Jim_Iain - 9/5 and 9/17 Equinox B2B - Come along for a Live Blog

[Stem to Stern]

4 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

I can't even play chopsticks but Iain studied percussion and use to play with the BBC Orchestra.   He delighted me with a special tune I posted earlier this morning.  

 

The piano is also equipped with diskettes that play for you if you choose.    I much prefer Iain's playing  as the tune he played was very meaningful to me. 

Another of many joyful moments you are treasuring on this journey I am sure.

[funatseascott]

5 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

I can't even play chopsticks but Iain studied percussion and use to play with the BBC Orchestra.   He delighted me with a special tune I posted earlier this morning.  

 

The piano is also equipped with diskettes that play for you if you choose.    I much prefer Iain's playing  as the tune he played was very meaningful to me. 

It was great hearing the piano being played with something so meaningful.

[Jim_Iain]

12 hours ago, Catlover54 said:

Why 4:45, if I may ask?  mailman or surgeon?

 

Iain use to work in San Francisco and we live about 45 miles away.    He also like to get up at least an hour before leaving for  work when staying at the place we had in SF.    Also they had a 4-4-5 program and could work 9 hours a day and get every other Monday off. 

[Jim_Iain]

15 hours ago, brickellcruiser said:

We will be in that same exact PH (1611) when we embark on September 26. Take good care of it for us 😁

You will love it.    It does take awhile to figure out how to turn off all the lights at night.   Glenn is a really good butler and always strives to fulfill all requests.

[Jim_Iain]

14 hours ago, runningtide said:

Hi Jim

A few weeks ago, for a variety of reasons which I outlined to you on an earlier chat, Linda and I decided to cancel this ABC cruise. On advice of my trusted TA, we didn’t officially cancel until last Friday. Regardless of the justifiable reasons for us to stay shore bound, I was still bummed out today. But THANKS Celebrity for twisting the knife….., on my Celebrity iPhone app, as you can see below, I kept getting hourly reminders for the safety briefings. I kept looking at the iphone , feeling like yelling……I CANCELLED THE TRIP………..IM NOT EVEN IN FLORIDA ………..HAVE SOME COMPASSION   !!!!!!

In all fairness my TA said it takes a while for a trip cancellation to work it’s way thru the system . In fact, I had her check twice earlier this week to be sure the trip was cancelled in Celebrities data base…, and it was. Sure made for some funny remarks between Linda and I today. 
Anyway…..  have a great second leg and I’ll be following along.  Thanks 

 

Know the feeling.     I kept getting luggage tags for cruises that were cancelled by Celebrity.

 

Crazy thing is we all got those reminders to fill out the health questionnaire but id didn't come live  until about 9:00 on turn around day.    Then the agent went around and asked the exact same questions verbally and filled it in on her pad even though we all filled it out in the app.   We all thought  -  Why did we even bother. 

[funatseascott]

5 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

It is rally interesting to see the dynamics of each cruise.    This 9 day cruise seems to have attract a younger and louder passenger load.    We heard that we sailed at less than 1,000.     Prior to sailing there were 100 cancellations and about 40 no shows.   I don't know the exact number but I believe the 100 cancellations brought us down to 1,000 and the now shows to 960.

 

I have seen one child on board and they were dining in Luminae last night.

I would go as far as saying “baby” as not old enough to walk, but soooo cute.

 

We also agree this group makes the ship seem louder and more crowded with less people.  Luminae had a waiting list to be seated at 7:15 as large groups were in there.  We will see if the people eat earlier tonight or we look elsewhere.  If this was the 1st leg when we didn’t want to get contact traced, we wouldn’t have eaten in Luminae.  We like the staff but we hardly choose the items from Luminae’s menu for dinner.

[Jim_Iain]

51 minutes ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said:

Wow!  The penthouse is magnificent!  Loved the video of Iain playing the piano and your comment.  😍

 

It says something on the aggravation scale that one thing that jumped out at me is not the size of your closets, not the decor of your closets, not the space in your closets, but that there is no totally aggravating bar across the middle guaranteed to wrinkle every shirt, pants, skirt or blouse that it encounters, and which is only suitable for hanging the clothes of small children.

 

Rant over.

 

Joanie

Joanie

 

You will be happy to learn that in the PH closets (not sure of the other  rooms) the bar flips up.  

 

 

Edited September 18, 2021 by Jim_Iain

[larry_s_taco]

I just found the answer to my question....never mind 🙂

Edited September 18, 2021 by larry_s_taco
Delete

[TommyD3]

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

Interesting even though off the MDR menu it was a bigger, better cut of meat than was served in the MDR the first half of August. I guess they actually have different standing rib roasts for Luminae and the MDR !!!

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, WNcruiser said:

That is a really a disappointing menu for sure. It’s a shame you have to keep ordering off the MDR menu and children’s menu to find something you like while in a suite restaurant. We will be on Apex for 14 days and won’t have that option. I am seriously considering moving from retreat to Aqua as their menus look much more appealing on most nights. 
 

Thanks for posting the menus, it may save me some $$! 

 

We can always find something to delight us.   The food in MD has been incredible and even in Blu when you do a B2B you get tired of the same menus.    It is nice to mix and match to keep things lively.    Since we also get free specialty dining we mix that in also.  

