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

[helen haywood]

22 hours ago, janbear said:

I actually had the previous version of the  sleep buds and was fine with those ones comfort wise (until they stopped working).

Yikes!!  This is my biggest fear!  Could you tell me how long you had them before they stopped working?  And these were Bose sleepbuds?  I was thinking about buying a backup pair.

[Jim_Iain]

On our way off ship for tour yesterday the gave us a free tour down I95 on way to tender to avoid crowd. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MamaFej]

2 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Coming into port felt like Hong Kong   3 ships in port yesterday. 

 

 

Be on the lookout for hitchhiking sea lions. They've been know to hop on the backs of fishing boats, with rather self-satified looks on their faces. 

I'm sure you're familiar with the look, given where you are from and your extensive travels. 

 

 

My grandpa was a master sea-lion impressionist: both the vocalizations, and the look.

[coconutpig]

We disembarked 12/3.    we had an amazing time EXCEPT - we started to feel bad driving home and took a test and were Covid positive (first time).   So we did contract it from the ship.   Our sailing was light, approx 900 people and we  didn’t go to any shows or crowded areas.  We didn’t get in Elevators with other people.  We booked a suite and didn’t eat in main dining room.   I tried to be very safe washing my hands and sanitizing constantly.   I hope it was an isolated circumstance and not many especially crew affected.  
 

First time in a suite and loved it - will be hard to go back.   Luminae amazing food and service.   We went once to Tuscan Grille and it was a big disappointment.    we booked the Persian garden and did that for the week instead of the shows and it was mostly empty.  

[Astro Flyer]

3 hours ago, GerScot said:

Sailing on Solstice for first time to Vietnam next year so following closely. Can you tell me what time theatre shows start so that I can organise dinners!

 

This is our first X cruise & my only time in Vietnam was when flown off the USS Midway 50 years ago into Da Nang to begin my journey home to muster out of the Navy.

 

Performances in the Solstice Theater have been at 1900 & 2100.

 

If anyone is interested in the MDR evening menus I have screenshots of the entrees that I could post.

[jwlane]

58 minutes ago, coconutpig said:

So we did contract it from the ship.  

Never went ashore?

[Cruising89143]

1 hour ago, coconutpig said:

We disembarked 12/3.    we had an amazing time EXCEPT - we started to feel bad driving home and took a test and were Covid positive (first time).   So we did contract it from the ship.   Our sailing was light, approx 900 people and we  didn’t go to any shows or crowded areas.  We didn’t get in Elevators with other people.  We booked a suite and didn’t eat in main dining room.   I tried to be very safe washing my hands and sanitizing constantly.   I hope it was an isolated circumstance and not many especially crew affected.  
 

First time in a suite and loved it - will be hard to go back.   Luminae amazing food and service.   We went once to Tuscan Grille and it was a big disappointment.    we booked the Persian garden and did that for the week instead of the shows and it was mostly empty.  

It’s very easy to pick up. We cruised four weeks ago on the Freedom and Symphony OTS out of Miami on an almost B2B. A day apart and we started to feel bad on our travel day home from the SYM. We both tested positive that evening. We’re both fully vaxed and boosted. It was a minor case and our second bout since early July. We’re currently on board the Solstice but we only have a 90 to 120 minute drive home if we get sick again. Fingers crossed that we don’t. I look at it as a new part of cruising now. Certainly not the cruise lines fault. We made it through seven previous cruises this year with no Covid. Guess it was just our time. 🙂

 

We’re really enjoying the ship. Crew is amazing. I had read comments about the condition of the Solstice but overall we feel it’s in great shape. We had a very good dinner at Tuscan a few nights ago. Will be back there on the last few nights. Sorry that you did not enjoy it.  Luminae has been very good. So far we have skipped all entertainment in the main theater. It hasn’t interested us thus far. 

[Jim_Iain]

23 hours ago, Redking said:

Brought this to mind. Iain might appreciate it.

https://www.google.com/search?q=scots+in+a+lift&oq=scots+in+a+&aqs=chrome.0.0i512j69i60j69i57j0i512j0i22i30l6.7440j1j4&client=ms-android-samsung-gs-rev1&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:fd85cea7,vid:NMS2VnDveP8 

 

I'm a Scot and have lived in NZ and Oz for over 20 years. Also grew up in Hong Kong. I often get asked if I'm Canadian or Irish!

