Jim_Iain Apex Key West, TansAtlantic and British Isle with a Week in Amsterdam

[Susanb10567]

Looking forward to following along again…been wanting to to a transatlantic and British aisles cruise so I will be paying close attention…

 

We gave a Danube River Cruise booked for the summer to see if we like River cruising …my next Celebrity cruise should be on the Apex going to Israel, Egypt and Turkey in October ..

 

Safe travels!!!

[DaKahuna]

4 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Feel free to jump in and share your experience.   We each do a cruise different.   I dare say we can be a bit boring at times as we don't usually do shows but will probably be doing some with Iain's Sister.

 

Do not feel bad about that.  We are pretty much the same way -- Wake up, have breakfast, go to a lounge onboard and hang out or walk around giving the room steward time to attend to the room, go to lunch, go back and hang out in the room and or go to a lounge, go to the casino, walk around the ship, go to dinner, maybe take in a show or go to a music lounge, visit the martini bar -- head back to the room.   Rinse and repeat.  We were just discussing today how much we just want to kick back and relax on our next cruise. 

 

[abbydancer2003]

12 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

 

Do not feel bad about that.  We are pretty much the same way -- Wake up, have breakfast, go to a lounge onboard and hang out or walk around giving the room steward time to attend to the room, go to lunch, go back and hang out in the room and or go to a lounge, go to the casino, walk around the ship, go to dinner, maybe take in a show or go to a music lounge, visit the martini bar -- head back to the room.   Rinse and repeat.  We were just discussing today how much we just want to kick back and relax on our next cruise. 

 

Throw some early evening dancing in there, do the show then dinner,  and you've got our cruise.  

[upwarduk]

Just found your new ’live’ B3B.

Cant believe how many page have appeared overnight.

I will be following.🎉

[DUTRAVEL]

So happy to be following along for another adventure with you Jim! Henrietta is already excited to hear all about it. Apex will be our ride home on the fall TA. Safe travels on Thursday. 

Dianne

[chemmo]

Another wonderful adventure to follow vicariously!
 

Sincere best wishes to you both for a fantastic vacation. It is wonderful that you have managed to fit things together so well. Enjoy!

[Les43]

10 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Thanks -  You may enjoy the third cruise as Iain's Sister and BIL are from Ayrshire so I'll be the lone American in our party.  

Thanks Jim. Will be following along ( I come from Ayrshire myself!) 

[Cruising Is Bliss]

I'm looking forward to following along!

[upwarduk]

11 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Amsterdam so are limiting the number of cruise ships through the locks at high tides. 

Just wondering if the reason is that Apex is bigger, so maybe a problem getting through the locks?
 

Apex is home porting in Southampton next year and Silhouette is going to Amsterdam.

Interesting.

[upwarduk]

11 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

I've never done the British Isles cruise before.

I hope you have Liverpool on your itinerary.

Our grand daughter has just spent 6 years there training to be Doctor and loved the city, so of course we visited frequently.

Just had a thought, the European song contest will be there from the beginning of May, could be hectic.

Outside Liverpool Catholic Cathedral.

Edited April 12, 2023 by upwarduk

[Sarah1974]

have a fabulous time @Jim_Iain can't wait to follow along

[soccermommy]

So looking forward to following your adventures. I always learn something new and interesting from your travels. I haven’t made it to Amsterdam yet, Covid messed up 2 cruises, but I did want you to know, your wonderful blog about the Cape Liberty/Iceland/Boston Summit b2b inspired us to book the Summit this August, though we will be doing the Iceland/Boston portion only. Thanks so much for all time you put into doing this!

[hcat]

12 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Feel free to jump in and share your experience.   We each do a cruise different.   I dare say we can be a bit boring at times as we don't usually do shows but will probably be doing some with Iain's Sister.

Never Boring!

 I will be following along for great photos, insights and gen entertainment!

[Binbrooklady]

Hi Jim,

So excited to follow your adventures but even more so as we will be joining you on the TA portion. As well, we will be joining you on your Hawaii cruise next spring. Hope to see you onboard. Janet

[sheeng]

Just found these posts - such a lovely, positive start to my day🤗  Six pages already and you haven’t even boarded yet! I will be following. Sheila.

[Joker54]

14 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

This will also be our first time on Apex.    We have have sailed Edge before but always fun to explore a new ship.     If you have any questions let me know and I will strive to find an answer.

