TLCOhio

Appreciate this helpful follow-up and these links from R&T. On the WSJ story about stock options, not sure for me that I am ready to play the Las Vegas-style high-risk "plays" with such stock options. Cheaper to get in those "games", but the risks (and potential losses) are much, much higher. Some (including certain hedge funds) roll the dice in these ways, but somebody will be left "holding the bag" in the future. Way above my pay grade and risk tolerance. Right or wrong? From the Wall Street Journal below are the charts for the three major cruise lines. It reminds me of the famed song, "Up, Up and Away", by the popular group, the Fifth Dimension, in the late 1960's. Remember that tune and these singing stars?? What a week for these cruise stocks? Cannot remember such a totally consistent upward trend. And for Royal Caribbean, their movement for 2023 has been straight UP!! Is this a trend that will continue? On Jan. 3, RCL started out at $48.71. Now they are at $63.48. That is a jump of $14.77 per share. That's an amazing 30.3% increase!! Excellent movement in just two weeks. On one financial TV show yesterday, they noted that how a stock starts the year is often indicative for what happens during the rest of year. Other predictions and speculation? Ready to place your "bet" by buying cruise ship stocks now? 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 49,213 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1101008 From the Wall Street Journal during this past week, below are the movements with the three major cruise ship lines. Upward!!! At the bottom, fourth, is the chart for Royal Caribbean since the first of this year. Really positive?!!?: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!)

How is 2023 going so far? Better? Still uncertain? From the Wall Street Journal, below are their charts for the three major cruise lines. Starting on Wednesday, things started to move up, UP, UP!! Good news? Part of it was a more optimistic view for the overall direction of the stock market and economy. How long will it last for the cruise stocks? Are things finally over the "hump"? Or, is a recession getting closer to impact the economy? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio Kotor/Montenegro: Various visual samples, tips, details, etc., for this scenic, historic location. Over 49,775 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1439193 From the Wall Street Journal during the first week of 2023, below are the movements with the three major cruise ship lines. Upswing? At the bottom, fourth, is the chart for the S&P 500 during this five trading day period, reflecting the overall market direction.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!)

Being an Ohio "neighbor", I was able to find his obituary and details. Robert K. A., age 79, passed away Thursday, December 22, 2022. Bob was was a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University in 1965 and had been a junior high school science teacher for over 30 years. His former students and fellow OWU grads posted glowing comments about him and his successful life. It was noted that his "preferred method to see the world was by cruise ship on his favorite cruise line, Holland America." Safe sailing for Bob!! THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

YES, very sorry to hear about rkacruiser. Appreciate this update from Lois. He was a fairly close, nearby "neighbor" just about an hour away from where I live in Central Ohio. He resided in SW Ohio just south of Dayton. He had posted much on these Silversea boards, bringing good and interesting insights, sharing and comments. He'll be missed. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Happy New Year!! Appreciate the many comments, follow-ups, etc. As mentioned previously, I do not own any cruise stocks and after the past twelve months, that is a statement of pride and relief!!! Will they come back? Maybe!! Probably!! But, when?? And, how?? From the Wall Street Journal below are the charts for three cruise ship stocks as they closed out 2022. Not exactly an "UP" or positive year for most stocks, especially in certain of the tech areas, etc. Not yet a rebounding year for RCL and the cruise lines. What will happen for 2023? Any predictions and insights? Reasons why and how? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio AFRICA?!!?: Fun, interesting visuals, plus travel details from this early 2016 live/blog. At 53,460 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 during the past week, below are the movements with the three major cruise ship lines. Surprise? All three did not exactly move in matching patterns!!: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!) Looking at all of 2022, below is the chart for Royal Caribbean during the past twelve month. Plus, for comparison, also below is the S&P 500 chart for entirety of 2022.:

