rafinmd

I think the ice comes from the calving of Greenland Glaciers which probably starts slowly and continues, perhaps accellerating until the weather gets really cold. Roy

It was September 7, 2016. No significant ice through the actual passage and then this. Roy

If you'll indulge me a big I pooped out yesterday and never posted any pictures of Ilulissat or least the area. Crystal Serenity's 2016 Nothwest Passage was a bit of a strange hybrid, operating as a traditional cruise from Anchorage to Nome, and from Nuuk to New York. In the actual passage it was more of an expedition with the support of RSS Shackleton, a British ship which provides seasonal support to their Antarctic bases. I think the original plan was to have a fairly traditional visit to Ilulissat but the harbor was so packed with ice that out tenders could not get through to the port, and local boars could not reach us. Fortunately, the Shackelton was still with us and we salvaged the day with ice cruises using the Zodiacs they were carrying: A few views from the ice cruise: A nice feature of all the ice cruises is that midway through the ship we were met by a Zodiac bearing a warming drink of hot chocolate: Finally, before we headed back we got a nice view of the waiting Serenity with the Shackleton waiting to her right: Roy

As I said earlier, I embarked Crystal Symphony in Kobe in 2013 after a long flight from Angkor Wat. We stayed overnight and left the second touring so after sleeping late I did get out a bit later in the day. Much of my tour was on the cityloop bus which was somewhat like a hop-on hop-off but missed a lot because the only narration was in Japanese. I think the dropoff point was near the Harbor tower: What interested me most was a memorial to the city's 1995 earthquake: and a nearby plaque: The plaque is a bit blurry but here's the inscription in English: This Earthquake took some things. Lives, Jobs, Communities, Cityscape, Our Memories. These things appear safe, permanent. Even moments before, we cannot know,. This earthquake left many things behind. Kindness, Compassion, Human Bonds, Friendship This flame links the lives which were taken away, With our thoughts, the survivors. Roy

Today's sunrise is from my 2019 Nieuw Statendam transatlantic, Fort Lauderdale to Amsterdam. On April 28 we visited Praia da Vitoria. Roy

Today's sunrise is from my 2019 Nieuw Statendam transatlantic, Fort Lauderdale to Amsterdam. On April 28 we visited Praia da Vitoria. Roy

Thank you Rich, Sandi, Vanessa, Tina, Ann, Dixie, and Granam/Father David Three great days to celebrate and I love the quote. The first night flight was a real milestone for something that is an everyday event now. I remember many years ago when air fares were more transparent and there were actual published fares for city pairs, and there was a separate reduced fare for night coach. I visited Kobe in 2013 as embarkation port on a Crystal Serenity trans Pacific. I’ll try to find a few pictures after church. I’ll pass on the meal. My alternative is a Custom Lido Omelet as served for my last breakfast on MS Zaandam April 28, 2017. Still quite a chilly morning but it will warm up to almost 80 in the afternoon. Roy

Today is the 5th anniversary of @richwmn starting the Fleet Report, Daily, and finally Fleet Report and Daily. Here are some key dates: December 31, 2018 @luv2trvll’s last Fleet Location as his source of data disappears April 27, 2019: Rich puts out feeler on Fleet Locations but had no takers April 28, 2019: Rich’s first Fleet Report June 1, 2019 @kazu was first guest host of the Fleet report Approx December 25, 2019 first “Today is” Starting with Christmas and holidays but something else added for regular days. March 16, 2020: First appearance of “The Daily” There was not really a change in the substance for a while but March 16 did add a discussion of various possibilities Other milestones in the Daily: April 5, 2020: First Meal Suggestion and quote June 23, 2020: First wine suggestion June 29, 2020 Maps become a regular feature of the daily July 9, 2020: My first sunrise July 10, 2020: First care list July 27, 2020: First wine review by @cat shepard August 5, 2020: First alternative meal August 8: 2020 First shoutout list September 1, 2020 First Drink AND Drink Review December 26, 2020: Dailyite Meet and Greet on Zoom January 27, 2021: Debbie’s first meal review February 1, 2021, First Rabbit, Rabbit, White Rabbit March 1, 2021 First Destination of the Day July 24, 2021, First BHB with Passengers Lafnvegas onboard July 31, 2021, First regularly dailyite on board Crazy for Cats Nieuw Amsterdam January 18, 2022: Father David’s first sermon on the Daily June 19, 2022: First Fleet Report and Daily January 28, 2023 @JazzyV takes over the Care and Celebration lists January 25, 2024 First Alternative Maps with cruiser names Roy

Sunday maps: Roy

Today's sunrise is from my 2012 Celebrity Solstice Transatlantic Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona. On April 27 we visited Malaga. Roy

Today's sunrise is from my 2012 Celebrity Solstice Transatlantic Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona. On April 27 we visited Malaga. Roy

