Dozens dead in Greece’s worst rail disaster

• March 1, 2023

By Costas Kantouris and Nicholas Paphitis | Associated Press

TEMPE, Greece — Rescuers searched for survivors Wednesday in the mangled, burned-out cars of two trains that slammed into each other in northern Greece, killing at least 38 people and crumpling carriages into twisted steel knots in the country’s worst-ever rail crash.

The impact just before midnight Tuesday threw some passengers into ceilings and out the windows as their train smashed head-on into a freight train. Emergency workers found several bodies 100 to 130 feet away from the cars, according to state broadcaster ERT, which said the passenger train was traveling at 87 mph.

“The glass in the windows shattered and fell on top of us,” Stefanos Gogakos, who was riding in a rear carriage, told ERT. “My head hit the roof of the carriage with the jolt.”

The train from Athens to Thessaloniki was carrying 350 passengers, many of them students returning from raucous Carnival celebrations. It was not immediately clear what caused the collision. While the track is double, both trains were traveling in opposite directions on the same line near the Vale of Tempe, a river valley about 235 miles north of Athens.

STATIONMASTER ARRESTED; MINISTER RESIGNS

Authorities arrested the stationmaster at the train’s last stop, in the city of Larissa. They did not release the man’s name or the reason for the arrest, but the stationmaster is responsible for rail traffic on that stretch of the tracks.

Transportation Minister Kostas Karamanlis resigned, saying he was stepping down “as a basic indication of respect for the memory of the people who died so unfairly.”

Karamanlis said he had made “every effort” to improve a railway system that had been “in a state that doesn’t befit the 21st century.”

But, he added, “When something this tragic happens it’s impossible to continue as if nothing has happened.”

WRECKAGE MAKES RESCUE EFFORTS DIFFICULT

On Wednesday, rescuers turned to cranes and other heavy machinery to start moving large pieces of the trains, revealing more bodies and dismembered remains. Many bodies were so badly disfigured that they required DNA identification.

“There were many big pieces of steel,” said Vassilis Polyzos, a local resident who said he was one of the first people on the scene. “The trains were completely destroyed, both passenger and freight train.”

Rescuer Lazaros Sarianidis told ERT that crews were “very carefully” trying to disentangle steel, sheet metal and other material that was twisted together by the crash. “It will take a long time,” said Sarianidis.

Greece’s firefighting service said 57 people remained hospitalized late Wednesday, including six in intensive care. More than 15 others were discharged after receiving initial treatment.

More than 200 people who were unharmed or suffered minor injuries were taken by bus to Thessaloniki, 130 kilometers (80 miles) to the north. Police took their names as they arrived, in an effort to track anyone who may be missing.

Eight rail employees were among those killed in the crash, including the two drivers of the freight train and the two drivers of the passenger train, according to Greek Railroad Workers Union President Yannis Nitsas.

PASSENGERS SAY TRAIN CRASH WAS LIKE AN EXPLOSION

A teenage survivor who did not give his name to reporters said that just before the crash he felt sudden braking and saw sparks — and then there was a sudden stop.

“Our carriage didn’t derail, but the ones in front did and were smashed,” he said, visibly shaken. He used a bag to break the window of his car, the fourth, and escape.

Gogakos said the crash felt like an explosion.

He said some passengers climbed through windows after smoke entered the carriage. He said initially the doors were closed but train staff were able to open them after a few minutes and let people out.

Multiple cars derailed and at least one burst into flames.

“Temperatures reached 1,300 degrees Celsius (2,372 Fahrenheit), which makes it even more difficult to identify the people who were in it,” fire service spokesperson Vassilis Varthakoyiannis said.

A man who was trying to ascertain the fate of his daughter, who was on the train, saying he had a harrowing phone conversation with her before she was cut off.

“She told me ‘we’re on fire. … My hair is burning,’” he told ERT, without giving his name.

GREECE GOES FROM CARNIVAL TO MOURNING

Many of the passengers were students returning to Thessaloniki from Carnival, but officials said but no detailed passenger list was available. This year was the first time the festival, which precedes Lent, was celebrated in full since the start of the pandemic in 2020.

