TLCOhio

Appreciate the kind comments and follow-up from Wes. Looks like exciting, upcoming travels for Wes. Plus, good comments from Dr. Ron, LAexNY, Beth. Wes' Cape Town visuals make the key point that there is so very much in and around Cape Town to see, do and enjoy. Cannot resist sharing more and planting a number of added ideas and great options. Need more options and potentials? Don't be shy with any and all questions, comments and visuals from your fun in this amazing region. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Late Summer 2022, many scenic visuals and details from Canada Maritimes doing Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton Island, etc., via a Tauck land tour. Visual Summary: www.flickr.com/photos/196555480@N08/albums Much in Cape Town revolves around Table Mountain, the busy waterfront area, etc. I did a helicopter tour over the region and was able to capture this overall view in the second picture. Plus, taking the cable car up, UP to the top Table Mountain is significant fun! Many, many options for in and around Cape Town. You cannot do "it" there in just a day or two. Plan accordingly!!: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) In the wine country region near Cape Town, these are the 400-year-old camphor trees that date way back to the early history for this area being a re-fueling location for traders going to India, etc.: Along the scenic coast south of Cape Town, there are lots to see, including these cute creatures.:

From the Washington Post this morning, they had this headline: “Nile is world’s longest river? Amazon would like a word.” with these highlights about two of the world's greatest rivers: “Guinness World Records, Britannica and the U.S. government agree: The longest river in the world is the mighty Nile — the 'father of African rivers,' Britannica says. But in Brazil, home to the powerful Amazon River, which cleaves South America more than slithers across it, the Nile’s standing is slightly lower.” Here is more: "What appears at first to be a basic geographic query, a matter of cold science and hard numbers, has instead morphed into a cartographical dispute that has divided the scientific and exploration communities. The Nile — or the Amazon? According to the U.S. Geological Survey and Britannica, the difference between their lengths is just 132 miles — less than the drive from Washington to Philadelphia. They have the Nile’s 4,132 miles barely edging out the Amazon’s 4,000." Clearly, the Amazon is much bigger in water volume. But, as rivers' paths change and evolve over decades and centuries, these interesting debates are discussed in this detailed profile. It is fun to have traveled a thousands miles up and back on the Amazon, but having also sailed, briefly, on the Nile while in Luxor. Full story at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/06/12/amazon-nile-longest-river/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F3a56ade%2F648f26f9b83e300047e9f20f%2F596de289ade4e215b7d0544b%2F14%2F54%2F648f26f9b83e300047e9f20f 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 71,779 views: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2076101-live-amazon-river-caribbean-many-pix’s-terryohio/

From the Washington Post this morning, they had this headline: “Nile is world’s longest river? Amazon would like a word.” with these highlights about two of the world's greatest rivers: “Guinness World Records, Britannica and the U.S. government agree: The longest river in the world is the mighty Nile — the 'father of African rivers,' Britannica says. But in Brazil, home to the powerful Amazon River, which cleaves South America more than slithers across it, the Nile’s standing is slightly lower.” Here is more: "What appears at first to be a basic geographic query, a matter of cold science and hard numbers, has instead morphed into a cartographical dispute that has divided the scientific and exploration communities. The Nile — or the Amazon? According to the U.S. Geological Survey and Britannica, the difference between their lengths is just 132 miles — less than the drive from Washington to Philadelphia. They have the Nile’s 4,132 miles barely edging out the Amazon’s 4,000." Clearly, the Amazon is much bigger in water volume. But, as rivers' paths change and evolve over decades and centuries, these interesting debates are discussed in this detailed profile. It is fun to have traveled a thousands miles up and back on the Amazon, but having also sailed, briefly, on the Nile while in Luxor. Full story at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/06/12/amazon-nile-longest-river/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F3a56ade%2F648f26f9b83e300047e9f20f%2F596de289ade4e215b7d0544b%2F14%2F54%2F648f26f9b83e300047e9f20f THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Late Summer 2022, many scenic visuals and details from Canada Maritimes doing Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton Island, etc., via a Tauck land tour. Visual Summary: www.flickr.com/photos/196555480@N08/albums

