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

[asnaleah]

On Eclipse, this set up would appear to make it easy to attach the FireStick. Of course I left ours at home…

[emmas gran]

1 hour ago, chemmo said:

Apologies for breaking into Jim’s thread but wanted to say I hope you are finding peace and solace on what must be a difficult cruise for you…

Thanks for your comment, he has been with me every step of the way as I wear his St Christopher back to back with mine. My friends have been wonderful and I am grateful for their friendship and support, I’m staying with them and flying home on Tuesday evening. Thank you again.

[Redking]

9 hours ago, terrydtx said:

I agree and since most of our NZ shore excursions include wineries, our plan is to bring wine back to drink on the ship. We have the PDP so we should not have to pay any corkage fee, unless that changes. We have been drinking and enjoying a lot of NZ and Australian wines here at home for the last year.

Things may have changed, but previously you can only BYO on embarkation day, I think 2 bottles pp. Any other time during the cruise, your alcohol will be taken from you and returned on disembarking. You may have to party hard at those NZ vineyards. Enjoy!

[terrydtx]

39 minutes ago, Redking said:

Things may have changed, but previously you can only BYO on embarkation day, I think 2 bottles pp. Any other time during the cruise, your alcohol will be taken from you and returned on disembarking. You may have to party hard at those NZ vineyards. Enjoy!

This is a quote from Celebrity's website and no corkage fee if you have a drinks package. On the Apex in September, we had no problem bringing back to the ship one bottler per person at most ports in Europe.

 

Is there a corkage fee if I bring wine to consume onboard?

When consumed in a shipboard restaurant, bar or dining venue, each bottle shall be subject to a corkage fee of $25. Corkage fees do not apply to guests who have a Classic or Premium Beverage Package.

Edited December 13, 2023 by terrydtx

[daydreamer16]

52 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

This is a quote from Celebrity's website and no corkage fee if you have a drinks package. On the Apex in September, we had no problem bringing back to the ship one bottler per person at most ports in Europe.

 

Is there a corkage fee if I bring wine to consume onboard?

When consumed in a shipboard restaurant, bar or dining venue, each bottle shall be subject to a corkage fee of $25. Corkage fees do not apply to guests who have a Classic or Premium Beverage Package.

That is very useful info because we are visiting several vineyards during our NZ trip, thanks for posting!

 

Denise

[Redking]

2 hours ago, terrydtx said:

This is a quote from Celebrity's website and no corkage fee if you have a drinks package. On the Apex in September, we had no problem bringing back to the ship one bottler per person at most ports in Europe.

 

Is there a corkage fee if I bring wine to consume onboard?

When consumed in a shipboard restaurant, bar or dining venue, each bottle shall be subject to a corkage fee of $25. Corkage fees do not apply to guests who have a Classic or Premium Beverage Package.

That's good news.

[Jim_Iain]

10 hours ago, RNCheryl said:

Jim, your pictures are lovely with an artistic eye.

 

What was that very small building on the University campus?

 

Kangaroo ED?, really....

It was just an attendants hut.  

 

The campus we visited was in Albert park 
 

Albert Park was the location of a Waiohua settlement called Mangahekea, sacked in the 1740s by Ngāti Whātua. Albert Park occupies much of the site of the Albert Barracks, one of Auckland's early European military fortifications.

[Jim_Iain]

8 hours ago, asnaleah said:

On Eclipse, this set up would appear to make it easy to attach the FireStick. Of course I left ours at home…

I found a new screen under live tv.  Takes you right to the HDMI port Channel 100

 

Never noticed it before. 
 

[Jim_Iain]

On 12/12/2023 at 5:36 PM, asnaleah said:

Whew! Finally got caught up. We’re on Eclipse - repositioning LA to Santiago. Not at all at capacity, in fact Michael’s Club is quite dead. Luminae has been a real treat, and as this is my first gluten-free cruise, I’m especially pleased with the great service. Jim, I’m loving your photos and stories. We loved our Sydney-Auckland cruise on Solstice, one of the best ever. Continued good times to you and Iain! Erin

tanks Erin.  
 

