That is Priceless by Steve Melcher for August 04, 2021

The original Love Boat sailing into Vera Cruz.

Captain, we have three volunteers at the bow to play Rose, but no one wants to be Jack.

Remember the days when the only thing you had to worry about, while being on a ship, were cannon balls, which you can see coming? Now you have to worry about germs that are too small to see.

Perhaps a little too pensive for even this strip, I’ve only quoted the chorus—not the meat of this famous song.

“Sail away

Sail away

We will cross the mighty ocean into Charleston Bay

Sail away

Sail away

We will cross the mighty ocean into Charleston Bay

—Randy Newman, “Sail Away”

French ships blockaded Mexico’s ports. / Why? A pastry chef felt out of sorts. / His bakery’s looting / inspired the shooting. / (Veracruz had to close their resorts!) /// This ridiculous-named “Pastry War” / is not very well known anymore. / Mexico, I recall, / had to pay off the Gaul, / but the pastry chef shuttered his store.

Pardon my French monsieur but the ze gangplank is on port side of ze sheep. Mind your step as there are ropes on the deck. We were going to hang you but the other way is one and done.

It was a rough first week of sailings as the cruise industry restarted after Covid restrictions!

There are no more cannon balls, Captain. Requesting permission to fire Fromage Mimolette at the enemy.

The grandfather of Pierre Curie stood on the deck and gazed at the mushroom cloud forming above the enemy ship. Intrigued, he vowed to end his Naval career in order to study physics.

I tried to warn him about this “all-you-can-eat” chili-beans catering deal, but did he ever listen?

The first draft of the last scene in Casablanca. Rewritten for the airport.

“Captain, it is I, Ensign Pulver, and I just threw your stinkin’ palm tree overboard.”

Back in the day, sail camp was much more competitive.

And do you know what this is? It’s the Pastry War!

(https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastry_War)

As heard by Captain Milton Bradley, “You sunk my battleship!”

Oy! (The only proper response to a wonderful, horrific pun…)

Sir, Captain Bligh is signaling that his smoker is up and running and we are invited for barbeque at sunset.

?

The Captain just abandoned the ship!

FIRST MATE: Ze enemy is observing the rules requiring them to chase us with only one sail up, Mon Capitan~

MON CAPITAN~: Ze French Rules Of Engagement continue to work in our favor! Call all men to the stern where we will salute our pursuers. PREPARE TO DROP TROU!

FIRST MATE: Ze enemy is observing the rules requiring them to only attack us from rowboats, Mon Capitan~

ROW BOAT SAILOR: We got you surrounded, Frenchy! Don’t make us hit your ship with our oars – because we will!

MON CAPITAN~: Get me the men’s undies and prepare to throw them at the enemy.

FIRST MATE: Oui, Mon Capitan~. WE’RE GOING NUCLEAR, BOYS! PEEL ’EM OFF!

This war (like another I fear)/ from the front page will soon disappear./ Like another you know / to the void it will go: the renowned “War of Jenkins’ Ear”.

“If my friends could see me now!”

I got a sinking feeling from this one.

" Yes, Captain, I always wear my top hat and carry a cane to a naval bombardment. Do you think I’m underdressed? "

The witness accurately described two ships passing in the night.

Is everyone getting into puns these days?!? (this is a good one, btw)

Capture of Fort San Juan de Ulúa, 27 November 1838: 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bombardement_de_Saint-Jean_d%27Ulloa_en_1838_lors_de_l_expedition_contre_le_Mexique.jpg 

(best viewed by Google Chrome, which can automatically translate most webpages if necessary) has info and links that point to more info about this huge painting, including a Description.

Again, a larger strip image is shown by (⌘- or Ctrl-) clicking the image at 

http://thatispriceless.blogspot.com/2021/08/masterpiece-2763.html 

I have added a comment there (already approved by Mr. Melcher) pointing to the artist info I used to point to here. So far, 5 works by this artist have been used here (6 times, including a PRICELESS CLASSIC repeat). 

https://www.gocomics.com/that-is-priceless/2017/08/09?comments=visible 

has the prior (the repeat, my comment there includes one of artist info URLs also pointed to by a here link in my blog entry comment).

I wonder how many of those/ who have volunteered to play Rose/ have done so sincerely/ and not done so merely/ in order stark naked to pose…

Does a girl really need an excuse/ to let all the goodies run loose ?/ Are we all so benighted/ as to be not delighted/ at the sight of a spritely “caboose” ?

“Mon Dieu, Capitaine! Their twenty-one gun salute is damaging our deck and masts!”“They are just enthusiastic, mon ami.”

Sherlock Holmes claimed kinship with Vernet.

Ask them if anyone has seen a white whale in these parts …

are you sure this isn’t a “pearls before swine?”

“But she proved to be a frigate, and she up with her ports, and fired with a thirty-two. / It come uncommon near, but we answered with a cheer, / which paralyzed the parley-voo.”

Did Scott Hilburn of “The Argyle Sweater” write this one?