Bimmer 09 sails APEX to Iceland June 2023

[montythecat]

Oh, the wonderful Troggs from Andover in Hampshire 

with their terrific lead singer Reg Presley (you

couldn’t make it up, could you ?).  To add to the

fairy tale, Jimi Hendrix covered “Wild Thing”.

[Bimmer09]

We went to a show after our Tuscan dinner

 

(the only room pic I took at dinner)

There are restrooms outside Tuscan opposite this art

 

 

We stopped to check out the Martini Bar where some Officers were preparing to pour some cocktails 

 

 

 

 

We moved on to catch the show

 

 

Carol might tell you about the show-it was a loud and incoherent "story" (not) about a woman who plays electric violin, sometimes on a trapeze (as we all do) while a couple of fine ladies sing very loudly but in tune, some rock songs and dancers show their stuff.  High energy plus colorful visuals.

 

 

 

 

 

iPhone photos 

[Bimmer09]

16 minutes ago, montythecat said:

Oh, the wonderful Troggs from Andover in Hampshire 

with their terrific lead singer Reg Presley (you

couldn’t make it up, could you ?).  To add to the

fairy tale, Jimi Hendrix covered “Wild Thing”.

The "Troggs Tapes" are legendary entertainment as they argue with some colorful language.

I played in a band supporting them at a London University in 1977. 

The entire 11 minutes is on YouTube.

Norris

[davekathy]

16 minutes ago, montythecat said:

Oh, the wonderful Troggs from Andover in Hampshire 

with their terrific lead singer Reg Presley (you

couldn’t make it up, could you ?).  To add to the

fairy tale, Jimi Hendrix covered “Wild Thing”.

The fairy tale has another twist. The American band The Wild Ones released the song Wild Thing in 1965. It bombed. The Troggs covered Wild Thing in 1966 and made it a hit. 

[Bimmer09]

Coming up on Day 4- first sight of Iceland with my morning coffee.

Akureyi-eye candy with mountains

Breakfast in Cosmopolitan dining room

A whale glimpsing trip

A fine sail away

Dinner in Normandy

 

Next the Captain introduces the Officers...

 

[hrhdhd]

Hey Norris,

 

Note that the Tuscan MDR on Apex isn't the Tuscan Grill, as in the specialty restaurant on other class ships. (See title of post 228.)

 

I fell asleep during Crystallize. Boring.

 

Enjoying your report.

Edited June 26, 2023 by hrhdhd

[Bimmer09]

26 minutes ago, hrhdhd said:

Hey Norris,

 

Note that the Tuscan MDR on Apex isn't the Tuscan Grill, as in the specialty restaurant on other class ships. (See title of post 228.)

 

I fell asleep during Crystallize. Boring.

 

Enjoying your report.

Excellent catch!! 

We've only eaten in Tuscan Grill once- on our first Silly cruise. Have never returned.

During the meal in 2016 I asked Carol-how many Italians do you think are working in the kitchen?

None she said. I nodded.

The head Chef was brought out to see us at the end of the meal. A Jamaican man.

It was Italian food made by cooks who had never been to Italy.

We felt the same with our Tuscan dinner. We'll try it again on our next sailing.

Carol's summary of Crystallize afterwards was "pretty dreadful but with great projections"

 

Thanks for the comment and correction!

Norris

[kwokpot]

1 minute ago, Bimmer09 said:

Excellent catch!! 

We've only eaten in Tuscan Grill once- on our first Silly cruise. Have never returned.

During the meal in 2016 I asked Carol-how many Italians do you think are working in the kitchen?

None she said. I nodded.

The head Chef was brought out to see us at the end of the meal. A Jamaican man.

It was Italian food made by cooks who had never been to Italy.

We felt the same with our Tuscan dinner. We'll try it again on our next sailing.

Carol's summary of Crystallize afterwards was "pretty dreadful but with great projections"

 

Thanks for the comment and correction!

Norris

I highly doubt you'll find Italian chefs on most mainline cruiseships. 

[Bimmer09]

44 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

I highly doubt you'll find Italian chefs on most mainline cruiseships. 

Sure you're probably right-but why do you think that is?

