Jim_Iain - Solstice LIVE Mexico Riveria B2B - December 3 and 11

[Jim_Iain]

4 minutes ago, jelayne said:

We did take the ships transfer, cost $35 pp.  We used a little of our non-refundable OBC so out of pocket cost $0.  We were escorted off the ship and in less than 10 minutes we had our luggage, through facial recognition and were outside the terminal.  
 

it was raining and windy, the staff on the ground really worked to keep up out of the rain as much as possible.  We lined up outside under a overhang staying dry then they sent groups to the buses.  The area where the buses park has a covered walkway but with the wind it was a cool and wet place.  We were in that line maybe 5 minutes, then directed to our bus again in small groups so people wouldn’t have to spend any more time than necessary in the open.  We were the first people on our bus so it was probably 15 minutes before the bus was full and we headed to LAX.  Very little traffic so a quick ride.  
The time from exiting  the ship to arrival at LAX was about 45 minutes.  
All in all, pretty good 

 

Sounds interesting.    We may follow your lead especially if rainy.   Did you notice where Uber was picking up

[jelayne]

5 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Sounds interesting.    We may follow your lead especially if rainy.   Did you notice where Uber was picking up

No, I wasn’t able to determine that.  With the wind and rain people were huddling in any area that provided shelter and I wasn’t inclined to go exploring😉

[jagoffee]

4 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

 

My understanding is that it is based by the number of vehicle logarithm that the Corporation uses to maximize income.  

 

Per Uber Site -

How does Uber get away with surge pricing?

 

 

Surge pricing automatically goes into effect when there are more riders in a given area than available drivers. This encourages more drivers to serve the busy area over time and shifts rider demand, to maintain reliability and restore balance.

Thank you for the explanation.  

[dani negreanu]

** Off-topic**

 

Hi Jim,

 

May be you can help... I have a long running thread on Royal's boards, and one of "my" long time posters, @ownedbypets, is looking for advice --- Thank you in advance, Dani

 

"

My daughter is a travel nurse and starts a new contract on Jan 2. She will be in Palo Alto CA at Stanford Medical and there aren't very many Airbnb close to the hospital. Can any recommend any nice, safe cities that are near there? She doesn't have a car so she will be using Uber. Thanks!  "

 

[ownedbypets]

9 minutes ago, dani negreanu said:

** Off-topic**

 

Hi Jim,

 

May be you can help... I have a long running thread on Royal's boards, and one of "my" long time posters, @ownedbypets, is looking for advice --- Thank you in advance, Dani

 

"

My daughter is a travel nurse and starts a new contract on Jan 2. She will be in Palo Alto CA at Stanford Medical and there aren't very many Airbnb close to the hospital. Can any recommend any nice, safe cities that are near there? She doesn't have a car so she will be using Uber. Thanks!  "

 

 

Thanks Dani!!

[apierson23]

5 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

 

My understanding is that it is based by the number of vehicle logarithm that the Corporation uses to maximize income.  

 

Per Uber Site -

How does Uber get away with surge pricing?

 

 

Surge pricing automatically goes into effect when there are more riders in a given area than available drivers. This encourages more drivers to serve the busy area over time and shifts rider demand, to maintain reliability and restore balance.

The problem is drivers in most markets are initiating the surge by turning off the service when the demand is large (cruise ship comes in, New Year Eve, etc.) to get as much money as possible when they get their first ride since the supply of drivers is not high in most markets.  I know some drivers here in Cleveland that play games to push the surges and the company doesn't do much to prevent it from happening.

[apierson23]

On 12/8/2022 at 6:11 PM, Jim_Iain said:

 

 

 

Next we were offered a three taco 🌮 lunch

 

 

Love the vibrant pictures but I'm mad they offered you three tacos and only gave us two 🙂  We were kind on the fence in terms of recommending this tour - would you guys recommend it to others?

[Jim_Iain]

47 minutes ago, dani negreanu said:

** Off-topic**

 

Hi Jim,

 

May be you can help... I have a long running thread on Royal's boards, and one of "my" long time posters, @ownedbypets, is looking for advice --- Thank you in advance, Dani

 

"

My daughter is a travel nurse and starts a new contract on Jan 2. She will be in Palo Alto CA at Stanford Medical and there aren't very many Airbnb close to the hospital. Can any recommend any nice, safe cities that are near there? She doesn't have a car so she will be using Uber. Thanks!  "

 

 

The only area I would say to stay clear of is East Palo Alto but depending on what she is looking for she should be able to find something.

 

Palo Alto is very expensive.   If she is open to a private room as oppose to a stand alone condo she can probably find something less than

 

Mountain View is just south and then Sunnyvale is the next town south followed by Santa Clara.   The further north the higher the prices.

