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

[carbon]

8 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Yes we were originally scheduled for Nassau on the first day.   About a month before the cruise they cancelled the port due to "continued port repairs" and we have 2 day at sea and then 2 days in Aruba.

 

No complaints from me.

Do you happen to know how long those port repairs are scheduled?  Wouldnt bother me either to skip it.

[canderson]

20 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

It worked for us and wasn't even questioned  when I turned it in.   Many of the crew thanked us personally. 

Actually, just realized we may be talking about different things.  I meant the idea of gifting Amazon cards!

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, carbon said:

Do you happen to know how long those port repairs are scheduled?  Wouldnt bother me either to skip it.

 

Not sure but the Nassau Port Schedule show Edge will be there on 9/24.   How updated the schedule is I don't know.

 

http://crew-center.com/nassau-bahamas-cruise-ship-schedule

 

I just checked Celebrity Site and they still show Edge is scheduled on 9/24

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, canderson said:

Actually, just realized we may be talking about different things.  I meant the idea of gifting Amazon cards!

Ahh..... I thought you meant using OBC for tips. 

[canderson]

That, too.  This thread just keeps on giving!

[TeaBag]

Jim, in post #1547,  when I posted a picture of the ship as you sailed away, I asked you were one of you wearing red.   Perhaps you didn't see the question.  It would be really neat to think we can sit here in Vancouver and actually see someone we had spoken to, on the ship.  They did a close up just before I took the screen shot and you could see the people on their balconies quite plainly but not well enough to identify them.

Your PS looks awesome.  I would live in that hot tub on the balcony!

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, TeaBag said:

Jim, in post #1547,  when I posted a picture of the ship as you sailed away, I asked you were one of you wearing red.   Perhaps you didn't see the question.  It would be really neat to think we can sit here in Vancouver and actually see someone we had spoken to, on the ship.  They did a close up just before I took the screen shot and you could see the people on their balconies quite plainly but not well enough to identify them.

Your PS looks awesome.  I would live in that hot tub on the balcony!

Sorry --- I did miss that question.    I did have a red shirt on but can't see it in the photo it must have lost definition on posting.    Our room is approx between the two red dots on the photo.

 

The tub in the Master Bath is 2x the size and has 2 back rests for sharing the tub.    It even has a hand control to control all the jets and mood lighting.  Hmmm... 

 

 

Edited September 19, 2021 by Jim_Iain

[njaloha]

2 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Jack got a good Birthday Present.    He was playing Go - No Go last night and won a free cruise.

I heard!!!!  Fantastic news!!!  Say HI to everyone for us.

[Benthayer Gonbak]

39 minutes ago, canderson said:

That, too.  This thread just keeps on giving!

Amazon once sold empty cards for nothing for prime.  Then you go on line to put money on them as you go and you have a physical card as a gift.  As long as you have a home port on the mainland Id think the cards could be a plus if you were trying to keep cash from being pooled.  

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, njaloha said:

I heard!!!!  Fantastic news!!!  Say HI to everyone for us.

I guess you also heard he won a necklace for Susanne also.    He really is lucky for sure.

[njaloha]

1 minute ago, Jim_Iain said:

I guess you also heard he won a necklace for Susanne also.    He really is lucky for sure.

HOLY COW!  No I had not heard this news.  LOL.  Definitely lucky!  Good for him.  

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, Benthayer Gonbak said:

Amazon once sold empty cards for nothing for prime.  Then you go on line to put money on them as you go and you have a physical card as a gift.  As long as you have a home port on the mainland Id think the cards could be a plus if you were trying to keep cash from being pooled.  

They still may have those also.    I just specified how much I wanted on each card for the Grandkids and it was there.  They enjoyed them so much or than us trying to figure out what they didn't get.   They have so many toys already.   

[TheHawk1]

Jim, I've been reading through your extensive blog and am really enjoying all the details you're providing.  I'm booked on the Equinox in February for the 12 day itinerary.  I'm curious what you think of the age demographics on your two cruises, especially compared to pre-pandemic?  The reason I'm asking is my parents are booked to come on the cruise with us, but they have some hesitation about cruising now, given the potential for Covid risk at their age (late 70's, early 80's) even when vaccinated.  Are you seeing many people in that age category on your sailing and do they seem concerned?

