Jim_Iain - B2B Sydney - Honolulu - Vancouver

[hcat]

3 hours ago, mac_tlc said:

I think we are about to book the Silhouette for March 2026 to go to the ABC islands. Would you like to join us ? 😏😏.

 

We are “lone wolves” on this thread . We actually really enjoy the E class Retreat experience 😂😂😂. Of course there are a couple of things we would change, but for what we like — fabulous shows, game shows, trivia, casino — they are excellent. The theaters are second to none. We love the ocean views from the Retreat Lounge. Even in our early years, we have never sat at a bar for a drink so the lack of bar seating is not a negative for us . The sunset bar, particularly on Beyond and Ascent is stunning —- maybe they should have let Nate Bermuda design the Retreat Lounge😂. 

 

One of the main reasons we will hop back to S-class is so we can have access to the MDR menu in Luminae. 
 

It’s all good, we enjoy them all —- choice is good.

 

 

mac_tlc

 

Not sure if this was an open invite but  Charla..  Gen X , and Jeremy were very interested in the ABC itin..

Thought we might join them but never connected.  Maybe you can reach out and see if they might join?,

[DaKahuna]

4 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

'm sure Coco Cay is great for Celebrity's bottom line, but would probably just stay on the ship.   Just not our thing.

 

 I agree 100%.  

 

 I do not mind Labadee though.  The private Retreat areas is a place where we just like to sit and relax.  It's also not that bad of a walk from the pier and lets me get a little exercise in walking there and, if I am not too tired, back. 

 

[JLMcruise]

5 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Had the Opportunity to meet Erin from Idaho - one of the activities staff on Solstice.   I've known her mother via cyber for over 10 years and never met her.

 

At one time we were recruited from CruiseCritics to be pop up Advocates for Celebrity on Celebrity's website.   There were 5 of us that got to be friends.   I've been able to meet 4 of the 5 and hope to meet Mickey face to face one day.   

 

Erin is high energy and is so much like her  mother.  

 

 

Where are her cowboy boots?

 

[Jim_Iain]

1 hour ago, JLMcruise said:

Where are her cowboy boots?

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

6 hours ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

Did you see this note about refit of the Connie 🤣

Hadn’t seen that.  Good news in my opinion. 

[Jim_Iain]

6 hours ago, mac_tlc said:

I think we are about to book the Silhouette for March 2026 to go to the ABC islands. Would you like to join us ? 😏😏.

 

We are “lone wolves” on this thread . We actually really enjoy the E class Retreat experience 😂😂😂. Of course there are a couple of things we would change, but for what we like — fabulous shows, game shows, trivia, casino — they are excellent. The theaters are second to none. We love the ocean views from the Retreat Lounge. Even in our early years, we have never sat at a bar for a drink so the lack of bar seating is not a negative for us . The sunset bar, particularly on Beyond and Ascent is stunning —- maybe they should have let Nate Bermuda design the Retreat Lounge😂. 

 

One of the main reasons we will hop back to S-class is so we can have access to the MDR menu in Luminae. 
 

It’s all good, we enjoy them all —- choice is good.

 

 

mac_tlc

When on Edge and Apex they allowed ordering from both MDR and Blu.  

[cruzzzinma]

21 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

When on Edge and Apex they allowed ordering from both MDR and Blu.  

Same on Beyond early last year.

[upwarduk]

3 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Hadn’t seen that.  Good news in my opinion. 

Just seen a screen shot of her in dry dock in Marseilles.

 

Edited April 14 by upwarduk

[Jim_Iain]

Arrived in Lautoka,Fiji around 3:00 today.  
 

I took the free shuttle into town. We had been warned that it was Sunday and most of the shops would be closed.  
 

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

Decided to just go in and wander around. 
 

 

Bula!

 

[Jim_Iain]

Town was Ho Hum and rather run down. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

On the way back to port saw some interesting sight,  so walked out of the port to shot some sights. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MicCanberra]

Glad you have all made it to Fiji, enjoy tomorrow.

[bluwes]

13 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Had the Opportunity to meet Erin from Idaho - one of the activities staff on Solstice.   I've known her mother via cyber for over 10 years and never met her.

 

At one time we were recruited from CruiseCritics to be pop up Advocates for Celebrity on Celebrity's website.   There were 5 of us that got to be friends.   I've been able to meet 4 of the 5 and hope to meet Mickey face to face one day.   

 

Erin is high energy and is so much like her  mother.  

