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Live Blog – Silhouette Nov 3 – Beaches to Broadway – Pull up a seat and Join


Jim_Iain
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16 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Smallest police car I have ever seen. 

 

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Those cars are able to get into tight places where others can't - like a walkway in a park,   incase of an emergency, or for "riding a beat" to keep their eye on things.   

 

 A few years ago, I watched the shuttle be floated up the Hudson to be put on display, that was very interesting!! 

 

And thanks for posting the wines the other day, I was excited to see a Malbec on the list. I think that's the wine my husband had one on our last cruise onboard Reflections. 

Edited by cruizefam
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17 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

The upselling has been in multiple places.    The heaviest is outside Ocean View Grill were they have at least 4 selling.   Also they have them stationed at the entrance into Ensemble Bar and at the landings where the entrance to Grand Cuvee on 4 and entrance to Luminea on 3.    Last night they had one that was particularly aggressive as you came through Security back onto the ship.  

 

We enjoyed the Helipad but as you I was surprised by how many were invited.   We were escorted down by our butler a little earlier so had a place on the railing.   It was rather cold until we got into the Hudson where we were protected from the winds.  

Jim

Thanks for the great reporting and pics!  Regarding specialty restaurant selling, it does appear to be on the increase across ships. Last month on Summit I had a waiter in Luminae  try to get me to go to Tuscan Grill--that was a first.

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17 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

I would classify it aggressive when asked and I politely say no thank you and then he starts following us asking why.   I can make a good deal for you.   I again reply no thank you and he continues following with his selling pitch.   I finally told him to get out of my face or I would file a formal complaint.   He finally backed off. 

Jim, I know we talked about Azamara earlier.  Just to say there is no hawking of the Specialties or beverage packages or anything for that matter on them.

 

Phil

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7 hours ago, cmhdoogalsatsea said:

Jim

Thanks for the great reporting and pics!  Regarding specialty restaurant selling, it does appear to be on the increase across ships. Last month on Summit I had a waiter in Luminae  try to get me to go to Tuscan Grill--that was a first.

 

Our waiter and the Maître De both brought up the Chef's Table as an upsale.   I guess it is not selling either as they were offering it at a 30% discount. 

 

I was noticing today when walking by Ocean View Café they had one person pushing specialty on one side but on the other they had both a Booking Station and 4 people pushing specialty dining.  I am no longer being bothered as I decided I would treat them like the beggars on the streets of San Francisco.   I just totally ignore them and don't even respond.    

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8 hours ago, cruizefam said:

 

 

Those cars are able to get into tight places where others can't - like a walkway in a park,   incase of an emergency, or for "riding a beat" to keep their eye on things.   

 

 A few years ago, I watched the shuttle be floated up the Hudson to be put on display, that was very interesting!! 

 

And thanks for posting the wines the other day, I was excited to see a Malbec on the list. I think that's the wine my husband had one on our last cruise onboard Reflections. 

 

I figured the small police car would be very efficient in moving around in tight places.   Incredible the gridlock we saw during rush hour. 

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8 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Our waiter and the Maître De both brought up the Chef's Table as an upsale.   I guess it is not selling either as they were offering it at a 30% discount. 

Surely if there is any additional cost involved it is selling, regardless of it being offered with a discount?

 

The restaurant hostess in the MDR mentioned a paid for lunch on the last sea day in a specialty restaurant to us the other day. She mentioned a discount and wasn’t pushy, but she was still selling. That was a first for us.

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7 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Internet has been down all day but seems to be working tonight but VERY SLOW.   I'm going to try to upload the daily but not sure it will work.   

The first bad day. I think we’ve been lucky with the satellite signal.

 

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5 minutes ago, UKPete71 said:

The first bad day. I think we’ve been lucky with the satellite signal.

 

Agree.  I'm more surprised that we are having problems in our current location while maintaining a good connection for the crossing and rough seas.   The Internet Café attendant said it was a connectivity issue that they were working on.

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3 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Agree.  I'm more surprised that we are having problems in our current location while maintaining a good connection for the crossing and rough seas.   The Internet Café attendant said it was a connectivity issue that they were working on.

 

Obviously, you found the problem--- the Celebrity IT Department is on the case!

Thanks again for sharing while you are on vacation

 

Jed

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On ‎11‎/‎13‎/‎2018 at 2:52 PM, Jim_Iain said:

WARNING!!!    AGRESSIVE SPECIALTY RESTAURANT SELLING 

 

I've heard of aggressive selling of Specialty Restaurants but this is the worse I have ever experienced.   Not only are they aggressively selling they seem to be more aggressive than I have ever seen.   Last night they were almost arguing with us when we politely said no thanks.    

