After nearly 7 days at-sea, we arrived in Kodiak, Alaska during lunch.  Never snowed, but I don't think the temperature once hit the 40's during that period on the ocean.  Kodiak?  45F high.  Some thoughts about cruising on the Oceania Riviera. The problem I had on our previous trip going east, last year for that 39-day Norwegian Encore from Seattle to Southampton, then two weeks on the Viking Tir for a Christmas cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest, that of not being able to sleep, has largely disappeared.  My body remembered that trauma, and kept me sleepy thoughout this current journey. The Oceania Riviera. Entered service in 2012. Capacity of 1250 passengers in 625 staterooms.  800 crew members.  Quite adequate. 15 levels.  We are in 8000, right up front on the eighth deck.   If we had any chance to get a similar cabin on a future cruise, this would be ideal.  This way we can see both port and starboard, with the same view as the c...

Today is Halloween.   Exactly a year ago,  we boarded the Diamond Princess in the Port of Yokohama.  I remember it so well because I had an opportunity to wear my Halloween pants I had recently purchased at Savers for $3.  I was planning to bring it on this cruise to wear tonight.  However, I couldn't find it. Exactly two years ago, or on 31October2022, my posting was titled  HALLOWEEN 2022 .  To quote from that article: As you must know by now, today is Halloween, a tradition supposedly originated with the ancient Celtic   festival of Samhain   2000 years or so years ago, when bonfires were lit and people wore costumes.   This celebration first came to the U.S.in the 1840's when Irish immigrants escaped their potato famine.  Coincidentally, there is an Irish practice where going door-to-door to collect soul cakes and offerings for dead relatives was traditional.  Failure to supply a treat could result in some practic...