Jim_Iain Live - 2nd Half World Cruise - B2B Singapore to Down Under 11/25 – 12/21

[MisterMet]

On 12/2/2023 at 6:47 PM, Jim_Iain said:

I mentioned the monitors on the bus.  
 

 

I like that idea.  Pam and are are both short.  We miss all the parades unless we’re in them😆😆

[MisterMet]

On 12/3/2023 at 3:34 AM, Jim_Iain said:

Geeze ======The toilet just started gurgling and sputtering and water shooting in the air.   Thank goodness no one was sitting on it would bring new meaning to a Bidet. 

 

Just called room attendant to disinfect the wash room.  At least in the CS it is a different room than the rest of the bathroom.   

 

Iain was in the shower at the time and I yelled in What the Hell are you doing...  LOL

I would’ve yelled the same thing😲

[kwokpot]

3 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Retraction.... Iain just said the lamb really wasn't very good.     He said it was a bit tough and undercooked.   I did remind him that Kumar told him Medium Rare is more like Rare and that  Medium would be between what traditional Rare and Medium. 

When I saw the photo I KNEW it was too rare. :Lamb has to be cooked to medium otherwise the meat is too tough and chewy to eat. I order all beef to be cooked to medium rare but lamb to medium. 

[colourbird]

39 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

When I saw the photo I KNEW it was too rare. :Lamb has to be cooked to medium otherwise the meat is too tough and chewy to eat. I order all beef to be cooked to medium rare but lamb to medium. 

 

I always have my lamb or beef cooked blue and don't have a problem. They get tough and chewy the more they are cooked. 

[mchell810]

20 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

On the ship the have Go-Pro that are waterproof.    I bought one and used it once and then gave to our son.   I really didn't like it.

 

When you have time I'd love to know why you didn't like the GoPro.  I am considering buying one for a likely Antarctic trip, but I am pretty sure I'd only use it in that situation.  I find my cell phone pictures to be enough.  Thanks.

 

And I have to say the scallops looked amazing!  Glad the lobster was good, too. 

Edited December 5, 2023 by mchell810

[Stem to Stern]

5 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

I’m caught up for the first time in about a week. 
 

Me too.

😂😂😂😂

[cachouonacruise]

@Jim_Iain

Thank-you again, for all the pictures and shared information. It is really enjoyable to follow you! 

 

One picture raised a question in my mind: your group picture on Evening Chic (beautiful picture, by the way).

 

My question is, regarding Celebrity Evening Chic.

 

Yes, I know, that it can range quite a bit, from business casual to fully formal.

 

This said, in the Caribbean for example, I found most people tended to dress more on the casual side of the dressing code. However, in Europe, the trend was a little more towards the formal side.

 

In short, how do most passengers dress, on Evening Chic nights in Australia and New-Zealand? ( More like the Caribbean? Europe? Or somewhere in between? )

 

P.s. best wishes for a continued good time on your cruise! 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

8 hours ago, 39august said:

I don't see asparagus in that photo. I wonder if I could order it without the eggs? Will be eating in Luminae in 5 weeks and hope to see the new menus on EQ. 

BTW -  they are pleased to customize any meal.   Just tell them no egg and 2x or 3x the Asparagus.

Iain likes a gravy with meats and chicken due to a narrow esophagus and last night asked for some brown gravy,  they brought out a nice gravy bowl on the side. 

 

[Jim_Iain]

7 hours ago, Cap_D said:

Jim or anyone, did I miss the update on the spontaneous toilet explosion? 

 

And, great photos with or without tweaks.  

 

Dinner looked great.  I know the ship gets replenished (sometimes more successfully than than others), and they have high tech refrigerators, humidity control, etc.   But, has anyone ever determined or been told if the menus are based on a general freshness to spoilage schedule?  I have not, but am curious how the menu fits with provisioning or is it luck that there is still fresh x on day whatever it is.  

 

A raw squash (on the menu) could last for months, some romaine lettuce or bags a week or so (thinking of warehouse club purchases where we've had romaine hearts for about a week or tad longer).

 

I think that they re-provision some of the items at each ports e.g. lettuce.    Many of the meats are sealed in the air tight vacuum bags that often have an extended refrigeration life.  

 

However they do it they do a great job.   They are still serving (at least in Retreat) Raspberries, Strawberries, blueberries, water Mellon etc.    Raspberries have a very short shelf life.

 

I was told that once Edge settles into the Australia / New Zealand series they will have a regular flow and products and will be bringing aboard Australian beers to support the  drinking habits of the Australian.  

