Jim_Iain – Silhouette Live Post April 8, 21, 30 - B3B - TransAtlantic, Portugal Spain, France and the Norwegian Fjords

[Jim_Iain]

6 hours ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said:

BTW, thanks to comments about books earlier, I have read one Lucas Davenport Prey book and enjoyed it, and am now reading a Virgil Flowers book, which I am really enjoying.  I like the main character a lot.  
 

I get “twitchy” as I come to the end of a great series if I don’t have something else lined up.  

 

Thanks.  Just stuck it on the list.   Not sure if you ever came across this website, but you can search by Author or Series and it shows the Series in Order.

 

Now that you mentioned it.    I read Lincoln Rhyme in collaboration with Jeffery Deaver for the Deaver Rhymes Series.     Deavers is another author I've always enjoyed.

[Jim_Iain]

5 hours ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said:

Jim, I think your pin is automatically your birth month and then day.  Mine is April 8, so 0408.

 

Joanie

Ahhhh... Now you rang a bell.    I think I remember that from trying to logon to do a $5 free play.    Will give it a try.  

[Jim_Iain]

5 hours ago, lola2013 said:

I had to ask for help to set that up!  Easy peasy when I got help from one of the staff that wanders around the casino.  

 

I was there at an odd time and the Cashier Desk was closed and no one wondering around.    I will try tonight.

[Jim_Iain]

5 hours ago, Schmoe38 said:

Nice picture of Anthony on the Retreat Sundeck.

 

He is a wonderful bartender who is also a great conversationalist. It takes an instant for him to get your drink(s) of choice committed to memory.

 

We had a blast with him.

 

Hope the maintenance doesn’t take long.

 

Randy

Now you have me scratching my head.   I'm terrible with names but thought the Retreat Bartender was also Anthony.    Could they have two Anthony's.     Iain will know before because he is quick with names.

 

Rafael from the Retreat left another message last night.    He has a very strong Spanish accent and is difficult to understand.    He said the maintenance will only be between 7:30 AM and 9:30 for a couple days until the complete the maintenance.

 

Instead of a Retreat Sailaway on the Helipad they are doing a sailaway from the Retreat Sundeck and the Captain and Senior staff will be there.    Hey... Whose driving the ship?

[mfs2k]

7 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

nstead of a Retreat Sailaway on the Helipad they are doing a sailaway from the Retreat Sundeck and the Captain and Senior staff will be there.

Is the sun deck open again after being closed for maintenance ?

[Jim_Iain]

12 hours ago, AlbertaCruisers said:

Hi Jim,

 

Great pictures and great thread, as usual!

 

I’m hoping you can answer a weird question for me. For the health questionnaire, do you remember, are the questions for whether you have tested positive or been a close contact both 10 days now or is the close contact one still 14 days?  Thanks for any help. 

Just happen to have taken screen shot.
 

 Must have missed the bottom half.   I think may still be 14.   Will try to find out

 

[Jim_Iain]

5 hours ago, MamaFej said:

To me, Iain's smile says. "I'm getting away with something" and Jim's says, "I'm onto you."

 

I love the picture!

 

Now that is closer to him.      He does have an expressive face.   

[Jim_Iain]

Just now, Gaynors said:

watching you dock in Bermuda.... a little breezy and cool..

Last night at the Bar, Anthony asked us what we were doing in Bermuda tomorrow.   I said What?   We are'nt there until Wednesday.   He of course said nope tomorrow.   Somehow we got mixed up with the Bermuda TA and stuff and when looking at the App it said Day 4 Bermuda -  I hadn't counted Boarding day as day 1.    

 

We all LOAL.    He said I can imagine you waking up tomorrow and looking out the window. 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

Bermuda this morning and the ship was cleared at 9:00.   It is a little nippy at about 68 degree with a high of 72 predicted. 
 

 

 

 

Edited April 11, 2022 by Jim_Iain

[Schmoe38]

31 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Now you have me scratching my head.   I'm terrible with names but thought the Retreat Bartender was also Anthony.    Could they have two Anthony's.     Iain will know before because he is quick with names.

 

Rafael from the Retreat left another message last night.    He has a very strong Spanish accent and is difficult to understand.    He said the maintenance will only be between 7:30 AM and 9:30 for a couple days until the complete the maintenance.

 

Instead of a Retreat Sailaway on the Helipad they are doing a sailaway from the Retreat Sundeck and the Captain and Senior staff will be there.    Hey... Whose driving the ship?

Jim

 

There are 2 Anthonys, one in the Retreat Lounge (late afternoon and evening hours) and one on the Retreat Sundeck. 
 

You probably have the same two Retreat Concierges as we had, Javier and Edrilyn). Javier is from Spain.

 

Hopefully Mercy is still in the Retreat Lounge (morning hours). The rest of the day, she is a sommelier in the Main Dining Room. She also has previous cruise ship cooking experience. She is a joy.

 

Randy

[Jim_Iain]

Just now, Schmoe38 said:

Jim

 

There are 2 Anthonys, one in the Retreat Lounge (late afternoon and evening hours) and one on the Retreat Sundeck. 
 

You probably have the same two Retreat Concierges as we had, Javier and Edrilyn). Javier is from Spain.

