Jim_Iain - Live from Oceania Regatta - September 14 Vancouver to Los Angeles

[PhD-iva]

35 minutes ago, tarhoosier said:

Flat maps distort the mind. 

I love maps, and I love this saying. I think I shall add it to my list of favorite sayings (below), w rough translations where needed 

Life is hard, and then you die.
Lo que no mata, engorda. (what doesn’t kill you, makes you fat.)

Hay que compartir. (We need to share).

 

PS: I shouldn’t have to do that (this last one almost always is in response to some technical problems I’m having with IT devices.)

Edited September 21 by PhD-iva
Add PS

[Jim_Iain]

2 hours ago, AMHuntFerry said:

I'm guessing they will stick with what they had in the past; for those with OLife they have the House (currently about $40) and the Prestige (for about $30 more than the House).

This is the flyer for upgrade from Simply More

 

[Jim_Iain]

Another feature that Celebrity cut years ago is the daily news summary.   Geared to nationality 

 

 

[Yesimapirate]

3 hours ago, as3369 said:

I'm not a wine afficionado...probably couldn't tell the difference between Opus and Yellow Tail.  As long as it's not sweet wine, I'll imbibe!

It's pretty easy to tell the difference.   It says so right on the label😁

[cluso]

22 hours ago, SATaxman said:

In October, on Marina, they had Botanist in Martini Bar. The only time I paid extra for a drink.

 

A few more misty pictures in Prince Rupert.

[JYDCruise]

On 9/13/2024 at 4:29 PM, Jim_Iain said:

 

Thanks - we are prepared for the cooler weather.   We very rarely get hot temperatures where we live.   Sunnyvale is adjacent San Francisco Bay and we usually get nice breezes off the bay.   Luckily we only had to use our Air Conditioner 2 days. 

 

Today has been a wonderful day in Sunnyvale, we hit a high of 77F.    We have our Puffers out as well as an umbrella just in case.   

Greetings from a fellow Sunnyvaler! One of the great things about living here is that our climate could be legitimately positioned as the best on the planet, though maybe #2 to San Diego. We do tend to use our AC a bit more than you, though . . . PG&E thanks us for our thermostat setting.

[JYDCruise]

On 9/14/2024 at 11:11 AM, Jim_Iain said:

 

Had time for a coffee and snack. We are now airborne and should touch down in 2 hours. 

I know I'm late to the thread, but honestly would never have considered leaving at 7 for this flight. 6AM, maybe, but no later. Yes, usually that that means cooling your heels at the lounge/gate for an hour or so, but it also provides a cushion for unforeseen delays - there's always random construction on 101! - and keeps the blood pressure down. Of course, with a destination of YVR there are going to be a number of safe fall back options and I'm glad it worked out for you in the end!

[FetaCheese]

TC tonight.  Grilled lamb chops, and grilled lobster tails, (asked for 1).  Waiter brought it to my table.  Perfectly prepared to my preference. Would be a $100 dinner in Philly.

 

All meals have been of outstanding quality, flavor and seasoning.  Have been having all dinners in TC, such an array of variety, along with excellent wait staff service.  Montaudon Champagne and wines flowing, no issues with refills!

[bbqoug]

We had dinner in the Grand Dining Room tonight.

I had the Ambrosia Mixed Fruit Cup for my appetizer. Sorry no photo, how good could a fruit cup be? Awesome, that's how good a fruit cup can be! I almost ordered another serving for dessert.

The Chicken Tikka Salad was also delicious. It had just the right amount of spice.

The Spice Rubbed Beef Tenderloin was very tender & tasty.

My wife had the Parmesan Crusted Chicken for her main course. Not recommended. It was very tough & rubbery.

Both of our desserts were great. Becky had the Grand Marnier Souffle, and I had the Bananas Foster. The Bananas Foster was different than normal, essentially deconstructed, but really great. I'll get it again if offered 

 

[terrydtx]

11 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

This is the flyer for upgrade from Simply More

 

We have added the Prestige drinks package to our SM Marina cruise next March. For the $30pp per day, all it would take is 2 $15 drinks to break even with cost. We enjoy wine or beer with our meals and usually a drink or two before dinner. 

Edited September 21 by terrydtx

[LSuzQ]

13 hours ago, FetaCheese said:

TC tonight.  Grilled lamb chops, and grilled lobster tails, (asked for 1).  Waiter brought it to my table.  Perfectly prepared to my preference. Would be a $100 dinner in Philly.

 

All meals have been of outstanding quality, flavor and seasoning.  Have been having all dinners in TC, such an array of variety, along with excellent wait staff service.  Montaudon Champagne and wines flowing, no issues with refills!

Recently on Insignia—pleasantly surprised with the service and food in the TC—preferred it over GDR, where our conversations were frequently interrupted.

 

[Harters]

16 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Another feature that Celebrity cut years ago is the daily news summary.   Geared to nationality 

I quite look forward to getting the UK version every evening. Not least to see what stories it's covering- and how that compares with what stories, say, the BBC is covering. Quite often, the newsheet will have  a story that just doesnt seem that important in terms of the events in the UK. Can't recall which organisation actually writes it. 

Edited September 21 by Harters

[Jim_Iain]

4 washers and driers as well as 2 irons and boards. 
 

