TLCOhio

Here is another "take" for the announcement by Carnival. From the Reuters newswire this morning, they had this headline: “Carnival posts smaller loss on strong travel demand, higher ticket pricing” with these highlights: “Carnival reported a smaller-than-expected quarterly loss and beat estimates for revenue, helped by strong demand for leisure travel, higher ticket prices and strong on-board spending. Cruise operators like Carnival, Royal Caribbean Group and Norwegian Cruise Lines Holdings are reporting resilient demand from cooped-up consumers undeterred by elevated inflation. 'We are still experiencing a record wave season, which started early, gained strength and has extended later into the year,' Carnival CEO Josh Weinstein said. Carnival’s shares were down about 3% in morning trading as the operator forecasted a larger-than-expected full-year loss, signaling that inflation and rising fuel prices were hurting its profit margins. U.S. airlines have largely been bullish about travel demand for the rest of the year, shaking off worries of slowing demand and cost pressures. Airline chief executives this month said leisure travels remains strong even though recession fears have sparked concerns about consumer spending.” As you can see by this below Wall Street Journal chart, the traders were not happy with this announcement by Carnival. Down, DOWN was the trend for this company today. The other two cruises did not drop that significantly today. Full story at: https://www.reuters.com/article/carnival-results/update-5-carnival-posts-smaller-loss-on-strong-travel-demand-higher-ticket-pricing-idUSL4N35Z2X6 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 31,843 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2465580

Appreciate these great comments and detailed follow-up from our northern Philadelphia suburban neighbor. You did very well in focusing on the "education level, wealth and age" factors affecting the cruise industry. Agree, we do not want to go on any type of political tangent. As the Dragnet TV Joe Friday said: "Just the facts, ma'am!" From the Wall Street Journal this afternoon, they had this headline: “Carnival Forecasts Another Loss This Year as Cruise Costs Rise" with this sub-headline: "Projected loss comes as Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise expect to post profits this year.” Here are some of their reporting highlights: “Carnival Corp. said it expects to post another loss this year as the cruise operator tries to mount a comeback amid rising costs. The downbeat guidance from Carnival comes after rivals Royal Caribbean Group and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. have both forecast their first profitable years since the pandemic roiled operations. The cruise sector and other companies across travel and hospitality are facing with higher costs from food, labor, fuel and more. The cruise companies, which issued billions in debt to survive the pandemic, are also getting hit by rising interest rates. Carnival Chief Executive Josh Weinstein said Monday the company is positioned to pay down its debt without selling more equity.” The WSJ also gave this added background: "The company raised its cost expectations for the year, with executives citing everything from food and advertising to labor and fuel. The company also decided to re-enter a couple of still idled ships into service to meet higher demand. The company said adjusted nonfuel cruise costs are now expected to rise 6.5% to 7.5% from 2019 levels, up from prior guidance issued in December of a 5% to 6% increase." Full story at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/carnival-ccl-q1-earnings-report-2023-cf676c5d 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 33,235 views. Many pictures, details for history, food, culture, etc.: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511358

From MSN News today and a travel news website this morning, they had this headline: “Cruise line gift cards: Where to buy them, how to spend them” with these highlights: “If you’re racking your brain to come up with the perfect gift for your cruise-loving family member or friend, consider buying them a gift card or certificate from their favorite cruise line. Cruisers can use toward purchasing their cruise fare or splurging on a beverage package, specialty restaurant or spa treatment. Don’t rule out the first-timers on your list; you can help them fund their first foray into cruising or surprise them with something extra to make their upcoming trip special. If you’re a cruiser, you may also want to purchase a gift card for yourself, especially when you can find a deal. AARP sometimes offers digital gift cards for cruise lines like Princess, Holland America and Royal Caribbean at a savings of 10%.” No mention in this article that is focused mainly on the larger, mass-market cruises as to if luxury lines such as Silversea make it easy to purchase such discount cards. Interesting idea, especially if you can get such gift cards at a discounted price. Anyone found such discounted cards for Silversea? Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/cruise-line-gift-cards-where-to-buy-them-how-to-spend-them/ar-AA197Qbb 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 50,995 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1101008

