■ World citizen & explorer ■ Ravenous foodie ■ Island hopper, scuba diver & cruiser ■ Quiet thinker ■ Tech & product geek ■ Amateur photographer ■ 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 ■ "Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller." » Ibn Battutahttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mm36kgxp7c2u🥪🗺️ FOODIE EXPLORER I love #Japan 🗾 for its uniqueness and beautiful culture. I also love Japanese #food and I just read about this sakura 🌸 flavored sandwich from 7-Eleven that is cheap and satisfying. I love to try new foods and this will be on my list the next time I'm back in Japan. Yum! 😋 https://soranews24.com/2026/03/29/japans-favorite-sandwich-pockets-now-come-with-sakura-filling-but-how-do-they-tastetaste-test/17 May 2026 20:16 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mm36kgxp7c2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mlzmh77ges2b🥪🗺️ FOODIE EXPLORER Here's another quirky new taste sensation from the Land of the Rising Sun i.e. Japan 🗾! However, it's NOT something I would recommend from reading about this ramen sandwich that you can find in most Japanese convenience stores such as 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, or Lawson. Try again! https://soranews24.com/2026/05/10/japan-releases-new-ramen-sandwiches-that-dont-taste-like-ramen/17 May 2026 05:20 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlzmh77ges2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mlzl3jn2622b🗾📰 TRAVEL & JAPAN NEWS If you're in Tokyo in the next few months and are a fan of anime, you might want to check out the huge Unicorn Gundam outside the Diver City shopping center in Odaiba district. BTW, it's near the new Tokyo International Cruise Terminal within Tokyo (not the one in Yokohama). https://japantoday.com/category/national/tokyo%E2%80%99s-life-size-gundam-anime-mecha-statue-will-be-removed-this-summer17 May 2026 04:55 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlzl3jn2622bhttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mjuob4jesc2y🛳️ℹ️ CRUISE TRAVEL NEWS Fans of Star Trek unite! 🖖 Get ready for the 10th Star Trek #cruise on board The Cruise X which is set to sail Feb. 20-27, 2027 (great dates) from New Orleans on board Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas! I'm tempted - really tempted! 😁 https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2026/04/star-trek-the-cruise-x-set-to-sail-in-2027/19 Apr 2026 19:19 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjuob4jesc2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mjsg5tnpbs2r🛳️ℹ️ CRUISE TRAVEL INFO If you're interested in seeing what new ships are on order or will be delivered in the coming years by most cruise operators, check out this informational page for the #cruise ship orderbook. You can look at the #ship size, cost, for who, and where it's being built. https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-ship-orderbook/18 Apr 2026 21:48 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjsg5tnpbs2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mjkps44zs22rJust a reminder why we're in the middle of another war! Oil profits that make its way to Trump and his supporters in so many ways. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/15/big-oil-huge-war-windfall-consumers15 Apr 2026 20:19 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjkps44zs22rhttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mjhzewtx4s23✈️ℹ️ TRAVEL INFO It's nothing salacious - on most commercial airplanes at least - but it's a good article written by a captain on what goes on behind the reinforced cockpit doors. I've never been invited up front while the plane was in flight but I've glimpsed many cockpits walking by them. 😁 https://simpleflying.com/captain-chris-what-pilots-do-after-takeoff/14 Apr 2026 18:33 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjhzewtx4s23https://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3minvu33qa22i🛳️📰 CRUISE NEWS Not that the past CEOs and management had no blame in NCLH performance, I doubt this change will help. Activist investor Elliott is not in it to help but as a power grab at more companies to be under its thumb. Per usual, new CEO and NCL board caved. I hope I'm wrong. But unlikely. https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/people-opinions/elliott-nclh-agree-to-five-new-board-members-chidsey-as-chair04 Apr 2026 09:21 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3minvu33qa22ihttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mijkamjrt22n🛳️ NCL Viva Cruise Review 🗓️ 2025 Dec. While I enjoyed the NCL Viva ship with its up-scale, well designed and luxurious touches, I came away with mixed feelings. Pros: ⁘ A nice variety of specialty restaurants ⁘ Saw "Beetlejuice the Musical" ⁘ Good crew A long list of cons are next ⤵️ [ 1 of 4 ]02 Apr 2026 15:42 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mijkamjrt22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mi7mkwpv3k2c🧳 Recent Travels 🌎 Houston, TX, USA 🗓️ 2025 Dec. 13 And with flights from IAH airport to SJC via PHX, this concludes my trip to France to visit a dear friend followed by the 15-day NCL Viva cruise from Lisbon to Galveston. 