Host Jazzbeau

Just keep replying to this thread. We’ll all keep reading! And thanks!

(light) Lunch is available to you also

The points are awarded each day; it’s not “progressive”— 5 for first place, 3 for second, 1 for third. Generously, ties all get that level of points, so one day on Whisper every team got at least 1 (worthless) point!

That’s why they bought the AQV ships — to prevent somebody else from entering the market.

https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/04/explora-journeys-sets-sights-on-luxury-dominance/ linked without quote to avoid copyright violation

It may come as a shock. I hope you like it. My last Celebrity cruise was my last Celebrity cruise. [too "Edge-y"]

When we boarded Whisper in Auckland in January, our documents said boarding was 2 pm. We walked by the pier at 12:30 and boarding was in full swing (must have started no later than noon), so we hustled back to the hotel and were on well before the posted boarding time.

Yes, that was part of the assets they purchased. There was also an earlier story that they intended to allow Vantage customers to apply their cruise credits to the new Vantage Explorations line – I don't know if that happened. https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2023/08/aurora-expeditions-to-form-new-vantage-explorations-company/

Atlas ships are under 10,000 tons, so they are allowed to enter Venice through the Guidecca Canal and dock at either San Basilio or Marittima. Ships up to 25,000 tons (that meet certain other restrictions, which I think Atlas ships should do) can dock at either terminal. None of the news items I have seen were written by people who have a clue about small-ship cruising so they are useless on this. Only Atlas will know for sure.

Oh, I'm sorry. I got the two 'high end chains' confused! 🤷‍♂️

Well, there was the "Four Seasons" motel that DavyWavey had the [pleasure?] of staying in somewhere in Australia...

I was studying in France in 1967, when DeGaulle was pulling France away from the Pax Americana and the French students our age were attacking us over Vietnam. At one point a friend and I hitchhiked to Basel (to say we had been in Switzerland). We were picked up by an older couple in a Citroen DS21 Pallas (the most expensive car in France at the time) and when they learned we were Americans we got the entire history of WWII featuring the Americans as saviors! They gave us their visiting card and said if we were ever in Strasbourg they would take us to dinner. That was a very pleasant surprise and a lasting memory that France isn't Paris and no generation speaks for an entire country.

Interesting. My reaction was that the light referred to the sensor itself: green means it is powered and ready for your command; red means it is in use.

You might be interested to know that MSC is working with Mercy Ships International to build a new hospital ship: MSC and Mercy Ships International to Build a Hospital Ship

By booking 'Essentials' you also have the flexibility to book tours like these direct with the vendors, possibly at a lower cost and/or with smaller groups. When we did Alaska in 2013 we did the Misty Fjords flight seeing with Island Wings, a woman who flies year-round doing wild-life tours. She was very good, and is still operating: https://www.islandwings.com/mistytours.html