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

[Julma]

1 minute ago, Jim_Iain said:

B2B

 

We had B2B meeting this morning.  They held 2 meetings to reduce numbers at each.   Good social distancing.  
 

We have our tests tomorrow early and are asked to remain in cabin unit hey call with results. 
 

 

 

 

 

Sending luck and healthy thoughts!

[Laurab23]

2 hours ago, lola2013 said:

May I add the Stone Barrington novels by Stuart Woods...#61 in the series was released recently with two more on the way.

I love that series.

 

Laura

[Jim_Iain]

Lunch 4/19/2022

 

 

We both had the Lobster Bisque for Lunch and I had a Tomato Salad as a main.   They oversized the appetizer.  

 

 

For Desert Iain had the White Chocolate Macadamia Cake and I had what I thought sounded terrible Olive Oil Cremux, but it was really very light and delicious (no taste of Olive Oil at all)

 

 

 

Edited April 19, 2022 by Jim_Iain

[TFree]

@Jim_Iain: at the B2B meeting, was anything said about whether those with a recent PCR positive + a Certificate of Recovery will be excused from the B2B testing?  It looks like I will have a Cert of Recovery prior to our first cruise, and both B2B cruises will be >11 and <90 days from the positive PCR result.

 

Tom & Judy

[Jim_Iain]

[lola2013]

2 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

WOW!!!

[Jim_Iain]

13 minutes ago, TFree said:

@Jim_Iain: at the B2B meeting, was anything said about whether those with a recent PCR positive + a Certificate of Recovery will be excused from the B2B testing?  It looks like I will have a Cert of Recovery prior to our first cruise, and both B2B cruises will be >11 and <90 days from the positive PCR result.

 

Tom & Judy

They said that they do not accept Certificates of Recovery for B2B. You have to be able to answer the question on have you had or been in contact with a positive case in past 14 days. 
 

I am not an authority on this and would recommend calling Celebrity as I would hate to give bad advise.  

 

 

[tinaincc]

33 minutes ago, TFree said:

@Jim_Iain: at the B2B meeting, was anything said about whether those with a recent PCR positive + a Certificate of Recovery will be excused from the B2B testing?  It looks like I will have a Cert of Recovery prior to our first cruise, and both B2B cruises will be >11 and <90 days from the positive PCR result.

 

Tom & Judy

Great question. 

[Jim_Iain]

 A new trick I learned hear on Cruise Critic is that you can withdraw your Refundable OBC in cash from the front desk.  We decided to use it for gratuities in cash instead of filling out the tipping form. 

 

Was really easy.   Just went down and said I wanted to withdraw it and they handed me the cash.  

[Jim_Iain]

B2B Day -   

 

Since there are so many B2B's they put on 2 tours for b2b's only.    They should be a rather safe tour as 100% of guests will have been tested the day before the tours. 

 

We are taking a tour to Windsor Castle - 

 

The other tour offered is to visit the Titanic Sea City  Museum in Southampton.

[micruiser2002]

4 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 A new trick I learned hear on Cruise Critic is that you can withdraw your Refundable OBC in cash from the front desk.  We decided to use it for gratuities in cash instead of filling out the tipping form. 

 

Was really easy.   Just went down and said I wanted to withdraw it and they handed me the cash.  

On most (not all) Celebrity ships you can also get any OBC out on a Slot machine in the casino.  You have to insert your room card into a machine, select the charge to room option (cashier has all the instructions) then once you do that just cash out the ticket.

[TFree]

19 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

They said that they do not accept Certificates of Recovery for B2B. You have to be able to answer the question on have you had or been in contact with a positive case in past 14 days. 
 

I am not an authority on this and would recommend calling Celebrity as I would hate to give bad advise.  

 

 

That is odd.  I don't know why the test before the 2d cruise would be treated differently than any other cruise, where a Cert of Recovery is accepted.  I think I will call to try to get clarification on this.  I see from the letter you posted that the tests were to be antigen tests.  Good thing, because a B2Ber like me with a recent infection and a Cert of Recovery would probably not pass a PCR test.

 

Tom & Judy

[Jazzbo]

I finally caught up! I love your live reviews and photos. You both look like you are having a wonderful time.

 

We have a westbound TA from Barcelona on the Reflection in October that stops in the Azores and Bermuda. I hope the seas aren’t as high as yours have been, but that’s why they make Bonine, I guess.

 

Enjoy the next two of your B3B!

 

Vivien

[niddwalker2]

My wife and I are due to come on board your ship on Thursday and as I was looking up to see what other ships are in port. The Celebrity Beyond is shown as arriving at 4am.  Good photo opportunity if you don't mind getting up extra extra early..  Will possibly see you on the ship next week.

 

[Jim_Iain]

Just now, Jazzbo said:

I finally caught up! I love your live reviews and photos. You both look like you are having a wonderful time.

 

We have a westbound TA from Barcelona on the Reflection in October that stops in the Azores and Bermuda. I hope the seas aren’t as high as yours have been, but that’s why they make Bonine, I guess.

 

Enjoy the next two of your B3B!

 

Vivien

 

 

 

 

 

We have mostly done Westerly TA's in October and November.   The timezones are much easier to deal with and the Seas and Winds have generally been MUCH calmer.

