CPT Trips

Waka on the Avon River

I note that a couple posters suggest speaking with the dining manager to get an early tray for dinner. I must admit that I am skeptical about this actually happening. The line we cruise on preps and plates the appetizer and then cooks and plates the entree based on the orders during the soup course. Give that the kitchen staff need some time off mid day, I can’t imagine how they could get an entire meal for one or two people early.

We are also doing a similar trip this fall and will also have a land portion. The cruise itself will be on a 50 pax ship, not on a large/mega cruise ship. I anticipate a somewhat “relentless pace” as we won’t be burdened with large tenders and buses. It looks like we will dock in some places where the “big boats” (😉) need to tender. I’m not sure we would enjoy the experience of those “big boats.” When we cruise we enjoy the entertainment throughout the ship, I’m not sure we could enjoy or endure both a full day touring and the nightlife.

Just for fun - https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-long-linguistic-journey-to-dagnabbit?utm_medium=email&utm_source=pocket_hits&utm_campaign=POCKET_HITS-EN-DAILY-RECS-2024_05_24&sponsored=0&position=10&category=fascinating_stories&scheduled_corpus_item_id=a7ab6fcb-0881-4cf2-b83c-694856fa726c&url=https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-long-linguistic-journey-to-dagnabbit

Yes. Yes.

Grand Circle Travel river cruises are longer, 10-14 days. Some folks complain about the “Pullman” style fixed beds. Neither my wife nor I have any problem sleeping on them. Their fares tend to be lower in the summer than during shoulder seasons🤷🏻‍♂️ IME, the crew is uniformly great and provide excellent service. They regularly have special offers and last minute specials on their website.

Rhône Seine Rhein Mosel Holland Christmas Markets Give each a number and roll the die. You can’t go wrong.

Don’t want to sound like a “ditto head,” but we too often breakaway mid tour. Lunch on board the ship isn’t that important for us. Yes, we inform the guide and verify “all aboard” time. At most stops we have a list of things to do for free time.

If you are considering a GCT cruise earlier than November, take a look at their special offers page - https://www.gct.com/ways-to-save/special-offers these offers change frequently, so check back.

Definitely contact your insurer. In the US, we have been able to transfer unused insurance to another trip. There was an additional charge when the cost of the second trip was higher than the original insured amount.

Sure, among other things it’s where you dropped your PPV when PCSed to Europe and where you picked it up upon return. Do you happen to know how POVs get shipped these days?

Anyone remember Cape Liberty during the time between its conversion from MOTBY and the completion of the new terminal? A warehouse would have been an improvement.

Do you nap? Im just pleased that I only need a nap and, unlike the big boomer, not a nappy.

OK Boomer . . . Many of us are like a current defendant and need to nap while in court. Sincerely, An age exempt juror

My experience with GCT and the Program Diectors differs from the post above. Yes, you have the same group the entire trip. But, - local guides are used for most, if not all, group tours. The PD is on the tour, often as a “herder” bringing up the rear. -All PDs are available to you for advice on DIY activities during free time. - on most cruises, one or more PDs will organize a group activity during a day’s free time. The slowest person in the group rules, like just about every group tour I’ve ever been on. My experience has been that the PD is usually proactive in dealing with a significant outlier, even to the point of suggesting that they don’t participate in certain activities.

Take Vantage out of the equation. They no longer exist. One thing I like about GCT is that there are multiple program directors on onboard instead of just a single cruise director.

I had to search for this, to justify

And a few days later also NE, Sugarloaf during the eclipse. Not mine, found on Reddit.

There’s more. It’s something much different than “friendliness.” Maybe that the smiles and loud greetings seem superficial. And the cruisers are much more homogeneous.

Cruises out of the Port of NY/NJ have a very different vibe than that of TX based cruises.

This . . .

We enjoy Grand Circle. Their cruises are typically longer duration (~2weeks) and the price point is comfortable for us. They break the cruisers into several groups, each with Program Director, that you stay with for the entire cruise. The included tours utilize local guides and the PD stays with the group. Frequently the PDs offer additional tours/activities during the afternoon or, if a late departure, after dinner. GCT provides future cruise credits (~5% of trip cost) after 2 or 3 trips. It increases to ~7% after more tours (8-10?). All trips with GCT/OAT count, not just river cruises. They also offer a discount on multiple trips in one year. As we enjoyed our first trip an as GCT/OAT also offer land tours and small ship cruises, we kept coming back.

Tickets go on sale April 1 - https://philamuseum.org/calendar/exhibition/mary-cassatt-at-work?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dcon_events_news_19Mar24_look_ahead_to_April&utm_content=dcon_events_news_19Mar24_look_ahead_to_April+CID_2a5111988e9170db94af440cfc0a7c8c&utm_source=email&utm_term=Mary Cassatt at Work

Back when I worked with people with disabilities there was a word often used to describe people without disabilities, TAB. Temporarily able bodied.

Here's one to consider. https://visitworldheritage.com/en/eu/rheinisches-landesmuseum-trier-archaeological-museum/7848fdcd-c7d4-408b-a74a-d9c3b4709c83