Appreciate the great follow-up from diesel1973. Yes, Myanmar/Burma would be "interesting", but I am sure the challenging economic and safety conditions are still there. Or, maybe worse? Given the continued "governmental/military" pressures and maybe "battles", there would have serious concerns as to how our three days of stops there would have worked. Or, not? We will watch with interest how things work out there in 2024 and for the future. Another issue was that our cruise ship docking location was about an hour's drive away via marginal roads from the heart of the main city. Lots of questions and issues for cruise ship travelers. Keep us posted as to any previous impressions from visiting that country. Or, your insights and predictions as to how this situation evolves. 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 243,992 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

Safe travels home for J.P. and Chris. Super enjoyed all of the interesting architecture, history, food and sights from Hamburg. Great sharing. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Yes! YES!! Appreciate Lois' wonderful shout-out for both Father's Day and this afternoon's U.S. Open final round. Great day of celebration!! Our son and grandsons will be down in Virginia, but we will be up in Ohio with our latest "little one", the Aussie Labroodle, Lizzie. How is she doing at age seven and a half months? Getting bigger and had to have her neutering surgery done in the past week. See a couple of visuals of her below from the past week. On golf, with it being played on the super elite grounds of the hyper-private Los Angeles Country Club, we can watch these final 18 holes in "Prime-Time" for those of us in the eastern and middle parts of our country. Close, interesting battles with the top, BEST golfers from both the LIV and PGA. Those pro golfer battles, etc., are a topic to avoid right now on these boards. Millionaires versus billionaires?? Too much of that in pro sports? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Late Summer 2022, many scenic visuals and details from Canada Maritimes doing Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton Island, etc., via a Tauck land tour. Visual Summary: www.flickr.com/photos/196555480@N08/albums Below is Lizzie up close with her amazing eyes and then outside playing and running with a fun stick. The life of a puppy? Like her tail?: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!)

From Conde Nast Traveler magazine, they had this headline: “The World’s Best Islands for Beaches” with this highlight that spotlighted Aruba being rated the best, number one: “For first-time visitors to this Dutch Caribbean island, it would be easy to never step foot off the two-mile strip of Palm Beach, with its high-rise hotels and access to watersports, from parasailing to kite-surfing to flyboarding—aka zooming above the surface of the water on a water-propelled jetpack. But look elsewhere on this nearly 70-square-mile island and you’ll find beaches that show off its surprising diversity of landscapes. Eagle Beach, for instance, is home to gnarled fofoti trees that twist and bend like bonsais due to the tradewinds, while rugged Blackstone Beach is covered in smooth black pebbles in the shadow of natural land bridges.” Full story at: https://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2015-02-24/top-10-most-beautiful-island-beaches-hawaii-australia?utm_source=nl&utm_brand=cnt&utm_mailing=CNT_Daily_AM_061823&utm_campaign=aud-dev&utm_medium=email&bxid=5db3f99524c17c23c34ecf3e&cndid=6657468&hasha=e1ca3019f9f535a4b98389997c63b892&hashb=7daf2541a0de702392cfe60ed513a5c2d1d23598&hashc=f541a9e649534cc2931bd57d58d8c2cac2bb8c5d298f722bad5b05cc8ad5ece2&esrc=IDCONDENAST_REGGATE&utm_term=CNT_Daily THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Late Summer 2022, many scenic visuals and details from Canada Maritimes doing Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton Island, etc., via a Tauck land tour. Visual Summary: www.flickr.com/photos/196555480@N08/albums