[Jim_Iain]

Just now, micruiser2002 said:

On most (not all) Celebrity ships you can also get any OBC out on a Slot machine in the casino.  You have to insert your room card into a machine, select the charge to room option (cashier has all the instructions) then once you do that just cash out the ticket.

Shhhhhh.  . . at least until the end of our Norway cruise. 

[Jim_Iain]

Just now, TFree said:

That is odd.  I don't know why the test before the 2d cruise would be treated differently than any other cruise, where a Cert of Recovery is accepted.  I think I will call to try to get clarification on this.  I see from the letter you posted that the tests were to be antigen tests.  Good thing, because a B2Ber like me with a recent infection and a Cert of Recovery would probably not pass a PCR test.

 

Tom & Judy

 

I was doing a little reading on it and I think it depends it may be dependent  on whether the countries being visited accept certificates of Recovery.     Also I found by the questions that were asked that this being the first TA and the First European out of Southampton there are conflicting interpretations.  That's why I don't every pretend I'm an expert because I truly am not. 

 

We were told we need to be tested the day prior to departure since we have a stop in Spain while others joining the cruise swear 2 day testing is acceptable to board.   Oh well 1 day testing will cover us either way.  

[daydreamer16]

38 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

B2B Day -   

 

Since there are so many B2B's they put on 2 tours for b2b's only.    They should be a rather safe tour as 100% of guests will have been tested the day before the tours. 

 

We are taking a tour to Windsor Castle - 

 

The other tour offered is to visit the Titanic Sea City  Museum in Southampton.

We went to the Titanic Museum in Southampton back in the fall of 2019. We liked it better than the new Titanic Museum in Belfast, it was cheaper to visit too!

[Turtles06]

57 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

The other tour offered is to visit the Titanic Sea City  Museum in Southampton.

 

16 minutes ago, daydreamer16 said:

We went to the Titanic Museum in Southampton back in the fall of 2019. We liked it better than the new Titanic Museum in Belfast, it was cheaper to visit too!

 

We too have visited the Sea City Museum in Southampton.  Their Titanic exhibit is excellent.  Many of the Titanic crew lived in Southampton, and so the city was deeply affected by the tragedy.

[Redrobo]

1 hour ago, TFree said:

That is odd.  I don't know why the test before the 2d cruise would be treated differently than any other cruise, where a Cert of Recovery is accepted.  I think I will call to try to get clarification on this.  I see from the letter you posted that the tests were to be antigen tests.  Good thing, because a B2Ber like me with a recent infection and a Cert of Recovery would probably not pass a PCR test.

 

Tom & Judy

Just done a  Copy and Paste from the Celebrity web site. 

Certificate of Recovery

A Certificate of Recovery and a positive PCR test taken between 11-90 days prior to our sail date can be provided in place of a negative pre-cruise test to sail with us. Please note: we will not accept a Certificate of Recovery in the place of a vaccination record. Some ports of call do not accept Certificates of Recovery for the purposes of debarking and enjoying the destination.

[Jim_Iain]

Disembarkation Video 

 

it was her first one and took 8 retakes in Retreat

 

[PTC DAWG]

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

B2B Day -   

 

Since there are so many B2B's they put on 2 tours for b2b's only.    They should be a rather safe tour as 100% of guests will have been tested the day before the tours. 

 

We are taking a tour to Windsor Castle - 

 

The other tour offered is to visit the Titanic Sea City  Museum in Southampton.

Very nice, I have enjoyed reading along re your trip..continued safe travels. 

[Jim_Iain]

1 hour ago, niddwalker2 said:

My wife and I are due to come on board your ship on Thursday and as I was looking up to see what other ships are in port. The Celebrity Beyond is shown as arriving at 4am.  Good photo opportunity if you don't mind getting up extra extra early..  Will possibly see you on the ship next week.

 

We will see what happens.   Immigration is taking place on board.   We leave on an excursion at 8:00

 

24 minutes ago, Redrobo said:

Just done a  Copy and Paste from the Celebrity web site. 

Certificate of Recovery

A Certificate of Recovery and a positive PCR test taken between 11-90 days prior to our sail date can be provided in place of a negative pre-cruise test to sail with us. Please note: we will not accept a Certificate of Recovery in the place of a vaccination record. Some ports of call do not accept Certificates of Recovery for the purposes of debarking and enjoying the destination.

You guys are great and poster will enjoy the research.  

[upwarduk]

1 hour ago, niddwalker2 said:

The Celebrity Beyond is shown as arriving at 4am.  Good photo opportunity if you don't mind getting up extra extra early..

An historical day!😉

[Purplsmurf]

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

I was doing a little reading on it and I think it depends it may be dependent  on whether the countries being visited accept certificates of Recovery.     Also I found by the questions that were asked that this being the first TA and the First European out of Southampton there are conflicting interpretations.  That's why I don't every pretend I'm an expert because I truly am not. 

 

We were told we need to be tested the day prior to departure since we have a stop in Spain while others joining the cruise swear 2 day testing is acceptable to board.   Oh well 1 day testing will cover us either way.  

Sailing from Spain now requires testing 2 days before instead of 1. It just recently changed. Maybe that is why? Who knows. Nothing makes sense anymore 😂