Jim_Iain - Summit Live Post B3B Greenland / Iceland / Canada Aug 7, 19 and 31, 2022

[scrapcreator]

Safe travels home.
 

Thank you for all of your travel stories, helpful information, and photos. We can’t wait to board October 3rd.

[CruisinBanka]

Thanks Jim for the interesting read and pictures for the last month+! You do an incredible job with your post and reviews and we felt like we were there with you. You filled the gap between my cruises and now can’t wait to get back on the Summit in October. Safe travels and best of luck with your surgery. April will be here before you know it and you will be back at doing what you obviously love to do!!!

[Norwaylady]

Thank you Jim for taking us along your adventure🕺🏻🕺🏻
it’s been a pleasure to follow your cruise⚓️
Safe travels home 🏡 

Looking forward to next time your on the seas again⚓️

[venicecruiser]

Jim - 

 

Just saw that you have to have eye surgery next month.  Hope it goes well and that you have a quick recovery!  Also, if you do decide on another cruise before April, please post when you do so that we can follow along once again!  (selfishly hoping that you do!)

[woldridge]

18 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Does anyone knows where Uber and Lyft pick up at Black Falcon Cruise Terminal.   I understand cabs are Also abundant.  
 

Recommendations??

It is not easy to find where they pick up. Exit the terminal and go left. The building across the street is a design center with construction going on.  You need to go around the design center building to the front of it.  From the terminal, cross the street, and go left.  Turn right on the first street, walk the short block and then turn right again You will be at the front of the design center.  There are stopping spots on the street as well as an additional driveway right in front of the building.  Our Uber driver did not know where to go.  We waited on the corner where there was a pull off.  Unfortunately, he came from the right to left, entered the driveway in front of the building, exited there and again crossed the street going left. We flagged him down and he had to go up the street and turn around. There were not signs when we were there. Hope this helps.

Barb

[MarKay525]

3 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

<snip> The airport is really quiet.

3 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

They suspended all security for a moment of Silence to honor those who lost their lives on 9/11

They had a honor guard to recognize the event. 
 

Jim - thank you for posting this. I think many in Boston won't fly on 9/11 if it can be avoided - we never did. Generally a somewhat somber day there.

 

I'll add my thanks for your fantastic thread. I've taken lots of notes in preparation for our Summit "leaf peeping" cruise next fall. Wishing you safe travels home and a most successful and uneventful surgery. Kay

[TomTN]

1 hour ago, woldridge said:

It is not easy to find where they pick up. Exit the terminal and go left. The building across the street is a design center with construction going on.  You need to go around the design center building to the front of it.  From the terminal, cross the street, and go left.  Turn right on the first street, walk the short block and then turn right again You will be at the front of the design center.  There are stopping spots on the street as well as an additional driveway right in front of the building.  Our Uber driver did not know where to go.  We waited on the corner where there was a pull off.  Unfortunately, he came from the right to left, entered the driveway in front of the building, exited there and again crossed the street going left. We flagged him down and he had to go up the street and turn around. There were not signs when we were there. Hope this helps.

Barb

They will direct you to cab pick up. It is immediately after you walk outside the building when you leave the ship.

$20.20 to airport.

No lines this morning.

[Buckeye94]

Thank you @Jim_Iain for taking us along on your adventures. I hope to travel again with you some day! I hope the eye surgery goes well and you are back on the seas soon.

 

Julie

[bunzini]

Gosh Jim, I am really going to miss checking in with you daily.  You have given me many an idea for our October sailing on the Summit as well as our Iceland/Greenland cruise next year.  LOVE the pics and all the information you have given us.  Safe travels!

[raudacruise]

Safe travels and a speedy recovery from your eye surgery. Glad you’ll have plenty of audio books handy. (Saved my sanity after cataract surgery.)

 

I’ll be in major Jim_Iain withdrawal for some time. When your next live review pops up I’m pouncing!

Edited September 12, 2022 by raudacruise

[CTSandy]

Thank you so much for your wonderful daily reports and amazing pictures -  I am going to miss reading these.  I loved the remarkable pictures of Greenland - would love to visit.  I wish you a successful eye surgery and hope you have a rapid recovery.  Again, much appreciate your generosity in spending time to share this adventure!