 

[Jim_Iain]

3-4 Meter waves for past day. 
 

 

[Jim_Iain]

15 hours ago, JYDCruise said:

Greetings from a fellow Sunnyvaler! One of the great things about living here is that our climate could be legitimately positioned as the best on the planet, though maybe #2 to San Diego. We do tend to use our AC a bit more than you, though . . . PG&E thanks us for our thermostat setting.

 

It is amazing how the temperature can sway 5+ degrees from one side of town to the other.   

[Jim_Iain]

15 hours ago, JYDCruise said:

I know I'm late to the thread, but honestly would never have considered leaving at 7 for this flight. 6AM, maybe, but no later. Yes, usually that that means cooling your heels at the lounge/gate for an hour or so, but it also provides a cushion for unforeseen delays - there's always random construction on 101! - and keeps the blood pressure down. Of course, with a destination of YVR there are going to be a number of safe fall back options and I'm glad it worked out for you in the end!

 

All worked out pretty well.   Iain said we should have booked the later flight... I would never hear the end from him if I booked a 6 AM flight. 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

6 hours ago, terrydtx said:

We have added the Prestige drinks package to our SM Marina cruise next March. For the $30pp per day, all it would take is 2 $15 drinks to break even with cost. We enjoy wine or beer with our meals and usually a drink or two before dinner. 

 

It has worked out for Iain.   Also should have pointed out that everyone in the room don't need to upgrade.   I didn't but Iain did. 

[LuAnn]

20 hours ago, bbqoug said:

We weren't sure what to do in Prince Rupert today with it being so rainy.  We took a short walk from the ship to the Museum of Northern BC. It was quite interesting.

Still wooden sidewalks? 🙂

[Jim_Iain]

Day 7 Menu

 

 

 

 

One thing I'm noticing is the variety is not as much as one might think.  Many items have been on almost every night.    No complaints just an observation.

 

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

On 9/20/2024 at 3:19 PM, Vallesan said:

OK!

 

For the moment we have decided against Explora. Main reasons we are in our 70/80s and Explora seems to skew towards 60 and less. As Hank pointed out the itineraries tend to be 7 nights or 7+7 and that leads to a different type of passenger as we have experienced in the past. They don’t class themselves as ‘cruise’ ships but rather ‘floating resorts’ which I’m not sure is what we want but others might.

 

Just really not sure Explora us for us.

I'm not a fan of 7-night cruises either.  And Explora charges a $200 cancelation fee even if you cancel a year in advance.  I've heard great things about their ships, but those two things put me off and I did get hit with one of those cancelation fees.

[AMHuntFerry]

51 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

One thing I'm noticing is the variety is not as much as one might think.  Many items have been on almost every night.    No complaints just an observation.

 

The items that are always available are

appetizers: shrimp and ham

soup: lobster bisque (and a consomme')

salad: caesar and green

entree: bottom three (salmon, steak, chicken)

dessert: vanilla and chocolate ice cream (other ice creams and a sorbet vary), a souffle (varies), a cheese plate (varies)

 

I'm really excited that the cookie/petit fours choice appears to have returned. I was finally going to order it in June, but it was gone.

 

Oops...forgot veggies: the top two veggies vary, but the potato selections repeat (although I think sometimes fries appear), not sure about rice, pasta/sauce is always there.

Edited September 21 by AMHuntFerry

[ORV]

23 hours ago, as3369 said:

Hope you tried Blue Heaven!

I did, we had breakfast there and went back another day for the key lime pie with the mile high meringue. We loved it. 

21 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Wonder whether they will do like most lines and have a drink package and a premium drink package.

They’ve pretty much always had the wine and beer with lunch and dinner, or the Prestige package. That could change but I doubt it. 

 

If you find nothing to your liking on the GDR menu I would recommend the Rotisserie Chicken. It’s one of my favorites. 

[EJL2023]

4 minutes ago, ORV said:

I did, we had breakfast there and went back another day for the key lime pie with the mile high meringue. We loved it. 

They’ve pretty much always had the wine and beer with lunch and dinner, or the Prestige package. That could change but I doubt it. 

 

If you find nothing to your liking on the GDR menu I would recommend the Rotisserie Chicken. It’s one of my favorites. 

I wouldn’t mind if they brought the Wine by the Bottle plan back. We did that on our first O cruise. 

[cluso]

16 hours ago, FetaCheese said:

TC tonight.  Grilled lamb chops, and grilled lobster tails, (asked for 1).  Waiter brought it to my table.  Perfectly prepared to my preference. Would be a $100 dinner in Philly.

 

All meals have been of outstanding quality, flavor and seasoning.  Have been having all dinners in TC, such an array of variety, along with excellent wait staff service.  Montaudon Champagne and wines flowing, no issues with refills!

Hi Feta,

We have not been to the TC for dinner.  Does it work the same way that it does for breakfast and lunch where you cruise the buffet?  Your meal looks like it was served and on special plates and a tablecloth.

Is it crowded at dinner?

Thank you 

 

[Cruising Maryland]

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

It has worked out for Iain.   Also should have pointed out that everyone in the room don't need to upgrade.   I didn't but Iain did. 

Yes, they make everyone in the room upgrade if you purchase in advance. But you can buy individually if you purchase onboard,