Celebrity Solstice May 1 2011 Trans Atlantic - Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona

[Retty2Go]

Hi Bob,

 

John, here, from Madison, WI! Looking forward to meeting you and Don! Just in case you are homesick, I attached a little slice of Wisconsin for you. This is the bay in front of our house. Normally it is colonized by ice fishermen on Sunday, but what with the Packers game today, things are a little slow. You can see how much we need this transatlantic vacation!

 

Cheers,

John

 

Thanks for the welcome, Peter. I'm originally from WI (Milwaukee area) so I like your friends already!

[RSVE821]

Hey John,

 

It was a great day for the Packers and WI! I was born born in Green Bay. Thanks for the pic but it ain't that much better here in DC this year. Look forwards to meeting you and yours as well!

 

Bob

[dougiedt]

At the recommendation of a straight friend I booked the Axel City Hotel in Barcelona. I started reading the reviews on hotel booking sight and a quick search and found that it is extremely gay. But even the straight folks like it. The site had us at a great rate (US$) and I grabbed it. Just thought I would let others know in case you are in the search for a room for a night or two once we arrive in Barcelona.

 

Doug & David

Dallas

[TravelingOx]

Welcome Bob and Don. You will be joining Fed and John from Madison WI and ourselves Peter and Paul from NYC in Blu, so glad that we will be well represented there. Look forward to meeting you Guys in the Martini Bar and some fun dinners

 

Peter

 

 

Hi Guys,

 

I'm Julian from San Francisco. My friends and I will be on board the Solstice on May 1 too. I am the only one from San Francisco, but we're also from Los Angeles, San Diego, Fort Lauderdale and Sarassota. Look forward to seeing you onboard!

[TravelingOx]

At the recommendation of a straight friend I booked the Axel City Hotel in Barcelona. I started reading the reviews on hotel booking sight and a quick search and found that it is extremely gay. But even the straight folks like it. The site had us at a great rate (US$) and I grabbed it. Just thought I would let others know in case you are in the search for a room for a night or two once we arrive in Barcelona.

 

Doug & David

Dallas

 

I've stayed at the Axel in Berlin. They do a good job. Very stylish hotel and totally gay (nude hot tubbing high above the city). I think the whole chain is well managed. Thanks for the tip.

[Petert102]

Hi Guys,

 

I'm Julian from San Francisco. My friends and I will be on board the Solstice on May 1 too. I am the only one from San Francisco, but we're also from Los Angeles, San Diego, Fort Lauderdale and Sarassota. Look forward to seeing you onboard!

Hi Julian

 

Welcome, my last count, excluding Lesbians was 33 of us. remember as we sail out of Gay Central I am sure there will be double that number who are not on the boards, assuming you are not a Freind of Bill W; it sound like the 7pm "gathering of the clans" nightly at the Martini Bar is going to be a ton of fun. Hope you have not done anything stupid like request early seating dining !!!! Any questions or intros to the others in our Group, e-mail me at petert102@mac.com

 

Mega Hugz

 

Peter

[mlbuboy]

Hi Julian

 

Welcome, my last count, excluding Lesbians was 33 of us. remember as we sail out of Gay Central I am sure there will be double that number who are not on the boards, assuming you are not a Freind of Bill W; it sound like the 7pm "gathering of the clans" nightly at the Martini Bar is going to be a ton of fun. Hope you have not done anything stupid like request early seating dining !!!! Any questions or intros to the others in our Group, e-mail me at petert102@mac.com

 

Mega Hugz

 

Peter

Peter...watch that Queen Julian. One word....troublemaker!

 

;-)

 

M

[cruise pup]

Hi all. Just found this thread. I'm booked. Sailing solo. Hope to see you meet you all at the martini bar. Scooter from NYC.

[Petert102]

Hi all. Just found this thread. I'm booked. Sailing solo. Hope to see you meet you all at the martini bar. Scooter from NYC.

Scooter

 

Fabulous. Paul and I are also from the City, where abouts do you live ?. We fly down on Jet Blue on 4/29 and will be spending two nights at the Cabanas B&B in Wilton Manor. Send me an email and then we can communicate, one or two posts above

 

Peter

[cw_cw_cw]

Only a month to go!! never been on celebrity or solstice but hoping for a lot. Is everybody ready?