[irvington]

Thanks for a wonderful vicarious trip. I appreciate your YouTube videos as well. 

[h20cruzer]

Brought a tear to my eye that this wonderful adventure is over. Thank you for all the time and effort you put into this venture. Until next time. 
I fly to Heathrow Oct 26, 2 nights in Southampton and board the Sky Princess on the 29th for a 14 night TA ending in Ft Lauderdale, spending one more night at the Riverside Hotel before taking  JetBlue back to SFO. Will be interesting to compare Celebrity to Princess. I haven’t been on Princess in at least 25 years.

Norma

[upwarduk]

8 hours ago, h20cruzer said:

Will be interesting to compare Celebrity to Princess.

I hope you do a comparison. I would be interested to read it, as I am looking at a 24 day Southampton to Southampton in the fall next year,that visits many of the Ports that Iain & Jim have visited on their final voyage.

My DH thinks 2x7 sea days is stretching it a bit!😱

[dani negreanu]

23 hours ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said:

Wishing you and Iain a safe trip home.  Thanks for such a wonderful distraction from the day’s challenges!  Thoroughly enjoyed every post and the photos.  Wishing your doctors the utmost skill and superhuman healing powers for you with your eye surgery.

 

I will add the final tally for the books list so everyone will have it until the next adventure.  Safe travels, all, on this sad 21st September 11 anniversary. And heartfelt condolences to our British and Commonwealth friends in the loss of the lovely and inspiring Queen.

 

Louise Penny’s Gamache series.

 

Joanie

 

+ 1, What Joanie said 👍

 

I've started yesterday the 1st book of L. Penny (Still Life) and enjoying it very much. This series is new to me, and, being an avid reader, I'm always "in the market" for new series. Thank you.

 

Jim, I used to manage an eye clinic of a very renowned retina specialist. Those days even complicated surgeries, like vitrectomies, are a safe procedure, with minor inconveniences.

 

Good luck and a speedy recovery, 

[capecodmercury]

On 9/10/2022 at 4:54 PM, Jim_Iain said:

Does anyone knows where Uber and Lyft pick up at Black Falcon Cruise Terminal.   I understand cabs are Also abundant.  
 

Recommendations??

If you are heading to Logan, have you considered the Water taxi?  It lands at the terminal and can take you right across the harbor. (617) 406-8584.  They also have a luggage storage option if you will be leaving later in the day and want to explore. 

[Jim_Iain]

Yesterday was a long day for us.    We were up at 7:00 and off the ship by 8:00.   Our flight wasn't until 11:55 so we had lots of time to kill at the airport.  

 

First up was to grab a Starbucks --   LONG line and took close to 20 minutes.   When I got to the counter I noticed they had an area for Mobile Pickup---- Ugh... Why didn't I see that earlier.

 

I decided to pop in my AirPods and do some walking while waiting.  

 

Our plane was in on time and we took off on time for Phoenix.   We arrived in Phoenix 30 minuets early, which only occurs when you have a long lay over.   Our outbound flight to San Jose didn't leave until 5:30 so had another 2 1/2 hours to kill.    I decided to go for a walk and walked to All of the Terminals and out to the end of each gate.   Got my exercise in for the day in a nice air conditioned terminal.

 

Not much of interested but did see a really nice sculpture of Glass and Metal.

 

 

Edited September 12, 2022 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

It is time to bring the Live Post to and end and wanted to way how much fun I had and how much we enjoyed meeting so many from our Cruise Critic Community. 

 

Just a few final thoughts and observation.

 

1.  We only ate in Ocean View 3 times for lunch.   We found the selection was definitely reduced from previous cruises.  

 

Pizza - never saw more than Pepperoni,  Cheese and Veterinarian pizza and a Stromboli.

 

Cheese -  only Cheddar, Provolone and Jack

 

Grill Station - Chicken and beef but when I tried the chicken it was like shoe leather

 

Ice Cream -   Generally only 4-5 flavors but after comments it seem to improve on last cruse but we both noted they were all pretty tasteless and not the great Ice Cream they always had.

