rafinmd

Thank you for the Saturday report, Rich. I'll pass on the rabbits and hunting/fishing but love Cherries Jubilee. I think there's a lot of truth in the Rowling quote. Been to Muscat twice, Silver Whisper in 2007 and Queen Victoria 2010. It sounds like Fiona is not as strong as was feared but still a very significant storm and I'm thinking of @kazu as well as those on Nieuw Statendam. Hopefully things will calm down a lot before they leave the St. Lawrence. I'll pass on the meal. My alternative is Pot Roast Vegetable Casserole and Meringue Berry Tart as served at Oosterdam's Mariner Brunch (I boarded September 25 and the Brunch was September 29). Today’s care list: RIP MissG DFIL 9/22/22 1Angelcat cancelling cruise Western wildfires and those in Fiona’s path Marshhawk’s friend Jesse with throat cancer and in denial Seriousness of Cruzin Terri’s leak damage From the rotation: Strength for luvteaching’s friend Karen after Wayne’s 9/3 death Sandi’s neighbor Linda Cruising-along niece awaiting a kidney HAL Sailer Sister in Law with aggressive cancer therapy Celebrations and Shoutouts: Volendam embarking cruise passengers 5 days for LoveTheBeach (Adventure OTS 9/29 to 10/8) Bon Voyage fatcat04 (Nieuw Amsterdam 9/24 to 10/2) Rowsby in Hawaii until 9/28 0106 covering menus for dfish norseh20 (Regata to 9/25), Oceansaway17 (Adventure OTS to 9/25), Vict0riann (Nieuw Amsterdam to 9/25), sailingdutchy (Oosterdam to 10/10), and Gail&Marty (Rotterdam to 10/15) at sea Staff Captain Sabine - Our first female Staff Captain and HAL’s likely first female Captain(I know this is a repeat but she’s worth it) Roy

I think I'd still rather be on a ship than in the Maritimes next week. There are of course exceptions. I have a friend currently on the Seabourn Quest between Montreal and Quebec. That will be interesting. Roy

Actually, I think I would be happy with that. A cruise ship has the mobility to get out of the path of the hurricane and the advantage of a Captain that is always watching. Roy

While Baltimore has been pretty much sparred from Fiona, our cruise ships have been a little less lucky. Carnival Legend is on the way home but cruisemapper shows it's track as all Bahamas rather than the Caribbean islands promised. Enchantment of The Seas is currently headed for Boston but cruisemapper shows her only PVSA port as Saint John on the 27th. I have a feeling it may not happen. @Heartgrove I've always gravitated to Royal out of Baltimore because Carnival is pretty much wedded to 7-day cruises with just a couple of lame itineraries. You scored a real gem. Roy

Today's sunrise is today. It was taken in the parking lot of the Middle School across the street from my development as the sun starts to emerge through the trees: Roy

Today's sunrise is today. It was taken in the parking lot of the Middle School across the street from my development as the sun starts to emerge through the trees: Roy

Thank you for the TGIF report, Rich. I like the days although I have no idea what Teal Talk is. I love the quote, but have not been to Qaqortoq. The meal sounds like a nice challenge for 0106. My alternative is railroad french toast, my last meal on Amtrak's Empire Builder September 23, 2017on the way to Seattle to board the Oosterdam: Leaving early for groceries and Panera. Today’s care list: RIP MissG DFIL 9/22/22 Dfish day from **LL 1Angelcat medical insurance problems Western wildfires (and persistence of Stone Creek fire) and those in Fiona’s path Emergency workers, including Maryland Urban Search and Rescue Marshhawk’s friend Jesse with throat cancer and in denial Seriousness of Cruzin Terri’s leak damage From the rotation: HAL Sailer Sister in Law with aggressive cancer therapy Status of St. Louis Sal (7/1), msmayor (5/20) and JAM37 (7/7) Heartgrove brother discharged but in hospice care LocoLoco1 recovering from back surgery Celebrations and Shoutouts: Volendam at Trieste 6 days for LoveTheBeach (Adventure OTS 9/29 to 10/8) 1 day for fatcat04 (Nieuw Amsterdam 9/24 to 10/2) Rowsby in Hawaii until 9/28 Welcome home Marshhawk 0106 covering menus for dfish SeaViewer and others covalent boosters norseh20 (Regata to 9/25), Oceansaway17 (Adventure OTS to 9/25), Vict0riann (Nieuw Amsterdam to 9/25), sailingdutchy (Oosterdam to 10/10), and Gail&Marty (Rotterdam to 10/15) at sea Staff Captain Sabine - Our first female Staff Captain and HAL’s likely first female Captain(I know this is a repeat but she’s worth it) Roy

