Live Blog – Silhouette Nov 3 – Beaches to Broadway – Pull up a seat and Join

[Jim_Iain]

1 minute ago, cadburysmom said:

Thank you for the reassurance about my upcoming flight.  I just got off the phone with Delta who basically said the same.  Looks like I just might make it after all. 😉 Thanks also for recommending Flightaware...great website...will definitely come in handy on future travels.

 

Mariah

Mariah

 

I'm sure you will enjoy Flightaware (there are a couple other sites that also track flights).   I use to use it a lot when Iain was coming home from a business trip,  When the plane hit the boarder of California I knew it was time to head to the airport and would actually see his plane as it was on Final into SFO.   

 

There is also a neat feature in it top right in Blue -   Track Inbound Flight.   It helps to know before the airline lets you know that the inbound flight is delayed.   

[Jim_Iain]

@gerelmx Do you happen to remember if they had a shuttle in Boston?

[Jim_Iain]

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

 

The major task of the day is to get my hair cut.   I have to admit I'm looking shaggy.

 

Edited October 30, 2018 by Jim_Iain

[cadburysmom]

19 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Mariah

 

I'm sure you will enjoy Flightaware (there are a couple other sites that also track flights).   I use to use it a lot when Iain was coming home from a business trip,  When the plane hit the boarder of California I knew it was time to head to the airport and would actually see his plane as it was on Final into SFO.   

 

There is also a neat feature in it top right in Blue -   Track Inbound Flight.   It helps to know before the airline lets you know that the inbound flight is delayed.   

That little Blue feature will definitely come in handy, especially when picking folks up at the airport. Can't tell you how many times I'm stuck "orbiting the airport" to avoid parking waiting for that elusive "we've just landed" text....thanks!!

[Orator]

12 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

@gerelmx Do you happen to remember if they had a shuttle in Boston?

They had a pay shuttle from the ship to very close to Quincy Market on the 4th of July cruise. I don't remember the price. 

[Jim_Iain]

2 minutes ago, Orator said:

They had a pay shuttle from the ship to very close to Quincy Market on the 4th of July cruise. I don't remember the price. 

Thanks much.   I was starting some planning on what we will do in Boston.  

[gerelmx]

57 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

@gerelmx Do you happen to remember if they had a shuttle in Boston?

Jim I don't use it as I was in a ship tour, but reading the Celebrity Today this is the info:

 Shuttle Bus Service: Shuttle bus service is available from the pier ( Flynn Cruise-port Terminal, Black Falcon Avenue) to the city center with the drop off point near the Quincy Market. Buses run every 20 to 30 minutes from 8:30AM, with the last bus departing from city center at 5:00PM (Approximately 15 minute drive or 35 minute walk).

Shuttle tickets can be purchased from Shore excursions, Guest Relations Desk or inside the Terminal Building Cost is $9.99 per person one way and $17.99 round-trip charged to your onboard account.

All guest with shuttle bus tickets purchased onboard need to exchange their passes in the terminal building, also those guests holding tickets for the Shuttle and New England Aquarium or Shuttle and Harbor Cruise.

Other means of transportation to the city center such as taxis, subway/metro are also available outside the terminal building.

 

Gerardo

 

P.D. all other info you need please ask, I will happy to answer

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

12 minutes ago, gerelmx said:

Jim I don't use it as I was in a ship tour, but reading the Celebrity Today this is the info:

 Shuttle Bus Service: Shuttle bus service is available from the pier ( Flynn Cruise-port Terminal, Black Falcon Avenue) to the city center with the drop off point near the Quincy Market. Buses run every 20 to 30 minutes from 8:30AM, with the last bus departing from city center at 5:00PM (Approximately 15 minute drive or 35 minute walk).

Shuttle tickets can be purchased from Shore excursions, Guest Relations Desk or inside the Terminal Building Cost is $9.99 per person one way and $17.99 round-trip charged to your onboard account.

All guest with shuttle bus tickets purchased onboard need to exchange their passes in the terminal building, also those guests holding tickets for the Shuttle and New England Aquarium or Shuttle and Harbor Cruise.

Other means of transportation to the city center such as taxis, subway/metro are also available outside the terminal building.

 

Gerardo

 

P.D. all other info you need please ask, I will happy to answer

 

 

 

Great information.    Thank you for taking the time to answer.

 

I just checked Uber and the rate one way is $10.00 each way for the complete car.   Sounds much better than paying twice that much and have to wait for a bus to fill up. 

[CHEZMARYLOU]

When we were in Boston several years ago it seemed there were more passengers wanting the shuttle bus than there were busses.  Uber is the better choice even if it is a few dollars more.

[gerelmx]

Jim I found this among all my past cruise papers at the Summit

[Jim_Iain]

2 hours ago, CHEZMARYLOU said:

When we were in Boston several years ago it seemed there were more passengers wanting the shuttle bus than there were busses.  Uber is the better choice even if it is a few dollars more.

 

Actually when checking Uber is 1/2 the price of the Celebrity Shuttle.   I'm sure we will be using either Uber or Lyft, especially if the lines are long and the costs are double.   

 

Appreciate the insight.

[Host Jazzbeau]

The Boston MTA bus 'SL2' stops right near the cruise terminal and goes direct to South Station [actually goes underground and lets you off inside the station] with free transfers to the 'T.'  We used that method to get to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Boston MFA, and back again.  $1.10 each way.  But it took almost an hour and involved walking [and getting lost!] near the museum.  Uber is probably worth it. 

[Mr. Boston]

One option would be to take the SL2 to South Station and from there catch the Red Line to Harvard Square. I'd have a mooch around there for an hour or two (the Hourly is a great restaurant serving a nice selection of local oysters). The Longfellow Museum on Brattle Street (Tory Row) is one of my favorite tours.  Taking the Red Line back in to Boston you could detrain at Park Street and walk through Boston Common and the Boston Public Garden which abut the Cheers Bar, if that means anything to you.  Since you enjoy walking, Beacon Hill is adjacent to the Boston Common and is quaintness squared-don’t miss Louisburg Square.  I generally try and steer friends and family away from Quincy Market/Fanueil Hall as the area is usually overcrowded and screams tourist-trap.  There are so many better ways to spend a day in this beautiful city. 

[UKPete71]

When we get to Boston we will have to go through immigration on the ship before we can get off. I believe Celebrity give priority to people booked on their shore excursions. We’ve gone down this route and booked a trip to Salem when there was a sale on excursions. When we did this itinerary in 2015 we did our own thing and I seem to recall queuing for around 1.5 hours to see an immigration officer and didn’t get off the ship until late morning.

[yoj13]

2 hours ago, UKPete71 said:

When we get to Boston we will have to go through immigration on the ship before we can get off. I believe Celebrity give priority to people booked on their shore excursions. We’ve gone down this route and booked a trip to Salem when there was a sale on excursions. When we did this itinerary in 2015 we did our own thing and I seem to recall queuing for around 1.5 hours to see an immigration officer and didn’t get off the ship until late morning.

I was hoping that the customs officers will be boarding in Southampton and processing a few passengers each day, thus eliminating waiting time when we get to Boston.  Ah well, suppose I can dream. 

[Eloise4Ever]

Hi Jim, thank you for doing this blog, I am really enjoying it so far. I was interested to hear you lived in Dublin as I am from there originally. I live on the west coast of Ireland now. You mentioned you are booked on a transatlantic cruise in April 2019 and I was wondering which one? We did the Eclipse transatlantic to Dublin in April of this year and are booked on the same cruise on Reflection next April. It was a wonderful cruise, the weather was fantastic and we were so thrilled to be able to sail to Ireland instead of having to fly home as we usually do.

[gerelmx]

3 hours ago, UKPete71 said:

When we get to Boston we will have to go through immigration on the ship before we can get off. I believe Celebrity give priority to people booked on their shore excursions. We’ve gone down this route and booked a trip to Salem when there was a sale on excursions. When we did this itinerary in 2015 we did our own thing and I seem to recall queuing for around 1.5 hours to see an immigration officer and didn’t get off the ship until late morning.

 

Unfortunately there is no Preclearance in Southampton like in Vancouver or in other ports.

https://www.cbp.gov/border-security/ports-entry/operations/preclearance

[nikel]

47 minutes ago, Eloise4Ever said:

Hi Jim, thank you for doing this blog, I am really enjoying it so far. I was interested to hear you lived in Dublin as I am from there originally. I live on the west coast of Ireland now. You mentioned you are booked on a transatlantic cruise in April 2019 and I was wondering which one? We did the Eclipse transatlantic to Dublin in April of this year and are booked on the same cruise on Reflection next April. It was a wonderful cruise, the weather was fantastic and we were so thrilled to be able to sail to Ireland instead of having to fly home as we usually do.

 

We were on that TA cruise too !! It was one of our best.

 

I seem to recall customs officers getting on the ship  at a port before hand so when we got to Ireland we were all cleared to get off without having to waste time.  

[Eloise4Ever]

1 minute ago, nikel said:

 

We were on that TA cruise too !! It was one of our best.

 

I seem to recall customs officers getting on the ship  at a port before hand so when we got to Ireland we were all cleared to get off without having to waste time.  

That's right Penney and Herb, Irish immigration officers came onboard in the Azores if I recall correctly. They told us they enjoyed their time onboard the ship!

 

Your names sound familiar - did you by any chance sign up to the Roulette Roll that I organised?

[Jim_Iain]

18 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

The Boston MTA bus 'SL2' stops right near the cruise terminal and goes direct to South Station [actually goes underground and lets you off inside the station] with free transfers to the 'T.'  We used that method to get to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Boston MFA, and back again.  $1.10 each way.  But it took almost an hour and involved walking [and getting lost!] near the museum.  Uber is probably worth it. 

There is so much to learn about a new city.    Glad their is a bus close by as another option.  Getting lost is not uncommon for me.   Oh well you get to tour areas that you didn't plan to visit. 

[Jim_Iain]

14 hours ago, Mr. Boston said:

One option would be to take the SL2 to South Station and from there catch the Red Line to Harvard Square. I'd have a mooch around there for an hour or two (the Hourly is a great restaurant serving a nice selection of local oysters). The Longfellow Museum on Brattle Street (Tory Row) is one of my favorite tours.  Taking the Red Line back in to Boston you could detrain at Park Street and walk through Boston Common and the Boston Public Garden which abut the Cheers Bar, if that means anything to you.  Since you enjoy walking, Beacon Hill is adjacent to the Boston Common and is quaintness squared-don’t miss Louisburg Square.  I generally try and steer friends and family away from Quincy Market/Fanueil Hall as the area is usually overcrowded and screams tourist-trap.  There are so many better ways to spend a day in this beautiful city. 

 

This sounds like an interesting way of getting around.   I was looking and they have a daily subway pass at a reasonable price of $12.    I generally find that when we get a daily pass we use it more than we would if paying with a single ticket.   

[Jim_Iain]

5 hours ago, UKPete71 said:

When we get to Boston we will have to go through immigration on the ship before we can get off. I believe Celebrity give priority to people booked on their shore excursions. We’ve gone down this route and booked a trip to Salem when there was a sale on excursions. When we did this itinerary in 2015 we did our own thing and I seem to recall queuing for around 1.5 hours to see an immigration officer and didn’t get off the ship until late morning.

Thanks for the information.   I really hadn't thought about Immigrations.  It probably won't be an issue as Iain is not a morning person and we probably wouldn't be leaving the ship until after 9:00 anyway.   

 

One of the perks of being in a suite is that the Michael's Club Concierge escort suite guests to Immigration prior to general passengers availability.   We probably won't take advantage of this and have breakfast in our room at 9:00 and go ashore at 10:00 which is our regular schedule.  There is always the possibility that immigrations will require all passengers to be cleared by a certain time in that case we will use the MCC. 

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, yoj13 said:

I was hoping that the customs officers will be boarding in Southampton and processing a few passengers each day, thus eliminating waiting time when we get to Boston.  Ah well, suppose I can dream. 

I'm sure there would be a long que of immigration officers volunteering for that job for sure.   Unfortunately, I don't believe we will get any immigration officers until we arrive in Boston.

 

@UKPete71may be able to update us on the process.   Did they have different ques for U.S. and International Passport holders.   On my last cruise, In Japan they had the U.S. Passports in one area and other Countries in Cosmos. 

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, Eloise4Ever said:

Hi Jim, thank you for doing this blog, I am really enjoying it so far. I was interested to hear you lived in Dublin as I am from there originally. I live on the west coast of Ireland now. You mentioned you are booked on a transatlantic cruise in April 2019 and I was wondering which one? We did the Eclipse transatlantic to Dublin in April of this year and are booked on the same cruise on Reflection next April. It was a wonderful cruise, the weather was fantastic and we were so thrilled to be able to sail to Ireland instead of having to fly home as we usually do.

Yes we were in Dublin for 3 years.   I had accepted a interim Managing Director role for an electronic company and originally agreed to staying 3 months... 3 years later I decided it was time to come home.    I really enjoyed our stay in Dublin but realized I was loosing my sense of being an American so knew it was time to come home.

 

In April of 2019 we are taking our first East Bound TA on Infinity.   We also booked a TA in October B2B with a Med cruise on Edge.  

 

Cruising from you home port must have been fantastic.  We only did that a couple times when Celebrity was sailing to Alaska from San Francisco.   It sure made the boarding so much easier.   

[gerelmx]

From my last Summit cruise:  after I collect my bags and go to the immigration and customs officers in Cape Liberty N.J., the lady that was attending to the passengers, tells me: stop here in the yellow line and look to the camera and don't move, the camera take me a picture and a green light turn's on, the lady tell me go to line 1 where there is no officer and go home, you are cleared to go, I didn't show my passport and visa, simple walk to the street and pick my UBER car to JFK.

Edited October 31, 2018 by gerelmx