Daneenm

On 4/3/2024 at 4:42 PM, Jim_Iain said:

Come along on my daily walk --

 

 

This is me waving as you pass my building - 410 N Mary (Mary Three)!  Nice walk. 

Hooray, following along!

3 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

I have to say BA use to be a good airlines but has gone in the tanks.    Sometimes BA is the only choice and shocked by their charges.    I recently booked a flight LHR to Barcelona in full fare Business Class.   They charge to pick seats.      The only airline I've ever experience that hit Business class passengers with a fee to select seats.

We experienced the same for our BCN to LHR.  I was shocked to be asked to pay for pre-assigned seats with a Business class ticket!

57 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

@Daneenm  Just noticed you live close by.   Which facility do you work in? -  My father use to live on Parlett which was just over his wall to the Old Headquarters.   I think my Step Sister just retired as an HR Guru.

@Jim_Iain I believe we connected on this before.  I work near you at the Central and Mary campus.  I look for you when I arrive, hoping one day I will see you walking by on your daily walk 😀.  I hit my 34th Apple Anniversary this summer.  Congratulations to your step sister!

Have a wonderful cruise Jim and Iain!  Looking forward to following your adventures again and you are tiding me over until our Med cruise in September 2024.

Singapore is one of my favorite places to visit!  It was the first place I traveled when I started working at Apple, and my first international trip ever in the early 90s.  Enjoy!

2 hours ago, Norwaylady said:

 

Our housekeeper stopped by to introduce himself, Mustofa. 

Fingers crossed 🤞🏻 for excellent service🥰

 

Our cabin steward on Edge last November was named Mustofa.  If this is the same person, he was excellent!  Enjoying your TR!

We found about a month ago that on our upcoming cruise (Ascent Sept 2024), excursions were not only available but also sold out.  Yes, that was more than 1 year in advance!  I keep hoping that X adds more choices.  I have booked some through Shoreexcursions.com because of this.

So excited to follow!  We are on the Ascent next Fall, Rome-Greek Islands-Barcelona, with a stay in Rome before and Barcelona after.  This is a great ‘appetizer’ to our cruise.  Have a great time Charla and Jeremy!

We were in an Edge Villa (15101) on our Caribbean cruise and LOVED it!  Deck with hot tub was very private.  We heard some very light ship noise as we crossed through bumpy waters, but otherwise it was a quiet as can be.  Love our 'secret' entrance to the Retreat Lounge as well.  

We did not get an EV for our next cruise, which is Mediterranean in Fall 2024, because it is so port intensive, we didn't think we would use the space as much as in the Caribbean.

I asked for a sharps container on our trip as well, but given how few items I put in it, next time I think I will just carry them home in a ziplock bag.  I am sure the medical center will allow you to drop there as well.  It also seems to me that I saw sharps disposal containers in some bathrooms, but perhaps I am recalling the airport instead.

On 4/12/2023 at 7:15 AM, TeeRick said:

Another vote here for the pistachio roll!

Me too!  Could not pass it up any day of our cruise!

14 hours ago, OrcaGirl said:

Evening activities and observations and shenanigans:

 

The all-girl band playing in the atrium was good.

 

 

The 80s Flashback party was super fun, with songs by the all-girl band (Magnifica). 

We really enjoyed Magnifica when we sailed in November!  We thought they were by far the best that performed in the Atruim in the evenings.

On 1/15/2023 at 6:11 PM, Jim_Iain said:

 

Thanks Joan -   I went ahead and booked Hyatt Place  also as both are refundable.    The other day I ran it by Iain and he poo-pooed it ... He may just have to live with what I choose.  LOL    If you say the rooms are nice I trust your opinion.

 

Coming from the West Coast we usually get in around 11:30 - 1:00 AM so in these times we are coming in 2 days early (which is really only one day early), just costs us an extra day. 

We thought Hyatt Place was serviceable.  Since we, like you, came from the West Coast and arrived quite late we didn't mind.  To be honest, it is not somewhere I would stay if the location was my vacation destination.  Having said that, it was clean, the staff was friendly and the coach to the cruise port was fast and easy.

21 hours ago, SunnyAJ said:

This is VERY helpful! I think the menu sounds delicious. Too bad about the temperature, but it does sound very good. And you get to try everything?? 🙂 

 

We have excursions in Puerto Rico, so it sounds like I might want to be prepared to cancel them if need be. We are also in a suite (which sounds like you were as well?) so hopefully the butler can help with that too. The view just sounds so inviting!

 

It's been really hard to find information on it, so thank you!! 

Yes, you get EVERYTHING!!!!  That was not clear to us when we booked it.  We are not fish eaters and there was a massive seafood tower in the appetizer section.  There was also Charcuterie so we just assumed we would pick that and be happy.  We enjoyed the dinner but we really threw them off when we asked than not to bring the seafood tower or the lobster entree.

