THE LATEST UPDATE OF MY 2020 WORLD CRUISE

Day 173 of the Lower Puna Eruption.

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I have a file next to my computer with articles cut out from newspapers and magazines for upcoming postings:

• Cardax (I was once a board member and still own some stock options) and progress on its anti-inflammatory pill.
• With the entire country of Canada now allowing for recreational marijuana, how safe is it now to bring some home from legal states and other locations.
• The opening of the new Tokyo fishmarket Toyosu, replacing Tsukiji.
• Exoplanets, now confirmed to be 3851 and counting.
• Advance of immunology in cancer treatment.
• A $200 genetic test to tell you your risk of various cancers.
• New vegan meat substitutes that actually taste amazing.

However, I happened to watch 'Til We Meet Again last night, inflaming me to instead bring you up to date on my 2020 World Cruise.  For one, the movie was released in 1940 when I was born, putting things in perspective.

This film of two doomed lovers who spend their final happy moments on a cruise from Hong Kong to San Francisco, with a stopover in Honolulu being the highlight, featuring Aloha Oe and bringing back memories of jumping into the waters for coins of Piers 10 and 11 when ships like the Lurline docked.  I never dove, but friends did.  Never really explained why good guy George Brent killed someone, and you can't help but fall in live with Merle Oberon, who is in her final year because of a heart ailment.  I place myself in their final edge for another reason.  I'll be 80 in 2020.

I first mentioned plans for a world cruise in this blog site on 2 January 2016, with a departure date two years in the future.  Because of Tadashi Matsunaga's hectic schedule, we then moved the date to January of 2020.  There was also a hint in that posting about a link with the Blue Revolution, for my final two fantasy challenges are nautical, this cruise and that solution for Planet Earth and Humanity.

There are two challenges I will still need to overcome before this fantasy becomes reality.  The first is financial, for I lost my potentially large financial base when I endowed my penthouse to the University of Hawaii to stimulate the future of the Blue Revolution.  The cost of one person will be in the range of $18,000, which I possibly can afford, but my absence of four months will mean that I need to first pass on to 15 Craigside another $18,000.  Even then, as a final adventure, I suspect I will gain approval.

However, world cruises mean a minimum of two people in a cabin.  I mentioned this problem, but Matsunaga found me a possible qualifier.  Not sure that is actually working out.  There is another individual who has passed through stage two:  first, a lunch or dinner to talk about it, followed by a short cruise to assess compatibility.  I've never previously mentioned this and other experiences to preserve privacies.  

The fact of the matter is that, with only a little more than a year to go, the competition is still open.  However, I now have a new restriction, sort of.  The female will now need to be younger than 70, unless she was a former girlfriend.  I don't need to follow the Civil Rights Act of 1964 because I don't anymore bother with federal grants, and social security is not affected.

Secondly, if a qualifier can absorb part of my cost, that would place her at a significant advantage, for we won't want to be at the lowest end of a Holland America or Princess world cruise.  At the least, the $18,000/person would need to be kicked up to $25,000.  Crystal would be in $45,000 range, with Regent and Silversea at $60,000.   Hey, this is a fantasy, and I might as well become delusional, for this is all not really real.  My blog is mostly about dreams.

I suspect the Matsunagas will not be on that cruise because he remains in high demand.  Also too, while friends have now and then expressed some interest, no one has officially signed on.  Thus, if no cabin mate is soon found, I will need to miss the visionary 2020 year and move into 2021.

Then too, maybe Netflix or Amazon Prime might want to pick up this concept and sign me up to star.  A survival series should be good for a season or two.

I now also plan to link the Blue Revolution to the trip.  I've long felt that governments and companies did not have the capacity and interest to develop this concept.  It will take an imaginative billionaire seeking a legacy, as spotlighted in this blog site.  There are more than 1500 billionaires scattered around the world, and I will attempt to meet with some of them or their representative at many of the ports of call.  I wonder if this entire world cruise can then have tax break implications?

So let me know if you have any interest in my world cruise of 2020...or 2021.  I will need to make some kind of decision in a few months.

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Hurricane Willa will make landfall as a Category 2 south of Mazatlan and head towards Texas:

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SO HOW WAS THE DIAMOND PRINCESS?

Our final day before we return to Yokohama.  This experience will go a long way to determine something more magnificent in the future.