 

Somethings are showing up which surprises me, to have taken so long.   e.g. Raw Sugar Crystals.      I noticed they had it in Al Bacio for the first time yesterday but in OVC the put out a bowl and a spoon instead of individual packets.    When our butler noticed the extra sachet on the cocktail table -   The morning he had the packets in our sugar bowl with Iain's tea service. 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

4 hours ago, kwokpot said:

When I saw the photo I KNEW it was too rare. :Lamb has to be cooked to medium otherwise the meat is too tough and chewy to eat. I order all beef to be cooked to medium rare but lamb to medium.

 

I love Lamb Medium Rare an the lab we get in California is tender enough to cut with a fork without a knife -  I honestly think it was just tough lamb as David ordered it Medium Well and also said was tough

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, mchell810 said:

 

When you have time I'd love to know why you didn't like the GoPro.  I am considering buying one for a likely Antarctic trip, but I am pretty sure I'd only use it in that situation.  I find my cell phone pictures to be enough.  Thanks.

 

And I have to say the scallops looked amazing!  Glad the lobster was good, too. 

 

The one I bought was about 5 years ago so may be different now.   When I was trying to use it You had to connect via I believe Blu Tooth then control the Go Pro - via the phone for trying to capture a time lapse of sailing out of the port.    Then I had to transfer the footage via bluetooth to my phone and then had to put all of the segments together.   Other options was you would connect to your laptop and do the same.  

 

I was wanting something I could just turn on and start shooting.   

 

May also just have been my technical knowledge as my son loved it  and was happy with the gift.   I did notice he used it a couple times and went back to his phone.

 

The scallops were good.    Mushrooms were sauteed with Garlic.  Scallops just seared on both side and succulent

[Jim_Iain]

2 hours ago, Stem to Stern said:

Me too.

😂😂😂😂

 

I was trying to find something I posted and had to do a search to find it.    It is fun and with all the sea days kept me out of trouble.   Well.   I did get in a little trouble.... Good Trouble.     I've been playing the Penny Slots ---   I think I mentioned before that 'm  terrified of gambling.    Mostly is even the slots I can't figure out what some of them are doing  but they just start spinning and ringing -  

 

This is from a guy that was a day trader for 4-5 years after retirement.      Iain tells me ---that's gambling -  I of course so -  no way  I was controlling my trades.   He laughs and says no way.   He just didn't understand the market.    I was a momentum trader and the only way I would loose is that the market just goes flat.    I would have 200-300 trades a day and loved it.   Finally retired from that also.    Not at huge gain but averaged about 18-20% gain a year.  

[Jim_Iain]

The nice thing about the machine I've been playing,  after about 10 days I think I understand what I need to do to get it to start the wheel sniping and doing automatic plays.   I've pulled about $3,400 of OBC off the account.    Initially I pulled some off and got frozen out from further charges to the room account.   A couple days later I was un-frozen.    My objective was to start taking out  $20 dollar increments playing until  I was up.    Then cash out and put the chit in my little room key holder.    Before I knew I had about 40-50 of those chits -   Then I would take out in 100-200 increments playing and when went above my initial withdrawal -  Cash out and move to a different machine.

 

Yesterday I started consolidating the little chits and playing a little more until above the value before moving machines again.    Kept me entertained. 

 

I cashed out everything and gave my Pimp - Iain, my earnings for the cruise fund. 
 

No more slots until next cruise.   This was just last nights cashing in. 
 

Better than working the streets!

Edited December 5, 2023 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

We originally planned on going ashore around 9:30 but we were all up early.    The anchor dropping right under our room was our wake up call.   After a light breakfast in Retreat, we joined a group that was about to be escorted to the tender. 

 

They really have it well organized.      The Retreat hosts are in walkie talkie contact with the crew controlling the tenders.   While a new tender is being tied off the escort the  group down and the Retreat guests are loaded and then the line of the regular guests fill up the tenders.    They were loading 2 tenders at a time from the Magic Carpet.   They were large Double Decker port tenders  holding about 300+ passengers each.   They had new ones waiting to replace each as they took off.  

 

It was a 20-25 minuted tender ride to the port.  They did a good job of providing guests with the price of the Shuttle and also information on costs by either Uber or Taxi. 
 

 

 

It always fun to watch people shooting selfies. 

 

 

Edited December 5, 2023 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

Since we have been to the Cairns area a number of times we planned a very relaxed day.   I rented a car through Gem Rent a Car.   I made reservations about 9 months ago to assure a booking.    

 

In my opinion it was a good a good deal for Au $135 ($88 US) for the day.    They are really good with communications. 

 

I had been advised that I should call them when I boarded the Tender and they would meet me at the pier.    When I called a very pleasant agent told me he would meet me at the Yacht Club adjacent to the Tender Dock.   He said he would be sitting under the big white tent to the right.

