Jim_Iain - Summit Live Post B3B Greenland / Iceland / Canada Aug 7, 19 and 31, 2022

[Oceansaway17]

14 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

What has been truly amazing is the seas have been like a pond.  Virtually no waves and at times didn’t even know we had left port. 
 

The only ripples in the picture are caused by the ship. 

oh this would also make a nice photo for your wall.  oops forgot you have no wall space left.

hmm me thinks you need to toss out a couple and make room for this beauty

Enjoy Iceland.  I will get to see it next August on the new NCL Prima

[Smmessineo]

3 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Iain said the only area that cigars are allowed is Mast Bar.  They have spruced it up a bit and now have a number of tables and chairs in addition to the alcove seating.  It is still exposed. 
 

I’ll take a photo tomorrow 

 

Thanks, Jim! And thank Iain for the info .  A photo would be great .

[ecslady]

1 hour ago, mhoffrob said:

Does anyone else here use GoodReads to keep track of books?  I'd be happy to create a dupicate of this list there and share it within threads when people ask.  It's a bit more searchable and you can then read through this list and save the ones you want to your own "to be read" file/list.

 

Mary (one of those pesky librarians)

 

Love GoodReads, but sometimes it takes me away from actually reading because I spend too much time on there.  LOL.

[mhoffrob]

1 hour ago, silkismom said:

Never heard of "GoodReads" tell me more. I have paper lists held together with paper clips, going back years.

Goodreads is a cross between Facebook and INternet Movie Database.  It's social media for readers.  You create an account and search for books; you mark those books as "read" "currently reading" or "want to read", and then you can look at each list and sort them by when read, when added to your lists, when published, authors name, title, etc.  You can also create your own tags (I have Non-Fiction, Mystery/Thriller, Romance, Literary, Classic, Audiobook, just to name a few).  You also follow/ friend people to see their lists.  I review books there and use their star rating system - mostly becausee the social media manager at my work copies those reviews to the library's goodreads account.  I'm also required to post reviews for books I read before they are published (librarian perk from publishers, gets them free "press" so to speak),

 

I've used it for about 15 years, I think,.  I have almost 1000 read books, and almost 500 want-to-read books at any given time.  Helps me keep track of where I am in a series, if I liked an author, etc.  I love it for those and other reasons

 

You can also get recommendations based on what is on your lists, genres you prefer, etc.  That's where I would curate the "cruisers list" that we're referencing here.

 

Be advised - Amazon bought it a couple years ago - it hasn't changed much but they do have access to the information.  Some people aren't comfortable with that (I have one coworker with a "fake" account of sorts.  I know her pseudonym, so accepted her 'friend' request.  So that is an option if you're so inclined.

 

Check it out at goodreads.com

 

 

[Benthayer Gonbak]

5 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

turn around day, some people have to do a face to face meeting in Sky......aren't all B2Bers considered "in transit"?  Wondering why some B2Bers have to have this meeting in Sky whereas others (you two), don't have to.  Curious about this.  Thank you!
 

@@@@@@@@@@@@@

 

My understanding is ALL B2B do not require immigration.  Not just special ones.   Lol.   
 

I believe Celebrity messaging doesn’t  usually work and we also all received a letter saying we need to clear immigration.   They didn’t filter out B2B.   So if you received you can just ignore if B2B.    I’m not sure if we have to fill out the Iceland declaration.  Our butler said the Retreat Concierge's are working to clarify . 
 

You can however and go to sky lounge at 6:00 LOL.  
 

Why can’t Celebrity just hire a proof reader.   Maybe they will try to clarify but don’t hold your breath.  
 

I loved the answer to what do you do with valuables if changing rooms and   going ashore and using transit passes.   Oh just put in suite case or carry ashore.   
 

Reality - just coordinate with stateroom attendant and when current passenger leaves room they will let you in to lock up your valuables.  

