Jim_Iain Apex Key West, TansAtlantic and British Isle with a Week in Amsterdam

[cachouonacruise]

9 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

When you are a guest in Luminae you get the exact same menu as all other guests and no limits on how many entrees you wish.   Example on Lobster night it you wanted 2X, 3X etc would never be denied  

 

The main difference is that Luminae is suppose to only cook to order and never cooked in batches...

 

Usually the food is very good and if you are disappointed just let your waiter know.  Generally the real difference is the service and attention to detail but like I mentioned sometimes their have been failures.  

 

Thank-you so much Jim for taking the time to respond to my question. I really appreciate it! 
 

You see, in my position being offered a likely once in a life time opportunity, I really did not want to order from the Blu or MDR menus.
 

I wanted to taste and see the Luminae experience. I really was hoping to be blown away, by the taste, colors and service like I have been on five star land restaurants...
 

In my context as a guest, complaining or asking a different dish, was not an option in my mind. It would have been embarrassing as a privileged guess to do so! 

 

Your description of service, correspond to the service we received in the MDR second seating. Like you, we absolutely enjoy, taking our time and eat at a leisurely pace. Our sommelier and servers offered attentive and personalized service.

 

So, my conclusion is that for me, the Suite experience is not necessarily a good match for us.

 

Thank-you so much for helping me better understand the Luminae experience! 

 

 

 

[DaKahuna]

1 minute ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

If you ordered that I would agree... I tried it once and it was absolutely terrible.   I unserstand that on Beyond they have revamped he Daniel B Menu at the bottom - 

 

On the other hand the Pistachio Rasberry Vacherin is my favorite go to if no other desert excite me.   Ok  time for another Bit€h session... I love Ice Cream.   In Luminae they only have Vanilla, Chocolate and Strawberry and also the sorbet and Gelato that are served with other deserts.    In the MDR they have about 6 choices and specialty ice cream flavors every night.   

I  hope that is E-class only but tell me your favorite flavor and I’ll order a scoop for tonight’s dessert in Luminae. I had pistachio and butter pecan after lunch today but went to the OVC to get it.  We had skipped dessert but while walking around after we had finished lunch I decided I wanted ice cream.  Had to wait in line behind 17 people but the line moved fast

[Jim_Iain]

3 minutes ago, Purplsmurf said:

After winning that in the casino you might not be a Pearl anymore…..now possibly an Onyx 😂

How many points do you need or Onyx.  Part of the winnings were on Iain's Card.   I had both with me to pull off $300 on each card.   --- Darn -  I gave him my points.  

 

Ok Google to the Rescue --

 

Pearl: New members start here. Onyx: 2,500+ points. Amethyst: 25,000+ points. Sapphire: 100,000+ points.

 

To progress to higher tiers in Blue Chip Club, players must earn enough qualifying points in a 15 month period. To earn loyalty tier points on a slot machine at Celebrity Cruises, players must cycle through $1.00 dollars per tier point*.

 

Ok... I'm clueless -   I pressed some button and It said I had $1.00 in my Casio Bank -   I took it off and the darn machine clinged and clanged and auto spun and I cashed out $130   Does that mean I still have 2,370 to go..  I just keep consolidating all my little slips into that slip below. 

 

OK... what does cycle through mean.  

[Purplsmurf]

1 minute ago, Jim_Iain said:

How many points do you need or Onyx.  Part of the winnings were on Iain's Card.   I had both with me to pull off $300 on each card.   --- Darn -  I gave him my points.  

 

Ok Google to the Rescue --

 

Pearl: New members start here. Onyx: 2,500+ points. Amethyst: 25,000+ points. Sapphire: 100,000+ points.

 

To progress to higher tiers in Blue Chip Club, players must earn enough qualifying points in a 15 month period. To earn loyalty tier points on a slot machine at Celebrity Cruises, players must cycle through $1.00 dollars per tier point*.

 

Ok... I'm clueless -   I pressed some button and It said I had $1.00 in my Casio Bank -   I took it off and the darn machine clinged and clanged and auto spun and I cashed out $130   Does that mean I still have 2,370 to go..  I just keep consolidating all my little slips into that slip below. 

 

OK... what does cycle through mean.  

Oh goodness! 😂 I don’t play many slots. I a table game player so not 100% sure. I just know it’s 2500 to Onyx. I’m just thrilled for you that you won so much! Congratulations!

[DaKahuna]

@Jim_Iain They still have the raspberry pistachio vacherin on the menu on Millie.  Have never ordered it but I may this cruise. 

[hcat]

On 4/22/2023 at 3:53 PM, kwokpot said:

Without taking this too far OT I offer you a full throated apology for my aggressive comments about your posts. 

