TLCOhio

Interesting background, experience and follow-up from our SW Ohio neighbor in doing an earlier trans-Atlantic crossing. Labor troubles can be challenging for the customers. From the Associated Press/AP newswire and MSN News this afternoon, they had this headline: “Norwegian Cruise Line to drop requirement for COVID-19 test” with these highlights: “Norwegian Cruise Line is dropping a requirement that passengers test negative for COVID-19 before sailing unless it is required by local rules. The company said Wednesday that it will drop the testing requirement Aug. 1 except on ships sailing from places with local testing rules, including in the United States, Canada, Bermuda and Greece. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requires pre-trip testing for passengers on 94 ships taking part in CDC's voluntary COVID-19 program, including Norwegian ships that sail in the U.S. Norwegian requires vaccinated passengers in the U.S. to show a negative antigen test for COVID-19 within two days of their trip or a negative PCR test within three days of sailing. Unvaccinated children under 12 are subject to more testing when they board and leave the ship. Norwegian Cruise Line said it will relax its testing policy in other countries to be in line with other sectors of the travel industry 'as society continues to adapt and return to a state of normalcy.' ” Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/norwegian-cruise-line-to-drop-requirement-for-covid-19-test/ar-AAZgZE9 THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Early 2020 (right before Covid shut-down), many visuals and details from New Zealand/South Pacific in going from Auckland to French Polynesia. This includes Bora Bora, Fiji, NZ experiences, etc: Live/blog; https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2735732-live-terryohio-“new”-regatta-south-pacificnz-pix’s/

Great that your cruise visited Sitka and had a exclusive excursion. In 2019, we had a wonderful stop in Sitka. Lots of history and great sights/sites there. Most cruises do not have stops in Sitka. Keep up the great postings and sharings. Like the picture postings. Look forward to seeing and reading more. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Amazon River-Caribbean 2015 adventure live/blog starting in Barbados. Many visuals from this amazing river and Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, San Juan, etc.). Now at 70,109 views: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2157696

WOW!! That's quite a story/experience from the Saga river cruise. Appreciate this follow-up. Have not had Saga on my travel options radar. Must be that they do not market that much here in the USA. From the London/UK Evening Standard and Yahoo News this morning, they had this headline: “Saga in profit as cruises catch on again” with these highlights: “Specialist travel and financial services business Saga marked a return to profitability as the over-fifties flocked back to cruise holidays. The company said cruise bookings reached 73% of capacity in July, and bookings for the 2023/24 season had reached 34%, exceeding expectations. However, the company warned that bookings for its cruises to the Baltics and Black Sea had fallen amid concerns over the conflict in Ukraine. It expected to generate pre-tax profits of £35 million to £50 million in the year to 31 January 2023, as it cut down its debt facility from £100 million to £50 million.” Full story at: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/saga-profit-cruises-catch-again-101831543.html THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Lisbon, NWSpain, Bordeaux/Brittany: Live/blog, June 2017 from Portugal to France along scenic Atlantic Coast on the Silver Spirit. Now at 32,401 views. Many interesting pictures, details for history, food, culture, etc.: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511358

YES!! Agree with Misty for enjoying this exciting adventure. Plus, sampling a different line!! Great summary for the different factors by Tothesunset for Silversea versus Saga. Just sailing and meeting different people can be awesome, especially after being shut-down for the past couple of years. Look forward to reading ALL of your details as to what you liked, loved and did not enjoy as much. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise from Copenhagen, July 2010, to the top of Europe. Scenic visuals with key tips. Live/blog at 244,543 views. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

