Jim_Iain – Silhouette Live Post April 8, 21, 30 - B3B - TransAtlantic, Portugal Spain, France and the Norwegian Fjords

[kwokpot]

13 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Really curious of the norm or the new norm of the Casino.   Like I said I'm not a gambler and haven't even hit Pearl yet.   Maybe tonight.

 

I seem to remember that the Casino was open almost all day on Sea Days.   We of course have a lot of sea days and decided to go down today after lunch and found everything, including the slots closed.    I looked in the daily and says open from 4:00 to Late.  

 

I know the ship is short staffed in all departments so may just be how they are handling the short staffing.

That's extremely unusual and they're losing lots of business so obviously it's a staffing issue.

[Barwick Cruiser]

6 hours ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said:

Cathy, glad to!  I commiserate with you with nothing new to read.  I get all kinds of fussed.  I’m happiest with a series, especially one that has about 95 books in it!  Actually haven’t found that yet but it is my dream.  
Here’s the list.  For those wondering about this, on a previous cruise Jim asked for book suggestions and I volunteered to keep track of it and post them periodically.  

 

Georges Simenon Series 

Gideon Oliver -Aaron  Elkins  series 

Louise Penny’s Gamache series.

Dorothy L. Sayers Lord Peter Wimsey series

Any books by Josephine Tey

Barbara Hambly - Benjamin January series, if you like historical mysteries!

JD Robb books and Robert B Parker

The Scarapetta series by Patricia Cornwell 

MC Beaton books

Elizabeth George’s Inspector Lynley Series. 

Donna Leon’s Brunetti series. 

Any books by Tana French

Any books by P. D. James.  

Greg Isles, a writer from Natchez, MS.

Snowblind” by Ragnar Jonasson.  (Book 1 of 6 - DarkIceland)

Cork O’Connor series by William Kent Krueger.  Also non-series books.

Brad Thor

JK Rowling (author of Harry Potter series), writing under the name Robert Galbraith -- the Cormoran Strike series.

* Andrea Camilleri -- the Inspector Montalbano series.

* Helen Fields -- the Perfect series.

Karin Slaughter -- the Will Trent series

Daniel Silva - Gabriel Allon series

James Crumly —should be read in order

Winston Graham—Poldark series

Janet Evanovich—Stephanie Plum series.  Fox and Hare series.

Anything by Tim Dorsey or Carl Hiassen 

Old Archie comic books and Mad Magazine. 🙂

Ian Rankin’s Rebus series

Peter Robinson’s DCI Banks series

Nevada Barr’s National Parks series

Anything by Anne Cleeves

Richard Jury series by Martha Grimes - current times

Thomas Pitt series by Anne Perry - Victorian era

Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters

Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City.  4 books.

The Longmire books by Craig Johnson.  Also suggest the fantastic series on Netflix.

David McCullough 'Path Between the Seas' (Panama Canal)

Caroline Graham Inspector Barnaby series

John Sandford , the Prey series and the Virgil Flowers series

Any books by Harlan Coben

 

Thank you! I’m sure more of us readers will appreciate this list! I also enjoy series and get a bit anxious when I get near the end of the series lol
 

4 hours ago, mhoffrob said:

PSST - as a librarian, I recognize this as a VERY diverse list (or maybe a great list of popular mystery/thriller series with a few oddballs (Armistead Maupin) thrown in!  If you have favorite authors or genres - get to know your local public library staff and they'll steer you to new things - it's my favorite thing about working at a US public library!  Also, goodreads.com is a great resource (although now owned by Amazon) for tracking what you've read, what you want to read, and finding series order!

 

and be sure to ask about checking out ebooks and e-audiobooks - your taxes are already paid to the Library District (if you're in the U.S.) so why spend your cash on them?

 

sorry for the hijack of the hijack . . . . 

 

now back to our regularly scheduled programing/posting.

I honestly can’t remember the last time I actually purchased a book…our library has a pretty good selection and what I can’t find in a physical book they usually have in electronic form. I have also recently discovered PressReader and have been enjoying free magazines and newspapers from around the world courtesy of my local library. Thank you for your dedication to all of us fellow readers! 

[Gimpy McFarlan]

11 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Lost the Internet last evening around 5:30 and was still out when we retired last night.  Even before that the live TV on the ship was wonky.    This morning it is back up but really slow loading Cruise Critic.   