😊 📸 Houston's IAH airport in the later afternoon and sunset.29 Mar 2026 16:57 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mi7mkwpv3k2chttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mi65urh44k2v🧳 Recent Travels 🌎 Houston, TX, USA 🗓️ 2025 Dec. 13 Last set of photos from the Space Center Houston. Since I was only there for 2 hours, I didn't check out the popular tram tours of which there are 4 different tours. Looks like I'll have to return for a longer visit next time. 👩‍🚀😁29 Mar 2026 03:02 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mi65urh44k2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mi55orymms2g🧳 Recent Travels 🌎 Houston, TX, USA 🗓️ 2025 Dec. 13 Here are more items on display at the sprawling Space Center Houston which has welcomed over 22 million visitors since 1992. FYI, this non-profit is not owned by NASA but rather operated by the Manned Space Flight Education Foundation.28 Mar 2026 17:26 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mi55orymms2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mi37k6dses2j🧳 Recent Travels 🌎 Houston, TX, USA 🗓️ 2025 Dec. 13 Let's take a few look around this official visitor center of NASA's Johnson Space Center which features over 400 space artifacts. Opened in 1992, this 250,000 square-foot educational complex hosts over 1 million visitors annually.27 Mar 2026 22:53 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mi37k6dses2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mi2g4eyqic2t🧳 Recent Travels 🌎 Houston, TX, USA 🗓️ 2025 Dec. 13 Does it count that I visited Houston if only for a few hours at 1 of its main attractions? I've transited through IAH airport many times but that doesn't count. I was just happy to spend 2 short hours at the Space Center Houston. 🚀🪐😁 More… ⤵️27 Mar 2026 15:18 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mi2g4eyqic2thttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mhyndkuagk2a🌎 Port of Galveston, TX, USA 🛳️ NCL Viva 🗓️ 2025 Dec. 13 "This is Houston" as someone would say at NASA - referring to NASA's Mission Control Center at Johnson Space Center in Texas. And that was the NCL shore excursion I took off the ship at Galveston port with a drop-off at Houston's IAH airport.26 Mar 2026 22:22 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhyndkuagk2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mhxk4fde5c2v🌎 Port of Galveston, TX, USA 🛳️ NCL Viva 🗓️ 2025 Dec. 13 Finished my breakfast and I was ready to disembark from the Viva ship. But first, a few shots of the port of #Galveston - an up and coming port for the Texas cruising market. Not a convenient port as it's far from major cities and airports.26 Mar 2026 11:52 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhxk4fde5c2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mhvuiwuiis2v🧳 Recent Travels 🛳️ NCL Viva 🗓️ 2025 Dec. 13 Good early morning on disembarkation day at Galveston, Texas! After a 15-day #cruise across the #Atlantic ocean from Lisbon, Portugal, I was ready to get off the ship and be back on terra firma. Now... off to my last breakfast on board! 😋25 Mar 2026 19:53 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhvuiwuiis2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mhtrioq6ms24🧳 Recent Travels 🛳️ NCL Viva 🗓️ 2025 Dec. 12 After dinner, I took in the last #sunset of my 15-day Trans-Atlantic cruise from Lisbon, Portugal to Galveston, Texas. My favorite memories of this cruise were my spacious oceanview cabin and the Beetlejuice musical - NCL's last big Broadway production.24 Mar 2026 23:53 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhtrioq6ms24https://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mhqlfbd5hs2b🧳 Recent Travels 🛳️ NCL Viva 🗓️ 2025 Dec. 12 My last dinner on the Viva was at the Nama Sushi and Sashimi restaurant. This is a specialty restaurant unique to the Prima class ships and so, I had not tried it yet. I ordered 4 items but wasn't blown away by the quality or creativity. It was just OK. 