 

Proofreaders? 🤣🤣🤣🤣  My husband has complained about that repeatedly.  He was told every department gets to review what’s printed at least for the newsletter in the cabin.  And yet there have been things like returning to the wrong port, the pool on the wrong deck, and various other silliness.  He has volunteered to be a proofreader too.  No, he didn’t have a job doing that exactly, but he can certainly find errors in most anything. 

[Benthayer Gonbak]

3 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Iain said the only area that cigars are allowed is Mast Bar.  They have spruced it up a bit and now have a number of tables and chairs in addition to the alcove seating.  It is still exposed. 
 

I’ll take a photo tomorrow 

 

i was going to mention smoking near the glass elevators on pool deck as it always drifts to the area outside the elevators.  I was pretty sure that cigars were T there, glad you found the official list.  Glad to see they moved the deck 4 to midship, that was a mess at the restaurants before. 

[North of 60]

On 8/3/2022 at 2:59 PM, Jim_Iain said:

Having finger bowls presented  before dinner has been in my memory ever since.

Those were finger bowls?

No wonder I thought the lemonade was weak.

 

 

[GeorgiaPeach51]

3 hours ago, Arzeena said:

I really enjoy reading Joanie's book lists and checking off what I have read.
But I do think it deservers a special thread of its own so it is easy to find and also available to everybody even when JIm and Iain are not travelling?

Just a thought.

@Arzeena I have considered posting the book list, but hesitate due to concerns like those mentioned by @TeeRick, which I understand.  Everyone is not necessarily a fan, and if they don’t know that Jim and I have been exchanging lists every time he and Iain go on a long cruise, they would understandably think I am hijacking the thread.

 

and, honestly, another reason is that if I put the list on a post on its’ own for the whole Celebrity CC world to see, I think I would be overwhelmed by suggestions and unable to keep up!  But, I’m open to whatever most people want.  I could post it and people could copy and paste it and add it to their own personal list.  Suggestions welcome!

 

Joanie

[goofysmom99]

16 minutes ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said:

 I could post it and people could copy and paste it and add it to their own personal list.

I've been doing that to my Evernote account since you first began posting.  I just add to it when you do which automatically updates my list on my PC, tablet, and phone.  It's been handy when I load up books for cruises.  

[calicakes]

2 hours ago, mhoffrob said:

Does anyone else here use GoodReads to keep track of books?

My spouse is on Good Reads, can you tell me your name there so I can have her friend you.  Her name is Julie. 

[mhoffrob]

1 minute ago, calicakes said:

My spouse is on Good Reads, can you tell me your name there so I can have her friend you.  Her name is Julie. 

here's my link:  https://www.goodreads.com/mhoffrob

[bunzini]

I have a question.  At one point in time when you took a shore excursion with the ship and someone ended testing positive for covid, then if you were on the same bus and possibly sat somewhere near this person who was positive, they contact traced you and tested you as well.  Is that still the case?  I have avoided ship sponsored excursions on our last few cruises because of that reason and just wondered if that was still the case as we are going on a New England/Canada cruise in about six weeks and there is one shore excursion that I can't seem to find an independent tour operator to do.  Anyone know the answer to this?

[Ex-Airbalancer]

11 minutes ago, bunzini said:

I have a question.  At one point in time when you took a shore excursion with the ship and someone ended testing positive for covid, then if you were on the same bus and possibly sat somewhere near this person who was positive, they contact traced you and tested you as well.  Is that still the case?  I have avoided ship sponsored excursions on our last few cruises because of that reason and just wondered if that was still the case as we are going on a New England/Canada cruise in about six weeks and there is one shore excursion that I can't seem to find an independent tour operator to do.  Anyone know the answer to this?

