Jim_Iain - Solstice LIVE Mexico Riveria B2B - December 3 and 11

[Jim_Iain]

1 hour ago, Xyla said:

I have really enjoyed following along your trip. We will be joining your 2nd leg tomorrow. I’ve been so disorganized I have not even joined the roll call like I normally do. Looking forward to boarding tomorrow.

Should check in on Roll Call -  We are having a slot pull on day 2 at 10:30

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

2 hours ago, bnurick said:

Hey Jim, could you tell me if they offered the Veuve Clicquot dinner and if so what night on the itinerary? We booked this for Oct. 2023.  Thank you.  BN

@Jim_Iain

 

Yes they had it on Day 5 at 7:00 PM

They also had a Chef's Table at Murano  I don't recall the day   and a Special Seafood Shack Lunch on Day 7 (today) at 12:00 pm

[juanrod]

@Jim_Iain hope you still have your jeans and sweaters handy.  You are coming back to San Pedro to cold and rainy ☂️ Thunderstorms expected tonight through tomorrow morning 

[Cruising Is Bliss]

3 hours ago, jwlane said:

I'm thinking an eastbound TA would be brutal.

 

We did it once and it was for us. Never again.

Edited December 10, 2022 by Cruising Is Bliss

[Xyla]

3 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Should check in on Roll Call -  We are having a slot pull on day 2 at 10:30

 

 

Thanks! Am planning to show up for that.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

2 hours ago, Cruising Is Bliss said:

 

We did it once and it was for us. Never again.

 

I found it an easy way to ease into European time.

[DaKahuna]

7 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Iain is a big tea drinker but brews it as dark as coffee.  I enjoy ice tea but never drink hot tea.  

 

 We drink primarily green tea at home.  I drink tea hot, cold, anything but luke warm.  

 We do also have some black tea, English Breakfast normally.  

 

 As for coffee - love it with Bailey's.  Last March on Silhouette coffee with Bailey's was automatically delivered after dinner in Luminae wile waiting for our desserts. 

[MamaFej]

9 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Yea ...agree.    Your ears must have been ringing, Joan @jelayne and I were saying how much we missed you when you cancelled this cruise.     I was really surprised by how many gifts they gave away.    I of course didn't win anything.

Awwww, so sweet! I’m sorry I had to miss it, too! 
 

I’m currently on a plane, en route to Mexico City. We fly to Santiago tomorrow, then to Puerto Williams Monday to board the ship for Antarctica. 

SO excited!!

 

——

 I’m sorry you didn’t win anything at the B2B meeting. Perhaps you can find some modicum of  solace in the Royal Suite you won via a Move Up bid. 😉😉😉

[Jim_Iain]

20 minutes ago, MamaFej said:

Awwww, so sweet! I’m sorry I had to miss it, too! 
 

I’m currently on a plane, en route to Mexico City. We fly to Santiago tomorrow, then to Puerto Williams Monday to board the ship for Antarctica. 

SO excited!!

 

——

 I’m sorry you didn’t win anything at the B2B meeting. Perhaps you can find some modicum of  solace in the Royal Suite you won via a Move Up bid. 😉😉😉

Sounds like so much fun.   Have a great cruise.

[jelayne]

21 minutes ago, MamaFej said:

Awwww, so sweet! I’m sorry I had to miss it, too! 
 

I’m currently on a plane, en route to Mexico City. We fly to Santiago tomorrow, then to Puerto Williams Monday to board the ship for Antarctica. 

SO excited!!

 

——

 I’m sorry you didn’t win anything at the B2B meeting. Perhaps you can find some modicum of  solace in the Royal Suite you won via a Move Up bid. 😉😉😉

Safe travels!  Wish we were with you!

