mking8288

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

Paradise Point via the SkyRide - taxi van dropped us off directly in the parking lot. Rates for crew $10 w ID, local $6, visitors $25 roundtrip.

Shopping ... anyone

Let's roll to downtown next

Booked 2 cabins on the Escape this September out of NY to NE/Canada ... Portland & Bar Harbour are the 2 stops, and what can NCL changed them to - after final payment due in May. Will cancel too unless they will do all Canadian ports instead. We shall see & watch carefully ☹️

There ... They are on their way, first boat loaded with diving gears Breezy, sun is out, beautiful day ... what shower ?? Just windy AccuWeather forecast for St. Thomas Google Fi & T-Mobile 5G services here

Scenic pix from our balcony, port side views - shopping area on the waterfront in the distance ... some folks walk to / from the shop on their own. Here, it's fast 5G cellular coverage for us ... zoom zoom 👍 That's the largest super yatch in jthr harbor with its own helipad.

Almost 9:15 am and ship has just been clear yet, huge & long lines of pax stretching into Deck 6's atrium from FWD stairs, including many with Shorex & hoping for 5, now maybe 4.5 hours at Megan's Bay or other nearby beaches. We are going to skip Drake's Seat this time & skip those scenic ride. Taxi shuttles are $6 p/p one way to nearby downtown's waterfront shopping area. Duty-free shops are all here in (a 5 to 8 minutes walk on level pavement) Havensight pier, Sky is docked in front of us. Skyride, 700 ft. up to Paradise Point is open on cruise ship days, $25 p/p round trip and NCL shorex priced it at $35 p/p for your convenience ($50 FAS credit, free for pax #1)

We are docked at Havensight now after an easy escort by the pilot boat into the harbour. OSH is quite busy for breakfast as many discovered it's faster in service & food served hot.

Ahead, Charlotte Amalie at St. Thomas

Good early morning, 7:30 am ship/local time, we are 10 nm from reaching St. Thomas to dock, joining a smaller NCL ship (Sky) there today. Overnight cruise speed about 11 knots, currently at 14 knots with a strong diagonal crosswind of 35 knots, waves 4.9 ft. A short stay from 9 to 4 pm, really about 6 hours. Google Fi just picked up a faint, stray cellular signal now ... still about 7 nm to St. Thomas (over 1,600 nm to NYC) While having late breakfast yesterday at OSH, watched the crew respond to Code Bravo, Deck 4 Starboard, reporting to Assembly Station Port side. With many crew members pulled away, meal service were slower. Hash brown potatoes ... plentiful.

Unofficial FAQ 2023-1 The upcharged Breakfast Menu, for your convenience at $4.95 plus 20% and ... Unofficial FAQ 2023-2 How to connect to ship's satellite WiFi

Third time eating dinner in Tropicana, step up to the first podium at 6:45 pm as we didn't reserve ahead, given that vibrating pager to wait nearby, i.e. casino bar. Place is full with some empty tables waiting to be cleaned & set for the new round. 10-15 minutes later, it was our turn ... not bad, gave us an almost front row seat next to the singers & dance floor. The singer duo were live on stage, but not impressed, especially her relatively flat tones & being somewhat missing the key. Our meal took 1:45 as expected. Again, when Susan (DW) said wow, the portion is just small and she is a small eater. Guess who's socializing with some of the guests nearby ... surely, some of you recognized him, he gained a little extra. Do you know or recognize him ?

Expecting our 4G LTE signal to fade & drop pretty soon, going to dinner around 7'ish. Will come back online later over Satellite WiFi - news about Starlink coming soon is just great - and answer questions left here, hopefully to help ... best efforts. Later