Jimbo

Planes fly the same way whether going to a land vacation or to a cruise port. No worries there. 🙂

Wonder if this latest fix will at least get then to their next port of call?

After taking 2 to 3 cruises a year for many , many years just don't have the interest in cruising that much anymore. So I guess we are going the opposite way as far as cruising a lot first and now want to do more land vacations.

My parents went on Tauck Tour, many, many years ago to Hawaii and they could not keep from telling everyone how nice it was and that they took care of EVERYTHING on the tour. They really enjoyed it a lot. Even back then though it was very expensive and even now even more expensive. Probably more then we want to spend.

Going to pack light though, fine with me just shorts and t-shirts and a pair of sneakers. Not having to pack dress clothes like for a cruise sounds like a dream vacation for us. We can handle our own luggage when packing like no problem. Having to share a bathroom for a night or 2 not a big deal. Yes, all the hotels are probably going to be nothing like 5 star hotels but no big deal we will be traveling with our boots on the ground getting the real experience of what these countries are all about. Good Luck on your geek squad arrival, usually those guys know their stuff when they do finally arrive.

I looked, but not easy finding a tour that covers as many places as the 21 day tour Rick Steves offers.

I know exactly what you are talking about when selling and moving and needing the money to make the purchase on the new house. Timing is everything.

Can't seem to find a like tour at either of the 2 tour companies you named above like what Rick Steves Tour offered....

We are looking at dates in October, no way would we do this type of tour in the summer.

They do suggest packing light and some of the hotels actually have washers and dryers where you are allowed to use and wash your own clothes. Some of the hotels also might not have elevators or real good air conditioners systems........Is this a common thing for some of the hotels in Europe to not have elevators. I guess not all hotels there have AC either? Is this a common thing there?

Most likely not the greatest place to ask this question but has anyone ever taken a Rick Steves Tour? We are looking to take Best of Europe in 21 Days Tour in the fall of 2025 https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/europe/europe-21-days#tour-dates The tour groups are small, 24 to 28 people which I think would make it nice. We have canceled our side by side cruises we had planned for this May to Europe and Norway Fjords Cruises. Just though for traveling that far to Europe we wanted to see and do more then we could ever do on cruise stops. Granted this wouldn't get us to Norway, but at a later time we might do a cruise up that way in the future. Anyone here ever taken one of their tours?

It's the little things that put Royal above the others, just have to get used to it not being the same or move on to other vacations options. When you ask for things because that is the way it has been for years and years, now they just roll the eyes and look at you like you are out of your mind. Get used to new times or move on I guess.

Last night we had dinner at Fishy Fishy Cafe,sat at one of tables they have outside on a deck. I had the Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Shrimp,my Wife had the Fried Combo. Picture below is for @Ocean Boy not sure if you can see but it's a light house...does this count as a lighthouse picture? You can just see Overton the green canopy on the boat on the island across the water. This morning I went and got what they called a gallon of fresh just picked North Carolina Strawberries,the sweetest Strawberries I have ever eaten. Really good.

This is from their menu. Fries selections. STARTERS CHICKIE’S & PETE’S® WORLD FAMOUS CRABFRIES® $7.49 With two sides of our cheese sauce ULTIMATE CRABFRIES® $17.49 Crabfries®️ topped with crab meat, our famous cheese sauce, & aioli LOBSTER CRABFRIES® $23.49 Crabfries®️ topped with garlicky butter poached lobster, our famous cheese sauce, & chives CRABBY SWEETS® $7.99 Seasoned sweet potato fries served with a side of our famous cheese sauce

Yes, this was on my laptop here I'm using on vacation.

Weird pages 4809 and 4810 are a repeat !

Chickies and Pete's using old bay on their French Fries, Philadelphia thing started back in 1977. They are called Crab Fries. https://chickiesandpetes.com/what-are-crabfries/

I always think those sand art guys are just showing pre recorded video and really not doing any real drawing in the sand when I see guys doing stuff like this. Just can't believe they can do pictures like this so fast like they appear to do. I would have to be just behind them up on stage to believe they are really doing pictures like this so fast.

Pretty unusual isn't it to start in Vancouver and end in Seattle isn't it?

What a downer, so sorry.

@A&L_Ont needs to put on your rally caps otherwise you guys are going to pull an O-fer !!😎

The food is from Tonight our first Day in Southport, NC......................food picture was in there to let you know I can't get full bloom pics of the Iris because we are in Southport for 2 weeks myself, but hopefully our sitter at our house can get us some pictures if they get in full bloom before we get home. The one food picture was a huge piece of Flounder, other dish was Fan tail shrimp, both were excellent.

We have a lot more iris at the back of our house in the Memorial Garden with the 2 peach trees we planted when we first moved to Virginia. Took a picture this morning of the Iris before we left for our 2 week vacation in Southport, NC. Hopefully I can get our house/cat sitter to take some more pictures in 7 to 10 days from now when all the Iris are in Full bloom. Here are some pictures from our dinner tonight at "The Frying Pan" in Southport, NC. This is a a picture from looking out from the Restaurant.

Probably cause always planted people are picked in the end so the show looks good and makes you think it's really working.

Maybe you will get to see a Shohei homerun, he hit one tonight in the 1st inning. Think I would go for the Lobster Roll and Smash Burger for starters.