Jim_Iain - First Non-Celebrity Cruise in 22 year - Ponant vs Celebrity Comparison

[Jim_Iain]

We have seen a number of birds.  
 

We have to speakers who will be leading tours and giving briefings.   
 

Alexandre Thevenin is specifically geared to birds 🦅 and bird life. 
 

 

[Jim_Iain]

Passed under Mackinac Bridge- the longest suspension bridge in Western Hemisphere. 
 

 

 

We are tendering and should begin at 2:00 pm

[Covepointcruiser]

Go away from the fudge and tourists shop and you will enjoy the peace and quiet of the island.

[hcat]

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

Things are definitely smaller but only about 150 passengers all suites. 
 

They do have a SMALL gym.   They also have massage, spa and beauty salon.  Will have to check on Sauna. 
 

all you really need if you can' t walk on deck or in port!

[hcat]

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

We have seen a number of birds.  
 

We have to speakers who will be leading tours and giving briefings.   
 

Alexandre Thevenin is specifically geared to birds 🦅 and bird life. 
 

 

great speakers.. Celeb used to have many naturlists etc  Now many speakers are geared to pop cukture or sports.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

5 hours ago, SHIP TRAVELER said:

Yes, all is well,  I sneak a peak at your "Sillie" roll call with Schmoe regularly. LOL

 

Not much action there except for the woman who complains vigorously about my roll call list.  She also complained about me on the site we can't mention here.  I think people are afraid to post there in case she decides to go after them!

[Jim_Iain]

Diffence -  

 

There has been many comments about Celebrity's Commitment to the environment by shifting from plastic to Aluminum cans of water and then back to plastic.

 

Ponant has a much better approach -   They give all passengers a nice travel water bottle and have filling locations with chilled water, room temperature and sparkling.

 

 

 

Also in your room they provide bottled waters that come from dames source.  To assure freshness they are dated. 
 

 

 

Edited September 12, 2023 by Jim_Iain

[Lastdance]

2 hours ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

 

Not much action there except for the woman who complains vigorously about my roll call list.  She also complained about me on the site we can't mention here.  I think people are afraid to post there in case she decides to go after them!

So she basically runs all the threads, but not part of Cruise Critic?  I am surprised that she hasn’t been told to move on...

[Jim_Iain]

Today was a tender port.  No rush as the full ship fits on two. 
 

[Jim_Iain]

We chose to do the tour of The Grand Hotel.  It was a nice tour of only 12.   
 

We had a nice leisurely walk through town.   There are no cars allowed on the island so horse, bike or carriage are your choices. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 12, 2023 by Jim_Iain

[hcat]

Already picked a favorite...flowers and a red  door...perfect! And taken through an archway..Great eye for  shots!

Edited September 12, 2023 by hcat

[Jim_Iain]

Ok.   To dispel the rumors that you can’t go into The Grand without staying there. 
 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

Our guide took us for a tour and the history of the Grand.   We next met and had a discussion with the Hotels historian.  He of course was very entertains and enlightenIng.  
 

Next we had a Champagne Tea.   
 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rina155]

34 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

 

 

 

 

Ah the “Somewhere in Time” hotel!  Someday I will get there!

Edited September 12, 2023 by Rina155

[Ex-Airbalancer]

8 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Technology Differences -

 

Internet Speeds -   Le Bellot definitely doesn't have StarLink  and the internet is similar as Celebrity pre-StarLink.

 

Ponant

 

 

 

Those  were the speed I was see on the Reflection TA with Starlink with basic 

[Poconolady]

Ah, the Grand Hotel. I spent many vacations there when I was a child. First we would go to a rustic fishing camp in the UP for a week for my Dad to unwind and then stop by the Grand for a week to appease my Mom. Fudge shops, long walks, sitting in the rocking chairs on the front porch before dinner, bicycling all over the island- but what I remember most was the freezing cold water in their huge pool!! 

,

[Ciaranaman]

55 minutes ago, hcat said:

Already picked a favorite...flowers and a red  door...perfect! And taken through an archway..Great eye for  shots!

Completely agree!  I LOVE this shot!

~Bernadette

[Bejay219]

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

Ok.   To dispel the rumors that you can’t go into The Grand without staying there. 
 

 

 

That's strange as when we were there in June this year (on Viking) you were not allowed on the property unless you were a guest or on a tour.  You could get a carriage ride through the property but you were not allowed to get off.  My neice was on visiting on the island and we were going to see if we could meet her at the Hotel (we were on a tour with lunch at the Grand) she was told the same thing.  Heard others on the ship that said they couldn't get on the property.  Could it be that they limited the admission during the summer?  Also, that sign was not there when we were there and we walked that part of the property. 

[Reel Love]

39 minutes ago, Ciaranaman said:

Completely agree!  I LOVE this shot!

~Bernadette

 

1 hour ago, hcat said:

Already picked a favorite...flowers and a red  door...perfect! And taken through an archway..Great eye for  shots!

100% agree!  I thought the exact same thing when saw this picture, hcat and Bernadette.   

 

Jim, simply stunning and IMHO one of the best photos (or at least a favourite for me) that I have ever seen you post!!!!   

 

Continuing to follow your excellent live report.... it is terrific learning about a new line and thank you so much as always for taking us along!

[miched]

Years ago there was no fee or admission to enter the Grand Hotel.   How many hotels charge you a fee to enter their lobby or go to the bar, or restaurant?  

 

Then it was decided since it was a tourist destination to walk on the worlds longest porch they could charge a fee.    It started out as $5 pp. Their explanation was to keep all of the tourists from preventing their paying guests staying at the hotel to enjoy  sitting on the porch.  Apparently it was ok to pay $5 to do that. 😱🤷‍♂️🤗💰

 

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

[jelayne]

Love that place.  Growing up it was our summer treat when we could visit.  

[lilghallinsf]

11 hours ago, Stem to Stern said:

Our Story - Original Murdick's Fudge (originalmurdicksfudge.com)

I know the owners. It is actually a decent american fudge

 

[NMTraveller]

5 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Ok.   To dispel the rumors that you can’t go into The Grand without staying there. 
 

 

 

Ah yes,  but the pictures make you want to stay there...

[Jim_Iain]

13 hours ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

Those  were the speed I was see on the Reflection TA with Starlink with basic 

I believe that was the classic wasn't that.    This is the only wifi on the ship and there are no upgrades.

 

To be honest it seem to be working ok for us.   Last night we were able to stream Jeopardy on the Firestick.