The government declared three days of national mourning from Wednesday, while flags flew at half-staff outside all European Commission buildings in Brussels.

Visiting the accident scene, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that the government must help the injured recover and identify the dead.

“I can guarantee one thing: We will find out the causes of this tragedy and we will do all that’s in our power so that something like this never happens again,” Mitsotakis said.

Tuesday’s was Greece’s worst rail crash since 1968, when 34 people were killed in a crash in the southern Peloponnese region.

Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou broke off an official visit to Moldova to visit the scene, laying flowers beside the wreckage.

Pope Francis offered his condolences to the families of the dead, in a message sent to the president of the Greek bishops conference on his behalf by the Vatican’s secretary of state,The pontiff “sends the assurance of his prayers to everyone affected by this tragedy,” the message said.

Paphitis reported from Athens, Greece. Derek Gatopoulos in Athens and Patrick Quinn and David Rising in Bangkok contributed to this story.

​ Orange County Register 

Game Day: Kings trade then for now

• March 1, 2023

Editor’s note: This is the Wednesday, March 1, edition of the “Game Day with Kevin Modesti” newsletter. To receive the newsletter in your inbox, sign up here.

Good morning. Kings fans woke up to bittersweet news: The team has given up a piece of its Stanley Cup past to try to improve its immediate future.

In other sports headlines:

The Dodgers got the word they feared on Gavin Lux’s injury as the shortstop was declared out for the season with tears in his right knee.
The Lakers expect to be without LeBron James for a while after he wore a walking boot on his right foot to watch a three-game win streak end in Memphis.
The Clippers are going the wrong direction, too, after a sloppy loss to the Timberwolves.

On happier notes:

The Angels watched Shohei Ohtani make his spring pitching debut, going two-plus no-hit innings before sounding at ease going into his free-agent season.
The UCLA and USC women’s basketball teams go into the Pac-12 tournament, starting today in Las Vegas, after improved regular seasons.
New Chargers defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley sees ways to improve, although it will still be head coach Brandon Staley calling defensive signals.

On the ice last night, Anze Kopitar scored four goals and goalie Pheonix Copley was unbeatable in the shootout as the Kings rallied to defeat the Jets 6-5 in Winnipeg, jumping into a first-place tie with Vegas in the Pacific Division.

Then came the shocker: The Kings traded goaltender Jonathan Quick, a 2023 first-round draft pick and one other pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets to acquire defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov and goalie Joonas Korpisalo for the season’s last 20 games and playoffs.

Keep checking for reactions and analysis from the Southern California News Group’s Kings page and The Royal Road newsletter as the day goes on, and follow beat writer Andrew Knoll on Twitter (@AndrewKnollNHL).

For now, suffice it to say the Kings are paying a big emotional price by giving up Quick, one of the heroes of their 2012 and 2014 Stanley Cups. Kopitar and Drew Doughty are the only cup-winning Kings left.

But hasten to add that it’s a price worth paying if it helps the Kings to make their first playoff run past the first round since those Stanley Cup years.

Quick, 37, isn’t the same player now, his record (11-13-4), goals-against average (3.50) and save percentage (.876) his worst in 16 seasons with the Kings.

And general manager Rob Blake has added two pieces the Kings needed in a goalie and a left-handed-shooting defenseman.

Korpisalo, 28, and Gavrikov, 27, can be free agents at the end of the season, as can Quick.

Of Korpisalo, Knoll writes: “He has posted a respectable .913 save percentage this season despite playing behind one of the worst defensive teams in the NHL and one that has been battered by injuries.”

Of Gavrikov, Andrew says: “At 6-foot-3 and north of 220 pounds, Gavrikov gives the Kings a physical presence on the left side they haven’t had since Willie Mitchell’s departure (in 2014). Gavrikov’s active stick and gap control were surely attractive to (Blake), a former defenseman who has been seeking to add size on the back end since at least this past spring.”

The Kings came home last night to play 10 of 11 games at Crypto.com Arena between now and the end of March. That starts with a game against the Montreal Canadiens tomorrow night and includes one against Quick and the Blue Jackets on March 16.

