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

[Ex-Airbalancer]

18 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Captain George just came on.   Due to a Labor Dispute in Le Have they have had changed our final port to Zeebrugge which is the port for Bruge -   We love Bruge so should be fun.  

 

 

Just check google for a story about an up coming strike , but there is no stories about it 🤔

we are there is about 3 weeks on the Apex 

[mrsgoggins]

16 minutes ago, littlemisshoney said:

Pretty much no social distancing anywhere on the ship. And very few masked up. Mask mandate only fully dropped and moved to "advised to wear" on Monday of this week in Scotland, so a bit alarming for us Scots. England have been pretty much mask free for last 3 months. 

 

I've long thought that last year was a 'golden year' as far as our cruising was concerned. We were on Silhouette three times and Anthem of the Seas once with mask wearing being compulsory and largely observed throughout the ships. It helped that each sailing was less than half full, we don't frequent bars and we eat very early at each meal.  Each bus tour had pre-assigned vacant seats and the tour guides had to read out the covid-safe instructions at the start of each tour mandated by Celebrity/RCL. Of course there were always the few with 'nose overhang' or who, whilst clutching a bottle of water remained mask-free throughout much of a journey but not many.

 

This year, on Apex in January out of FLL and recently on Princess out of Southampton, you could feel that compliance was slipping, although the 'masks in all indoor areas' was still compulsory on both ships.  I found the tour buses of particular concern and although we head for the back seat, on one occasion, a couple got there ahead of us and promptly removed their masks as soon as the bus moved.  I asked in a pleasant tone if they would mind wearing their masks and the lady said 'I do'. However, they did comply, but I felt the frosty atmosphere. 

 

Our next cruise is in June and I really hope we have had another booster jab by then (currently only available in the UK to people over 75 or the medically vulnerable). It may well be true that we will all get covid at sometime, but I would rather it not be just yet and not when I'm away from home, and I can see that taking avoiding measures on cruise ships, is becoming more difficult. 

 

Iain and Jim, I'm enjoying your account greatly and I hope that you both continue to remain virus-free and have a great time.

 

 

[Benthayer Gonbak]

3 hours ago, mrsgoggins said:

 

I've long thought that last year was a 'golden year' as far as our cruising was concerned. We were on Silhouette three times and Anthem of the Seas once with mask wearing being compulsory and largely observed throughout the ships. It helped that each sailing was less than half full, we don't frequent bars and we eat very early at each meal.  Each bus tour had pre-assigned vacant seats and the tour guides had to read out the covid-safe instructions at the start of each tour mandated by Celebrity/RCL. Of course there were always the few with 'nose overhang' or who, whilst clutching a bottle of water remained mask-free throughout much of a journey but not many.

 

This year, on Apex in January out of FLL and recently on Princess out of Southampton, you could feel that compliance was slipping, although the 'masks in all indoor areas' was still compulsory on both ships.  I found the tour buses of particular concern and although we head for the back seat, on one occasion, a couple got there ahead of us and promptly removed their masks as soon as the bus moved.  I asked in a pleasant tone if they would mind wearing their masks and the lady said 'I do'. However, they did comply, but I felt the frosty atmosphere. 

 

Our next cruise is in June and I really hope we have had another booster jab by then (currently only available in the UK to people over 75 or the medically vulnerable). It may well be true that we will all get covid at sometime, but I would rather it not be just yet and not when I'm away from home, and I can see that taking avoiding measures on cruise ships, is becoming more difficult. 

 

Iain and Jim, I'm enjoying your account greatly and I hope that you both continue to remain virus-free and have a great time.

 

 

 

Nicely put.  I’ve wonder if opening a window, on a bus might give better ventilation, and safer.  
 

We delayed our booster to be sure it was within 6 months for Israel. We could do that because we don’t come in contact with very many people on a daily bases, or even weekly.   Now,  I’m hoping our second booster will be a tweaked version for our Africa trip in Dec. What has given us some solace too is a high antibody result we got at 4-5 months.  

[venicecruiser]

Bruge is one of my favorite places in the world!  Enjoy it!

[venicecruiser]

Glad your daughter is doing better now.

[Jim_Iain]

11 hours ago, clanger said:

I've always wanted to visit Mont Saint-Michel       I recently read a Mystery set there (for the life of me I can't remember the author or title  -  

 

Susan Kiernan-Lewis?

No.... Not Susan but my memory finally kicked into gear it was a Kathy Reichs  Gideon Oliver Series.   Old Bone's    was the book.

 

Edited April 23, 2022 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

We had a wonderful day.  Our tour didn’t need a bus.   We just walked about 5 minutes down the pier snd loaded onto our boat. 
 

We buzzed across the harbor to an archipelago to the island of Cies, which is part of a National Park called Ilas Atlantis de La Galicia 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 23, 2022 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

Once on the island we broke in two groups. One that was rather flat hike and the other steep on to the top of the peak.  We took the steep one and were glad we did. 
 

