SDPadreFan

West Indian Pumpkin Soup. I always get 2 big bowls.

This crusty old Navy Chief could easily do an extended deployment, but not sure about my wife. I'm looking at a potential 27 day B2B in 2025 to see how she does. 14 sea days on that one, so it would be a good test.

Norway is killing (traditional, big cruise ship) access to it's fjords in 2026. That's already been decided. My sister is doing one on RCCL this year in June before the ban. I think Norway may allow the gas turbine ships (LNG) sometime in the future, but guessing they would have to be sub 5000 pax vessels for some of the smaller ports.

The Hawaii route (about 6 cruises a year) from Long Beach has been handed over to Carnival Radiance (so no longer Spirit class on the primary Hawaii route). Legend only looks to make one Hawaii run from San Francisco in 2025. Spirit has just one each year from Seattle (2024 & 2025).

We'll be on her in a Terrazza Aft View Balcony on August 18th. May try to sneak on her even sooner if a good deal pops up.

Right now, if the tracks don't change, Firenze would pass by on your starboard side. But you are still a couple of hundred nautical miles apart. Closing speed currently about 39 kn (19 & 20 knots respectively).

You guys are getting closer to the Firenze. Might actually get to do a close in pass by unless it happens at night.

Kinda "been there, almost done that" courtesy of the U.S. Navy. I was on the USS Kitty Hawk (ships company) when in January of 1987 we left San Diego, headed on a circumnavigation ending in Philadelphia. 6 month cruise. It was planned on a major "show the flag" event where we would pull into port after port in the Med (once we got there). We got as far as Hawaii and were suddenly asked how quickly we could get to the Persian Gulf region. So all our planned port visits went right in the toilet. We spent a very quick 48hrs in the Philippines (doing resupply) and then went straight to the North Arabian Sea. Back in '87 - Carrier Groups didn't really operate in the Persian Gulf. While a carrier could operate there and do turns (donuts), a task group of a carrier with several additional ships in a picket line couldn't really do that together and still protect the carrier. So we operated in the North Arabian Sea. Spent 106 consecutive days at sea (working every day). If memory serves - we got 2 beer days during that time frame where each crew member got 2 beers each time. Kind of a very limited Cheers Program (and just short of the coveted 6 pack cruise). At that point, we finally got a 5 day port call in exotic Karachi, Pakistan. But in the 80's, Karachi was a 99.9% alcohol free city. But I actually had a fairly decent time on my 2 days off there. Then - after a couple more weeks on station, came another real garden spot, Mombasa, Kenya. I made the most of it with a 3 day photo safari to Amboseli National park at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Then we did the "ditch" (Suez Canal) - 2 stops in the Med. Cannes, Fr. and Palma de Majorica, Sp. before heading to Philly. I would imagine a Carnival World Cruise might be just a little bit different.

They were probably worried all the funfetti cake would be gone. People bit_h about the tiniest little things anymore. I would rather just chill. I've been in some monster waits over my 68 years and I've survived just fine. Still smiling and still loving life.

Last I checked Firenze was down in the area of Cabo (offshore) today. Don't think Firenze will tie up till the 23rd due to other traffic. Think first sailing not till 25th. Tomorrow is Miracle and Monday is Radiance.

You just need to be a bit careful when using an Uber. They are completely safe, in and of themselves, but the cab drivers are very unhappy with their presence (especially in Cabo). So definitely use Uber if you wish (we have in Cabo), but don't do it right in front of taxi's and don't tell a taxi driver that you are just going to get an Uber. Walk a block or two away from any active taxi stand area and you will be fine. In Mazatlan - I would try a Pulmonia at least once. It's an experience that is pretty much unique to Mazatlan. You could take one from the port area to Centro (historic Old Mazatlan), or one down to the Gold Zone if you wish. The Gold Zone is where you give your gold to the shopkeepers there. We've done it on a land vacation in Mazatlan. We were spending a week at El Cid, El Moro. My wife was looking for a very specific Mystic Topaz set of stones (to match her ring and necklace). She found them and had them set in a custom earring design. So she was happy. Probably paid a little over $200, but the stones were a good 4-5 ct each and they matched her other stones really well. Happy wife, happy life...

Well that's a bummer. I was down in Hobart, Tasmania in 1976 (courtesy of the USS Enterprise CVAN-65 and Uncle Sam). I spent time in both Hobart and also took the train to Launceston for 2 days during our week there. Never once did I see a burger & beets on the menu. Guess I'll have to go back and look. It was - easily, my favorite port call in 24 years of service, followed by Palma de Mallorca.

We were also on that "eventful" July 09 cruise last year on Pride. We also had Frankie on our Alaska 10 day June 2022 cruise on the Miracle. "Boop!"

If you are talking about the nighttime show (Rhythms of the Night) at Las Caletas, it is definitely worth it. It's pricey but a great show. It's one we will definitely repeat in the future. Can provide more info/tips if you wish.

The names change a lot as you walk further. I've been down there once after Breathless was built. But I'm not a fan, as the slope of the beach walking down is pretty steep and hard on the legs. But that would be true walking in either direction.