Digesting this trade might take fans all month. Though if it works out as hoped, we’ll still be talking about it in June.

TODAY

Lakers, visiting Oklahoma City, will need Anthony Davis to play a second night in a row for the second time this season (5 p.m., SPSN).
Ducks, hosting the Capitals, go for a season-high fourth win in a row (7 p.m., BSSC). Ducks update.
UCLA faces Arizona State, No 5 seed vs. No. 12 seed, to open the Pac-12 women’s basketball tournament in Las Vegas (noon, Pac12N).
USC meets Oregon State, sixth seed vs. 11th seed, in the Pac-12 women’s tournament (8:30 p.m., Pac12N).
Angels host the Brewers in Tempe, Ariz. (11:10 a.m., BSW). Yesterday’s game report.
Dodgers visit the Rangers in Surprise, Ariz. (12:05 p.m., SNLA). Yesterday’s game report.

READERS REACT

The newsletter asked: Do the Dodgers’ offseason changes leave them prepared to contend for a championship after injury strikes a starter like shortstop Gavin Lux?

Dan Town replied: “There’s no way they win the division with (Miguel) Rojas as the starting SS.”

And Nick Confer said: “The odds are stacked against the Dodgers that much more now. It’s going to be an interesting season.”

NEXT QUESTION

Did the Kings make a good trade by acquiring defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov and goaltender Joonas Korpisalo from Columbus in a deal that costs them goalie Jonathan Quick? Share your opinion by email ([email protected]) or on Twitter (@KevinModesti).

280 CHARACTERS

“Are these Lakers more watchable without LeBron? Not meaning better or more effective, necessarily, but a more fun to watch style.” – Columnist Jim Alexander (@Jim_Alexander) tweeting during last night’s game, before Ja Morant and the Grizzlies took control and Jim added: “OK, this didn’t age well. But Ja’s sure fun to watch!”

1,000 WORDS

He’s being watched: Miguel Rojas, who became the Dodgers’ starting shortstop when Gavin Lux was declared out for the season with a knee injury, throws late to third base as second baseman Michael Busch looks on during a 7-1 loss to the Reds yesterday in Glendale, Ariz. Photo is by AP’s Ross D. Franklin.

TALK BACK

Thanks for reading the newsletter. Send suggestions, comments and questions by email at [email protected] and via Twitter @KevinModesti.

Editor’s note: Thanks for reading the “Game Day with Kevin Modesti” newsletter. To receive the newsletter in your inbox, sign up here.

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​ Orange County Register 

Woman stabbed to death inside Lake Forest home

• March 1, 2023

A woman in her 70s was found stabbed to death inside a Lake Forest home on Wednesday, March 1, and sheriff’s investigators were interviewing two people found inside when deputies arrived, authorities said.

Orange County sheriff’s deputies received a call of unknown trouble about 1:50 a.m. and responded to the 22000 block of Bellcroft Drive in a residential neighborhood north of El Toro Road.

There, they found the woman dead of multiple stab wounds, officials said. One of those interviewed was a woman in her 30s who lived at the home.

Crime-scene investigators arrived at the home about 7:30 a.m. to process the scene, while detectives were interviewing the other two people found inside the house, spokeswoman Carrie Braun said.

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​ Orange County Register 

Recipe: Store-bought ravioli is the star of this soup

• March 1, 2023

At my local supermarket, three refrigerated shelves showcase fresh pasta. One section displays ravioli treasures, stuffed with a wide variety of fillings. Some are round, some traditionally square.  Those delectable pasta pillows make this old cook grin.

I remember the day when I made them from scratch. Decades ago, fresh pasta didn’t exist in the marketplace, so enjoying fresh ravioli required time and commitment. I think cookbook author Ina Garten has a similar appreciation for ready-to-cook ravioli. She features a tempting soup made with store-bought ravioli in her new book, “Go-To Dinners” (Clarkson Potter, $35).

Garten suggests making homemade chicken stock for her soup, Ravioli en Brodo, but I’ve made it with a good-quality canned chicken broth, and it tastes delicious.

