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

[Jim_Iain]

2 hours ago, westcoastsue said:

It’s Durdle Door. I used to go there as a child.

Thanks.  I’m terrible in typing on my iPhone. 

[jetblue]

9 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Both Captain Alex and the retreat hosts looked it up on the computer.  
 

Even the MD in Luminae said the dining room was really empty with Iconic and 20 SS empty. 

 

I believe the official count shared to us last week was 1,976 passengers. Of course I have no way of guaranteeing the accuracy of that but this number was shared by the Cruise Director on her morning show on the TV. 

 

I can confirm however how empty the Retreat was last week. It really was marvelous! We were on the Apex in November in the Retreat with every suite sold and honestly found it quite miserable. The spaces are not designed for full capacity. Was much nicer last week with the Retreat at half capacity. We did have an MD change in Luminae half through the sailing, but other than that, nothing unusual to report.

[Jim_Iain]

18 hours ago, REEtired said:

I must have missed it. What is happening to Silhouette and where is she going.  Sorry to hijack Jim. SIL is one of our favorite ships.  Marie 

Hijacking’s is not only acceptable it’s encouraged.  

 

Silhouette is based out of Southampton and doing a number of itineraries.   

[Jim_Iain]

5 minutes ago, jetblue said:

 

I believe the official count shared to us last week was 1,976 passengers. Of course I have no way of guaranteeing the accuracy of that but this number was shared by the Cruise Director on her morning show on the TV. 

 

I can confirm however how empty the Retreat was last week. It really was marvelous! We were on the Apex in November in the Retreat with every suite sold and honestly found it quite miserable. The spaces are not designed for full capacity. Was much nicer last week with the Retreat at half capacity. We did have an MD change in Luminae half through the sailing, but other than that, nothing unusual to report.

Really funny how everyone is talking about how much lower the count last week was but all on the ship were told closer to 2,000

 

Maybe PR. 
 

Yea Yuksel went down to Normandy and is going home at end of this cruise and the MD he shares with Daniel is taking Luminae. 

[Jim_Iain]

2 hours ago, westcoastsue said:

Your Dorset Tour was like a trip through my childhood - I grew up in Somerset (the next County over) but moved to California when I was 19.

You were blessed with gorgeous weather and I love your photos.

It has been incredible weather.   Maybe reward for the TA weather. 
 

 

[cluso]

When I was served my dinner last night at a local restaurant, I thought about you.  It included succotash with black eye peas, onion, tomato, and OKRA!  Very tasty.  Sorry, I just had to show you...😁 

[Redking]

46 minutes ago, cluso said:

When I was served my dinner last night at a local restaurant, I thought about you.  It included succotash with black eye peas, onion, tomato, and OKRA!  Very tasty.  Sorry, I just had to show you...😁 

We could start an Okra and Beets thread just for Jim. I nearly posted a photo of the roasted Beet Hummus that I made the other day.

[Jim_Iain]

11 hours ago, cluso said:

When I was served my dinner last night at a local restaurant, I thought about you.  It included succotash with black eye peas, onion, tomato, and OKRA!  Very tasty.  Sorry, I just had to show you...😁 

 

 

Beautiful photo.  Really looked yummy until I spotted the OKRA.

[Jim_Iain]

10 hours ago, Redking said:

We could start an Okra and Beets thread just for Jim. I nearly posted a photo of the roasted Beet Hummus that I made the other day.

 

LOL ---  I don't mind see them but they don't make it to my mouth.

 

Saying that -  When we were at Senses in Amsterdam,  One of the dishes had Sweet Breads.    I have never even imagined eating it, while Iain loves all those parts of an animal.   It was absolutely incredible and I will never be hesitant about trying it again.

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

Wednesday - 5/18/2023    Cobh

 

We arrived on time in Cobh.   Since we have an overnight here we decided to sleep in and meet for lunch at noon in the Ocean View Cafe.

 

They had lot of Irish inspired dishes and I settled for Lamb Balls with a Blue Cheese Sauce.   Then as  Treat they had a Banana Split station.

Doesn't that look better than OKRA

 

 

 

Edited May 18, 2023 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

Since I was up in Ocean view. Couple of things I noticed

 

Rotisserie Chicken

 

[Jim_Iain]

A Gluten Free Bread Selection

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

Next off to Cork for the day. 
 

Fare is 3.45 Euros pp but discounted at the machines for Seniors over 65.  Trains every 30 minutes on the hour. 
 

Trip takes about 20 minutes 

 

 

 

arrived in Cork. 

[Jim_Iain]

 

We came out of the Station and turned Left.    We walked toward town which is about 1 Km  about .6 miles.    (about a 6-7 minute walk).  Beautiful flowers growing on the stone walls.   Obviously a sign of the Irish mist and damp climate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 18, 2023 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

We agreed to break up and meet back at the Father Mathew Monument at the top of the Saint Patrick Street

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 18, 2023 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

Cork is a town of approximately 198,000.   Having Lived in Ireland    I thought I would share an interesting statistic.   Ireland has a population of 5 Million and the biggest city is Dublin.  

 

Rank	City	Population
1	Dublin	1,110,627
2	Belfast	579,726
3	Cork	198,582
4	Derry	93,512

[Jim_Iain]

While Cork is a relatively small city it is a very vibrant tow with lots of local color and flavor.   I love people watching and will be posting some that interested me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I got a chuckle of the Hutu sleeping and the flame 🔥 thrower in mural. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 18, 2023 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

Cork's English Market

 

Cork’s iconic English market has been trading since 1788.  One of the oldest and certainly the best covered market in Europe, it has survived famine, flood, war, fires, and multiple recessions to remain a strong part of Cork’s retail environment. 

 

“…the stomach and soul of Cork city, it provides nourishment for both… It’s great to have a chat and to look into the eyes of the person selling to you.  The market is a true gem…” - Ross Lewis: Chapter One

Significant to the City as a commercial asset, the building is also architecturally significant so is valued as a heritage and tourist attraction.

 

Renowned as a food market, it is an important part of food culture in Cork, with an emphasis on fresh, local produce with traditional Cork foods as well as an array of international delights. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 18, 2023 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

Next we came upon Butler’s Chocolates and Coffee

 

you select a tasty chocolate to go with your coffee. 

[Jim_Iain]

Time to head back to ship. 
 

 

 

 

[Ramsgate23]

Cork, also known as the rebel county and The PRC(Peoples Republic Of Cork!😂). If you’d time the Jameson Distillery in Midleton is worth a visit. 

[Jim_Iain]

49 minutes ago, Ramsgate23 said:

Cork, also known as the rebel county and The PRC(Peoples Republic Of Cork!😂). If you’d time the Jameson Distillery in Midleton is worth a visit. 

We are off to Spike Island again today.    We are lucky to have another beautiful day to greet us. 
 

 

[Ramsgate23]

32 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

We are off to Spike Island again today.    We are lucky to have another beautiful day to greet us. 
 

 

I’ve never actually made it to Spike. But DW and daughters went last summer and said it was brilliant. Enjoy. 

[upwarduk]

2 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Ireland has a population of 5 Million and the biggest city is Dublin.  

Yorkshire is bigger 5.486 million in 2019( according to Google).

Edited May 18, 2023 by upwarduk

[TommyD3]

4 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Next off to Cork for the day. 
 

Fare is 3.45 Euros pp but discounted at the machines for Seniors over 65.  Trains every 30 minutes on the hour.

How does the machine verify you are over 65 ???