Cruise stocks open significantly down this morning. Royal Caribbean dropped down 6.7% as of 10:07 am today. The other two were down by roughly the same amount on the stock market opening Tuesday morning after the July 4th holiday. From the Wall Street Journal this morning, they had as their lead story on-line with this headline: “Americans Tap Pandemic Savings to Cope With Inflation" with this sub-headline: "Households at almost all income levels drew down accumulations in first quarter to cover costs.” Here are some of their story highlights: “Americans are starting to dip into the huge pile of savings they accumulated over the first two years of the pandemic. From the start of the pandemic to the end of 2021, U.S. households built up $2.7 trillion in extra savings, according to Moody’s Analytics. Covid-19 lockdowns kept people at home with nowhere to spend money, and three rounds of stimulus payments boosted their incomes. Now, with inflation at its highest point in decades and wage gains trailing behind, Americans are turning to that stash to cover costs. 'Most households have a cash cushion to navigate through the very high inflation,' said Mark Zandi, Moody’s Analytics chief economist. 'This is allowing consumers to stay in the game.' ” Is this economics info good or bad for the cruise industry during the next twelve months? Like outlined in this analysis, we had built up good sized "savings" in our accounts. BUT, we spent lots in early May doing our 50th Wedding Anniversary at Disney World-Universal Studios picking up the full tab for us, plus our son, his wife, two grandsons. Now we have paid for a Tauck tour in late August around the scenic Canada Maritime Provences, etc. Will we keep spending or slow down? What about for others as to their future levels of financial confidence? Full story at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/americans-tap-pandemic-savings-to-cope-with-inflation-11657013400?mod=hp_lead_pos1 THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Early 2020 (right before Covid shut-down), many visuals and details from New Zealand/South Pacific in going from Auckland to French Polynesia. This includes Bora Bora, Fiji, NZ experiences, etc: Live/blog; https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2735732-live-terryohio-“new”-regatta-south-pacificnz-pix’s/

In the interest of "fairness" and balance, here is a more optimistic summary/view for a more positive cruise stock future. True? From this financial website this morning, they had this headline: “5 Reasons to Climb Aboard Carnival Stock" with this sub-headline: "The cruise industry has a secret weapon—major pent-up travel demand. This combined with the following five forces should keep the wind at Carnival's sails regardless of how choppy the economic factors.” Here are some their story/analysis highlights: “#1 - Easing Pandemic Restrictions: Government guidelines around Covid-19 vaccination and testing as they pertain to cruise lines have eased in the U.S. and Canada. When you run North America's most popular cruise brand as Carnival does, this is very welcomed news. #2 - Road Trips are Expensive: With gasoline prices at historically high levels near $5 a gallon, the notion of taking a cross-country road trip is less appealing these days. #3 - Fleet Operations, Occupancy are Trending Higher: Due to the fluid nature of the pandemic, Carnival appropriately took a cautious approach to bringing its ships back online even with demand clearly on its side. #4 - Carnival is Recession-Resilient: To say the cruise industry is recession-proof may be a stretch since an economic downturn would undoubtedly cause some consumers to wipe lavish getaways from the budget. However, to call it recession-resilient is reasonable. #5 - The Stock is Cheap: Although a recession and higher fuel and wage costs are legitimate concerns for Carnival, there are several factors that point to a sustainable recovery. And with strong demand as the powerful force atop the list, long-term profitability should trend upward.” Ready to buy Carnival stock? Is it a good, solid investment? Full story at: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/430776 THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Summer 2019 Calgary, Jasper/Banff National Parks, Western Canada Rocky Mountaineer rail adventure, Vancouver, sailing up to Alaska on Silver Muse, post-cruise excursion to Denali, etc. Many visuals and details from our first in these scenic areas! Live/blog: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2682584-live-terryohio-silver-muse-alaska-canadarockies-pix’s/

Agree that masks can been an issue for both passengers . . . AND staff. Returning to "normal" is not easy, quick and simple. Appreciate these very good comments and follow-ups above from Catlover54, Mr. Luxury and our SW Ohio neighbor. From a financial news/analysis website this morning, they had this headline: “Royal Caribbean: Diligently Navigating Their Comeback” with these summary highlights: “Shares are trading near levels not seen since March of 2020 despite a satisfactory return to most operations. While key fundamentals are yet to recover, numerous catalysts are poised to place future earnings well above their pre-Covid levels. Risks such as Covid, inflation, and rising fuel costs are also being handled quite well. Technical strength points to a short-term rebound that will eventually have fundamental strength continuing an appreciation in share prices.” Additional background cited: "Since the beginning of 2021, five impressive ships have been added to the, now, 100% operating fleet. Given every market in which it operates, except China, is now open for cruising, Royal Caribbean intends to take full advantage of its ship-building abilities with the planned addition of 10 vessels. These additional ships, including a new "Icon Class" that's expected to perform alongside its largest ships in terms of size, are intended to add to the now-positive operating cash flow. The continued fleet expansion signals not only the additional demand that the company is facing from vacationers but the certainty among management that such investments are worthwhile." All of these items cited are true, but how does the currently downward shifting economy affect consumers, plus the impacts of higher fuel costs, inflation and interest rate hikes impact future financial realities for customers and these three major cruise companies? Lots of questions?? Who has the answers? Full story at: https://seekingalpha.com/article/4521710-royal-caribbean-stock-diligently-navigating-their-comeback THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio From late 2018, see “Holy Lands, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Dubai, Greece, etc.”, with many visuals, details and ideas for the historic and scenic Middle East. Now at 20,974 views. Connect at: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2607054-livenautica-greece-holy-lands-egypt-dubai-terrypix’s/