We later learned the last resident of the island  “nicknamed the Pirate” died 4 years ago and today is his birthday.  Thus this little memorial. 
 

Off we went. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 23, 2022 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

On 4/13/2022 at 10:02 AM, kasijab said:

thank you ... much appreciated, but I am not onboard yet. Will be in 9259 from 21st hopefully 🙂 Hope the seas have settled down a bit for you now, safe journey x

 

@kasijab Just checking if you are on-board and if still in 9259.     I had to do a search to find this message as I sure didn't want to try to read through all of them.

 

[mchell810]

As always, I am truly enjoying your photos.  The blues are enthralling.

[txtechmk]

Loving all your posts and photos as always........thanks so much for doing this.....

[Jim_Iain]

I shot a lot of wonderful pictures today but currently moving to my PC to upload on my Blogspot    I'll just upload a select few so I don't over load the CC thread like Windsor.     I'll post a link once I do as most of my post there I never open publicly.

 

 

[juanrod]

Pictures are just gorgeous keep them coming 

[Jim_Iain]

We have set sail.  Oops I mean turned on the pods and starting our long 98 mile journey to Vigo.    
 

Captain George came on and said “some of your fellow passengers have tested positive and are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms”.   No number given. 

[Jim_Iain]

Started with a gentle climb along the coastal trail.   The fauna is amazing.  Unfortunately the past dictator hand non-native trees like Eucalyptus planted and the have become invasive. 
 

 

 

 

 

The guide said the native flower of this region was the yellow flowers.   I did an identification and I’m going to give all you iPhone users a neat new feature. 
 

 

[runningtide]

Hi Jim and Lain;

I’ve been following you for last two years, and had to cancel an ABC Equinox trip last September that you were on, very disappointed I didn’t get a chance to say Hi in person. This might seem an odd request, but could you share a little about your past?

Children, career, how you and Lain met…..stuff like that. You are both such interesting people, would love to hear about you background. BTW…I totally understand if you don’t want to share those details. Personal privacy is still very important to many of us. 
Anyway, thanks for taking us on your adventures.

 

All the best to both of you……….See you on the next tack !

[Jim_Iain]

Not sure what iOS or phones that support this. 
 

First click on a photo with a plant or tree and open

 

At the bottom click the info button

You will notice a Leah’s on photo - click leaf or the word Look up plant

it also shows lots of things like where you shot the picture 

 

 

BAM - 

 

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

I'll bet Iain enjoyed the gorse--saw a lot of that in Scotland.

 

[Mr Sea Gull]

9 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Will do.  The ship is still a bit short staffed and they are trying hard.  I had a chat with Petre and he told me to come directly to him- as his favorite guest he will always fit us in”.   What a smoozer but made me happy. 

Any chance of a photo of Petre, just wondering if he's the same Petre we know.

[Jim_Iain]

22 hours ago, the penguins said:

Hi Jim and Iain,

We have enjoyed following your adventures and, as we know you like the Cafe al Bacio, wonder if you would do us a favour. 

The girl on the left is Olysia and we are wondering if she is on the ship. If she is would you please say hello from Geoff and Anita and ask her if there are any small  /light feminine  items she is having trouble getting that we can bring her when we board on 7 May. Many thanks enjoy your cruise and above all keep safe. Geoff

 

Geoff -

Will do.   To be honest I haven't been down this cruise.   I you can suspect with the heavy passenger load and the percentage of British it has been busy.  

 

Since we are on deck 11 it is so much easier to pop up 2 floors to 14 (of course 13 is missing) and grabbing my fix at al Bacio Segundo -  usually not one is up there ordering. 

 

[Jim_Iain]

We are passing the islands we visited.  We hiked to the peak of the island pointed to. 
 

 

Only got 15,000 steps in today but recorded 120 flights of step.   Have know idea what that means but a good workout. 
 

 

 

A little artsy shot practicing one of my assignments from my iPhone Photo Academy class
 

 

 

 

We all made it to the peak.  

 

 

Edited April 23, 2022 by Jim_Iain

[jono mono]

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

We have set sail.  Oops I mean turned on the pods and starting our long 98 mile journey to Vigo.    
 

Captain George came on and said “some of your fellow passengers have tested positive and are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms”.   No number given. 

Doesn't say much for tests before sailing !!

[Jim_Iain]

1 hour ago, Mr Sea Gull said:

Any chance of a photo of Petre, just wondering if he's the same Petre we know.

Will do.  Petre is a real nice guy about 5’8”, skittle stocky, balding, glasses. 

[Jim_Iain]

1 hour ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

I'll bet Iain enjoyed the gorse--saw a lot of that in Scotland.

 

He does.  I don’t as I discovered when we lived in Ireland I’m allergic to it.   As you can imagine how much there is when in bloom. 

[Jim_Iain]

7 hours ago, Airbalancer said:

Just check google for a story about an up coming strike , but there is no stories about it 🤔

we are there is about 3 weeks on the Apex 

 Will be interesting.   Wonder if the port cancelled us out of an abundance of caution.