[Purplsmurf]

On 9/18/2021 at 6:38 PM, hcat said:

If you do a private journey on Aruba you will probably see most  everything, from beaches to the lighthouse.. former natural bridge area, divi trees   and our favorite cactus

preserve...a few other surprises.

 

A very safe island.( other than the N Holloway tragedy).  Lovely happy people.  Great restaurants.

We skip any iguana based food

 

Worthy of a land based stay..someday!

You would love it! We have been going for 25+ years sometimes multiple times per year. Other than cruising it’s our favorite place to travel 

[hcat]

3 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

The future of cruising.   What a cutie. 
 

Aw... what a cutie!

We had a great day today with our dtr sil,  grandsons, and a   visit from my husb's brother and wife..Haven't seen them in about 6 yrs since our dtr's wedding. They met our " boys " ( ages 5 and 18 mo for the first time)  Sure  beats video chats!    

 

Weather was perfect for the outdoor deck..no masks needed.

[hcat]

59 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

They still may have those also.    I just specified how much I wanted on each card for the Grandkids and it was there.  They enjoyed them so much or than us trying to figure out what they didn't get.   They have so many toys already.   

Great idea.. we have reached  saturation on toys and even books!

Their home and ours look like  day care central!  

 

That spa looks great..does it have  strong jets to help the back issue?

Used to have one in our  enclosed deck..but cost alot to keep it heated in NY  winter..so we took it out. But  Ahh it was so relaxing.

[wrk2cruise]

1 hour ago, TheHawk1 said:

Jim, I've been reading through your extensive blog and am really enjoying all the details you're providing.  I'm booked on the Equinox in February for the 12 day itinerary.  I'm curious what you think of the age demographics on your two cruises, especially compared to pre-pandemic?  The reason I'm asking is my parents are booked to come on the cruise with us, but they have some hesitation about cruising now, given the potential for Covid risk at their age (late 70's, early 80's) even when vaccinated.  Are you seeing many people in that age category on your sailing and do they seem concerned?

Last cruise was typical longer itinerary demographics with many 70+ passengers with the typical scooters.  As  Jim has said probably 20% wearing masks and watching distancing but otherwise enjoying very much.

 

This cruise is a bit younger demographic and I’d say less concerned.  We were in Celebrity Central for improve last night at full capacity and only us and our friend were the only 4 non crew wearing masks. I’ve also exited a couple elevators when 6 to eight others packed in.   I suspect like lastcruise some of this may change after the first announcement of a positive case.

[Benthayer Gonbak]

2 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

They still may have those also.    I just specified how much I wanted on each card for the Grandkids and it was there.  They enjoyed them so much or than us trying to figure out what they didn't get.   They have so many toys already.   

makes sense for the kids.  Not as much for crew.  At least for me. 

[GeorgiaPeach51]

12 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

I have books 1 through 16 loaded on my iPhone.   Louise Penney is really good author.  

Oh, I’m so glad you like the Gamache books.  They get better and better.  Her own story is an interesting one..I think she is probably a pretty lovely person.  I have bought and saved on kindle her most recent book...saving it for the next cruise.  Two treats in one...a cruise and a great book.

[GeorgiaPeach51]

Speaking of books, here is the most recent suggested books listing.  Let me know if I’ve missed any.  
 

 

Books and Book Series to Read

 

Georges Simenon Series 

 

Gideon Oliver -Aaron  Elkins  series 

 

Louise Penny’s Gamache series.

Dorothy L. Sayers Lord Peter Wimsey series

Any books by Josephine Tey

 

Barbara Hambly - Benjamin January series, if you like historical mysteries!

 

JD Robb books and Robert B Parker

 

The Scarapetta series by Patricia Cornwell 

 

MC Beaton books

 

Elizabeth George’s Inspector Lynley Series. 

 

Donna Leon’s Brunetti series. 

 

Any books by Tana French

 

Any books by P. D. James.  

 

Greg Isles, a writer from Natchez, MS.