Great to hear from Lois as to how the Silversea staff has been super helpful and supportive. Not surprised!! Our experiences have been that we there is a real need, the staff responds accordingly. Keep up the posts, letting us know any food highlights, etc. Have your "dining desires" returned? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Fun comments and follow-up from our SW Ohio friend. For upscale lines such as Silversea, it will be harder to tack on such added fees as they have been moving towards and promoting their line being "inclusive". From the Wall Street Journal in mid May, they had this interesting headline: “Why a Trans-Atlantic Cruise Should Be on Every Traveler’s Bucket List" with this sub-headline: "Cunard still offers regular trans-Atlantic crossings, a rare way to relive the more glamorous days of travel.” Here are some of the story highlights: “If you think you crossed the Atlantic on a ship within the past 50 years, you are probably not wrong. But that was likely a repositioning cruise, designed to get a ship from one cruising ground, say the Caribbean, to another. Or your ship was circumnavigating the globe on a world cruise. Except for Cunard, the venerable Atlantic 'shuttle' ended abruptly in 1974. I’ve always thought that a crossing should be on everyone’s bucket list. I suspect some people will disagree with me, but I firmly believe that six consecutive days at sea is more glamorous than a simple trip to Istanbul or Bangkok.” Here is some added, historic background: "Cunard’s ocean-faring days date to 1840, after Canadian-born Samuel Cunard was awarded the first British transatlantic mail contract. RMS (Royal Mail Ship) Britannia sailed from Liverpool to Halifax, Nova Scotia and Boston. Charles Dickens was one of the decade’s earliest passengers. The original Queen Mary launched in 1936, ferrying countless celebrities across the pond. Other Atlantic greyhounds from Cunard followed, notably Queen Elizabeth (1938). Queen Elizabeth 2 arrived in 1967. The original Queen Mary was the old salty dog though, logging 1,000 crossings before beginning her new life in Long Beach, Calif., in 1971, as a hotel (currently closed). The Queen Mary 2 arrived on the scene in 2004 to take up the route. Although a behemoth with room for 2,500 passengers, the Queen Mary 2 was still built for speed, with a thicker hull and sharper prow to slice through stormy seas. For Cunard’s first ship in over a decade, the company dipped into the Royal archives again to christen the Queen Anne, slated to set sail in January 2024. Bookings go on sale May 18, for passage on the maiden voyage, a seven-night cruise out of Southampton with an overnight call in Lisbon." Ready for a long, trans-Atlantic sailing? We have never done this type of trip. Traditionally, we have been more focused on the unique itineraries and doing great ports. And preferring not to have too many sea-days in a row. But, as we get older, will we want to shift gears and try such a sailing with lots of time "Floating on a Boat"?? Anyone done such a trans-Atlantic sailing on a traditional, larger ship such as Cunard offers? Pro/con factors to consider? Full story at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-a-transatlantic-cruise-should-be-on-every-travelers-bucket-list-11652378262?mod=hp_user_preferences_pos1#cxrecs_s THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Summer 2019 Calgary, Jasper/Banff National Parks, Western Canada Rocky Mountaineer rail adventure, Vancouver, sailing up to Alaska on Silver Muse, post-cruise excursion to Denali, etc. Many visuals and details from our first in these scenic areas! Live/blog: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2682584-live-terryohio-silver-muse-alaska-canadarockies-pix’s/

Great, interesting follow-up from Lois. As a "student" of demographics, that is really fascinating that this cruise has attracted a younger crowd on this sailing. Maybe a certain number of those older are more cautious in getting back on ship?? Keen and important insights. Glad you have been treated so kindly. Good news!! THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

