I've divided our 5-week trip into three phases: Part 1:  Iceland and the Azamara Journey cruise to watch the Total Solar Eclipse. Part 2:  Our stops in Montreal and Vancouver. Part 3:  Silverseas Silver Whisper cruise from Vancouver to Honolulu. But before I finish with Part 3, some news of the day. The war between the U.S. and Iran: The estimate, which covers the war’s direct costs through Aug. 1, is in line with the Pentagon’s most recent public accounting from July, when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Congress that the war had cost $37.5 billion. A later report from the Defense Department's inspector general determined that the conflict cost an estimated $33.4 billion between February 28 and June 30.   But the new CBO analysis finds that the price of the war is continuing to rise, estimating that the government will spend another $2 billion to $3 billion each month the conflict continues. It also notes that the war has significantly depleted U.S. munition...

 The Silversea Silver Whisper just arrived in Honolulu Harbor.  Back to the conclusion of our cruise.  We've had anxious moments, but for me, this could well have been the best ever.  The most important thing is that, after flying all the way to Iceland, than boarding the Azamara Journey to see the Total Solar Eclipse, then confronting three hurricanes on the Silver Whisper, we are well with more fabulous memories. Our usual starting lunch with salad and pasta. The ship had a 7PM departure, so we ordered room service caviar to have on our veranda to watch the parting. We then went for dinner at La Terazza, beginning with antipasto, and two white and two red wines. Then came spaghetti bolognese and an asparagus/egg dish. Ended with a coffee panna cotta. One of the highlights of this cruise was  then the Chocolate Extravaganza at the pool deck.  I don't know how these entertainers and passengers were dancing, for the ship itself was rocking. The following cav...