From Travel+Leisure magazine last month, they had this headline: “20 Beautiful Places to Visit in Portugal — From Fairy-tale Castles to Charming Beach Towns” with these highlights: “France and Spain have long taken center stage, with Portugal as a less-visited destination for in-the-know travelers. ” Among the locations they spotlighted included some favorites from our visiting Portugal in 2017: "One of the most beautiful places in Europe, Pena Palace is a hilltop Romanticist castle and the crown jewel of Sintra. Its candy-colored facade and sweeping terraces draw shutter-happy tourists from near and far. The stately interiors are filled with antiques, while the surrounding park provides tree-shaded pathways." "One of the most-visited landmarks in Lisbon and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the late Gothic Manueline-style Jerónimos Monastery stands tall as an enduring symbol of power dating back to the Age of Discovery. The block-long complex continues to impress with its magnificent maritime details, cloisters, and tombs." "Nazaré lures fearless surfers and attracts many curious tourists thanks to the larger-than-life swells that were the subject of the documentary '100 Foot Wave.' The huge breaks mean you’re likely not going to paddle out, but it’s worth the drive to see the enormous waves crash into the rocks and grab lunch at one of the local restaurants." We super enjoyed these three locations we were able to experience. Now, we need to work our way down this list among these remaining seventeen places in Portugal. Fun goal? Full story at: https://www.travelandleisure.com/best-places-to-visit-in-portugal-7489338 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 33,541 views. Many pictures, details for history, food, culture, etc.: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511358

With our Mumbai to Singapore, February 2024, Silversea cruise scrubbing out from its three planned days in Myanmar/Burma (due to military/economic uncertainities there), they are adding two more days for Sri Lanka, plus more time in Phuket. We will still have our originally-scheduled two days for Colombo, Sri Lanka, Fri.-Sat., Feb. 16-17. But, then they are adding a full day each for port stops at Hambantota and Trincomalee, respectively, at the southern and northeast parts of Sri Lanka. What are the key suggestions, tips and ideas for in and around Colombo, Hambantota and Trincomalee?? Must-sees, best options for Sri Lanka?? We like history, culture, architecture, photography, nature, wildlife, food, etc. First time for visiting India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, etc. Tell us more! 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 243,992 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

From the Wall Street Journal yesterday, they had this headline: “Venice Minus the Mobs: A Traveler’s Guide to Its Quiet (Even Empty) Corners" with this sub-headline: "Instead of hitting the touristy Doges Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica, plan your itinerary around these charming neighborhoods and hype-free restaurants our intensely crowd-averse writer (and frequent Venice visitor) has discovered.” Here are some of their reporting highlights by Tara Isabella Burton: “In summertime, on days so sweltering that the cobblestones themselves seem to sweat, it is almost impossible to walk from Venice’s Rialto Bridge to the Piazza San Marco along the main roads. The surge of day-trippers clog the central pathways. A tourist struggling to haul a suitcase over a bridge is enough to bring a hundred people to a standstill. A 10-minute stroll—by map directions—can take half an hour or more. It’s the Venice so often described, and fairly decried, as a tourist trap: an on-rails carnival, less a city than a conglomeration of souvenir shops.” Get away from the crowds, she details and suggests: "Take an unexpected, even exasperated, left, off the Salizada S. Giovanni Grisostomo or the Calle del Lovo, and you are as likely as not to find yourself alone. Turn a blind alley, until you can no longer hear the sound of footsteps. You may find yourself in an unmarked square at a hidden eatery, like my own found favorite, Osteria il Milion, named for Marco Polo (“Il Milione,” Venetians called him), who had a palazzo nearby. The restaurant is a place where the waitstaff remembers your order year after year. Intoxicatingly labyrinthine, Venice is indeed most easily navigated through its obvious arteries. But if you’re willing to get a little lost and leave the thronging nexus of the San Marco area behind, I know few cities better for silence." Full story at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/venice-travel-guide-quiet-corners-287b1b12?mod=life_work_lead_pos1 THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio AFRICA?!!?: Fun, interesting visuals, plus travel details from this early 2016 live/blog. At 54,237 views. Featuring Cape Town, South Africa’s coast, Mozambique, Victoria Falls/Zambia and Botswana's famed Okavango Delta. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2310337