 

Hopefully Mercy is still in the Retreat Lounge (morning hours). The rest of the day, she is a sommelier in the Main Dining Room. She also has previous cruise ship cooking experience. She is a joy.

 

Randy

Yes to all of the above except we haven't been down to the lounge in the morning to meet Mercy.

 

I asked last night about John Flynn.    They said he is back on the ship after having to go home for the last cruise on a personal family emergency.    Anthony said he heard he was back but hadn't seen him yet.   He said that in the past the Senior Officers would come though the Retreat often but due to the new strains they are being very cautious. 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

Lunch Yesterday -

 

 

 

I had the Butternut Squash Ravioli and Iain had the Cobb Salad (he had entre envy yesterday.    Pana cotta and poached pear as a sweet. 
 

 

 

Edited April 11, 2022 by Jim_Iain

[JeanieC,Aston]

18 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Bermuda this morning and the ship was cleared at 9:00.   It is a little nippy at about 68 degree with a high of 72 predicted. 
 

 

 

 

Hi Jim

Thats positively balmy here,,,,it’s 14c (58f) in Liverpool today,,,lovely and sunny.

54c in Southampton.

Edited April 11, 2022 by JeanieC,Aston

[Jim_Iain]

Dinner 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pea Crab and Caviar

 

Trout from MDR menu

Loin of Veal MDR

Hazelnut Cake --- Sure looks like it doesn't it

 

 

We have had no trouble social distancing.    It was really quiet last night. 

Edited April 11, 2022 by Jim_Iain

[Schmoe38]

2 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Jim

 

Braised short ribs will show up on the Luminae menu again later, as an entree, and they are absolutely tremendous. I belong to the “clean plate club” and for the first time that I can remember, I couldn’t finish.

 

Randy

[Jim_Iain]

Competing invites for sailaway 

 

 

Edited April 11, 2022 by Jim_Iain

[CruiseNYC]

Wait - did I miss it?  What are your plans for Bermuda?

 

Jim - I had another, maybe odd question:  we're thinking of doing a Northern Lights cruise.  Your Norway segment will take you pretty far north.  Do you know if it gets dark enough this time of year to be able to see the lights?

 

Thanks!

[Travelexpert35]

39 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Bermuda this morning and the ship was cleared at 9:00.   It is a little nippy at about 68 degree with a high of 72 predicted. 
 

 

 

 

Gorgeous picture. You should frame that one.

 

[capsplace]

17 hours ago, louise1809 said:

That’s lovely! Yes, we will hopefully be on May 2nd sailing on Reflection. 
This trip report is just making me even more excited! Such great photos. 

We’re on May 2 Reflection sailing too. 

[Jim_Iain]

Just now, JeanieC,Aston said:

Hi Jim

Thats positively balmy here,,,,it’s 14c (58f) in Liverpool today,,,lovely and sunny.

54c in Southampton.

Just like at home.   I installed our Roku and watching our home home news on YouTubeTV.   It is  52 there this morning  (but 4:00 AM there) and a chance of .10 of an inch of rain (we will take anything we can get).  

 

People who visit San Francisco Bay area are often surprised on how mild our temperatures are. 

[Jim_Iain]

Just now, Travelexpert35 said:

Gorgeous picture. You should frame that one.

 

I love sun raises and sunsets at sea.    In northern California we rarely get beautiful sunsets or sunrises because of no cloud layers during the summer.

 

It's mostly cloudy here this morning and we are on Starboard facing east.   I liked the way the rays were peaking through the sun breaks.  (now that's a Seattle word). 

[Jim_Iain]

Just now, CruiseNYC said:

Wait - did I miss it?  What are your plans for Bermuda?

 

Jim - I had another, maybe odd question:  we're thinking of doing a Northern Lights cruise.  Your Norway segment will take you pretty far north.  Do you know if it gets dark enough this time of year to be able to see the lights?

 

Thanks!

I would think so.  This will be my first trip to Norway this time of year.    It is showing that Sunset will be 8:25 Pm tonight.  

 

We were on an Alaska Cruise and the Captain actually come on the PA in the Rooms at about 10:00 PM (almost unheard of )  announcing there was a great Northern Light Display.    Luckily it was visible from our Balcony.    Absolutely incredible. 

[Jim_Iain]

I always give a quick tutorial on the TV's and HDMI.   I brought 2 Roku sticks with us (one for each TV).   Getting them inserted is a bit of a pain as the TV's aren't on articulated hangers and you the HDMI ports are locate about 10 inches from the edge.   Hardly enough room to get your hand in.

 

 

 

 

One installed -   From the Samsung Remote in your room  -  Press in this sequence

 

CC

Enter

Support

Sources

Select HDMI (must be plugged in to show)

 

The quality is OK   but at busy time can be watchable but not High Definition

 

 

Edited April 11, 2022 by Jim_Iain

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

13 hours ago, CHEZMARYLOU said:

I wish they would go back to the robes.  So far, we've given 3 sets away and have one waiting to find a home. 

I mentioned that to the shoreside concierge when she called me.  I have no use for PJs, but I really wanted one of those robes.  My previous gigs in suites were pre-robe and the ones where I would have got a robe were killed by covid.  Just not destined to have one of those robes I guess.

[GeorgiaPeach51]

What a stunning photo!  I would enlarge and frame that one for sure.  👍🏻👍🏻