Thank you Rich, Sandi, Vanessa, Tina, Ann, and Paul;. Happy Birthday Debbie and I hope your trip is going well. Condolences to Maureen but great news on DH. Vanessa, I’m pleased with your progress. Cheers to the King, Children Saving and the Devil Dogs but I’ll pass on the Cake and Pampered Little Dog. I like Helen Keller’s quote, I was almost to Ilulissat on Crystal Serenity’s 2016 Northwest Passage cruise We .couldn’t get tenders to shore nor local boats out to meet us but we spent time in the harbor. A bit of irony here, it was a very long cruise, but other than Greenland the cruise from Anchorage to New York had only US and Canadian ports so apparently Greenland made the voyage legal under the PVSA. Beethoven was pure genius. I’ll pass on the meal. My alternative is Classic Caesar Salad, Port Braised Lamb Shank, and Dutch Apple Pie as served on MS Nieuw Statendam April 27, 2019: Roy

Single map for Saturday: Roy

Many of us have fond memories of Prinsendam, now Amera. She made an unexpected visit to Fort Lauderdale today and left with some late but very nice toots. See also a thread by @POA1, Roy

Now confirmed for 6PM. Once she casts off I bet it won't take her long to leave. Roy

I'm not totally surprised at this. When something breaks at sea they can't just head to the local hardware store for a replacement so all the repair crew get very creative and innovative. It is wonderful that they also do the same for the passengers when the need arises and they have done the same for me a couple of times. They are truly talented and I certainly hope they are included generously in the pool. Boston is certainly a special case. I had to rent a car there once and it's the only time I ever took out the additional insurance. I also had a very strange occurance there that was not really traffic, but yet it was. I was driving into Boston with my parents for my late brother's college graduation and a dog came running up from my right rear and hit me. It scampered off almost before I knew what happened. Roy

Today's sunrise is from a short 2017 cruise on Carnival Inspiration. On April 26 we visited Santa Catalina Island: Roy

Today's sunrise is from a short 2017 cruise on Carnival Inspiration. On April 26 we visited Santa Catalina Island: Roy

Thank you Rich, Sandi, Vanessa, Tina, Ann, and Paul;. Happy Birthday Debbie and I hope your trip is going well. Condolences to Maureen but great news on DH. Vanessa, I’m pleased with your progress. I like all 3 of today’s days. I really relate more to Three Mile Island than to Chernobyl as I am probably 75 miles from there and had a piece of property very close to it at the time. The Mel Brooks quote is funny. I think of early containerization in conjunction with the White Pass and Yukon Railroad and they were only a few months behind the Ideal X. Fortunately, White Pass’ Clifford J. Rodgers predated the Francis Scott Key Bridge. I have not been to Hobart. I’ll pass on the meal. My alternative is Pinnacle Burger and Fresh Berries as served for lunch April 26, 2019 in Nieuw Statendam’s Pinnacle Grill,. My visit to the car ship went pretty well. I was in at 8 and out at 9 for routine service which was no charge since I bought the car there. I am due for new tires which should not be a big surprise as the car is 5 ½ years old on the original tires, It is very close to Wegmans so I stopped there and was home about 10, Roy

Yup. I have friends on the Volendam now. Roy

Friday maps: Roy

The medical review for the week. My visit with my primary today was uneventful, although two blood draws in 4 days is a lot. He does want me back in mid-May for a Pneumonia shot. There were a couple of things from my Oncologist visit Monday. I normally get a hormone shot every 3 months and a shot for bone density every 6 months. I have a tooth extraction next Friday so the bone density shot was cancelled. Even though I had radiation in January my PSA has been rising. In January he started me on a new medicine (Erleada daily capsule) which required insurance approval so it started February 3. Most of my lab results come back while I am in the office but the PSA takes 2 or 3 days. My recent PSA history: 1/16/23 0.57 4/17/23 1.4 7/17/23 1.6 10/19/23 2.5 12/19/23 3.21 Week of 1/18/24 radiation 1/22/24 5.35 2/3/24 Erlida started 2/21/24 4.13 4/19/24 2.27 Very happy about the current trend. Roy

Today's sunrise is from my 2018 Crystal World Cruise. On April 25 Crystal Symphony visited St. Barts: Roy

Today's sunrise is from my 2018 Crystal World Cruise. On April 25 Crystal Symphony visited St. Barts: Roy

Thank you Rich, Sandi, Vanessa, Debbie, Ann, and Paul;. I like all 3 of today’s days. I think to get somewhere one most live in both the past and the future. Cartographers play a great role in the world. I have not been to Santorini. I’ll pass on the meal. My alternative is Chilled Pineapple and Cucumber Soup. Mixed Greens w/ Lettuce and Prime Rib of beef as served on MS Amsterdam Apil 25, 2014. A cold morning with what looks like a chilly afternoon. Regular followup with my primary doctor this afternoon and car to the shop tomorrow morning so a very busy end of the week. Roy