Silversea Water Cooler: Welcome! Part Two

[UKCruiseJeff]

JP, good morning .....

 

I have all the juices running but no piccies!

 

LL, I think this is much,much more politically astute than that. It is in fact imho a masterpiece.

 

Firstly she has given three of the main Brexit players (Davis, Fox and Johnson) the key positions to see it through. She can say to them "You demanded it, your promised it was all "doable" to the electorate to get the win you sought, you got the win, now deliver it".

 

She can always say whatever the outcome, "I gave the key Brexiters who made all the promises the major senior offices and tools to get the job done with all my support and this is what we have. " So if she succeeds she gets the Kudos and becomes a stronger leader to rival a future Johnson play for her job, and if she doesn't get a popular result then she couldn't have done any more and Johnson is a much weaker rival. This is win, win all the way for her politically. Incredibly clever. Gove was highly divisive and so not giving him a major role starts the party healing process.

 

I harbour a fantasy that she will appoint Frank Field to DWP ... who I believe is the most astute and knolwedgeable person for that role even though he happens to be in the wrong party. Now that would be an astute move to show "a party of ALL the people".

 

Jeff

 

 

 

.

Edited July 14, 2016 by UKCruiseJeff

[lincslady]

You clever boy, Jeff. Were you ever a politician??

 

No doubt Boris will be kept in check or abroad out of the way, as she has the others in place, but he could still cause ructions - but, as you say, it will be all their fault.

 

I now know why I never got very far even in office politics.

[UKCruiseJeff]

:D:)

 

Thanks L.

 

No - I'd be awful because whereas I know I bring the best out of people, equally I know that I can also bring the worst. I'm awful with working with people that are less than excellent as I'm too impatient.

 

The thing is that a strategist whether it is business or political, it is exactly the same set of tools and skills. Envision where you wish to get to, work out all the permutations with the probability weights, and choose the best strategy to get you there. ;)

 

Liz Trus replaces Gove as Justice and Jeremy Hunt fired from Health. So the BMA get their new man and hopefully that will start the process of getting the NHS unions back in the play.

 

Jeff

[UKCruiseJeff]

...deleted

Edited July 14, 2016 by UKCruiseJeff

[specialcruisegirl]

Great reasoning Jeffers....l personally think Ms May will do well.....she has a very hard task ahead. As for Boris.....wondering how HM feels about this appointment with him possibly having to accompany her on foreign tours....he'd best start knuckling down ...but ....did he stand down from the race having been promised a key position?

 

Lola....l wouldn't get far in politics at all either, but it's fun to discuss it all nicely...[emoji5]

 

Have been laid up for the last two days with sheer fatigue....have slept for England! Just enjoying a glass of red before lamb shank for luncheon.....looks like the get up and go has returned.....[emoji16]

 

S [emoji4]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[UKCruiseJeff]

Great reasoning Jeffers....l personally think Ms May will do well.....she has a very hard task ahead. As for Boris.....wondering how HM feels about this appointment with him possibly having to accompany her on foreign tours....he'd best start knuckling down ...but ....did he stand down from the race having been promised a key position?

 

Lola....l wouldn't get far in politics at all either, but it's fun to discuss it all nicely...[emoji5]

 

Have been laid up for the last two days with sheer fatigue....have slept for England! Just enjoying a glass of red before lamb shank for luncheon.....looks like the get up and go has returned.....[emoji16]

 

S [emoji4]

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Soapy,

 

Sorry to here of your sleeps. Yes ... TM is going to be an excellent PM.

 

I predict that Boris will get Brexit sorted out in one single morning ... probably next week.

 

He'll arrange a 10am meeting next Tuesday with Junckers. He'll arrive promptly and burst into tears and say "Jean-Claude, I must apologise profusely for my behaviour during the Brexit campaign and about all those nasty things I have said about you and the EU. Let me make amends viex haricot. Why don't we pop out for a quick glass of wine or three together and draw a line under all these things and build some bridges".

 

Boris will take him to a lap dancing club where they will drink all day avail themselves of the "facilities" and sort out Brexit terms.

 

They will stagger back into Juncker's office at around 10pm by which time all the terms of Brexit would have been agreed, but neither of them will remember any of the detail. It won't matter. Boris would have had the photogrpahs from the lap-dancing club on his iphone of Junckers "celebrating". The deal will be sealed.

 

Today was nothing scenic and far too rustic for most.

 

It was a porky sossy, and slow braised sweet red onion and baked bean pie under a whole grain buttery mustard mash.

 

Jeff

 

 

[Mark_K]

Liberté, égalité, fraternité

[tgh]

I'd be awful because whereas I know I bring the best out of people, equally I know that I can also bring the worst. I'm awful with working with people that are less than excellent as I'm too impatient.