[dougiedt]

Only a month to go!! never been on celebrity or solstice but hoping for a lot. Is everybody ready?

 

Geez! So ready, but one more month of craziness at work. Luggage tags arrived and it feels real! Looking forward to six days at sea to unwind and relax. I am looking for a workout partner for mornings in the gym if anyone is interested.

 

Shore Excursions:

Ponta - want to go to hot springs and still looking for an available tour.

Lisbon - doing some city wandering on gray line. www.getyourguide.com

Cadiz - get out your walking shoes girls, it's a full day hike. found a map of walking tour of the Cadiz.

Malaga - day trip to Alhambra (booked!)

Barcelona - only in town for Saturday and doing the quick tour of Guadi sites.

 

Looking forward to a wonderful trip. It's our first transatlantic, but 7th and 9th cruises. I've already started glaring at folks in dining rooms that don't use tongs or scoops at buffets. And I'm practicing my hand washing.

 

See everyone soon!!

Doug

[cruise pup]

Geez! So ready, but one more month of craziness at work. Luggage tags arrived and it feels real! Looking forward to six days at sea to unwind and relax. I am looking for a workout partner for mornings in the gym if anyone is interested.

 

Shore Excursions:

Ponta - want to go to hot springs and still looking for an available tour.

Lisbon - doing some city wandering on gray line. www.getyourguide.com

Cadiz - get out your walking shoes girls, it's a full day hike. found a map of walking tour of the Cadiz.

Malaga - day trip to Alhambra (booked!)

Barcelona - only in town for Saturday and doing the quick tour of Guadi sites.

 

Looking forward to a wonderful trip. It's our first transatlantic, but 7th and 9th cruises. I've already started glaring at folks in dining rooms that don't use tongs or scoops at buffets. And I'm practicing my hand washing.

 

See everyone soon!!

Doug

 

Hey Doug, good choice to do the walking tours in Cadiz. After a day of the hills of Lisbon it will be a pleasure to tour the level streets of Cadiz. I'm posting some photos. I'll probably run into you as that's what I'm planning on doing too.

[cruise pup]

Geez! So ready, but one more month of craziness at work. Luggage tags arrived and it feels real! Looking forward to six days at sea to unwind and relax. I am looking for a workout partner for mornings in the gym if anyone is interested.

 

Shore Excursions:

Ponta - want to go to hot springs and still looking for an available tour.

Lisbon - doing some city wandering on gray line. www.getyourguide.com

Cadiz - get out your walking shoes girls, it's a full day hike. found a map of walking tour of the Cadiz.

Malaga - day trip to Alhambra (booked!)

Barcelona - only in town for Saturday and doing the quick tour of Guadi sites.

 

Looking forward to a wonderful trip. It's our first transatlantic, but 7th and 9th cruises. I've already started glaring at folks in dining rooms that don't use tongs or scoops at buffets. And I'm practicing my hand washing.

 

See everyone soon!!

Doug

 

Hey Doug. A walking tour of level Cadiz will be a treat after the hills of Lisbon. It's a beautiful town. Some beautiful parks along the waterfront right near the port. I posted a photo below. Better practice that hand washing. As much as I did it didn't help. I just came home from the Constellation with a horrible chest cold.

[dougiedt]

Hey Doug, good choice to do the walking tours in Cadiz. After a day of the hills of Lisbon it will be a pleasure to tour the level streets of Cadiz. I'm posting some photos. I'll probably run into you as that's what I'm planning on doing too.

 

We got the walking tour from routeyou.com It's about 4 miles. Any and all are welcome to walk along. And Pup... I am certain that we will run into each other well before a walk through Cadiz.

 

Sorry to hear about the chest cold. At least it was not noro.

[cruise pup]

We got the walking tour from routeyou.com It's about 4 miles. Any and all are welcome to walk along. And Pup... I am certain that we will run into each other well before a walk through Cadiz.

 

Sorry to hear about the chest cold. At least it was not noro.

The town is also set up for walking tours by the tourist information office. There are painted lines are various colors for the routes. You pick up a map at the tourist office which is in the middle of the harbor front.