While we have not done a Tauck river cruise, we did use Tauck in early September for the Canada Maritimes. Worked very well. Yes, luxury style and many extra, special venues, etc. The pricing is higher than normal, but they do aim to be much higher than just "average". THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Agree! Just received that email. Want to see more specifics as to when they start re-sailing, the price/value factors, what locations/ports they will offer, etc. Super enjoyed our 2008 Crystal Symphony sailing in the Baltics, but need to know more. They say the money is "fully refundable", but I have heard that one before and am not totally trusting and confident. Am I too pessimistic or doubtful? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Appreciate this great follow-up from highplanesdrifters and the kind wishes for the holiday season. Yes, I enjoyed your "chuckle" Excellent, funny posting. From a financial news/analysis website this morning, they had this headline: “Stock Market Sell-Off: Is Carnival a Buy?” with these highlights: “Carnival is still trying to overcome deep problems in the cruise industry caused by the pandemic. Yet, revenue per passenger is ahead of 2019 levels, and there's plenty of liquidity available.” While this is about Carnival, there are some good and bad news aspects that apply to all of the cruise lines. Here is more from their posting: "Cruise ship operator Carnival keeps sailing from one storm into another. While most people want to put the pandemic behind them, the cruise line must still contend with the uneven reopening of the travel industry around the world and the ongoing war in Ukraine. While Carnival took on a lot of debt to survive the industry shut down, the cruise operator does have a lot of cash on hand as a result, and revenue per passenger cruise day (RPCD) is now above 2019 levels." Full story at: https://www.fool.com/investing/2022/12/28/stock-market-sell-off-is-carnival-a-buy/ 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 70,710 views: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2157696

Although the Corinth Canal and the Peloponnese Peninsula are not in Athens, they are nearby. In 2006, before doing our cruise from Athens, we did a wonderful day tour of these interesting areas. From CNN, the cable news network, they had this headline last month: “The spectacular canal that was 2,500 years in the making” with these highlights: “The very first sailings through the Corinth Canal, one of the most significant infrastructural feats the world had ever seen, took place in 1893, fulfilling a vision that had been at least 2,500 years in the making. The canal cut through the isthmus of Corinth in Greece, linking the Ionian Sea with the Aegean, effectively turning the Peloponnese peninsula into an island, and creating an international maritime hub that transformed navigation in southern Europe. It saved ships the nearly 321-kilometer (300 mile) journey around the plane tree leaf-shaped cape, allowing them to reach ports further east much faster and safer. Now a hugely popular destination, it's the second most-visited tourist landmark in Greece today, attracting people from all over the world.” Full story at: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/corinth-canal-greece/index.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 31,695 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2465580

From MSN News earlier this month, they had this headline: “Best Time Of Year To Visit Greece For The Perfect Weather” with these highlights: “We have some great tips on which months will provide you with the most sunshine, the least amount of rainfall, and pleasant temperatures. As an added bonus, this time of year is also great for avoiding large tourist crowds, and overpriced accommodations. The summer months of July and August can be hot in Greece, but thanks to its position, and being surrounded by mass bodies of water, combined with the cool breezes. It's the spring and autumn seasons that are the best time of year to visit Greece. Visiting Greece during both of these seasons affords pleasant temperatures and fewer crowds. Generally, the spring months of April, May, and yes, even June, and the autumn months of September and October, offer visitors clear skies, loads of sunshine, as well as annual celebrations and festivals.” Here are their final, summary thoughts about this amazing area: "Greece is a magical country with amazing history and centuries-old mythology that captivates everyone." Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/the-best-time-of-year-to-visit-greece-for-the-perfect-weather/ar-AA15qqr7 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 32,930 views. Many pictures, details for history, food, culture, etc.: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511358

Yes, the red cardinals are wonderful, especially on snowy and/or dull days. Great funnies, food pix's, etc., at the Cooler. The deer are busy and out working today at our ravine location. Not taking today off as a holiday. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio The deer are out working this morning in Central Ohio around where we have some of our outdoor Christmas decorations.:

We had a very nice, sunny, but cold, Christmas Day in Central Ohio. It was a real White Christmas. See below as proof from Christmas Day, plus two from this morning. The deer are busy and out working today. Not taking today off as a holiday. Sorry for mixing up Week 51 and 52 pictures. Are those in south Florida and in the SW jealous of us having snow on the ground? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio At the top right corner, see the red cardinal in the tree? The deer are out working this morning in Central Ohio around where we have some of our outdoor Christmas decorations.:

Appreciate JP's great visuals, details and follow-up from London. Keep it coming!! Fun to be following without needing to worry about airport messes in traveling. We had a very nice, sunny, but cold, Christmas Day in Central Ohio. It was a real White Christmas. See below as proof. Are those in south Florida jealous of us having snow on the ground? THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio At the top right corner, see the red cardinal in the tree?