From the London/UK-focus International Business News this morning, they had this headline: “Travel stocks are expected to soar in the post-pandemic world" with this sub-headline: "People are increasingly looking to travel internationally once again, leading to a rise in the travel industry, which had previously contributed 6.7 per cent of all gross value added in the UK in 2018.” Here are some of their analysis/reporting highlights: “The increased desire to travel in the post-pandemic world has led to a rapid rise in the holiday market. Driven by the demand for adventure, the travel sector, which continues to grow, is expected to make a full recovery. As COVID-19 slowly becomes a thing of the past, here's everything you need to know about the trends in the travel stock market. The travel and tourism industries contributed 6.7 per cent of all gross value added in the UK in 2018. According to the World Tourism Organisation's (UNWTO) scenarios presented in May 2022, international tourism recovered 63 per cent of its pre-pandemic levels. The UNWTO also predicted that inbound tourism spending will exceed $1.4 trillion (£1.14 trillion) globally in 2023. More people are looking to travel internationally as it is now simpler and less stressful than it was a year ago. While the prices of airlines, hotels and more have increased, the demand has not decreased.” Here are the top five travel stocks that this profile predicts to watch in 2023: TripAdvisor (TRIP), Expedia (EXPE), Boeing (BA), Airbnb (ABNB) and Booking Holdings (BKNG), the world's largest online travel agency by revenue. Right or wrong, this article did not mention and highlight any of the three major cruise line companies. Reactions? Full story at: https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/travel-stocks-are-expected-soar-post-pandemic-world-1714581 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 101,935 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1278226

Appreciate this follow-up and the mention of "DEMOGRAPHICS". From the Washington Post this past weekend, they had this interesting article that gave a wide range of data as to who sails on cruise more versus those less likely to sail. We will not get into any of the political aspects as we need to avoid those discussions here on the Cruise Critic boards. But certain of the data for ages, income, geographic, etc., might be of interest as to which groups sail more versus less. The Post had this headline: “The politics of cruise ships, and more!” with these highlights from: “Carl Bialik at YouGov, a polling impresario who once wrote the (excellent) Numbers column at the Wall Street Journal. Late last year, YouGov asked 1,000 American adults this very question (at least the one about cruises) as a way to gauge how the coronavirus pandemic had changed our behavior.” Clearly this data shows that those older, with higher educational and income levels, are more likely to do cruise sailing. And, those from the Midwest are the least likely to do cruise sailing. No major men versus women differences. If you are a cruise executive, you are targeting higher income/education audiences with your marketing. Plus, focusing on certain zip codes, too!! Also, interesting data as to those more likely to travel by airplane. Any other reactions and impressions? Full story at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/03/24/cruises-covid-politics/ THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio AFRICA?!!?: Fun, interesting visuals, plus travel details from this early 2016 live/blog. At 53,877 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 this Washington Post article, below are the demographic details and background from those in the USA who cruise versus those less likely to sail.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!)

Appreciate this great follow-up and excellent questions/interests for more on the Christian history, etc., in and around Istanbul. Even though you are from Texas, I loved seeing your Buckeye logo and name connection. Originally from Ohio?? As mentioned earlier from reading "City of Fortune" book about Venice, I learned of this Italian City-State leadership for the major conquest in 1204 in taking over what was then called Constantinople. This happened in April 1204 and marked the twisted culmination of the Fourth Crusade. After the city's sacking, most of the Byzantine Empire's territories were divided up among the Crusaders. Later in the early 1900's, there were the genocides of Greeks, Armenians, and Assyrians done by Turks. Constantinople was considered to be the center and the "cradle of Orthodox Christian civilization." Hagia Sophia was built in AD 537 during the reign of Justinian I, Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, as a major Christian location for worship. It was in its time the world's largest building and an engineering marvel. Per Wikipedia, it is argued that the actions of the Crusaders thus directly accelerated the collapse of Christendom in the east, and in the long run helped facilitate the later Ottoman conquests of Southeastern Europe. The sack of Constantinople is a major turning point in medieval history. The Crusaders' decision to attack the world's largest Christian city was unprecedented and highly controversial per reading the details from the Venice book. Turkey is also home to the Seven Churches of Asia, where the Revelation to John was sent. Apostle John is reputed to have taken Virgin Mary to Ephesus in western Turkey, where she spent the last days of her life in a small house, known as the House of the Virgin Mary. That location near Ephesus still survives today and we visited it in 2008. Christian history in Turkey? Yes, lots of it is there. Given the current challenged leadership in charge of Turkey now, many things are evolving and changing. Some not good, some otherwise. I would do much more Google research and maybe seek out a guide who specializes in knowing and exploring many of these major Christian connections to Constantinople and current Istanbul. Does this help a little? Maybe some others with deep knowledge as to these elements of religious history can add some insights, tips and suggestions. Keep up your research and preparation. You have time before your 2024 trip. 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 33,235 views. Many pictures, details for history, food, culture, etc.: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511358