[shoppingchick]

You will love all the Gaudi sites, including the park. Don't forget La Familia Segrada (Spelling ok?). It is awesome. This is our 3rd trip to Barcelona & we won't have time to visit anything this time. About 85 cruises under our belts already.

[cw_cw_cw]

I think this has been posted previous but could you remind me what time/where are the FOD meeting/s?

Is there a notice on the community board?

Is there a community board (like rci have)?

We have cruised quite a bit - think the ninth time - on various lines (never celebrity - they got it wrong on the roll call!) and often we miss the first meeting (jet lag, 40 winks, or exploring the new ship). But we will get there sometime.

Chris & Andy

[Petert102]

I think this has been posted previous but could you remind me what time/where are the FOD meeting/s?

Is there a notice on the community board?

Is there a community board (like rci have)?

We have cruised quite a bit - think the ninth time - on various lines (never celebrity - they got it wrong on the roll call!) and often we miss the first meeting (jet lag, 40 winks, or exploring the new ship). But we will get there sometime.

Chris & Andy

Chris and Andy

 

Celebrity is the favorite line of choice for the Boys. If you are not on Flex dining or in Blu which is defacto flex dining, opt for the late dining seating. Everyone gathers at the Martini Bar around 7pm every day ( which is why early dining is NOT an option), there may or may not be an official posting in the daily activites sheet or a notice on the Community Board, but most of your fellow LGBT travelers are frequent past =X=Passengers. Last time on the Summit on the T/A there were 200+ of us and we kind of took over the space, it was a riot. On this trip we are well represented, some Germans I know from prior T/As, Brits, Canadians. and us Yanks. With 13 days, do not worry about missing the first gathering of the Clans, there are plenty more opportunities to get to know everyone.

 

If you are unfortunately on "fixed" dining, as soon as you board go to the MDR and have a word with the Maitre D', I have always found a request for a able with just "Gentlemen" and a $20.00 note has always produced the desired results. 13 nights trying to make converstation with some fundementalist hicks from the US hinterland can strain anyones tollerence levels.

 

I have gotten to know David and Jason from the UK, Fred and John from Madison WI very well. If you would like an intro, so that you are connected to someone before you sail, board drop me a line at petert102@aol.com. Fred and John and ourselves Peter and Paul will be in AQ and herefore dining in Blu, i donot know David and Jasons dining choices.

 

Enjoy the trip and look forward to seeing you onboard, be sure to say Hi, you know what I look like from the Pic on the header.

 

Peter

[cw_cw_cw]

Hi - thanks for tip - we have normally 'seen off' our unwanted guests. We are on a late sitting in the general dining - we thought abt upgrading last week but the £800 saved can pay for drinks/casino etc. We got a 2c cabin on way into the 'bulge' with a big balcony on the sunny side so what more do I want. We are in FLL o/n before so hope we are on early - can't wait to see Allure-o-t-seas which is also in FLL.

 

BA strike - well it might happen around then but we are longhaul so these will all been flown (i have been told).

 

See u onboard.

[dougiedt]

I think this has been posted previous but could you remind me what time/where are the FOD meeting/s?

Is there a notice on the community board?

Is there a community board (like rci have)?

We have cruised quite a bit - think the ninth time - on various lines (never celebrity - they got it wrong on the roll call!) and often we miss the first meeting (jet lag, 40 winks, or exploring the new ship). But we will get there sometime.

Chris & Andy

 

 

Chris & Andy:

=X= posts the meetings on the community board. While a lot of people went to the Martini bar on Eclipse (in Dec 2010), the "meeting" was at a different bar. We found that the smaller bar was a good meeting spot and we also discovered that they ran a drink special for us at that bar ONLY (not at Martini) so it could pay to show up at the designated spot. =X= does not generally change the meeting time/spot for the entire cruise (i.e. they aren't putting much effort into designing it for the specific cruise) and it is not in the written program.

We had casual cocktails aft (Oceanview Bar) at sunset with a few of the guys and gals -- yes lesbians!! And our straight friends/allies found this group and location much more enjoyable. And yes, even staight folks are friends of Dorothy sometimes -- who doesn't love a goodtime. :-)

 

Doug & David