 

For you techies it was kinda a weird outage last night.    From the ping command I could ping Google and Intel with 20-50% packet loss but no email or web access.   I was expecting to not be able to ping.

 

Perhaps the packets got lost in the Bermuda Triangle? 🤔 🤣

[raudacruise]

2 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Many of the dishes are really good in Luminae and they go out of their way to please.  Their was a Guest at the next table to us last evening going off on the food.   Laurance, the Maitre'd came over and was wonderful.   She asked her what she would enjoy and was told I just want regular British food instead of this fancy stuff.    She suggested she could go to Blu and was cut of telling her I paid all this money and expect to get what I paid for.  

 

Laurance defused it by suggesting she just let her  know what she would like to eat and would  work with the Chef to provide it for you if we have the product.  She seemed pleased and the conversation quickly turned very friendly and had a really friendly discussion.

 

We enjoy many of the meals but the number of nights we will be in Luminae try to mix it up.    The really could use freshening up the menu as it has pretty much been unchanged in 10 years.

I just love Laurance! She’s so thoughtful and caring. (Might have said that before, but I really mean it.)

 

Just found out today that my December Panama Canal cruise on Millie has been canceled. Sigh. Laurance is one of the reasons I’m looking at Silhouette cruises for a replacement.

 

And Jim, your wonderful  live review will help me maintain my sanity (more or less) while I’m in Cruise Limbo.

[Jim_Iain]

8 minutes ago, raudacruise said:

I just love Laurance! She’s so thoughtful and caring. (Might have said that before, but I really mean it.)

 

Just found out today that my December Panama Canal cruise on Millie has been canceled. Sigh. Laurance is one of the reasons I’m looking at Silhouette cruises for a replacement.

 

And Jim, your wonderful  live review will help me maintain my sanity (more or less) while I’m in Cruise Limbo.

 

I haven't had the time to look at how the sailings have changed.   Are they substituting Equinox for the Millennium Sailings?   Was curious where Millennium was going?  I've read of a number of people on Solstice Cancelled Asian Cruises for 2022 and lifted and shifted to 2023.     What a mess.

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, mchell810 said:

 

Having worked in a public library I fully agree with your post.  I just want to add that many libraries also offer electronic access to to thousands of magazines and newspapers in many languages.  (And, of course streaming services for movies/tv shows.)

Wow.. I'm going to have to explore my local library.    I never heard of the movie/tv streaming services.

[ShelleyQT]

10 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

For Starters I had the Pear and Anjou Pear (MDR) and Iain had the Smoked Potato Soup

 

 

That soup looks delicious!  But I don't see it available on the menus you posted.  Is this a specialty item that you asked for?

 

10 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mchell810]

3 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Wow.. I'm going to have to explore my local library.    I never heard of the movie/tv streaming services.

 

The most popular are Kanopy and Hoopla but ofc it depends on what each library system offers.  You may be eligible for cards in several systems.  In my area each town in the county has it's own library system and anyone who lives in the county can get a card.  I have 3, but could have many more!

 

One more plug for public libraries: most also offer online research tools like access to encyclopedias and special databases.  Plus, access to language learning tools and the list goes on.... 

[raudacruise]

5 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

I haven't had the time to look at how the sailings have changed.   Are they substituting Equinox for the Millennium Sailings?   Was curious where Millennium was going?  I've read of a number of people on Solstice Cancelled Asian Cruises for 2022 and lifted and shifted to 2023.     What a mess.

 

10 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

I haven't had the time to look at how the sailings have changed.   Are they substituting Equinox for the Millennium Sailings?   Was curious where Millennium was going?  I've read of a number of people on Solstice Cancelled Asian Cruises for 2022 and lifted and shifted to 2023.     What a mess.

2022 Mexican Riviera cruises on Millie have been shifted to Solstice.

 

The December 19 Panama Canal cruise on Millie has been canceled. There will be Sept 2022 (no thanks on Hurricane Season) and April 2023 transits on Millie. No Celebrity Suites available in April. An unappealing Aqua Sky Suite is $21,000. A Royal Suite is $31,000. I’d love an RS but yikes! Not happening.

[jary8]

7 hours ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said:

Cathy, glad to!  I commiserate with you with nothing new to read.  I get all kinds of fussed.  I’m happiest with a series, especially one that has about 95 books in it!  Actually haven’t found that yet but it is my dream.  
Here’s the list.  For those wondering about this, on a previous cruise Jim asked for book suggestions and I volunteered to keep track of it and post them periodically.  