Greetings, we have sailed the Edge and the Apex. We enjoyed both but prefer the Apex since X tweaked the design a bit.

 

We are also on this sailing, staying 5 days in Amsterdam then flying to London and taking the 12 day Scandinavian cruise on the Silhouette. We are looking forward to seeing your report on the train from Rotterdam into Amsterdam. We thought about that but lucked out that one of our tour guides from Tours by Locals is headed to Amsterdam that morning and is providing transport for us (for a small fee of course).

 

Hoping our paths will cross on the TA

 

Cheers

 

Steve

[Laurab23]

14 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Thanks for following Laura.   Also fun to hear from you.

 

We are looking forward to our cruise on Summit in May in PH. A little bump before hand. I have to have my gallbladder removed next week but my surgeon says I will be fine by the cruise. And what a place to recover. That large balcony!

 

Laura

[Jim_Iain]

13 hours ago, LisaLeone said:

Between you and @GenerationX you are allowing me to live vicariously until I board the Summit next month! Wishing you and Iain a fabulous voyage.

Thanks... I've been doing the exact same.   Virtual cruises are a great substitute between cruises.

[Jim_Iain]

13 hours ago, Barwick Cruiser said:

Wow, can you tell how popular you are? I check the boards and you’ve got five pages of posts in just a few hours from your original post lol. You def do an amazing job when you post and the info is so helpful to so many. I’m looking forward to following along on your adventure too! Don’t forget your passports! 😉

Thank you but what makes all these Live Posts so popular are the other members that drop in and share.

 

I knew someone would bring up the Passport.   That is something I'll never do again.   I'm sitting here looking at it.

[Jim_Iain]

13 hours ago, juanrod said:

Very excited about your trip @Jim_Iain  we are doing British Isles in august out of Amsterdam on royal so will be following along for all your insight.  Just caught up on @GenerationX and saw the 5 pages of your trip.  Living life through both of you until we head out 

Lisa 

I hope you enjoy Amsterdam and the British Isles as we expect to.    Many of the ports will be new for us which is exciting.

[Jim_Iain]

13 hours ago, haynesra said:

Enjoy your long B3B journey on the Apex. Look forward to reading your posts as always. We pick up the Apex on British Isles leg. So looking forward to Amsterdam pre-cruise and first time on Apex.

 

Glad you will be aboard for the British Isles cruise.   I think that leg will be my favorite.

[Jim_Iain]

13 hours ago, asnaleah said:

Hooray! Can’t wait to follow along. An eastern TA is on my list. Safe travels and happy sailing! Erin

For many years we only did West Bound TA's because of all the daily timezone changes that cause loss of an hour in lieu of gaining an hour.    Once we did the first one we really don't find much difference.

 

The good part is you arrive already adjusted to all the timezones.

[Jim_Iain]

12 hours ago, az4ship said:

So happy for this! I was on last years TA with you.  Safe sailing and smooth seas

Thanks much for coming along.

 

[Jim_Iain]

12 hours ago, mauimary said:

Love your live blog (geez 5 pages already) and reading about you guys as you are trying to pack!  Obviously you have a large fan following!  So fun to follow you on your travels.   We cruise a lot but this will be our first Transatlantic. Followed your blogs last spring when you got booted!  Hopefully this year is a whole different ball game!!  We will be on the Beyond to Rome and then the following to Croatia and Montenegro which are new places for us which I believe is not long after you leave FL. We will do a two week land trip to Portugal in the mix after the B2B.  We thought we had plenty of time to pack but we too are getting down to the wire.  Trying not to pack too much and then have to schlep  it around on busses and trains!  
Have a wonderful cruise. 
 

 

 

I was much the same.   Seems like endless time and then reality strikes and Wham Bam --- packing is done. 

[Jim_Iain]

12 hours ago, kabmab said:

Thanks for your live posting!  Always look forward to following your and Iains' travels.  We were on the Apex to Key West in early March, and also in September 2021 out of Piraeus with only 387 pax.  Are currently looking at her for this June 25 in Scandinavia.  Can't keep DH off the sea after 30 years in the Navy.  Wishing you both healthy and happy travels!

Kristin

Thanks Kristin -

I think this cruise is going to be a really full one - especially the Key West and Trans Atalantic.