For our February 2024 Mumbai to Singapore cruise, just got the notice from the Silversea CEO that the three days for Myanmar/Burma has been scrubbed due to what is called "significant geopolitical unrest". Not totally surprised. In my view, it is better to know sooner rather than later to make any needed adjustments. Other Silversea stops for this challenged country are being skipped in 2024. What about for other cruise lines? When were the last cruise stops there? Before Covid? From the French AFP newswire today, they had this headline: “Myanmar junta-backed media slams 'rotten' United Nations” with these highlights: “Myanmar state media condemned the United Nations as 'rotten' on Friday, days after the UN special envoy for the country stepped down and the world body slammed curbs on aid for cyclone survivors. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military seized power in February 2021, ending a brief democratic experiment and sparking clashes across the country with ethnic rebel groups and anti-coup fighters. The military has criticised attempts by the UN and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations bloc to establish dialogue between the junta and its opponents, whom it has vowed to 'annihilate'. ” WOW!! Does not sound calm and orderly there in that challenged country with so much history, culture and architecture. On our cruise, they are shifting to maximizing on the expanded opportunities for Sri Lanka (two added stops there) and in Phuket. We welcome any special tips, ideas and suggestions for any and all of these areas. Full story at: https://www.daily-sun.com/post/695507/Myanmar-juntabacked-media-slams-rotten-United-Nations 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 71,779 views: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2076101-live-amazon-river-caribbean-many-pix’s-terryohio/

Yes, Bill, it is a great itinerary, but, late this week, Silversea announced a change. The three days in Myanmar/Burma have been scrubbed due the military/government tensions and uncertainty in that challenged nation. No surprise. They have added additional stops in Sri Lanka for Hambantota and Trincomalee, plus added time for scenic Phuket in Thailand. We welcome any and all tips, ideas and suggestions for these areas. Appreciate the kind comment on the map. Will have to revise that visual in the coming weeks. Please share more from your two weeks in India during your April 2018 visit there. Any pictures of interest to post? 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 247,516 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1172051-livesilver-cloud-norway-coastfjords-july-1-16-reports/

Appreciate these comments and follow-ups from Stumblefoot, highplanesdrifters and David63. There is a potential, maybe, for a safari during the Hambantota port stop to allow a visit to a nearby major Sri Lanka National Park noted for its elephants and leopards. Will know more on June 26 when Silversea posts the excursion options for these stops at Hambantota and Trincomalee. From the French AFP newswire today, they had this headline: “Myanmar junta-backed media slams 'rotten' United Nations” with these highlights: “Myanmar state media condemned the United Nations as 'rotten' on Friday, days after the UN special envoy for the country stepped down and the world body slammed curbs on aid for cyclone survivors. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military seized power in February 2021, ending a brief democratic experiment and sparking clashes across the country with ethnic rebel groups and anti-coup fighters. The military has criticised attempts by the UN and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations bloc to establish dialogue between the junta and its opponents, whom it has vowed to 'annihilate'. ” WOW!! Does not sound calm and orderly there in that challenged country with so much history, culture and architecture. As I mentioned earlier, it is good to know now and then we can focus for maximizing on the expanded opportunities for Sri Lanka and Phuket. We welcome any special tips, ideas and suggestions for these areas. Full story at: https://www.daily-sun.com/post/695507/Myanmar-juntabacked-media-slams-rotten-United-Nations 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 247,516 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1172051-livesilver-cloud-norway-coastfjords-july-1-16-reports/ From an Ohio Judge who has recently taught in Sri Lanka, she sent me some visuals from that nation. First is this Buddha statue in Sri Lanka. Colorful and interesting?: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) Here is a beach scene from Sri Lanka. Their beaches, especially around Trincomalee, are supposed to be spectacular!:

All three cruise line stocks hit 12-month highs yesterday/Friday. Good news? From the Wall Street Journal, below are the charts for the performance of these three stocks during the past five trading days. The upward inflation rate is slowing somewhat and interest rates hikes have been paused, briefly. But, consumer spending is having some questions and slowing. Where for the economic future? From July 14, 2022, when RCL was at only $31.28 a share, you could have more than tripled your money if you sold yesterday at a peak of $96.67 a share. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio AFRICA?!!?: Fun, interesting visuals, plus travel details from this early 2016 live/blog. At 54,237 views. Featuring Cape Town, South Africa’s coast, Mozambique, Victoria Falls/Zambia and Botswana's famed Okavango Delta. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2310337 From the Wall Street Journal, here are the past week's trading of the three major cruise line companies. As indicated on each chart, these three stocks hit a 12-month high early in Friday's trading. But, these stocks slid back a little later in the day. Proof taking?: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) For the past twelve months, here is the chart that shows the steady, upward progress and trend for Royal Caribbean. Did you have the courage to buy back their stock back in June 2022?:

In checking your Singapore to Mumbai March 2024 schedule, Silversea has now added the stops in Sri Lanka for Trincomalee and Hambantota. Clearly, they are playing "catch up" to notify everyone, try to hold those who have previously booked, figure out the various port excursion options, etc. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Super appreciate ALL of the many posts, visuals, details, etc., shared by JP, Chris, Rachel and George. Glad to know that LAexNY will continue on this SS ship. Liked the pix's and what you shared from Hamburg. Fun and interesting. Great mix of different experiences posted. Triple Gold Stars!!! for all involved. Given my interest in photography, J.P. has really upped his game with his excellent "food porn" visuals. Very tasty and nice. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

For our February 2024 Mumbai to Singapore cruise, just got the notice from the Silversea CEO that the three days for Myanmar/Burma has been scrubbed due to what is called "significant geopolitical unrest". Not totally surprised. In my view, it is better to know sooner rather than later to make any needed adjustments. Assume that any other Silversea stops for this challenged country are being skipped. Silversea will offer a number of option, including for those who stay on this cruise: "If you choose to stay booked on this voyage, you will receive a 15% future cruise credit issued 60 days prior to sailing and a shipboard credit of 500 USD per suite to enjoy while on board." For those seeking to cancel, they offer a number of different options, including a full refund to FCC, etc. Here is the revised schedule, including two additional stops in Sri Lanka, more time for Phuket, etc. Also: "A stop in New Mangalore, India has also been eliminated from the itinerary due to restrictions by local authorities." The new schedule: Would have liked to have seen Myanmar/Burma, but this allows some added time in other places of interest. 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 71,779 views: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2076101-live-amazon-river-caribbean-many-pix’s-terryohio/

YES!! Have done and you can see and read many details from my live/blog detailed below. We did five days for in and around Cape Town prior to the cruise, plus a couple of private tours during our sailing. Then, as the "Cherry on top of the Sundae", we did Victoria Falls and amazing Botswana after completing our cruise. When you fly this far, we wanted to "MAXIMIZE" the adventure experience. Happy to answer any and all questions. Did we enjoy? Below are a few visual evidence examples. Some of cruise excursions are OK, but our private ones, including with an overnight staying in a National Park there, provided excellent experiences that ship tours could not match. In an area such as Africa, you want to research and plan accordingly. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio AFRICA?!!?: Fun, interesting visuals, plus travel details from this early 2016 live/blog. At 54,237 views. Featuring Cape Town, South Africa’s coast, Mozambique, Victoria Falls/Zambia and Botswana's famed Okavango Delta. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2310337 From our two different private safari tours over three days, here are a few examples of the special wildlife observed and enjoyed.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) We visited a school in the Zulu area of eastern South Africa during our private tour.: Does this hippo need to brush his teeth more often?:

What is new and best for India? First time to be visiting India and these other locations. Love to learn any smart tips, suggestions and secrets for these various, exotic parts of the world. Our India plans for early 2024 include doing private tour options for Agra, New Delhi, etc. Then fly to Mumbai/Bombay Feb. 11, a day there, then starting 18-day Silversea cruise with stops at Mormugao (Goa), New Mangalore and Cochin. Then stops in Sri Lanka, Myanmar/Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, etc., before finishing Feb. 29 in Singapore. Added time in Singapore, then fly to Tokyo for 2.5 days there before flying home through DFW. Below is my graphic for our general travel plan. Tips, ideas, insights? From CNN, the cable news network, earlier this week, they had this headline: “India is now the most populous country in the world. And it’s ready to become a tourism force” with these highlights: “Having recently become the world’s most populous nation, India has sparked much speculation about whether it will continue to surpass China in other arenas. All eyes now are on the South Asian superpower’s growing influence on the global stage. And the tourism industry is no exception. By 2024, Indians are expected to spend more than $42 billion per year on outbound travel. India is experiencing what Omri Morgenshtern, CEO of travel and bookings website Agoda, calls a tourism 'boom,' and is currently 'the biggest growing outbound destination.' ” Here is more from this story: "It isn’t just about the number of people traveling, either. The country is continuing to pour billions of dollars into growing its aviation industry and cementing its status as a travel hub." Full story at: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/india-outbound-tourism-intl-hnk/index.html 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 243,992 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

From the Wall Street Journal this morning, they had this headline: “Americans Are Shopping Through Uncertainty" with this sub-headline: "Worries about the outlook matter, but for U.S. consumers, the means to spend matters more.” Here are some of their reporting highlights: “The Federal Reserve keeps raising rates, forecasters keep warning that a recession is around the corner, inflation is still a problem, and consumer surveys show people feel down in the dumps. And yet, Americans manage to keep on spending. The Commerce Department on Thursday reported that retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 0.3% in May from April, defying economist estimates that called for a decline. The gains were broad-based, with sales up at department stores, sporting-goods stores and furniture stores, among others. They are spending like people who aren’t terribly worried about their next paycheck.” Is this good news for the cruise lines and keeping ships full? Full story at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/americans-are-shopping-through-uncertainty-3bcf84?mod=hp_lead_pos4 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 54,602 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1101008

Appreciate your posting and follow-ups, especially as a first-timer. We have great memories from doing four cruises on the Silver Cloud, including the Norway Coast up to the top of Europe, in South Africa and up and down the amazing Amazon River. Be interested, when handy, as to how many are on this ship for your sailing. Plus, if you can share any visuals of the food, crew, locations, etc., that is always interesting for those of us following along. Hint! Hint!! We have done much previously for Dublin, Wales, etc. Love those charming and iteresting areas Look forward for much more from your upcoming locations. 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 247,516 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1172051-livesilver-cloud-norway-coastfjords-july-1-16-reports/

Excellent point for trying perceives, aka gooseneck barnacles. Will do when we visit Portugal in the future. My wife really wants to spend more time in Porto. Appreciate these great comments and follow-ups from bennybear and others. Keep it coming. From the Travel Section of the USA Today this morning, they had this headline: “4 spectacular (and cheap) European destinations” with these highlights focused for Portugal: “What I consider one of the best destinations in the world to travel. Portugal has it all: gastronomy, history, architecture, activities, beaches, nature, vineyards, etc. In short, a long list of many offers and activities that you can do in one place. Flights from New York, Washington D.C., Boston, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles and Seattle to cities like Lisbon or Porto can often be had for less than $499-$599 round trip. Be sure to visit, apart from its two main cities, Cascais, Sintra, Nazaré, Aveiro, Coimbra and Evora. Portuguese gastronomy has some delicacies that you must try, such as Pastéis de nata, octopus, bacalhau (salted cod), or duck rice.” This experienced writer was making suggestions to sample Europe without doing the usually costly destinations, such as Amsterdam, London and Paris. Full story at: https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/columnist/2023/06/15/travel-europe-cheap-destinations/70307606007/ THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Dubrovnik! Visual samples, tips, details, etc., for this super scenic and historic location. Over 49,737 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1439227

