In case you missed the   Ring of Fire Solar Eclipse yesterday . Yesterday also began my travel series with best airports.  Today,  best cruise lines , voted by subscribers to  Condé Nast . Mega Ships (more than 4,000 passengers) Norwegian Cruise Line   86.72 Royal Caribbean International   86.69 Carnival Cruise Line   85.35 MSC Cruises   83.42 Large Ships (2,500 to 4,000 passengers) Virgin Voyages   94.07 Disney Cruise Line   92.21 Cunard   89.55 Princess Cruises   89.42 Celebrity Cruises   88.57 Costa Cruises   87.95 Holland America Line   87.79 Norwegian Cruise Line   86.41 Royal Caribbean International   84.31 MSC Cruises   83.77 P&O Cruises   81.73 Carnival Cruise Line   80.37 Medium Ships (500 to 2,500 passengers) Viking   94.98 Disney Cruise Line   92.92 Seabourn   91.67 Regent Seven Seas Cruises   91.07 Oceania Cruises   87.99 Silversea   87.74 Azamara   87.50 Celebrity Cruises   86.68 Holland America Line   86.42 Cunard   86.33 Hurtigruten   86.23 Marella Cruises   85.60

I yesterday thought I ended my cruise series.  However, Part 6 mentioned the December 2023 to May 2024 274-night  Ultimate Global Cruise , with four segments, and one of them interested me, so to quote: May 9 to July 4:  Dubai to Barcelona, middle east treasures and marvels of the Med. Hmmmm.... I wonder if space is still available.  We fly on November 11 to Dubai for a Regent Seven Seas cruise to Singapore. Why not a summer of 2024 cruise from Dubai to Barcelona, as they pay for the business class fare from Honolulu to Dubai, then Barcelona to Honolulu. I thus inquired.   Cabins still available at $352/night with free drinks, wi-fi and tips, but the business class fare is only for those who take the full world option.   If they covered first class from Honolulu to Dubai, then from Barcelona to Honolulu, we'd be inclined to go.  Maybe we can yet work out a deal.  Nah, they won't, so this is one cruise I will miss.   Anyway, the ship Royal Caribbean uses for this ultimate sailin

If you have cruised, you'd probably be surprised to learn which cruise lines have risen to near the top in a wide variety of ship sizes.  It was seven years ago when I was on a  Tauck European River Cruise , which was then rated #1.  In fifth place was Viking.  I'll later let you know where they now rank in this category.  The other surprise is Norwegian Cruise Line, for they ply the islands of Hawaii, and are okay...but really good?  We'll see. So, anyway, here is how  Condé Nast Traveler  readers ranked cruise lines: Mega Ships ( more than 4000 passengers ). #3 is Norwegian Cruise Line. Their first was the Norwegian Epic in 2010, which could carry just over 5000 passengers. They now have five others.  For those seeking a more mature environment, sail on the Norwegian Bliss ( right ).  Generally sails out of Seattle, Los Angeles and sometimes Miami.   Cheapest cabin listed from $60-$120/day, although I noticed that there is a 15-day cruise from Miami to Los Angeles, depart

                   From  Worldometer  (new  COVID-19 deaths yesterday):     DAY     USA    WORLD      Brazil      India      South Africa June     9     1093     4732         1185        246       82 July    22      1205     7128         1293      1120     572 Aug    12      1504     6556        1242        835     130 Sept     9      1208      6222       1136       1168       82 Oct     21      1225      6849         571        703       85 Nov    25       2304    12025        620        518      118 Dec     30       3880    14748       1224       299      465 Jan      14       4142      15512        1151        189      712 Feb      3       4005    14265       1209       107      398 Mar      2       1989     9490        1726       110      194 April     6        906    11787         4211       631       37 May     4        853     13667        3025      3786     59   June    1        287    10637         2346      3205      95  July    7         251      8440        1595        817