@dfish wishing you a safe and successful trip. Can't decide whether to put you on the cares list for needing it or the celebration list for doing it. Roy

Prayers for luck for you.🤞 Roy

Today's sunrise is from a Lake Champlain cruise on Blount's smallest ship, the former Niagara Prince. On September 22, 2006 we visited New York City: Roy

Today's sunrise is from a Lake Champlain cruise on Blount's smallest ship, the former Niagara Prince. On September 22, 2006 we visited New York City: Roy

In 2014 I did a string of 3 cruises, 2 of them World Cruise segments. It was Crystal Symphony Bali to Singapore, Crystal Serenity (WC) Singapore to Cape Town, and Amsterdam (WC) Cape Town to FTL. There was a 3 day gap in Cape Town and I used part of the time to go to a wildlife park. It was not one of the big parks like Kruger but it was close to town. At Aquila Wiildlife Sanctuary the animals are not entirely wild, they are animals that have been injured and are given a safe refuge, roaming free within a large complex, where tourists could see them from large, protected vehicles: The Amsterdam actually ran day tours to Aquila but I got a much more intense experience by having the time available for an overnight stay., There were elephants among the animals: That night at Aquila lodge there was even a preview of what was to come on MS Amsterdam: I expect this kind of sanctuary meets the spirit of Elephant appreciation day pretty well. Roy

@*Miss G* I googled KLM US phone number. Try 800-618-0104. Roy

@grapau27 I noticed in your first photo today you have a manual transmission. That's almost impossible to get in the US. Is that the standard in the UK? Roy

Thank you for the Thursday report, Rich. I think at least in the Eastern time zone it's still summer as fall arrives a couple hours after sunset. Not into Hobbits, very appreciative of Elephants, and salute Business Women, especially those who juggle their jobs and parenthood. Anchorage is a very interesting city. Another great quote by Rowling. No idea what the meal is. My alternative is Empire Builder kids M&C(Lunch) and Steak(Dinner), as served September 22, 2017 on the way to Seattle to meet the Oosterdam and Amsterdam Today’s care list: Dfish moving troubles with both inspector and Midland seller 1Angelcat medical insurance problems MissG father and father in law Western wildfires and those in Fiona’s path Emergency workers, including Maryland Urban Search and Rescue Marshhawk’s friend Jesse with throat cancer and in denial Seriousness of Cruzin Terri’s leak damage HAL Sailer Sister in law feeling too week to meet her brother From the rotation: LocoLoco1 recovering from back surgery Strength for luvteaching’s friend Karen after Wayne’s 9/3 death Sandi’s neighbor Linda Cruising-along niece awaiting a kidney Celebrations and Shoutouts: Volendam in Italian waters 3 days for fatcat04 (Nieuw Amsterdam 9/24 to 10/2) Better report on Hal Sailer DSIL Welcome home aliaschief Rowsby in Hawaii until 9/28 Marshhawk (Ecstasy to 9/22), norseh20 (Regata to 9/25), Oceansaway17 (Adventure OTS to 9/25), Vict0riann (Nieuw Amsterdam to 9/25), sailingdutchy (Oosterdam to 10/10), and Gail&Marty (Rotterdam to 10/15) at sea Staff Captain Sabine - Our first female Staff Captain and HAL’s likely first female Captain(I know this is a repeat but she’s worth it) Roy