From Conde Nast Traveler last month, they had this headline: “Best Things to Do in Dominica, the Caribbean’s ‘Nature Island’ " with this sub-headline: "From the commercial capital of Roseau—filled with the buzz of market vendors, bouyon soca and bélé folk music—to lulling fishing villages like Scotts Head that offer up bay views and the fresh catch of the day.” Here are some of their reporting highlights: “Landing on Dominica provides a Jurassic Park-like thrill, and first-hand glimpse of why the eastern Caribbean country is called Nature Island. Wildlife-rich rainforests, bubbling natural hot springs, varied hiking trails, and an ocean teeming with fluorescent-colored sea life make it one of the most coveted diving regions in the world. Tourists don’t crowd its city center or quiet mountainside villages like other neighboring countries, giving visitors plenty of opportunity to explore at their own pace. This year, Dominica welcomes the return of a number of cultural festivals that were on pause due to the pandemic. In April, the island’s rich Creole traditions come alive for Jazz ‘N Creole, a family-friendly event held each year at Fort Shirley in Cabrits National Park.” Full story at: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/the-best-things-to-do-in-dominica-eat-stay-play?utm_source=nl&utm_brand=cnt&utm_mailing=CNT_Daily_AM_032723&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 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/

From the Wall Street Journal late today, below are their charts that reflect as to how "Wild and Rocky" was the stock market this past week. This includes for the three cruise lines. Does this look like the Rocky Mountains with the various high's and low's? Clearly the overall markets are not stable and confident. This includes, as just one example, the headline late today for "Deutsche Bank Stock Falls on Contagion Fears." See more on this German bank at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/deutsche-bank-stock-tumbles-on-contagion-fears-1250eb04?mod=hp_lead_pos1 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 242,593 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/ From the Wall Street Journal late this afternoon, here is how the three major cruise companies performed during the past five trading days. All positive and understandable?: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) From the Wall Street Journal late this morning, here is how the overall S&P 500 stock index for the week moved UP and DOWN. Look like a roller coaster ride?:

Although this Wall Street Journal article yesterday morning does not specifically mention Silversea, this reporting spotlights a key trend for many travelers wanting a smaller, more unique "personal" sailing experience. They had this headline: “Hate Crowded Cruises? 6 Small-Ship Getaways to Book Instead" with this sub-headline: "These voyages keep the passenger lists small, the suites luxurious and the activities exclusive, from gliding to Galapagos to slicing through ice on the way to the North Pole.” Here some of their reporting highlights: “As a locked-down world unlocks, cruising is booming. Popular megaships with over 6,000 passengers—and extras like an ice-skating rink, IMAX, crazy waterslides and Broadway-scale theaters—welcome the budget-conscious. But those wary of packed conditions, banquet-size buffets and iffy renditions of 'Mamma Mia' are turning to more intimate adventures on cruise ships with fewer passengers, celebrity-chef cuisine and thoughtful tours, even if obliged to pay considerably more. 'Smaller expeditions are up 43% over 2019,' reported Misty Belles, vice president of global public relations for Virtuoso, a network of 20,000 travel advisers.” This article makes a key point that is very important to us. We do not want to just "Float on a Boat" around in the Caribbean and/or Med seeing the "same old, same old" that we have done previously. Unique destinations on smaller ships has many advantages and this WSJ article re-enforces that valuable point. That demand and interest has to be helping Silversea fill up its ships. Full story at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/small-ship-cruises-alaska-north-pole-galapagos-2768566?mod=life_work_lead_pos2 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 71,175 views: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2076101-live-amazon-river-caribbean-many-pix’s-terryohio/

