We  finally came  out of COVID lockdown hibernation after 18 months.    These cruises were booked after cancellation of our cruises just as we touched down at FLL on 3/14/2020.    Wow! That seems so far away now.

This cruise began as a booking of our “FREE” Zenith cruise.   The free cruise when you hit 3,000 points is for a Veranda cabin but you can upgrade to a cabin of your choice by paying the difference.    For this cruise we chose to sail in a SS cabin.   We added the second cruise so we could enjoy a B2B.

The first cruise is a 12 night Ultimate Southern Caribbean departing September 5

 

B2B Equinox

Our first set of cruises w3ere a consecutive Back to Back (B2B) on Celebrity Equinox 9/5 and 9/17/21 Cruises

 1/20/2022

I haven't blogged is a while and decided to fire it back up.  In the past I didn't feel the software was that intuitive, but things have improved. 

As like others the Covid epidemic paid a toll on our travel plans and so many of our dream cruises are no longer operation.   I think the one I miss the most was a planned cruise to Singapore, Viet Nam. Indonesia, Philippians, Australia and New Zealand.  

We took our first dip back into cruising in September and October of 2021.

 

I'm going to post some memories from those before getting into planning our next adventure.

Welcome to Part 2

 

 I would like to invite you to our Blog.   I usually post about our adventures on Cruisecritcs.com under the handle Jim_Iain.

I've tried blogging before but kinda lost focus.   I plan on this blog capturing both our day to day life but also fun at sea.   One of our major passions. 

 I on the left and Iain is on the right. 

 

 

Protocols for Cruising have changed  quite a bit due to Covid.    All passengers are now required to be Vaccinated against Covid and proof of vaccination is required to board the ship.  

In addition at the time of this sailing  we were required to have a covid test 72 hours prior to cruising.  

 

United Changed Equipment

One of the risks you have when booking a flight a year in advance is changes to your reservation.

I receive this notice this week. United will be replacing their 747 service with their first 767-300 with only 2 classes of service.    While it will be nice to be one of the first to experience the new service (Plane) which starts 2 days before our flight,  we will miss having our 1st class flight.

We now have you confirmed in United Polaris business class, with our new United Polaris service as well as our brand new, custom-designed business class seats, which offer improvements over our existing first class seats.

What this means:
You are confirmed in a business class cabin, rather than a first class cabin, but you will now experience our upgraded seating, which offers:

■	Direct access to the aisle
■	6 feet 6 inches of sleeping space
■	Plenty of shoulder room, even when they are reclined flat
■	Ample storage for your personal items

Taj Mahal Side Trip

We couldn't visit India without a side trip to the Taj Mahal.   I have spent the last couple months exploring private tours as the one offered by the ship is extremely expensive.    I finally settled on a private tour through Culture Holidays.



Day 01: Arrival / Cochin / Delhi (SG 112 – 1120 / 1620 Hrs)
Delhi / Agra (205 Kms) (04 Hrs Drive)

Meeting and assistance upon arrival at Cochin port and transfer to the airport to board your flight to Delhi
Arrive Delhi airport; from here, we will drive to Agra, along one of the India’s finest freeways
Upon arrival in Agra, check into your hotel. Overnight at your hotel

Day 02: Agra / Delhi (205 Kms) (04 Hrs Drive)
Morning at sunrise we will visit the magnificent Taj Mahal - one of the Seven Wonders of the World, where our professional local guides will explain you about the most extravagant expression of love ever created. 20,000 men labored for over 17 years to build this memorial to Shah Jahan's beloved wife. The Taj is at its most alluring in the relative quiet of early morning, shrouded in mists and bathed with a soft red glow. As its vast marble surfaces fall into shadow or reflect the sun, its color changes, from soft grey and yellow to pearly cream and dazzling white; it's well worth visiting at different times. This play of light is an important decorative device, symbolically implying the presence of Allah, who is never represented in anthropomorphic form.

We will ride a Tonga and visit Taj Mahal. Vivacious, amusing young men, who are more than willing to help tourists, these Tonga wallahs will do their best in making you feel at ease. The horses of the Tonga are equally colorful and active. A Tonga ride in Agra is sheer fun and frolic all through. Tonga rides will take you to the most beautiful monument in the world.

Visit the Agra fort – Built by Emperor Akbar in 1566, the rusty and majestic red-sandstone fort of Agra stands on the banks of the river Yamuna. It comprises many fairy-tale palaces, such as the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan; audience halls, such as the Diwan-i-Khas; and two very beautiful mosques.

Following the tour of Agra Fort, we will drive to Delhi enroute we will visit Akbar's tomb which is located in the serene ambience of Sikandra 3 km away from Agra. Akbar began building it during his lifetime and his son, the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, completed it. Some of its design features are similar to the design of the Taj Mahal built later in Agra. Akbar's tomb at Sikandra has a large arched entrance and green lawns, on which deer can be seen grazing, surround the tomb. The entrance is decorated with marble inlay work around the arch, and the inner surface of the dome of the tomb is decorated with images of flowers, geometric designs and Islamic calligraphy.

From here, we will continue our drive to Delhi, along one of the India’s finest freeways
Upon arrival, check into your hotel
Overnight at your hotel

Day 03: Delhi / Goa (SG 109 – 1010 / 1215 Hrs)
Morning transfer to the airport to board your flight to Goa
      Arrive Goa airport and transfer to the Port.

Cost based on 2 Persons travelling double occupancy:

Royal (5* hotels)                  : USD 383 per person

Internal flights between Cochin - Delhi  & Delhi - Goa:

Economy Class                     : USD 344 per person