Live on board Silhouette for a quick cruise to the Norwegian Fjords

[Jim_Iain]

14 hours ago, groryjm said:

Pizza eaten, Bags packed. Coffee and a Calvados then bed for tomorrow we sail. Alarms for 8.30 then a short drive to the port……

 

 

 

What you didn't pack your Liquor Cabinet.    LOL   Quite a collection.

[parrothead33]

Thank you for picking up the baton from Jim and letting us follow your adventure.  Looking forward to your insight and recipes.  Stay safe.

[bama4cruisin]

Thank you for taking us along . . . I always enjoy @Jim_Iain’s live threads, and it already looks like this will be a new treat.

[Benthayer Gonbak]

Looking forward to learning more! 

[raudacruise]

6 hours ago, groryjm said:

I used to play at making a few cocktails in the 80's but hadn't much again until after a cruise a few years ago when I tried to recreate a drink from the Molecular Bar.

 

The secret is to be repeatable. In the Martini Bar they put on a great show and free pour. This takes a lot of practice and for some recipies it is very difficult to be accurate and thus consistent. In the World Class Bar they jigger which is far easier to produce an identical drink time after time. If you keep notes, mental or otherwise, of any tweaks or changes you make then good drinks that are repeatable are not outside the realm of possibility for the home bartender... Oh and a good source book helps too😎

 

Sorry to go off but mixology is a passion for me.  🍸🍹🍷🥂

DH did his best to replicate my favorite “Coming Up Roses” from the Molecular Bar. He actually got pretty close. (Couldn’t find every single ingredient.) Still have the bottle of Bacardi Razz. I miss the Molecular Bar but I do enjoy the World Class Bar.

[MDTrip]

6 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

 

Jim - did you get any indication of how many positive cases there were on the ship?

[mrsgoggins]

Even as someone with no interest in alcohol, I have enjoyed your posts in the past and am looking forward to following along. We did meet briefly some years ago at a Meet and Mingle event, but I’ve no idea which cruise it was! 
 

We’ll be on board in July doing the Fjords ……. probably - it depends on if Celebrity keeps using deck 3 to ‘imprison’ those who test positive. Good luck avoiding that fate, being only 7 days helps with that however 🤞

[nunuc2000]

Count me among the many fans of Jim's who were so shocked to hear about his positive test result - I'd been enjoying his "live from" so much, and I'm glad to see you have stepped up to continue the adventures.  If you're reading this, Jim... best wishes to you and Iain for excellent health and a great rest of your vacation, especially your visit to Scotland! 

 

My DH and I very much enjoy a cocktail or two during happy hour, and love your bar set up at home - can we just book an extended stay at your place prior to our cruise next year that departs from Southampton? 😉 

 

Hope you have smooth sailing and stay healthy throughout your voyage. 🙂 

 

Celine

[groryjm]

Quickest door to room to suite ever I think today

 

Loading bags into my Gastrognome's car at 9.45 ( not mine 🙁 which is apparently too big, too slow and too glowing the dark 🤔) 

 

 

At port by 11.15 the was a lady we had met before on the dock with a clip board and photos of all the upper suite guests. 

 

 

My Gastrognome parked up and we set off into the terminal under escorts at 11.30. Zipped through checking... Past all the lines and we're escorted through checking and straight to our suite. Thank you Filipe for the escort. 

 

 

 

 

Arrived in our suite at 11.45

 

 

And having a Campari soda and a prosecco in Michael's before midday

 

 

 

[groryjm]

I have lots to post but will post this evening when the internet is better and all are tucked up. In the mean time just to say Nelson is climbing up the buttler stakes 😎 ...... just a quick drink  while we dress

 

 

.... And Nelson has just brought us some crisps ( plain and salty to my taste) along with out bedtime snacks

 

[cinderellen]

9 hours ago, raudacruise said:

DH did his best to replicate my favorite “Coming Up Roses” from the Molecular Bar. He actually got pretty close. (Couldn’t find every single ingredient.) Still have the bottle of Bacardi Razz. I miss the Molecular Bar but I do enjoy the World Class Bar.