Ravioli en Brodo

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

INGREDIENTS

Good olive oil

2 cups chopped yellow onions (2 onions)

2 cups (1/2-inch thick) diagonally sliced carrots, scrubbed (3 to 5 carrots), see cook’s notes

1 1/2 cups (1/2- inch thick) diced celery (3 ribs)

1 1/2 cups (1/2- inch thick) diced fennel bulb, top and core removed

8 cups simmering chicken broth

2 cups water

Optional: 1 Italian Parmesan cheese rind (about 2-by-3-inches)

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1 pound cheese ravioli, fresh or frozen

Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

Minced fresh dill or parsley, for serving

Freshly squeezed lemon juice, for serving

Cook’s notes: Cut thick carrots in half lengthwise, then cut them 1/2 inch thick diagonally.

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat 1/4 cup of olive oil in a medium (10- to 11-inch) pot or Dutch oven, over medium heat, Add onions, carrots, celery, fennel; cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened. Add chicken broth, 2 cups water, Parmesan rind (if using), 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Bring to boil. Lower heat and simmer partially covered, for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the Parmesan rind if using and taste soup for seasoning.

2. Meanwhile cook the ravioli in a large pot of boiling water with 2 tablespoons for 4 to 6 minutes (or according to package directions), stirring occasionally. Drain and spread out of plate so that they don’t stick together.

3. For serving, place warm ravioli in large soup bowls and ladle the hot soup over them. Sprinkle with Parmesan, dill, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Serve hot.

Source: Adapted from “Go-To Dinners” by Ina Garten (Clarkson Potter, $35)

Cooking question? Contact Cathy Thomas at [email protected]

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​ Orange County Register 

OC’s Saddleback Church doubles down on support for female pastors

• March 1, 2023

By DEEPA BHARATH and PETER SMITH

The woman pastor at the center of the Southern Baptist Convention’s decision to oust Saddleback Church — the Lake Forest, California, megachurch founded by pastor and best-selling author Rick Warren — says she will continue to serve as a ministry leader despite her longstanding ties to the nation’s largest Protestant denomination.

Saddleback has yet to say if it will appeal its expulsion. But at least one other church — a Kentucky congregation ousted the same day for having a woman pastor — plans to do so, guaranteeing Southern Baptists will weigh the issue at their annual meeting in June in New Orleans.

Stacie Wood, teaching pastor at Orange County’s Saddleback and wife of lead pastor Andy Wood, wrote an Instagram post about her church’s ousting. She credited her Southern Baptist upbringing for shaping her faith but stood firm on heeding her calling despite being “at the center of the discussion.”

“I’m serving Jesus under the authority and in alignment with my spiritual leaders,” Wood wrote. “We believe that women can be gifted and empowered as teachers and as pastors.”

Her husband told the congregation during weekend services about his plan to release a video explaining the church’s position on women pastors. Wood told The Associated Press last year that the Bible “teaches that men and women were given spiritual gifts by God.”

Stacie Wood, center, and her husband, Andy Wood, meet with a congregant after his sermon on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest. Stacie Wood, the woman pastor at the center of the Southern Baptist Convention’s decision to oust Saddleback Church, has said in February 2023, she will continue to serve as a ministry leader despite her longstanding ties to the nation’s largest Protestant denomination. (AP Photo/Allison Dinner, File)

RELATED: Saddleback Church ousted by Southern Baptist Convention over woman pastor

“My wife has the spiritual gift of teaching and she is really good. People often tell me she’s better than me when it comes to preaching,” he said.

The SBC’s statement of faith says that women should not be pastors. The SBC is not a hierarchy and can’t tell a member congregation what to do, but it can deem a church to be “not in friendly cooperation with the Convention,” the verbal formulation for ouster.

On Feb. 21, the convention’s Executive Committee voted to expel Saddleback, the SBC’s second largest congregation, alluding to Stacie Wood “functioning in the office of pastor.” It was one of five congregations kicked out for the same issue.

One of them, Fern Creek Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, plans to appeal, said the Rev. Linda Barnes Popham, who has served as Fern Creek’s pastor since 1993.