Agree on the major questions facing the U.S. Treasury Secretary, the Fed, etc. Congress does hold the "purse strings", but when, how and if will they act or react?? Is that the right/key question? From a Wall Street Journal-related financial website earlier this week, they had this headline: “Shares of Carnival Corp. rose" with this sub-headline: "Deutsche Bank analyst Chris Woronka made a short-term recommendation to buy, a week before the cruise operator reports fiscal first-quarter results.” Here are some of their story highlights: “ 'The company reports [fiscal first-quarter] results premarket on Monday, March 27, and we believe the report is likely to elicit a positive reacting from the stock, based primarily on weakening sentiment heading into the prints, as well as what we believe to be a low bar for [Carnival’s] outlook for the remainder of [fiscal 2023],' Woronka wrote in a note to clients. Woronka said investors may be concerned about possible deceleration in consumer spending if the economy slows further, but he believes leisure travel should remain one of the more resilient subsectors of the larger consumer discretionary sector.” Will leisure travel remain "resilient" when and if the economy slows down?? Full story at: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/carnivals-sto 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 246,535 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1172051-livesilver-cloud-norway-coastfjords-july-1-16-reports/ From the Wall Street Journal late this morning, here is how BIG is the stock price zooming UP, UP for Carnival. Major positive upswing?: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see this visual larger/better!)

YES, there are "Ripple Effects" happening that impact the financial markets. Appreciate your follow-up for those special classes of Europe bonds. From the New York Times this afternoon, they had this headline: “The Fed Raised Rates and Acknowledged Bank Uncertainty" with this sub-headline: "Federal Reserve officials raised interest rates by a quarter-point while noting that bank turmoil could help slow the economy.” Here are a couple of their reporting highlights: “Federal Reserve officials raised interest rates by a quarter-point on Wednesday as officials tried to balance two conflicting problems: the risk that inflation could remain rapid and the threat that higher borrowing costs could fuel turmoil in the banking system. The Fed on Wednesday pushed interest rates to a range of from 4.75 percent to 5 percent, and it forecast one more rate increase in 2023. In doing so, officials tried to signal that they remained focused on wrestling down price increases and were also paying attention to financial threats.” Below you can see how this Fed announcement sent cruise and other stocks, down, down and DOWN. Not good news? Full story at: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/22/business/federal-reserve-interest-rates-banks.html THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Barcelona/Med: June 2011, with stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Great visuals with key highlights, tips, etc. Live/blog now at 256,195 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1362155-solstice-livefirst-timer-reportspix’s-italycroatian-june-7-19/ Here is the Wall Street Journal chart for the past five days of Royal Caribbean trading. WOW!! What a big, BIG drop in value this afternoon when word got out as to the actions of Federal Reserve to raise interest rates. Does this sound good for the economy moving forward? In a little over an hour, RCL dropped sharply down more than two dollar a share. That was after a dramatic jump, up, UP early Tuesday morning. What is happening and will it become predictable?: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see this visual larger/better!)

Appreciate, J.P., this info and follow-ups. Seems interesting, especially for exploring these various, more remote areas in Finland and Sweden. You will be near St. Petersburg, but not in Russia. Hope all stays calm in this challenged part of the world. Look forward to your pictures and details for this new, unique "adventure"! Are most of these ports new for Silversea and/or any major cruise lines to be visiting? Doing any more traveling in Germany after the Hamburg docking? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

The three cruise stocks are up, UP big early this morning. Royal Caribbean is up 3.4% as of 10:34 am today. The other two companies are up 4.3% to 5.4%. Something major driving this positive swing? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

