Celebrity Silhouette, Norwegian Fjords Sept. 1 2019

[Tigrou]

52 minutes ago, Bimmer09 said:

 

Thank you and Bon Voyage!

Have you sailed her before?

Norris

 

Thank you.  No I haven't, only on Equinox and that was many years ago.

 

[Bimmer09]

Stavanger's ship choices-something for everyone!

 

 

 

[Bimmer09]

1 hour ago, Tigrou said:

 

Thank you.  No I haven't, only on Equinox and that was many years ago.

 

 

Well I can't see you not loving her!

I hope it doesn't spoil things when I post more pics of her right now.

I'm sure you will find favorite rooms and have experiences I missed out on as I don't read the daily news sheet or plan my day to any extent beyond excursions and meals.

Savor to the MAX!

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Up early, around 6 a.m having gotten an hour back from the time change last night. Coffee from Oceanview and out on deck and it's not warm. The buffet breakfast tables outside haven't been set up yet. It has been raining in the night.

 

 

 

up at Sunset Bar

 

for sunrise

 

 

 

 

[Bimmer09]

There's a good accessible restroom up by Sunset bar. I love the etched sink-very elegant

 

cloth towels also a nice touch

 

I need to get warm so go down to deck 5 and have a peek into some of the rooms down there at the stern

like QSine

 

the setting for Le Petit Chef which we enjoyed

 

 

Tuscan Grille

 

nice ambience in this room

 

breakfast menu for Blu

 

[Bimmer09]

I showed you the menu for Blu but as we weren't in a Suite or in Aqua Class we couldn't use it as our included breakfast choice. We enjoyed it on our first 2 X cruises. Here's the interior...

 

 

 

pics from January 2016

 

Ensemble Lounge bar

 

 

Cafe al Bacio for a coffee

 

a machine that gives life true meaning

 

after my coffee and smoke I head forward

 

Carol's quiet spot is very quiet this early. And cool

[Bimmer09]

back inside on deck 5 to warm up again on this listless morning

 

there's a theater lecture coming up

 

I wander

 

if you like shopping...

 

 

Kate is gone but can't be forgotten

 

 

I love the graphics in this store but their watches are too busy and I think you have to show a pilot's license to buy one?

 

 

Carol is picking up 2 photos today. Earlier in the week they offered her a $250 Photo Package

for all the photos that would be taken of us. We always buy the dockside ones as we leave the ship when sailing Princess as a couple of the photographers are always dressed up as pirates

or Yukon prospectors or frightening brown bears but there was no effort made in our ports so we just walked by the girl with a camera and a life ring. So we saved some money to spend on our next Princess cruise which is 10 weeks away.

 

just another good looking bar

 

Peter Max

 

I love being up early before the decks get populated

 

 

the disco

 

cool decor but I can say that about any room on this ship

Edited October 22, 2019 by Bimmer09
inserting a number

[Tigrou]

4 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

 

Well I can't see you not loving her!

I hope it doesn't spoil things when I post more pics of her right now.

I'm sure you will find favorite rooms and have experiences I missed out on as I don't read the daily news sheet or plan my day to any extent beyond excursions and meals.

Savor to the MAX!

Norris

 

It's been great to see your photos, especially knowing they are very recent.  I like to try and get my bearings before boarding so I'm not wandering around completely lost too much of the time when I go exploring!

 

[Bimmer09]

continuing my stroll

 

we've only ever used this room once and that was to muster for an excursion but there are movies shown here and lectures take place

 

the shopping boulevard will no doubt feature tables of $10 watches and tee shirts later

 

 

casino bar

 

 

 

 

[Bimmer09]

 

another beautiful room

 

a wine machine. No sommelier needed!

 

 

 

 

Grand Cuvee dining room

 

 

entrance art piece

 

 

 

[Bimmer09]

It was time to go back outside and see how the weather was-not raining is good

 

it was cool, even in the sheltered spots

 

the wind carries the smoke away as soon as it leaves the funnel

 

up to the Solstice deck

 

 

above the basketball court

 

ready for sunbathers

 

joggers and walkers

 

early swimmers

 

 

[Bimmer09]

I met up with Carol at the MDR for breakfast but the line was long there so we went to the buffet

 

this young lady was there smiling each time we entered. Ready with the Purell

 

it was busy inside so we took our food out on the terrace where it was somewhat sheltered from the wind

my "full English"

 

Carol's notes say she had lox and bagel, herring and fruit with yogurt. Lots of choices!

 

After breakfast we parted ways. Carol to her quiet spot on deck 5 and I wandered...

drawn to the lawn

 

 

I didn't see anyone use the alcoves all week ($199 a day at sea, $99 in port)

 

 

you can see in those last two pics that it was misty in the background and soon the background came to the fore...

 

towels (no takers) and blankets (very popular)

 

chairs have been moved under cover and I console myself with a beer 

 

Next up, lunch in Murano

[Bimmer09]

While I go down to get dressed for lunch in Murano here is a short video

 

 

 

[jlf1]

Norris,

I am continuing to absolutely love your review and stunningly beautiful pictures but my devices are struggling to load your pictures, laptop, tablet and phone....so much as I hate to do it I'm unsubscribing.

I don't have unlimited data access so can't chance off charges.

Carry on your good work.

Your reviews are some of the absolute the best on Cruise Critic.

Happy sailing.

Judy



Sent from my SM-T560NU using Tapatalk

[Bimmer09]

Lunch in Murano

I had to eat here. Carol could have said "No" but I would have gone solo. If it were on land I'd go for some tasty and tasteful cooking, relaxed and warm ambiance and very attentive professional service. I wouldn't get this meal for $30 on land though (dinner is $50)

I just wish I had thought of booking dinner earlier in the cruise but have learned my lesson.

 

Wines by the glass and mine is usually a glass of Malbec but this time I had to have a Shiraz

 

Victuals

 

bread that looks good enough to eat-so we did

 

a nice Indian gentleman in a black suit served us and brought me my drink of choice

 

It's 12.30 in the afternoon and I am enjoying that first sip of velvety wine and some crusty bread, heavy on the butter

The food portions will not be large but it's lunch after all and the food is all about good cooking and appealing presentation. At no point did the solo pianist tinkling in the background erupt into a disco number and the waiters march through waving napkins.

 

I ordered one of my favorite things- roasted beets with goat cheese spheres

these had me waving my napkin!

 

Carol enjoyed her crab salad with avocado 

 

we both had warm water lobster, small but succulent 

 

we are happy diners!

 

the room

 

 

We both had Ivory caramel tart with flambe banana her notes say

 

lip-smackingly good!

 

A wonderful treat in the middle of a dreary day on the North Sea.

 

Bye, Murano-until the next time!

 

Edited October 24, 2019 by Bimmer09
formatting

[Bimmer09]

1 hour ago, jlf1 said:

Norris,

I am continuing to absolutely love your review and stunningly beautiful pictures but my devices are struggling to load your pictures, laptop, tablet and phone....so much as I hate to do it I'm unsubscribing.

I don't have unlimited data access so can't chance off charges.

Carry on your good work.

Your reviews are some of the absolute the best on Cruise Critic.

Happy sailing.

Judy



Sent from my SM-T560NU using Tapatalk
 

 

Judy, I am so sorry to lose you before you see the next batch of London photos.

Carol was telling me of slow downloads on her iPad a couple of days ago and I had very slow download of pictures on my old iPhone 5 (was ok at home with wi-fi instead of cell service).

So I lowered the resolution to half of what it was set at and for the past 2 days am back to the pixel count of all of my reviews to date (1024 x 683).

 

I see the pics on a 13 inch MacBook with never a problem and I wish you could too.

 

You will likely not read this but thanks for sticking with me thus far!

Norris

[bdpatrick]

I'm truly enjoying your review so far, your pictures are simply amazing.

 

We plan on doing the Norwegean Fjords for my 50th coming up in a few years and your review has me so looking forward to it.

 

Thanks again.

 

Sly

[jlf1]

11 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

 

Judy, I am so sorry to lose you before you see the next batch of London photos.

Carol was telling me of slow downloads on her iPad a couple of days ago and I had very slow download of pictures on my old iPhone 5 (was ok at home with wi-fi instead of cell service).

So I lowered the resolution to half of what it was set at and for the past 2 days am back to the pixel count of all of my reviews to date (1024 x 683).

 

I see the pics on a 13 inch MacBook with never a problem and I wish you could too.

 

You will likely not read this but thanks for sticking with me thus far!

Norris

Norris,

 

I did read and will give it another try because your reviews and pictures are so wonderful.

[Bimmer09]

3 hours ago, bdpatrick said:

I'm truly enjoying your review so far, your pictures are simply amazing.

 

We plan on doing the Norwegean Fjords for my 50th coming up in a few years and your review has me so looking forward to it.

 

Thanks again.

 

Sly

 

Sly thanks so much for the compliments and I am glad you are thinking of the Fjords for a special anniversary.

We will go back again to sail further North and see more of that beautiful country.

I can't think of anything negative about it-nice people, wholesome food and without the rain it wouldn't be so green and there wouldn't be waterfalls that boggle the mind.

It's special.

Norris

[MisterMet]

On 10/22/2019 at 11:52 AM, Bimmer09 said:

There's a good accessible restroom up by Sunset bar. I love the etched sink-very elegant

 

cloth towels also a nice touch

 

I need to get warm so go down to deck 5 and have a peek into some of the rooms down there at the stern

like QSine

 

the setting for Le Petit Chef which we enjoyed

 

 

Tuscan Grille

 

nice ambience in this room

 

breakfast menu for Blu

 

 

Norris,

 

Still here with you and enjoying as usual.  Pam and I thought Le Petit Chef was quite clever and found the food to be very good.  We had a blast and hope to try it again on the Constellation with our friends in June 2020.  I’ve really enjoyed your pictures. It’s too bad the weather didn’t cooperate with you more as I know how much you like being out on the open decks with your coffee and smokes early morning.  I admire your dedication getting up early, but that’s when you get the “$$ “ shots.  😄😄

 

Trip

[Bimmer09]

3 hours ago, jlf1 said:

Norris,

 

I did read and will give it another try because your reviews and pictures are so wonderful.

 

Thanks Judy, I would have hated for you to miss the London pics on our last day.

Norris

[Bimmer09]

56 minutes ago, MisterMet said:

Norris,

 

Still here with you and enjoying as usual.  Pam and I thought Le Petit Chef was quite clever and found the food to be very good.  We had a blast and hope to try it again on the Constellation with our friends in June 2020.  I’ve really enjoyed your pictures. It’s too bad the weather didn’t cooperate with you more as I know how much you like being out on the open decks with your coffee and smokes early morning.  I admire your dedication getting up early, but that’s when you get the “$$ “ shots.  😄😄

 

Trip

 

Trip, agreed that Le Petit Chef is very clever and very witty and the food is worthy. A meal that is an event but of course if you are in a hurry or like to languish between courses it wouldn't be a good idea. They discounted it drastically ($55 down to $35) and half (if that) the tables were taken for the 8.15 slot. It should maybe alternate nights with QSine as we know it from previous times. QSine offers such great variety dishes and presentations which raise a smile. I miss it.

 

The weather on shore was benign for the most part and we only got wet on the boat to Lysefjord and I had no head protection and can't work the camera while holding an umbrella. The camera got soaked but kept shooting as it's weather-sealed. Since I came home I had two falls within seconds of each other on a muddy slope and the camera flew into the air and landed with a thud in mud just as I did. I cleaned the mud off as best I could with some Kleenex and wipes and kept on shooting even though my clothes were caked in black mud.

 

I don't mind the rain in Alaska or Norway as it's usually soft drizzle and makes the landscape look better but rain on the ship where I spend 80% of my waking time outdoors is a buzz-kill.

I like to sit at the Sunset Bar and look over the grass at the sea while sipping my beer and chatting to strangers but that was rare on this trip due to rain and a cold wind on the North Sea.

 

Next cruise in January is Western Caribbean on the new Sky Princess, our first time on a new ship which is currently  on her maiden voyage and I expect to get some good outdoors time with my beer and cigarettes. Aft cabin as always and a third of the price of our original S1 suite on the Silhouette.

 

Thanks for following along Trip!

I looked ahead to my London pics this morning and am excited to show them to you!

Norris

[Norwaylady]

It’s been a pleasure to follow you Norris!

Hope to see you further north soon:)

 

Now it’s time for us to enjoy X Reflection from Lisbon;) Flights to Porto tomorrow morning and Reflection in Lisbon to Barcelona on Monday😉

[Bimmer09]

That was a stellar lunch and Murano remains my go-to Fine Dining choice at sea. Afterwards we went our separate ways-me to roaming and Carol to the deck 5 forward smoking deck where she had the place to herself and was sheltered from the wind. Even though it was drizzling she was dry as the space is covered.

 

It was a grey, desultory day.  The seas weren't big but the sky showed no sign of ever producing sunlight

that ship was soon gone like a motorcycle at a traffic light

 

I was lucky in that I had London to look forward to in the morning and the weather there was top-hole as they say when raising their brolly and adjusting their bowler hats. If I was just getting onto a bus transfer to Heathrow in Southampton I would be feeling cheated  by the dismal weather today. I live outdoors on a ship, mainly because of my smoking but also because I love to see the sea at all times and I'm a ship nerd if ever there was one as my dad was a ship's Captain and I spent time sailing with him in the British Isles from I was age 5 to 13. So I delight in davits and capstans and scuppers. Call me weird, call me a taxi, call me Ishmael. I sailed on steamships with men shoveling pyramids of coal (not the "clean" coal LOL) with their shirts off and sweat running from under their neckerchiefs and diesel motor vessels to ports in Wales, England (hello Liverpool, Preston and Blyth) and on fishing trawlers to Scotland (Portpatrick) so being on a ship of any size is a thrill for me and harkens me back to the days before containers were invented and cranes and derricks with cargo nets ruled. When a crane lifted a train wagon full of coal dug by Lancashire miners into the air and let gravity shower it into the hold of a ship where blackened-faced Scousers shoveled it into the corners.... Halcyon days!

 

I am older and softer now and a puff of cold wind can send me scurrying back indoors

 

I had never tried a Martini until this day but the curiosity got the better of me and there was the Martini Bar....

 

This was a Bombay Sapphire London special with a sprig of mint @ $15.50

Now I see what the fuss is about. A delicious and refreshing drink!

 

There was no bartender show and what a dextrous show that is on Celebrity! The multi-pours with a crowd pumped up. When on holiday anything that is beyond the norm, say an everyday experience in a hotel bar on land, is double the fun on a ship where the staff is literally bending over backwards to entertain you. You're not at home in a Barcalounger flipping TV channels, you are out there sharing experiences with strangers and we thank cruise ships for experiences like that and this ship's crew is working hard everyday on our behalf. Work and the daily routine is forgotten for a week and that's worth paying good money for.

 

 

 

there's a band doing a sound check on deck 3. "One two-testtttt!" "Testing One Two!" but I only stay for a minute or two as they are using the Beatles'  From Me to You to test. 56 years later the song holds its' magic. I bought the 45 single and wore it out.

 

I'm back in the cabin to warm up

 

Cold and grey out there but cosy in here. There's a bed and that can only mean a NAP!

 

zzzzzzz......

[Bimmer09]

4 minutes ago, Norwaylady said:

It’s been a pleasure to follow you Norris!

Hope to see you further north soon:)

 

Now it’s time for us to enjoy X Reflection from Lisbon;) Flights to Porto tomorrow morning and Reflection in Lisbon to Barcelona on Monday😉

 

Reflection? Great ship too! I hope you savor the Lawn Club Grill.

Barcelona stole my heart 4 years ago and I long to go back.

Portugese cusine was my go-to treat when living in New Jersey and is where I came to love Sambuca and espresso.

Bon Voyage!!

Norris

.