bluwes

Make sure you do an excursion,  Dover itself is a dump. We sailed out of there a few years ago on the Carnival Legend. Never again

12 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

 

I don't mind older ships but not interested  in Caribbean (but would do ABC's again) and Definitely not in to Labradee and Coco Cay.     I'm sure Coco Cay is great for Celebrity's bottom line, but would probably just stay on the ship.   Just not our thing.

We’ve booked the ABCs for my birthday in April 25. The itinerary is the same  one that  was cancelled owing to the Pandemic 3 weeks before we were due to travel. Will be our  first cruise back in the Caribbean since 2018, we’ve stuck to more close to home ever since either in the Med or sailing from Southampton to the Canaries.

13 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Had the Opportunity to meet Erin from Idaho - one of the activities staff on Solstice.   I've known her mother via cyber for over 10 years and never met her.

 

At one time we were recruited from CruiseCritics to be pop up Advocates for Celebrity on Celebrity's website.   There were 5 of us that got to be friends.   I've been able to meet 4 of the 5 and hope to meet Mickey face to face one day.   

 

Erin is high energy and is so much like her  mother.  

 

 

We met Erin on the Reflection in the Med a couple of summers ago. Like you say she is full on 😁😁

1 hour ago, Minorhawk said:

Maybe a dumb question,  and maybe it was already mentioned,  but what is QVC? Looks awesome,  and the TP is on my radar for 2026 to celebrate my retirement. 

 

Love virtually traveling with you!!

It’s actually officially QVB,  the Queen Victoria Building. It’s a fantastic shopping mall

7 hours ago, awhfy said:

I’m so glad to have a Jim & Iain treasure to follow while I recover from my February fall while on Silhouette (rushing to helipad & biffed it big time). I’m having a reverse shoulder replacement next week. Had to delay my surgery as hubs just had detached retina surgery (on same day he was supposed to have gallbladder surgery!  His gallbladder is now this week). Getting older is not for the faint of heart!!
 

thank you for the great list of audiobooks…we’ll both be using this list while we recover. Safe journey & can’t wait for more great posts!  Melody

My wife had that same shoulder surgery after a fall off one step onto a carpeted landing at a  theatre back home between Christmas and New Year. Operated on mid January, just about now getting back to normal, especially now she is able to drive again. 

On 4/7/2024 at 7:10 AM, upwarduk said:

 Very wet winter in the Pennines.

We had similar weather in Australia in January 2008- wet. I was so disappointed as I had hoped for heat in their mid summer.

Coincidence, we arrived in Perth middle of February 2008 after a week in Singapore, spent the next 6 weeks travelling across the country on a bucket list land vacation returning via LA where we stayed with friends. We were blessed with great weather everywhere we went apart from a short heavy burst of rain one morning in Brisbane. I suppose we were lucky.

Another Jim and Iain travel escapade.Following along 

Safe journey home, loved the live follow. That will be us April 2025, I’ll be celebrating my 70th birthday on board. Have just booked Murano to celebrate 

Great to jump on board another of your live follows. Sorry to hear you’re having to travel solo. We’re on this itinerary this time next year on the Reflection. It was the first sailing we had cancelled at the beginning  of the pandemic 3 weeks before sailing. Sailed on the Reflection twice before and love that ship, who doesn’t ?.

if you see AA Katou in the casino bar tell Mr Wesley says hi.

Just received an email here in the UK inviting me to watch the latest Webinar before 27th December to earn 50 PUPs

Happy Birthday Jim. I’ve never sailed with an actual birthday  on board ship . We’ve just booked an ABC islands sailing for April 2025 on the Reflection and   I’ll actually pass 70th birthday while on board. As well as celebrating a special birthday it’s an itinerary we had booked in 2020 that was cancelled just before sailing owing to the Pandemic. Really looking forward to it now.

12 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Hotels- 

 

Booking a hotel was quick and easy.   Last time we cruised out of Singapore, we stated at Pan Pacific Executive Suites – Beach Road.   We loved it so much that I just waited until their booking window opened and then booked.

 

All of their units are like an Apartment, including a kitchen, washer and dryer etc, but they also have a free breakfast each morning.   Beach Road is on the outskirts of Singapore and out of the hustle and bustle of Orchard District.    There is a MRT Station about 750 feet away.    Beach Road is also right on the edge of the Arab and Indian Districts. 

 

I’m sure that many love being at the big Hotel Chains in the middle of the shopping district but we prefer something more relaxed.   We found that the MRT is one of the best transit systems in the world and getting around is rally easy, inexpensive and safe.

 

 

We stayed at the Pan Pacific some years ago. In fact it’s so long ago they were still building that MRT station. It was our first time in Singapore after doing a land trip which included Thailand and Hong Kong. It was an awesome hotel back then. Hope it’s still the same.We  have been back several times but stayed further along Orchard Road and  around Clarke Quay

Thanks also   for opening your heart and letting us have a glimpse into your life  story.

