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

[DaKahuna]

 

On 4/25/2022 at 2:13 AM, Jim_Iain said:

Reflection has the best Bar in the fleet it's a large U Shaped bar that I'm guessing could sit 14 but usually no more than 6 at the bar.    We sit on the back side at the last 2 seats and often there is quite a bit of chatter from fellow passengers sitting at the bar.   Often someone will say .... are you Jim and Iain which of course is a good ice breaker.

 

 

 The back side of the bar where the drink coolers are is also my favorite seating location on non-revolutionized S-Class.  There is usually no one behind you and you have a nice place to sit and people watch and also talk with other guest at the bar as well as the bartender.  It is also convenient to just step back and grab a soda or other non-alcoholic beverage.

 

Absolutely beautiful pictures as always.

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

15 hours ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

Greetings from my private yacht, a/k/a the Celebrity Summit.  325 pax on this Miami-Cape Liberty repo sailing.  Luminae is 100%, rest of the ship is a ghost town.  They're only doing one show at 9:00 p.m.  Went to Bacio this morning to get a cup of coffee--was approached by two waiters wanting to help me.  No waiting at the bar.

 

Linda,   Enjoy it while you still can.   We really enjoyed our 5 cruises with less than normal passenger loads.   I'm sure fuller ships will be coming to the American ports as soon s the over supply of ships sail away for the summer ports. 

 

Our Summit cruise in August is looking to be close to fully booked at this time.   Room availability remain very low.

 

Having said that, the crew are really enjoying seeing the passengers return and the ships returning to the new normal.

[Jim_Iain]

Next stop on our tour was the Guggenheim Museum.   Truly amazing even if you aren't into Modern art.

 

 

 

The architecture is mind blowing and the interactive art on the main floor allow you to interpret art in a totally different way.

 

 

We started off by walking through Richard Serra's Sculpture.   Each person experiences it in their own way.  I find it impossible to describe the experience.

 

 
 

 

Edited April 27, 2022 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

Iain next disappears as a child looks on in dismay. 
 

 

[Jim_Iain]

The special display for the summer is shape and design of the car

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

The outdoor art was also amazing

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

Back inside 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

After about an hour I let Emma know it was time to move on.  She was great in modifying our tour to be whatever we wanted.  
 

With the tap of a button our magic carriage appeared and the doors slid open. Off to tour Bilbao.  It is one of the cleanest cities you will ever visit. 
 

 

[Jim_Iain]

7 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 The back side of the bar where the drink coolers are is also my favorite seating location on non-revolutionized S-Class.  There is usually no one behind you and you have a nice place to sit and people watch and also talk with other guest at the bar as well as the bartender.  It is also convenient to just step back and grab a soda or other non-alcoholic beverage.

 

Absolutely beautiful pictures as always.

 

 

Don't recall if it is the same on the other S-Class ships but during the revolution, they removed the self serve coolers.     The area we sit is at the last two seats on that side.   They have replaced it with seating.     I use to also like the convenience of grabbing a San Pellegrino on the go.

[Jim_Iain]

Oops... I thought I posted our real first stop on way to Castro was the Vizcaya Bridge which straddles the mouth of the Ibaizabal estuary, west of Bilbao. It was designed by the Basque architect Alberto de Palacio and completed in 1893.

 

I will honestly say I've never seen a bridge like it anywhere in the world.  
 

 

 

 

 

After a good explanation of the history and how the bridge operates, we jumped into our magic carriage to cross the river

 

Cost is about 2 Euros for a car and each passenger is charged .50 euros

Unfortunately we didn’t have the time to go to the top.  Iain would have declined anyway as he’s afraid of heights.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 27, 2022 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

Now with that minor edit of our day in Bilbao.   From the Guggenheim we took off on foot to explore Bilbao like a local. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 27, 2022 by Jim_Iain

[the penguins]

15 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

I wondering if different protocols on different shifts.   There has been a large outbreak on the ship and On the TA the casino was only open in the evenings even when at sea.   They didn't have enough staff to man the cashier cage.

 

I would believe that with the cases on board that aren't being talked about they are keeping staff away from each other.   In the past week we have lost or Stateroom Attendant, Our Butler and the Sommelier. 

 

 

Hi Jim,

You kindly confirmed Ms Perloff's email address and in answer to my message I had a phone call from Zoe (don't know if she is your contact in that office) yesterday evening who confirmed the following:

1) it is Celebrity's policy across the fleet that all guests who test positive for Covid will be isolated on Deck 3 as it's the nearest deck to the Medical Facilities.

2) Giving out numbers like less than 1% or more than 1% is pointless. They should be giving accurate figures in a consistent way across the whole fleet. She will contact the department concerned so it will be interesting to see if anything changes.

Enjoy the rest of your trip and by the way we have a Transporter Bridge in the north of England not guiet as spectacular a structure as the one in Bilbao but the same principle. Geoff.

 

[Jim_Iain]

We visited Azkuda Zentroa :  Alhondiga Bilboa

 

Which is a community formed of thousands of cultural agents and artists.  It houses a Cinema, Swimming pools on upper floor with glass windows and a public indoor plaza wher parents bring their children to play when it’s raining. 

 

 

 

Every column is a piece of art and not duplicated

 

 

 

 

Artist adaptation of a Cofessional

 

 

Of course at a cultural treasure you can not have a “common” light post. 
 

 

 

 

Edited April 27, 2022 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

Leaving the park 

 

 

Headquarters of Basque Health Department another architectural marvel 

 

 

Now of we go walking. 
 

 

Even the subway entrances are modern and real eye candy

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

We next walked dow the main high end shopping district 

 

 

it was a warm day 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 27, 2022 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

We next visited Old Town with a totally different feel.  Locals come to the plaza after work for a drink and Tapas. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 27, 2022 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

 Ow a little excitement that even surprised Emma.  Bilbao is normally calm but something went down. 
 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

We next walked toward the Central Market

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

Unfortunately the market is only open for in the morning but the food hall is open. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 27, 2022 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

At the curb our car was waiting. Emma bid us farewell and she was meeting friends for a much deserved glass of wine.  Our driver delivered us back to the ship which is about 30 miles away.

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

We had a late Tea in OceanView as Retreat was mobbed. 
 

As we departed there were many locals waving us farewell 

 

[Jim_Iain]

Finally caught up. 
 

We arrived La Richelle on time this morning.  We are Starboard so can’t see much from our room. 
 

They have a shuttle from the port to town.  Not sure if cost but you can either charge to room at front desk or curbside. 
 

 

[Jim_Iain]

Another out of sequence I Fort got to post this street entertainment in Bilbao

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

19 hours ago, h20cruzer said:

I have done 2 TP's on the Millie so didn't want to do a 3rd on the  Millie. My family and I just got back from a spring break cruise on the Koningsdam, San Diego to Vancouver BC with a 12 and 16 yo.

Also did the Equinox back in Oct 2021. Looking now at Alaska, if I go will have to do a BKB since 7 days is way to short. Will certainly fina aTA for the fall. Enjoying your pictures and review tremendously.

Norma

We have done the Alaska a number of times, but like you it is so nice not having to fly cross country to join a ship.  

 

We did the land tour to Denali a couple years ago.   It is remarkable and so nice to add at the beginning or end of a cruise. 

[peanut head]

Did you schedule the Tours by Locals on board or before the cruise began?