YES, there is much connected/questioned with those crypto companies involving some of the banks under major market/regulator pressure. Had not previously heard about AT1s till the mention here. WOW!! Some folks are getting hit hard with financial wipe-outs when those "investors" might have assumed and hoped that such "bonds" carried more/better security and protections. Great comments and follow-up. From a key travel news website this morning, they had this headline: “Thoughts on generational change at NCLH and across the cruise industry” with these highlights: “With NCLH, all the Big Three public cruise companies will have new leaders inside an 18-month stretch emerging from the toughest period ever faced — an industrywide shutdown. Harry Sommer to replace Del Rio as president/CEO of NCLH July 1 follows Josh Weinstein taking over from Arnold Donald at Carnival Corp. & plc in August 2022 and Jason Liberty succeeding Richard Fain at Royal Caribbean Group in January 2022. What does this mean for the companies and the industry? 'All three publicly traded companies have new leadership as well as many of the individual brands ... It is a generational change,' said Alex Sharpe, president/CEO, Signature Travel Network. While these new leaders are younger, all have extensive time in the industry and their companies, although not as front guys for most of their careers, Sharpe observed. Sommer has run Norwegian Cruise Line for a relatively short period (three years), yet it was the most difficult time in industry history. At the start of the pandemic, Weinstein was called back to the corporate headquarters, first as chief operations officer, after heading Carnival UK for three years. 'Those years of experience in life and in running those companies made those men uniquely qualified during a time no one could have prepared for or predicted,' he continued. 'These new guys are incredibly smart, have sound training on the financial side and have had the benefit of watching and contributing' as Del Rio, Fain, Donald and Micky Arison worked through the pandemic.” How will these new cruise leaders balance out . . . customer service at a high/quality level . . . VERSUS . . . the needs to move towards longer-term financial stability? Reactions? Full story at: https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/people-opinions/thoughts-generational-change-nclh-and-across-cruise-industry THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Early 2020, 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/

Is all settled and calm with the financial markets this morning?? Here is a view from across the Atlantic. From the London/UK Telegraph this morning, they had this headline: “Credit Suisse latest: Doubts over UBS rescue amid bond markets turmoil” with these highlights: “UBS has found itself caught up in market turmoil over a key method of bank funding after its £2.7bn takeover of Credit Suisse. Prices of its so-called AT1 bonds have plummeted amid a crisis of confidence in the debt instrument. Credit Suisse had the value of its own $17bn worth of AT1 bonds wiped out under the terms of its takeover enforced by Swiss regulators. However, now investors are demanding higher returns to take on the debt, with yields surging today from just over 11pc to nearly 17pc. It comes as markets demonstrate growing doubts over the takeover designed to avert a global banking crisis. Gold has risen above $2,000 an ounce for the first time in more than a year after the banking crises in the US and Europe triggered a return to haven buying.” Also, this was shared in this story: "Meanwhile, oil and gas prices have tumbled on fears the fallout would slow the global economy." Full story at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/03/20/credit-suisse-ubs-banking-crisis-news-ftse-100-markets-latest/ 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/

From this travel news website yesterday, they had this headline: “More cruise lines will drop the Covid test and vaccine rules this spring” with these highlights: “Cunard Line, Lindblad Expeditions, Ponant and Windstar Cruises plan to eliminate or curtail their vaccination or testing requirements in the coming months except when sailing to destinations with Covid restrictions. The decision and timing for Windstar was influenced by the U.S. government's plan to end its declared Public Health Emergency for Covid-19 on May 11, after which it will transition to a new phase of managing the pandemic. While other major cruise lines repealed their vaccination requirements last fall, ships that travel to destinations with Covid restrictions are required to adhere to local policies.” Full story at: https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/More-cruise-lines-will-drop-Covid-test 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 101,909 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1278226

Agree 100%!! That's among the many reasons that I avoided getting such so-called "Body Art". Such sagging and gravity affects are not fun and/nor pretty. Excellent funnies here today at the Cooler. Need some good news? It's at Mon, Mar 20, 2023, 5:24 pm ET. Spring starts later today. No more snow and cold?? From CNN, the cable news network, this morning, they had this headline: “Spring equinox 2023: Ancient traditions of renewal echo into the modern world” with these highlights: “Sweet spring indeed – a time to observe the growing light, listen to the birds, smell the flowers and feel the growing warmth from the sun. They’re all signs that spring equinox 2023 is arriving. This official first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere is a sign of rebirth, a time of tradition and a harmonious balance between day and night.” Are we done with this past winter? Full story at: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/spring-equinox-2023-scn/index.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 101,909 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1278226

Great updates, visuals, details from Singapore, etc. We are considering a February 2024 Mumbai to Singapore sailing/adventure and am considering the amount of time best for that staying at the end in this amazing City-State. Been doing much reading to consider the various options for Singapore. Would be our first time to visit there. Look forward to seeing more of your postings, pictures and details from Singapore. Glad you are home safe, but, yes, those were long flights back home to Albany, NY. Appreciate the excellent sharing!! Keep it coming. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