YES!! Royal Caribbean hit a new 52-week low for its stock value on Friday. Buying now could be smart?? BUT, there are legitimate questions as to whether and when that current RCL value will go lower as we face inflation, air traffic delays, new Covid variants, soaring fuel and interest rates, etc. Hard to predict and know for certain. Especially with a major recession looming!! THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Excellent above summary from our Idaho friend, especially what I have highlighted above in bold italic. As to sending back Meghan Markle to the UK, that actually would come back on us. Yes, Harry married her, but she comes from California. Hard to escape the blame falling back to the USA for that unique connection. Interesting question by Jeff about "waiting for Meghan to put herself forward for the Presidency with Harry being Presidential Consort." Lots to discuss and debate for the future!! Right?? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Early 2020 (right before Covid shut-down), many visuals and details from New Zealand/South Pacific in going from Auckland to French Polynesia. This includes Bora Bora, Fiji, NZ experiences, etc: Live/blog; https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2735732-live-terryohio-“new”-regatta-south-pacificnz-pix’s/

From the Associated Press/AP newswire this morning, they had this headline: “After two pandemic years, a summer travel bounce — and chaos” with these highlights: “Summer travel is underway across the globe, but a full recovery from two years of coronavirus could last as long as the pandemic itself. Interviews by The Associated Press in 11 countries this month show that the most passionate travelers are thronging to locales like the French Riviera, Amsterdam and the American Midwest. But even as safety restrictions fall, places like Israel, India and Rome are reporting only fractions of the record-setting tourism of 2019. For them, a full recovery isn't forecast until at least 2024. China, once the world's biggest source of tourists, remains closed per its 'zero-COVID' policy. That's holding down the rebound in many countries.” Here is more from this interesting, comprehensive reporting around the world: "Despite the roaring return of travelers, challenges and uncertainty cast shadows over the post-pandemic landscape. Full recoveries are generally not expected until at least 2024. Concerns hovered around a long list of issues, including inflation, supply chain problems, rising infection rates and labor shortages. Before June was over, chaos had come to define travel in the summer of 2022. Airports and airlines that had cut back during the depths of the pandemic s truggled to meet the demand, resulting in cancelled flights, lost baggage and other, assorted nightmares. Spooked tourists booked trips on shorter notice, making it harder for hotels, tour operators and others to plan, industry insiders said. The Russian invasion of Ukraine, too, added risk to the uneven recovery and contributed to inflation — a factor that could become a major obstacle even as other pandemic pain recedes. Bangkok's famous backpacker street, Khao San Road, almost deserted last year, is getting up to 5,000 visitors a day — promising numbers but a far cry from the 30,000 daily visitors before the pandemic, according to Ruangwattanakul, the business association president. Thailand is an instructive look at the struggle to recover, with China a major factor. By 2019, Chinese tourists accounted for a quarter of foreign arrivals in Thailand, but there are no signs that they will return in such numbers." Full story at: https://www.postregister.com/features/after-two-pandemic-years-a-summer-travel-bounce-and-chaos/article_0aefecd5-ab04-5bcb-adbd-3d6499301359.html THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio From late 2018, see “Holy Lands, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Dubai, Greece, etc.”, with many visuals, details and ideas for the historic and scenic Middle East. Now at 20,974 views. Connect at: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2607054-livenautica-greece-holy-lands-egypt-dubai-terrypix’s/

Appreciate these above comments and follow-ups. Keep it coming!! From the Wall Street Journal last week, they had this headline: “Ancient Egypt Is New Again" with this sub-headline: "The mania for touring sites and treasures along the Nile is nearly as old as the pyramids of Giza. A recent wave of archaeological discoveries and museum openings has made the experience feel novel.” Here are some of their reporting highlights: “One sun-drenched day, circa 450 B.C., an enterprising author named Herodotus set forth by boat from the Nile River delta, upon whose southern fringe loom the pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, not knowing he was about to spark an Egyptomania that would last 2,500 years. Herodotus’ cruise took him to the New Kingdom capital of Thebes in Upper Egypt, modern-day Luxor, where he contemplated the temples of Karnak, one of which spanned 100 times the area of the Parthenon of Athens. By the time Christie’s Death on the Nile was published in 1937, the world had already succumbed to an extreme bout of Egyptomania after the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb by the British archaeologist Howard Carter. Hollywood and New York high society in the 1920s became obsessed with pharaonic style, mimicking its architecture and fashions—scarab brooches, serpent belts and hieroglyphic bracelets. The year 2022 is a big one for Egyptologists. Carter’s discovery of King Tut’s tomb marks its centennial on November 4. It’s also the 200th anniversary of the decipherment of hieroglyphics, which the French scholar Jean-François Champollion achieved in 1822 by comparing the Rosetta Stone’s trilingual inscriptions.” Interesting background about Egypt, especially for its connections in and around Luxor. Full story at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ancient-egypt-new-again-tutankhamun-ramses-pyramid-tourism-11656505037?mod=hp_listc_pos3 THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Early 2020 (right before Covid shut-down), many visuals and details from New Zealand/South Pacific in going from Auckland to French Polynesia. This includes Bora Bora, Fiji, NZ experiences, etc: Live/blog; https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2735732-live-terryohio-“new”-regatta-south-pacificnz-pix’s/