We loved the Molecular Bar! 

[groryjm]

the boarding experience was some what sureal. we were sent of down a coridor that appeared to be empty but opose to the crowded coridor on our left . I must confess that I felt we'd been sent the wrong way but followed the empty snake to the end and found a lovely lady at the end who imediately usshered us to the empty seemingly closed off security check. we were through in minutes and gin a seat to sit. in no more than 5 minutes we were wisked of onto the ship. 

 

the left hand side was very busy but our side was almost emty. within ten minuets were in our room. i have posted here and elsewhere that then wen to Michaels but joking aside it actually was

 

 

quite a blast from the past.

having dumped our carry ons and had a wee tipple at the retreat we headed for Sushi for lunch

 

 

 

 

 

Cocktails and sushi for lunch is a little OTT but this is a holiday so why not.

 

on returning to our room thbe luggage was waiting

 

 

Not long and we were unpacked....

 

 

 

I say we but that is just me ... My gastrognomes wardrobe is less public.

 

once unpacked we headed to the Retrerat sujn deck for sail away

 

 

[groryjm]

some what suicidal yachts dogged our path ... That horn is LLLLLoud

 

 

 

Some what unhappy harbour patrol

 

 

[groryjm]

I managed to pack one of my jackets rather badly and the amazing Nelson whipped it away

 

  

[groryjm]

The only slight glitch in an other wise perfect first dahy came about when we returned from a wee drinkie at WCB

 

 

A Paper Plane and a Celebrityn No10

 

followed by an excelent supper at Tuscan Grill, You cant beat that wake view

 

 

Antipasti for two 

 

 

though somehow I ended up with both tuna and the Snapper for main... Both very bgood though

 

 

and tirumiso to follow

 

 

After a last tipple at the retreat lounge 

 

 

we returned to the room an there was NO BREAKFAST HANGER.... first world problem I know but at 10.30 one does not want to wake the hard working staff to order breakfast. I headed back to the retreat and the poor barman was the only one left to asuage my wrath. he headed to Guest relations and a breakfast hanger was soon sent to our room but a slight blip on an another wise perfect first day on board. Tomorow wee lose an hour so an early up for all... night night 🤣🤣😎

 

[Redking]

6 hours ago, groryjm said:

I have lots to post but will post this evening when the internet is better and all are tucked up. In the mean time just to say Nelson is climbing up the buttler stakes 😎 ...... just a quick drink  while we dress

 

 

.... And Nelson has just brought us some crisps ( plain and salty to my taste) along with out bedtime snacks

 

Love your bar setup. I'm guessing you brought some of it yourself. What did you request from Celebrity? I can never decide what to choose.

[Redking]

6 hours ago, groryjm said:

 

 

 

It's taken me all day to twig why you'd consider the napkin a blast from the past. For those of us cruising in the southern hemisphere who have yet to have the proper retreat experience MC is still very much the norm or at least it will be when tge Eclipse finally makes it down here and hopefully the NZ govt lets her in 🤞 At this stage the retreat isn't on our schedule until 2024.  In the meantime I'm enjoying living vicariously. 🧐

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[the penguins]

On 4/29/2022 at 12:13 PM, groryjm said:

I have, on occasion, documented my cruise adventures on these boards but had decided not to this time in the light of @Jim_Iain ‘s fantastic writing’s… However in view of Jims sad news I will.

 

My Gastrognome and I had booked a CS on this little jaunt to the Fjords but having done three cruises last year in RSs and a PH I decided to bid on a move up. Not a big bid but a couple of weeks ago our number came up so we are back in an RS for this one. We have cruised in the Fjords before with our daughter and my amazing mother in law, “Dame Judy”. My daughter is now too tied up with her masters and sadly my mother in law passed away last year so this will be just the two of us.

 

We had 9 cruises cancelled in the pandemic and the three we managed last year were on nearly empty ships at 50% capacity. From what I hear this one is likely to be nearly full so we are a little wary.

 

The whole testing before we board process has been very tense and my Gastrognome will tell you I have not been the easiest to live with but all is now well as our negative test results were in yesterday and all is now go.

