CRUISE BARGAINS

From the New York Times this morning;

The French government will soon require that people show proof of vaccination or a recent negative test to eat at a restaurant, attend a movie or participate in many other activities. After President Emmanuel Macron announced the policy last week, the number of vaccine appointments surged. Italy announced a similar policy yesterday, The Times’s Marc Santora explains.

It’s true that these mandates often generate intense criticism. In France, more than 100,000 people marched to protest Macron’s policy. In the U.S., critics sued, unsuccessfully so far, to stop Indiana University’s mandate. Some Republican politicians have also tried to stop mandates, including Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and Gov. Mike DeWine of Ohio.

Now that President Joe Biden has snuck in something called budget reconciliation to pass Democratic money bills, ever wonder how he was going to find a way to neutralize the filibuster?  Well, this could well happen to pass the voting-rights bills.  

If that succeeds, look for the Senate to add three more Supreme Court judges.  All this could well occur by next summer.

The Opening Ceremonies in Tokyo were muted.  You can see a rerun at 7:37PM EDT, or 1:37PM (channel 08 or 1008) in Hawaii.  I did earlier say I would tell you who would light the Olympic Flame.  It was tennis star Naomi Osaka.  Some highlights to watch over the next 16 days:

• Can the USA women's soccer team rebound from their 3-0 loss to win the gold medal.? Keep in mind that point differential can make a difference in moving up to the next round, so look for the women to run up scores when they can.

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  Keep an eye on Italy's Simona Quadarella challenging American Katie Ledecky in the 800- and 1500-meter freestyle swimming races.  Need to brag a bit that Stanford is the university with the most number of Olympians...32.
• Have you noticed how old some players are?  Carli Lloyd of the U.S. soccer team is 39, while the star American softball pitcher at 38 is Cat Osterman.  On the other hand, I guess you need experience to ride horses, for the oldest American at 57 is equestrian Phillip Dutton.  Equestrian Mary Hanna of Australia is 66.

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  However:
• Hend Zaza, Syrian table tennis player, is 12.  She is the only female of a 6-person team to Tokyo, and her goal is to win a gold medal.
• Sky Brown, Great Britain skateboarding, is 13.  She was actually born in Miyazaki, from where comes the best wagyu beef in Japan.
• Katie Grimes swims for the USA and is 15.
• How well will Hideki Matsuyama do in golf?  I've played at a dozen or so golf courses in Japan, but not the East Course of the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Saitama.

Have you wondered why the Summer and Winter Olympics have three Chinese teams?  Macau has applied to the International Olympic Committee for membership to later bring this up to four.  It's a long story, and keeps regularly changing, but in Tokyo this year, you will see:

• China, where a gold medal ceremony will use the national anthem and flag of China.  China will have 298 women and 133 men in Tokyo, their 431 not as many as the Beijing 2008 games, when they had 639 and beat the USA for number of medals.
• Hong Kong, will play the national anthem of China and fly their own flag.  Macau will too when they send a future team.  Hong Kong has 42 competitors in Tokyo.
• Taiwan, which is saddled with having to use Taipei, China, has it's own anthem and flag.  68 from this island will be in Tokyo.

Hong Kong was legally permitted to maintain independence even after  the 1997 handover from the British to China.  Puerto Rico has a national team, and they will have an option to join the U.S. or keep their own identity if they become a state.  They have 37 athletes in the Tokyo Summer Olympics.

By the way, here is an interesting story of Veronica Toro Arana, who I just saw participating in Tokyo, the first Puerto Rican ever to qualify for rowing.  She showed athleticism by becoming the only female to play Little League baseball in those days.  She then eventually went on to MIT, and dabbled into rowing out of curiosity.  Then she went on to Stanford Medical School, but with two years left, just took off to qualify for the Olympics...and did.

According to VacationsToGo:

• As the cruise industry reopens around the world, ships are falling into one of two categories: those that require passengers to be vaccinated and those that do not.
• As of today, 88 ships from 17 cruise lines have restarted service with a vaccination requirement for passengers. So far, only 12 ships on 3 lines have restarted without a vaccination requirement.
• If you are interested in Vaccine-Required Cruises anywhere in the world, just click the link here or on the home page of VacationsToGo.com and sort your options by date, region or cruise line.

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  If you are interested in Vaccine-Not-Required Cruises, just click the link here or on the home page of VacationsToGo.com and sort by date, region or cruise line.
• Even if a ship does not require passengers to be vaccinated, the cruise lines recommend vaccination anyway and we hear that about 90% of the bookings on these sailings are by passengers who have been vaccinated.
• Not all cruise ships have officially returned to service and the number of ships and sailings offered by each cruise line will continue to grow. Onboard safety protocols for vaccinated and unvaccinated passengers vary by ship and can be seen on our site at the FastDeal level. 
• On all ships, the crew has been vaccinated.

Bargains galore, and here is what VacationsToGo indicated:

• Norwegian is offering our customers huge discounts of up to 87%, as well as exclusive shipboard credits of up to $125 per cabin on select departures. Plus, receive all of the following perks on cabins booked at eligible rates: 1) unlimited open bar for two, 2) a specialty dining package that includes up to five meals for two guests at select dining venues, 3) up to 250 minutes of Internet, 4) a shore excursion credit of $50 per cabin, per excursion, and 5) friends and family sail free as third/fourth passengers in the cabin on select departures (port fees and taxes are additional.) Book by July 31. See dates and prices.

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  Celebrity has slashed rates by up to 87%. Plus, get shipboard credits of up to $800 per cabin and all of the following additional perks on select sailings: 1) prepaid gratuities for two, 2) a free Classic beverage package, and 3) unlimited Internet access for two. See dates and prices.

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  Regent has provided exclusive discounts to Vacations To Go customers on a variety of sailings -- save up to 74%. In addition, get shipboard credits of up to $500 per cabin and free upgrades on select sailings. The upfront price of a luxury Regent cruise includes unlimited shore excursions, gratuities, unlimited Wi-Fi and unlimited beverages, including fine wines and premium spirits. See dates and prices.

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  Royal Caribbean is offering our customers huge new discounts -- save up to 87%. Also receive exclusive shipboard credits of up to $75 per cabin on a variety voyages. See dates and prices.

Then there is Crystal:  Enjoy 5% Savings on 2021 Grand Journey Expeditions!  5%?   For example, their Tromso to Lisbon cruise for 24 nights STARTS at $29,687.  Wouldn't mind being on the Crystal Endeavor, but for more than $1000/day?  Nope.  I get 111 days on a worldwide cruise for that sum.  Sure, it's the Island Princess, but I do get free WiFi, tips and almost unlimited alcoholic beverages.  Only up to 15/day/person.

Yesterday I featured Steve Jobs and how he parlayed failure into success.  Here is a similar story worth your watch:

He did say he broke every bone in his body to get to where he is today.  Not true:

67 years of transition.

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