 

Georges Simenon Series 

Gideon Oliver -Aaron  Elkins  series 

Louise Penny’s Gamache series.

Dorothy L. Sayers Lord Peter Wimsey series

Any books by Josephine Tey

Barbara Hambly - Benjamin January series, if you like historical mysteries!

JD Robb books and Robert B Parker

The Scarapetta series by Patricia Cornwell 

MC Beaton books

Elizabeth George’s Inspector Lynley Series. 

Donna Leon’s Brunetti series. 

Any books by Tana French

Any books by P. D. James.  

Greg Isles, a writer from Natchez, MS.

Snowblind” by Ragnar Jonasson.  (Book 1 of 6 - DarkIceland)

Cork O’Connor series by William Kent Krueger.  Also non-series books.

Brad Thor

JK Rowling (author of Harry Potter series), writing under the name Robert Galbraith -- the Cormoran Strike series.

* Andrea Camilleri -- the Inspector Montalbano series.

* Helen Fields -- the Perfect series.

Karin Slaughter -- the Will Trent series

Daniel Silva - Gabriel Allon series

James Crumly —should be read in order

Winston Graham—Poldark series

Janet Evanovich—Stephanie Plum series.  Fox and Hare series.

Anything by Tim Dorsey or Carl Hiassen 

Old Archie comic books and Mad Magazine. 🙂

Ian Rankin’s Rebus series

Peter Robinson’s DCI Banks series

Nevada Barr’s National Parks series

Anything by Anne Cleeves

Richard Jury series by Martha Grimes - current times

Thomas Pitt series by Anne Perry - Victorian era

Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters

Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City.  4 books.

The Longmire books by Craig Johnson.  Also suggest the fantastic series on Netflix.

David McCullough 'Path Between the Seas' (Panama Canal)

Caroline Graham Inspector Barnaby series

John Sandford , the Prey series and the Virgil Flowers series

Any books by Harlan Coben

 

If you like historical romantic fiction, there is a series of books by an American Author called Danelle Harmon which are a good read. She is also a personal friend of mine. You can get them to download onto a kindle as well from Amazon,

 

[hawkesbaynz]

I really enjoyed the food in Luminae on the Silhouette last September on our UK staycation. The staff were so helpful and recommended additions to my entrees (I am a big guy).  I love fancy food😀.
 

However my wife mainly choose off the MDR menu. She has a simpler taste to me (a Scot). She preferred the MDR on the Silhouette in March although missed the Sunset SS. I suppose I should be thankful as she has preference for Business Class flights and I could not afford the suite life too.

 

What do you plan to do in Southampton on your change over days? I recollect you had considered a trip to Cowes on the Isle of Wight. 
 

I must walk down to Southampton Water to take a picture of the ship on a sail away. It is only a five minute walk with our Labrador. Mind she cut her paw on the oyster beds down there at the weekend so not if it is low tide. 

[DUTRAVEL]

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

Wow.. I'm going to have to explore my local library.    I never heard of the movie/tv streaming services.

Another vote for checking out eBooks from the library. I use our library here in Contra Costa County all the time. If the library doesn't have the book you want available to check out (they only have the number of books they have a license for), you can place a book on hold and they will notify you when the book becomes available. I always have ten books on hold (the maximum) and that provides a steady supply of books since usually one becomes available just as I am finishing the book I currently have checked out. You can check out five books at a time.

[peanut head]

10 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Breakfast Door Hanger

 

 

 

 

Is there a charge for the specialty breakfast?

[mhoffrob]

2 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Thanks for posting.  You definitely aren't hijacking and welcomed to post more.  There are some really avid readers here and that list keeps growing.   I've found some really good books from their referrals.

 

I never thought about checking e-books our 3-audioooks from the library.   It has been so long since i have been into a library I will definitely visit some when I get home.    I have two city libraries on my daily walk and walk past almost daily.   

 

They were closed during the pandemic but sure they must once again be open 

 

 

You'll only have to visit once or twice - get your library card and a bit of help with the digital services, you can then do the rest from your couch (or your cruise suite!) digitally. 

 

I've even converted my husband - who was very anti e-book but has adopted them for travel and loves it.  Now, hopefully, he'll love cruising! Our first is in December (Summit, Key West, Cozumel) . . . I've already scoped out the next few I want to propose!!

