he Fleet Report and Daily for Tuesday April 9th, 2024

[kazu]

Today is Jenkins Ear Day, Jumbo Day, and National Cherish An Antique Day
 

If we live good lives, the times are also good. As we are, such are the times. - Saint Augustine

Meal Suggestion for today - Broccoli and Cheese Egg Muffins
Drink of the Day - Pear Martini
Wine of the Day - 2018 Riesling, Westhofener Riesling, Katharina Wechsler, Rheinhessen
Destination of the Day - Denali National Park, Alaska

Today in History:
1768 John Hancock refuses to allow two British customs agents to go below deck of his ship, considered by some to be the first act of physical resistance to British authority in the colonies

Ship Locations
 

Eurodam

San Juan, Puerto Rico 13:00 - 22:00 
 

Koningsdam

At Sea Destination Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Island 
 

Nieuw Amsterdam

At Sea Destination Willemstad Curacao, Netherlands Antilles eta 04-10
 

Nieuw Statendam

At Sea Destination Kings Wharf, Bermuda eta 04-10
 

Oosterdam

At Sea Destination Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel Island Azores Portugal eta 04-12
 

Rotterdam

Belize City 08:00 - 17:00 
 

Volendam

Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico Riviera 08:00 - 15:00 
 

Zaandam

Loreto, Baja California Mexico 14:00 - 23:00

Eastern Hemisphere
 

Noordam

Mare Island, Tadine, New Caledonia 08:00 - 17:00 
 

Westerdam

Sapporo-Otaru, Japan Shiribeshi 07:00 - 16:00 
 

Zuiderdam

At Sea Destination Maputo, Mozambique eta 4/

[portofrome]

Thank you for the Fleet Report.

[seagarsmoker]

Good morning Dailyites and thank you for the Daily Report.

A hazy morning here from the pollen, with a chance of rain. Which would be wonderful. 🙂 

 

I hope everyone has a great day!

 

[JazzyV]

Today’s Care List:

RMLincoln’s DSIL back in the hospital, slight improvement

Tana with chronic pulmonary issues, on maximal oxygen

Remembering Luvteaching’s Anniversary with her DD DH

Lazey1 having some lightheadedness and balance issues

Quartzsite Cruiser’s DH getting a CT scan today

Dfish’s eye infection, improving

JazzyV with R leg pain, numbness

 

Taiwan 7.4 magnitude earthquake

Baltimore Key Bridge collapse, 6 people presumed dead

Citizens of Ukraine, Israel and Gaza, hostages; Haiti unrest

All Dailyites going through worries and stress, whether mentioned or not

 

From the Rotation:

Cruzin Terri’s DH Jim with memory issues

Cruising sister’s great niece Murphy post-surgery, at home, on CPAP

Seasick Sailor’s DH Allen with skin issues, abnormal lab work

 

Celebrations and Shoutouts:

Happy Birthday to Luvteaching!

Happy Anniversary Ger_77 (Gerry & Maurice)!

NextOne’s DS got a new job!

USN59-79 in Taipei

Kazu stepping up to keep the FR/Daily going while Rich is cruising

 

The Daily Gardening Club posting wonderful flower pictures

All the contributors to the Fleet Report/Daily

 

Upcoming Cruises or At Sea:

 

5 days for LAFFNVEGAS (Norwegian Joy Apr 14 to Apr 21) 7d Bermuda from NY

 

Ocean sounds (Zaandam to Apr 13) 14d Solar Eclipse & Mexican Riviera, SusieKIslandGirl (Discovery Princess to Apr 13) 10d Mexican Riviera with Total Solar Eclipse, Heartgrove’s DW Sue and DSIL (Rotterdam to Apr 13) 6d W. Caribbean, Vict0riann (Nieuw Statendam to Apr 21) 14d Bermuda, Brittany & The English Channel Expedition, Lobsternight (Koningsdam to April 27) 22d Solar Eclipse & Circle Hawaii, Richwmn (Volendam to May 4, Apr 6 15d PC Cruise + Apr 21 The Atlantic Coast), Sailingdutchy (Nieuw Statendam Apr 7 to May 5) 28d Bermuda, Brittany & Canary Island Allure, for Overhead Fred (Nieuw Statendam to May 5) 28d Bermuda, Brittany & Canary Island Allure, Cat in my lap (Zuiderdam to May 11, 128d Grand World Voyage), Gail & Marty sailing away (Zuiderdam to May 11, 128d Grand World Voyage) and Aliaschief (Azamara Onward WC to June 9, 156d World Voyage)

[rafinmd]

Tuesday maps:

 

 

 

Roy

[grapau27]

Good morning from a wet 46°F NE England.

