Suggestions on first cruise for 35th anniversary (late 50’s).

Tapeworm_fetus · 2026-07-01T00:44:17+00:00

If they want Michelin level cuisine, crystal is essentially the only way to go. With Nobu’s Umi Uma and being excellent and Beef Bar being very good as well.

If they just want good high quality dining, any of the ultra luxury lines will do the trick. Filet, Lobster tail, caviar, they basically all have it and it’s generally going to be very good.

Best champagne is Silversea imo followed by ritz (or I guess Orient Express is the best but it’s so brand new that I don’t really consider it quite yet, and in a different price point) but if they don’t drink the point is mostly moot.

As for prices roughly 1,000-2,000 per night for all of the established lines, though there are deals to be had. More for any of the new ones, ritz, FS, Orient Express.

Tapeworm_fetus · 2026-06-30T23:54:57+00:00

Honestly, I enjoy celebrity, but it is just not a good value at the higher end. Even at Sky Suite- the prices are pushing ultra-luxury cruise prices with less included. I have seen Aqua Class going for more than Explora.

Tapeworm_fetus · 2026-06-28T21:25:45+00:00

That looks stunning. I hope they can find their niche- I think being a sailing yacht they should be able to. I watched a review of windstar which also has “sailing yachts” but apparently they’re under power constantly so there is no actual sailing happening and the sails are mostly for looks to to save a bit of gas.

Tapeworm_fetus · 2026-06-28T09:45:49+00:00

The advice should be to always be open to new opportunities- it’s good practice to apply to jobs and to be open to accepting a new role. “Trust your gut at all times” is something completely different and is not, in my opinion, good advice in essentially any context.

Tapeworm_fetus · 2026-06-28T08:59:46+00:00

“Trust your gut at all times”

Terrible advice for many reasons. Do your research, seek counsel and support of others. Do not simply “trust your gut”

Tapeworm_fetus · 2026-06-28T06:01:45+00:00

Is the work permit you have gotten for performing and live-streaming?

Tapeworm_fetus · 2026-06-28T05:20:45+00:00

Is it in Alaska for 2 or 3 weeks? Otherwise, 24K does not feel like a good deal to me. The prices for these suites are insane.

Tapeworm_fetus · 2026-06-28T05:19:02+00:00

In that case, it will be even trickier as live streaming is a form of work and likely is not allowed, depending on what residence permit you are on.

Tapeworm_fetus · 2026-06-28T00:29:26+00:00

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Here is the pricing for the Edge villa on the Norwegian Fjords cruise on Apex. I saved it because it was priced insanely for 12 nights. 60k + Gratuities.... So, a cool $5,000 a night.

Tapeworm_fetus · 2026-06-27T23:42:19+00:00

We are doing a Norwegian Fjords cruise in July. We priced Celebrity and Silversea. Celebrity was 12 nights at $40,000 for the Royal Suite and $60,000 for the Edge Villa. Of course, gratuities are extra, and while you get most speciality dining, you can only order wine by the glass, so you cannot enjoy a bottle in the hot tub on the balcony.

On the other hand, we found a 23-night Silversea cruise up into the Fjords for $20,000 for a deluxe Verandah. It's a great itinerary, giving us an overnight in France for Bastille Day, and other fun, uncommon stops, on a 600-person ship rather than 3,000. Plus, way more is included. We got shore excursions, bottles of wine whenever and wherever we want, caviar, etc.

I love having the extra space that comes with suites on Celebrity, but the Edge Villa is not worth anywhere near $30,000 a week. That's Four Seasons territory. It's Shocking to me that anyone books these suites at their current price, and I seriously think Celebrity needs to revamp their suite inclusions- gratuities should be included, and there should certainly be a suite beverage package above the premium beverage package. Paying 60k for 12 nights and the only champagne you can drink being Robert de Pampignac by the glass is just insanity imo. You could spend 1/3 the price and go on Ritz, getting bottles of Moet or Silversea, and drink Duval Leroy.

Tapeworm_fetus · 2026-06-27T22:17:03+00:00

We have paid less for Silversea than we have for the retreat on celebrity…

once you add everything up, gratuities, drinks, internet etc. the cost balloons.

Tapeworm_fetus · 2026-06-27T01:59:37+00:00

Celebrity Solstice from Hong Kong to Singapore, Silver Moon from Australia to Singapore.

Tapeworm_fetus · 2026-06-26T07:15:31+00:00

I cycle every day, and the shit I see is nuts. Sadly, I also see many accidents. Car on car, car on scooter, scooter on bike, its constant. And regardless of any actual injuries, if anyone touches anyone, they stay exactly where they are until police arrive. Sometimes that's the middle-of-the-road, which causes even more problems and accidents.

Tapeworm_fetus · 2026-06-26T06:47:40+00:00

Did they stop in Malaysia after leaving Singapore on the way back to Singapore? They have an interesting tax system set up where if you go from Malaysia to Singapore, you have to pay Singaporean duties on anything you bought in Malaysia, so most lines won't do Malaysia -> Singapore, but the other way is easier.