 

Oohhhh .. WE are in the presence of true greatness,such a breathtaking mixture of towering intellect and virginial modesty… Jeff for PM…. :-)

This thread is waaaaaay above my humble station , I'm taking my own advice and evaporating…...

[UKCruiseJeff]

I'd be awful because whereas I know I bring the best out of people, equally I know that I can also bring the worst. I'm awful with working with people that are less than excellent as I'm too impatient.

 

Oohhhh .. WE are in the presence of true greatness,such a breathtaking mixture of towering intellect and virginial modesty… Jeff for PM…. :-)

This thread is waaaaaay above my humble station , I'm taking my own advice and evaporating…...

 

That's a shame. Still.

 

Terrible news from Nice tonight. Bastille night celebrations. More than 70 dead so far it seems.

 

 

Jeff

[specialcruisegirl]

Jeff......the events in Nice are barbaric and my heart goes out to those who grieve this morning.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[lincslady]

It gets increasingly hard to come to terms with all of this. The contrast between the enjoyment of the people, the lovely Promenade des Anglais - we had a lovely stay at the elegant Negresco some years ago - and the hatred shown here is almost unbearable.

 

Life is hard enough for many people without all of this.

 

Just seen the cortege for Jo Cox - she asked us all to love each other, not hate. It is not easy, but I wish we could.

 

Lola

[TLCOhio]

It gets increasingly hard to come to terms with all of this. The contrast between the enjoyment of the people, the lovely Promenade des Anglais - we had a lovely stay at the elegant Negresco some years ago - and the hatred shown here is almost unbearable. Life is hard enough for many people without all of this. Lola

 

Yes, this is sad and ISIS is clearly targeting key countries in Europe such as France. Fortunately, for us, we have been able to have visited 22 different countries in Europe. And, we still desire to go back and do much more in Europe. For the cruise lines, however, this Nice attack makes things much more challenging. Istanbul is closer to the Middle East mess and has been impacted, sadly, by having many cruises stops there scrubbed. For southern France, Italy, Spain, etc., however, the cruise lines cannot scrub ALL stops in any potential terror location for these many different cities and areas.

 

This is tragic. BUT, not sure that there is an easy, simple, perfect answer for all of these issues and questions.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 200,720 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

[Fletcher]

[ For the cruise lines, however, this Nice attack makes things much more challenging. Istanbul is closer to the Middle East mess and has been impacted, sadly, by having many cruises stops there scrubbed. For southern France, Italy, Spain, etc., however, the cruise lines cannot scrub ALL stops in any potential terror location for these many different cities and areas.

 

This is tragic. BUT, not sure that there is an easy, simple, perfect answer for all of these issues and questions.

 

I wrote this as part of my journal when on the Cloud late last year -

 

From the container port, we drive out to Ganvie, a famous floating village, inevitably known the Venice of Africa, except that it isn’t like Venice at all because there are no canals or palazzos. There is just randomness and stilted huts so flimsily built that they’d fall over if anyone sneezed. Ganvie is home to an amazing 30,000 people (probably 31,000 by the time you read this) and it’s one helluva photo opportunity, an incredible spectacle. It should have been the highlight of the cruise yet Ganvie was, for me, a depressing and disturbing place to visit.

 

I’d read reports of how hostile the people were, how the women in particular glare and cover themselves up. Just riding along in a boat you get looks of indifference and dislike, occasionally a rude gesture, and someone did shout ‘go away!’ Most people in their canoes merely turn the other way. Only the children seem to welcome strangers and do the things that innocent kids do - wave, giggle and smile at you - before they grow up and see how things really are.

 

There is only one major building here and it’s a mosque. Now forgive me for being gloomy and pessimistic and for not simply saying ‘Hi y’all Cruise Critic forumites, we’re all having a great time!’ But in the era of the unending refugee crisis, just days after the shootings in Paris and other daily terror outrages, I couldn’t help thinking that Silversea’s little excursion to Ganvie just might in a small way contribute to the global radicalisation process.

 

Here we were, with our heavily armed escort, wearing smart clothes, smart watches, with expensive cameras, invading these people, spreading the seeds of resentment. One couple from the ship chose to wear matching white outfits with gold chains and gold watches. They would have looked bling in Palm Beach. I felt seriously uncomfortable in Ganvie and wished I wasn’t there. Tourism can be a force for good. Today I didn’t think it was.

Edited July 15, 2016 by Fletcher

[TLCOhio]

I wrote this as part of my journal when on the Cloud late last year -

From the container port, we drive out to Ganvie, a famous floating village, inevitably known the Venice of Africa, except that it isn’t like Venice at all

It should have been the highlight of the cruise yet Ganvie was, for me, a depressing and disturbing place to visit.