No issue here.. You and I have agreed abt many issues on X, including thermal  suites and dining.  I should have tried to verify  but the rep said all this with great authority..

 

 We  would have gone crazy if we booked it  and  found  out it was a Porthole.  We do not do Portholes!

 

i will be reluctant to pass along info even from X travel planners unless I have been on the ship and see it for myself..I am  now somewhat gun shy about the  Pool Cabanas but that's only for one day!

 

sail on...

[hcat]

jim

thanks  for posting the full cabana drink and dining menu.

 

Nothing available yet  for our next 2 cruises 

 

we want to give it try, esp on the cruise where we have an IV booked....might ge a fun idea even if not a great view..but hopefully not a walkway on Ascent

 

[Jim_Iain]

[KellyCz]

@Jim_Iain I'm a very infrequent cruiser, having taken just three cruises total and only one on Celebrity. But I sure am enjoying following you on this trip. Thanks for sharing your adventures!

[Jim_Iain]

1 hour ago, DaKahuna said:

@Jim_Iain They still have the raspberry pistachio vacherin on the menu on Millie.  Have never ordered it but I may this cruise. 

They also still have it on Apex.  I’ve had it 3 times so far. 

[cabogal]

On 4/22/2023 at 5:12 PM, cruiseerf said:

May I ask the total passenger count on the ship for the Crossing?  Thanks in advance!  

Captain said 2650 passengers.

[Jim_Iain]

1 hour ago, cachouonacruise said:

Thank-you so much Jim for taking the time to respond to my question. I really appreciate it! 
 

You see, in my position being offered a likely once in a life time opportunity, I really did not want to order from the Blu or MDR menus.
 

I wanted to taste and see the Luminae experience. I really was hoping to be blown away, by the taste, colors and service like I have been on five star land restaurants...
 

In my context as a guest, complaining or asking a different dish, was not an option in my mind. It would have been embarrassing as a privileged guess to do so! 

 

Your description of service, correspond to the service we received in the MDR second seating. Like you, we absolutely enjoy, taking our time and eat at a leisurely pace. Our sommelier and servers offered attentive and personalized service.

 

So, my conclusion is that for me, the Suite experience is not necessarily a good match for us.

 

Thank-you so much for helping me better understand the Luminae experience! 

 

 

 

I would have to say that we have sailed in Aqua and really enjoyed Blu.  As a matter of fact we have eaten in Blu while in a suite a number of time.  
 

We mostly sail for the retreat itself and a real bedroom with door

[realnice46]

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

That is breathtaking. Beautiful photo!

[Ken the cruiser]

4 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

I’ve got to ask, what type of camera did you take this picture with? If it was your phone, what type of device and version is it? That is an awesome picture!!

[Jim_Iain]

10 hours ago, Purplsmurf said:

Oh goodness! 😂 I don’t play many slots. I a table game player so not 100% sure. I just know it’s 2500 to Onyx. I’m just thrilled for you that you won so much! Congratulations!

 

I did a little Googling -   Pass through means how much money you actually played not what you may have won.   The example given was you put in $25 and you played $25 dollars and won $1,000 you play through is the $25 dollar. 

[Jim_Iain]

10 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

@Jim_Iain They still have the raspberry pistachio vacherin on the menu on Millie.  Have never ordered it but I may this cruise. 

 

It is yummy..... I can't say the same for the Soup and the Chicken.   They are nicely prepared but I just don't enjoy the season's that are used.   The MD claims the Chef on Apex makes his own spices and many guests love it.

[Jim_Iain]

9 hours ago, KellyCz said:

@Jim_Iain I'm a very infrequent cruiser, having taken just three cruises total and only one on Celebrity. But I sure am enjoying following you on this trip. Thanks for sharing your adventures!

 

Glad your here.  I hope you post often as especially on a long set of cruises like this people settle in and it gets lots quieter.    I however just keep posting away.    The live post become more of a diary.

 

I have met so many nice folks from CC on this cruise.   I'm glad they have the nerve to come up to me and introduce themselves.    I'm sure many would be surprised that I have a shy side and find it difficult without pushing myself to come up to a total stranger and introduce myself.    But once someone says hi my extrovert side comes out.

[Jim_Iain]

5 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

I’ve got to ask, what type of camera did you take this picture with? If it was your phone, what type of device and version is it? That is an awesome picture!!

 

Thanks Ken-    It's just my little (well not little) 'ol phone.     With Apple being my next door neighbor I of course have an iPhone 12 Pro Max.    I'm one of those people that Stay up 'til midnight on Order Launch Day and order the latest phone with every phone from iPhone 1.   