Thank you for today's FR&D.

3 interesting days and quote.

I will give today's food a rest.

Prayers for good health for all dailyites.

I have a skin cancer check up later.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day.

A little video from our Fjord's cruise June 2023 of what we all love to do.

Edited April 9 by grapau27

[summer slope]

Pear Martini combines muddled fresh pears and pear vodka into a cocktail shaker that’s ready in less than 5 minutes! It’s a crisp, refreshing and delicately sweet cocktail recipe that celebrates the flavors of fall and winter – and perfect for entertaining!

Ingredients
Scale

½ fresh ripe pear, diced
2 oz pear vodka
1 oz fresh lemon juice
½–1 oz simple syrup
Ice
Pear Slices
Instructions
Muddle pear: Dice up ½ of the pear and add to a cocktail shaker. Muddle the pear together until it’s released its juices and is mashed.
Shake: Add in the pear vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Add in 1 cup of ice and shake the drink for 20-30 seconds.
Strain: Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a pear slice.

 

[MISTER 67]

Greetings from beautiful Port Charlotte.

A pleasant 63 this morning, another nice day coming up with sunny skies and high of 83.

Some silly days but the quote makes sense.

I’ll take an order of the broccoli and cheese muffins.

Is it just me or did the country go a bit overboard and the media overhype the eclipse, like I said the other day, at 78 years old nothing excites me that much anymore.
We cruised Alaska back in 2000, beautiful scenery but it was August and it wasn’t what you call summer and we were happy when we were back home in Florida.

My cold is much better and I’ll play golf tomorrow.

Have a great day and stay well.

Edited April 9 by MISTER 67

[Overhead Fred]

We had a lovely anniversary in the Canaletto last night. I finally tried the Osso Bucco -

 

 

Pat, Ann, Tony, and Martha helped us celebrate -

 

And we got a nice cake - we shared, of course!

 

[aliaschief]

Sabang, Indonesia was very hot as forecasted. Toured through the market place. After going through the meat market I decided to join the local and fast. Tomorrow is the last day of Ramadan so the families were stocking up for a big feast.

Two sea days and our next port will be Sri Lanka.

@St Louis CruiserSande a a belated Happy Birthday. Thanks for the post. Bruce

 

 

 

[StLouisCruisers]

Good morning friends!  Here in north central Georgia it's 58F and raining lightly.  The drizzle will end by 9 am and the remainder of the day will be cloudy and a high of about 70.  We could use a little rain to water the new sod over the lawn disruption after laying the new fiber optic cables.  

 

Thank you Jacqui @kazu and Roy @rafinmd for posting the Fleet Report and Daily as well as the fleet location maps for Rich @richwmn.  I read about Jenkins Ear Day and hoped Graham @grapau27 would report back here on that matter.  Oh my!  We also recognize Jumbo Day named after an elephant and National Cherish an Antique Day.  The quote seems true to me in many ways, and I'm going to pass on the meal, drink and wine.  Good for John Hancock standing up for himself and the colonies.  Thanks to Debbie @dfish, Dixie @summer slope and Ann @cat shepard for the F&B reports.

 

Prayers said for everyone here with extra prayers for those most in need.  Also my DB, the precious babies of great nephew Alex, friends Scott, Susan and Sandy, the people of Israel and Ukraine, the hostages still held, and our military in the area. 🙏 

 

My niece sent me an Easter photo of herself with son Alex, wife Jordan and baby Elliott Rose and it was just gorgeous.  Jordan looked fabulous in her delicate condition.  She is going to the doctor tomorrow and is approximately 22 weeks along. 🙏 

 

Cheers for all celebrating special events today and for those cruising! 🎉🚢 Happy birthday Karen @luvteaching and happy anniversary Gerry and Maurice @ger_77!!  Hope you all have a wonderful day! 🥂 Thank you Vanessa @JazzyV for continued excellent work on the Care and Celebration lists!  Many prayers for you each day!

