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

[jwlane]

23 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

I hope they get the infrastructure issue solved in Reykjavik.   Because of the lack of buses and taxi's 

Given how small it is, that's unlikely.  A partial solution would be an overnight for the ship.

[jwlane]

21 hours ago, kwokpot said:

 overnight in Reykjavik..

This was one of our favorite excursions when we visited 3 years ago --- https://www.gtice.is/hot-golden-circle/.

[Jim_Iain]

13 hours ago, DUTRAVEL said:

Great pictures as usual Jim! Enjoying your trip along with you!

 

Last night over dinner I said to Iain -   I don't want to go home.   LOL

 

We both agree we really enjoyed the itinerary and would definitely do it again.    It would especially be enjoyable to combine it with the Alaska  and Alaska Repositioning that @Northern Aurora took.    Also a good combination would be with the California coastal.

 

It is so nice to only have to fly 45 minutes for a cruise.  

[Jim_Iain]

10 hours ago, jelayne said:

Jim and Iain, enjoy your last 2 days on board.  I’m glad we got to meet you both and enjoy a few drinks in Michael’s.

Hopefully our paths will cross again on another ship❤️ 
Joan and Greg

 

Thanks Joan and Greg

 

It was really a special privileged to meet you after all of these years.   I felt like we knew you even before we boarded.

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

9 hours ago, Norwaylady said:

So late to the party😅🕺🏻

it’s been a madhouse for work😵‍💫

 

So happy that you will board when we get off😝 We will travel the first 2-legs of this cruise🙌🏻 Athens-Singapore⚓️ Really looking forward⚓️

 

That will be a great cruise.    Make sure you book a tour to Petra (preferably private as the ships tours are packed)    Petra is one of my top Tours -   only topped by the Taj.

 

BTW -   I just booked my Air 30 minutes ago  - SFO to SIN via Singapore non-stop.  

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, Mark_T said:

Our very first cruise was on Voyager back when it was still Radisson, not Regent, we have also sailed on Navigator, and we would certainly second looking at Regent.

 

Can't argue with trying expedition ships while you are both still fit and mobile as well.

 

Thanks -  I never thought much about the Zodiac expedition ships.   Our friends that have talked us into trying Ponant has mobility problems after shattering his leg skiing said he has no problems getting in and out of the Zodiacs. 

 

We have put Regent on our list of Lines to look at. 

 

[Jim_Iain]

1 hour ago, gizmo42 said:

Hi Jim. Thank you for taking us along on your cruise. Your reviews are always fun and informative. And I really enjoy your fantastic pictures!! A great way to start my day along with morning coffee.

Enjoy the rest couple days of the cruise.

Gail

 

Thank you Gail

 

I'm glad you have enjoyed as much as I have.    I'm just as bad about shooting pictures while I'm at home.    Little things constantly catch my attention.  

 

Jim

[Jim_Iain]

55 minutes ago, jwlane said:

Given how small it is, that's unlikely.  A partial solution would be an overnight for the ship.

 

Funny you should mention.   I've heard from so many that say their trip to Iceland will include an overnight in Reykjavik

[Jim_Iain]

40 minutes ago, jwlane said:

This was one of our favorite excursions when we visited 3 years ago --- https://www.gtice.is/hot-golden-circle/.

 

I remember you posting about it.    I really wish we could have done it.    Oh well another cruise could fix that.

[DaKahuna]

48 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

BTW -   I just booked my Air 30 minutes ago  - SFO to SIN via Singapore non-stop.  

 

 If you have never flown Singapore airline before you are in for a special treat.  The best service I have ever received on an airplane. 

 

[Jim_Iain]

1 hour ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 If you have never flown Singapore airline before you are in for a special treat.  The best service I have ever received on an airplane. 

 

Flown them quite a bit.   I was working in Singapore on re for awhile.   Love their service. 

last time we flew they had a non-stop out of San Jose but they discontinued due to Covid.  I guess we will just have to suffer and go 35 miles north to SFO. 
 

 

 

[mjmagee]

Jim, when you do stray from Celebrity, please, please include a link on the Celebrity board to any review you do on another cruiselines' board so we can all follow you!  Thanks for all your great pix and commentary.

