Thread: Equinox Transatlantic, Nov. 5, 2009

You know I had to do the right thing because of all the Finely Cruising we miss you messages...probably for a year or more.

I am happy to be sailing on this cruise, I loved, loved, loved, the people we sailed with on the Connie 3/27, and thats what got me to these boards in the first place. So if it were not for the Owls, I would not be here to begin with.

I am glad that Garry started this thread, I recognize the involvement and commitment that she has to this site and CLF. While I have not participated in the myriad of various areas on CLF, it is clear to me the people who post here are much more down to earth. So the mega numbers of the other sites does not indicate the quality and the integrity of those who make up that membership base. And it is showing to be a very great divide between the masses in these times between the two sites. And that surely is no complaint from me!

Bob, you and Garry were away when interactions got dicey on the roll call on CC. It was surprising to me that it occurred, I knew it could because I had heard it happened on other roll call threads. I couldn't quite figure it out since I might have been part of the basis and while I get that, I still could not get the ramped up effect with the aspects by others who had cruised in good stead, if you will, with others who I have interacted with here and there and who just kind of went huh ? to the haywire effect. I felt bad if I offended anyone, I sure did npt mean to, but some of it seemed kind of haughty and needless, and over time those who took exception to me and what I posted ( a picture of a male tourist in hot pants to Phils' bouncing belly) well they have used some pretty foul words and odd attitudes in their posts and have an aire of you know, aire, so I kind of have salved myself over from the sting and the burn of that time that got highly personalized for no real reason and for what.

And since I am such a boxer in life, I don't quit too easily. No surprise for those who know me, right? But I do want to keep the peace since we will all be on this ship one day soon.

I am happy to get over here and say hello, and reach out to those who I truly enjoy and Bob I thank you for the invite over to the Owls site, I know on the 3/27 Connie Garry said to me you have to get over there too, so its my own fault that I never did, and I appreciate the continued encouragement to get more involved with you and Garry and everyone else here as well.

Char, Thank You for your encouragement as well as your dialog and interaction with me in the past few weeks

Originally Posted by FinelyCruising

Hello....thought I would say hello here too.

Chris...long time since we have seen you and Charlene, so hello from Cheryl & Ed.

Our immediate plans are to have a blast with everyone on board that we have not seen for a long while. Aside from that, for our undecided plans I think we will go to Casis while in Marsaille, and Ed would enjoy the 4X4 to Mt Tiede while in Tenerife.

Otherwise, I think we will find a place for a bit to eat in Cartegena and maybe an excursion in Palma de Majorca with some purchases involved.

That's what we have to decide, potentially, so far, for excursions, maybe.

We haven't even given any thought to shore excursions just yet. I note that I still can't pull down a Celebrity "brochure" in pdf, although I am able to get the port-by-port day-by-day info that is tied to the itinerary. Need to try that again. I'd be curious to know what everyone else is turning up, and whether Bob has arranged any of his famous tours for this cruise. We really enjoyed the ones he set up for us last fall. Bob?

Aix sounds a bit like Ez. Anyone been to both, and is that a fair comparison? Looks as though some of the tours "near" Marseilles involve some long bus rides. For example, the Cassis trip appears to be 2 hours of bus ride (1 each way) and 2 hours in Cassis.

We'll be bringing two friends along on this cruise that haven't cruised (with us, or at all, for that matter) since we did an Alaska cruise together on Infinity back in 2003. Just talked them into it a week ago, and Lori was able to snag them an SV down on 6. Although Bob's chart does not reflect it, we're in an SV up on 7. We're looking forward to finding out whether the "feel" in the stern of the new ships is comparable to what we've come to enjoy on the Millennium class. We know the verandas won't be nearly so large, but that was an anomoly unique to those ships.