That's lots of flying. Glad that J.P. and Chris are back home. Will go over to the Ponant CC board to catch up on your nice visuals and details. Rest and relax!! What's your next great adventure planned? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Sorry, Spins, cannot get the frightening images of these three women out of my brain. Enough is enough?? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Appreciate ALL of these interesting charts, comments and follow-ups. Sure glad that I have not played the "gambling games" with bitcoin, gold, etc. Super cute and fun "map to Stumbles back yard." Now, some breaking news!!! From this Wall Street Journal-related financial news website this morning, they had this headline: “Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Del Rio to Exit as Company Eyes Profitability” with these highlights: “Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings said Chief Executive Frank Del Rio would retire and be succeeded by Harry Sommer, who has led the company's namesake cruise line since 2020. Del Rio has served as CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line since 2015. He is expected to step down as CEO and from the company's board on June 30. Mr. Sommer, 55, would take the helm on July 1 and join the board. Del Rio is the second longtime CEO of a cruise operator to step down in the past 12 months, as the industry looks to chart a path forward after the Covid-19 pandemic brought operations to a standstill. Arnold Donald, who served as CEO of Carnival Corp. for nearly 10 years, stepped down in 2022. Last month, Norwegian Cruise Line issued soft financial guidance for the year as it works to contain surging costs and mount a comeback from pandemic-constrained operations. At the same time, the company said it expects to be profitable this year for the first time since the pandemic halted U.S. cruising in 2020.” Will NCL really be profitable later this year? Or, is Del Rio getting out before any more "bad news" comes down? Now all three of the major cruise lines have new CEO's who must pay off the billions of dollars in debts run up during the Covid shut-down and the challenged re-starts around the world. And, navigate through uncertain future recession financial threats to consumer confidence?? Full story at: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/norwegian-cruise-line-ceo-del-rio-to-exit-as-company-eyes-profitability-20e29769 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 21,675 views. Connect at: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2607054-livenautica-greece-holy-lands-egypt-dubai-terrypix’s/

Hotels?? From the London/UK Independent a week ago, they had this headline: “Best hotels in Athens 2023: Where to stay for culture, beaches and poolside luxury” with these highlights: “The city where democracy was invented back in 508BC is currently having a mega makeover, with once grubby districts such as Piraeus and Psyrri buzzing with innovative art galleries, cool new hotels, and gourmet food venues that are putting a spin on Greece’s age-old cuisine. Hardly any wonder then that this Parthenon-topped town has been described by Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte – co-founder of Beirut’s contemporary design gallery – as ‘the new Berlin’. Athens certainly is an exciting place to be right now, which is why we’ve rounded up the best places to stay. Whether you want to be in walking distance to ancient ruins or would prefer a more modern, contemporary look on Greek life, we’re sure we’ve found a hotel for everyone.” Yes, many hotel options in Athens with more variety and potentials these day. Our favorite, The AVA, has a great location and nice, person service/attention. Among their hotel potentials cited with details are: "Best for Acropolis views: Asomaton, Best for romance: St George Lycabettus, Best for luxury: Hotel Grande Bretagne, Best boutique hotel: The Foundry Suites, Best for foodies: Xenodocheio Milos." Full story at: https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/greece/best-hotels-athens-culture-beaches-luxury-b2114018.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 21,675 views. Connect at: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2607054-livenautica-greece-holy-lands-egypt-dubai-terrypix’s/