 

 

We met Erin on the Reflection in the Med a couple of summers ago. Like you say she is full on 😁😁

[bluwes]

12 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

 

I don't mind older ships but not interested  in Caribbean (but would do ABC's again) and Definitely not in to Labradee and Coco Cay.     I'm sure Coco Cay is great for Celebrity's bottom line, but would probably just stay on the ship.   Just not our thing.

We’ve booked the ABCs for my birthday in April 25. The itinerary is the same  one that  was cancelled owing to the Pandemic 3 weeks before we were due to travel. Will be our  first cruise back in the Caribbean since 2018, we’ve stuck to more close to home ever since either in the Med or sailing from Southampton to the Canaries.

[upwarduk]

1 hour ago, bluwes said:

stuck to more close to home ever since either in the Med or sailing from Southampton to the Canaries.

Do you think it’s a sign of age ?
My husband will only go from Southampton now.

[Gracie115]

7 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

When on Edge and Apex they allowed ordering from both MDR and Blu.  

That's interesting we were not able to do so on Apex in 2022 or 2023.

[CardowMD]

@Jim_Iain The colors on your photos from Fiji were spectacular. Where these taken from your iPhone or experimenting on your new devices. Not sure what settings you are using.

[chemmo]

4 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Town was Ho Hum and rather run down. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jim, when we visited we had read a review that had described the town as you have…We opted for a tour that day and were pleased that we had when we finished the day with a stroll around. For the life of me I can’t remember the name of the tour but I remember lots of butterflies!

 

56 minutes ago, upwarduk said:

Do you think it’s a sign of age ?
My husband will only go from Southampton now.

A sign of age and how stressful and expensive flying has become…

[catspaw1]

Jim, loved your pics of Fiji. It doesn't look like a great port. Was there any beach snorkeling you could have gone too?

[cruisetonowhere10]

4 minutes ago, catspaw1 said:

Jim, loved your pics of Fiji. It doesn't look like a great port. Was there any beach snorkeling you could have gone too?

Agreed…the port pictures are the best…rugged, raw, and real…best of the bunch as far as I’m concerned. 

[catspaw1]

Just now, cruisetonowhere10 said:

Agreed…the port pictures are the best…rugged, raw, and real…best of the bunch as far as I’m concerned. 

It doesn't look like an enticing port. I was expecting much more. I always heard the snorkeling/diving was good but don't know if you need to take a boat to access the reef. Sometimes it's easier & a lot cheaper to do beach snorkeling. But don't know if that's possible in Fiji. Anyone know?

[cruisegirlppp]

On 4/4/2024 at 2:38 AM, upwarduk said:

Richard Osman is a popular TV Quiz show host on Pointless in UK. 
Strange to see that he is a popular writer for someone from U.S.

Loved the Thursday Murder Club books. I also enjoyed the SJ Bennett books (Windsor Knot etc.)  but I'm not sure how she is regarded in your part of the world as she fictionalizes the Queen. 

[kwokpot]

1 hour ago, catspaw1 said:

It doesn't look like an enticing port. I was expecting much more. I always heard the snorkeling/diving was good but don't know if you need to take a boat to access the reef. Sometimes it's easier & a lot cheaper to do beach snorkeling. But don't know if that's possible in Fiji. Anyone know

In 2018 when we did a reverse itinerary on Royal our stop in Fiji was at the port of Suva, on the southeastern coast of the island. In any case rather than try to do a day at a high end resort,which we kinda did during our Maui port stop, we did a tour to visit a local Fijian village. It was a wonderful way to see how real Fijians live. We got to see the types of houses they  lived in and were treated to a ceremonial dance and how the drink kava was made ( no,we didn't try the kava). We felt it was a worthwhile tour and would recommend something similar for anyone visiting Fiji.

On another note as we were venturing from the port to the village it was noted that Fiji had hired China to build out its transportation infrastructure. They were building for Fiji a whole highway system. It was pretty remarkable. 

Edited April 14 by kwokpot

[hcat]

2 hours ago, CardowMD said:

@Jim_Iain The colors on your photos from Fiji were spectacular. Where these taken from your iPhone or experimenting on your new devices. Not sure what settings you are using.

Agree about the lovely colors. As always, I  love the nature shots  and beautiuful contrasting  blues in  the water shots.

 

Jim makes places  that are rundown look their  authentic best!

 

one of my favs below:

Edited April 14 by hcat