 

It was like this on the previous cruise as well. Constant outside the Ocean View every time we entered or left. Wouldn't take no for an answer until we pointed out that as we were in a RS it was free for us so it didn't matter how much they discounted the price it was still zero.

 

The problem was that they did not recognise you the next time you walked past them. I got to the pint where I ignored them.

 

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3 hours ago, Gordoncruickshank said:

It was like this on the previous cruise as well. Constant outside the Ocean View every time we entered or left. Wouldn't take no for an answer until we pointed out that as we were in a RS it was free for us so it didn't matter how much they discounted the price it was still zero.

 

The problem was that they did not recognise you the next time you walked past them. I got to the pint where I ignored them.

 

 

Newest was coupons from Luminea

 

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1 hour ago, JEDMELK said:

Good Morning and Welcome to Bermuda.

It's a bit overcast for now but hopefully, this will clear up.

Enjoy your stay

image.thumb.png.0a9b7a4ce50644228fec35a93c9af20c.png

Sorry, just could not resist

 

Jed

 

Love it.    I should have pulled the drapes. 

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We are still not receiving  any Specialist Restaurant hustles or coupons.   Guess they don’t like our looks.    Guess it is still the same with promotions, they don’t apply for repositioning.    The Edge made it to Freeport today.    Hope everyone liked the prices of drinks in Bermuda.   We don’t say it often but drinks are much less expensive on board.

we should see the Edge arrive on 11/19 as we are spending the night in FLL.  An ambulance came with a stretcher but left without anyone in the stretcher.    Should be good news for at least one passenger.

Tried to get a booking in Lawn Club tonight but they are fully booked until 9PM.   We like our pizza earlier than that so we have to settle for the Porch.   TPC was almost full at the first seating last night and everyone seemed to enjoy the show and the food.

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2 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

C5E10D97-82ED-4663-946E-D9BB38BAEDD3.thumb.jpeg.45810a2a0c1ea26d7a848ab946610073.jpeg

 

Iain with Alvkin. 

Hi Jim,
thanks for douple Check with Alexandra & Daniel from the worldclass bar. Arfin is also an outstanding staff member. He may also have told you that he is doing a training on board to become a bulter. We hope he looks after us one day. Please send him lovely greeting from "Mr. Bernd & Mr. Udo", when you meet him again. He ist a really great guy.
Thank you very much Jim!   ….and apologize that we misspelled Iain's name last time

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We ate in Tuscan Grill on Tuesday and Murano last night.

 

There were maybe eight other tables seated in Tuscan when we arrived at 8.45pm. I cannot fault the food, other than there was too much of it for us!

 

Murano last night was packed when we arrived at 8.30pm. It was certainly a lot busier than when we went on the second night of the cruise.

 

At the end of the meal in Murano I asked for the zero check, as we have a dining package, so I could add an additional tip for the waiter. He then said he was happy to do that but the tip would then be shared amongst the other waiters too. If he was given cash he could keep it himself. We didn’t have any cash on us but I’ll make sure our paths cross before Sunday.

 

I don’t know if that’s the same across the other restaurants, as the waiter in Tuscan didn’t say anything when I requested the same the night before.

 

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23 minutes ago, UKPete71 said:

We ate in Tuscan Grill on Tuesday and Murano last night.

 

There were maybe eight other tables seated in Tuscan when we arrived at 8.45pm. I cannot fault the food, other than there was too much of it for us!

 

Murano last night was packed when we arrived at 8.30pm. It was certainly a lot busier than when we went on the second night of the cruise.

 

At the end of the meal in Murano I asked for the zero check, as we have a dining package, so I could add an additional tip for the waiter. He then said he was happy to do that but the tip would then be shared amongst the other waiters too. If he was given cash he could keep it himself. We didn’t have any cash on us but I’ll make sure our paths cross before Sunday.

 

I don’t know if that’s the same across the other restaurants, as the waiter in Tuscan didn’t say anything when I requested the same the night before.

 

 

 

I would sure love to know the truth of whether or not the waiters have to share their tips.

We have had the same wonderful waiter for the last three years in Blu and his tips from us (cash in addition to the added-in gratuities attached to our reservation) have gotten larger and larger every year. He has certainly earned every cent but I've heard many rumors about all of the waiters in Blu having to share even their cash tips.

(And this would apply to Murano, Tuscan and Luminae as well)

it would make me sad if he really had to do this but I WOULD love to know what the truth is!

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