mking8288

Ship already blasted her horn for the 4th time at 3:50 pm. Many are late, most certainly on a ship tour, dozens that would become members of the Pier Runners Club at Amber Cove today - Pixel 7 Pro at 5x zoom power Time now 4:10 pm - should be going soon. Thrusters on below the bow👇

More pictures of what's nearby, including a small beach, pretty crowded but shaded, about 10 minutes walk from the ship's gangway. It's 3:45 pm already ... still lots of finalists for the Pier Runners Club, bridge just sounded the first horn blast, now #2 blast on the horn. Another 40+ pax just walked thru port security by the duty-free shop now. All abroad was 3:30 for 4 pm sailing 🫢

More pictures at Amber Cove ... tourist downtown is 20 minutes away, not worth our while to do for such a short time in the port. It's neat, clean & commercialized but okay.

After a light breakfast of fruits, yogurt, smoked salmon bagel, juice & coffee, rested briefly and just checked out the shops here at AC. Very good prices & wide selections at the duty-free shop vs. onboard Tradewind options as we needed to pickup gifts for someone. Open WiFi for general use is available at some of the stores including one of the cafe. Looked around a bit, photos & then returned to the ship for a buffet lunch. Those taxi-bike are free, seats 2 and drivers worked for tips only. Being hot, humid & sunny ... we used them. BTW, ship is out of bananas completely, got melons, apples & other fruits, etc.

My mom used one until age 91 to get around - always folded, stored & out of the way. One of my SIL had to use them as she bravely fought stage 4 cancer that metastasized & affect her neuromotor functions, no longer needed as she joined the NCL eternal Heaven. There are plenty other guests onboard with access challenges yet not behaving entitled ... I keep a folded walking stick on my luggage just in case it's needed as my knees can act up again. Exactly, nothing against bring them along and using them with younger ones, it's common sense. These aren't compact and full-sized, but, still can be folded & stored somewhere in a closet by working with housekeeping. Selfish mindset. I've communicated with the GM's team and asked them to review as to whether it's appropriate & to mitigate, in fairness to all guests.

Amber Cove, all for us from the Getaway at a CCL facility. It's hot, sunny & feeling the humidity too 😎 Looks kinda like a mini Harvest Caye ... but shorter walking distance from the gangway. 10:35 am - still waiting to be cleared & gangways ready for those going ashore.

@EllieinNJ Ellie, no upcharge at LC last night & the tenderloin was excellent. Enjoy your short visit to Bermuda later in the week. Henry

Good morning, cruise speed at 17 knots just off the coast of DR, less than 20 nm from Amber Cove. A bit cloudy in the distance, MDR breakfast in Taste ... getting busy & crowded here at 9 am.

Telling it like it is ... These, as I previously seen in person, are just utterly unacceptable but ... it's not "always" there. Returning to our stateroom at 11:15 pm after coming back from Ocean 6-7-8, the question is "what if" ... much more serious than plates & cups in the hallway not picked up (as there are no clear guidelines & rules for the herd to follow)

Findings from a night owl (11 pm, action currently up in Spice H2O, Deck 16 AFT outdoors) *** Glow Party (formerly, White Hot Party) Atrium w movie on big screen. OSH not busy at the moment. Here's your "new" late night casino snack station - DIY, for your convenience 😳 ☹️ 🙄 - facts checked as told by our CAS friends onboard with us this week, I verified it personally on the Getaway as being true 🙈 Enjoy

As usual on our 4th post 2020 return to cruising, upgraded ours to basic unlimited WiFi - depending on a matrix of factors (as the end users) - I have no issues accessing my "live" security cam footage or playback clips via ship's connections. My newest Google Pixel 7 Pro also get up to 6 to 7 Mbps d/l speed on 5 Ghz WiFi but much slower on 2.4 Ghz, whereas Samsung Galaxy S22+ just couldn't get anywhere near those speed. YMMV Waiting to see how Starlink will perform on NCL ship's this year.

Getaway Amber Cove info & Day 10's Freestyle Daily for Jan 29, 2023

Dinner at La Cucina

Current - latest La Cucina Menu on the Getaway ... with Spec.Dining package - choice of 1 starter, soup or salad, and 1 from Pizza or entree selections (no upcharge for beef tenderloin) and dessert.

From sea to shining sea 😎 beautiful sunset coming up with clouds around - sea days are for seeing these. "Imagine"

Our complimentary Platinum laundry came back at midday, next day service, neatly folded in a basket, as it usually is. With the small bag, 25 items done, valued at $90 if billed on itemized pricing. Today, MDQ is on - 1 show only at 7:30 in the main theater, sold out. We are booked - tomorrow night at 7:30 pm, no late showing for Million Dollars Quartet. 300 nm to Amber Cove, DR on ship's Nav.Channel #11. Bridge to Engine Room, all ahead - full speed, doing 20.6 knots, waves at 4.9 ft. and air temperature of 78 deg. F Dinner at La Cucina shortly - current "menu" isn't on the App, online at NCL or via ship's interactive statetoom TV. Will post more later ...

These pictures taken with Google Pixel 7 Pro ... others from either DW but mostly my Galaxy S22+

We've set sailed, pushed back about 5 minutes to 4 pm & completed our turnaround to head out ... it's a quick one. On our way to Amber Cove, DR arriving in the morning. Let's hope everyone was accounted for & not left behind in St. Thomas today.

Shorex ?? ... a bit late at 3:40 pm already. Heard cheers But, will wait for them if it's booked thru NCL. Thrusters started on the Getaway already ... maybe, they are returning to the Norwegian Sky, as it looks like we are leaving now or shortly. Ooops ... Guest Services just paged 3 guests to contact them, 2 with same last names plus a 3rd person (not back or accounted for, or something else ...)

Here you go, from Weather Channel - live data

We didn't go to Megan's Beach or Sapphire Beach, Drake's Seat or do the scenic overlooks up on the hills ... been there, done that. The buffet food is what I expected, nothing to really write home about or take pictures. Seemed to noticed fewer crew members working & smiling and in cheerful mood, not seeing if those laughs & smiles are genuine or faked. Could use extra hands to clear tables & quickly set up utensils for next clusters. Plates, cups, dirty plates remained sitting at a corner for 20+ minutes until a supervisor was flagged down. Jumbo dessert - cream burlee is wow, tiny & finished in one bite, LOL. Less waste ... got it. Tea bags in the Lipton's tray.

Heading back to the ship next, years ago - Jenny (Lim) was among the ship officers on the Gem then, on the pier and led crew members singing festively in welcoming everyone back. Not in 2023, however - times are changing

Most of the shops in the port area are open but seemed like 10% never did, shuttered stores & for rent signs can be seen everywhere (also in nearby "downtown"). Crew's favorite store, KMart survived & is open, many off-duty ones coming back with filled bags. If these prices aren't good enough, there's a KFC and a Wendy not far from the shopping area, walking distance 🙄 or just eat onboard later. One of the Shorex boat (diving) returning to the pier now, about 20 minutes before all abroad time.

More scenic pix and entrance info, etc for DIY planners next month & beyond ...

On top of the hill at the "point" - nice view with a breeze, windy & can see for miles & miles