 

Packing is nearly done and just about to take the cats to pussy prison.

 

Hope to be on board in 23 hours 🍸🍹🍷🍺🥂🧉🥃🍾😎

Thanks for taking up the gauntlet so sadly dropped by Jim and Iain.

We will be following your adventure with extra interest as we board when you disembark. It will be interesting to see if the Captain now follows the "rules" from head office and announces actual Covid figures ( not the meaningles under 1% or over 1%) split between passengers and crew.

[Cruising Is Bliss]

Thank you for doing this!

[jimbri]

Thank you for sharing your cruise.  Enjoy!

[groryjm]

13 hours ago, Redking said:

Love your bar setup. I'm guessing you brought some of it yourself. What did you request from Celebrity? I can never decide what to choose.

@Redking The Lillet Rose and Blanc I brought on as my 2 bottles of wine, I also brought a bottle of Angostura bitters and a small bottle of sugar syrup. I requested a bottle of cognac and a bottle of Cointreau. I also asked for Oranges and lemons along with a suitable knife to cut them with. We also have Champagne, Coke Zero, Club soda and Red stripe in the fridge 

 

The Boston shaker, Hawthorn strainer, sieve, jigger, citrus press, peeler and NaCl I keep in my travel bar roll. bringing ones own bar tools might seem a bit odd but I enjoy making a quick drink in the room to have while we dress for the evening. Technically the Lillet is an aromatised wine but I reckon it counts as the two bottles of wine we are allowed in the room.

 

With everything I have I can  make a Brandy and soda, Lillet and soda, s side car ( cognac, Cointreau and lemon juice), an Alabazam (similar to a side car but with less Cointreau and lemon but the addition of 10ml of angostura and 5ml of sugar), brandy and coke, a mimosa, a champagne cocktail (champagne, cognac, bitters and sugar) or just a Cointreau over ice. So my in suite bar menu is quite extensive. 😎

[groryjm]

Today is a sea day and we lost an hours sleep to the time change. So having got our breakfast hanger I ordered it for 9am. At 9.03 Nelson rang to warn us breakfast was on its way and 2 minutes later he rang the doorbell. I had eggs benedict and a Bloody Mary and my Gastognome some French bread and a mimosa. We accompanied this with coffee from the excellent Lavazza coffee machine that Nelson had brought for us yesterday. I don’t know whether these are actually standard issue in a Royal suite but last year we had one in a Penthouse in August and in a Royal suite in October but not in the royal suite we had in July so I think there aren’t that many on board and Nelson was being very good to us. At this point I have to offer my apologies as I only realised I had forgotten to photograph when the eggs were half gone….. No one wants to see a half-eaten plate so I will try harder tomorrow.

 

Post breakfast we decided to take a wander around the ship …..

 

I have to admit to being somewhat shocked by the lack of face masks and social distancing.

  

 

 

 

As we have been assured we can get off at leisure we have decided to cancel a couple of the tours we had booked with long bus rides. I can always spend the regained OBC on a botle of 1942

 

PS I neglected to mention that in Tuscan last night they had Montenegro, one of my favourite amari and perfect with a Café Brûlot after a meal.

 

 

Edited May 1, 2022 by groryjm

[groryjm]

We have spent the rest of our morning enjoying our suite and playing games while watching Klignons off the starboard bow

 

 

[JeanieC,Aston]

Hi Groryjm

I was on the last cruise and not like you I dislike cocktails,,mainly because I am diabetic and sorting out how much sugar they contain is a pain.

 

But I am a Guinness and Boddingtons (Bitter) drinker so was really disappointed they brought no stock of either on to the ship,I believe there is none on Beyond either.

can I ask you if you can find any on your cruise? Or if this is a decision by the bean counters not to stock them.

Btw,,the only cocktail I will drink is a simple Grey Goose and Slimline Tonic,,,,(see Diabetic comment above) but guess what,,the ran out of ST on day 3…want a Mojito.they ran out of mint on day 5.

[suewheldon]

I posted this to FB three years ago today. Geiranger fjord.