Wow, such a day. @dfish I hope I'm not looking at this through rose colored glasses but just wondering if the inspector felt he had to find something to justify his existence and the broken faucet might indicate he couldn't find anything. I'll hold on to hope until I hear otherwise. @1ANGELCAT, I pray that your doctor can prevail with the insurance. We have a long way to go with our medical system. @*Miss G* so sorry to hear about your Father and Father in Law. I hope DH does get to visit his father in time and that you can find your way clear to visit your sister, @kochleffel glad to hear there is some good news today among all the tragedy, @HAL Sailer great to hear your awesome news today as well. @smitty34877 wishing you strength in letting others take over some of the load with Tana and very thankful for your great neighbors. I expect you have such great neighbors largely because you have always been one yourself. Roy

I'm running to the other end of the scale, being relatively late to both cruising and HAL. First ever night at sea: Alaska ferry Matanuska: 7/91, age 48 First HAL: 1997, Age 54 2-star 8/11, Age 68 3-star 8/13, Age 70 4 star 2/15, Age 71 I would have turned 5-star 9/20 Age 77 but for Covid. God willing, I will finally get there in November at age 79. Roy

Well, not entirely. One of the hallmarks of Crystal World Cruises was a "World Cruise Games" which featured events attuned to the age of the passengers. I was on that segment in 2018 and one of the events was putting. I did not do well but had one moment of glory with a hole in one: Roy

Today's sunrise is from the same trip as the one with the Carnival Fantasy. My brother's reunion was September 20, 2014 and on September 21 I started home mid-morning: Roy

Today's sunrise is from the same trip as the one with the Carnival Fantasy. My brother's reunion was September 20, 2014 and on September 21 I started home mid-morning: Roy

Excellent! Roy

Thank you for the Rich for the Hump Day Report. 3 great days, although it's many years since I've played miniature golf. It's also the last full day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, although tomorrow is mostly summer. I love the Lennon quote, but have not been to Townsville. I'll pass on the meal. My alternative is an Amtrak Empire Builder chicken entree as served on September 21, 2017 on the way to Seattle to meet MS Oosterdam. Today’s care list: LocoLoco1 recovering from back surgery Western wildfires and those in Fiona’s path Emergency workers, including Maryland Urban Search and Rescue Marshhawk’s friend Jesse with throat cancer and in denial Seriousness of Cruzin Terri’s leak damage HAL Sailer Sister in law feeling too week to meet her brother From the rotation: Sandi’s neighbor Linda Cruising-along niece awaiting a kidney Status of St. Louis Sal (7/1), msmayor (5/20) and JAM37 (7/7) Heartgrove brother discharged but in hospice care Celebrations and Shoutouts: Volendam in Italian waters 3 days for fatcat04 (Nieuw Amsterdam 9/24 to 10/2) Still fight left in HAL Sailer Sister in Law Welcome home aliaschief Rowsby in Hawaii until 9/28 Marshhawk (Ecstasy to 9/22), norseh20 (Regata to 9/25), Oceansaway17 (Adventure OTS to 9/25), Vict0riann (Nieuw Amsterdam to 9/25), sailingdutchy (Oosterdam to 10/10), and Gail&Marty (Rotterdam to 10/15) at sea Staff Captain Sabine - Our first female Staff Captain and HAL’s likely first female Captain(I know this is a repeat but she’s worth it) Roy

Are there any wildfires near you? Roy

Not really belated. Today is the Anniversary of their ceremony with the Rabbi. Roy

I have a sunset today rather than a sunrise. It's from September 20, 2017 taken from Amtrak's Cardinal from Baltimore to Chicago as we chugged along the New River in West Virginia. Roy