 

Love it.     Iain's Aunt had a very strong Ayrshire and when I first met her 34 years ago would usually just smile at her because I couldn't understand a thing she said.    Iain moved to America when about 21 and didn't want to be identified as a Scott and tried very hard to drop his accent.  Most people would never know he was Scottish unless they hear him talking to his Sister.      When someone doesn't believe he is a Scott I ask him to give them a bit of Robert Burns  -  which he had to memorize at school.

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

23 hours ago, nslatin said:

We will be enjoying the next sailing.  Is there any chance you can get the expected passenger count for that cruise?

 

Thanks in advance.

I asked Mar this morning and she said she hadn't looked yet but would.   Stay tuned.    I did a cabin count a couple weeks ago and was lighter than the current cruise.  

 

Mar just joined the ship on Saturday and had a crash course.   She will be on her own next week as on the Non-Revolutionzed Michael's they only have one host.   A Customer Service Manager had to also jump in unexpectedly when Penelope had to leave due to family issues.

 

I'm guessing 52-55% capacity. 

[Jim_Iain]

23 hours ago, Lena11033 said:

 

I love that video, so good.

 

Ha maybe people just can't get accents my husband once asked me where in England someone was from (they were Scottish). I had to tell him NEVER say that, just ask where someone was from if not sure. I'm more surprised my husband didn't figure that they were Scottish because they had a Glaswegian accent and I know he knows that because my uncle has that accent and I literally have to translate what's being said for my husband 🤣

 

Glaswegian and Ayrshire are similar but all so different.    Iain can pretty much tell which city or region a Scott is from ... Kinda like us recognizing a New York, Philly, Texan or Deep South...  Or the Canadian Ahhhhh..  and Aboot

Edited December 6, 2022 by Jim_Iain

[boxkite]

Jim and Iain, following along once again on your most excellent cruise adventure!

 

Solstice was our first S Class ship which we took to the Caribbean back in 2010.

 

Wonderful ship which we all loved so much that we went to Future Cruise Vacations to book a return Caribbean cruise for the following Summer. There we were disappointed to learn that no S Class ships would be sailing in the Caribbean the next Summer with Solstice being sent to the Mediterranean instead.

Keep those HDR picture coming!

[Jim_Iain]

23 hours ago, abbydancer said:

I've put about 60-80 at a time on slots when I can pull off the card, and 50-100 at a time when I have to go to cashier for the tickets.  I rarely go down below 20% and sometimes will play for 5 minutes.  I've rarely gone down anywhere near 80%, and I've never been locked out - I go back sometimes 2-3 times a day.

 

On the Silhouette recently people told me different things about how you can't do this.  Someone said you have to gamble 20%, etc, etc.  The only thing I've ever seen a a daily limit of 500.00, although that might have been on Princess.

 

I've found a hard limit of $300 at a time withdrawl.    We had a huge $5,000 to pull off once due to the Price Guarantee during covid post after final payment. 

[Jim_Iain]

22 hours ago, wrk2cruise said:

We were told you had to gamble 10% before the option is available again.  This was on the ship where you could do it from the machine.

Sometimes each casino person will tell you a different story.   The first time I ever did it the attendant helped show me how to tap and go to banker.   I asked for $300 and he said you know you have to play it on this machine only.   Of course that wasn't the case and I cashed out and tried a different machine. 

 

From what I can see is they just don't have the technology to monitor your coupons when you cycle them among different machines.  

[Jim_Iain]

22 hours ago, Rmoosh said:

Any idea where Marcela and Janet from the Retreat went? If you see Sinclair (room attendant) please say hi from us (the Moushons - broken royal suite in May)!

 

and if you like scotch ask Singh to make you a Monkey old fashion - my husbands favorite 

My understanding is their contracts were extended and extended and they finally go to go home.  