Chris,

For a long time, I don't think I realized you were definitely going on this one. Possibly a result of my forgetting to check here very much. I'd like to add you to the gallery but I never do that without permission. I have a picture I could use, all I need to know is your cabin number. I think you will find the aft on the Solstice to be just fine. The balconies are not as deep as the M-Class but the view is the same. We moved off the aft (deck 6 SV) because we were concerned that the view might be affected by the blue restaurant roof right below us and the lack of any cover would make it uncomfortable. But we wouldn't have gone to very much trouble or expense as I don't think it will be that bad. We were able to get a hump C1 for about $100 more p/p.

The only tour I am arranging is in Barcelona. It will be with the same company that did our Montserrat tour last year. We will be going out in a different direction. As of now, it won't include a winery, although I have asked Patrick to see if he would work one in. I already have the bus about full, but there is room for two more Owls if you would like to join us. The cost (unless a winery gets added) would be about €40 p/p plus lunch. That would include the tip. If you are interested in the two of you joining, let me know and I will e-mail you more information.

If you'll check the website I put up, you can see what other people are doing for excursions. The link is in my signature.

Originally Posted by bob278

Chris,
For a long time, I don't think I realized you were definitely going on this one.

Yes, we were trying to swap out our SV for your aft CC that you were thinking about changing, remember? Come to think of it, Lori never did get back to me on that.

I'd like to add you to the gallery but I never do that without permission. I have a picture I could use, all I need to know is your cabin number.

The pic is still good (although we're now two years older!) and we're in cabin #7309. Please feel free to add us to the Aft Rats gallery for this one, too.

I already have the bus about full, but there is room for two more Owls if you would like to join us.

In the event that you get a pair of cancellations (not likely, but worth a try) we're a foursome on this run. Would be delighted to join you if it works out.

Chris,

If everyone that I asked said "yes", there would not be room for 4. But I have not heard back from 4 people, so I'll keep you on my list as interested if all of you can go. Even though we've been waiting for a long time, it's still a good ways off.

I know Lori doesn't have our old cabin open as we tried to move up to it. Now that you reminded me of that, I do remember. But it takes a pretty swift kick to jump start my memory these days. It's probably a good thing I am retired, I'd hate to think of the consequences of an absent-minded project manager.

I'll add you to the website.

Hi Chris - I didn't realize that Casis was two hours out from the pier. Thanks for the insight.

BTW I have not tired not pull down the PDF...I just look at the day-to-day stuff as you have.

Originally Posted by FinelyCruising

Hi Chris - I didn't realize that Casis was two hours out from the pier. Thanks for the insight.

It isn't -- just one hour, but one hour each way for a total of 2 in bus rides. But that's half of the 4 hour time specified for the excursion, and we've kinda decided not to do those again unless there's something truly special at the other end, or we're there for a considerably longer time.

Chris - There is a poster who is doing the B2B over on the other board...EasyTravel 777 who has booked up very early one of the tour operators. Ed and I have a place in line, but I am not sure where any of that stands, he is not a prolific poster on the 11/5 thread and no so much anymore on the first leg of theirs, although there are some rays of light that he is still out there and planning the tours. If that option falls through, I want to do something while in this port. Were you thinking of anything in particular while in Marsaille? ~Cheryl

Originally Posted by FinelyCruising

Chris - There is a poster who is doing the B2B over on the other board...EasyTravel 777 who has booked up very early one of the tour operators. Ed and I have a place in line, but I am not sure where any of that stands, he is not a prolific poster on the 11/5 thread and no so much anymore on the first leg of theirs, although there are some rays of light that he is still out there and planning the tours. If that option falls through, I want to do something while in this port. Were you thinking of anything in particular while in Marsaille? ~Cheryl

We haven't quite got organized about this yet. The addition of two new members to our traveling circus requires that we check to see what common interests we've got. Up until now, we hadn't thought much about excursions.

First item... Lunch must include the word Provençal somewhere in the name or on the menu. OK -=- figuratively at least. It would be a shame to buzz in and out of the area without getting some home cooked south-of-the-A8 food. Duck with figs works <grin>.

I'd like to see the Musee d'Histoire de Marseille if possible, and I'm guessing we (I) won't be allowed to leave without conducting a trip to Vieux Port -- just in case there's anything there for sale, of course