Mike981 Posted September 16, 2023 #176 Share Posted September 16, 2023 Jim, I'm wondering if you notice any difference in passenger types between Celebrity & Ponant? I have to say your food pictures sure seem to say the food is better than Celebrity. Brother I am really enjoying this review. Growing up in Wisconsin, our yearly summer trip was to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where my mother grew up (Iron River). Your beautiful pictures are bringing back some great memories, thank you Sir. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philbob84 Posted September 16, 2023 #177 Share Posted September 16, 2023 Hi Jim QUick question what brand of coffee and tea are on board? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted September 16, 2023 Author #178 Share Posted September 16, 2023 3 hours ago, Mike981 said: Jim, I'm wondering if you notice any difference in passenger types between Celebrity & Ponant? I have to say your food pictures sure seem to say the food is better than Celebrity. Brother I am really enjoying this review. Growing up in Wisconsin, our yearly summer trip was to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where my mother grew up (Iron River). Your beautiful pictures are bringing back some great memories, thank you Sir. I would say (just my observation) that the passengers are more refined and more courteous, engaging and polite. Even though wine is freely poured with meals and drinks are included I've not seen a single inebriated, loud or disrespectful guest. With a much smaller passenger load guest engage more frequently and we have been invited to join other on 3 nights. Food is definitely much better than Celebrity. It may just be us and normal dining room practice but the staff (not sure if it is lack of training or normal on Ponant) in the dining room don't deliver plates at the same time, pick up plates before your table mate is finished and seem to rush the dinner service. Just seem strange when dining with others and one person doesn't have their meal yet - and I feel compelled to wait. Maybe one of our Ponant cruiser can let us know if this is normal practice on all Ponant ships. Back to the food - I had been told the Hamburgers on Ponant were incredible. I finally got around to having one at lunch. They are huge - probably 1/2 pound, cooked individually to order (perfect medium rare for me). The fries were also cooked fresh and so hot I could hardly bite into them when first served. One other item I discovered was that on the Grill Deck they have a Ice Cream / Sorbet station with a choice of 4 or 5. It is self service and all types of garnish - chocolate, butterscotch, nuts etc available to finish of a perfect bowl of ice cream. All Ice Creams are made on-board and are far better than even the gelato on Celebrity. While the first nights dinner was a little lack luster - possibly due to what we ordered. All other dinners we have given a 10 Rating. Perfect prep and the Chef often goes ashore at ports to source local products. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted September 16, 2023 Author #179 Share Posted September 16, 2023 2 hours ago, philbob84 said: Hi Jim QUick question what brand of coffee and tea are on board? The coffee is all Nescafe pods. While Celebrity has the same - I'm not sure if it's the machine or what's in the pods but far better than Celebrity. For a Cappuccino the Foam is extremely dry and mounds on top like a scoop of Whipped Cream. It is so dry you can't get the last of it out of your cup without a spoon. Also far better than Starbucks. Tea - the have Palais Des Thes - Organic teas and have a choice of 5-6 different types. WWW. PALAISDESTHES.COM 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted September 16, 2023 Author #180 Share Posted September 16, 2023 3 hours ago, Mike981 said: Jim, I'm wondering if you notice any difference in passenger types between Celebrity & Ponant? I have to say your food pictures sure seem to say the food is better than Celebrity. Brother I am really enjoying this review. Growing up in Wisconsin, our yearly summer trip was to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where my mother grew up (Iron River). Your beautiful pictures are bringing back some great memories, thank you Sir. We have truly been enjoying this part of the countries. All of the ports have been Canadian Ports except Milwaukee. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted September 16, 2023 Author #181 Share Posted September 16, 2023 @parkey had he brother take a picture of us passing through the St Clair. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted September 16, 2023 #182 Share Posted September 16, 2023 55 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said: Just seem strange when dining with others and one person doesn't have their meal yet - and I feel compelled to wait. Maybe one of our Ponant cruiser can let us know if this is normal practice on all Ponant ships. This is the typical French approach: in the 1960s while a college student in France we had a course on etiquette [because Americans, well you know...] and we were told that in France you start eating when your food is delivered, while it is hot. Do not wait for others. But the other issue, removing plates when only one person has finished – that is not French etiquette. Similarly, in a French restaurant, after you have finished your desert and coffee you will wait all night and never get a bill – until you ask for it. Vive la différence! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare DaKahuna Posted September 17, 2023 #183 Share Posted September 17, 2023 Jim, I have been wondering if you have been able to get your 10-mile walk in each day given the smaller size of this ship? I assume that you are on days you are going ashore since you have discussed many walks but I cannot remember if there was a port on every day or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted September 17, 2023 Author #184 Share Posted September 17, 2023 13 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said: This is the typical French approach: in the 1960s while a college student in France we had a course on etiquette [because Americans, well you know...] and we were told that in France you start eating when your food is delivered, while it is hot. Do not wait for others. But the other issue, removing plates when only one person has finished – that is not French etiquette. Similarly, in a French restaurant, after you have finished your desert and coffee you will wait all night and never get a bill – until you ask for it. Vive la différence! Thanks much for the clarity. Last night for the second Gala Night. Perfect service both on delivery and pick up. Fantastic Dinner. I do have to say we have had the best food 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted September 17, 2023 Author #185 Share Posted September 17, 2023 8 hours ago, DaKahuna said: Jim, I have been wondering if you have been able to get your 10-mile walk in each day given the smaller size of this ship? I assume that you are on days you are going ashore since you have discussed many walks but I cannot remember if there was a port on every day or not. We did all except one sea day. Did the walking on long hikes 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted September 17, 2023 Author #186 Share Posted September 17, 2023 Last night was the 2nd Gala Night. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted September 17, 2023 Author #187 Share Posted September 17, 2023 Niagara Falls Today 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted September 17, 2023 Author #188 Share Posted September 17, 2023 (edited) Lunch Edited September 17, 2023 by Jim_Iain 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted September 17, 2023 Author #189 Share Posted September 17, 2023 Afternoon Tea. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted September 17, 2023 Author #190 Share Posted September 17, 2023 We passed through our first Lock at 4 but been in a holding position due to some congestion downstream. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted September 17, 2023 Author #191 Share Posted September 17, 2023 Room Service Menu 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted September 17, 2023 Author #192 Share Posted September 17, 2023 Pillow Menu 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare DaKahuna Posted September 17, 2023 #193 Share Posted September 17, 2023 1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said: Pillow Menu I like ergonomic pillows. They had some very firm ones in Japan that I wish I had brought home with me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted September 18, 2023 Author #194 Share Posted September 18, 2023 12 hours ago, DaKahuna said: I like ergonomic pillows. They had some very firm ones in Japan that I wish I had brought home with me. Iain loves the ergonomic. I prefer a Down pillow but the feather ones worked ok. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted September 18, 2023 Author #195 Share Posted September 18, 2023 Due to congestion we did not to Lock 7 until almost 10PM. The Final dinner 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted September 18, 2023 Author #196 Share Posted September 18, 2023 We are in Toronto. Disembarkation is by a 3 color tag system. 1. Cars arranged by Ponant 2. Tours and Bus Service 3. Those using own transport We will be last - at 8am first group called. We are due to depart at 9am As we will not be able to check in until noon at our AirBnB I found a luggage storage area via an APP called Bounce. The have luggage storage area all over. Many like the one we have is a Dry Cleaners. Cost 8 Canadian per bag. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluso Posted September 18, 2023 #197 Share Posted September 18, 2023 On 9/16/2023 at 5:10 PM, Jim_Iain said: Food is definitely much better than Celebrity. It may just be us and normal dining room practice but the staff (not sure if it is lack of training or normal on Ponant) in the dining room don't deliver plates at the same time, pick up plates before your table mate is finished and seem to rush the dinner service. Just seem strange when dining with others and one person doesn't have their meal yet - and I feel compelled to wait. Maybe one of our Ponant cruiser can let us know if this is normal practice on all Ponant ships. When we lived in Europe, this was standard practice. This was not limited to France. We were told it would "offend the chef" if we waited to start eating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Jazzbeau Posted September 18, 2023 #198 Share Posted September 18, 2023 1 hour ago, cluso said: When we lived in Europe, this was standard practice. This was not limited to France. We were told it would "offend the chef" if we waited to start eating. And if you offend a French chef (by asking for ketchup, for instance) you may be ‘asked’ to leave the restaurant! 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare DaKahuna Posted September 18, 2023 #199 Share Posted September 18, 2023 Jim, From all appearances it seems both Iian and yourself throughly enjoyed this cruise and Ponant. So this begs the questions: When // where is your next Ponant cruise Have you decided to totally abandon Celebrity or just supplement Celebrity cruises with cruises on other lines? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted September 18, 2023 Author #200 Share Posted September 18, 2023 7 hours ago, cluso said: When we lived in Europe, this was standard practice. This was not limited to France. We were told it would "offend the chef" if we waited to start eating. Thanks for sharing. In college I worked in a French Restaurant and probably old school French with dome service and was very much choreographed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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