 

The destination today is Denali National Park, Alaska.  We have several dates with Denali and Anchorage/Denali.  Nov. 24, 2021, Feb. 7, 2022 and Sept. 29, 2023.  I have not personally visited Denali National Park so will present no photos today but would really enjoy seeing yours.  Here are the links for your convenience.

 

 

 

 

Yesterday I heard from all 6 of my precious grandkids, my kids and their spouses, my niece and most of my friends.  In addition the good wishes from all my friends here.  Priceless!

 

Hope you all have a great day, and please stay safe and keep well!

[grapau27]

@ger_77

Happy anniversary Gerry and Maurice.

[grapau27]

@luvteaching.

Happy birthday.

[StLouisCruisers]

16 minutes ago, Overhead Fred said:

We had a lovely anniversary in the Canaletto last night. I finally tried the Osso Bucco -

 

 

Pat, Ann, Tony, and Martha helped us celebrate -

 

And we got a nice cake - we shared, of course!

 

 

Wonderful photos of your anniversary celebration and our good looking group of Dailyites!  Thanks for posting it!

 

 

 

14 minutes ago, aliaschief said:

Sabang, Indonesia was very hot as forecasted. Toured through the market place. After going through the meat market I decided to join the local and fast. Tomorrow is the last day of Ramadan so the families were stocking up for a big feast.

Two sea days and our next port will be Sri Lanka.

@St Louis CruiserSande a a belated Happy Birthday. Thanks for the post. Bruce

 

 

 

 

Thank you Bruce for the birthday wishes.  It was a fun day.  Your photos of Sabang are colorful and show the true life conditions of the citizens.  I'm appreciating my air conditioned grocery store more after seeing the market photos from there.  Enjoy some sea days before arrival in Sri Lanka.  Should be another interesting port for you.

[grapau27]

21 minutes ago, Overhead Fred said:

We had a lovely anniversary in the Canaletto last night. I finally tried the Osso Bucco -

 

 

Pat, Ann, Tony, and Martha helped us celebrate -

 

And we got a nice cake - we shared, of course!

 

Fabulous photos.

Congratulations on your wedding anniversary.

[Denise T]

Happy Tuesday. Thanks for the Daily and Fleet reports. 

Going up to 76 today and mostly sunny. I will be spending some time outdoors grading assignments. Fancy will absolutely love it. Sunday, I was cleaning up the yard and she kept racing around the yard at top speed. Of course, the next day she was a little sore. Love the warm weather. 

Happy birthday to @luvteaching.

1. 

 

 

Happy anniversary to @ger_77.

 

Thinking of all on the care list. 

Celebrating with all who are celebrating.

Have a safe and healthy day. 

[Heartgrove]

Thank you Jacqui, thank you Roy, thank you Debbie, thank you Vanessa, thank you Ann, and thank you Dixie for all your work.  And thank you everyone for being here!

 

Stay Safe, and prayers for those in need.

 

- Jack

[Cruzin Terri]

Good morning to all Dailyites.

Happy Tuesday.

Not much to report today. At least, not yet.  

Got up really early, Couldn’t sleep anymore.  

 

Thank you to Jacqui, Vanessa, Roy, Debbie, Dixie and Ann for your contributions to keep this thread going.

I will pass on the meal and drink (I’m on the wagon these days—Doc’s orders)

Although I have been to Alaska, I have not been to Denali.  Don’t think I will get there.

Prayers for all on the Cares list (thank you Vanessa for keeping DH on the rotation)

Cheers to those celebrating and cruising.

 

@ger_77  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

 

@luvteaching  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

 

Hope everyone has a great day.

God Bless,

Terri

 

[grapau27]

1 hour ago, grapau27 said:

Good morning from a wet 46°F NE England.

Thank you for today's FR&D.

3 interesting days and quote.