There is only one major building here and it’s a mosque. Now forgive me for being gloomy and pessimistic and for not simply saying ‘Hi y’all Cruise Critic forumites, we’re all having a great time!’ But in the era of the unending refugee crisis, just days after the shootings in Paris and other daily terror outrages, I couldn’t help thinking that Silversea’s little excursion to Ganvie just might in a small way contribute to the global radicalisation process.

 

Yes, I remember well the excellent writing that Fletcher did with his interesting comments and questions from visiting in this and other parts of challenging Africa. That was before our travels earlier this year to the four countries in southern Africa. Clearly, things are not all "equal" and/or "fair" throughout every part of the world. Agree 100% that some tourists dressed for "Palm Beach" with gold and fancy clothes can be too, too much with the challenging conditions in these locations.

 

BUT, my view is that the subject of "global radicalisation process" is much more complex and involved. Lots of various dimensions on that subject!! Not sure that if all of those in the more well-off sections of U.S., Europe, etc., had stopped traveling, having nice dinners out, buying so many consumer goods, etc., would solve and stop these many issues and challenges.

 

My view is that it was important for our learning experiences to have visited in South Africa at a wider range of locations there. This includes our very moving visits to the oldest Township outside of Cape Town and the Zulu community school in the eastern part of that nation. The issues and questions are real there, but there is some progress being made for certain of these countries. Visiting a variety of situations can be an important, plus helping to contribute in a small way to their economies, etc.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Enjoyed a 14-day, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and many pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 149,196 views for this posting.

[UKCruiseJeff]

It gets increasingly hard to come to terms with all of this. The contrast between the enjoyment of the people, the lovely Promenade des Anglais - we had a lovely stay at the elegant Negresco some years ago - and the hatred shown here is almost unbearable.

 

Life is hard enough for many people without all of this.

 

Just seen the cortege for Jo Cox - she asked us all to love each other, not hate. It is not easy, but I wish we could.

 

Lola

 

 

Lola,

 

It's all so terrible.

 

Some of the pictures on the TV this morning were of places so familiar to us. The people were hiding in Pizza Cresci on Rue Massena. They were cowering upstairs obviously terrified.

 

To me this is much more than a chat about where cruise ships can safely stop, but more about all those kids and parents out for the fireworks who were slaughtered.

 

We normally now only go for Mardi Gras in Feb/March - use to be every year but now every few years, and this was the second time we gave it a miss because we felt edgy.

 

It's all so terrible.

 

Jeff

 

 

 

.

Edited July 15, 2016 by UKCruiseJeff

[TLCOhio]

Terry, do you see many of these Amish near where you live? Strange choices of lifestyle, but complete respect for them. I cant imagine being without my gadgets, so for that reason, I'm out! :p

 

Great pics Terry......

 

It has been a busy work week for me and I am now catching up on a few earlier posts on this thread. Appreciate these nice follow-up from my earlier pictures from Ohio's Amish country.

 

Where we live in Central Ohio, we very, very seldom see any Amish here. But in those four main counties in the eastern part of Ohio is where you will observe those people, their lifestyle, etc. YES, it would be hard to give up our "gadgets", but the Amish are very active and involved. They have their own "gadgets" that can be unique and very creative. From that weekend, plus in other visits there, they do tend to reflect certain "segregations" where women mainly talk with other females and the men stick together and talk/focus among themselves.

 

Things are different there, but their culture encourages not only lots of hard work and focus on the "basics", but also reading and learning is very important, too. In my personal view, this is part of why "diversity" can be important to know more about and appreciating the pluses involved with different cultures, groups. We have our ways of doing things and experiencing life. BUT, others have their interests, styles, rules, ways of living life, etc.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

From our Jan. 25-Feb. 20, 2015, Amazon River-Caribbean combo sailing over 26 days that started in Barbados, here is the link below to that live/blog. Lots of great visuals from this amazing Brazil river and these various Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, etc.) that we experienced. Check it out at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2157696

Now at 40,459 views for these postings.

[spinnaker2]

Just heard about coup attempt in turkey.

The world keeps spinning. Will it unravel?

[UKCruiseJeff]

All very unsettling Spins.

 

Jeff

[spinnaker2]

Yes Jeff.

I find no words.

I tried.

These events leave me adrift.

[UKCruiseJeff]

The problem is that however it plays out in Turkey it is going to be unsatisfactory.

 

There's been a lot of concern about Erdogan becoming more dictatorial and closing down stuff like Twitter and Facebook. Some suggestions have been he is going barmy. The rest of the world I think wants to see Turkey as do most Turks, to be more Western style secular democracy whereas he is pulling it more towards a religious state.

 

If the coup succeeds it is military rule, if it fails Erdogan will become more extreme. Tough either way.

 

We can just hope there is minimal bloodshed and it is resolved quickly.