[Northern Aurora]

4 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Yes they had it on Day 5 at 7:00 PM

They also had a Chef's Table at Murano  I don't recall the day   and a Special Seafood Shack Lunch on Day 7 (today) at 12:00 pm

 

Solstice didn't have the Seafood Shack Lunch on our B2Bs in June, nor did they have one on the B2Bs in September.  We had a significant amount of non-refundable OBC and, although we like Sushi on 5,  I was looking for lunch options.  They may still be "ramping up" their hotel operations.

[Northern Aurora]

6 hours ago, jwlane said:

I'm thinking an eastbound TA would be brutal.

 

 

We have done several (I am thinking 6) eastbound TAs, and didn't find them brutal at all.  As already noted the time zone changes let you ease into European time.

[LaCal]

5 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Yes they had it on Day 5 at 7:00 PM

They also had a Chef's Table at Murano  I don't recall the day   and a Special Seafood Shack Lunch on Day 7 (today) at 12:00 pm

Jim what did the Seafood Shack lunch consist of and how much $ is it? 

 

Sounds like something we’d like to

try 

[Jim_Iain]

4 hours ago, juanrod said:

@Jim_Iain hope you still have your jeans and sweaters handy.  You are coming back to San Pedro to cold and rainy ☂️ Thunderstorms expected tonight through tomorrow morning 

Yup - Jeans are on today.   Really cooled quickly.   While we will be staying on the ship we will have to go ashore for B2B.   We kept our Puffers out just in case.

 

Looking like the first two days our of San Pedro may be windy and rough.     Amazing how things change week to week.

[Jim_Iain]

1 hour ago, Northern Aurora said:

 

 

We have done several (I am thinking 6) eastbound TAs, and didn't find them brutal at all.  As already noted the time zone changes let you ease into European time.

Gerry,

 

It took me 18 years to talk Iain into an Eastbound.    He even admitted it wasn't too bad.   The reality is you can sleep in each morning and sure is a lot better to the 8-9 hours in one day we experience when we fly to Europe.     We found we arrive in Europe rested and relaxed.

[Jim_Iain]

1 hour ago, Northern Aurora said:

 

Solstice didn't have the Seafood Shack Lunch on our B2Bs in June, nor did they have one on the B2Bs in September.  We had a significant amount of non-refundable OBC and, although we like Sushi on 5,  I was looking for lunch options.  They may still be "ramping up" their hotel operations.

They may be ramping up things -  The next cruise (after ours) is expected to have 500 Kids and a total of 3,200 passengers (Xmas).    It will be the highest passenger count they have had since she began sailing again.  

[Jim_Iain]

meandering around the ship

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 11, 2022 by Jim_Iain

[Northern Aurora]

Jim: I've forgotten to ask, but am still curious.  Was a Zenith event scheduled on the first leg of your B2B?  There are so many more Zenith's than we "crossed" in 2016 and a surprising number of double Zeniths also now.  I keep waiting for a mention that there were 40 Zeniths on a sailing, and suspect it may happen in the next twelve months.  Gerry

[Cruising89143]

Well it’s almost over. We just finished dinner at Tuscan. Our third time here this week. Very good.  Luminae did not disappoint. Thank you Pande. The ship looks great which surprised me as I had read so many comments about the condition of this ship. She looks great. The crew worked extremely hard at making sure that we had a great time. They’re amazing. For anyone booked on this ship, please feel at ease that it will be a great experience. Jim, I hope that you and Iain have a great second week and thank you for this great thread. Safe travels to all of our fellow guests on your trip home. 

[LouChamp]

15 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Actually not as difficult as we had imagined.   We've done a couple and one in April planed.

 

The problem with this cruise is back and forth and back and forth. 

Aloha. We love Celebrity having sailed countless times with them including their first ship the Meridian.  We enjoy having sailed countless times on other lines as well with some better experiences than others. That said, I would recommend sailing a TA on the QM2.  We have sailed on many Cunard ships for several decades and strongly suggest you try at least one TA. Their Queens Grill is a must experience.  Back in 2004 her inaugural year, we celebrated my 50 the with  anniversary with a sailing with 60 family members. It was much better than a one night event in a catering hall and fond memories for family and friends who joined them.  Unfortunately many are no longer with us including my dad and mom now has dementia but the experience was loved by many.  Didn’t mean to hijack your thread but I would really think about it.  Open for questions if you have.  All the best and smooth sailing!