I will give today's food a rest.

Prayers for good health for all dailyites.

I have a skin cancer check up later.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day.

A little video from our Fjord's cruise June 2023 of what we all love to do.

 

 

[cat shepard]

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Jacqui. Roy thank you for our maps. You didn’t seem to be too concerned about what the cardiologist told you yesterday. Did I misinterpret what you said?

 

It is another exquisite morning here. The most delicate colors painted the horizon as Bindi and I took our morning walks today. She loves to walk when it is light. I suspect her eyes may not be as sharp as they used to be. 
 

Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with us. I am praying. Hard. I pray one year from now we will all look back and say “Look at Vanessa go & no pain!”

 

Today is a busy, but fun busy day. First my Mat Class - think elements of yoga and Pilates combined to strengthen the core & improve balance. Then a reunion lunch with the gang from the classes at my former gym. Bindi walks spread throughout the day. Wrapped up by a glass or two at my favorite wine bar. 

 

 

 

 

Prayers for all who need our support. Those suffering from pain, debilitating conditions, the loss of a loved one, trauma. The caregivers. Terry, praying for Tana, her son, you, and your entire family. 
 

Cheers to all who are celebrating!

Happy Birthday, Karen! @luvteaching

Happy Anniversary Gerry & Maurice! @ger_77

 

May we each find a reason to smile today!
 

 

**********

2020 Riesling, Westhofener Riesling, Katharina Wechsler, Rheinhessen

This vintage could not be found. So I cheated. I used the 2020 info. Still elusive, but at least I found a few sites that sold it. Now- if you live in or are visiting Germany, you are in luck! Online prices start at $29.99.

Critic, James Suckling wrote about the 2020 vintage…

Apart from a few handful of star producers, German wine prices remain moderate and bargains are sometimes startling. That’s particularly the case where a wine tastes as if it actually belongs in the next category above it, like Our Wine Choice this week.

The Katharina Wechsler Riesling Rheinhessen Trocken 2022 is a so-called “estate riesling,” meaning an entry-level wine from a leading producer. The wines of this humble category are often rather fruity and well-balanced with a certain amount of depth but lack serious character. That is not the case with this miniature masterpiece from the limestone terroirs of the town of Westhofen in the Wonnegau sub-region of Rheinhessen. Instead, it has the kind of concentration and structure we associate with successful village wines.

In Germany’s very heterogeneous 2022 vintage, there are some single-vineyard dry rieslings that don’t match the level of this wine, yet it only costs the equivalent of about $12 to $13 locally.

Katharina Wechsler’s story deserves to be told, not just because it’s a good story but also because it says a lot about her region. Back in 2009 she was an editorial assistant at a major TV station in Berlin when she got a telephone call from her mother saying that the family farm (it was then a mix of wine and other crops) would be closed down because there was nobody to take it over.

Wechsler was torn between the excitement of Berlin and her roots, but she came back home to Westhofen. For two years she immersed herself in grape-growing and winemaking, and also worked in nearby Florsheim-Dalsheim for Klaus Peter Keller of Weingut Keller, who once described her to me as “one of the best students I ever had.”

Back at the turn of the last century, nearly all the numerous talented young winemakers in Rheinhessen felt more or less like outsiders because their region had been the most important producer of the cheap and sweet Liebfraumilch, which statistically dominated Germany’s wine exports. They not only wanted out of this corner, they wanted to move in the direction of distinctive and expressive dry wines.

The Katharina Wechsler Riesling Rheinhessen Trocken 2022: an "estate riesling" that punches above its weight. 

Katharina Wechsler in her rarities cellar.

Eventually, they formed a young producers’ network called Message in a Bottle (yes, named after The Police song) and they very freely shared experiences and ideas of all kinds. The result was a quantum leap in quality. Around the time Wechsler was striking out on her own, a journalist asked me to describe the new Rheinhessen. I answered, “It’s the Dream Factory of dry wines.” I still get asked about those words today!

