rafinmd

There can't be many cruise ships left that are that size. The maximum beam for a ship to fit through the seaway locks is 78 feet. The Seabourn Quest, one of today's smallest ships is 84 feet so even the Quest is too big. Roy

Today's sunrise is from my 2011 Prinsendam Arctic cruise. On July 28 we visited Lerwick, Shetland Islands. Roy

Today's sunrise is from my 2011 Prinsendam Arctic cruise. On July 28 we visited Lerwick, Shetland Islands. Roy

Great photos of Shadow. Does she accept a leash yet. @kazu be careful when that happens, as you don't need a fall. Roy

Thank you for the Thursday report, Rich. I prefer dark chocolate, and haven't been to a waterpark in years but Buffalo Soldiers have a great place in our history. Been to Portland just once, 2015, on the Elegant Explorer. I like the Steven King quote. I think I'll pass on the meal. My alternative is Chilled Blueberry Soup and Roasted Duck with Sour Cherry Chutney as served on the Elegant Explorer July 28, 2011. Today’s care list: Painful falls for Cruzn Single DS, Marshhawk, and Lindaler Heartgrove brother discharged but rapidly declining despite rally Sharon’s mom with Covid Tana neighbor and her son with Covid Crabbi Patti’s father The locks at Ijmuiden(Rotterdam diverted to at least 8/14) From the rotation: Tana with persistent problems Cruising-along niece awaiting a kidney Amy adjusting to widowhood and children Status of St. Louis Sal (7/1), msmayor (5/20) and JAM37 (7/7) Celebrations and Shoutouts: Shadow in Kazu’s care Welcome aboard El Orans Occasional contributers including YXU AC*SE Seasick Sailer in Hawaii Aliaschief in Scotland until 7/31 Happy Birthday Superoma DM Volendam caring for refugees 0106 covering menu suggestions until 8/1 dfish (Rotterdam 7/17 to 7/31) and Gail&Marty (10/15), Vict0riann (Nieuw Statendam (7/16 to 8/9) and Cat in My Lap (Zaandam to 8/13) at sea Vacationing 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

Not sure what the status is but Copper has an email link in his signature if you need to email him for permission. Roy

There is a mix. Some are always on while others switch off when the card is not in the slot. You may need to try trial and error to decide which is which: https://halfacts.com/pinnacle-class/1014-koningsdam/ Roy

I'm going to add a few photos of St. Petersburg. In addition to the Prinsendam in 2015 I was there on a land trip in 2003. It was my first attempt at circling the globe without flying. The plan was: Train to Montreal Freighter "Canmar Courage" to Belgium Train/ferry connections Antwerp/London/Newcastle/Gothenburg/Stockholm/Helsinki Trains (primarily Trans-Siberian) Helsinki/St. Petersburg/Moscow/Beijing Crystal Harmony Beijing to Vancouver Train Vancouver-Toronto-Baltimore It was a trip fraught with problems and scares. A couple weeks before the trip started I fell on a patch of ice resulting in a serious limp and walking with a cane. It was still tender but walking with a slight limp when I left home. Midway across the Atlantic word came that the US had invaded Iraq. My concerns about my limp were replaced by political concerns. In Belgium I saw signs of anti-American sentiments. The final straw came when I was preparing to leave my Moscow hotel and got an email from my TA that due to SARS Crystal had cancelled the Asian season and I was about to catch a train to Beijing with no way out. Lots of messages back and forth with the TA to get a flight while we were on vastly different time zones. I finally got one and had to fly back to Vancouver and a series of trains home. The train segment from Helsinki to Beijing was handled through a Russian Travel company, Mircorp. They booked all my trains and hotels and provided a guide in each city. I would meet them by the locomotive at each transfer point and the guide and driver would give me tours, transfers to the hotel and on to the next train. They also took care of most of the process of getting my Russia VISA. The Mircorp part of the trip was the only part that really came off without a hitch. The first photo was taken by my guide shortly after they picked me up at the train station. Here's my hotel in St. Petersburg And the room: One evening I did brave the subway system. Not reading Russian I took a photo of the name of my stop to compare it with what I saw on the station maps in the station to find my way back to the hotel. Roy

@kazu I think we're all waiting for an at home photo of Shadow but also think most of us will understand if you're too busy to do it today. Roy

I can't remember, TSA may actually be in most of the Canadian airports having flights to the US. I think it would depend on the order of Immigration vs security. Once you pass through Immigration you are effectively in an outlier of US territory and security past Immigration may be handled by TSA. Once you arrive at the US airport you are considered a domestic arrival. Roy

Wishing you a speedy recovery with minimal pain. Roy

@ChaCr and @StLouisCruisers I added the lock to the Care list because It has specifically diverted Rotterdam sailings from Amsterdam to Rotterdam affecting @dfish among others. Roy

My July 27 sunrise is from my 2007 upper Amazon cruise. July 27 was my last full day on La Amatista: Roy

My July 27 sunrise is from my 2007 upper Amazon cruise. July 27 was my last full day on La Amatista: Roy

Thank you for the Hump Day report, Rich. I wouldn't dare try to walk on stilts today and have no houseplants. I enjoy bagpipes, possibly due in part to my Scottish Heritage. Even in 2017 I felt a sense of relief when the Elegant Explorer pulled away from Putin's Russia. The Camus quote is thought provoking. Not sure about Conchas but it sounds interesting. My alternative is Fruit Palette, Chilled Three Berry Ministrone, and Thai-Style Grilled Chicken as served on MS Prinsendam July 27, 2017, actually the day of our arrival in St. Petersburg. Today’s care list: Heartgrove brother discharged but rapidly declining Sharon’s mom with Covid kochleffel undergoing colonoscopy ktbraun DH with Covid The locks at Ijmuiden From the rotation: Cruising-along niece awaiting a kidney Amy adjusting to widowhood and children Status of St. Louis Sal (7/1), msmayor (5/20) and JAM37 (7/7) Strength and healing for Kazu Celebrations and Shoutouts: Shadow arrival in Canada Seasick Sailer in Hawaii Cruisin Single with sister to 7/28 Aliaschief in Scotland until 7/31 Mamaofami Son recovered from Covid Marshhawk resiliance to overcome childhood trauma Happy Birthday Superoma Volendam caring for refugees 0106 covering menu suggestions until 8/1 dfish (Rotterdam 7/17 to 7/31) and Gail&Marty (10/15), Vict0riann (Nieuw Statendam (7/16 to 8/9) and Cat in My Lap (Zaandam to 8/13) at sea Vacationing 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

Wishing for a good result for the ultrasound. Roy

Today's sunrise is from my 2010 Blount Atlantic Maritimes cruise. On July 26 Grande Caribe visited Perce, Quebec: Roy

Today's sunrise is from my 2010 Blount Atlantic Maritimes cruise. On July 26 Grande Caribe visited Perce, Quebec: Roy

This brings back memories. In February 1999 I was on a major train journey including the California Zephyr Chicago to California. We encountered a blizzard in Donner Pass that stopped the train and had to wait several hours for a snow plow to arrive. We were sitting on a warm train and I got a nice lunch but it was certainly a weird feeling knowing our location and the historical context. Roy

Thank you for the Tuesday report, Rich. My Aunts and Uncles are long departed but I have one Niece and one Nephew. Not sure about All or Nothing Day and will pass on the Tofu. I like the Lewis quote. I have not been to Maroe Bay. Any cake sounds good. My alternative menu suggestion is Mixed Italian Garden, Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb with Mint Basel Pesto and Potatoes Gratin and the Tres Leches Cake would be a nice finale. Our heat wave has finally broken for now. Today’s care list: Mamaofami son with covid Heartgrove brother discharged but rapidly declining Marshhawk DH biopsy The locks at Ijmuiden From the rotation: Cruising-along niece awaiting a kidney Amy adjusting to widowhood and children Status of St. Louis Sal (7/1), msmayor (5/20) and JAM37 (7/7) Strength and healing for Kazu Celebrations and Shoutouts: House found for Lindaler DS Seasick Sailer in Hawaii Cruisin Single with sister to 7/28 Aliaschief in Scotland until 7/31 Durango Scots shelter nearing completion Volendam caring for refugees 0106 covering menu suggestions until 8/1 dfish (Rotterdam 7/17 to 7/31) and Gail&Marty (10/15), Vict0riann (Nieuw Statendam (7/16 to 8/9) and Cat in My Lap (Zaandam to 8/13) at sea Vacationing 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 suspect a significant part of the reason is that cruising (and travel in general) is getting more active and it's as much a matter of more threads on the board as some light activity days. I can remember when sometimes 3 Daily threads were on the first page of a board when cruising was at it's low point. Roy

Today's sunrise is from a 2005 Blount Small Ship Adventures cruise from Duluth to Chicago. On July 25 the Grande Caribe visited Marquette Michigan. Roy

Today's sunrise is from a 2005 Blount Small Ship Adventures cruise from Duluth to Chicago. On July 25 the Grande Caribe visited Marquette Michigan. Roy

Thank you for the Monday report, Rich. I think I'll pass on the days but love the Snicket quote. I'm a bit surprised I have not been to LaPaz. Was it a place of refuge for BHB during the shutdown? I think I'll pass on the meal. My alternative is Citrus Delight with Amaretto, Chilled Anjou Pear Soup and Penne Pasta with Grilled Chicken Breast, my first ever dinner on the Elegant Explorer July 25, 2011. Followup today with my surgical office just after lunch. Today’s care list: ger_77 losing cruising friend Mamaofami son with covid Heartgrove brother discharged but rapidly declining Marshhawk DH awaiting biopsy 7/26 The locks at Ijmuiden From the rotation: Amy adjusting to widowhood and children Status of St. Louis Sal (7/1), msmayor (5/20) and JAM37 (7/7) Strength and healing for Kazu Tana with persistent problems Celebrations and Shoutouts: Championship for Tigers House found for Lindaler DS Seasick Sailer in Hawaii Cruisin Single with sister to 7/28 Aliaschief in Scotland until 8/13 Welcome home Sea Viewer Durango Scots shelter nearing completion Volendam caring for refugees 0106 covering menu suggestions until 8/1 dfish (Rotterdam 7/17 to 7/31) and Gail&Marty (10/15), Vict0riann (Nieuw Statendam (7/16 to 8/9) and Cat in My Lap (Zaandam to 8/13) at sea Vacationing 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

Today's sunrise is from my 2010 Blount Atlantic Maritimes cruise Rhode Island to Quebec. On July 24 Grande Caribe visited Bras d'Or Lake in Nova Scotia. Roy