Celebrity does not do contact tracing all they care about is the person in the same cabin , going by what they did on the Apex TA 

 

[Redking]

5 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Neither.    I tested positive in April and was escorted off the ship by the ghost buster squad and missed Norway 🇳🇴 

Spoiler alert if you haven't seen the NZ Fjiords/sounds (best we don't get into that technicality here) maybe don't open this link to Captain Alex's time-lapse

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8gQGOCBsDBabrrb2hcGF579tLWM_oQYy4MXEc0/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

[Purplsmurf]

45 minutes ago, bunzini said:

I have a question.  At one point in time when you took a shore excursion with the ship and someone ended testing positive for covid, then if you were on the same bus and possibly sat somewhere near this person who was positive, they contact traced you and tested you as well.  Is that still the case?  I have avoided ship sponsored excursions on our last few cruises because of that reason and just wondered if that was still the case as we are going on a New England/Canada cruise in about six weeks and there is one shore excursion that I can't seem to find an independent tour operator to do.  Anyone know the answer to this?

They are no longer doing contact tracing. Found out from a very reliable source on our May Med cruise. I was also concerned about it. Just returned from Alaska and it wasn’t done there either 

[theopup]

I am a big fan of GoodReads, and an avid reader 

[mauimary]

1 hour ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

Celebrity does not do contact tracing all they care about is the person in the same cabin , going by what they did on the Apex TA 

 

Well we were on a Celebrity Beyond Shore excursion apx 3 weeks ago in Italy and when we got on the bus we had to put our names on a seat list and keep our same seats.  The tour guide said it was Celebrity protocol. Can’t figure out why else they would do this other than for proximity contact tracing which made us a little nervous.  

[DUTRAVEL]

Good Reads is a fantastic resource. Among other things, it keeps me from checking out a book only to discover that I read it two years ago!

[Benthayer Gonbak]

3 hours ago, bunzini said:

I have a question.  At one point in time when you took a shore excursion with the ship and someone ended testing positive for covid, then if you were on the same bus and possibly sat somewhere near this person who was positive, they contact traced you and tested you as well.  Is that still the case?  I have avoided ship sponsored excursions on our last few cruises because of that reason and just wondered if that was still the case as we are going on a New England/Canada cruise in about six weeks and there is one shore excursion that I can't seem to find an independent tour operator to do.  Anyone know the answer to this?

 

The hardest one to find is the trip to St Anne’s.  But I wanted something slightly different for my mil so I talked to the shore conceirge.  She was skeptical but tried.  She had enough for the larger bus before she got off the stage where she announced it!  It became a standard tour for several years after it was offered on the next cruise and they filled two buses full with a waitlist.

 

All of this is to say the shore conceirge can sometime do lots of things including a tour you want but in a smaller group.  Jim and Iian even did that as a private tour.
 

 

[Jim_Iain]

10 hours ago, Oceansaway17 said:

oh this would also make a nice photo for your wall.  oops forgot you have no wall space left.

hmm me thinks you need to toss out a couple and make room for this beauty

Enjoy Iceland.  I will get to see it next August on the new NCL Prima

Gorgeous morning.  
 

b2B testing completed ✅. Not sure when results. We were not required to stay in room until results arrive. 

[Jim_Iain]

Final chic night

 

 

 

Macaroon filled with blue Cheese.  The flavors were too opposite 

 

 

Smoked Trout

 

Rustic kale. 
 

 

lobster

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ken the cruiser]

24 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Gorgeous morning.  
 

b2B testing completed ✅. Not sure when results. We were not required to stay in room until results arrive. 

Sorry we missed you as we got down to the testing site around 7:50 with only a few folks, maybe 5, in front of us. But I’m sure we’ll all pass and we’ll meet on the next leg. 🤞🤞 And now we wait! 😂

[lexmiller]

7 hours ago, mauimary said:

Well we were on a Celebrity Beyond Shore excursion apx 3 weeks ago in Italy and when we got on the bus we had to put our names on a seat list and keep our same seats.  The tour guide said it was Celebrity protocol. Can’t figure out why else they would do this other than for proximity contact tracing which made us a little nervous.  

If that was only 3 weeks ago, I'd say that shore ex provider was following old rules, or doing a better safe than sorry, not wanting to lose a solid contract.  But for sure, contact tracing is no longer being done.  

[Jim_Iain]

Line dancing last night.  Lots of fun and packed. 
 

 

[Jim_Iain]

Sitting sipping co

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 17, 2022 by Jim_Iain