 

Jeff

[specialcruisegirl]

Dreadful news.......just heard...17 police officers killed....

 

 

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[Travelcat2]

We are currently on Regent's new ship, The Explorer that departed from Monte Carlo on Wednesday. The news about the terrorist attack in Nice is overwhelming -- we arrived in Nice on Tuesday and depart from there next Wednesday. While I understand that this can happen anywhere, it is still very upsetting. Our hearts and prayers go out to those affected in both Nice and Turkey.

 

P.S. Cannot resist sharing the fact that Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio was onboard the Explorer the night of the Christening in Monte Carlo. He came to our table to greet a couple and was introduced to us. It was nice/interesting (not quite sure which) to meet the owner of Silversea on a Regent ship. Not saying this to be snide - I thought that his presence on the ship showed the closeness of some of the luxury cruise lines.

Edited July 16, 2016 by Travelcat2

[UKCruiseJeff]

We are currently on Regent's new ship, The Explorer that departed from Monte Carlo on Wednesday. The news about the terrorist attack in Nice is overwhelming -- we arrived in Nice on Tuesday and depart from there next Wednesday. While I understand that this can happen anywhere, it is still very upsetting. Our hearts and prayers go out to those affected in both Nice and Turkey.

 

P.S. Cannot resist sharing the fact that Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio was onboard the Explorer the night of the Christening in Monte Carlo. He came to our table to greet a couple and was introduced to us. It was nice/interesting (not quite sure which) to meet the owner of Silversea on a Regent ship. Not saying this to be snide - I thought that his presence on the ship showed the closeness of some of the luxury cruise lines.

 

Good Morning TC,

 

Hopefully Nice will heal soon. It also seems more likely that this was an evil idiot rather than any formal ISIS member although ISIS will claim otherwise. It all looks over in Turkey for another ten years or so. Hopefully there will not be a terrible few months there when his opposition starts to dissapear. They get further away from being a part of EU each day.

 

Re Manfredi, I remember some years back I posted about him at Stelios Haji-ioannou's launch of easyCruise in Monaco who is a friend and Monaco neighbour of his back in 2005.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=4754781

 

He may have attended the Regent event under one of his other travel or cruise industry interests. He is also has some more wider roles in both tourism generally ie vice chairman of World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and is Chairman of CLIA Europe so he may have attended as a part of that role.

 

Enjoy the rest of your cruise.

 

 

Jeff

 

 

 

 

.

Edited July 16, 2016 by UKCruiseJeff

[TLCOhio]

The problem is that however it plays out in Turkey it is going to be unsatisfactory. There's been a lot of concern about Erdogan becoming more dictatorial and closing down stuff like Twitter and Facebook. Some suggestions have been he is going barmy. The rest of the world I think wants to see Turkey as do most Turks, to be more Western style secular democracy whereas he is pulling it more towards a religious state. If the coup succeeds it is military rule, if it fails Erdogan will become more extreme. Tough either way. We can just hope there is minimal bloodshed and it is resolved quickly. Jeff

 

It is ironic that in 2011 the NCL Jade was diverted to Istanbul as a safe alternative to Egypt. One year later the NCL Jade returned to Egypt. Instability rules in that part of the world.

 

Jeff's posting as the Turkish situation was "breaking news", was exactly "on-point" in accuracy and smarts. A military coup is bad. And, Erdogan moving to more dictatoral control is not good, either. And, as Turkey goes after "bad" military officers who were involved in this coup effort, then there is less attention on protecting from the ISIS problems coming from south of that large country that sits in both Europe and Asia.

 

Also, excellent summary above with the comment/observation of "Instability rules in that part of the world" done on another thread on these SS boards. Interesting point about NCL switching from Istanbul to Egypt. We have never visited Egypt and would like to go there. From our visit to the Turkish Coast and Istanbul in 2006, we loved these amazing areas and hope to go back again.

 

Overall, this is a very sad, challenging and uncertain situation that ties/relates to other bad conditions in the Middle East.

 

Just announced on CNN that any and all U.S. planes are prohibited now from flying into and/or out of Turkey.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Dozens of nice visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc. We are now at 214,693 views for this live/blog re-cap, including much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

Edited July 16, 2016 by TLCOhio

[TLCOhio]

We are currently on Regent's new ship, The Explorer that departed from Monte Carlo on Wednesday. Cannot resist sharing the fact that Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio was onboard the Explorer the night of the Christening in Monte Carlo. He came to our table to greet a couple and was introduced to us. It was nice/interesting (not quite sure which) to meet the owner of Silversea on a Regent ship.

 

Having the owner of Silversea on the Regent new ship does and/or could say lots. My quick take/guess? He's keeping a close eye on the competition, what they are doing new and smart, where the future customer likes might move, etc.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Enjoyed a 14-day, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and many pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 149,336 views for this posting.