😒23 Mar 2026 17:26 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhqlfbd5hs2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mhopqlecj22a🧳 Recent Travels 🛳️ NCL Viva 🗓️ 2025 Dec. 12 Don't be like me and procrastinate about doing something until it's too late. Because of a busy last day on the NCL Speedway on board the Viva, I never got to test the track out. Since this attraction requires a lot of space, it won't be on any new ships.22 Mar 2026 23:39 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhopqlecj22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mho5qyt3is23🛳️📰 CRUISE NEWS Sneaky NCLH just made a disappointing change - not widely reported - to their Loyalty Program Matching across its 3 cruise brands and it's 1 that affected me. As a new Ambassador member with NCL i.e. their highest tier, I'm no longer matched to the top tiers on Oceania or Regent. https://www.cruisehive.com/norwegian-cruise-brands-make-changes-that-hit-top-tier-cruisers-hardest/20246422 Mar 2026 18:17 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mho5qyt3is23https://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mhncvmlci22wKudos to this blog (not associated with Royal Caribbean despite its name) for spelling out what went wrong with NCL. Unless Royal Caribbean changes its loyalty program, I've shifted my loyalty from NCL to RC. Just did 1 RC cruise with none booked with NCL despite just hitting NCL's top tier. https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2026/03/11/why-norwegian-cruise-needs-changes22 Mar 2026 10:16 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhncvmlci22whttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mhmde5rm622y🧳 Recent Travels 🛳️ NCL Viva 🗓️ 2025 Dec. 12 Since it was the last sea day before the cruise ended the next day, many procrastinators - including myself - waited until the last day to try the go-karts on the triple-decker Viva Speedway. Alas… it was too busy and crowded that I decided to skip it. ☹️22 Mar 2026 00:52 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhmde5rm622yhttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mhls5q73i22i🧳 Recent Travels 🛳️ NCL Viva 🗓️ 2025 Dec. 12 This was the last sea day of our 15-day Trans-Atlantic cruise. These are also the #food I had for #lunch at the Indulge Food Hall. Funny how I'm now no longer a huge fan of this complimentary dining option. It's still quite good but I got bored.21 Mar 2026 19:44 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhls5q73i22ihttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mhlkso726k2y🧳 Recent Travels 🛳️ NCL Viva 🗓️ 2025 Dec. 11 It was Glow Party night on Day 14. Since the evening's weather was nice and warm enough outside, they held the party at the main pool instead of inside the main theatre/club. Stayed for a while before I went back in and called it a night. 😊21 Mar 2026 17:32 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhlkso726k2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mhiu5wm4hs2m🧳 Recent Travels 🛳️ NCL Viva 🗓️ 2025 Dec. 11 It's the 2nd to last sea day i.e. day 14, before we arrive at the disembarkation port of Galveston, Texas. We'll skip over breakfast and lunch, and go straight to dinner at Palomar for Mediterranean seafood - 1 of my favorite specialty restaurants on NCL.20 Mar 2026 15:42 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhiu5wm4hs2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mhhermxkec2z🧳 Recent Travels 🛳️ NCL Viva 🗓️ 2025 Dec. 10 This was my sit-down dinner most likely at the Hudson's on Day 13. ↖️ Some bisque soup? - forgettable ↗️ Greek (tragedy) salad ↙️ Bang bang chicken and shrimp with rice - lacks any fireworks ↘️ Fig and apple cobbler? - meh! Just another boring NCL meal. 🙄20 Mar 2026 01:34 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhhermxkec2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mhgi45xtw22d🤔 RANDOM THOUGHTS Quick question to everyone: Have you used Substack? What do you think of it? I'm considering moving my #travel content onto Substack and then sharing links to it from various social media platforms. Hoping to also share my expertise on a game app i.e. Voodoo's Mob Control.19 Mar 2026 17:01 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhgi45xtw22dhttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mhgdiapvac2q🧳 Recent Travels 🛳️ NCL Viva 🗓️ 2025 Dec. 10 Left the last port of Falmouth on our Trans-Atlantic cruise from Lisbon with 2 more sea days before ending at Galveston. ⬅️ A view of the 2 10-storey "The Rush" dry slides on the starboard side. ↗️↘️ Sunset views with "The Drop" dry slide on the port side.19 Mar 2026 15:38 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhgdiapvac2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/live4sights.bsky.social/post/3mhffltcd5224🌎 Port of Falmouth, Jamaica 🛳️ NCL Viva 🗓️ 2025 Dec. 10 Since I didn't have enough time to thoroughly check out the lovely cruise terminal at Falmouth, I took a few shots of it from the ship. As the NCL shore excursion was a waste of time and money, I should have explored this cool port instead. 😊19 Mar 2026 06:43 +0000at://did:plc:csosomyx2llnriggnhnwcban/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhffltcd5224