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

[Jim_Iain]

12 minutes ago, Wookie01 said:

@Jim_Iain hope your internet service improves. Have they said why it is so slow?
Enjoy your sea days before hitting Auckland 🙂

 

 

The internet did return to the regular speeds by this morning.   
 

 

Edited December 9, 2023 by Jim_Iain

[REEtired]

4 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

We haven't spotted her but at Zenith lunch a couple I was talking to said they saw her dining last night in Cosmopolitan with a large contingent.   

 

They said they had tried to order about 3 drinks on the menu and were told they didn't have the ingredients.   They filled out an attention to detail form and next day they got a call saying the Food and Beverage said he instruction the restaurants to have everything for every drink on the menu.    Probably because of LHB because up until now lots of shortages.

Jim, we will be on board Edge B2B starting February 15, sailing from Auckland and continuing onto GBR for the following cruise.  
 Marie

 

[Jim_Iain]

We met Robert and David at the museum.  Using Find My could see them arrive for easy meet up. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

15 minutes ago, REEtired said:

Jim, we will be on board Edge B2B starting February 15, sailing from Auckland and continuing onto GBR for the following cruise.  
 Marie

 

 

Weather may be totally different or the same as us as you will be in beginning of Fall and I guess we are early Summer.

 

Sydney and GBR were REALLY hot.    We left Sydney with 110F and today at sea the temperature is 72 Currently.    Suppose to be rather chilly for South New Zealand.    Layered look and Puffers will be in order .

 

I'll try to report Temperatures for you and other Australia and New Zealand Cruiser will know how to pack.    I just google each port and December Temperatures to get a good idea.

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

Next up in the next building was 

 

 

The exhibition was broken into two segments 

 

Light and Dark. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weird but enjoyable 

 

 

Dark was my favorite.  You go down 3 levels.  The exhibition is inside an old Oil Silo.  Your eyes adjust to the darkness as you walk down a circular stairway. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 10, 2023 by Jim_Iain

[Baynanno1]

"Maman" in post 1078 was instantly recognisable - we saw it in Bilbao some years ago.

[dlh015]

4 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

We were running early so just relaxed in Hyde Park.   While it was approaching 100F it was very comfortable sitting in the shade with a Sax player playing Christmas tunes in the background 

 

 

 

 

Australian Ibis were in abundance and definitely not afraid of people.  

 

Thanx for those great pics!! I was there less than a month ago...<sniff> <sniff>...

[Jim_Iain]

There has been a lot of discussion about dehydration -   read an interesting article the the Australian Guardian just now -

 

“As a general guide, you can assume that on a hot day, depending on what you are doing, you are sweating half a liter an hour and should be drinking 250ml (8 Ounces)  of water every hour."

 

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/09/dehydration-how-to-tell-how-to-avoid-fix-cure

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

2 hours ago, Baynanno1 said:

"Maman" in post 1078 was instantly recognisable - we saw it in Bilbao some years ago.

 

We loved the Guggenheim in Bilbao ----- Such an incredible museum. 

[Jim_Iain]

 

 

 

As a table starter we had Taramasalata

 

 

For Starters I had the Crab Slider

 

 

David had the Steak Tartar

 

 

 

 

Iain had the Jamon Croquett -  He thought they were going to be tiny... So large I HAD to eat one and he could barely touch his Salad.  

 

 

 

For Desert -  Robert had the Semi freddo

 

 

I had the Pineapple Granate -  The whipped coconut cream hidden in the middle was a surprise and incredible.

 

Iain had the Tiramisu.   He was in love.    He said it was almost as good as his,   Later when I said I had desert envy -- he said -  I have to revise my opinion -   I hate to say it is better than mine.     I signed as his is absolutely incredible and the GOLD standard I judge all Tiramisu against.

 

Edited December 10, 2023 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

Totally sated we headed back to the ship

 

 

 

Wedding RR

 

 

 

The sun was so bright we could hardly see the camera for a selfie -  Iain looked like Mr. Magoo so I of course said -  Give me a Iain pose. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Return to the ship was really well organize.    As soon as we said B2B they pointed us to an elevator and up we went to deck 3 -  showed Passports to Immigration and were pointed to the entry for the ship.   They had an agent at every corner to help to make sure you didn't take a wrong turn. 

 

On the ship within 3 minutes of arriving at the terminal.   Job well done Celebrity.

 

 

 

 

Edited December 10, 2023 by Jim_Iain

[FeebeeH]

8 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

I used to work less than 5 minutes walk away.  Below is St James Church & Law Courts

 

In St James' underground train station tunnel (just round the corner from St James's Church & Law Courts) there are a lot of homeless people that make it their home (especially during Winter) - the tunnel is like a wind tunnel & can be freezing. Often they would seek shelter under the eaves of the church of St James & the Law Court.

 

The Queen Victoria statue was just before the entrance to St James train station.  It used to be my work's assembly point for fire drills.

St Mary's Cathedral

 

Archibald Memorial Fountain with Greek Gods & legends - Apollo.

[Jim_Iain]

I guess another cost savings (scrimping) move.  They have a new butter mold.   Looks like a mini rabbit turd. 
 

[2023]

Jim, I’m hearing drink prices have gone up fleet wide on every first sailing in December, with many items now over the premium price point. Some popular Martinis and Beer that were once included in premium are now $20+, with no adjustment to the PBP $ limit. Can you confirm? TIA

[terrydtx]

2 hours ago, 2023 said:

Jim, I’m hearing drink prices have gone up fleet wide on every first sailing in December, with many items now over the premium price point. Some popular Martinis and Beer that were once included in premium are now $20+, with no adjustment to the PBP $ limit. Can you confirm? TIA

I read earlier that because in Aus/NZ all prices had to be inclusive of tips and taxes, so prices on the Edge had been raised to include both. At the same time the DP limits were raised to $12 for classic and $20 Premium.

[upwarduk]

1 hour ago, terrydtx said:

I read earlier that because in Aus/NZ all prices had to be inclusive of tips and taxes, so prices on the Edge had been raised to include both. At the same time the DP limits were raised to $12 for classic and $20 Premium.

Same as when Silhouette sails from Southampton. Total price needs to be shown, so the Classic limit is £12, not £10.

[Stem to Stern]

5 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

I guess another cost savings (scrimping) move.  They have a new butter mold.   Looks like a mini rabbit turd. 

Thanks for the warning.🤣

At least you are not required to dig it out of a package.  On board Seascape in the Yacht Club currently.  YC Restaurant serves butter on round white mini saucer with silver lid over it.  Remove the lid and viola a round package of butter that requires the foil lid to be pealed back before digging in.  We were not bothered by it.

As usual your pics and text are riveting.👍👍

Edited December 10, 2023 by Stem to Stern

[wrk2cruise]

15 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

They said they had tried to order about 3 drinks on the menu and were told they didn't have the ingredients.   They filled out an attention to detail form and next day they got a call saying the Food and Beverage said he instruction the restaurants to have everything for every drink on the menu. 

 

This is what I don't understand with Celebrity of recent.   If the supplies are onboard then why aren't they available at point of service.   Sailing last month in Retreat, asked for Champagne, was offered the $5/bottle stuff said no I'd like the French one from the premium package, told not available, asked for Chandon, not available.  Bartender did go to the Cellar Master and retrieved something drinkable.

 

The next day was in the Sky Lounge and they had Chandon so I asked the Retreat bartender and he did get it a day later.  About day 5 he produced Montaudon for the rest of the sailing.  

 

Even if it was just loaded (which I don't believe) then it should have been available on the second day.  I really think they are playing the supply chain issues card as a way to limit consumption of the premium products people have paid for.

[cluso]

51 minutes ago, upwarduk said:

Same as when Silhouette sails from Southampton. Total price needs to be shown, so the Classic limit is £12, not £10.

We sailed on the Silly from Southampton in October, 2023.  Even though the higher limits were shown on the Terms and on the App when sailing from the UK, Celebrity would not honor the $12 and $20 limits.  A lot of people complained. 

[awhfy]

Rockin those amazing shirts gentlemen!!

[Cap_D]

1 hour ago, wrk2cruise said:

 

Even if it was just loaded (which I don't believe) then it should have been available on the second day.  I really think they are playing the supply chain issues card as a way to limit consumption of the premium products people have paid for.

Fully agree.  It takes far too much vigilance and work to get what one pays for with the QC falling on the paying customer. 

[theopup]

17 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

We loved the Guggenheim in Bilbao ----- Such an incredible museum. 

Us too! Would love to see it again someday. It is interesting outside as well as inside 

[upwarduk]

4 hours ago, cluso said:

We sailed on the Silly from Southampton in October, 2023.  Even though the higher limits were shown on the Terms and on the App when sailing from the UK, Celebrity would not honor the $12 and $20 limits.  A lot of people complained. 

We were never charged more and we had the Classic package ( 30/09/23 sailing).

[39august]

Jim, I believe you mentioned it earlier, but, please, again, what is that chardonnay that Iain is fond of.?

[Jim_Iain]

11 hours ago, 2023 said:

Jim, I’m hearing drink prices have gone up fleet wide on every first sailing in December, with many items now over the premium price point. Some popular Martinis and Beer that were once included in premium are now $20+, with no adjustment to the PBP $ limit. Can you confirm? TIA

 

I have the wine list but hard to tell for sure.   Because this ship is sailing to/from Australia they have upped all the prices on the price list to include the 20% service fee.    Something about either Law or the Australian's tipping habits.  

 

I have seen a new wine list Posted by someone on FB - below is from Murano.  Maybe our Australian followers an indicate if it is dictated by law.    Similar I believe in the UK