[Jim_Iain]

20 hours ago, fyree39 said:

Just saw a breaching whale. ❤️

 

I haven't seen one yet.   Was it on Port or Starboard?

 

Exception when we came down with Covid and couldn't get food until 11:00.   Was memorable but in a negative way.

Edited December 6, 2022 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

18 hours ago, Northern Aurora said:

 

Jim:  We have been to Cabo on 8 to 10 port calls, most recently in September 2022, and even when the we are the only ship we tender.  I have never seen a cruise ship docked at Cabo and don't know where they would dock.  If something has changed in the past two months, please post a photo of a docked cruise ship.  And I also don't think there is a "preferred" tender location.

 

I was indeed wrong.    Old age -- what can I say.   LOL.    Yesterday was hopping with Princess and Holland America in port.   Today we only have Disney with us.

 

The port was hopping when we Tendered in.

[Jim_Iain]

16 hours ago, jelayne said:

Beautiful night in  Cabo!  We stayed on the ship and had dinner on our balcony.

Lots of sea lions  barking in the background.

 

Joan, What fun>   We have never dined in our room for Dinner.

[LaCal]

1 hour ago, Astro Flyer said:

 

This is our first X cruise & my only time in Vietnam was when flown off the USS Midway 50 years ago into Da Nang to begin my journey home to muster out of the Navy.

 

Performances in the Solstice Theater have been at 1900 & 2100.

 

If anyone is interested in the MDR evening menus I have screenshots of the entrees that I could post.

I’d love to see the MDR menus and prob others will as well.  Thx 

[wrk2cruise]

Nice the unrevolutionized ships still have a table large enough to hold dinner.

[landlocked12]

17 minutes ago, LaCal said:

I’d love to see the MDR menus and prob others will as well.  Thx 

They are on the app so you can see them before you cruise. 

[Jim_Iain]

4 hours ago, GerScot said:

Sailing on Solstice for first time to Vietnam next year so following closely. Can you tell me what time theatre shows start so that I can organise dinners!

 

So far shows have been a 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM

 

You can also check the app closer to sailing and they will be listed on the Daily Planner

[Jim_Iain]

4 hours ago, upwarduk said:

Your 4x4 off road adventure- did you return after dark?😱
I don’t see lights on the 4x4, I have just switched ours on and it is now 4 pm ( I so hate these dark late afternoons).

 

We of course are much further south than you but sunset is at 5:35 PM and sunrise is 6:47 Am

 

We did watch the sun set over the Pacific about 1/2 way point and it was totally black with a beautiful almost full moon by the time we got back.    Some of the car's lights weren't working, luckily ours was -  I just had to figure out how to turn them on.

 

Cactus Tours is the operator and it is about 1 hour drive from the ship so was close to 7:30PM before we got back to the ship.

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, MamaFej said:

Be on the lookout for hitchhiking sea lions. They've been know to hop on the backs of fishing boats, with rather self-satified looks on their faces. 

I'm sure you're familiar with the look, given where you are from and your extensive travels. 

 

 

My grandpa was a master sea-lion impressionist: both the vocalizations, and the look.

 

We did see about a dozen sea lions and one of the biggest Yachts I've ever seen.

[Astro Flyer]

1 hour ago, LaCal said:

I’d love to see the MDR menus and prob others will as well.  Thx 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 6, 2022 by Astro Flyer

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, coconutpig said:

We disembarked 12/3.    we had an amazing time EXCEPT - we started to feel bad driving home and took a test and were Covid positive (first time).   So we did contract it from the ship.   Our sailing was light, approx 900 people and we  didn’t go to any shows or crowded areas.  We didn’t get in Elevators with other people.  We booked a suite and didn’t eat in main dining room.   I tried to be very safe washing my hands and sanitizing constantly.   I hope it was an isolated circumstance and not many especially crew affected.  
 

First time in a suite and loved it - will be hard to go back.   Luminae amazing food and service.   We went once to Tuscan Grille and it was a big disappointment.    we booked the Persian garden and did that for the week instead of the shows and it was mostly empty.  

 

Sorry to hear and hope you are recovering quickly.   When we caught it we tested positive for 11 days.

 

We have mostly been wearing masks.