 

Soft Serve -  Finally fixed and enjoyed a very good soft serve

 

Poolside Grill -  Good as usual but they were not cooking to order but had a pan with about a dozen burgers that they were serving from, leaving them a bit dry.

 

Now for the Crew-    Excellent and have to say lots of hugs on our departure

 

Ship Condition -   In pretty good shape but showing her age with lots of rust and some of the soft goods are starting to look worn.

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

On 9/10/2022 at 5:17 PM, Sanjo said:

Jim, can’t answer regarding Uber/Lift as we had someone picking us up at the terminal, but we did notice a looooong line of people waiting for cabs. 
 

Have a safe trip home…………..Sandy

 

When we left the terminal (pretty early as they were processing first group - Walkoffs, Suites and First Regular Group.   There was a pretty good line for cabs.    For Uber we were told best results was to walk about 1 1/2 blocks outside in front of the port.   We did that and had an Uber in 3 minutes

[Jim_Iain]

On 9/10/2022 at 6:39 PM, sdnich said:

My mother is from Indonesia(you would never know looking at me!!) so I will look for Kutut in Luminae.I always love meeting people from all over the world!! We really look forward to some great dinners ! thank you again for all the great pictures.We did some packing today for our upcoming cruise and so excited! We are single digit days away !!

 

You will find that many of the crew are Indonesian.   Kutut is a gem.   I mentioned that we were his first customer in Luminae being promoted from an Assistant Waiter in MDR.    His hands were shaking as he took our order.   He had to go back to the MDR for the second cruise due to a shortage but on the 3rd Cruise we specifically asked for him.

 

He has grown so much and is a great waiter.   Very efficient and attentive but engaging and loved joking around with us.    One night Iain ordered Ice Cream and said --- "JUST A SMALL SCOOP".     he came out with a 1" scoop --- but of course had a regular one in the back room.

[TPCRUISER2]

Thanks again for the Awesome review! Love All the pictures. You have taken me to places I never may see except for thru your eyes and lens. Look forward to the next. Rest up!

[Luv2Crus40]

Thank you again for bringing us along on your extensive cruise. Thanks for all the photos and insights.  Guess this will have to hold me until we're back on the Summit next May.

Good luck on your eye surgery and wish both you and Iain many wonderful voyages in the future.

[Jim_Iain]

On 9/10/2022 at 6:45 PM, cinderellen said:

Lovely words. Thanks again for taking us along. What a treat. Safe travels and good wishes for a successful surgery 👋

It's a relatively simple procedure of building a new drainage vent in one of my eyes and since they will already be doing it are going to do a cataract surgery at the same time.  I have had the eye pressures under control but developed an allergy to the last of the drops they have in their artisanal.

 

It's all the prep and pre and post operation appoints that are so time consuming.    After the surgery the Doctor wants me to visit at least once a week for 6 weeks to make sure it's doing what it's suppose to do. 

 

Like other Covid consequences the Eye Surgery team is back up about 2 months so make all the appointments at once.

Edited September 12, 2022 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

On 9/10/2022 at 9:52 PM, takemewithyou said:

You both are such great gentlemen……I feel like I already know you from your great live postings!  Would love to meet you on a future cruise!  We may have actually been with you on one before, because I may remember your faces and a kilt! 
Have you ever tried Azamara?  We love both lines, but have been more recently staying with Azamara.  Just curious if you have tried it and what your impression was……

Thanks for all the posts because we had to cancel 9-11 on Summit due to a medical issue.  We would have been boarding tomorrow……..😢

Sorry you missed you vacation and I hope you are able to reschedule soon

[Jim_Iain]

On 9/11/2022 at 12:31 AM, DUTRAVEL said:

I’ll miss seeing your wonderful pictures everyday Jim. Have a safe trip home. We will be embarking on the Eclipse tomorrow to Alaska with Henrietta. You were lucky to have missed all of the hot weather in the Bay Area!

Give Henrietta a dogie treat for me would love to see you both again.