Jim_Iain Live - 2nd Half World Cruise - B2B Singapore to Down Under 11/25 – 12/21

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, Redking said:

Looks like Queensland kicks off on 9 Dec, with other states following anywhere between 16 to 20 Dec. Could be in for a fun time @Jim_Iain🙃

 

Can't wait.   Weather foretasted to be 101 F (38 C) on Saturday turn around day.  Will be nice to head to cooler weather. 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

47 minutes ago, Creekside89 said:

It’s been that way since Rome. When we went through the Suez, they had tape in front of it. I stood there for a little while to get photos. 
 

When we were on our tender for Cairns, the maintenance crew were trying to remove the panel and had a new glass panel with them. They were having difficulty removing the damaged panel.

 

Finally great information.    Now the mystery of why they took it out of operation... then will it be back?

 

[Jim_Iain]

48 minutes ago, Redking said:

I see a reply has already been provided. Iain and you look way too on trend to live up to its usual derogatory meaning.

 

Now that truly is Flattery ---

[Jim_Iain]

48 minutes ago, Suzi66 said:

Funnily enough, we are doing one of those to try them, just before we head off to Hong Kong for our S2S.  We were debating on upgrading from Aqua to a suite or doing a 5 day Virgin cruise and the Virgin cruise won.

 

You will have to do a live and post a link to in on Celebrity as a Comparison.    Would be interested to have a good idea of what they offer.

 

[Jim_Iain]

2 hours ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

You can always use it as additional gratuities for the staff.  I'm sure the staff will appreciate it.  

 

Yes.. push / pull.    We now have the cash and some really nice thank you notes and envelopes we can write their names on it so they can keep.

[Northern Aurora]

On 12/6/2023 at 3:33 PM, Jim_Iain said:

 

Gerry -  Sorry for the delay in answering.    As usually all my sources are mum.

 

We were on the last tender before they pulled up the Magic Carpet.   I observed something going on between an Celebrity Staff excited and running back and forth and the Captain of the Tender blowing him off.   The Celebrity guy was pointing to a tie down.   The seas were rough and I felt the Tender Slam the Magic Carpet a couple of times. 

 

You may know more than I but was the end panel damaged or shattered on the previous cruise?    One person claimed to see it shattered and others said it was that way since Rome.

 

Jim:  Since we boarded in Rome, prior to Australia, we have had only one other tender port.  The magic carpet was used at that tender port (Phuket).  Unless the spouse and I have become utter dingbats during the last three weeks,we both remember using it.  Again, we were told that it was damaged by one of the large private tenders in York’s Knob.

 

Gerry

[Redking]

41 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Can't wait.   Weather foretasted to be 101 F (38 C) on Saturday turn around day.  Will be nice to head to cooler weather. 

 

 

Sun's out today thank goodness, sending out positive weather vibes for your wonderful trip over this side of the Tasman 

[upwarduk]

3 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Thank goodness, says this teacher.

School holidays officially start on the 20th of December but the kids are already in holiday mode and switched off.

And thats when my granddaughter’s school had an OFSTED inspection and were failed!
Not fair. 
She has since gone on to 6 years at University, has a MSC and is in her 2nd year as a Junior Doctor.🤩

[sgmn]

On 11/25/2023 at 11:08 PM, Jim_Iain said:

 

Anyone who has a family member with this terrible disease my heart goes out to you.   Luckily he only suffered  (or was it me suffering to manage him) was less than 9 months.

Feeling your pain with your dad. My mum suffered for almost 10 years. A very proud independent lady who I think of every day. I won't go into the struggles she overcome but she is my role modal for living a positive happy and healthy life.

 

Loving your blog as usual. Your warmth shines through. We're off to Singapore in February, my first visit back after living there as a forces brat in the 60s.

 I better get a move on, I'm only on page 14 😊

[ging466]

5 hours ago, Wookie01 said:

Lol, also called FOFILs - Fat Old Farts in Lycra 😅

 

 

I like that one better....ROFL🤣

[terrydtx]

12 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

The Retreat Team were incredible in helping with our excursions.   A bit shout out to @mmelville6 who started putting this together on September 22, 2022 (year over a year ago).  

 

Team Mark had 26 in our group and they allowed me to invite them to meet in Retreat and escorted to be first on tender.    BTW the Retreat was empty because 95% were booked on Celebrity Excursions.  Mark was incredible in planning and had everyone there waiting outside the Retreat ready to come inside the Retreat at 8:20 AM.   We were due to arrive at 9:00.   We were ashore at 10:00 -  took about 30 minutes to load the large port tenders and 25 minute tender to port.

Jim, good to know, I organized a private tour in Port Douglas for our cruise next month. We are doing a tour of the rain forest and I am the only passenger in the retreat of the 8 of us on the tour. I was hoping the Retreat Hosts would let us do what your group did and all go together to the tenders, we have a long tour and need to start early.

[Mike981]

15 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

No Mike -- I did all the comparison on the Ponant Board and the one I posted earlier.

 

David, big Ponant fan, said the other day about the Port's Tender -   How many Ponant tenders do think would fit on one of these... I responded all of them.

 

And a wonderful review of Ponant and Celebrity it was. I was wondering how your friends feel about their Celebrity experience. I can't remember if they have cruised Celebrity before or not. No worries if you don't have anything to share, just glad you all are having a good time.

 

Your food pictures show the best food I have seen on Celebrity in ages.