 

He then asked what color hat and pants I was wearing -  I said Purple Top and Red Shorts... He kidded and said he had a purple shirt on also.   We completed the paperwork in less than 10 minutes and took us to the car.   I rented a compact but he said with 4 he would give us a bigger car for free.    

 

Showed us all about the car and told us when we return it to park in the same area and lock the car in the trunk.    Easy enough

 

Off we went for a day trip to Port Douglas.

 

[Jim_Iain]

Port Douglas

 

Port Douglas is a town on the Coral Sea in the tropical far north of Queensland, Australia. It's known for its beach resorts and as a base for visits to both the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest reef system, and Daintree National Park, home to biodiverse rainforest. In town, Macrossan Street is lined with boutique shops and restaurants. Curving south is popular Four Mile Beach.

Stock Photo---

 

Google Maps

[hcat]

8 hours ago, kwokpot said:

When I saw the photo I KNEW it was too rare. :Lamb has to be cooked to medium otherwise the meat is too tough and chewy to eat. I order all beef to be cooked to medium rare but lamb to medium. 

I could not eat these.. look raw!

 

Most of the other fancy items do not appeal by their looks..that's why BLU is the better choice for us..Nice to have choices!

[Stem to Stern]

3 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

I've pulled about $3,400 of OBC

That is quite a shipload of OBC.  
Well played, Jim.

[Northern Aurora]

Inquiring minds want to know — when you tendered back to the ship did you use the Magic Carpet?  It was damaged by one of the private tenders and is now parked.  Rumors are that it may be out of service for a while.

 

Gerry

[terrydtx]

14 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Retraction.... Iain just said the lamb really wasn't very good.     He said it was a bit tough and undercooked.   I did remind him that Kumar told him Medium Rare is more like Rare and that  Medium would be between what traditional Rare and Medium. 

On the Apex in September my DW ordered the lamb chops in the Roof Top Grill medium rare and they came out well done more on the cremated side.  She sent them back and the next ones came back rare and at least 50% fat and gristle and inedible. We complained to the manager and he offered to comp us another dinner there and we declined as we stayed with Luminae the rest of the cruise. Two nights later we had them in the Luminae and they were just as tough no matter what doneness. Must be whoever Celebrity is using to source their lamb. I hope by the time we get on the Edge next month they are getting local lamb of better quality.

Edited December 5, 2023 by terrydtx

[Whinenowine]

15 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Retraction.... Iain just said the lamb really wasn't very good.     He said it was a bit tough and undercooked.   I did remind him that Kumar told him Medium Rare is more like Rare and that  Medium would be between what traditional Rare and Medium. 

 

I told him he should have had the lobster and he said I didn't like all the other things with it.   Being the gentleman I am I replied.... this is Burger King you can have it your way... just tell him you want just the Lobster with some drawn butter..... Ohhhhh yea he replied you know as a good Scotsman I don't like to bend the rules.   

🤣 (btw--you've got Burger King above and a Wendy's line from below...still waiting for McDonalds and KFC)

[Whinenowine]

4 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Port Douglas

 

Port Douglas is a town on the Coral Sea in the tropical far north of Queensland, Australia. It's known for its beach resorts and as a base for visits to both the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest reef system, and Daintree National Park, home to biodiverse rainforest. In town, Macrossan Street is lined with boutique shops and restaurants. Curving south is popular Four Mile Beach.

Stock Photo---

 

 

Google Maps

We spent part of our honeymoon in the Daintree (Cape Tribulation); was pretty cool having rainforest on one side of the road and beach on the other. But it was a 3hr drive from Cairns so likely to far for you to drive (if you didn't visit on one of your prior trips).

[NMTraveller]

51 minutes ago, Whinenowine said:

🤣 (btw--you've got Burger King above and a Wendy's line from below...still waiting for McDonalds and KFC)

I believe they call Burger King Hungry Jacks in Australia 🤣

[terrydtx]

39 minutes ago, Whinenowine said:

We spent part of our honeymoon in the Daintree (Cape Tribulation); was pretty cool having rainforest on one side of the road and beach on the other. But it was a 3hr drive from Cairns so likely to far for you to drive (if you didn't visit on one of your prior trips).

We booked a private Daintree Rainforest tour for 8 of us when we stop in Port Douglas next month.  From Cairns we are doing the train excursion to the rain forest as well. The more I read Jim's reports here the more excited we are getting.

Edited December 5, 2023 by terrydtx

[terrydtx]

2 hours ago, Northern Aurora said:

Inquiring minds want to know — when you tendered back to the ship did you use the Magic Carpet?  It was damaged by one of the private tenders and is now parked.  Rumors are that it may be out of service for a while.

 

Gerry

Was it damaged today?  If so, I hope it is fixed by our cruises next month as we have a lot of tendered ports on both cruises. The MC makes getting on and off tenders so much easier and efficient.