 

I often pick it up on release date and often Steve Jobs and Steve Wazniak were at the Door to high five when the doors opened.    Cook and Waz still carry on the tradition.

 

I find the Pro Max a little  difficult to disable some camera features as it tries so hard to create a picture by a logarithm some developer created.    It often either over or under exposes.    One feature I do like is that all photos are what the call Live -  It basically captures about a 1-3 second mini movie that takes all the images and averages out the lights and shadows.   It also allows you to select the key image in case someone were to blink or turn their head and you want the moment a couple mili seconds earlier. 

 

 

[hcat]

9 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

I would have to say that we have sailed in Aqua and really enjoyed Blu.  As a matter of fact we have eaten in Blu while in a suite a number of time.  
 

We mostly sail for the retreat itself and a real bedroom with door

We  have mostly sailed in AQ Class since it started,  although the IV stateroom set up has caused us to stray on E Class.  The Sunset Veranda works well...larger stateroom, huge balcony and great aft views of  the sea, sunrise, sunset, night sky etc.  Can be a bit sunny out there...not much overhang 

 

When we tried the Retreat suite on BEYOND in November, we did not care for Luminae. It was a very dark space and I was hit by the robo door and  locked in the bathroom more than once....bad door technology. . The service there was mostly excellent but  we did not like  that the bread was doled out by a server and often not ready  (???)  , there wasn't a bread basket on the table.

We   also prefer the BLU tray of spreads versus the amuse bouche.

 

The Luminae menu was not for us..we ate mostly the everyday options..salmon, beef.   Food itself was "meh".  Tiny, slimey and limp shrimp cocktail with a very 

" ketchupy" cocktail sauce..

 

We escaped to BLU  for one night...it was a light and bright space,  with stellar service,  a great menu and food prepared more to our liking....jumbo fresh shrimp cockrail..proper sauce. Nice bread basket.

 

looking forward to AQ Class & BLU  On ASCENT...we will cope with the IV. and try to eat in the mdr on Prime Rib night as BLU generally does not  offer that.

 

On APEX, we will be in an SV  (due to AQ jump in pricing,) and make our early dining res mostly in Tuscan and Cyprus..our favorites of the 4 mdrs.

(smaller, more intimate). Great window views!

No one goes hungry on X... but I'm just sharing our preferences..that may help others decide.

Edited April 24, 2023 by hcat

[Jim_Iain]

Last night was the first chic night.  Lots of activities including the Silent Disco

 

 

 

Incredible sunset.  

[hcat]

8 hours ago, realnice46 said:

That is breathtaking. Beautiful photo!

Jim.... that sky pic  in my mind is one  of your best!

 

maybe sone day you could do a thresd of  photos by Jim Lain.. My favs are the sunrise. sunsets,  at sea pics  reflections  the doors and things/ people that catch your eye in port and on ship.Guess that's  most if it..

 

big fan here!

 

 

Edited April 24, 2023 by hcat

[Jim_Iain]

@hcat  Can understand complete.   In fact we sailed a couple times in Aqua and was planning to do it more often when Zenith's were allowed in Retreat regardless of cabin class.   We thought it was the sweet spot since we already got Premium Wifi, Premium Drinks and Unlimited Laundry. 

 

We do enjoy the Retreat / Michael's club and rarely go for  breakfast or drinks anywhere else on the ship.   When we sailed Aqua after banishment from Retreat we really missed it.... So... here we are.

 

Our Sweet spot is the CS but often travel SS and RS. 

 

 

[hcat]

8 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Last night was the first chic night.  Lots of activities including the Silent Disco

 

 

 

Incredible sunset.  

love these too..  happiness is shining through!

[hcat]

Just now, hcat said:

love these too..  happiness is shining through!

 

[Jim_Iain]

8 minutes ago, hcat said:

Jim.... One of your best!

maybe sone day you could do a thresd of  photos by Jim Lain.. My favs are the sunrise. sunsets,  at sea pics  reflections  the doors and things/ people that catch your eye in port and on ship.Guess that's  most if it..

 

big fan here!

 

I'm addicted to Sunsets and Sunrises.    My screen saver on my phone is a Sunset.  

 

I do get a kick out of just shooting things that catch my eye.   Sometimes Iain walking next to me will ask where did you see that "I didn't even notice it".  

 

I would hate for you to see the rejected photos.   Last night's Sunset I think I took 40-50 shots.   It's incredible that a sunset changes by the second ...

 

I think if I posted a photo thread the OP would move it to the camera and photo Category.  I rarely go over there.

 

I was expecting more from this shot but just doesn’t have it.   Sometimes you get flares of light exactly at sunset and beginning of twilight. 
 

Edited April 24, 2023 by Jim_Iain