[Jim_Iain]

14 hours ago, Redking said:

Sun's out today thank goodness, sending out positive weather vibes for your wonderful trip over this side of the Tasman 

 

Looking forward.    I can tell already on the ship that the temperatures are raising.   I was just reading that the temperatures are being driven by the approaching Cyclone Jasper.  Glad we slipped through when we did.

 

[Jim_Iain]

9 hours ago, ging466 said:

 

I like that one better....ROFL🤣

 

Laughing also..... Must say some of the full figured women on the excursions shouldn't wear lycra either.

[Jim_Iain]

6 hours ago, terrydtx said:

Jim, good to know, I organized a private tour in Port Douglas for our cruise next month. We are doing a tour of the rain forest and I am the only passenger in the retreat of the 8 of us on the tour. I was hoping the Retreat Hosts would let us do what your group did and all go together to the tenders, we have a long tour and need to start early.

 

I was very respectful and corralled our rather large group in a empty area.    The staff were gteat and were even offering drinks and snacks. 

[Jim_Iain]

48 minutes ago, Mike981 said:

 

And a wonderful review of Ponant and Celebrity it was. I was wondering how your friends feel about their Celebrity experience. I can't remember if they have cruised Celebrity before or not. No worries if you don't have anything to share, just glad you all are having a good time.

 

Your food pictures show the best food I have seen on Celebrity in ages.

 

They have sailed Celebrity before  and recently hit Elite.   While they are enjoying themselves an see many differences, like Entertainment, Casino etc they prefer the small ship concept better. 

 

I'm starting to feel that the Edge Class ships are just too big for us.   Edge seems to be struggling with so many passengers and attention to detail.    I continue to have the feeling that the Retreat is more like an airport lounge instead of more intimate lounge like on M and Class

[Jim_Iain]

The incredible Assistant Waiter Wadsy in Retreat 

 

She has an infectious smile. 
 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

lunch. 
 

I had a modified Luminae Burge.   Blue Cheese instead of cheddar. 
 

 

Iain had the new Campero de Polo  Chicken on pita with a fried egg.  Said it was real good. 
 

 

 

 

New Poached Red Wine Pear in red wine reduction. Yum. 

 

[Jim_Iain]

 

 

Amuse-bouche -  10+

 

Smoked Potato Soup -  sorry I had ground pepper before photo.   Was ok but was on the cool side.

 

Iain had the Kids' Petite Filet -  Kumar did bring a second for the table.

 

Grill Veal Chop

 

Egg Plant Parmesan - 10+   One of my favorites.  It mostly didn't disappoint except it was a little cool in the center.   This seems to be a consistent. 

 

Surf and Turf - Scallops and Pork Belly -  5-    Would be good if pork belly rendered down and crispy.   Like eating a glob of fat.    It was another unordered item Kumar dropped off for the table.

 

Chocolate Soufflé

Edited December 7, 2023 by Jim_Iain

[2023]

Ah, that kids petite filet looks just right for me! Do you know if it’s back on the kids menu in the MDR?

Edited December 7, 2023 by 2023

[abbydancer2003]

35 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

lunch. 
 

I had a modified Luminae Burge.   Blue Cheese instead of cheddar. 
 

 

 

Wow that looks great.  I'll have try that on my cruise in 9 days, with my own usual modification, of course.

 

[hcat]

55 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

They have sailed Celebrity before  and recently hit Elite.   While they are enjoying themselves an see many differences, like Entertainment, Casino etc they prefer the small ship concept better. 

 

I'm starting to feel that the Edge Class ships are just too big for us.   Edge seems to be struggling with so many passengers and attention to detail.    I continue to have the feeling that the Retreat is more like an airport lounge instead of more intimate lounge like on M and Class

We are booked on Ascent and Apex but looking  forward to s short cruise on Silho..Want to see if might be a better fit for us  going forward..has some nice Specialty restaurants

[Jim_Iain]

B2B meeting this morning. - yet again attention to detail our meeting information didn’t arrive in our room.   If I didn’t ask last night I would have missed. 
 

Dozens of people are caughing with a raspy cough.   Feel like I’m in a Petrie dish. 
 

Meeting is at 10:00 am.  Of course at 10:05 Captain Matt comes on and we sit here listening to he and Giuseppe for about 20 minutes.  Really poor planning / Coordination. 
 

so many coughing I finally got up and moved to back edge away from all the coughing.  

 

 

Joanna- Suites Manager

 

Jarred - Documentation Manager
 

[hawkesbaynz]

@terrydtx I arranged some small group tours on the Solstice in Vietnam last month (the amazing Xuan Le). The group were spread in MDR/Aqua/Retreat. We were in Aqua but the couple in the Retreat arranged for us to leave with the Retreat group for the first tender, and even early disembarkation at another port. We met in the Ensemble Lounge opposite Michael’s. Am sure you will be able to arrange it.

 

Enjoying the thread. Not many doors in Australia?

[Mcgeneseo]

5 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

They have sailed Celebrity before  and recently hit Elite.   While they are enjoying themselves an see many differences, like Entertainment, Casino etc they prefer the small ship concept better. 

 

I'm starting to feel that the Edge Class ships are just too big for us.   Edge seems to be struggling with so many passengers and attention to detail.    I continue to have the feeling that the Retreat is more like an airport lounge instead of more intimate lounge like on M and Class

We felt the same way about the Beyond last January.  We are going on Apex next month so we'll give it one more try. With all the suites, the experience wasn't as exclusive as with the older ships. Luminae has a wonderful view but we didn't have good service until we asked to be moved to a different section.  I'm curious what we will find on Apex.