Jim_Iain - B2B Sydney - Honolulu - Vancouver

[upwarduk]

5 hours ago, chemmo said:

Writing as someone from your neighbourhood the older you get the harder it gets to fly long haul,

Agree 100%.

Our Grandson will be doing third 3rd year at University in Adelaide and will celebrate his 21st birthday while he is there. We have already told him we won’t be travelling to help him celebrate.🙈

[Mike981]

I can relate to not liking to fly long distances. Four hours is long for me, we used to go to Jamaica and once to St. Lucia and they were tough. I now have had both hips replaced and it makes it even harder, I do purchase larger seats but those long flights are still tough.

 

Now if I could purchase those first class seats that Jim had, that might change things.

[larry_s_taco]

On 3/31/2024 at 11:05 AM, Jim_Iain said:

We are off in just 3 days, Wednesday 4/3/2024 to Sydney to begin our next Epic Journey.     I love retirement. 

 

I decided I better fire up this new adventure a couple days early.

 

As a prologue, I'll post a short video that will graphically show you what we are up to.    The mapping program did make one error -  see if you can spot it.

 

 

I just found your post. I've missed following you guys. Mike and I are taking the Solstice next April from Hawaii to Vancouver so I'm anxious to follow along. Wow you are up to 35 pages. It will take a while for me to catch up. Hope everything is going well on your adventure. It sounds great. 

[Jim_Iain]

9 hours ago, Mike981 said:

I can relate to not liking to fly long distances. Four hours is long for me, we used to go to Jamaica and once to St. Lucia and they were tough. I now have had both hips replaced and it makes it even harder, I do purchase larger seats but those long flights are still tough.

 

Now if I could purchase those first class seats that Jim had, that might change things.

The lay down business class seats have really made a huge difference. However I can remember back in time when First Class International seats were only slightly larger than domestic first class. 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

Yesterday we arrived in American Samoa.   We were awaken around 7:00 AM by loud drumming and chanting.   The port put on a big welcome.

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

 

 

 

 

Edited April 20 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

We decided to skip taking a tour and just did a bit of touring on our own.  Pago Pago is full of Governmental building but we may have just not found much of interest.  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The majority of the shopping was in a small market and covered stall area.  The currency of American Samoa is the US Dollar. 

[Jim_Iain]

The market was pretty quiet when we visited. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 20 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

More sunsets for our departure. 

 

 

Edited April 20 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

Had a birthday dinner with Bill and Linda.  Sine Linda’s birthday was the 19th she got 2 Birthdays this year. 
 

 

[Jim_Iain]

Today we were honored with a wonder Zenit Lunch.  There are 26 aboard this cruise. 
 

Mario is the perfect host and had a Trivia competition.  Each Zenith introduced themselves and they you had to answer a Yes / No question about Solstice.  
 

IF WRONG you temporary had to give up your Zenith card.  
 

 team Iain - Jim and Val - Amy won and were presented with Metals. 
 

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

 

 

 

 

 

 

[JLMcruise]

We have spent a lot time on the Solstice - love seeing the pictures and the crew! Your pictures are wonderful!

[Jim_Iain]

Celebrity continues to advertise as a PREMIUM CRUISE LINE  then replaces butter in OVC with a spread

 

 

and cut pillow chocolates to 50% size - 4.5 grams. 

 

 

Really how do they dream thing up like this. 

 

Edited April 20 by Jim_Iain

[billc23]

41 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Celebrity continues to advertise as a PREMIUM CRUISE LINE  then replaces butter in OVC with a spread

 

 

and cut pillow chocolates to 50% size - 4.5 grams. 

 

 

Really how do they dream thing up like this. 

 

Wow! It looks like you are getting shortchanged.

 

 

 

 

[mahdnc]

2 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Had a birthday dinner with Bill and Linda.  Sine Linda’s birthday was the 19th she got 2 Birthdays this year. 
 

 

Apr 18th occurred twice for your sailing, correct?

[billc23]

7 minutes ago, mahdnc said:

Apr 18th occurred twice for your sailing, correct?

Yes, my wife's birthday is April 18th. 

[Alcairns]

4 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Celebrity continues to advertise as a PREMIUM CRUISE LINE  then replaces butter in OVC with a spread

 

 

and cut pillow chocolates to 50% size - 4.5 grams. 

 

 

Really how do they dream thing up like this. 

 

At least you are getting chocolates on your pillow. Not a lot of cruise lines are doing this now! 

[hcat]

7 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Yesterday we arrived in American Samoa.   We were awaken around 7:00 AM by loud drumming and chanting.   The port put on a big welcome.

 

 

 

So far, this is my fav video and pictoral of your cruise..

 

I worked with someone who lived there for a few years. Gov job.. It was very laid back and  he loved it!  Earned extra location pay..in US $.

[hcat]

1 hour ago, Alcairns said:

At least you are getting chocolates on your pillow. Not a lot of cruise lines are doing this now! 

X is getting  really chinzy on your  chocolates!   We had the regular tiny pieces on ASCENT. 

 

The spread contains  oil and is only 68% butter..from Denmark..  Odd

[Lena11033]

7 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

and cut pillow chocolates to 50% size - 4.5 grams. 

 

 

Really how do they dream thing up like this. 

 

 

Funny I'm not a fan of the chocolate on Celebrity - I would much rather Dairy Milk than the squares they provide.

Normally I don't eat the chocolate, on MSC I did because they provided Venchi chocolate.

[Justpackingmybags]

Lurpak was a rare treat when I was a kid! It’d be better if it was the real thing and not the spread though. 

[Ex-Airbalancer]

Hey Jim , when you post could you post your local time ?😁

Are doing the time changes at 2 am ? 
Thanks 

Mark 

 

[Lena11033]

4 hours ago, Justpackingmybags said:

Lurpak was a rare treat when I was a kid! It’d be better if it was the real thing and not the spread though. 

 

That was what I was thinking but I wasn't sure if I was remembering it correctly as I was sure Lurpak was more expensive than the butter we bought.