Edited April 13, 2022 by mhoffrob

[BEAV]

2 hours ago, Redking said:

👏to the maitre'd. I had best refrain from any further comment. Ironically the only thing we didn't like about our first cruise on Celebrity was "plain" food in the MDR. Hence we've been paying for the fancy stuff 😉 in Blu and Luminae ever since.

I’m with you!
 

If I want “plain ol” food, I can get that stuff right at home! 

[Laurab23]

2 hours ago, lola2013 said:

We have a wonderful library where I live...within walking distance.  Sadly, I forget to check new releases and end up buying them thru Kobo and putting them on my iPad as soon as they are available.  Just last week I went to the library app on my iPad to check if there was anything worth checking out (and that I didn't have to wait for) and found that the brand new Janet Evanovich (that I just paid for) was available for FREE at the library.  Lesson learned!!!  I don't blow through books like I believe you do, but still it would be nice to save the cost of new releases!

I check online my local library every week to see what new books they have. When I see one I want I place a hold and get an email when it is available for pick up. I was on the library board of trustees for 5 years and vice president for 2 years so I usually get moved up to the front of the line to be the next to get it, no matter how many other holds there are for the book. I will be picking up the new Evanovich book sometime this week.

 

Laura

[CHEZMARYLOU]

Laurence is the best. 

 

Another thing about libraries, besides Kindle and Libby, Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh has an inter library loan service where we can request from across the entire library system, not just from Carnegie Library.  We've gotten books from California and Alaska from this service.

[BEAV]

34 minutes ago, DUTRAVEL said:

I use our library here in Contra Costa County all the time. 

Hello, neighbor. Walnut Creek here 👍

[lola2013]

6 minutes ago, Laurab23 said:

I check online my local library every week to see what new books they have. When I see one I want I place a hold and get an email when it is available for pick up. I was on the library board of trustees for 5 years and vice president for 2 years so I usually get moved up to the front of the line to be the next to get it, no matter how many other holds there are for the book. I will be picking up the new Evanovich book sometime this week.

 

Laura

If it's the Recovery Agent that you are looking for, take your time.........

I'll stick with the Stephanie Plum series going forward.  The next in the series is due at the beginning of November.

[MamaFej]

19 minutes ago, mhoffrob said:

You'll only have to visit once or twice - get your library card and a bit of help with the digital services, you can then do the rest from your couch (or your cruise suite!) digitally. 

 

I've even converted my husband - who was very anti e-book but has adopted them for travel and loves it.  Now, hopefully, he'll love cruising! Our first is in December (Summit, Key West, Cozumel) . . . I've already scoped out the next few I want to propose!!

After he falls in love with cruising (a few days in) be sure to book those future cruises while onboard. Doing so nets you extra On Board Credit and a lower deposit.

[cachouonacruise]

Hi Jim,

 

First, thank-you so much for posting your experience with so much details and photos. It is both very helpful and extremely appreciated! Wow! 
 

We are booked and fingers crossed, will be sailing Silhouette on June 11. Sadly, we will not be able to meet you and Lain. P.s. Bravo, for the beautiful pictures of you two! Very nice.

[MamaFej]

13 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

For you techies it was kinda a weird outage last night.    From the ping command I could ping Google and Intel with 20-50% packet loss but no email or web access.   I was expecting to not be able to ping.

[GeorgiaPeach51]

Add me to the list of “free library books for my kindle” fans.  It saves an absolute fortune.  It’s great to finish a book at 10:00 p.m. and immediately download another book while sitting in your living room.  I strongly recommend making use of it, and many thanks to all the librarians out there who have SO much help to offer!

 

I buy very few books, as others have said.  I do purchase some new books that are in a series because I don’t want to wait for them to eventually show up at the library.  

[MamaFej]

I think the Luminae menu looks pretty interesting. I have found something that sounds good for each course posted.

 

Of course, I have never eaten in Luminae and most likely never will, so that fact that it hasn't been updated doesn't affect my perception. 

 

We have discovered that we really enjoy Blu on our last two X cruises. 

[GeorgiaPeach51]

Jim, the best sites to find free audiobooks. Hope it works for you.

 

https://www.lifewire.com/free-audio-books-the-15-best-sources-online-1357952

 

Joanie