Glad you are enjoying.   

[Jim_Iain]

4 hours ago, Redking said:

That's good news.

Noticed at Auckland they were not taking wine as it was port security. 

[Jim_Iain]

9 hours ago, luvtravel88 said:

Hi Jim,

I'm enjoying following your trip! We're doing a B2B2B in March 2025 all round trip from Sydney.

I have a question....

You mentioned that your TV had a fire stick on it so you weren't get Celebrity messages. I've never heard of anyone doing that. Did you bring it with you? What channels do you get on it? Is it easy to attach and remove?

Thanks!

Kim

Yes I bring my own Firestick and put in one of the HDMI.    You can either use my video to select HDMI or at least on this ship Channel 100 on live TV takes you to the HDMI port

 

it is like home. You can have live tv or use Roku or Firestock. 
 

We have YouTube TV so we can watch all our live and recorded SF channels. 

[Jim_Iain]

On 12/12/2023 at 3:50 PM, DaKahuna said:

 

 I think that speaks for itself and is worth mentioning in your post cruise survey. 

 

Forgot if I answered.  We both filled out the survey and did mention our disappointment with this ship but praised the staff we interface with. 
 

 

[Jim_Iain]

Last night we came back to find a set of monogrammed PJ’s.    It was so chilly I slipped into mine. 
 

[Jim_Iain]

Went on a Solo excursion to Auckland’s North Shore and Devonport. 
 

this photo captures the weather this morning. 
 

 

Good news.  We had no trouble with slow people getting back.  
 

 

 

 

[chemmo]

9 hours ago, emmas gran said:

Thanks for your comment, he has been with me every step of the way as I wear his St Christopher back to back with mine. My friends have been wonderful and I am grateful for their friendship and support, I’m staying with them and flying home on Tuesday evening. Thank you again.

Safe journey home…

[luvtravel88]

4 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Yes I bring my own Firestick and put in one of the HDMI.    You can either use my video to select HDMI or at least on this ship Channel 100 on live TV takes you to the HDMI port

 

it is like home. You can have live tv or use Roku or Firestock. 
 

We have YouTube TV so we can watch all our live and recorded SF channels. 

Thank you so much for the info.

We'll be on the ship 33 days and to have news other than BBC International would be wonderful. We also have YouTubeTV and it would be great to be able to use it!

Kim

[Bejay219]

On 12/12/2023 at 2:17 AM, Jim_Iain said:

Started the day with a Zenith gathering.   Luckily the CC Manager called and left a reminder as yet again our invite did not arrive.  When I mentioned she said she gave them to the Retreat Hosts. Hmmmmm

Strange they held it in Casino Bar. 
 

 

 

 

 

We are were on the Madien voyage of the Ascent (B2B), CC never sent us an invitation to the CC Welcome.  We decided to show up anyway, it was packed, one of the CC hosts spotted us, I said we never received an invite.  She said the same thing about Retreat Hosts and that she had called and left a message (which she did not). About 2 hours a plate of chocolate covered strawberries, wine and a note appeared, the note said "Welcome to the Infinity"!  The next invite for Zenith Lunch they  spelled husband's name wrong, this week it was my name wrong!  Ship is beautiful, crew is great, Officers are not interacting.  Very different from our time together on the Apex!  Madien voyage we were the 9th and 10th on the ship, no one greeted us except a server from Oceanview, after B2B, enter back onto the ship, no one to say Welcome back! Lots of other differences from the Apex, especially with new "Retreat Hosts. 

[asnaleah]

Jim, your television looks pretty new compared to ours on Eclipse. Nice.

[Jim_Iain]

11 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

I found a new screen under live tv.  Takes you right to the HDMI port Channel 100

 

Never noticed it before. 
 

 

UPDATE -     I was going to try this last night on the Bedroom TV.  To my surprise it is not on that TV.   Hmmm....    I however used it this morning TV in the Living Room and it automatically opened up my FireStick without even having to choose which port (I only have one plugged in)

 

Maybe that's the reason I've never seen it before.  Just doesn't make sense if you have a dumb WebPage for you Menu that you would have different ones for different devices.

[Jim_Iain]

6 hours ago, luvtravel88 said:

Thank you so much for the info.

We'll be on the ship 33 days and to have news other than BBC International would be wonderful. We also have YouTubeTV and it would be great to be able to use it!

Kim

 

On this Ship they have expanded News Channels and in addition to BBC international they have two Australian Stations.  

 

BTW -  In order for your FireStick to allow access to YouTubeTV you need to subscribe to one of the NordVPN or ExpressVPN.    There are apps on Firestick -  once installed choose your home server.   You may wish to play with at home first so you are comfortable with it.    If you choose NordVPN -  use my e-mail in signature as as referral and I get a couple months free.

 

Playing at home try another country and you will see the error message you will get from YouTubeTV.     They don't allow access out of your country.  The VPN fakes it.

[Jim_Iain]

6 hours ago, Bejay219 said:

We are were on the Madien voyage of the Ascent (B2B), CC never sent us an invitation to the CC Welcome.  We decided to show up anyway, it was packed, one of the CC hosts spotted us, I said we never received an invite.  She said the same thing about Retreat Hosts and that she had called and left a message (which she did not). About 2 hours a plate of chocolate covered strawberries, wine and a note appeared, the note said "Welcome to the Infinity"!  The next invite for Zenith Lunch they  spelled husband's name wrong, this week it was my name wrong!  Ship is beautiful, crew is great, Officers are not interacting.  Very different from our time together on the Apex!  Maiden voyage we were the 9th and 10th on the ship, no one greeted us except a server from Oceanview, after B2B, enter back onto the ship, no one to say Welcome back! Lots of other differences from the Apex, especially with new "Retreat Hosts. 

 

Wow... it's contagious.      I'm sure it has to do with Training (or lack of training) and all the new staff members.   Hopefully things will settle down.    I do have to say that things have improved on Edge.    I haven't yet heard about the Zenith Lunch on this cruise. 

[Jim_Iain]

5 hours ago, asnaleah said:

Jim, your television looks pretty new compared to ours on Eclipse. Nice.

 

The only problem is in the suites the TV's are hard mounted on the wall and the ports are in about 9-10 inches from the edge.    Getting your hand in and hitting the port is difficult.   I brought some long forecepts and even with that hard to install.    I used a couple thick item to pry slightly off the wall giving me an extra inch.   When in a Sky Suite the TV is on a cantilevered  mount making it really easy.  

 

Now in the RS the TV coming down from the TV is another challenge.

[Jim_Iain]

Weather improved as the day went on but the winds remained strong. 

Next photo stop was Lake Pupuke. 

 

Stock Photo from the air

 

 

It is a freshwater extinct Volcananic  crater - Lake Pupuke is one of the oldest known features of the Auckland volcanic field, erupting an estimated 193,200 years ago.

 

It is also the home of The Pump House Theater.   The pump house was use to pump water to the residents. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The tour was done with smaller busses that held approx 20 each.  Nice size and again all guests were on hand.   Noted women had a long line for the rest stop while men of course no lines at all.

 

Edited December 13, 2023 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

To help with orientation -   We driven over a bridge around where the 1 is and are now on the North Coast -  

 

 

Lot's of little cottages which the Guide call "Villas".    They are small but updated and sell in circa 1.5-3 Million.

 

 

The Red treds is the Pohutukawa and is native to New Zealand. 

 

 

 

 

Another really windy stop and you had to hold onto your hat.    Again a quick stop with everyone back on bus sheltering from the cold winds.

 

 

Still 35-30 knot winds with intermittent showers usually only lasting 3-4 minutes.

 

 

Edited December 13, 2023 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

Next stop was the top of  Takarunga / Mount Victoria the highest volcano on Auckland's North Shore, rising to 66 m. Its age is currently unknown. Its lava flows now line much of Devonport's waterfront. Takarunga was the location of an important pā used by Tāmaki Māori peoples.Mount Victoria -

 

It was also a Military

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 13, 2023 by Jim_Iain