The Princess world cruise I was contemplating from January of 2021, which starts in Florida or Los Angeles, stopping through Honolulu, and including Dubai, looks now to be off the planning agenda.  Checked with the future cruises desk on board, and there is only one room left with a balcony.  However, looks terrific:

The Star Alliance around the world adventure remains possible, interspersed, perhaps, with a few cruises.  If this becomes a go, departure from Honolulu will be sometime in the Fall of 2020, to include Dubai, which hosts the next World's Fair from 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021.  Join us.  Return to this blog site to help us flesh out the itinerary.  160 million Americans have never cruised.

One survey shows that around one-third of U.S. adults have been on a cruise, while 16% say they plan on cruising within the next year.  Worldwide, there were 28.5 million passengers last year.  The average age was 47.  By comparison, 1.4 billion traveled internationally.

According to CNN, the first sailing to successfully circumnavigate the world occurred in 1522.  They started from Seville as a fleet, lost 50 crew members, and returned three years later with 18 men on one vessel.  This was Ferdinand Magellan's cruise, who unfortunately never made it back.

More in tune with today, Cunard's Laconia, completed a global journey in 1922.  In 2021, The Queen Mary 2 (113 nights) will sail east to west, while the Queen Victoria (99 days starting at $18,500) will go westward.

The Crystal Serenity leaves on 6 January 2020 from Miami, but only to Rome, and Cruise Critic shows a starting fare at $30,447, which is not all bad:

Others:

• Silversea Silver Whisper takes 150 days from 7 January 2021 to 6 June 2021 at a cost of $61,700/person

• Seabourn Sojourn, 146 nights, 4 January 2020 to 28 May 2020 for $66,999/person
• Viking Ultimate World Cruise on the Viking Sun leaves London, 245 nights, 31 August 2019 to 2 May 2020, $99,350
• Regent Seven Seas Mariner from Miami, 131 nights, starts at $66,700
• never tried MSC, but their Magnifica leaves Genoa, 117 days, 49 stops, 5 January 2020 to 30 April 2020, $15,000/person

• Oceania Insignia (right), 8 January 2020 to 5 July 2020 (180 days), 100 ports in 44 countries on six continents, $43,300/person
• Island Princess leaves Fort Lauderdale, 3 January 2021 to 25 April 2021, $19,900 (also leaves from Los Angeles for a world tour)--but this is the one that is just about sold out

I've taken around a dozen around the world air trips.  The problem is that you need to pack and find your way to the airport every few days.  On a cruise, you unpack once, with your hotel room, entertainment and food costs as part of the total bill.  A Star Alliance global ticket, with 15 total legs:

• coach:  $5,000 - $6000
• business:  $10,000 - $12,000
• first:  $20,000 - $22,000

Of course, you need to pay all other transport fees, hotel, food and entertainment.  I totally splurged once, going first class with all expensive hotels and many meals at Michelin 3-Star or Pellegrino Best 50 restaurants.  $50,000 or so.  That was before I donated my apartment to the University of Hawaii.  Yet, I've got one final opportunity for a final memorable odyssey, though not so extravagant.

Thus, anticipating the year I've long wanted to see, 2020, an around the world cruise was high on my list. To be somewhat frugal, Holland America and Princess only charge around $20,000 for four months of travel.  Of course, you won't want to be trapped in a porthole room, or one with no view, so count on $25,000/person.  That six-month Oceania Insignia costs $43,300, but for six months, and is said to be a better ship.

However, the Diamond Princess convinced me that Princess might do.  Yet, some on board say that this is the very best of all Princess cruises. Also too, rooms are getting scarce for 2021.

Finally, a few experiences on the Diamond Princess:

• the food is good enough with as much variety as you would want (last night, for example, our sit-down restaurant served an escargot appetizer, Beef Wellington with truffle/madeira sauce, pheasant and lobster tail)
• walking around is dangerous, especially when the sea is angry
• taking a shower is treacherous
• large lanai with recliners and a glass wall allowing you to see the ocean
• good lighting with a lot of mirrors
• two TV sets with more than 150 in-room films, plus a host other programs
• ESPN is active with continuous football (NFL and NCAA), basketball (NBA and college), etc.
• easily adjusted air conditioner which works well
• the staff is excellent, kind and accommodating, using personal judgement as necessary (Taisei, for example, was the type of person you want working for you) 
• activities are bountiful
• alcoholic drinks are expensive, with a can of Kirin beer at $8 (thus, saved at least $1500 by sneaking in our own scotch and gin--they do allow you to bring on board one bottle of wine/person)
• I did not think Princess would be all that fussy, but there are formal nights, where the pressure is on to wear tuxedos or dark suits and tie...unfortunately, I didn't even bring a sport coat...but they let me in...and I'm at a stage of life where being out of place did not bother me at all
• if you like Japanese food, this is your cruise, as the Diamond Princess was built in Japan for a Japanese clientele