2 hours ago, Treasure Hunter said:

Good news. They put up four gigantic umbrellas on the sundeck. Still plenty of sunny spots but at least those of us that need shade have a shot. Bad news, lobster roll had two little bites of lobster. Good news, they promised to remove the rocking chair, after I tripped over it twice and they are giving me a lounge chair on my balcony. The two concierges Alexandra and Yullie both from Ukraine are lovely and helpful. Casino looks great . 

This is an improvement with the umbrellas.  Only two when we were on in November, as I recall.

Alex and Yulia are fabulous ....made our trip very special!

I have tried both the online form (4 weeks ago) and an email to the address above (2 weeks ago) and still zero response!  I just sent a reply to the ‘we have received your email’ note and am keeping fingers crossed.  Certainly not seeing the 3-7 day response others are.

On 8/10/2022 at 9:52 AM, Arzeena said:

All this time reading and thoroughly enjoying thier review upon review upon review, I thought this was Jim. 🤔😳

Apologize for the mix up. Now I know.

I am afraid I had you mixed up too!  Thanks for setting us straight!

Really looking forward to following your adventures as our November cruise inches closer and closer!  Wishing you and Iain good health and fun!

Side note:   I plan to be back in the office next week (Apple - 410 N Mary).  I guess I will have to wait a while to hope I catch you walking by on your daily walk 😀

1 hour ago, GenerationX said:

The pool deck is jam packed this morning.  By the time we finished our Blu breakfast and made our way up, the only loungers we could find were one deck up by the solarium roof.

 

I had to go to guest services this morning and they have signs up saying that the ship has sailed at full capacity and no upgrades are available.

 

We’re going to relax and read for a while (btw here’s my book for this cruise, any other Below Deck mega fans following?) then figure out a lunch plan.  Jeremy wants to spend some time in the afternoon in the casino, and while he’s doing that I’m thinking I may make my way to cellar masters for a wine flight and do some window shopping in the vintage handbag boutique.

 

 

 

Hubby is a Below Deck Fan.  We will have to check this book out.  We do love Captain Lee!

On 7/7/2022 at 7:52 AM, Oklahoma Cruiser 2012 said:

I got it and took the quiz and got the PU point(s).  I have a weird question that I couldn't find the answer to in the T&C for the promo.  I'm currently "preview" as I've never sailed Celebrity before (have one scheduled in March).  If I take at least 2 PU and they transfer as 2 points to the CC, does that mean I move from preview to classic?  Or does that only happen after my cruise?  

We have not cruised on X yet and I have 45 status points and am in the Classic level.  So, by my experience, the answer is yes!

1 hour ago, MarKay525 said:

All of these shoes are described as flip flops. I doubt any female wearing a pair of these or similar shoes would be turned away. The cheap rubber shoes with the toe thong from the dollar store are also flip flops. Personally, I believe it is the latter that are not allowed. Your opinion may differ.

     

Yes!  Thank you so much @MarKay525!  My go to summer dinner shoes are like the ones in the top row of your examples.

15 hours ago, WestLakeGirl said:

No rubbery flip flops, but otherwise wear what footwear you like in Luminae

OK, I am sure this is a hot button, but really asking so I don't cause an issue.  I have sparkly flip flops that I generally wear out to dinner or whatever in the summer.  Will these be OK?  When coming in after an active day in walking shoes, these are a nice break.  I can and will follow the rules and buy specific shoes if these are not acceptable.  Just wondering about other people's experience.

Thank you so much for posting this @luv2ndhalf!  I was just about to post a similar question.  Hubby and I are on the Ultimate Southern Caribbean in November and I have been researching excursions.  We are not too keen on the 50 person bus tour (especially now) and I recall @Jim_Iain mentioning setting up a private journey.  
 

For those who have done this, have you typically arranged it ahead of the cruise or just worked with someone in The Retreat when you are on board?  Also, thanks @Jim_Iain for an idea of pricing.  I realize they will all be different but at least that gives me a general idea.

On 5/4/2022 at 10:13 AM, Jim_Iain said:

We live near an areal called Gilroy which grows about 80% of U.S. production of Garlic.   Each year they have a Garlic Festival with every garlic product including garlic ice cream.   Unfortunatly many of you may remember July 28, 2019, when a gunman opened fire on the crowd killing 3 and wounding 19. 

 

It has dampened the spirit of the festival ever since. 

Sadly, it was just announced that the Gilroy Garlic Festival will not return.  

I am so glad you asked, since I have just been watching the app for our Nov 2022 cruise.  

Another question, if I may pile on....We are staying in a Villa (unlimited specialty dining) and when I try to book specialty dining, it is asking for OBC or CC#.  If I book now, will that be reimbursed to our account?  Is it OK to wait to have the shoreside concierge or our retreat host book for us, or is it risky.  We are Type A planners, so we are used to having details wrapped up long before traveling.  Thanks in advance!