If you were staffing a ship and your specialty restaurant was Italian wouldn't you want someone who is either an  Italian chef or at least someone of another nationality with a lot of Italian restaurant experience to run the kitchen?

Raw on 5-are the sushi chefs Japanese? Probably Philippines like the man in my photo.

If the Apex made do with 6,000 less toss pillows in the bedrooms they could afford to attract some Italian cooks. 

Mamma mia!

Fine Cut steakhouse I would expect a chef (with tattoos) from Chicago, New York or Miami.

 

Norris

[kwokpot]

15 minutes ago, Bimmer09 said:

Sure you're probably right-but why do you think that is?

If you were staffing a ship and your specialty restaurant was Italian wouldn't you want someone who is either an  Italian chef or at least someone of another nationality with a lot of Italian restaurant experience to run the kitchen?

Raw on 5-are the sushi chefs Japanese? Probably Philippines like the man in my photo.

If the Apex made do with 6,000 less toss pillows in the bedrooms they could afford to attract some Italian cooks. 

Mamma mia!

Fine Cut steakhouse I would expect a chef (with tattoos) from Chicago, New York or Miami.

 

Norris

TBH I haven't noticed Italians employed on non European cruiselines in positions lower than officer level and even that's far and few. It all has to do with salary levels for lower level workers. 

[montythecat]

Sorry, but back to The Troggs. Norris, what an interesting 

life you have enjoyed. Gosh, supporting The Troggs. I

wish I had been blessed with being musical. Oh well, I 

just go to the concerts and buy the records.

 

Davekathy, I know Wild Thing was written by Chip

Taylor who did other good stuff but I didn’t realise it

was first recorded in America. Thanks for that little

nugget. I hope it comes up in music trivia sometime.

 

 

[HBE4]

17 hours ago, Silkroad said:

Why😝  Why did you remind me of the existence of that song? I had successfully buried it in the deepest recesses of my mind😂

 

I personally like this version of the song.  Song begins about 30 seconds into the video.

 

 

[Bimmer09]

Here is the Captain's Introduction of the Officers given while there was an audience in the theater for Crystallize.

 

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

 

 

                     LAND AHOY SHIPMATES!

 

 

I have my coffee and am clothed for warmth. I'm aft and sheltered by Eden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We're sailing down a wide fjord on our way to Akureyri. We dock at 10 a.m.

[Bimmer09]

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bimmer09]

 

 

 

 

 

 

[davekathy]

7 hours ago, montythecat said:

Sorry, but back to The Troggs. Norris, what an interesting 

life you have enjoyed. Gosh, supporting The Troggs. I

wish I had been blessed with being musical. Oh well, I 

just go to the concerts and buy the records.

 

Davekathy, I know Wild Thing was written by Chip

Taylor who did other good stuff but I didn’t realise it

was first recorded in America. Thanks for that little

nugget. I hope it comes up in music trivia sometime.

 

 

I played drums in a garage band in late 1968 all of 1969 and early 1970. We of course played Wild Thing but the first time I heard the song played on was on a 45 by the Wild Ones. Female lead singer. Troggs did a much better version. I enjoy music trivia also and agree that would be a great question. 

 

Sorry Norris. Thanks for taking us along on your cruise. 

[Bimmer09]

                            Cosmopolitan Breakfast

The only dining room serving breakfast and our first visit. Some goofy art by the doorway

 

 

Carol loves the napkin being draped by a welcoming waiter, the water pourer, the coffee offerer, the juice lady, the pastries person. So much wonderful attention! First class service!!

 

 

Carol's fruit plate

 

Carol's French omelet with Gruyere cheese, herbs and bacon

 

My "all the sides" repast. The corned beef hash at right was a standout.

 

A wonderful start to the day! We enjoyed talking to a Canadian couple at the next table-seasoned cruisers with Crystal. Husband was a geologist and knowledgeable about Iceland.

 

The nearby restrooms are opposite this artwork.

 

Our Whale Watching excursion is not until 12.15. Carol is off to Eden to relax but her Zen will be shattered by a dance class with only one participant. I'll go back to deck 5 and take pics of Akureyri.

 

[Bimmer09]

 

Cool church in the center of this next one

 

 

I take a walk up Promenade Deck 5

 

 

 

 

Fine Cut Steakhouse has some outdoor seating which would be fantastic on a warm Caribbean or Mediterranean  night

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the lifeboats can hold 440 people!