[LouChamp]

Oops typo.  It was my parents 50th anniversary i was referring to. Sorry!

[Covepointcruiser]

Don and Iain would love a crossing on the QM2, there is no other experience to match the Queens Grill.    They have said they have Cunard on their “short list”.    The only negative would be the more formal dress especially on gala evenings but Don and Lain dress very well even on informal Celebrity.    I enjoyed the photo of the long inside passage on the Solstice.   On the QM2, on Deck 9, we have counted 960 steps from the Commodore Club to our cabin aft of stairway D.   A little less than 3 times around the complete promenade on Deck 7 is one mile.

[Jim_Iain]

Up early and the ship is vibrating as they use thrusters to dock in Port of San Pedro. It's a chilly morning and looking  misty.

 

 

[Sox Fan Cruiser]

On 12/8/2022 at 1:11 PM, peanut head said:

Just caught up (again!) and I have to say,  you don't disappoint--pics and dialogue.

 

In regards to the earlier discussion on tipping, we went to fill out the form, while on the Equinox in October.   We were informed by guest relations that, yes, a tip of the amount you selected would be given to the specific crew member.  However, that individual wouldn't receive it for up to 2 weeks from the time the form was filled out and there is no mention of which guest issued the tip.  So, we decided to give out the cash tips in person and withdrew our OBC through the casino.

You can actually give the form to the person receiving the tip. They can then turn it in themselves. We did that for the Luminea staff and the restaurant manager called our room specifically to thank us. 

[Jim_Iain]

9 hours ago, Northern Aurora said:

Jim: I've forgotten to ask, but am still curious.  Was a Zenith event scheduled on the first leg of your B2B?  There are so many more Zenith's than we "crossed" in 2016 and a surprising number of double Zeniths also now.  I keep waiting for a mention that there were 40 Zeniths on a sailing, and suspect it may happen in the next twelve months.  Gerry

 

With the exception of the Captain's Toast and Top Cruiser there have been ZERO events or recognition of Zenith's.    I was rather put off that we received a not to show up 15 minutes early and no one even came out to bring us in.   By the time we got in other CC members had taken all the reserved spots.   

 

I'm not usually one to complain but felt compelled to write Andrea and let her know my feelings about the liquidation of Zenith recognition.   Within 30 minutes the CC host called me acting like she hadn't heard from Andrea.   She acting like a white elephant in the room and was apologetic saying she couldn't find us.   She is on her second cruise and is new to Celebrity.   She told me they only have lunches and events if there are 16 Zenith's or more.    I told her she needs to check with other ships as many of us have been to lunches with as few as 6.

 

Andrea did respond with a nice letter of apology and a nice bottle of wine and strawberries to the room.  

 

After that suddenly the Excursion Manager Called me and personally greeted us on our first excursion, The Hotel Director dropped by Luminae to welcome us aboard, followed by the Restaurant Manager and the Maitre' d.     It was very uncomfortable as no one mentioned the issue and just pretend like I had not written her.  

 

I didn't expect anything but felt they should have just acknowledged their mix up and move on.

 

As usual I wrote to Mario, HD and complimented crew members that made our trip memorable.   That night he again dropped by with a parade of the other management team but again nothing mentioned.   Happily when I returned to our room there was yet another bottle Mum's and a nice hand written note from Mario thanking us for our compliments an apology for the missteps and hoped he could win us back as a valued loyal guest.   It was nicely done.

 

With the changes in the Zenith program we have decided after 22 years to try some  other cruise Luxury cruise lines.     We of course have about 9 cruises already booked with Celebrity but right now unless we cancel will be trying out Ponant.