She said the congregation wants to continue working with the SBC, regularly uses its religious-education curriculum and supports its missionaries and other causes. At the same time, it believes the larger body of Southern Baptists — not just the Executive Committee — should decide whether to maintain fellowship with churches with women pastors.

RELATED: New Saddleback pastor sees women clergy in church’s future

“We feel like the average Southern Baptist would have no problem with this,” she said. “The other reason is to be a change agent for women in the Southern Baptist Convention — for all those young girls, for all those young people God is calling into ministry.”

Congregants dance and pray with the church band before Pastor Andy Wood gives a sermon on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest. (AP Photo/Allison Dinner, File)

The other three churches also said they planned to continue with women’s leadership but did not indicate they would appeal.

An elder for New Faith Mission Ministry of Griffin, Georgia, said it is nondenominational and never had an affiliation with the SBC, though the convention says its records showed one.

Pastor Minnie R. Washington of St. Timothy’s Christian Baptist in Baltimore said her church has had “no interaction” with the SBC and said it was an honor to be named alongside the other ousted churches.

“Is it possible that the Executive Committee of SBC believes it can tell God who to call to lead His people?” she said via email.

Pastor Linda Smith of Calvary Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi, a former Southern Baptist missionary, said her church doesn’t expect to appeal. “We’re going to press on and do what God calls us to do,” focusing on ministry in a needy neighborhood, she said.

Saddleback did not respond to requests for comment regarding a possible appeal.

In an email, Andy Wood told the congregation he would soon release a belief statement about women as pastors.

“God intends for both men and women to exercise their spiritual gifts of shepherding and teaching the church.” He also asked them not to speak publicly against the denomination’s decision.

“Though we are disappointed by their decision, we are not offended. We love and have valued our relationship with the SBC and its faithful churches. We will engage and respond through the proper channels at the appropriate time,” the email stated.

The Saddleback controversy began in 2021, when Warren ordained three women as pastors, prompting discussions within the SBC about possibly expelling the megachurch. Warren, who retired last year after more than 42 years at Saddleback, made an emotional speech in June 2022 at the Southern Baptists’ annual convention in Anaheim, saying: “We have to decide if we will treat each other as allies or adversaries.”

The denomination’s statement of faith was revised in 2000 to state: “While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.”

But opinions have varied on whether this is a litmus test for a church’s alignment with the SBC. The SBC’s constitution allows for the expulsion of churches whose “faith and practice” don’t align with it, though it doesn’t specifically name women pastors as cause for removal.

In her Feb. 23 post, Stacie Wood called herself “a Southern Baptist girl born and bred” and expressed gratitude for how those roots shaped her faith. She remains impressed with the SBC’s passion for Bible study and missions.

But, in her adult years in ministry, she said, “denominational affiliations haven’t felt like a central component to what we’ve been called to do” including the time when the Woods started and ran Echo Church, a nondenominational church in the San Francisco Bay Area.

“We partnered with Southern Baptists who helped us get started, but we’ve also been delighted to partner with many different church leaders from a variety of denominations to advance the Gospel,” she said.

She has received an outpouring of support.

Her husband, replying to her Instagram post, said he was proud of her: “I’m grateful that I get to be part of a generation of leaders who propel sons and daughters forward in the Kingdom!”

Kay Warren, her predecessor and wife of Pastor Rick Warren, also responded supportively: “I love you Stacie! … It’s a privilege to run this race side by side with you!”

Many congregants are backing her, too.

“When Stacie came on board, I remember thinking, ‘Finally, we have a woman pastor,‘” said Charity Hurt, a Saddleback member for seven years. “If that’s what you’re called to do, you should be able to do it.”

Hurt said it does not really matter to her whether Saddleback remains in the SBC or not.

“I’m just so happy with the direction in which (the Woods) are taking us,” she said, adding that she is not sure if many in Saddleback even know that their church is part of the SBC.

Some are approaching the issue with caution. Kimberly Lattimore, a congregant for 33 years, said she “supports Saddleback 100%,” but is eager to hear Andy Wood’s reasoning in favor of women pastors and do her own research.