Appreciate your excellent visuals, ship details, comments and follow-ups. Keep it coming!! Enjoying much as you bring back our 2019 memories, including from Hubbard Glacier. Yes, glad to hear that Silversea is keeping the dress code loose and flexible. Encouraging!! THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Happy FOURTH of JULY to all of us here in the Colonies, now called the United States. Many fireworks upcoming today and Monday. Sorry to the former King of England about your loss back in the later 1700's. Below is from Central Ohio's Red, White and Boom fireworks that happened Friday night in advance of most smaller, local community celebrations tonight and Monday evening. In the background, you can see some of the skyline buildings in Columbus. Our fireworks are rated as one of the best in the Midwest and we had perfect seats to enjoy the music matched to the exciting sky show. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise from Copenhagen, July 2010, to the top of Europe. Scenic visuals with key tips. Live/blog at 244,543 views. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923 Snapped with just my iPhone, below are three visual samples from Central Ohio's Red, White and Boom fireworks on Friday night. Does this help warm up and prepare for the July 4th fun and excitement?: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!)

Appreciate the many fun postings at the Cooler, including the dog pix's. Happy FOURTH of JULY to all of us here in the Colonies, now called the United States. Many fireworks upcoming today and Monday. Sorry to the former King of England about your loss back in the later 1700's. Below is from Central Ohio's Red, White and Boom fireworks that happened Friday night in advance of most smaller, local community celebrations tonight and Monday evening. In the background, you can see some of the skyline buildings in Columbus. Our fireworks are rated as one of the best in the Midwest and we had perfect seats to enjoy the music matched to the exciting sky show. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise from Copenhagen, July 2010, to the top of Europe. Scenic visuals with key tips. Live/blog at 244,543 views. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923 Snapped with just my iPhone, below are three visual samples from Central Ohio's Red, White and Boom fireworks on Friday night. Does this help warm up and prepare for the July 4th fun and excitement?: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!)

From the Washington Post late this past week, they had this headline: “Remember those travel fees that were paused in 2020? They’re back.” with these highlights: “When it comes to travel fees, it’s starting to feel like 2019 again. Airlines, car rental companies and hotels are reinstating old surcharges and adding new ones to your bill as travel returns to pre-pandemic levels. You can find them everywhere, including your airline ticket. When it comes to airlines, they have seen higher surcharges, fewer offers of free checked bags and more rigorous enforcement of carry-on sizes at airports. Mandatory resort fees, which many hotels readily waived for guests during the pandemic, are also back. plus an uptick in unexplained hotel surcharges. Additionally, car rental companies are upping their early return fees and refueling charges.” Here is more: "Why are travel companies doing this? It’s not just because they lost billions during the pandemic when Americans stayed home or took staycations. Their cost of doing business increased. Restaurants had to pay higher wages or face mass resignations. Airlines and hotels had to spend more on sanitation and touchless check-in technology. And now there’s inflation. Hotels are also getting creative with their new fees. Bob Bacheler stayed at a convention hotel in Orlando recently. After breakfast, his server handed him and his wife a bill with a 10 percent “service fee” on top of an automatic 18 percent gratuity. Knowing that companies are trying to make up for lost revenue is the first step in avoiding nuisance fees. Many travelers assume incorrectly that airlines and hotels are desperate to have them back and have slashed their prices to get them in the door. That may have been true last summer, and it was definitely true during the summer of 2020. But not now." How will cruise lines find "creative" ways along this line as being done by the airlines, hotels, etc.? Full story at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2022/06/29/travel-fees-2022/ THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Panama Canal? Early 2017, Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco adventure through Panama Canal. Our first stops in Colombia, Central America and Mexico, plus added time in the great Golden Gate City. Now at 31,357 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2465580