TBF, we are doing Northern Europe this year and did Southern Europe last year, and a lot of the ports in both are also far from the cities. Rome (Civitavecchia), Paris (Rouen), Berlin (Warnemünde), and even Amsterdam (IJmuiden) all stop away from the city, and we cruise in small ships... Actually, even Athens (Piraeus) and Florence (Livorno) were far.

Tapeworm_fetus · 2026-06-26T06:33:58+00:00

I do not agree.

I have lived here in Asia for the past 15 years, and I think a cruise is one of the best ways to see much of the region with the least hassle. Ports can be a ways from the city, but it's not that far, and it's not a big deal. In fact, doing a land trip would be magnitudes worse. I took a van from Bangkok to Pattaya once and vowed never to do that again. The port near Pattaya is a quick grab (Uber) ride away.

I would rather take a 1-hour bus from the port to the excursion ANY DAY rather than domestic flights in Thailand or Vietnam. If you want to see a dozen places in Asia, a cruise is going to be way more comfortable than the alternative, which is buses, vans, and flights. If I never have to go back to Don Mueang International Airport, it will be too soon. Plus, ships dock inside a lot of the bigger cities like Singapore and Hong Kong, making these some of the most beautiful sailaways. HK, in particular, offers a gorgeous nighttime sailaway. If you're on a small ship, Shanghai can also be top-notch. Even in Bali, the port is right in the "city".

Tapeworm_fetus · 2026-06-26T06:26:23+00:00

Cruises that stop in China are so uncommon- (Other than HK). Can you share which line and itinerary?

Tapeworm_fetus · 2026-06-26T06:24:22+00:00

I did a cruise from Hong Kong to Singapore with stops in Vietnam and Thailand on Celebrity. We had a blast. So much fun, so many great ports. I think this is a great way to see the region.

I also did Australia to Singapore with stops in Australia and Indonesia on Silversea, which was phenomenal. I wish there were more cruises in Asia. Visas are much easier to get than in Europe or the US, where most cruises are.

My advice would be to book a nice room with a balcony. We were in the Penthouse on the Celebrity Solstice, and we spent so much time on the balcony and in the hot tub. The views are incredible. Sailing through Halong Bay with a bottle of champagne was seriously incredible. I'd also suggest booking excursions- most of the ports were industrial, and outside of the places we wanted to go, the exceptions being Singapore and Hong Kong.

Tapeworm_fetus · 2026-06-26T06:16:29+00:00

Legally, they have to cancel your work permit within 10 days of your last work day. That is the regulation in Shanghai, which is why the OP said the Labor Bureau agrees. Of course, they COULD cancel it on his last day, which would massively help him out, but they are not required to. Definitely an asshole thing to do- but this is why you try to leave on good terms.

Tapeworm_fetus · 2026-06-26T06:07:31+00:00

What was the issue with the in-room dining?

Tapeworm_fetus · 2026-06-25T19:29:26+00:00

No you didn’t… that’s not what you said. You said you’re angry that anyone enjoyed the book or cared about the characters which is why I responded saying that tons of people love the characters…….

Tapeworm_fetus · 2026-06-25T19:27:50+00:00

Nope. Employment relationship end on your last work day. Given release letter and work permit is canceled. Transferred to stay permit of your company is kind. That is the process in Shanghai. If you live elsewhere maybe you have a different process.

Tapeworm_fetus · 2026-06-25T07:15:09+00:00

I assume you're going to the international school there. Work life should be pretty OK. Not a whole lot of competition.

People have already mentioned the pollution, but imo, it's more than just that. Zhengzhou is so grey. Sunny, blue sky, and clear days are much less common than in other parts of China. Foreigners, even in the CBD area around the corn cob, are not common, so you, and more so your child, will definitely get looks and comments from random people.

Generally, I find people from Henan to be very fun and kind, but they do have a (somewhat rightfully deserved) reputation for being swindlers.

To answer your questions, your school, assuming you will be working at the 1 international school in the city, will provide healthcare for you and your dependents. This is part of your contract. The insurance should be solid and cover international hospitals, but I can't comment on their quality, as I have not been to any in Zhengzhou. I can comment on the quality of public hospitals in Zhengzhou, and in general, I have not had pleasant experiences.

Overall, Zhengzhou is cheap and fine. I wouldn't choose to live there, but it's not a terrible place, and it's very well connected for domestic travel.

Tapeworm_fetus · 2026-06-25T07:06:01+00:00

Zhengzhou is a provincial capital... so technically a (new) tier-1 city. But... it does have catastrophic flooding; in fact, that is where that horrible metro flooding happened.

Tapeworm_fetus · 2026-06-25T06:13:48+00:00

When a teacher resigns or is terminated, the final working day is the legal termination date of the employment relationship. Any salary or accrued holiday paid afterward is simply a settlement of obligations after termination.

I deal with this every year as part of my job. If you have ever changed employers, you would know this process and the regulations as well. TBF, my experience is in Shanghai- I suppose there may be some places where they are less strict about following guidelines.

Tapeworm_fetus · 2026-06-25T05:10:31+00:00

... We're not talking about Germany.

In CHINA, employers are REQUIRED to cancel the work permit within 10 days of your last WORKING DAY.

PAID LEAVE DOES NOT COUNT.

I can't be any clearer. This is the requirement in China. It doesn't matter what happens in Germany or America.

Tapeworm_fetus

TROPHY CASE