“I have no problem with women being pastors and teaching other women,” she said. “But, the question I have is whether women should be teaching men. I’m going to look carefully to see what Bible says.”

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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​ Orange County Register 

Justin Bieber cancels remaining Justice World Tour dates, including California shows

• March 1, 2023

Justin Bieber fans waiting eagerly for new dates for his postponed international tour have been told the shows won’t be going ahead.

Fan sites have reported that the remainder of the Canadian singer’s Justice World Tour dates have been canceled, and Bieber’s website doesn’t currently list any dates.

On ticket company Ticketmaster’s website, all concerts in the US, Ireland, France, Poland, Australia, the US, Denmark and the Czech Republic are also shown as canceled. The same goes for Bieber’s show in Bangkok, Thailand, according to event organizer Live Nation Tero.

The artist and his reps haven’t commented on the cancellations or given a reason.

Fans in London, where Bieber was originally scheduled to perform in February, received an email from events company AXS on Tuesday stating: “We regret to inform you that the Justin Bieber shows planned to take place at The O2 arena have been cancelled.”

“We understand you will be disappointed and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause,” it said, adding that refunds will be issued.

Bieber first announced that he would be taking a break from performing in June, one month after his tour began, due to having Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome, which left his face partially paralyzed.

The pop star then resumed touring at the end of July.

However, after going to Europe and performing six live shows, “it took a real toll” on him, the singer announced in a statement posted on Twitter in September.

He added that he needs to make his health “the priority” right now: “I’m going to be ok, but I need time to rest and get better.”

CNN has contacted Bieber’s representatives for comment.

The-CNN-Wire & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

​ Orange County Register 

Travel: Cruise specialty dining — what is and isn’t included?

• March 1, 2023

In a day when decent meals have been taken from the mouths of airplane passengers flying economy, cruises are a breath of fresh ocean air.

Going cheap on a commercial airline might get you a soggy sandwich or lukewarm Hot Pocket if you’re lucky. But some 36,000 feet below, even cruisers who book an inside cabin next to an elevator on a low deck are enjoying upgraded grub without an upcharge.

From celebrity chef gourmet burgers to high-tech, movie-themed restaurants, more and more cruise lines are including specialty dining with fares. Increased value isn’t something consumers have seen much of since the pandemic wreaked havoc on the hospitality industry, but this trend bucking by cruise lines is happening simultaneously with unprecedented incentives to either woo back past guests or make new ones out of those hesitant to sail due to concerns over COVID-19 and other reasons.

Even sweeter, it’s not just the pricey, all-inclusive ships that throw in specialty dining here and there. Take Disney of the premium cruise line category, which is nestled between mainstream (Carnival, MSC, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean) and luxury (Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, Silversea, Windstar and the newly revived Crystal). One thing that sets Disney apart from Azamara, Celebrity, Cunard, Holland America, Oceania, Princess and Virgin at the premium level — besides mice running amok on its ships (sorry, Mickey and Minnie) — is that the company’s floating resorts redefine the term “main dining room.”

Queen Elsa welcomes guests at her sister’s engagement dinner aboard the Disney Wish. (Photo by David Dickstein)

On Disney Wish, no fees or engagement gifts are necessary to attend Queen Anna and Kristoff’s betrothal dinner dubbed Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure. Also included is the flagship’s Worlds of Marvel, another family-friendly experience that’s part of Disney’s fleetwide rotational dining system. So, feast till your stomach’s content on Chilean sea bass, rib-eye steak, filet mignon and supercalifragilisticexpialidocious desserts because Scrooge McDuck won’t be tacking an extra charge to your account.

From Disney’s “magical” ships to Carnival’s “Fun Ships,” here’s a bit of good news/bad news for cruisers counting pennies and calories: Perhaps the best burgers and chicken strips at sea are included with fares, and whoever doesn’t consider Guy Fieri’s meaty masterpieces or Shaquille O’Neil’s flavorful chicken tenders as specialty dining has never eaten at Guy’s Burger Joint or Big Chicken. Most of Carnival’s Fun Ships have the moo, but the cluck is only a defeathered friend on Mardi Gras, Radiance, Celebration and, come October, the new Jubilee.