From the New York Times Travel Section from the middle of last month, they had this headline: “Summer in Copenhagen: Biking, Dining and Celebrating" with the sub-headline: "Add the Tour de France — starting in Denmark’s capital this year — to the roster of summer activities, which also includes music festivals, design exhibitions and indulging in buttery pastries.” Here are some of their reporting highlights: “Over the course of the coronavirus pandemic, Copenhagen somehow seems only to have become more thoroughly itself. With restrictions long gone (they were lifted in January) and summer at hand, the city’s outdoor spaces, designed to extract every bit of joy from summer, have multiplied. There are more harborside spots to sip wine and swim, while devotion to environmental sustainability has generated an entirely new hangout for the green-minded. The Danish fetish for buttery pastries has transformed itself into a veritable eruption of new bakeries, while the broader dining scene — already world class — has become bigger and better. And in a city where bikes already constitute the primary method of transportation, Copenhagen is preparing for its cycling apotheosis: The Tour de France starts here on July 1.” Many different interesting options and updates outlined in this NYT profile. Full story at: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/16/travel/copenhagen-what-to-do.html THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Venice: Loving It & Why??!! Is one of your future desires or past favorites? See these many visual samples for its great history and architecture. This posting is now at 96,591 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1278226

Appreciate these very good comments, follow-ups, visuals, etc., from Cruisemom42, euro cruiser and bennybear. Lots happening related to Venice. From the London/UK Daily Mail this morning, they had this headline: “Venice will charge tourists €10 to visit the city in world first as officials set up online booking system to combat overcrowding” with these highlights: “Venice will become the world's first city to charge tourists an entry fee in an effort to stem the number of visitors who throng its tiny island centre. From January, day-trippers to the Italian canal city must pay three to ten euros (£2.60 to £8.60), depending on the season and whether they booked in advance. Tourists who fail to show a QR code proving the payment will face a fine of up to €300 (£260).” Here is more background from their reporting: "The miniature main island, which measures 2 sq miles and is populated by 50,000 permanent residents, was visited by 19 million people in 2019. That's an average of 52,000 each day - and in peak season, that figure can double. Local airport Venice Marco Polo is also Italy's fourth busiest, with 11.2million passengers in 2018. Yet more than three-quarters of people who amass at Piazza San Marco do so for just a day. That also means they spend far less money than those who stay overnight. Guests who stay the night already pay a city tax of one to five euros per night and will be exempt from the reserve-and-fee system. Guests who stay the night already pay a city tax of one to five euros per night and will be exempt from the reserve-and-fee system. Venice last summer banned cruise ships from lining the lagoon city in order to preserve its World Heritage Site status. Nearby industrial port Monfalcone, on the gulf of Trieste, instead became busy with the huge cruises." Full story at: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10975445/Venice-charge-tourists-10-visit-city-world-combat-overcrowding.html THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Early 2020 (right before Covid shut-down), many visuals and details from New Zealand/South Pacific in going from Auckland to French Polynesia. This includes Bora Bora, Fiji, NZ experiences, etc: Live/blog; https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2735732-live-terryohio-“new”-regatta-south-pacificnz-pix’s/

Agree 100% with highplanesdrifters and J.P. regarding their wise comments and insights. My guess is that many of the very good Crystal staff have "moved on" in finding other cruise jobs and/or taking positions in their home areas. Who can wait till a maybe/hoped Crystal restart in late 2023 or for early 2024. We remember great staff members from Silversea and Crystal sailings, but they will not, sadly, all be back and available. Lots of staff turn-over and changes during the past two-to-three challenging years. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