Appreciate these excellent, above comments. Yes, be careful and cautious. But, don't avoid any and all potential challenges in the world. There are serious issues in many places, but the media and bureaucracies do, at times, over-hype situations. Using good judgement is usually the best policy. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Greatly appreciate your candid and detailed comments and follow-up. Very balanced and honest review. Your wide range of sailings and various lines offers excellent perspectives. As we are looking at a Silversea 2024 Mumbai to Singapore cruise, I am very interested as to what, if anything, you did at the end of your cruise for Mumbai and/or to the various other attractions, sights and experiences in and around India. Any special tips, insights, suggestions? 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 21,497 views. Connect at: www.boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2607054-livenautica-greece-holy-lands-egypt-dubai-terrypix’s/

From the London/UK Daily Mail this morning, below was their major headline and graphic. Does this summarize the crazy weather here now in the USA? Full story at: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11571729/United-States-freezing-Christmas-bomb-cyclone-leaves-FedEx-warning-presents-delayed.html THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Sorry, Lois, to hear about the COLD hitting northern Florida. Today for us in Central Ohio, the good news is that our high will be all of 10F. But winds are still very high, making the wind chill not too comfortable. But, we are doing much better than Buffalo and some other northern areas. Glad that JP and Chris made it safely to London. Look forward to seeing pix's and reading details from your adventures there. Have a funny below that is not too much about Christmas, but might bring memories from the "good old days"?? No, that is not my picture from younger days. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

From former USA Today travel expert Gene Sloan yesterday, his news website had this headline: “Parent company of Carnival, Princess, Holland America is dialing back new cruise ship orders” with these highlights: “The days of go-go growth at cruise giant Carnival Corporation are over — at least for a few years. The debt-laden parent company of Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America and six other major cruise brands won't be ordering many new ships for delivery over the rest of the decade, CEO Josh Weinstein suggested on Wednesday during a conference call with Wall Street analysts. In fact, the company soon could go an entire year without unveiling a single new vessel across any of its brands — something that has never happened in its recent history. The shift away from new-ship growth comes as Carnival Corporation works toward paying down the massive debt it took on to survive the last three years.” Here was another key point from this report/analysis: "On Wednesday, the company reported that its total debt stood at $34.55 billion, up from less than $12 billion at the start of 2020." This thread is now over 90.000 views. Appreciate those who have dropped by, posted a questions, shared an insight or comment, etc. Keep it coming!! These "things" are far from over and settled. Full story at: https://thepointsguy.com/news/carnival-corporation-cruise-ship-orders-on-hold/ 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 98,332 views. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1278226

Was it a "trick question"? Or, was I just posing a smart inquiry . . . or only a dumb question? It all depends as to who is asking the question and who has to do the answering. Excellent follow-up as all of us are searching and wondering what happens next. Or, not? From the Wall Street Journal, below are their stock charts for the past week. Plus, more! Why? From this below-connected web financial site, they had this headline: “Why Carnival and Other Cruise Stocks Sank on Thursday” with these highlights: “Carnival announced a beat on earnings yesterday, but still lost a lot of money. Debt levels are rising as free cash flow remains negative, and the company might need to raise more cash soon. Worries over the financial health of one cruise company are dragging down all cruise stocks. Investors just woke up to the fact that Carnival's fourth-quarter earnings report actually wasn't that great. Worse, Carnival's U-turn appears to have caught its rival cruise stocks in its wake. Carnival lost $1.27 per share for the quarter and $5.16 per share for the year, and predicted that it will keep losing money in the fiscal first quarter of 2023.” Full story at: https://www.fool.com/investing/2022/12/22/why-carnival-stock-and-other-cruise-stocks-sank-on/ 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 240,060 views. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139 From the Wall Street Journal late Friday afternoon, below are the five-day charts for the three major cruise lines during this past rocky and uncertain week. Big Wednesday jump UP and then a negative slide Thursday, etc. Also shown below is the chart for Disney, part a cruise company, but also a major mass-market "entertainment" leader. Finally, below is the overall S&P 500 trends during this past week. Overall, it was not a steady, stable week as we approached the end-of-year holidays.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!)