Back to the premium category, inclusive specialty dining on Oceania’s Regatta-class ships consists of Polo Grill for steaks, chops and fresh seafood, and Toscana, which, as its name suggests, serves gourmet Italian cuisine with a Tuscan flair. Viking’s ocean ships counter with their lavish takes on steak and seafood at Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant, while on Virgin vessels, carnivores graze at The Wake, part of the adults-only line’s Michelin-starred chef collective.

Moving on up to the luxury cruise line category, Candles on Windstar ships is the epitome of all-inclusive specialty dining, featuring to-die-for steaks, sea bass and lemon tarts enjoyed al fresco by candlelight with amazing views off the stern. On some Silversea ships is a unique experiential program called S.A.L.T., which stands for Sea and Land Taste. The epicurean and educational treat combines onshore culinary excursions with onboard dining to tantalize the mouth and mind. Among the included specialty dining aboard Regent Seven Seas ships are the Prime 7 steakhouse, French-accented Signatures and Tuscan-inspired Sette Mari at La Veranda. When the beloved Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony return to duty this summer with new owners, A&K Travel Group, they’ll add Osteria D’Ovidio to the maritime mix of specialty Italian restaurants.

Cruise lines across all categories are always finding ways to charge a premium for better accommodations, and one of the most popular is exclusive dining. Technically, a restaurant that serves only suite guests is less “specialty” and more an alternate main dining room. But that doesn’t stop some from adding these to their list of specialty restaurants.

Holland America offers single-cruise membership into Club Orange with perks that include a private dining room. (Photo by David Dickstein)

Azamara is one line that doesn’t charge suite guests who dine at its two specialty restaurants, Prime C (steak) and Aqualina (seafood). On Royal Caribbean, guests booked in mini-suites and higher in addition to Pinnacle Club members can dine at the understatedly elegant Coastal Kitchen, which features a fusion of California and Mediterranean cuisine. Passengers staying in AquaClass on Celebrity get exclusive access to Blu and its spa-style dishes at breakfast and lunch while suite guests are invited to enjoy the elevated breakfast, lunch and dinner menus at Luminae. On Holland America, you can buy your way into Club Orange, which, among other benefits, comes with a private dining venue and expanded menu on Pinnacle-class ships.

Lovely as specialty restaurants with no surcharge are, with few exceptions you’re still paying for the upgraded experience in the fare. Going with a more affordable cruise line, especially one in the mainstream or premium categories, will likely result in your specialty dining adventure being à la carte. Fees generally range from $29-$59 per person, and most non-all-inclusive cruise ships with multiple restaurants offer package deals. MSC even has an “Unlimited Dining Experiences” bundle on some ships with a price tag of about $200 per person.

Tip #1: Often the best price for packages is offered online in the booking manager tool. Tip #2: Better chef’s table experiences can run a few hundred dollars but, unlike with most fee-based meals, typically includes wine; booking early is wise as these ultimate splurges tend to sell out.

Augmented reality meets gourmet cuisine at Le Petit Chef on Celebrity ships. (Photo by David Dickstein)

Some of the best upcharging specialty restaurants are found on premium-category ships. Going one further, Celebrity has perhaps the finest collection on a single vessel. On its Solstice class ships, for example, guests can’t go wrong with any of the four aboard. Augmented reality meets gourmet cuisine at Le Petit Chef; Tuscan Grille is arguably the only reliable Italian restaurant south of the luxury-ship category; surf and turf are well represented at the elegant Murano; and Sushi on Five is simply raw-some.

It’s chateaubriand for two prepared tableside at Murano, Celebrity’s finest fine dining option. (Photo by David Dickstein)

More premium-class dining worth the premium is on Holland America. Tamarind does justice to cuisines of Southeast Asia, China and Japan, while Pinnacle Grill, the ship’s steakhouse, has a candied bacon side that goes perfectly with its cuts and salmon. Another winner on Holland America is Rudi’s Sel de Mer, an intimate French-hinting brasserie from master chef Rudi Sodamin. Meanwhile, Disney has two instant classics on its Wish flagship: the “Beauty and the Beast”-inspired, adults-exclusive Enchanté, and Palo Steakhouse that makes every dish a work of art. On Cunard ships is The Verandah, perhaps the best steakhouse at sea. Princess holds its own with Crown Grill for steak and seafood, and the more beef-leaning Sterling Steakhouse.