Coming back to the ship from our Taipei tour, you know you are not in the USA when Kentucky Fried Chicken and Beijing Duck are touted next to each other or there is opportunity for Touch Love, whatever that might be:

Also too, in the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall was this large graphic visual about climate warming and carbon dioxide:

Add on the benefit that the cruise was educational.  From lectures to tours to meeting people.  For example, how many floors does Taipei 101 have?  106, because five floors are located below ground level.  Now you know that a whale shark is a shark, and one live birth could produce 300 babies.  Did you know vegemite was invented in Australia?

So as a final grade, considering VALUE, we gave this Diamond Princess cruise an A- rating.  The relatively low price through an employee discount meant we paid around 25% what others did.  Plus, we had almost free liquor. 

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Something quite extraordinary is occurring in the Indian Ocean.  First, there are 5 active ocean cyclonic storms.  Incredibly, one of them, Tropical Cyclone Ambali, within 24 hours, increased in intensity almost 90 MPH, and is now at 115 MPH and headed for Madagascar, with Mauritius also in danger.  There is an expectation of Ambali to reach 150 MPH.

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MORE SHAPES TO COME IN 2020

Yesterday it was all about about Donald Trump, his latest fumble and embarrassments.  Frankly I'm tired of Donald Trump.  Today, more important matters, like you, the World and me in 2020.

I don't know much about you, so let me start with the World, although I indirectly link the following to, ugh, Trump, and to quote from this 2017 posting:

THE ROAD TO THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

As events of the past few weeks unfolded, several developments led me to speculate on who would be the logical victor of the upcoming 3 November 2020 presidential election.  But, first, about that year, all my life I've wanted to live at least until 2020, and I think I'll make it.  Only 2 years, 4 months and 21 days to go.  I've now been alive for 76 years, 11 months and 5 days.

Way back in 1972 I joined a group of faculty members from Hawaii and California on a summer public education program sponsored by NASA.  I was the one who came up with the title and theme:  Earth 2020--Visions for Our Children's Children, although the vision part was more from the wife of Hans Mark, then director of the Ames Research Center.

Indubitably, 2020 is destined to be a great year, for, also, Dubai hosts the World Expo and Tokyo the Summer Olympics.  

If you've ever been to Dubai you know they will do things off the charts.  Already they have the tallest building, Burj Khalifa at 2717 feet, 644 feet taller than #2, Shanghai Tower.  However, next year, yes, 2020, Saudi Arabia will unveil Jeddah Tower (left), all of 3307 feet feet, or 590 feet higher.  By the end of 2020 China, however, will have 21 of the world's tallest 50 skyscrapers.   

That massive structure in the middle, Makkah Royal Clock Tower in Mecca, is 1972 feet tall, was completed in 2012, and is today the third tallest building in the world. 

Where will the USA, the world's greatest country ever, come in?  Oh, #43, with Central Park Tower in New York, a less than gigantic 1549 feet, or 1758 shorter than Jeddah Tower.  Hopefully, construction of this future NY building will be completed  in 2020.

I interject, though, that Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (right) processes more passengers (104 million) than anyone else, with Beijing Capital International Airport at #2 and Dubai International Airport at #3.  However, three years ago Dubai began construction of a $35.7 billion second airport to become the world's largest accommodating 220 million passengers/year.

Shopping you want?  China has three of four largest shopping malls today.  What happened to the one in Minnesota and Ala Moana Shopping Center?  Don't ask.  Well, I'll tell you anyway.  Mall of America is now #30 with less than half the footage of the South China Mall (in Dongguan, about 50 miles from Hong Kong) which is #1.  #2, incidentally, is Iran Mall in Teheran, which will become #1 next year, yes, 2020.

Dubai has launched Dubai Square, which shows promise of soon becoming #1.   You ask why would anyone want to fly into Dubai or shop there?

