to help me. Other than the condition that gets worse with every birthday, what does AGE stand for?

And like Jay Leno used to say about Doritos: they can keep making more.

To be fairer to Silversea, I don't sail in Azamara Insides or even Verandas – so my price comparison is to a Club Continent (CC mini suite, 266sf plus 60sf veranda = 326 sf) or (in the case of the 2022 cruise) a Club World Owners Suite (CW true one-bedroom suite, 560sf plus huge 233sf veranda = 793sf). On Silver Whisper we had a Deluxe Veranda (mini suite, 313sf plus 60sf veranda = 345 sf). The DV didn't feel any more spacious than a CC, so I think it's fair to compare Azamara CC pricing to Silversea. Looking at the cruise you mention, a CC is 65% more than the lowest category, which would still be far below the cost of the SS comparison (enough to cover your shore excursion costs – and specialty restaurants are included for CC and above). So all in, Azamara and Silversea would cost about the same – and based on my comparison would provide about the same experience. Given that choice, I would book Azamara.

Rüdesheim may be more enjoyable in the Amsterdam to Basel direction than the other way. Early in the cruise, before you have been exposed to very much authentic German culture, it seems fun. And that mechanical music machine museum is indeed a lot of fun.

I remember a newspaper column many years ago noting variations in local usage on the US East Coast. "Regular coffee" was a slippery term, because in some places it meant black, others with sugar, others with cream...

DW reminds me that there was one year when that last step might have been hazardous to our teenager's health! Luckily he knew how to tie his own ties!

You don't mention what port this was in. For $500 you should be able to hire a private guide to take you somewhere for the day and drop off at airport. We use daytrip.com for this for of thing. For example, from Civitavecchia to FCO they suggest possible stopovers at Santa Severa Castle (60 minutes, adds 50 Euros to trip cost); Necropolis de la Banditaccia (120 minutes, 92 Euros), and/or Ancient Ostia (90 min, 88 Euros). Basic trip cost would be 309 Euros. So you could do all the stops for a little over 500.

I've been advised (I think by Phil among others) that the last N1 (under the aft bathrooms) and first N2 port side cabins (under the Windows entrance) are the quietest – safe from pool chair or waiter cart noises. [I hope that's right because I have 8056 on Journey (equivalent to 8048 on Onward) booked for next year!] It should also apply to those under the forward bathrooms.

I'm confused because your 'original route' map doesn't show Hoorn or Ghent. Had the route already been changed earlier? Of all those changes, missing Ghent would have been the biggest disappointment to me.

New article on CruiseIndustryNews: Atlas Announces Academia Barilla on 2024 Epicurean Expeditions

New article on CruiseIndustryNews: Margaritaville at Sea Unveils Entertainment Onboard Islander

Fuhgeddaboudit!

I have followed your lead, reposting a new thread without comment:

https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/04/explora-journey-creating-a-unique-cruise-brand/ posted without comment

Often the levels are close enough to the cusp that it can change from one day to the next!

Be careful – now that you have suggested it, you may find your wine intake restricted before the end of the cruise!

Other than "to keep the rain out," would you care to share the real reason?

No, I'm not 'esteemed' enough to have gotten it...

"Austin added that the company now needs help to tell this story." I.e., the story that everything is great and there is no need to change.