Palo is known for its steaks, but the tiramisu is to die for on Disney Wish. (Photo by David Dickstein)

Sailing on a mainstream cruise line might save enough money to splurge on a full-service, sit-down specialty restaurant as opposed to Guy’s Burger Joint, Big Chicken and other distinctive quick-serve eateries.

Steakhouses on value megaships that make the grade, U.S. prime or otherwise, include Cagney’s on Norwegian, Chops Grille on Royal Caribbean and those on Carnival; they go by different names, but have virtually the same menu.

The wagyu short rib as pretty as it is popular at Ji Ji Asian Kitchen on Carnival ships. (Photo by David Dickstein)

Take a tasty trip to Bayou Country at the Southern-comforted Mason Jar, home of lip-smackin’ beef brisket, pork ribs and fried chicken, with and without waffles. The bourbon-chocolate pecan pie, alone, is worth the surcharge. Same with the sweet and sour shrimp at Carnival’s two Asian dining spots, Ji Ji Asian Kitchen and Chibang!

For a magical dinner experience on select Royal Caribbean ships, Wonderland immerses patrons in the world of Lewis Carroll on their first step through the looking glass. If that’s Royal Caribbean’s counter to Disney’s fantasy-rich dining experiences, then Carnival’s version is the once-a-cruise Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast with The Cat in the Hat and friends. Journey into the deliciously whimsical world of Dr. Seuss and you, too, might say you like green eggs and ham. Tip #3: Despite what the book says, Carnival discourages you from eating them in a box or eating them with a fox.

If you go …

Azamara — azamara.com
Carnival Cruise Line — carnival.com
Celebrity Cruises — celebritycruises.com
Crystal — crystalcruises.com
Cunard — cunard.com
Disney Cruise Line — disneycruiseline.com
Holland America Line — hollandamerica.com
MSC Cruises — msccruisesusa.com
Norwegian Cruise Line — ncl.com
Oceania Cruises — oceaniacruises.com
Princess Cruises — princess.com
Regent Seven Seas Cruises — rssc.com
Royal Caribbean International — royalcaribbean.com
Seabourn Cruise Line — seabourn.com
Silversea Cruises — silversea.com
Viking Cruises — vikingcruises.com
Virgin Voyages — virginvoyages.com
Windstar Cruises — windstarcruises.com

​ Orange County Register 

Home Depot to fill 550 job openings in Southern California

• March 1, 2023

Home Depot is looking to fill 500 full- and part-time positions in Southern California as the home improvement retailer gears up for its busy spring season.

Openings are available in customer service, sales, store support, freight operations and merchandising.

The company didn’t reveal what the various positions pay, but data from Indeed.com show Home Depot merchandisers in California earn $16.24 an hour, while sales associates make $15.96 and warehouse workers are paid $18.37 an hour.

Job seekers are encouraged to apply online at careers.homedepot.com. The company will also hold a Virtual Spring Career Day event on Thursday, March 16. Attendees will hear from current employees to get a better idea of the various jobs that are available, as well as Home Depot’s company culture and benefits.

Openings are available in customer service, sales, store support, freight operations and merchandising. (Photo courtesy of Home Depot)

Home Depot offers a range of health and personal benefits, including tuition reimbursement, a performance-based cash bonus program, paid family leave, back-up dependent care, a 401(k) savings plan and a discounted company stock purchase program.

Over the last three years, Home Depot workers have received more than $1.5 billion in Success Sharing awards, the company said.

Home Depot said 90% of its store leadership started as hourly employees.

Home Depot is the world’s largest home improvement retailer with approximately 500,000 employees and more than 2,300 stores throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The company generated $157.4 billion in revenue in 2022.

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​ Orange County Register