 

Marilyn

[Scottishclover]

3 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Last night over dinner I said to Iain -   I don't want to go home.   LOL

 

We both agree we really enjoyed the itinerary and would definitely do it again.    It would especially be enjoyable to combine it with the Alaska  and Alaska Repositioning that @Northern Aurora took.    Also a good combination would be with the California coastal.

 

It is so nice to only have to fly 45 minutes for a cruise.  

Jim, if you had to chose between a Pacific Coastal or Mexican itinerary, which one would you pick? I know Pacific Coastal is close to home for you but I would appreciate your viewpoint.  Me and my husband are looking to do a cruise on our own to celebrate both our daughters finally being away at university. We are not big beach people and much prefer to hike and sightsee, which is why the Caribbean doesn’t really have much appeal for us.

 

As usual,  enjoying your review and especially love the port photos. 

[lakegirl16]

4 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Last night over dinner I said to Iain -   I don't want to go home.   LOL

 

We both agree we really enjoyed the itinerary and would definitely do it again.    It would especially be enjoyable to combine it with the Alaska  and Alaska Repositioning that @Northern Aurora took.    Also a good combination would be with the California coastal.

 

It is so nice to only have to fly 45 minutes for a cruise.  

Always hard for a cruise to come to an end!  Time to look forward to the next one.  B2B for us, so we have next week to look forward to!  Less than 20 for B2B, so no in person meeting.  I was hoping to win one of the prizes you'd posted about last week.  🙂

Thank you so much for all of your posts the past two weeks.  I so enjoyed them before boarding and have been following along this week, while I on board.  It was a pleasure to meet you after following your posts over the years.  Perhaps our paths will cross again.

 

Safe travels home and have a wonderful holiday season!

 

 

[Mike981]

2 hours ago, mjmagee said:

Jim, when you do stray from Celebrity, please, please include a link on the Celebrity board to any review you do on another cruiselines' board so we can all follow you!  Thanks for all your great pix and commentary.

 

Marilyn

 

YES-YES-YES X 100

 

It will be interesting see how other boards handle the influx of Jim & Lain fans, some of the other boards are much slower with only a few posts a day. As I post this there have been over 90,000 views and 1,000 replies on this thread.

[lola2013]

4 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 If you have never flown Singapore airline before you are in for a special treat.  The best service I have ever received on an airplane. 

 

We flew Singapore Air from LAX to Singapore years ago.  Agree that the service to Singapore was the best ever; however, the return flight was not up to the original standard.  Washrooms were not serviced at all during the long flight back to LAX, food was bad and the overall attitude of the flight attendants lacking.  It was as if they wanted to give us 150% going into their country, but less than 50% when leaving.  

[Jim_Iain]

6 hours ago, mjmagee said:

Jim, when you do stray from Celebrity, please, please include a link on the Celebrity board to any review you do on another cruiselines' board so we can all follow you!  Thanks for all your great pix and commentary.

 

Marilyn

I certainly will.    I may do it similar to a recent one comparing Cunard to Celebrity.

[Jim_Iain]

5 hours ago, Scottishclover said:

Jim, if you had to chose between a Pacific Coastal or Mexican itinerary, which one would you pick? I know Pacific Coastal is close to home for you but I would appreciate your viewpoint.  Me and my husband are looking to do a cruise on our own to celebrate both our daughters finally being away at university. We are not big beach people and much prefer to hike and sightsee, which is why the Caribbean doesn’t really have much appeal for us.

 

As usual,  enjoying your review and especially love the port photos. 

 

I think I would do the Mexican Rivera first.     There is just so much to do .... AND..... the weather is definitely a plus in the winter.    Been in the Mid-70's to low 70's at night.   No humidity and perfect for shorts and short sleeve.

[Jim_Iain]

4 hours ago, lakegirl16 said:

Always hard for a cruise to come to an end!  Time to look forward to the next one.  B2B for us, so we have next week to look forward to!  Less than 20 for B2B, so no in person meeting.  I was hoping to win one of the prizes you'd posted about last week.  🙂

Thank you so much for all of your posts the past two weeks.  I so enjoyed them before boarding and have been following along this week, while I on board.  It was a pleasure to meet you after following your posts over the years.  Perhaps our paths will cross again.

 

Safe travels home and have a wonderful holiday season!

 

 

 

Hope you have a wonderful trip.   I think the weather will be perfect.

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, Mike981 said:

 

YES-YES-YES X 100

 

It will be interesting see how other boards handle the influx of Jim & Lain fans, some of the other boards are much slower with only a few posts a day. As I post this there have been over 90,000 views and 1,000 replies on this thread.

