Host Jazzbeau

Because Scylla buys ships for other cruise lines, they could use a set of four that doesn't match anything else they own (unlike all the lines quoted in the various articles who tout their unique designs). I think these ships would be right for Tauck to charter from Scylla.

They keep them in the passenger compartment (pressurized), not in the baggage hold (non-pressurized). Big difference.

Because they make you book the cruise at full list price to get the pro-rated discount on your 'free nights' – this often makes the cost of the cruise higher than it would be under the current sale prices, and it also keeps you from rebooking if a better sale comes along. Only the 6 night and 10 night rewards are consistently worth using, according to the veteran posters here. BTW since half of the points-earning cruises must have been on Azamara, 'newbies' are a long way from qualifying! Thanks to a bunch of Celebrity cruises (that earned fewer points per diem), even though we will have 50%+ of our points from Azamara when we hit 750 we won't qualify for the bonus. And that is one of the two 'useful' ones!

Just in from cutting the lawn. I'll drink to that!!!

Farina? Fusina?

"Havila Capella can resume operations from June 28, when she will embark on her next voyage along the Norwegian coast." https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/27745-havila-capella-resumes-service.html

We'll be facing that on our next renewal. The trick is to buy 5 years of membership when you're 73!

The question is how much more than $500 would a regular room be? Is that net cost worth it to be able to choose your cabin? [I would never book a guarantee rate because there are far too many unacceptable cabins on every deck plan I have examined.] [And BTW, I didn't pull your first post because that would be the entire thread – but, you aren't allowed to hint at travel agents as you did. In future, just say 'my travel agent' and leave it at that.]

According to that TravelWeekly article, "Levis said that A&K was not interested in Crystal's river ships." https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Travel-agent-reaction-Abercrombie-Kent-acquisition-Crystal Most of the major players are out for one reason or another. Who's left? Tauck? Scylla? Or somebody new who wants to jump in at the high end of river cruising [Azamara?] These will be expensive ships to operate, with their extremely low passenger counts.

Travel insurance evacuation coverage has a BIG loophole: the insurance company will confer with the local doctor and only evacuate you if the doctor admits they are incapable of treating you. [Cue memes about doctors with God complex.] The solution is: Medjet Assist, which puts YOU in control of the decision: once you are admitted to a hospital anywhere in the world, YOU tell Medjet to 'get me outta here' and they will airlift you and a companion to the hospital of YOUR choice [i.e. a major hospital close to your home]. And if you are an AARP member, they have a special discounted rate. https://medjetassist.com https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/all/medjetassist-10063/

One benefit of flying to Guayaquil instead of Quito is that you won't suffer altitude sickness as we did! [You also won't get to stand with one foot in the northern hemisphere and one in the southern – but we didn't either because the photo op spot isn't in quite the right location!!!]

That means you are turning your phone the 'wrong' way to take landscape shots. Turn it the other way and it will post correctly on CC. [And there doesn't seem to be any way to fix it on CC if you have taken it in the wrong orientation, as shown by an official 'live from' here.]

I have heard of other cruise lines that, because of Covid, moved final payment closer to the cruise – but kept the penalty dates as written in the contract.

Havila: Ship Arrest Provides Opportunity to Sail

There is great controversy on this forum about which type of cabin is preferable, but in your case I would change my recommendation and say it would be worth it to pay the premium to be on the top deck – as that maximizes the effect that @BashfulBeki describes in the post above this. You will also really love the Sun Deck, as you can sit in the center and be that much further away from actually seeing the water!

If you are 'oldish' and not taking any of the drugs that have bad interactions with these Covid drugs – lucky you! Hypertension and GERD drugs are on the list.

New article on Cruise Critic: AmaWaterways Debuts New River Cruise Honoring France's Black History and Culture

Another delay for Ritz-Carlton Evrima: Ritz-Carlton Cruise Ship Delayed Again The Evrima will now set sail on August 31, 2022, from Athens, Greece.

If you throw in biking there are many river cruise lines that could keep your daughter active while offering alternative excursions for you. AMA was a pioneer with bikes on board. Scenic has them too. Both lines offer several choices of excursion in most ports, including some hikes.

There was a scary headline yesterday about SH Vega going to auction – I'm glad I didn't post it here. The followup today shows that this is just a formal process to wipe out the Russian connection and allow Swan Hellenic to get a clean title to the ship: Swan Hellenic Set to Acquire SH Vega From Auction; First Cruise July 20

Done

Even though my credit cards have PINs set, I have never been prompted for a PIN in Europe – the machine always defaults to signature. [Even the Barclays Arrival card, which was one of the first in the US with the PIN feature]

We went straight from the airport to Keukenhof (they have an express bus from Schiphol and you can buy the combination tickets online). Jet lag meant we pooped out after 2 hours there, which was fine for taking the bus and tram back to Centraal Station and walking to the ship. [We used Bagpoint to transfer our luggage: they met us at the airport, sent photos of the bags being handed over to AMA, and our bags were in our cabin when we got there!] AMA also offered Keukenhof as an option toward the end of our cruise, which allowed us to see the rest of it. I think most cruises billed as 'Tulip Time' will include Keukenhof, and it is so large that we were very happy we had split our visit – also we could notice the difference in blooms after almost a week [many beds are planted in layers so when the early tulips end the late ones are beginning]. While we really enjoyed Keukenhof, we enjoyed Floralia [a castle with over a million tulip bulbs in its gardens] even more! It's located outside Brussels, and was offered as an excursion option from Antwerp.

Reminder: you are not allowed to name (or hint at) Travel Agents.

We will be arriving in Ravenna before our cruise ship allows boarding and would like to spend the time sightseeing. Can we store our bags at the train station or somewhere else in the old town? Edited to add: I see two luggage storage services rated on the internet: • usebounce.com • radicalstorage.com [formerly bagbnb] Any experience with these?