TLCOhio

Great to know you are in Manaus and sailing along the Amazon. Look forward to your keen insights, nice visuals, excellent sharing, etc. Keep it rolling!! Look forward to learning more and enjoying great entertainment. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Amazon River-Caribbean 2015 adventure live/blog starting in Barbados on the Silver Cloud for 26 days. Many visuals from this amazing river and Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, San Juan, etc.). Now at 74,904 views: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2076101-live-amazon-river-caribbean-many-pix’s-terryohio/

Nice to know, now, that their survey can and should be done on a mobile device. At the end of our late February Mumbai to Singapore Silver Moon cruise, I did "it" on the suite TV screen. Terrible, shallow and painful experience!! So much that I wanted to share to help Silversea's management fix and fine-tune their operations. Plus, salute some outstanding staff members. Wanted to give them some more, better options to complete our feed-back and help insure Silversea remains a "luxury" product. If, management wants to hear it and learn?? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Agree 100% with Spins that this "interactive app" is terrible. Very hard on a silly TV screen to express substantive details compared to a more conventional print version. In late February 2024 in Singapore at the end of our cruise from Mumbai on the Silver Moon, I wanted to be highly detailed and very specifics. That was "MISSION IMPOSSIBLE" with this shallow, simplistic technology. Maybe the "bean-counters" in Miami and Monaco think they are so super smart and savvy with this type of technology. They can push buttons and get some data, but they are totally missing the opportunity to learn more, fix and fine-tune as needed, let customers know they are being heard, etc. Silversea management is changing, maybe, but do they really want to listen to customers who expect consistency with a promised "luxury" product at a premium price???? As noted on my live/blog, the Silver Moon is wonderful and the staff on the ship performed, overall, very well. But, a number of management decisions from the higher levels needs better focus and serious improvement. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio India to Singaore 2024: Live/Blog with many visuals, including “Golden Triangle”, Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2992045-live-terryohio-india-to-signapore-silver-moon-rising-pix’s/

YES, in Manaus, their fish market is great and fascinating. Need to grab a couple items from there. Here is one of my visuals from being there in 2015 while on the Silver Cloud. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Amazon River-Caribbean 2015 adventure live/blog starting in Barbados on the Silver Cloud for 26 days. Many visuals from this amazing river and Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, San Juan, etc.). Now at 74,904 views: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2076101-live-amazon-river-caribbean-many-pix’s-terryohio/

While some are guessing and speculation, many, including me, have posted based on recent and actual Silversea sailing and observing in-person as to our actually experiences. As noted, most on the ship for us ranged good to excellent. BUT, other aspects show signs of management goof-ups and miscommunications from the higher administrative/finance sides of Silversea. I call it "bean-counter" errors. The stock, as detailed on another thread, for Royal Caribbean has been better than has happened with Celebrity and Norwegian. But, RCL is far from its peak three plus years ago. Still billions of debt to be recovered and much more in future new-ship costs to be financially covered, etc. Agree, much is TBD!!! THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Sydney to NZ/Auckland Adventure, live/blog 2014 sampling/details with many exciting visuals and key highlights. On page 23, post #571, see a complete index for all of the pictures, postings. Now at 249,855 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

YES, Tokyo Station is an excellent location and handy for many options. Below is a picture from just a month ago when we were in front of this location with its nice, interesting architecture and many nearby hotels and potentials. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Canada 2022/2023: Scenic visuals, details from Canada Maritimes (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton Island). Plus, new from Aug. 2023, exploring historic/charming Quebec City. Visual/Info Summaries: www.flickr.com/photos/196555480@N08/albums

