Jim_Iain Live Blog - Infinity B2B - Carribbean and East Bound TA

[Jim_Iain]

13 hours ago, Lindagop said:

Hello and greetings Jim and Ian , thank you for taking us along on another of your adventures. (Just read your daily post - my fix for the day as our weather here in Canada is still pretty grey and cold). Jim, together with a group of friends we are planning a cruise next year and are in the process of choosing cabins. A few of our group are mentioning that they would love to experience the most forward cabins on deck 7. Those overlooking the helipad on both port and starboard. One being 7003. If at all, the chance arises can you ask for photos of these if anyone is so kind. Would love to have this info, post redo. If not possible no problem . Thankyou and have a great rest of your cruise.

I'll see what I can do but did a quick YouTube search and there are a couple movies of 7003 that are only a couple years old

 

Here's a couple pictures

 

[Jim_Iain]

4 hours ago, Eloise4Ever said:

Celebrity did that on one of our Eastbound transatlantics a few years back. It was a wonderfully seamless way of losing an hour 👍.

So far the time zone changes have not been too bad.   We did take a couple naps which seemed to help.   We have one more time zone change to make.   I did learn something that I have never thought about.    Lisbon is one hour behind the remainder of the Continent (same as UK).    That means that we will be on the same time zone for the next 3 days.

[Jim_Iain]

4 hours ago, Aralim said:

 

I would be comatose after this menu, possibly dead. I’d have wanted the tomato salad, the seared prawns, the lobster, and the wild mushroom pot pie all in one sitting!! 😱

 

And maybe the pea risotto, depending on how the waiter described it.

 

Thank you for not showing the dessert menu! I’d be worried about becoming Mr. Creosote!

 

 

 

I will have to get some pictures of the Desert Menu.    There was a modified version of the "Sphere".   They now serve it in two halves and no burning brandy.    

 

I am a real Ice Cream addict so usually get both menus.     Luminae only has Vanilla, Strawberry and Chocolate while the main menu has about 6 selections.  

 

I've had the pea risotto before and it was really good.

[Jim_Iain]

What a perfect day.  The early morning fog has burned off an temps about 68.   We decided to bring along puffer jackets to be on safe side.  

 

We we arrived port on time at 09:00 and waiting for the ship to clear.   

 

Today we booked a private tour via Tours by Locals.  The car can hold 6 but decided to do it on our own.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[barneyboy]

Looks a lovely day in Funchal. We first visited in 2012 on a cruise and have since returned many times for land holidays. In January we stayed in an apartment overlooking the port and it was fun watching all the cruise ships arriving and departing. You can see our apartment in your final photo. 

[Lindagop]

Thank you for the info. Hope you enjoy Funchal. Weather looks beautiful. Greetings and Enjoy

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

14 hours ago, Eloise4Ever said:

Celebrity did that on one of our Eastbound transatlantics a few years back. It was a wonderfully seamless way of losing an hour 👍.

 

All of my Celebrity TAs have done the time change at night.  Late at night when everyone is supposedly sleeping.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

9 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

I will have to get some pictures of the Desert Menu.    There was a modified version of the "Sphere".   They now serve it in two halves and no burning brandy.    

 

I am a real Ice Cream addict so usually get both menus.     Luminae only has Vanilla, Strawberry and Chocolate while the main menu has about 6 selections.  

 

I've had the pea risotto before and it was really good.

 

Sorry to hear they've messed with the Sphere.  That was always fun to watch.

[Eloise4Ever]

5 hours ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

 

All of my Celebrity TAs have done the time change at night.  Late at night when everyone is supposedly sleeping.

 

Each to their own 😗😁

[arielle71]

I tought of you when I saw this, hopefully the link will work....

 

http://www.cruiseharbournews.com/infinitygall.html?fbclid=IwAR0nuAuG8XXzDhqbYAZ2swzjvu3hxtUCAjEVA0LPKmMVFkVuG1WI2ePX-O8

[Jim_Iain]

23 hours ago, barneyboy said:

Looks a lovely day in Funchal. We first visited in 2012 on a cruise and have since returned many times for land holidays. In January we stayed in an apartment overlooking the port and it was fun watching all the cruise ships arriving and departing. You can see our apartment in your final photo. 

We had a wonderful time in Madeira and saw so much more than I could imagine.  One of the most beautiful, clean and well maintained Islands we have ever visited. 

[Jim_Iain]

5 hours ago, arielle71 said:

I tought of you when I saw this, hopefully the link will work....

 

http://www.cruiseharbournews.com/infinitygall.html?fbclid=IwAR0nuAuG8XXzDhqbYAZ2swzjvu3hxtUCAjEVA0LPKmMVFkVuG1WI2ePX-O8

Thank you.  Enjoyed much.