Wechsler is one of the most prominent examples of the second wave of young winemakers in the region who benefited from the achievements of the first wave (think Klaus Peter Keller, Philipp Wittmann and Oliver Spanier). But not all of those in the second wave continued developing in the way that Wechsler did. She recently converted her 17 hectares of vineyards to organic viticulture, and with her new partner, Manuel Maier (they were recently married), she completely revamped the winery’s marketing.

Also, what looked like a tentative stab at unfiltered wines has become an impressive range of products called Cloudy by Nature. There are no better natural wines made in Germany!

Some might say this dry riesling from 2022 is conventional in comparison, but within its category it is pretty radical and an ideal introduction to the German dry wine Dream Factory.

Edited April 9 by cat shepard

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

@luvteaching  Karen, I hope you have a Happy Birthday today, and that the day isn't too difficult for you.  HUGS!

 

 

Lenda

 

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

@ger_77  Have a wonderful day on your anniversary, Gerry and Maurice, with many more anniversaries in your future.

 

 

Lenda

[smitty34877]

Good morning. It will be 75 later today! And sunny. Yesterday DD called all who could do so outside to view the eclipse with a colander and white paper.Please don’t laugh at my picture which I will put at the end. it was a great experience as we were at ninety something percent of totality. I loved seeing all my neighbors outside on their stoops and sidewalks. We were amazed by the birds being so quiet and the coolness in the air all of a sudden. Thanks to everyone who posted such fabulous pictures yesterday.

 

Poor Mr Jenkins. I like antiques but have none to cherish. Mr Hancock was ahead of the others. I would love to see Denali and return to Alaska. The muffins sound tasty.

@ger_77, Happy Anniversary to you both!

@luvteaching, Karen, Happy Birthday. Thinking of you today.

 

 

 

[MISTER 67]

1 hour ago, Overhead Fred said:

We had a lovely anniversary in the Canaletto last night. I finally tried the Osso Bucco -

 

 

Pat, Ann, Tony, and Martha helped us celebrate -

 

And we got a nice cake - we shared, of course!

 

Very nice photo, happy to see you people dressed so nice and not like some of the slobs we see on cruise ships in this day and age.

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

An early good morning from central Texas.  The rain started last night with a very heavy rain that dumped 0.19 inches in a very, very short time.  It is not raining now, but will pick up again about mid-morning if the weather app is correct.  Our best chance of rain is about 11am and noon, with a 100% chance of rain.  It is currently 66F with a predicted high of 71F.  I think I'll take advantage of the cooler weather and make a pizza tonight for dinner.  The main things on the agenda are a visit to the dentist to have my teeth cleaned, and DH's CT scan to check how well the shunt is working.  My appointment was scheduled for 9am, but last week they asked if I could come in at 8am, and I said yes.  What was I thinking?  At least, it will be out of the way earlier, and the hygienist shouldn't be running behind at 8 am. 😉

 

I was wondering what Jenkins Ear Day was about.  Thank you, Graham @grapau27 for giving us the answer.  As a circus elephant, I'm not sure how good a life Jumbo had, but he deserves a day.  I have a few antiques that I inherited and that mean a lot to me.

 

The Saint Augustine quote is very true.

 

Didn't we have broccoli and cheese egg muffins a few weeks ago as the meal?  We'll pass on the meal and the wine.  Riesling is my go to white wine, but I'm not sure if today's Riesling is not a bit too sweet.

 

We have been to Denali several times, beginning in 1992 on our first trip to Alaska when we drove the Alaska Highway on its 50th anniversary.  We camped in the park for three of the five sunny days they had in 1996.  All my Denali pictures are pre-digital.

 

My only picture of Denali is of the mountain. Denali.  It was taken on an exceptionally clear day in 2015, from the deck of a lodge near Talkeetna.

 

Interesting day in history when in 1768 John Hancock stood up the the British Customs Officers.

 

@MISTER 67  I'm glad your cold is better, and that you can play golf tomorrow.

@Overhead Fred  Fred, thanks for the great pictures from your anniversary dinner.  Good to see everyone having a good time.

@aliaschief  Bruce, thanks for the pictures from Sabang.  After seeing the pictures of the meat market, I probably would have become a vegetarian for the day.

@smitty34877  Terry, using a colander and white paper was a different but good way to see the eclipse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lenda