From the respected Financial Times publication, they had this headline: “Covid could not sink cruise lines — but they now face an iceberg of debt" with this sub-headline: "Passenger bookings have bounced back but the industry’s balance sheets are far from shipshape.” Cute phrasing with "iceberg of debt" and "far from shipshape”??? Reactions? Here are some of their reporting highlights: “At one point in February 2020, a single cruise ship — the Diamond Princess — accounted for more than half of the world’s confirmed cases of Covid-19 outside China. The 3,700 passengers and crew endured a grim quarantine off Japan; seven died. But Covid has not proved to be an existential threat for the industry. Bookings have surged to pre-pandemic levels. 'Everybody you speak to on cruises nowadays says: ‘Gee, it’s good to be back home, it’s good to be back on the seas again,' ' said Mike Alcock, a 72-year-old retiree from Northamptonshire, who has taken six cruises alongside his wife since the industry returned from the pandemic and has three more booked. 'You wouldn’t go to a hotel that’s as spotlessly clean,' said Alcock, who has so much confidence in the industry’s ability to rebound from the pandemic, he just purchased 500 more Carnival shares.” BUT, here is more from their analysis: "What could sink many of the industry’s biggest companies is something else entirely: huge icebergs of debt. As cruise ships were moored in docks during the pandemic, the companies that owned them turned to the debt markets in a desperate attempt to stay afloat. The three major listed cruise companies — which between them control four-fifths of the industry — have all more than doubled their gross debt over the past two years. Consequently, the markets are viewing the companies with caution, even as customers clamour to get back on board. This week Carnival’s share price plunged 14 per cent after Morgan Stanley downgraded the stock. Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean rank among the top five losers on the S&P 500 over the past three months." Full story at: https://www.ft.com/content/7a486b7b-e92f-47b7-a6bd-9da9637b42ac THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Panama Canal? Early 2017, Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco adventure through Panama Canal. Our first stops in Colombia, Central America and Mexico, plus added time in the great Golden Gate City. Now at 31,357 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2465580

Good to see these added visuals and shared experiences. Our day tour did include the House of the Virgin Mary, a carpet shop and the Archeological Museum. Enjoyed it all. Worked well. Yes, carpet shops can be a little too much, but they have a wide selection of options and you can learn some interesting background about this Middle East speciality. In Istanbul, we did get a couple of rugs and have them shipped home. If considering such a carpet purchase from Turkey, plan in advance!! Prepare by figuring out potential size needs, color-match factors, etc. Don't just go to a carpet shop "cold" without any advance prep. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Lisbon, NWSpain, Bordeaux/Brittany: Live/blog, June 2017 from Portugal to France along scenic Atlantic Coast on the Silver Spirit. Now at 32,401 views. Many interesting pictures, details for history, food, culture, etc.: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511358 Here is a wider sampling of Ephesus day options. As shown below, the sun can be hot and our guide was wise to have some shade as we toured. Second was a gift show where the sign in back of my wife was very honest. Third was inside the Archeological Museum. Fourth was at the House of the Virgin Mary. Very moving experience there for us. Finally, the carpet shop.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!)

Agree above with the great comment by our SW Ohio neighbor. Listening to customers and staff does need "re-learning" Sad, but true, many businesses and government folks forget this vital skill. . From the Associated Press/AP newswire this morning, they had this headline: “With hospitalizations up, France weighs return to masks” with these highlights: “Tourism is booming again in France — and so is COVID-19. French officials have “invited” or “recommended” people to go back to using face masks but stopped short of renewing restrictions that would scare visitors away or revive antigovernment protests. From Paris commuters to tourists on the French Riviera, many people seem to welcome the government’s light touch, while some worry that required prevention measures may be needed. Virus-related hospitalizations rose quickly in France over the past two weeks, with nearly 1,000 patients with COVID-19 hospitalized per day, according to government data. Infections are also rising across Europe and the United States, but France has an exceptionally high proportion of people in the hospital, according to Our World in Data estimates. French government spokesperson Olivia Gregoire has said there are no plans to reintroduce national regulations that limit or set conditions for gathering indoors and other activities.” Full story at: https://apnews.com/article/covid-travel-health-a426ee6ae1109ceff4668020683570ac THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Lisbon, NWSpain, Bordeaux/Brittany: Live/blog, June 2017 from Portugal to France along scenic Atlantic Coast on the Silver Spirit. Now at 32,401 views. Many interesting pictures, details for history, food, culture, etc.: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511358

Appreciate this follow-up from Lois. As your cruise continues, if you get any more specifics from other passengers as to what ports people loved the most, why, with specifics, etc., would appreciate that sharing. Keep us posted on your progress. Hopefully things are feeling better and that you are surviving well under these challenging circumstances. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio