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BarbinMich

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    Maui

    in Hawaii

    Posted

    On 8/13/2023 at 4:02 PM, cr8tiv1 said:

    Maui (as most neighbor islands) really is the poster child for the Aloha Spirit.  You will find the random negative new articles, but for the most part, everyone across all the islands (state) are helping out.  

     

    Today's good news.  The newly construction Lahaina dock survived the fire.  It will be instrumental in the recovery efforts as soon as they clear out the sunken vessels.  Hope is that the Banyan Tree will somehow make it through the healing process.  

     

    Malama Pono Maui and Lahaina residents.  

    My husband and I spent a number of one-week stays on Maui after he retired.  It was so heartbreaking to see the results of the fire.  I, too, hope the magnificent banyan tree survives!!

    • Like 1

    Zaandam Feb 3, 2024 21 day Caribbean cancelled

    in Holland America Line

    Posted · Edited by BarbinMich

    On 3/10/2023 at 11:09 AM, Love2cruise77 said:

     

    There are two Princess cruises in 2024 that will visit Guadeloupe:

    Emerald Princess - 2/21/24

    Ruby Princess - 3/9/24

    Thanks for the info!  I missed the Princess cruise in Jan. that stopped at Guadeloupe [accidentally picked up my late DH's passport instead of my own].  As another big "Death in Paradise" fan, a very big disappointment.

    Feral Chickens

    in Hawaii

    Posted

    Thanks for the pretty photo!  For many years my late husband and I used to spend two weeks in Hawaii in January (1 wk on one island, 2nd wk on another).  We were well acquainted with the chickens, esp. on Kauai where we rented a house for a week.  Certainly didn't need an alarm clock and driving was hazardous there and elsewhere!  Eventually learned that Hurricane Iniki (1992) helped "free" all the chickens, at least on Kauai!

    • Like 1

    Is mid August too late to cruise Alaska?

    in Alaska

    Posted

    I treated my sister to an Alaskan cruise as a retirement present.  She had never been, but I'd been multiple times with my late husband.  Booked for Sept. for right after she retired.  It was rainy and the glaciers were much less impressive than in the spring/early summer, especially Margerie Glacier in Glacier N. P.  Mostly bare rock as the glacier had receded considerably from its May position.

    • Like 1

    Question about Half Moon Cay for HAL Passengers

    in Holland America Line

    Posted · Edited by BarbinMich

    On 2/12/2023 at 6:09 PM, LVinTennessee said:

    Currently, for a March 19th sailing on Nieux Amsterdam, HAL is not offering excursions in HMC, just cabana rentals.  Will HAL passengers have the option to book other excursions when we exit the ship or is everything else just for Carnival passengers? 

    I was at HMC on the Eurodam in Nov. 2021.  Enjoyed "Historic Nature Walk" around the area beyond the beach with a naturalist. 

    ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Holland America Board’s Future Cruise Listing Updated Friday, February 24th, 2023 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

    in Holland America Line

    Posted · Edited by BarbinMich

    I'll be on the Rotterdam (1st time) from Aug. 10-24 for B2B 7-day cruises out of Amsterdam ("Best of Norway").  1st week the ship visits Eidfjord, Alesund, Geiranger, Bergen, 2 days at sea.  2nd week the ship visits different Oslofjord, Kristiansand, Ulvik, and Sognefjord, 2 days at sea.  [I've only been to Bergen and Kristiansand so really looking forward to this cruise!]

    Pre-Cruise Hotels In Rome

    in Italy Ports

    Posted

    On 1/5/2023 at 12:22 PM, Tbird58 said:

    Last fall we stayed close to FCO airport in Fumicino & loved it.  It was next to the ocean with so few people.  A complete different vibe than Rome.  Lots of restaurants to choose from and less expensive.  We stayed at Hotel Riviera.  Large rooms with nice breakfast.  It's closer to the cruise port than center of Rome.  We also stayed in Rome prior to cruise at Delle Tora Argentinia - it was wonderful.  Great location, but a little pricey.

    Thanks for this info!  I may try this out as I have been in Rome several times and done the RR to the port at least once, which is kind of a hassle.

    Which itinerary? Please help! Solo....

    in Alaska

    Posted · Edited by BarbinMich

    21 hours ago, lobsternight said:

    I saw that one too.  Only comment is that will be a lot of open water and beam seas, both directions, and will assume outside of Vancouver Island. Something to consider  

    My late DH and I sailed to Alaska out of San Francisco several years ago.  We usually do the Inside Passage route.  But I enjoyed the SF cruise (love the city and first time sailing under the GG Bridge on a cruise ship).  The second day we were at sea (no land in sight, except in the far distance), but we were lucky to see some seals swimming along side!

     

    I sailed to Alaska last May out of Seattle for the first time and enjoyed revisiting the city.  I think I was on the first cruise of the season on the Crown P.  It was the earliest I had been to the state and I picked it on purpose so as to see the glaciers at their snowiest.  Was not disappointed!!  Also, at Skagway I took the little train that runs into Canada for a bit and there was a lot of snow along the tracks up there!  Weather was great--blue sky and mild temps.

     

     

    • Like 1

    Oosterdam Europe 2022 will sail from Trieste

    in Holland America Line

    Posted

    Here's an article I just found online:  https://www.tripsavvy.com/venice-cruise-ship-ban-5193260. The ban started in 2019. 

     

    "

    By   
    Updated on 07/21/21
     
     Fact checked by 
     

    By 

    STEFANIE WALDEK

     

    Updated on 07/21/21

      Fact checked by 

    JILLIAN DARA

    Buena Vista Images / Getty Images

    In 2019, UNESCO warned that Venice could be irrevocably damaged if the local government refused to ban large cruise ships from the centrally located San Marco basin, the San Marco canal, and the Giudecca canal. The organization eventually threatened to add the coastal city to its blacklist of endangered World Heritage Sites. Fortunately for Venice's UNESCO status, the government has finally taken action.

    After years of protests by environmental and cultural conservation groups, Venice will officially ban large cruise ships—those longer than 590 feet and heavier than 25,000 tons—beginning Aug. 1. But the move is a largely controversial one.

    Venice is one of the most touristed cities in Italy, with some 1.5 million passengers arriving by some 400 cruise ships each year (before the pandemic, that is). One of the arguments for the ban is that these large ships could potentially damage the city's fragile ecosystem of canals. Another is that the ships contribute greatly to overtourism—Venice's pedestrian streets along the canals are often utterly mobbed by tourists.

     

    On the opposite side of the aisle, local businesses are protesting the decision to ban the ships, saying they will suffer without the big crowds.

     

    Ultimately, both proponents and opponents of the large cruise ship ban have flaws in their arguments.

     

    Venice will still be open to cruise ships in general, but they will have to dock outside the city at less picturesque ports. The scenario is not unlike Rome's—cruise ships that add the Eternal City to their itineraries actually dock nearly 40 miles away in Civitavecchia. Cruise ships provide shuttles from the port to the Italian capital.

     

    The issue right now is that there are no ports near Venice that are a good fit for large cruise ships. However, the Italian government has authorized the construction of temporary docks in nearby Marghera, a cargo port some 13 miles outside Venice, and a permanent dock elsewhere along the coast.

     

    As such, Venice will still attract hoards of cruise ship tourists, which means that overtourism will likely still be a major problem. On the flip side, there will still be plenty of business to shops and restaurants. Plus, the legislation that includes the ban also provides government aid for affected businesses.

     

    The only direct benefit of the large cruise ship ban is that Venice's ecosystem will get a much-needed break from the ships, which is a pretty strong reason to support the ban overall.

     

    Which cruise line and why?

    in Alaska

    Posted

    On 11/2/2022 at 8:53 PM, Coral said:

    Go to Glacier Bay. It is pretty much guaranteed. Hubbard can easily be missed.

    And GB is so much better than Hubbard.  We saw the latter while on a Celebrity ship years ago.  It's right on the coast and not inland like Glacier Bay (i.e. surrounded by lots of mountains).

    • Like 1

    Which cruise line and why?

    in Alaska

    Posted

    2 hours ago, kayehall said:

    I have decided  southbound to Vancouver.  Between Princess and Holland, which would you recommend and why?  Any thoughts on the ships?

     

    I've done Alaskan cruises on both those lines multiple times (also have did one on Celebrity back in the 90s).  Princess ships are generally larger than HAL ships, so the latter visits a few ports that Princess can't.  However, I've never done a southbound one, always have done northbound.  Where do you depart from?  Seward?  In looking at my past itineraries, HAL ships visited a few ports that Princess never does, probably because the latter''s ships are larger.  For example, College Fjiord is never visited by those two lines; we were there on a Celebrity ship--CF is magnificent, especially early in the season when there's still a lot of snow around.  Also, we stopped at Sitka on a HAL ship (well worth it).  Happy travels!

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