 

Feel free to email me with more details of price range she's looking for and if she wants a stand alone unit.    Running up the peninsula from San Jose to San Francisco (Palo Alto is on the way) is CalTrain.   Their is a free shuttle from the Palo Alto train stations to Standford and Standford Hospital. 

 

As a little history -  originally all these towns that make up Silicon Valley were train stops for the Orchards that filled the valley.   The problem she is see is the cost of living in the bay area.   Palo Alto homes start at about 2 Million for a cottage.   Rents are correspondingly high.

 

 

[dani negreanu]

7 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Feel free to email me with more details of price range she's looking for and if she wants a stand alone unit. 

 

Many many thanks for taking the time from your vacation to reply in detail, Jim.

 

I really appreciate it, and I'm tagging the mom @ownedbypets  🌼

[Jim_Iain]

Beautiful day temps raising and skies cleared

 

[Jim_Iain]

2 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

 

Many many thanks for taking the time from your vacation to reply in detail, Jim.

 

I really appreciate it, and I'm tagging the mom @ownedbypets  🌼

my email address is in my signature  jim dot smaltz at GMAIL dot Com

[Jim_Iain]

Tour of RS 1118.    
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 12, 2022 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, apierson23 said:

Love the vibrant pictures but I'm mad they offered you three tacos and only gave us two 🙂  We were kind on the fence in terms of recommending this tour - would you guys recommend it to others?

 

I really loved the 4x4 self drive tour of the beaches an desert.  

 

We were offered three taco's but I only wanted two.   I'm the same I enjoyed the tour but not the best of our life.    Probably an hour or more longer than could have been.   I did enjoy a swim in the pool at the Villa.

[Jim_Iain]

Participated in a fun CC Slot pull.  My first.  @SHIP TRAVELER organized the event.  
 

 

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

We were awarded top cruiser and present with a nice bottle of Macron-Village Chardonnay and a beautiful flower arrangement. 
 

Edited December 12, 2022 by Jim_Iain

[Northern Aurora]

Nice photos of the RS.

 

And this is a little off topic but when we left the Solstice following our B2B the Retreat Concierges, through the Port Agent, organized a private car service.  It was considered a "Private Journey's excursion."  The cost was over $200 for the two of us, but we had so much non-refundable OBC we didn't care.

[Jim_Iain]

1 hour ago, Northern Aurora said:

Nice photos of the RS.

 

And this is a little off topic but when we left the Solstice following our B2B the Retreat Concierges, through the Port Agent, organized a private car service.  It was considered a "Private Journey's excursion."  The cost was over $200 for the two of us, but we had so much non-refundable OBC we didn't care.

 

We've done Private Journey excursions and really enjoyed them.

 

BTW -  Herma was moved to Singh's position.  She's good but not Mr. Singh. 

[jelayne]

8 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

We've done Private Journey excursions and really enjoyed them.

 

BTW -  Herma was moved to Singh's position.  She's good but not Mr. Singh. 

I’m pleased for Herma.  There are only  a few like Singh and Cranston that are exceptional. 

[cruzzzinma]

We were in 1118 on the second half of our September b2b. Loved the location and the suite.

[George C]

2 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Tour of RS 1118.    
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Very nice we had a royal suite on summit if February and another on summit this March , we need to cruise S class again.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

3 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Tour of RS 1118.    

 

 

 

 

Imagine that--functional cupboards.  What a concept.  My Hoppenized RS on the Summit had upper things that were made to look like cabinets in the living room.  On closer inspection, they were just blocks of wood attached to the wall.  There were tiny cupboards at floor level.  As if they weren't already too small to hold anything, they had a shelf in the middle, thus rendering them totally useless.

Edited December 13, 2022 by Happy Cruiser 6143

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

3 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Participated in a fun CC Slot pull.  My first.  @SHIP TRAVELER organized the event.  
 

 

 

She apprenticed under a pro on our fall Summit cruise!

[Redking]

6 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Tour of RS 1118.    
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looks like they've plushed up the cushions on the sofa since our last cruise on the Solstice. How are the cushions holding up on the outside loungers?

[postnobills]

Jim-

We were in 1118 in early September and loved it, except for the non-working whirlpool tub on the balcony; hopefully they've fixed that by now.

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

13 hours ago, cruzzzinma said:

We were in 1118 on the second half of our September b2b. Loved the location and the suite.

 

iain was a little concerned about being so close to the stairs but it has worked out perfect and is very quiet.   They moved our Butler, Loyd, down to continue taking care of us.  

 

Our new stateroom attendant is  Pramod.    He is really good and very engaging.  He immediately picked up that we prefer he not tuck the sheets in the end of the bed and make it up more as a duvet.