Appreciate these above great comments and follow-up from our Bermuda friend. Well summarized!! YES, there are various pro/con, plus/minus factors involved. During our 18-days, Mumbai to Singapore experiences with Silversea and on the Silver Moon, many aspects were very good to excellent. But, there were aspects in the three-days in Mumbai where what was promised/claimed by Silversea fell significantly short. Way off and not good. Sorry to be so blunt. If you need specifics, I can provide them. Plus, some goofs in connection with the SS-provided tours during our cruise. The challenges are more with the "bean-counters" in Miami and Monaco. Those finance-types are out of touch with promised and expected "customer service" priorities. Their short-sightedness dictates policies that tarnish the brand. Overall, as someone following closely the finances of the three major cruise companies, Royal Caribbean has done better as viewed by the stock market compared to Carnival and Norwegian. BUT, RCL and the others are still far, far away from their past value peaks. And, most of the big billions of debt are still hanging over their heads. Plus, billions of dollars in new ship orders, etc. And, when does the next recession hit to affect future bookings? I understand the need to "pinch pennies", but how do they balance that with maintaining a high, superior level of service/quality. Not easy to make everyone happy?? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio India to Singaore 2024: Live/Blog with many visuals, including “Golden Triangle”, Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2992045-live-terryohio-india-to-signapore-silver-moon-rising-pix’s/

From the Wall Street Journal later on this Friday afternoon, below are their charts for the three major cruise lines. Overall, it was not a good week for either the cruise lines or the overall S&P 500. See the charts below. Also below is a look at Royal Caribbean during the most recent one month of trading. Not exactly a positive upswing after rising to 52-weeks high earlier in this month? Predictions for the cruise stock and/or the overall market during the rest of this month? Or, for later 2024? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Athens & Greece: Visuals, details from two visits in a city and nearby with great history, culture and architecture. Now at 64,323 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1101008 Here are the WSJ charts for the three major cruise stock during the most recent five days of trading. Two of the five days for Royal Caribbean involved sharp, negative drops. Is this all about the overall market slide? Or, something else?: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) For the most recent one-month period, here is the RCL chart from the Wall Street Journal. Up the mountain and then, down, down?: Here is the WSJ chart for the past week with the wider S&P 500 group of stock values.:

Great above guess and speculation!! The "transition" from her husband as CEO to Barbara was fascinating and raising interesting questions. Now this?? Inquiring minds want to know more as to the "Rest of the Story"!! THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

WOW!! Big, surprising news. How much does the new CEO for Silversea understand and appreciate about "customer service" with and for a luxury brand. With a customer base of people with high expectations? Will he stand up to the "bean counters" at Royal Caribbean who want to cut corners, save pennies and not understand a different, more sophisticated audience than for the larger, mass brands? AND, what is the "rest of the story". The change was IMMEDIATE!! Barbara quickly gone in one day. The new guy from outside Silversea there instantly! No smooth transition period. Lots of unknowns and questions. Fair or unfair?? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Next, we visited Chand Baori, a step well in the village of Abhaneri in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Extending approximately 100 feet into the ground, it is one of the deepest and largest stepwells in India. Its construction is dated back to the 8th-9th century. It has 3500 steps cascading 13 stories deep into a large tank at the bottom and has been constructed in an upside-down pyramid-style. Chand Baori is considered one of the oldest surviving step wells in the country. Also, an upper palace building was added to the site, viewed from the tabulated arches used by the Chauhan rulers. Part of that structure is shown in the first picture below. 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 33,037 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2465580 Here is a sampling from Chand Baori, a step well in the charming village of Abhaneri. Many interesting carved items are located at this historic site.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!)

In traveling from Agra to Jaipur, we stopped for lunch at a dining location associated with the Lakshmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara, Gujarat. It was constructed in 1890 by the Gaekwad family, a prominent Maratha family, who ruled the Baroda State. Large interesting buildings there. They receive many tour groups there with a large buffet. Decent food, OK, but nothing that special. Below are some visual samples from this stop. Per Wikipedia, this is reputed to have been the largest private dwelling built until that time, and four times the size of Buckingham Palace. At the time of construction, it boasted the most modern amenities such as elevators and the interior is reminiscent of a large European country house. When India got its independence in 1947, many of the old regional rulers with money/property lost out. BUT, for some, they had enough skill/power/position to hang on and adjust to gain revenue from tourism and other businesses. 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 34,813 views. Many pictures, details for history, food, culture, etc.: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511358 At the dining location associated with Lakshmi Vilas Palace, here are some visual samples. This includes one of its exterior, the music/dancing folks outside as we entered, an interior visual and one from the gardens outside.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) Here is a short video sampling of the music and setting at this newer, but historic India location.: DSC_3529.mov Here are a couple more "cattle" visuals. Yes, at limited times, you see them used for transportation. Or, just "hanging out" and/or roaming.:

Here in Central Ohio, we had the 100% total eclipse and it was TOTALLY AMAZING!! When things went dark for nearly four minutes, not only did we get the ability to see the Moon/Sun combo with our safety glasses off and be feeling things cool down. BUT, the biggest surprise was to experience a 360 degree "sunset" in all directions around us. North. South. West. East. There were light clouds around and that made this all-directions "sunset" look and experience seem much more unique and "unreal". In 2017, we had the partial eclipse. That was nice and good. BUT, the full 100% is so very much better. Egypt in 2027?? Maybe we could make that one. Sounds interesting. Glad we do not have to wait till around 2095 when the next full eclipse comes through Central Ohio. How many of us will be around in 2095?? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio India to Singaore 2024: Live/Blog with many visuals, including “Golden Triangle”, Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2992045-live-terryohio-india-to-signapore-silver-moon-rising-pix’s/

On the way to Jaipur, we toured Jodha Bai Mahal, the largest palace in Fatehpur Sikri commissioned by Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1569 for his favored queen. This Mahal is the largest complex of the zenana (palace for women belonging to the royal household). It features a fusion of Hindu and Persian architecture made with red sandstone. Akbar moved his capital from Agra to Fatehpur Sikri in honor of the prayers of Sheikh Salim Chisti. Those blessings were sought and Akbar believed that this led to the long-sought birth of a male heir for his empire's future. As added background, Akbar (1542-1605) was the third Mughal emperor, reigning from 1556 to 1605. Akbar succeeded his father, Humayun, under a regent who helped the young emperor expand and consolidate Mughal lands and control over a wider portion of the Indian subcontinent. And Akbar, like other Mughal rulers, were great builders who left many structures and treasures for future generations to explore and experience. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Dubrovnik! Visual samples, tips, details, etc., for this super scenic and historic location. Over 53,728 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1439227 At Jodha Bai Maha in Fatehpur Sikri, here is a sampling of the many, various structures and design details at this palace with a large area used by the various women connected to this royal family. Look interesting and spectacular? Great, amazing crafting?: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) This is an example from one of the interior garden areas at this royal palace.: These sandstone structures do not always hold up over hundreds of years to the weather and winds. Here was part of the craftsmen on-site preparing replacement pieces. Second is an interior view for one of the structures, showing my wife and our guide examining its details.: In this area, here is the flag of India, plus one of the nearby, historic gates/walls.:

Appreciate these great comments and follow-up from our experienced travel friend. Keep it coming with any and all posts, questions, shared experiences in this areas, etc. Sorry for my distractions and delays to be finishing up the visuals and details from our exploring of India's famed and amazing "Golden Triangle" prior to Mumbai and boarding the Silver Moon. Below are some visuals of the Red Fort near Agra and the travels from the Taj Mahal to colorful Jaipur. One key sight was the Agra Red Fort where Mughal emperor Humayun was crowned. It was later renovated by the Mughal emperor Akbar from 1565 and the present-day structure was completed in 1573. It served as the main residence of the rulers of the Mughal dynasty until 1638, when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi, per Wikipedia. In 1983, the Agra fort was named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its importance during the Mughal Dynasty. It is about 1.6 miles northwest of more famous Taj Mahal. This fort can be more accurately described as a walled city. It is built of red sandstone, helping to give this fortress its name and as used in many other locations in these parts of India. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Kotor/Montenegro: Various visual samples, tips, details, etc., for this scenic, historic location. Over 55,636 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1439193 Here are a couple of visual samples for the scale and design details of Agra's Red Fort. Big and impressive?: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) In departing Agra, below is a visual of the many monkeys climbing up on the fence at a military location at the edge of this historic city. Second is example as to how motorcycles are creatively used to transport even large items such as natural gas containers.: Along this routing exiting Agra there are colorful street markets, many locals using their bicycles for transportation and also a random, protected cow along a roadway.: