Jim_Iain - 9/5 and 9/17 Equinox B2B - Come along for a Live Blog

[hcat]

At  Porte Zante there was a nice restaurant upstairs on right...great views.

 

Beyond all  the  tourist stores ( stuff made in India and China)  there was a small craft  market on left...got a beautiful handmade candle holder and a card signed by the artist!  Perfect for our Fl house.

 

I bet alot has changed...but glad the ports are slowly opening up

[dani negreanu]

12 minutes ago, bobka said:

Carl Hiassen for some good laughs about Florida

 

Of course, Hiaasen !! How could I forgot ?? Another fun here. Hilarious.😁

[hcat]

1 hour ago, TravelBluebird said:

 

Still raw for me as well. My Dad worked at the World Trade Center for many years, and I worked there 2 summers with him as a file clerk when I was a teenager. We know several people who died that terrible day. 

 

Sorry for your loss.  I heard the names for those we knew.

It is a great Memorual this year!

NEVER FORGET!

[Turtles06]

@Jim_Iain Hi Jim, thanks again for taking us along with you. Congrats on the upgrade to the PH!

 

Quick question, since you are currently sailing and did this so recently:  do you recall whether the health questionnaire that you had to fill out the day before boarding asked if you had tested positive for Covid-19 within the last so many days (maybe 14)?   

 

We'd never lie about this.   I'm only asking because our plan is to have a rapid antigen test 2 days before we sail, and I've been wondering, in case either of us has what could be a false positive, whether to schedule a (very pricey and far less convenient) same day PCR test as a backup.  I hadn't even thought that the PCR test, if negative, might be of no value (given my hypothetical of a prior positive antigen test) until I saw that someone had posted on another thread that a guest would not pass the health screening if they said they'd had a recent positive Covid test.  And, I have no idea what Celebrity would even do with those conflicting test results in terms of allowing a guest to board.  Again, no intent here to lie about test results, I'm just asking what the health questionnaire asks, so we can decide what test(s) to take. 

 

Thanks so much, and keep enjoying your trip!! 

 

[funatseascott]

2 hours ago, taylortime05 said:

Thank you for sharing.  We have reservations at Tuscan Grill the 1st night.  Which do you prefer between the Tuscan Grill and Murano's.  So excited to join you on the 17th.  

We prefer Tuscan.  Murano has lobster, which is what we order there and only reason we choose that specialty restaurant.  I don’t think you can go wrong with any choices, just sharing our preference.  You can get a butcher block steak at Tuscan, if you want meat besides Italian.

[funatseascott]

1 hour ago, mufflogan said:

I'm assuming this was what Sophia ordered from off-menu... it looks amazing!!  What is it??

Seafood Agli olio or however it’s spelled. LOL

[Benthayer Gonbak]

51 minutes ago, Turtles06 said:

@Jim_Iain Hi Jim, thanks again for taking us along with you. Congrats on the upgrade to the PH!

 

Quick question, since you are currently sailing and did this so recently:  do you recall whether the health questionnaire that you had to fill out the day before boarding asked if you had tested positive for Covid-19 within the last so many days (maybe 14)?   

 

We'd never lie about this.   I'm only asking because our plan is to have a rapid antigen test 2 days before we sail, and I've been wondering, in case either of us has what could be a false positive, whether to schedule a (very pricey and far less convenient) same day PCR test as a backup.  I hadn't even thought that the PCR test, if negative, might be of no value (given my hypothetical of a prior positive antigen test) until I saw that someone had posted on another thread that a guest would not pass the health screening if they said they'd had a recent positive Covid test.  And, I have no idea what Celebrity would even do with those conflicting test results in terms of allowing a guest to board.  Again, no intent here to lie about test results, I'm just asking what the health questionnaire asks, so we can decide what test(s) to take. 

 

Thanks so much, and keep enjoying your trip!! 

 

I've wondered that too.  My follow up question would be then how do they ever show someone is no longer contagious?  The quarantine time is now less than 14 days!   It’s reasonable to look for no fever or other symptoms and maybe another negative at the port, but a positive followed by a negative has normally been assumed to be a false positive when the test types get more selective.  

[funatseascott]

1 hour ago, Arzeena said:

????

We were there in August on the Equinox. No restrictions at that time except for curfew at 4 you mentioned, and on weekends it was 6 pm.

We talked with a few shop workers and asked about the port not being open to wander.  They relayed they had elections recently, so there were a lot of rallies and group activities.  Covid cases were around 10-15 per day, but jumped to 150-200, so they had to tighten things up.  Only sharing what we were told.  They had 5 ships in August, but we were the 1st ship in September.

[funatseascott]

Ocean view for lunch full of people, almost all unmasked.  We didn’t stay long.  The Indian food was again my favorite.

 

[funatseascott]

Jim, we can’t wait to hear about your private journey.  I hope you and Lain are having a great time!!

[funatseascott]

8 minutes ago, funatseascott said:

Ocean view for lunch full of people, almost all unmasked.  We didn’t stay long.  The Indian food was again my favorite.

 

I forgot to add, but Celebrity had a nice cake with a commemorative scene on the icing remembering 9/11.  Nice touch.  Remember the fallen!

[canderson]

Speaking of cake.  Would swear that someone had either posted a pic of a Zenith cake or a link to one.  Can't find it.  Can anyone help?

[Jim_Iain]

We arrived St Lucious at 8:00.  
 

Got message from T-Mobile as soon as I turned off airplane mode

 

[Jim_Iain]

Dropped by Retreat to confirm Private Journey tour.   
 

Morning snack out

 

 

 

 

 

[bj24]

5 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Getting off the Ship -

 

Been advised that in each of the restricted ports passengers will be permitted off the ship into a restricted shopping area inside the port.   This will be the same in the next two ports.

 

St Lucias is fairly restrictive.    You can only go ashore between 11-3:00 and recommended to be back on ship by 3:00.     At 4:00 pm they have a HARD CURFEW and all business must be closed and people off the streets. 

Are ship tours allowed in St Lucia?

[Benthayer Gonbak]

2 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

We arrived St Lucious at 8:00.  
 

Got message from T-Mobile as soon as I turned off airplane mode

 

 

Thanks for that!  I recently switched to T mobile and wonder what hoops I’d have to jump through to find cover calls and text.   Mostly interested in text unless I need to call port contacts for help, and then the cost probably even a consideration! 

[taylortime05]

10 minutes ago, Benthayer Gonbak said:

 

Thanks for that!  I recently switched to T mobile and wonder what hoops I’d have to jump through to find cover calls and text.   Mostly interested in text unless I need to call port contacts for help, and then the cost probably even a consideration! 

I have AT&T and they offer the International Day Pass at $10 per day and we're only charged if we use it that day.  They also have a cruise package that is $100 per month and it covers unlimited calls, texts and 200MB data.  Overage is $2 per MB.   I think we will stick with the International Day Pass.

[taylortime05]

1 hour ago, funatseascott said:

We prefer Tuscan.  Murano has lobster, which is what we order there and only reason we choose that specialty restaurant.  I don’t think you can go wrong with any choices, just sharing our preference.  You can get a butcher block steak at Tuscan, if you want meat besides Italian.

Thank you so much!  I can't wait to get on the ship next Friday.  I do wish I had lost a few pounds before this cruise because it's hard not to put on a few pounds while on the cruise with so much good food & drinks! 

[Jim_Iain]

We met Yuliia  in Retreat at 9:15 for our 9:30 tour.   She escorted us to security and told us where to meet Shore Excursion Manager.     We had to go through a temperature check at the terminal and then was given a white Saint Lucia wrist band.  
 

 

 

There was quite a crowd of people lined up and ready for their curated tours and just like any other tour she introduced us to a Shore Excursion Guide with out Tour  Number on it.   He escorted out of the port gate to our Guide who was waiting to great us with his car.

 

 

 

We were immediately off for our tour.    The tour I arranged was a complete Island cruise with emphasis on where the locals go.   Today is Saturday and the island was bustling.   They have a hard curfew at 4:00 and have to be at home.    Tomorrow which is Sunday they have a 24 hour curfew so everyone was out doing their errands and shopping.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 11, 2021 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

 

 

Governor Generals home

 

 

 

and here comes some of the ships tours - open air but packed in.  

 

[goofysmom99]

To repeat what's been said a bit earlier, set up your phone at home for wifi calling.  Then your phone works just like it does at home on the ship's wifi = texting and calling and data.  No need to make a call over your cell provider's land network ever, unless you get off the ship.  I take my T-Mo phone out of airplane mode and turn off wifi on land to check my credit card or bank apps.  But I also check financials aboard by activating my VPN first.  I don't leave the VPN on continually because it does slow down and already pretty slow wifi.  Before you leave home, try searching in your phone's setting for wifi calling.  It's there.  Doesn't matter what brand.  Then turn it on.  Make a call.  It works.  Then you're done.  That's for all brands of phones.  It's not a secret handshake kind of thing.  BTW, I leave wifi calling as my default.  When I'm not on wifi, it uses T-Mo.  Never think about it.

[Jim_Iain]

We had a good chuckle.  Ryan, our driver, said it was very unusual that always his private tour are a man and woman and asked our relationship.  I said he is my husband of 32 years.   No problem but he was amazed at the length of our relationship.   He said I’m a baby only been married for 8 years and asked what advise we had for a long relationship.   I simply said honesty and give your spouse the space they need.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 11, 2021 by Jim_Iain

[Silkroad]

42 minutes ago, funatseascott said:

Ocean view for lunch full of people, almost all unmasked.  We didn’t stay long.  The Indian food was again my favorite.

OVC looks more crowded than I expected, given the passenger load. Maybe everyone turns up at the same time. The Indian food station is my favorite too.

[Benthayer Gonbak]

21 minutes ago, taylortime05 said:

I have AT&T and they offer the International Day Pass at $10 per day and we're only charged if we use it that day.  They also have a cruise package that is $100 per month and it covers unlimited calls, texts and 200MB data.  Overage is $2 per MB.   I think we will stick with the International Day Pass.

 

we had a limited ATT , very limited and text extra.  For less money I got talk and text with the option for data by the day.   Since we’ve never had to use a cell phone at sea I’m good with my cheaper plan.  Fwiw,  we have no cell coverage at home.  and in general ATT had better coverage in rural areas until fairly recently. And, the one time we had a family emergency and had to leave the ship we had all the phone calls we needed, which wasn’t that many.   The ship also got our passport entry stamps for us so it was easy to leave St Maarten.  Everyone was super including Diamond club host.   Always good to travel with a passport!   Although, we most likely could have gotten home without it, it was much simpler with it!  

Edited September 11, 2021 by Benthayer Gonbak

[Jim_Iain]