Well, there is no war, no one begs, people speak English, it is not Africa, there is little markup, carries the latest fashions, everything is high tech, eminently luxurious, and the wide variety of international cuisine is becoming legendary.  Having just returned from Paris, with some experience in Dubai, the safety factor is overwhelming.

Here is just one more crazy factor on excess.  When I was there in 2016 there were 14 different Starwood hotels, with seven more Alofts soon to open.  Dubai is just one city, there are no others of any size in the country.  Now that Marriott has taken over all Starwood hotels, I wonder how many total properties they have there.  Can you imagine the consternation of taxi drivers?  There are four W hotels in New York City.  I've never yet been taken to the right one.  Dubai?  Oh my.  Wikepedia is still trying to find how many there were in 2010.  Honest, click on this.  

I tried to get the price of the Burj al-Arab below $1000 for one night, but failed.  I see rooms now go for around $1500/night.  The current non-refundable cost ranges from $1438 to $1634 with no breakfast.

Not sure how I got into Dubai, but they do host the World Expo in 2020.  I might go, as I've been to just about every one since 1962 in Seattle.  I took a chance in 2015 and went to the previous one in Milan.  I hear Milan is more dangerous than Paris.  The word is that overall risk, transport/taxi risk, pickpockets, terrorism are only medium, but scam risk for tourists are HIGH.  I survived.  At least in Dubai this will not be a factor.

Okay, so about 2020:

• It will be a leap year.
• There will be too many Mars missions.
• Yucca Mountain will accept initial nuclear waste...maybe.
• The Large Hadron Collider will again be operational.
• Can you believe this?  The UK will withdraw all troops from Germany.  Then again, maybe not.  The USA has just about 200,000 of our military on foreign ground, 34,805 in Germany, 39,345 in Japan and 23,468 in South Korea.  Can you believe we have troops in 177 countries, 800 bases and spent $100 billion/year just for this privilege?

Then, of course, there is my 2020 World Cruise I've been fantasizing about for more than three years.  First inspired by Tadashi Matsunaga, I mentioned to him that I would need a cabin mate.  He said he'd find me one, and this led to a series of encounters you can find in this blog site.  The original date was 2018, but soon was delayed until 2020.  Here is just one update.  

Most 2020 world cruises start in January.  They are generally four months long and cost between $20,000-$40,000.  Then I stumbled across a "dazzling 180-day adventure" by Oceania, and to quote:

There have been global circumnavigations before, but nothing quite like Insignia’s 180-day journey departing Miami on January 8, 2020. Though visiting an impressive 95 destinations in 38 countries with an indulgent 17 overnight port visits, her ambitious odyssey is much more than the sum of its celebrated ports. Transit the newly-expanded Panama Canal, round Cape Horn and, for the first time on an Oceania Cruises world voyage, explore Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. Circle South America from the cloud-kissed ruins of Machu Picchu to the samba beat of Rio de Janeiro, encounter Africa’s magnificent wildlife, and explore the pagodas and tea houses of Japan. And if your sense of exploration is as boundless as our imagination, choose from curated itinerary options embarking in either Miami or San Francisco and ranging up to 200 unforgettable days.

Insignia sails across 18 shimmering seas and 27 time zones. Along the way, our gracious service will be your comfort, the Finest Cuisine at Sea™ your nectar, and the Canyon Ranch® Spa your rejuvenation. Ensconce yourself in the luxuries of Oceania Cruises and awake each day to new delights revealed just for you. 

Price?  Starts at $38,000, but that is only $211/day.  You also get:

With OLife Choice*, our limited-time inclusive package, enjoy Roundtrip Airfare* & Free Internet plus choose one:

FREE - 70 Shore Excursions
FREE - Beverage Package
FREE - US$7,000 Shipboard Credit

Amenities are per stateroom

Plus:

Exclusive Prestige Package*:
FREE Pre-Paid Gratuities - a value of up to US$8,280
FREE Onboard Medical Care
FREE Internet
FREE Laundry Services
FREE Exclusive Shoreside Events
FREE Visa Package
FREE Luggage Delivery
FREE 1-Night Pre-Cruise Luxury Hotel Stay
FREE Roundtrip Transfers

Of course, you don't want to spend six months in steerage, so the price will be higher.  My problem is that I will need to pay 15 Craigside $27,000 just to be absent during that period.  Perhaps they won't allow me to go.

While I might have found a cabin mate, cost remains a major hurdle.  This all still remains a fantasy.  Let me know if you're interested.

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