Yes and Yes! in response to highplanesdrifters. Agree face-to-face meeting/connections can be the best and most preferred. But, today's technology allowing us to make connections while sailing in the middle of the South Pacific would be unimaginable just a decade or two back. Appreciate these great follow-ups. On our early 2020 South Pacific sailing right before Covid shut it all down, I got a text message from my brother-in-law about a serious health situation affecting my sister back in Ohio. I was able to call from the ship, talk to him, learn more, etc. Amazing technology and connections!! Being able to follow along for major news stories, check email, staying in touch with friends, etc., makes doing cruises in remote distant location very feasible. And, more fun!! From the USA Today yesterday, they had this headline: “COVID's lasting effects: For many, wine tastes like water and smoke smells like clean air” with these highlights: “Loss of smell was one of the defining characteristics of COVID-19 when it first spread in 2020; about 80% of those infected reported at least short-term loss. Although variants of omicron seem to have less effect on smell, about 15% of those infected endure at least a temporary loss. It has been unclear why many people endure sensory loss longer. A new study based on a 2021 national survey found more than 6 million people reported sensory loss as of that year, and a quarter reported long-term deficits.” Is it true or false that those hit with "long Covid" are still facing some uncertainties for how much they might be impacted in the months and years ahead? This story also noted: "Typically, the sense of taste depends on smell. Garlic and ginger, for instance, provide sensory input through the nose as much or more than the taste buds, " Full story at: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2023/06/14/long-covid-effects-smell-taste-loss/70315439007/ 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 243,992 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

From this financial news website connected below yesterday morning, they had this headline: “Why Carnival, Booking Holdings, and Norwegian Cruise Line Are No-Brainer Buys Right Now” with these highlights: “In many ways, the maritime cruise industry has fully recovered from the pandemic's impact. Other facets of the leisure travel business are also showing comparable strength. Although these stocks will likely remain volatile, the bigger-picture trend looks decidedly bullish.” Right or wrong? Here is more from their review: "Maritime cruise company Carnival Corp. continues to bounce back from the pandemic's impact. That's the take from JPMorgan Chase analysts, anyway. The bank's research arm upgraded the stock to a rating of overweight earlier this week, citing an uninterrupted recovery in demand. Bank of America followed suit, upgrading Carnival shares to a buy. Both banks also upped their expectations of Carnival rivals Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Cruises. The bullish calls hold water, too. Smart investors, however, will take a step back from these bullish arguments and apply their underpinnings to the entire leisure and travel sector." Full story at: https://www.fool.com/investing/2023/06/14/carnival-booking-holdings-norwegian-cruise-buys/ 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 71,779 views: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2076101-live-amazon-river-caribbean-many-pix’s-terryohio/

Appreciate these great comments and follow-ups from taxatty in Florida, J.P. and Stumblefoot. Excellent info. Keep it coming!! Very helpful. From the Washington Post yesterday morning, they had this headline: “There’s a widening spending gap between retirees and younger adults" with this sub-headline: "Baby Boomers are shelling out for cruises, vacations and restaurants, while younger generations are pulling back, a new report shows. The divide could widen even more if the economy sours.” Here are some of their reporting highlights: “Older Americans are splurging on travel and dining out more than younger consumers, who are spending more on housing and basics, in an unusual and growing generational gap in spending patterns, according to a new report. Internal data from Bank of America account holders reflects a widening split in spending habits between working-age adults and retirees. Baby boomers (roughly ages 59 to 77) and traditionalists (ages 78 to 95) in every income group are outspending their younger counterparts. Many of those gains were concentrated in leisure spending, such as travel and hotels. 'There’s a large wedge that’s opened up between the older generation and the younger generation’s spending,' said David Tinsley, senior economist at the Bank of America Institute. One reason for the divide, he said, could be a shift in spending behavior after the pandemic, which proved riskier and more dangerous for older Americans who may have been reluctant to travel until now.” As a Baby Boomer and someone who follows these generational trends closely, this story and demographic background helps explain why many of the Silversea sailings are booking up and prices are rising. BUT, if these trends are true, what will be the impacts for the mass-market lines that need big booking numbers and money from many of those in these younger age groups? Full story at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/06/14/generation-spending-gap-baby-boomers-millennials/ 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 104,236 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1278226