 

 

 

The Promenade ends here

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

Norris -

Not sure if you have noticed across from this going AFT near the MDR -   They have slats then when walking forward you can see the hull of ship and lots of names and writing from the construction workers.     If walking AFT you don't notice them as the slats are on a 45 degree angle. 

 

[Bimmer09]

31 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Norris -

Not sure if you have noticed across from this going AFT near the MDR -   They have slats then when walking forward you can see the hull of ship and lots of names and writing from the construction workers.     If walking AFT you don't notice them as the slats are on a 45 degree angle. 

 

Wow, Jim, thanks for this unusual detail. I will find it on our next E Class sailing- we put down a deposit on a future cruise and of the cruises we have looked at so far Carol has asked me-does the ship have Eden? and when I have said No she tells me "Forget that then!" LOL.

You and Iain liked Eden too if I recall.

Thanks for the comment!

Norris

[Jim_Iain]

5 minutes ago, Bimmer09 said:

Wow, Jim, thanks for this unusual detail. I will find it on our next E Class sailing- we put down a deposit on a future cruise and of the cruises we have looked at so far Carol has asked me-does the ship have Eden? and when I have said No she tells me "Forget that then!" LOL.

You and Iain liked Eden too if I recall.

Thanks for the comment!

Norris

 

It's kinda cool.     We were thinking about taking the Art Work tour and the Retreat Hostess said she could give us the basics of the tour for free while we had pre-dinner drinks--- she was incredible and then next day gave us a photo booklet with pictures of the Major Art.   We then went out and tried to find all of them. 
 

this is what the open hill looks like

 

 

Edited June 26, 2023 by Jim_Iain

[Bimmer09]

 

 

                            Having a whale of a time!

Even though the weather has been cold and windy we are loving this ship and the crew is as good as they come. It's a crew of smiling helpful faces and the ship is like a floating art gallery. I do notice and look every time to see if any of the Infinite (ha!) Balcony windows are down but the answer is no. I 'll keep checking.

 

Here's what's happening-we are going to meet up on the dock and go on a 4 hour whale watching trip-an X Excursion. We'll walk 15 minutes to the whale boat. It will take 1.5 hours to reach the spot where the whales are (allegedly).

 

We are scanned by security as we get off the ship and join a throng of people by the dock gates and wait for 15 minutes or so. Two young Icelanders stop us from going beyond the gates to get a better seat as we can see the red whale boat in the distance.

The wait gives me a chance to snap this

 

I love that bow-just like ships before World War I. Old is new again!

 

I make sure I am standing by the Icelandic lady who is going to lead us to the boat and we set off. Some who had escaped earlier waited for us so when we caught up to them I was no longer at the head of the line but close enough to bag a good seat.

On this tub, at the stern near the flag, sheltered from the wind (I told myself)

 

 

Behind me

 

Carol is in the crowd but out of shot

 

I got a good angle on the Apex 

 

Find me a better looking ship- I can wait

 

Once onboard there is the safety drill- nah , just kidding. There was no telling where the life jackets were although being a seafarer I figured they were in the benches we were sitting on but it would have been reassuring to hear the crew give a nod to safety. We got bupkis.

Hey ho-we put to sea anyway.

A warning-if you love clouds and mountains , boy do I have a treat for you!! If you love the sight of a humpback whale leaping majestically  from the sea then turn back now. It's a whale glimpsing tour-if you are lucky. Still the 3 hours on the boat not seeking whales is a fab ride if you are in toasty thermal underwear like me with a scarf and a puffy winter coat. I think you will like the photos at least.

 

 

 

 

More...

Edited June 26, 2023 by Bimmer09
spelling

[Bimmer09]

 

It's windy out here at speed. But the view is stunning!

 

 

 

Cloud Porn

 

 

 

I'm taking pictures to the left and to the right as I stand, bracing myself against the hull

 

 

More

[kwokpot]

48 minutes ago, Bimmer09 said:

 

 

There's always the one or handful of MEN that seem to think trousers are for sissies and God forbid you wear something more than a T-shirt. 🤨

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 26, 2023 by kwokpot