 

I love the Celebrity Board.    Especially getting to meet all the people from our Roll Call.   I've been bad about attending sail aways.   We are often unpacking and next thing we know I look out the window and realize we are at sea. 

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, lola2013 said:

We flew Singapore Air from LAX to Singapore years ago.  Agree that the service to Singapore was the best ever; however, the return flight was not up to the original standard.  Washrooms were not serviced at all during the long flight back to LAX, food was bad and the overall attitude of the flight attendants lacking.  It was as if they wanted to give us 150% going into their country, but less than 50% when leaving.  

 

That can be disappointing.    Luckily I've only had perfect service. 

[Northern Aurora]

9 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

.

5 hours ago, Scottishclover said:

Jim, if you had to chose between a Pacific Coastal or Mexican itinerary, which one would you pick? I know Pacific Coastal is close to home for you but I would appreciate your viewpoint.  Me and my husband are looking to do a cruise on our own to celebrate both our daughters finally being away at university. We are not big beach people and much prefer to hike and sightsee, which is why the Caribbean doesn’t really have much appeal for us.

 

As usual,  enjoying your review and especially love the port photos. 

 

 

 

We did the Pacific Coastal (which is what Jim refers to as Alaska Repositioning) followed by the first of the Mexico itineraries.  If you are not into beaches and don't find the Caribbean appealing I would suggest a Pacific Coastal either from or to Vancouver, BC.  We have done several and they are very enjoyable.  And from Vancouver it would be a great pairing to do the Rocky Mountain Mountaineer either before or after a Pacific Coastal. Just iIncredible scenery.

 

It will be interesting if Celebrity continues their Mexico cruises.  My impression is that they were designed since the Solstice couldn't be deployed in Asia and the South Pacific (or wherever it would have been before covid-19).  

[abbydancer2003]

22 minutes ago, Northern Aurora said:

 

 

We did the Pacific Coastal (which is what Jim refers to as Alaska Repositioning) followed by the first of the Mexico itineraries.  If you are not into beaches and don't find the Caribbean appealing I would suggest a Pacific Coastal either from or to Vancouver, BC.  We have done several and they are very enjoyable.  And from Vancouver it would be a great pairing to do the Rocky Mountain Mountaineer either before or after a Pacific Coastal. Just iIncredible scenery.

 

It will be interesting if Celebrity continues their Mexico cruises.  My impression is that they were designed since the Solstice couldn't be deployed in Asia and the South Pacific (or wherever it would have been before covid-19).  

One note is that about the only time they run coastals from LA to Vancouver is in the fall, when they move the ships to Alaska.  I've seen a few RT from San Francisco that stop there.

 

I do hope X keeps a ship on the west coast.  We're on the Solstice is February, and I'm happy to have a 1 hour flight.

[lilghallinsf]

On 12/11/2022 at 6:17 AM, Jim_Iain said:

 

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.

I can only understand how you feel. It sounds like there are so many new staff members and some don't know the proper way to acknowledge a misstep. As a business owner, we are always conflicted how to acknowledge a misstep. Do we say "we f'd up or just try to make it right". I agree since so many f'd up, someone should have acknowledged it, but I have a feeling no one wanted to admit to the mistake. Especially since you both are so kind and aren't screaming about your experience. 

[phoenix_dream]

9 hours ago, Scottishclover said:

Jim, if you had to chose between a Pacific Coastal or Mexican itinerary, which one would you pick? I know Pacific Coastal is close to home for you but I would appreciate your viewpoint.  Me and my husband are looking to do a cruise on our own to celebrate both our daughters finally being away at university. We are not big beach people and much prefer to hike and sightsee, which is why the Caribbean doesn’t really have much appeal for us.

 

As usual,  enjoying your review and especially love the port photos. 

You didn’t ask me, but as I’ve been on several of each I’ll offer my opinion (I sailed with Jim on the first leg of his b2b). I definitely prefer California coastal.  Each port has so much to offer, both with just walking around from the port, on tours, or by renting a car and sightseeing. The ports are cleaner, safer, and have more options for nice souvenirs if you are interested. Don’t get me wrong, I love both but prefer coastal.  In fact in March we have a b2b booked with this itinerary coupled with a pacific coastal. Best of both worlds!