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smokinmike

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  1. I posted this some time ago . . .

     

    We spent three weeks aboard Star Clipper and enjoyed their three Grecian/Turkish itineraries back in 2015. Because we wanted discrete itineraries for our back-to-back-to-back voyage, Star Clippers scheduling required a mid-July through week one of August time frame. We had concerns regarding both heat and crowds.

     

     

    To a large degree - for us - those concerns proved to be non-issues. Some of the ports - think Mykonos, Rhodos, Santorini - had tourists and vacationers aplenty but never to the point that we couldn’t go where we wanted or were unable to get a table at a desired cafe or restaurant. Regarding the other islands on our itineraries, crowds were simply not an issue. Islands such as Skiathos, Hydra, Skopelous, and Limnos had vacationers but there were no large cruise ships with thousands of passengers descending upon the port city. Several of the port towns we visited were small, picturesque harbor towns.

     

     

    The weather was warm but not unbearably so - we vacation in Mexico quite often, Cozumel - we’re divers - so that may have been a factor in that regard. We also arrived in Athens three days prior to our departure date for a pre-cruise experience and that may have helped with acclimatization. I don’t mean to minimize the heat but it does help to know one’s tolerance. One hint - wear a hat. The heat may be tolerable but the sun has no mercy.

     

     

    This was not our first Star Clipper experience - previously we were aboard Royal Clipper out of Civitivecchia bound for Venice and we’ve had many sailings aboard both her and Star Clipper in the Caribbean. I say all that because we knew what to expect in terms of dining, berthing, excursions and whatnot and that is important aboard a smaller, more intimate ship - especially for three weeks. I will say this as well - because the ship is smaller, you will see your fellow passengers a lot!

     

     

    Your fellow passengers on European itineraries will be more international than a traditional American cruise ship. Expect to hear conversations in French, Dutch, German, Italian, or English with an British, Australian, or New Zealand accent. Most are well-traveled and active. Many are in their late-50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. A few are older and a few, younger. Most seem to be adventurous types who want to see and experience.

     

     

    Breakfast and lunch are casual, buffet affairs - dress is shorts, tees, sandals but no one will think you odd if you take your dress up a notch. Dinner is off-menu and the attire is more like “country club casual”. Jackets on men may appear at the Captain’s Dinner. Food is good with a decent variety - understand, the food won’t wow fanatical foodies but we haven’t been disappointed. The wine list is very serviceable without a price gouge.

     

     

    Entertainment is not of a large cruise ship variety - no large floor shows and such. Folks migrate to the Tropical Bar for after dinner cocktails and conversation. Music for dancing and enjoyment is supplied by the ship’s musician/DJ at the Bar. Smokers are confined to one side of the ship - be advised that you will smell cigarette smoke even if you are on the non-smoking side. There will be several small organized “shows” after dinner as well - Talent Show, Fashion Show, etc. - where your participation is encouraged but not required. Most people turn in fairly early but there are usually a few that stay late on the bar stools. I must say that the ship itself provides most of the entertainment - going topside at night while under sail is an experience unlike others and is rarely available these days. Getting up early for a sunrise while approaching a small island under sail is a life experience that few have.

     

     

    The Library is a quiet place for reading or resting - it is air-conditioned and the wi-fi is pretty fast there. The Library is also where one finds the sign-up sheets for shore excursions. The Main Lounge is a fairly large area good for relaxation, reading, puzzle-working and such. Wi-fi is good here as well - understand that “good” does not mean blazing FIOS speed. Another bar is located topside and is open for business during the day. Loungers are available but shade is at a premium. The swimming pools are very small and not very deep but can be used to cool off. One can relax out on the bowsprit netting - possibly one of the few opportunities one has for something like this. Mast-climbing is available on certain days as is helping with line-handling. Captain’s Story Time is an opportunity to hear of the experiences of the Clippers’ Skipper.

     

     

    We are of a mixed bag with regards to shore excursions - we rarely use ship’s shore excursions on large cruise ships (Holland-America is our “big ship line”) but we are more apt to use the Star Clipper excursions. Also, sometimes a visit to a waterside cafe for some local food and wine is a shore excursion enough for us! Sign-ups for the excursions are aboard ship and usually have a required minimum/maximum participation rate. Costs for the excursions, as for all other shipboard expenses, are in Euro and are added to your shipboard account.

     

     

    Laundry service is excellent - we have never had an issue with our laundry. Massages are available aboard. Star Clipper and Star Flyer have no fitness center. Royal Clipper has a small fitness center located outside the spa.

     

     

    I’m sure I’ve missed many facets of the Star Clipper experience but hopefully you will gain some insight that may help with your decision. I’m including the itineraries of our voyage that includes shore excursion we chose. I understand that some or all of the Turkish ports may have been dropped or altered due to circumstances in that part of the world. That is truly a shame for our experiences in Turkey were integral to the success of our voyage.

     

     

     

    Southern Cyclades - Athens to Athens

     

     

    Sat 7/18 Piraeus, Greece - Embark Terminal A; Depart 2145

    Sun 7/19 At sea

    Mon 7/20 Rhodes, Greece - DIY Port

    Tue 7/21 Bodrum, Turkey - DIY Port

    Wed 7/22 Dalyan River, Turkey - SHOREX/Ancient Caunous & Dalyan River

    3' 30"/90€/Boat ride to Caunos & Lycian tombs and Caunos for ruins/Beach stop

    Thu 7/23 Santorini, Greece - SHOREX/Flavors of Santorini

    4' 30"/100€/Bus to Akrotiri & Oia - also boat and funicular included

    Fri 7/24 Hydra, Greece - DIY Port

    Sat 7/25 Piraeus, Greece - Arrive 0700/Terminal A/Remain Onboard or Tour

     

     

    *****

    Delightful Dervishes - Athens to Istanbul

     

     

    Sat 7/25 Piraeus, Greece - Embark Terminal A; Depart 2145

    Sun 7/26 Mykonos, Greece - DIY Port

    Mon 7/27 Kos, Greece - DIY Port

    Tue 7/28 Patmos, Greece - DIY Port

    Wed 7/29 Camlimani (AM beach stop) & Kusadasi, Turkey - SHOREX/Ephesus & Terraced Houses

    4'/120€/Bus to ruins and tour

    Thu 7/30 Dikili, Turkey - SHOREX/Pergamon

    4'/114€/Bus to site, cable car, ruins and trip to Asklepeion - 3' on-site

    Fri 7/31 Canakkale, Turkey - SHOREX/Gallipoli Peninsula

    2'45"/120€/Bus to ferry across Dardanelles - 1' 30" on-site

    Sat 8/1 Istanbul, Turkey - Arrive 0700/Port of Istanbul, Karakoy - SHOREX/Highlights of Istanbul

    4'/90€/Bus to Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia. Tour ends in city center.

     

    ******

    Yachtsman's Paradise - Istanbul to Athens

     

     

     

    Sat 8/1 Istanbul, Turkey - Embark Port of Istanbul, Karakoy; Depart 2200

    Sun 8/2 Canakkale, Turkey - DIY Port

    Mon 8/3 Myrina, Limnos - Greece - DIY Port

    Tue 8/4 Mt. Athos (Sail-By) & Ouranopolis, Greece

    Wed 8/5 Skiathos, Greece - SHOREX/Around Siathos on Mountain Bikes

    4'/76€/Mountain Bike tour to island center and North Coast & return

    Thu 8/6 Skopelous, Greece - DIY Port

    Fri 8/7 Porous, Greece - SHOREX/Epidaurus

    3' 30"/88€/Bus to Epidaurus - Shrine to Aesculapius, baths & theater

    Sat 8/8 Piraeus, Greece - Arrive 0700/Terminal A/Disembark

     

     

     

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  2. I have a cruise scheduled in September and all the research I have conducted points to drug cartels being responsible for the explosive devices on the ferries. Perhaps all of you who seem to know so much more than us, could share your all knowing explanation of what happened to put our minds at ease instead of criticizing those of us who are concerned.

     

     

     

    Well - my wife and I spent a month on Coz last November and December and didn’t get blown up, shot, kidnapped, or killed.

     

    We’re going back again in November for another month.

     

    I think you’ll be safe enough during an eight hour port visit.

     

     

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  3. You could load the entire family in a taxi at the cruise ship pier, have the taxi drop you at Fonatur, send the family down to the Money Bar and then hook back up with them there after your dive. It’s a good place for snorkel, food, cocktails, and beer. There are loungers for sunning plus waiter service.

     

     

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  4. Speaking of Martinis - I like mine 3:1 using Plymouth and Dolin Dry with a couple of shakes of orange bitters and a lemon peel for garnish.

     

    . . . and stirred for a good, slow 30 seconds in the pitcher.

     

     

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  5. Last night - 2 ounces of Beefeater, 4 ounces of Fever Tree tonic, and a lime wheel in a double Old Fashioned glass with four ice cubes.

     

    It works for me - I’m impressed with Fever Tree.

     

    I was so impressed, I made a second.

     

     

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  6. I’m paying $75 for a 2 tank dive day on Cozumel - that’s discounted because I’m on the island for a month at a time and do many dive days. I also use my own gear and use the same op each year. Single day dives with rental gear plus a pick-up will always be the most expensive diving - wherever you are.

     

    . . . also - Nitrox on Coz is an extra $10 a tank. Nothing beats Buddy Dive on Bonaire in that regard - air and Nitrox is same-same.

     

     

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  7. We tendered to Ponza from the RC. The seas were up but the boat crews were great and got us ashore - we were really impressed with their small boat handling skills. Ponza itself is small, quaint and we enjoyed a long walk with a snack and a glass of wine.

     

     

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  8. Purely anecdotal, but last night I had a $12.00 cocktail (Manhattan) in a Dallas 'quick casual' chain restaurant.

    Paying $10.50 for the same drink - in the Commodore club -of the QM2 - does not seem too bad.

     

     

     

    I hope it was a decent Manhattan.

     

     

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  9. Well - I’m learning that ice should be used in moderation, lime juice is not an ingredient, and that my tonic water needs improvement. Martin Miller’s Gin sounds intriguing- as does the recipe using it. Please keep your suggestions coming!

     

     

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  10. As a person who takes some measure of pride in producing a craft cocktail at home, I value experience, expertise, and knowledge. Knowing that Englishmen and Englishwomen are habitués of the Cunard board and at the risk of instigating controversy, I am asking for thoughts on the preparation of a proper gin and tonic.

     

    I have always considered the gin and tonic a deceptively simple drink and in the days of my wanton youth, countless “Bombays and Tonic” were passed to me across various bars all over the globe. Invariably the drinks were made in the same manner: ice in a glass (usually in an Old Fashioned glass), a splash of spirit of choice (in my case, usually Bombay), a squirt of tonic from a bar gun, a squeeze from a lime wedge with a drop-in, and the insertion of a plastic bar straw with a two stroke stir.

     

    Now - please understand that I have nothing against this preparation. However, I do things differently now that I am in my dotage - I measure everything, I use spirits based on a flavor profile, I use fresh fruit and juices, and when stirring or shaking with ice, I use a lot of time.

     

    Presently my G&T is constructed with 2 ounces of a London dry gin (Gordon’s or Bombay Sapphire), 1 tablespoon of lime juice, and 4 ounces of Schweppes tonic - all combined in an ice-filled Collins glass. I stir the gin and juice for a longish bit prior to adding the tonic with a quick stir for that and garnish with a lime wheel.

     

    As I said earlier, a gin and tonic is a deceptively easy drink to make and I realize that the addition of more than a “squeeze” of lime juice may not be traditional - it works for me though. I’m aware that even a squeeze of juice may not be preferable to some - there are folks who just want the interplay between the gin, tonic, and ice. I’m further aware that there are those who don’t want ice in their G&T as I’m also aware that there are those who may prefer lemon in place of lime as the fruit - either from preference or because lemon is a better accompaniment for a certain gin.

     

    So - I’m opening the door here. How do Brits like their G&Ts?

     

     

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  11. In California, we don't manage for diversity, we legislate it:

     

     

    LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST



     

     

     

    SCR 62, Jackson. Corporations: boards of directors: representation: women.

    This measure would encourage equitable and diverse gender representation on corporate boards, and urge that, within a 3-year period from January 2014 to December 2016, inclusive, every publicly held corporation in California with 9 or more director seats have a minimum of 3 women on its board, every publicly held corporation in California with 5 to 8 director seats have a minimum of 2 women on its board, and every publicly held corporation in California with fewer than 5 director seats have a minimum of one woman on its board.

     

     

     

    Not a bad idea! Sounds pretty rational.

     

     

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