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Travel review: A cruise through Norway's fjords was one of the most memorable holidays ever

Travel review: A cruise through Norway's fjords was one of the most memorable holidays ever

In July, our family of five set off on a week-long cruise through the Norwegian fjords aboard P&O's Iona, and I can honestly say it was one of the most memorable holidays we've ever had.
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This viral U.K. coffee brand is opening its first Florida outpost in Coconut Grove next week
This viral U.K. coffee brand is opening its first Florida outpost in Coconut Grove next week

Time Out

time2 hours ago

  • Time Out

This viral U.K. coffee brand is opening its first Florida outpost in Coconut Grove next week

The Miami coffee scene is always percolating. Case in point: Black Sheep Coffee, one of the U.K.'s most beloved coffee brands, is opening its first Florida shop in Coconut Grove on Tuesday, August 12. The popular British java brand already has more than 116 locations across its native United Kingdom as well as France, the UAE and more, with its upcoming outpost at Grove Central (2750 SW 27 th Terrace, Suite 108) continuing the chain's growing presence stateside. And we're here for it! The fourth U.S. location (the chain has already expanded to Texas), the Coconut Grove coffeeshop will debut with an open-to-the-public Grand Opening Celebration next Tuesday from 11am to 2pm, complete with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Mayor Francis Suarez. Come for special meet-and-greets with Black Sheep founders Gabriel Shohet and Eirik Holth and the rest of the team, all flying across the pond from London. Guests will also be welcomed with free samples of drinks and food during the event, including the brand's cold brew range, signature iced vanilla oat lattes, and 100-percent ceremonial grade matcha, available in fun flavor combinations like peaches and cream, strawberries and cream, and blueberry. (We're thirsty just thinking about it.) Black Sheep is known for spotlighting sustainably sourced, specialty-grade robusta beans, which reportedly has higher caffeine, lower acidity and richer flavors than other varieties. Of course, snacks will also be on offer, including the shop's famous Norwegian waffles topped with Nutella, berries, and other accoutrements; freshly baked pastries; and smoothies of all sorts of flavors. A popular menu item, the organic Acai bowls are top sellers. The new storefront will also let java fiends take home a bag or two of the specialty coffee beans so you can recreate the magic in your own kitchen.

What you should know about tipping on cruises
What you should know about tipping on cruises

The Independent

time5 hours ago

  • The Independent

What you should know about tipping on cruises

Cruise fares often do not include tips, known as gratuities or "crew appreciation," which are instead often added daily, per passenger and can significantly increase the overall cost. Daily gratuity rates vary by cruise line and cabin type, typically ranging from $16 (£12) to $20 (£15) per day for standard cabins and up to $27 (£20) per day for suites. While not compulsory, these tips are expected to reward various crew members, including those not directly seen by passengers. Some cruise lines, particularly British-focused ones like P&O Cruises and Marella, include gratuities in the initial fare, while others, such as Royal Caribbean, add them daily. Passengers can request to remove or reduce automatic gratuities at guest services, though this can be an awkward process, and additional tips can be given for exceptional service.

Moment missing British-based journalist is found alive in Norwegian mountains as rescuers reveal how he survived alone in the wilderness for five days
Moment missing British-based journalist is found alive in Norwegian mountains as rescuers reveal how he survived alone in the wilderness for five days

Daily Mail​

time12 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

Moment missing British-based journalist is found alive in Norwegian mountains as rescuers reveal how he survived alone in the wilderness for five days

Lying stricken on a Norwegian mountainside, this is the moment a British-based American climate change reporter was rescued after almost week alone in the wilderness. Alec Luhn, 38, heard the helicopter flying around above him for several days but could not move because he has shattered his femur in a fall from a cliff in the Folgefonna National Park - home to three of gigantic glaciers. The Daily Mail understands that he managed to survive by drinking rainwater as it fell and two chocolate bars he had in his bag. 'He had nothing to drink before the rain came', one medical source said. Mr Luhn, who works the New York Times and the Guardian, was spotted because of his bright red coat. 'He had waved to them', police have said. His wife Viktoria Silchenko, an award-winning filmmaker, is flying to Norway today to see him in hospital. She said: 'I think it's a miracle. I'm so grateful to all the people who were involved in the rescue. It's the best day of my life'. His brother Brian, who lives in the United States, said: 'My brother Alec has been found by the rescue team. He's being flown to the hospital to be treated for a broken femur'. Alec was reported missing on Monday after failing to get on a flight back to the UK from Bergen, a city around 40 miles northwest of Folgefonna National Park, where Luhn was trekking. The national park is 136,000 acre and is home to one of the country's biggest glaciers. He was last heard from last Thursday afternoon, with his wife, telling the New York Times that he had texted her his itinerary. But following a massive search of the Nordic park, he was found with a serious leg injury, which he suffered the first day he set out, according to local rescuers. Geir Arne Sunde, the head of the local air ambulance service and trauma centre, said: 'He is seriously injured, but not critically injured.' The reporter somehow managed to survive his days-long ordeal with very little food. Luhn's rescue was something of a miracle, rescuers said. Stig Hope, head of the operations leadership team at Folgefonna and a Red Cross volunteer, said: 'I can't remember us finding someone alive after so many days. 'The search doesn't always end like this – but today, it did. It's a huge relief for everyone who's been part of the effort.' Local media reported that he was on holiday with his sister in the Nordic nation and decided to go out on a four-day hike on July 31 from an outdoor centre in Ullensvang on the northern edge of the park. A 30-strong volunteer search and rescue team, along with dogs, drones and police were all sent to find him. The operation was temporarily suspended, amid bad weather. Tatjana Knappen, an operations manager from Vestland police, said: 'Weather conditions started to get really bad around midnight. It was not reasonable to continue the search up in the mountains.' Local police said the Pulitzer Center Ocean Reporting Network fellow, a specialist in climate reporting, is an experienced mountain walker who was well-equipped. His wife reportedly said she had not expected to hear from him for a few days, owing to the spotting signal in the park. Silchenko added that it wasn't unusual for her husband to go on solo hikes. But she began worrying about him by Sunday, and alerted local authorities after he failed to make it back to his return flight on Monday. She said before his rescue: 'I just really want him back. I can't sleep or eat properly. It's very hard not to know anything.' Folgefonna National Park is known for being a popular challenge for hikers who fly in from all over the world to conquer the difficult terrain and admire its natural beauty. The climate reporter is no stranger to exotic destinations, having reported from oil fields in Texas, drought-stricken regions of Somalia and a research ship on the North Sea.

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