[Jim_Iain]

16 hours ago, Lindagop said:

Thank you for the info. Hope you enjoy Funchal. Weather looks beautiful. Greetings and Enjoy

We could not have had better weather.    It was a beautiful day with mostly sunny skies.    When we go to East Coast there was still a thin marine layer but burnt away by noon and gave us nice 70-72 F temperatures.

[Jim_Iain]

We got up at 7:30 am and had breakfast in preparation for our 9:00 arrival in Funchal. We were met with with a beautiful sunny day and mild temperatures.  

 

The morning they they announced the substitution of Madeira for the Azores I jumped on Tours by Locals and booked a tour.  I booked a tour of the Island concentrating on the East Coast. Our guide was Valdemar who has lived almost all life on Madeira. 

 

Valdemar had had a well maintained 4 wheel drive vehicle that could hold up to 7 passengers. We had opted to take the tour by ourselves. The top of the Jeep opened up and Iain could stand up in the rear comportment for better views  I’ll see how much I can post,  internet was down yesterday and a bit choppy today  

 

 

. 

[upwarduk]

45 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

We had a wonderful time in Madeira and saw so much more than I could imagine.  One of the most beautiful, clean and well maintained Islands we have ever visited. 

Our favourite island, which we visit regularly, using our Timeshare exchange. We usually stay up the hill above the harbour, as seen in your 3rd photo in post 504. This means that we can overlook the harbour and watch the ships coming and going.

 

Edited May 1, 2019 by upwarduk

[Jim_Iain]

We had asked to visit places that tourists don't usually go and and Valdermar was excited to share his island with us.   We immediately departed  Funchal for one of the highest points on the Island, Boco dos Namorados.   We were rewarded with beautiful views an the incredible marine layer to the east.

 

We next went off road on old 16th century cobble stone trails which were part of the Camino Real (Kings Road).  We stopped along the ways to view the incredible wooded lands.   Valdermar was very knowledgable of both the wild life, vegetation and history of the island.  He would often stop and gather some samples of Bay Leaves to smell the aroma.   He also often picked fruits and berries for us to try.   I can't believe I actually ate them and survived with no ill effects. 

 

[Jim_Iain]

We got up at 7:30 am and had breakfast in preparation for our 9:00 arrival in Funchal. We were met with with a beautiful sunny day and mild temperatures.  

 

The morning they they announced the substitution of Madeira for the Azores I jumped on Tours by Locals and booked a tour.  I booked a tour of the Island concentrating on the East Coast. Our guide was Valdemar who has lived almost all life on Madeira. 

 

Valdemar had had a well maintained 4 wheel drive vehicle that could hold up to 7 passengers. We had opted to take the tour by ourselves. The top of the Jeep opened up and Iain could stand up in the rear comportment for better views  I’ll see how much I can post,  internet was down yesterday and a bit choppy today  

 

 

. 

[Jim_Iain]

YWe got up at 7:30 am and had breakfast in preparation for our 9:00 arrival in Funchal. We were met with with a beautiful sunny day and mild temperatures.  

 

The morning they they announced the substitution of Madeira for the Azores I jumped on Tours by Locals and booked a tour.  I booked a tour of the Island concentrating on the East Coast. Our guide was Valdemar who has lived almost all life on Madeira. 

 

Valdemar had had a well maintained 4 wheel drive vehicle that could hold up to 7 passengers. We had opted to take the tour by ourselves. The top of the Jeep opened up and Iain could stand up in the rear comportment for better views  I’ll see how much I can post,  internet was down yesterday and a bit choppy today  

 

 

. 

[Jim_Iain]

We were introduced to a native drink called Poncha which is a mixture Lemon Juice, Orange Juice, Honey and Rum.  

 

This is Pincha for tourists.  Our guide took us to a little roadside store who made it fresh for us. 

[Jim_Iain]

 

We next visited Agua D’Alto Waterfall and Ribeiro Frio for a 2 mile hike through the forest.   It amazed us that so much of the plant life is similar to that of Northern California.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

Some of the fruit we had along the tour

 

Anona

 

 

Tamarillo

 

Surinam Cherry -  really tasty with a slight heat to them

 

Banana Passion Fruit

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

We next visited some real thatched roof homes.   I loved the one with a matching mailbox.  

 

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

We next hiked along the cliffs near Puerto Santa Cruz. 

 

 

[cricketgirl]

Wow, your pictures are wonderful and this island is STUNNING.  This is making me seriously consider a cruise to this area.  Thanks so much for taking the time to share your adventure!

[hcat]

Thanks for treating us to your great photos and commentary;   happy you are having perfect weather!