Host Jazzbeau

requested corrections made – hint: it would be easier to read if you had put each day in a separate post

The Google... [Actually, I lie – it was The DuckDuckGo, but in addition to not using The Google I'm trying to break their trademark by turning it into a generic term...]

Fletch [may I call you Fletch? I promise I won't call you Surely!] – I am enjoying this blog so much. I am also very glad that it confirms my total lack of desire to do an Amazon cruise ["The weather veers from dry and wet and back again yet it’s always hot and humid." – yeah, no thanks] Agree about zodiacs and the effect on one's spine – especially if you are the family photographer! Maybe with all your expedition experience you could get the one really good seat [driving the thing from the transom] 😉 I'm not a birder, so I'm always happy to accept whatever identification the guide offers. I can't contradict unless it's a robin or an owl, and neither are likely to be seen on this river. [Dylan Thomas: "All birds are robins, except owls..."] Question about your last paragraph: What was the first: having dinner in La Terrazza, or enjoying it?

It is a truly lovely suite – wonderful for dining-in and for entertaining too, and the Butlers are very accommodating. The first time in a CW (thanks for a very reasonable upgrade) we asked the Butler to arrange a little cocktail party for our new Roll Call shore excursion friends. He agreed but apologized that he was only allowed to cater for 6 – but he brought enough hors d’oeuvres that the 13 of us couldn’t finish it all! We also had room service breakfast each morning – delivered twice so DW could have it early and mine was a little later. We have done 6088 on Quest and 7114 on Journey – both cabins are identical, but the balconies are deepest on deck 6 and slightly shallower as you go up [which is really only important if you want shade, as we do] And after all the complaints about the small bathroom in the regular cabins on Azamara, I am happy to report that the CW bathroom is just wonderful: both a bathtub and a large shower with sink, and a connected toilet room with another small sink – with another door that opens right at the entrance [so guests can visit the 'powder room' without seeing all your stuff spread over the main bathroom!] The layout also means there is circular access around the cabin: entrance to living/dining area to bedroom to main bathroom to powder room back to entrance. Two people sharing will never trap the other in a dead end! We used every part of the suite [except the storage – there was so much we never used all of that!] We're booked in a CC for our next voyage, but I'm hoping we will be able to upgrade to a CW. PS - are you from Charleston SC? [Chucktown]

I've seen similar paperwork on many cruise lines. We also travel with 1 checked bag, one roller carry-on, and one 'personal item' each – and have never had a problem. [Haven't sailed on Emerald, but this experience is from Ama, Scenic and land tour operators]

If not "stocked" in the dining room, bring a bottle from your cabin. When others see it, there will be a clamor. [That's how I realized they had it on Whisper.]

The US govt has continually extended sell-by dates on Covid tests, so we just use the oldest ones in our stock. When we had Covid, the old tests did identify it.

Wow. The salt ruins the taste for me.

I suspect your friend means they have sparkling water (made onboard), but not branded sparkling water [or maybe not the particular brand they prefer]. BTW I agree with your friend: ship-made sparkling water isn't 'proper.' Thankfully our Butler and the Restaurant waiters on Whisper were able to get us San Pellegrino once we knew to ask.

I keep my iPhones a long time. The 6 was the first fully mature design, so I kept it until the battery died. The 12 was a good step up, and then switching to T-Mobile got us all on 13s for free [too early to upgrade, but for free?] That still does everything I want, so I'm waiting for the 16 [or later, depending on trade-in deals] That's why I like Apple products – they 'just work,' and they keep working almost forever.

New article on Travel Weekly: https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Insights/kayak-shore-excursion-with-Avalon

New article on Travel Weekly: https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/West-Africa-uncharted-waters

New article on SeaTrade Cruise: Cruise boosts Saga’s profit, search continues for strategic partner

And Cruise Critic respects copyrights.