 

I'm definitely not disappointed in the Prime Rib. 

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

 

@Jim_Iain

 

I suppose Jim (not being a Romanian like me 😉) misspelled M I R C E A 's name.

 

It should sound like the Russian space station MIR and CEA like cha-cha-cha 😁

 

Thanks for the proper spelling. 

[graphicguy]

Jim….what a treat to have Lain serenade you.  That is special.

 

Thanks for the cabin tour…simply stunning.  Not sure “cabin” is the right descriptor for it, though.

[TommyD3]

Here is the prime rib in Fine Cut Steak House onboard Edge in July ($55 up charge):

 

[micheleata]

The PH is incredible,  and I loved hearing Iian play. Thanks for sharing! 

 

The Equinox is my favorite ship, and we have done the ABC's twice on her.   

 

Also, the bars in the closets in a regular room also flip up.

 

Enjoy Aruba,  we love it there.   The beaches are great,  and I know you do not gamble, but there is a casino within a 5 minute walk from the ship that we like.

 

 

 

[h20cruzer]

3 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

@h20cruzerNorma

I also asked last night and was told same price as booking in advance.    These were posted in daily for today. 

Thanks so much. Still no rain, now gives some percentages for tonight. Certainly not holding my breath for any rain

[durangokid]

59 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Jim….what a treat to have Lain serenade you.  That is special.

 

Thanks for the cabin tour…simply stunning.  Not sure “cabin” is the right descriptor for it, though.

I looked it up - the PH is almost as big as my little 1550 sf house!  I would not know what to do in a "cabin" like that!  Probably never leave it except for meals!!  Thanks Jim for the tour. 

 

Edited September 18, 2021 by durangokid

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, micheleata said:

The PH is incredible,  and I loved hearing Iian play. Thanks for sharing! 

 

The Equinox is my favorite ship, and we have done the ABC's twice on her.   

 

Also, the bars in the closets in a regular room also flip up.

 

Enjoy Aruba,  we love it there.   The beaches are great,  and I know you do not gamble, but there is a casino within a 5 minute walk from the ship that we like.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for answering that question.   Iain had thought he remembered them folding up in the RS and CS.   

 

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, h20cruzer said:

Thanks so much. Still no rain, now gives some percentages for tonight. Certainly not holding my breath for any rain

I can see your temperatures are pretty nice.   We live by the Bay and get nice cool breezes in the evening and usually never use AC

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, durangokid said:

I looked it up - the PH is almost as big as my little 1550 sf house!  I would not know what to do in a "cabin" like that!  Probably never leave it except for meals!!  Thanks Jim for the tour. 

 

 

Iain wasn't initially excited about it until we moved in.    Now he doesn't want to leave.  

[George C]

1 hour ago, TommyD3 said:

Here is the prime rib in Fine Cut Steak House onboard Edge in July ($55 up charge):

 

Agree prime rib was excellent, also was free if you are in royal suite or above , we did up sell to penthouse 😁.

[DaKahuna]

3 hours ago, WNcruiser said:

That is a really a disappointing menu for sure. It’s a shame you have to keep ordering off the MDR menu and children’s menu to find something you like while in a suite restaurant. We will be on Apex for 14 days and won’t have that option. I am seriously considering moving from retreat to Aqua as their menus look much more appealing on most nights. 
 

Thanks for posting the menus, it may save me some $$! 

In the Retreat Lounge on Edge we were able to get the menu's for the Luminae as well as the main dining room for that day from the Retreat Concierge.  If we saw something in one of the other dining rooms, including Blu, we would simple ask the Retreat Concierge to see about making a reservation for us at the other restaurant.   Another alternative we used only once on our 7-day cruise was to eat at a specialty restaurant.   

 

[DaKahuna]

Jim, I cannot remember if you and Iian are sushi fans or not but since you have Curacao on your itinerary I thought I would let you know about our favorite restaurant on that island.  It's name is Ema-Tei Japanese Restaurant and it's located in the shopping area just past the Renaissance Wind Creek Resort there near where the ship docks. 

 

Since it opens at lunch time, usually try and get our shopping and everything out of the way and stop for food on the way back to the ship.  Was surprised the last time we were there to see a number of crew from the ship dining there as well.  

 

https://www.takeoutcuracao.com/vermelding/ema-tei-japanese-restaurant/

 

Edited September 18, 2021 by DaKahuna

[Mike981]

13 hours ago, Catlover54 said:

Why 4:45, if I may ask?  mailman or surgeon?

 

Or radio announcer. I woke up at 4am for a couple of decades.

[ellencmp]

On 9/4/2021 at 10:56 AM, Jim_Iain said:

Amazing the differences in prices of those little plastic holder.    I guess I was being cheap and ordered a 2 pak since I had plenty of time.    I think it took 5 days to arrive. 

This makes me giggle! I am a meeting planner and these are name badge holders. I pay 23 cents a piece for them!

 

Someone is making a killing!

[brickellcruiser]

4 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

You will love it.    It does take awhile to figure out how to turn off all the lights at night.   Glenn is a really good butler and always strives to fulfill all requests.

Great to hear! It is just 2 of us as well. Will be a great place to hold a cocktail party with our friends.