Looking forward to this one Jim.

7 hours ago, PGI GUY said:

We received an email yesterday that your arrival back in England will be delayed due to bad weather, can you comment on that situation?

Our friends are on board and they are stuck in Lisbon as the port is now closed due to the weather conditions.They cannot leave until the winds drop. Vigo has obviously been cancelled tomorrow and the intention apparently was to sail slowly behind the storm, taking two days to reach Southampton. Could still be delayed reaching home.

just scrolling through your photos again and saw the cornbeef hash. What have they done to it. Had it on our sailing and couldn’t eat it, , it was really tomatoey couldn’t eat it. First world problem I know 😂😂😂

35 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

The spicy Louisiana Gumbo is one of my favorite dishes.  I order it every time it is offered.  I tried to place an oder for a 5-gallon bucket to go in Luminae once. Unfortunately I was not successful. 
 

Same here, had it last week. Well not ordering a 5 gallon bucket.  😂 

56 minutes ago, weregoingcruising said:

Enjoying this great honest report. Will on this  ship in November for 10 days. If you happen to visit guest services would you please inquire who the F&B director is. Thank You

Had dealings with the guy last week, his name was Mark Gazovic, the assistant F&B director was a guy called Sassa from Serbia.

We got off the ship this morning after our brilliant 11 days sailing the same itinerary that you will be enjoying.

There are some awesome staff on board who can’t do enough for you. We were select dining on deck 4. Usually went to the dining room around 7.45.walked straight in most nights but 2 nights we had a beeper because we asked if we could go into Bobbys section where he was waiter and Firmin as the Sommelier. Both of them were great and a credit to Celebrity.

Food was excellent although with less choice. We did Murano and Tuscan and both were at there usual high standard.

Look out for Atish one of the deck waiters up on 14.

It was a full ship and I’m told yours will be the same, which meant  the Ocean View was mad busy when a lot of people arrived back on board after being in port.

The Martini bar staff seemed a bit quite early on but as the days went by they became more confident and had the usual laughs with them. Maybe they were new.

oh and our best friends Gary and Lynne got on as well today, they’re a Good laugh.

enjoy the  cruise

6 hours ago, The Anchor Banker said:

Thank you for the feedback.  Based on the comments I guess it is the European version of a Caribbean cruise with Barcelona being a bonus?

We’re on board the Silhouette this Saturday from Southampton to the Canaries with additional stops in Porto and Lisbon in Portugal and Vigo in Spain.,we’ve been to the Canary Islands numerous times on beach holidays. So your description is spot on.

9 hours ago, miched said:

Things that they may start charging for 

 

renting lounge chairs around the pool by the hour.

 

Up charge for window seats in the dining rooms 

 

Extra to sit at the Martini Bar that is added onto the drink even with a drink pack. Plus the Extra gratuity.  
 

Sell raffle tickets to participate in the games and game shows. 
 

weight people when  getting on the ship and then when leaving and charge per pound of weight gain.   If you lost weight you will be given future cruise credit on a cruise of  Celebrity’s choice.

 

Gratuities on HH drinks 

 

Charge for extra luggage over one pp not counting small carry on.  
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just sang along to Master of the House from Les Mis

2 hours ago, Mtreas99 said:

We are on the Sept 30th sailing and have a quick question. Did your app show the shows in theater before you sailed? We do not seem to have many shows in theater for our sailing which is  very unusual! Hoping they are just not entered till sailing date, 

Also, do you have twice daily housekeeping service ?

Hi there we are on that sailing. There are almost 250 of us on a different platform from here. That one we aren’t allowed to publicise. 

Just found this thread. Thanks for taking the time to live post. We’re on board at the end of the month to the Canaries and Portugal. Hoping we have as easy a transit of the Bay of Biscay as  you had, We’re in a sunset veranda on deck 9.

17 hours ago, mahasamatman said:

 

You must have misread the posts. Sometimes people start talking about other lines even though this is a Celebrity forum, but it has never been possible.

It has been possible, so unless the rules have changed it should still be

We had two Fjords sailings cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of the Pandemic. Since the restart non of the suitable sailings had Flam on the itinerary, so we weren’t interested in choosing what was available. 
2024 with the Apex has what we want and includes Flam. With having a fair amount of OBC we decided to book the train excursion through Celebrity.

I am now considering whether I should book direct with the train company hearing about your experience, as we would be seriously disappointed if we got bumped off.

27 minutes ago, Denmal said:

Thanks for the response.   I should have been specific.  I am looking to go from the US to Barcelona in the spring.  I do agree the above cruise is great. We have actually done that itinerary  on Princess before.  

I saw the 2024 celebrity cruises going over stop in Bermuda that is interesting to me as I have never been there 

That’s what I’m interested in. A TA has always been on our bucket list and an April sailing would coincide with my 70th birthday