For those with "no words" for this cold, below is some "evidence" to illustrate what it is like to now live a "deep freeze". My guess? About three inches of snow on the ground, but very high winds that drives the wind chill factor down so extremely deep. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio From our front door this morning, below is the view of the empty roadway, our driveway, etc. Not much traffic this am. Second is the view out our back patio door. If it looks COLD, that is because it is really chilly!! YES, a White Christmas!: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!)

Agree!! Merry Christmas to all. Good news here in the Midwest? We will have a White Christmas with lots of snow, etc. BUT, however, it is very, very, very, very cold here. Not warm and sunny as Spins and others are enjoying in Florida. Need proof and evidence? Below is what is posted now for Central Ohio by AccuWeather. Sure glad we were not flying today. Lots of scrubbed flights and other serious challenges for those traveling. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. Chicago and parts of the Midwest are being hit super hard with snow and super COLD today. Lots of flight delays, etc. Friday/tomorrow, it hits us in Ohio as this storm moves east. It's real killer blizzard. In the holiday spirit, below are a few of my visuals from our Columbus Zoo having their annual "Wildlights" display. Over a million lights!! Our grandsons were here from Virginia for this past week and we took them to enjoy this visual treat. Like? 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/ From Columbus Zoo and its "Wildlights" displays earlier this week in Central Ohio.: (Open your screen/viewer wider to see these visuals larger/better!)

Yes, a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. Chicago and parts of the Midwest are being hit super hard with snow and super COLD today. Lots of flight delays, etc. Friday/tomorrow, it hits us in Ohio as this storm moves east. It's real killer blizzard. In the holiday spirit, below are a few of my visuals from our Columbus Zoo having their annual "Wildlights" display. Over a million lights!! Our grandsons were here from Virginia for this past week and we took them to enjoy this visual treat. Like? Agree, we also super loved Adelaide and nearby Kangaroo Island from when we visited there in 2014. Too bad KI suffered so much from its recent fires, etc. What an amazing area!!! THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Congratulations to Dani with your upcoming 50th!! Earlier this June, we celebrated our 50th. Fun and exciting!! Appreciate the helpful follow-up and details from Cruisemom. From US News magazine this past week, they had this headline: “Best Times to Visit Venice” with these highlights: “The best time to visit Venice is from September to November when tourists desert the city. Although the temperatures – which range from the upper 30s to mid-70s – necessitate some layers, the lowered hotel rates and the barren canals make it worth it. Winters are cold with temperatures in the 30s and 40s, while spring brings Venice's most beautiful weather. Summertime is peak season and plenty of crowds. Although acqua alta (high water) can occur anytime between late September and April, it's most likely to happen in November and December, so make sure to pack a pair of rain boots if you plan on traveling then.” As might have been mentioned earlier on this thread, my first two visits to Venice were in December of 1970. It was magical as there were no crowds and we could explore, sensing life as locals would experience it. Full story at: https://travel.usnews.com/Venice_Italy/When_To_Visit/ 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 239,966 views. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

From the Wall Street Journal, below is the chart from Royal Caribbean yesterday. Down in a major way, much more than the overall market. Both Carnival and Norwegian were down yesterday even more, around 4.4%. What is happening and why? The early am opening for RCL's stock was a little of a bounce-back. From the Miami Herald and MSN News last week, they had this headline: “Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line lays off 9% of its shoreside workforce” with these highlights: "Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings let go of 9% of its shoreside workforce on Wednesday, according to the company’s SEC filings. The company declined to comment on which departments were affected and in which locations, but said that the 'majority' of layoffs were in Miami. 'In reviewing our business needs, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has taken several prudent actions across our business to align with our strategic priorities,' the company said in a statement. The SEC filing said that 'cost minimization initiatives' in order to achieve 'sustained, profitable growth,' were what caused the layoffs. Shipboard employees appear to have been spared.” When I read the words "cost minimization initiatives", it causes a pause and question for me as to how these cuts impact the quality of the cruise experience. Clearly, there are major pressure to cut costs and pay back the billions of dollars in debt rolled up, especially as interest rates spike up, UP. Right or wrong? Full story at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/miami-based-norwegian-cruise-line-lays-off-9-25-of-its-shoreside-workforce/ar-AA15nhtt 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 245,617 views. www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923