mking8288

Epic's Bridge Viewing Room, Deck 13 Fwd Starboard - similar to and larger than the one on the Gem, open on sea days. While I don't have my 2 meters/70 cm portable at sea, there's an app for VHF to monitor marine radio traffic on Ch.16 when there's action.

M&G - senior officer's name and title, etc. 3,825 pax onboard & 1,600+ crew on this sailing.

Enjoy these photos

Thanks. GM was asked about the sailing time. Leaving at 8:10 pm for a scheduled 7:30 pm departure isn't late, they were monitoring river current & also need to slot the time for the pilot boat. We are probably going to push the engine room to go as fast & safely as possible to be on time for Bermuda, seas should be better ahead later. 6 to 9 ft. wave is fine.

Let's say, apparently usable speed with this free access to CruiseCritic site, pix uploaded very slowly on the Pixel 4a. Going to convert our 300 or 600 minutes to unlimited later, but going to check out things with the iPad mini 5 first and head to the CC Meet & Greet shortly, 11 am at Cagney's. Sitting near the AFT elevators on Deck 7 ... comfortable leather chairs but on the low side, foam paddings can be firmer. Ships 5-6-7 public deck space has its unique layout and is different, getting used to it ... more comments & thoughts about it later. Plus how we are managing 3 to a angled large family balcony.

Posting over "free" a WiFi onboard, not using minutes on this account.

Good morning, we did get 6 of them, a bit smaller but DW and sister ate them before I take that picture late night. It was fine. Seas a bit choppy, about 460+ nm to Dockyard, breakfast at Taste now. More post later

Thanks ... mark the GPS coordinates, still on my LTE cellular home signal at 11:25 pm EDT, skipping the need to upgrade to unlimited WiFi for at least Day 1 for sure. That saved, non-refundable OBC available for use will paid for some of that water cartons, etc. Posting this on my backup Google Pixel 4a 5G on Mint (Band 12, eSim) & Google Fi Wireless - signal should fade anytime soon 😞

Moving the clock ahead or + 1 hour (less sleep) still has a usable LTE signal. Will be back online later ... or in the morning. Requested ice, done. Coffee maker in the morning. Flow waters delivered ...

Time-lapsed photos @ 8:25 pm ... we are on the move, backing out now. Looks like we will rock & roll for a few hours overnight, not unexpected, but should be fine getting to Bermuda. Let this TA get underway 🎊

A picture is worth a thousand words. Ropes still tied up at the pier, yet to be released.

All abroad, it's about 7:35 pm. Dinner on the Hudson at Taste MDR done, a view of the West Side Hwy & skyline ... on our balcony, should be under way. Our dinner was pretty good, took about 90 minutes for 5 course selections, petite servings but just right for us. There is 2 lines, one for those with reservations, at separate host/ess stations, just not always easy to figure out if the line is long. The rotating dinner menus - tonight's Chicken Piccata was good. These menu items pretty much unchanged from that used on the Getaway this January.

Lines on Day 1 at Guest Services, Shorex, Restaurant Reservation Desk, and CruiseNext, where we signed up for Dine With Officers and the complimentary BTS tour, skipping the wine tasting. Paid BTS tour available too, stops at the Bridge and Engine Control Room, for a fee, of course. Safety isn't a problem with paid tour, huh, just for your wallet & convenience.

Rooms are just about ready, a sneak peek of our slightly larger than average balcony on Deck 13 Fwd/Mid near the stairs & elevators. Doubled the size of those on the BA and Getaway, or Escape. Trailers lined up to load provisioning onto the ship, and still lots of luggage to be taken onboard. Plus, a bonus view of Pier 88's rather full parking lot and the Intrepid Museum.

Oops. 😆 LOL. Those darn AI auto-correct & predictive spelling, good catch & fixed in time. Changed just in time. P.S desktop view of Epic's shipcam is quite sharp on our monitor, looking across the street from the pier and can see pax outside with luggage.

O'Sheehan's lunch - pretty fast & prompt services today, freshly brewed pot of coffee for us - strong 👍

Organized chaotic start to early, special needs, priority & Latitudes boarding started around 11:45, we got on around noon & stop by the Bliss Lounge, our Muster Station A to swipe our key cards for the virtual, mandatory safety drills. Crew rotation in progress, boarding from the lower gangway. Otherwise, all passengers board using a single midship ramp - gangway. Rooms aren't ready yet & won't be for a while, there are luggage holding area for those with larger carry-ons. We decided to do lunch at nearby O'Sheehan's. The new chicken wings were okay, soggy & just not the same. But, it is comfort food and good & friendly service,

All checked in, probably "just" 1,000 people inside the terminal ready to board. 11 am and the small Platinum seating area is almost full. Still coming off the ship & not yet at zero count. Doesn't look like early or priority boarding will start anytime soon. MCT free WIFi SSiD -

We are early, too early @ 9:58 am. Porters have our checked bags - security aren't open for check-in. Snacks, anyone - vending, pre-security, prices at $1.50 or $1.75 each, not bad for a quick sugar boost.

No pets to worry but got our system up for the indoor, house plants - self watering while we are away. Using one of our local car service here, crossing now to the Bronx for a longer but quicker ride over to Pier 88, going to be there early, as like 10 am or less than 30 minutes, curbside to curbside. Some sort of road closure on east side of Manhattan, taking this toll route ($7 extra).

Express self walk-off / disembarkation just underway within the last 30 minutes, going to take a while to reach zero count before we can early/board accordingly, Haven ... special needs, VIP, Platinums & higher, etc. Let's see whether there will be any "priority check-in" - not boarding 😉 🤔 Car services will be coming to pickup for our short trip to Pier 88.

Welcome to the Big Apple. Plenty of time to enjoy a light breakfast before you catch the next JFK AirTrain to connect to the subway to Pier 88 in Manhattan. See you and the rest onboard soon, no hurry as looks like they barely started early disembarkation for the "express" Epic self walk-off. Henry / mking8288

Safety pins until you get out needles & thread, ask at the front desk / guest services after boarding.

Rise & shine ... it's a bit foggy & misty this morning. Epic is about to dock, all abroad for 7:30 pm sunset sailaway - bags are packed. All 3 area airports with flights on time, arrivals & departures.

It's 10 pm - do you / we know where our ship is at ... Just checked, they got all engines running full speed ahead at 21 knots, still way offshore from Maryland/Delaware, yet to cross into NJ on that final stretch into NY Lower Bay - typically, that's another 6 to 8+ hours before docking at MCT / Pier 88 It also depends on harbor traffic, going to tune to Marine radio traffics on my scanner app, to hear if there's anything out of the ordinary. Hopefully, she can dock around 7 a.m. and not much later than 8 a.m. and USCG or local officials aren't going to do a scheduled or unannounced inspection to slow everyone down before embarkation, scheduled for 12 noon. Our plan is to be there by 10:30 am and get thru security to check-in. Being Sapphires do not mean much, I'm afraid - lately (on our last 2, 3 cruises out of NYC) too many Platinums & Sapphires embarkation, lounge/roped off waiting area filled up quickly and ... once they started announcing, half of those in the terminal begin rushing for Door C out for the 2 gangways. For those not familiar with the Epic TA itinerary & scheduled ports - see below - there is always a possibility of the ship skipping a port or two, due to weather, safety or other emergencies. If and when we know, rest assured CC "addicts" hanging out here will be among the first to read about it & know. We will (should) be on Deck 13 Fwd/Mid starboard side - as picture here, as I am doubtful we can get a good close-up exterior picture before we set sail from NY.