Excellent follow-up and background from Randy about your long history and connections for San Francisco and the super scenic Monterey area. Lovely!! I go back to early January 1969 in first "leaving my heart" in San Francisco when flying up to the Bay area after being in Southern California for an Ohio State National Championship victory in the Rose Bowl against USC and OJ Simpson. From AARP yesterday, they had this headline: “5 Illnesses You Can Get on a Cruise Ship (Besides COVID)" and this sub-headline: "Plus, tips on how to avoid getting sick while at sea and ports of call.” Here are some of their reporting highlights: “Concerns over the spread of COVID-19 have loomed over the travel industry for the last three years, but with the public health emergency coming to an end and a robust menu of preventive tools and treatments available, many of those fears are fading. A new AARP survey shows 81 percent of adults 50-plus who plan to travel in 2023 believe it’s safe to do so now, up from 77 percent in 2021. And while interest in cruising is down slightly among the 50-plus population this year compared to last, a recent AAA survey finds that, overall, the share of travelers considering a cruise vacation in 2023 is up." This story also noted: " 'Indoor densely populated places where we’re exchanging exhaled breath with one another is still going to be a concern for me,' says Wilbur Chen, M.D., adult infectious disease physician and director of the University of Maryland, Baltimore Travel Medicine Practice. That concern isn’t limited to COVID, either. Flu spreads in a similar way, Chen points out." They details protections and cruise tips for dealing with norovirus, flu, seasickness, burns and bites etc. Full story at: https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2023/common-cruise-ship-illnesses.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 242,542 views. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1896175-solstice-live-australianzhawaii-many-pix’s-jan-20-feb-3/

YES!! Very good WSJ story/link from R&T about "duration risk" as relates to banks, how they have been managed and the "sleepy" lack of proper oversight by the lazy/weak Feds who are supposed to be acting as "watch-dogs". Listening to the Treasury Secretary (and former Federal Reserve Chair) on TV has not been confidence-building, nor reassuring. Sorry!! Cannot see a solid, forward-focused plan of tangible, future action. From the New York Times this morning, they had this headline: “Why People Are Worried About Banks” with these highlights: “Banks are teetering as customers yank their deposits. Markets are seesawing as investors scurry toward safety. Regulators are scrambling after years of complacency. Fifteen years ago, the world careened into a devastating financial crisis, precipitated by the collapse of the American housing market. Today, a different culprit is stressing the financial system: rapidly rising interest rates. The sudden collapses of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank — the biggest bank failures since the Great Recession — have put the precariousness of lenders in stark relief.” A key take-away from this analysis and excellent NYT backgrounder was "the storm had been quietly building for months." Plus, they key summary: "The problem for SVB was that it held many bonds that were bought back when interest rates were low. Over the past year, the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates eight times to combat the highest inflation in generations. As rates went up, newer versions of bonds became more valuable to investors than those SVB was holding." Full story at: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/03/18/business/why-people-are-worried-about-banks.html 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 31,843 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2465580

Great comments and follow-up about not relying too much days on financial advisor advice. BUT, "enjoying the show" does sound a little challenging as the markets these days are very uncertain and totally cloudy. From the Wall Street Journal earlier this month, they had this headline: “This Cruise Line Can’t Turn You Down" with this sub-headline: "Norwegian is lowering investors’ expectations about the ‘great cruise comeback.’ ” Here are some of their story highlights: “The 'Great Cruise Comeback' is complete, Norwegian Cruise Line Chief Executive Frank Del Rio declared. Yet, his business still hasn’t arrived at the destination that matters most to investors: a positive bottom line. In December, Norwegian said in a filing it would be undergoing a broad and continuing effort to improve operating efficiencies to attain sustained profitable growth. That initiative started with big-ticket items like a 9% head-count reduction in current and planned shoreside roles. Now they are getting a lot more granular. UBS analyst Robin Farley called Norwegian’s cost savings 'a work in progress.' She wrote that Norwegian believes itself to be still in early innings with regard to identifying areas of cost savings. Examples given include swapping out 9-ounce burgers for 7-ounce burgers and a reduction in turndown service for non-premium cabins. Ticket prices for Norwegian cruises were running around 40% higher last month on average than those for Carnival Corp. cruises. This is a premium that Norwegian investors expect it to continue to earn in order to meet profit goals.” Profits, paying down big debts . . . versus . . . higher cruise prices/fees, service cuts?? Interesting questions and challenges for BOTH the cruise company executives and us as customers. Also shared was: "Norwegian said it achieved industry-leading yields last year. Rather than discounting, Norwegian said it got there by investing in marketing. With the industry 'on its knees,' Mr. Del Rio said heightened marketing spending was necessary, an investment he has said 'was well worth it.' " Full story at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/this-cruise-line-cant-turn-you-down-5672d9c9 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 33,235 views. Many pictures, details for history, food, culture, etc.: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511358