 

Snowblind” by Ragnar Jonasson.  (Book 1 of 6 - DarkIceland)

 

Cork O’Connor series by William Kent Krueger.  Also non-series books.

 

Brad Thor

 

JK Rowling (author of Harry Potter series), writing under the name Robert Galbraith -- the Cormoran Strike series.

* Andrea Camilleri -- the Inspector Montalbano series.

* Helen Fields -- the Perfect series.

 

Karin Slaughter -- the Will Trent series

Daniel Silva - Gabriel Allon series

 

JAMES CRUMLEY —should be read in order

 

Winston Graham—Poldark series

 

Janet Evanovich—Stephanie Plum series.  Fox and Hare series.

 

Anything by Tim Dorsey or Carl Hiassen 

 

Old Archie comic books and Mad Magazine. 🙂

 

 

 

 

[canderson]

2 hours ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said:

Winston Graham—Poldark series

 

 

Anything by Tim Dorsey or Carl Hiassen

Would agree with Winston Graham, but if you appreciate him as 'the Poldark author', then ONLY recommend him as regards the Poldark series and a couple of others that he wrote that used Cornwall in a slightly earlier era as the locale.  The rest of his books are absolutely nothing like those at all, tending more toward trying to be psycho-suspense-thrillers. 

 

Be sure to start anything written by Tim Dorsey on a flight on the way to FLA or MIA for a cruise!  Totally warped, and you'll think about the book regularly until you're well out of Florida coastal waters! 😄

 

My addition:

For anyone taking a trans-Canal cruise, "The Path Between the Seas" is must reading.  David McCullough covers that amazing bit of territory from every angle, and the engineering feats that immediately come to mind for most are just one of several aspects of that venture that are well worth understanding for your cruise.  Political, financial, medical, geology, engineering - the whole story is quite amazing.  We were fortunate enough to have him as a guest lecturer aboard a trans-Canal cruise on Infinity in 2003 IIRC.

[bloomcruisers]

A couple more book series suggestions:

 

Set in London

Richard Jury series by Martha Grimes - current times

Thomas Pitt series by Anne Perry - Victorian era

 

and if you are planning a trip to Egypt check out the

Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters

[Jim_Iain]

15 hours ago, Purplsmurf said:

You would love it! We have been going for 25+ years sometimes multiple times per year. Other than cruising it’s our favorite place to travel 

Arrived early and the ship was promptly cleared at 8:00.   

 

Looks beautiful.  

[Jim_Iain]

18 hours ago, Oceansaway17 said:

 

good to know.  Over on RCI thread one of the casino guys was able to get off on the Coco Cay private island and he was full of such GLEE

 

The crew are really excited today .    Both today and tomorrow eligible staff will be able to take a ships tour to the beach (crew member only).  

 

.   

[Jim_Iain]

16 hours ago, TheHawk1 said:

Jim, I've been reading through your extensive blog and am really enjoying all the details you're providing.  I'm booked on the Equinox in February for the 12 day itinerary.  I'm curious what you think of the age demographics on your two cruises, especially compared to pre-pandemic?  The reason I'm asking is my parents are booked to come on the cruise with us, but they have some hesitation about cruising now, given the potential for Covid risk at their age (late 70's, early 80's) even when vaccinated.  Are you seeing many people in that age category on your sailing and do they seem concerned?

 

The age spread is probably skewed to the older passenger side at this time.    There is only 1 child aboard that I have seen.     I haven't seen any tweens but did sea a Happy 21st Birthday decorated cabin door so must be some. 

 

My guess -   70+   30%

40-69       50%

>40          20%

 

I think that the restrictions on PAX traveling with children under 12 has a major affect on them traveling.   All ports are restricting them  to ship tours only.

 

Most of the passengers regardless of age don't seem to be concerned.     5-10% wear masks

 

Most PAX try to social distance but some are just brain dead about it.    One passenger here reported they had a nice table in OceanView with the place 90% empty.    A lady came over and sate down right next to her. 

 

Iain was on Lawn Club smoking area with 10 chairs spread out.   He was the only one there.   A lady came up and said do you mind if i share your ash tray with you.    He looked at her and said there are plenty of ash trays available and pointed to the  empty row.     She mumbled something and walked away.