mking8288

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

Scenic & just beautiful

Enjoy these pictures - final batch as we continued to reverse out towards the Caribbean Sea, doing a 180 port side & leaving St. John's. Until next time, bye 👍

For tech geeks only - cellular data speed (Jamaica - Digicel, the carrier) 5:45 pm, thrusters on, stirring up the cloudy underwater mud bottoms at the pier ... looks like no pier runners & should be leaving soon, either on time or slightly early. 2 minutes later, we are backing out & away from the cruise pier.

Independent taxi driver that's locally approved to work in the ports area. Driver will do restroom stops as planned & requested if "urgent" NCL cost, suffice to say, more. # # # The semi "crowded" bleach in the last batch of photos were due to NCL ship passengers being there, it looked pretty nice - just as easy to arrange transportation yourself to get there & return later, allow extra time as there are some sections of roads with traffic slowdowns. 5:35vpm local time, past all abroad time - ship sounded her horn twice already ... scheduled to leave at 6 pm for St. Thomas, USVI

We didn't book anything as our plan was just to wing it when we step outside, as we weren't sure if our friends are up to doing any sightseeing. Google is my "research" partner. The photos from this cruise's port stops have visual clues on where the taxi stands & dispatcher/tour agents are standing ... and sometimes take a little negotiating, like today - 2 hour tour was either $20 or $25, and we just walked past one driver trying to 8 of us into the van for $30 each. Those extra details should help a few of you looking for deals on your own - be sure to have a working mobile phone & port agent's info/contact in case of emergencies. Asked to make sure it's air conditioned, working & that it'll be on - some of the official tour partners were using open air pickup w converted bus seats, bouncing up & down - roads are not exactly well maintained or flat, some pretty steep & hilly. We've been blessed with nice, sunny & beautiful weather with temp's in low to mid 80's. These aren't, obviously NCL official tours but we don't see good values with their offerings. Another friend of mine cruising solo (didn't know we're on the same ship/cruise until St. Kitts) this time managed to use those $50 Shorex credit to his advantage, net cost for a 2 hour trolly tour was $19. Let me know, Ellie, if you have other questions & feel free to just ask. Regards - H

St. John's highlights - photos, batch 2

Discovering use of the digital zoom features on the Google Pixel 7 Pro advanced camera - sharply focused & clear vs. the Galaxy S22+

St. John's highlights - photos, batch 2

Today's short tour photos batch #1 as we left the shopping area where the van was parked, just 8 of us sharing the van. Churches, oldest sugarcane factory, sports stadium as we head to the central south side of the island, population about 90,000

Stay tuned - hooping past our landmark, Diamonds Int'l on "Broadway" 😆 Scenic island tour coming up, 2 hours for $20 to $25 p/p in a 15 seats air conditioned van.

Aren't you on your way to work 😁 LOL Looking at forecast ahead in case the ship has to make a last minute change of plans & stop at GSC on Sunday ... instead of Amber Cove, DR

Another picture-perfect port day, low hanging clouds with sunny skies ahead😎 Gangway is FWD Deck 4, cleared & ready about 10 minutes ago. Day 8 of our 12 days ... time flies, St. Thomas tomorrow & we looked certain in stopping at Amber Cove on Sunday.

OK Google - let's map it St. John's, Antiqua - arrived @ 7:40 am local time (AST) & docked about 10 minutes to the calls of roosters around town.

Good results on 5 Ghz WiFi 4 with the Google Pixel 7 Pro - can't get the Galaxy S22+ to match or beat it.

FWIW - reason given was someone at NCL did not want to tender 4,000 passengers ashore at St. Lucia. This is what I learned, could be urban legend ... and if there will be 4,700 onboard 🫣

@trbarton If you are Sapphire or higher, you can go to the CruiseNext desk in the atrium to sign up for Dining with Officers and it is free, being in the MDR - wines & sparkling water are complimentary. Refer to the Latitudes guide section on ... Welcome Abroad Shows are typically 45 minutes ... haven't gone to one in over 15 years, can't tell you more about it ...

Tonight's MDR menu w photos - these are like the old "Cooking Lite" menu but even lower calorie counts with the petite serving size or portion. No worries gaining weight if you stick with choices like rainbow trout ... haven't seen salmon as entrees for dinner yet. Getting late, ship's speed just above 10 knots, waves 4.9 ft. - sailed 70 nm from Dominica and 60 nm remaining to St. John.

BTF was good, just 1 hour long & ended about 8:50 pm, later than expected. We noticed only 2 musicians playing like being 3, 1 of them moving back & forth to play different instruments. Somebody with a good memory from 2022 or before COVID, the usual size of the band, wasn't it 3 or 4 ... DW said I am being too critical looking at those tiny details. Tonight's late dinner at Savor was fine, everyone at much faster speed since it was 9 pm & they close at 9:30 but when we finished & left at 10 pm - still about 1/3 full with diners. Walked up to the casino to change $100 into smaller bills, they have plenty of newly printed $1 bills, in numerical sequence. Much busier tonight than lately but our CAS friends said the slots are extra tight, very bad payouts & he's not going to keep feeding those machines - expensive cartons of water plus tipping the beverage runners.

Sea days do not have port fees, port of calls meant port fees & charges collected up front and ...

North wind at GSC - Berry Islands, forecast in the morning worsening, wind at 20 gusting to 27 knots & waves at 3 to 4 ft. and swell, not safe to send passengers & crew ashore, returning to the ship via tender ... even worst. Imagine a vertical movement of 3 to 5 ft. on that floating platform that you must step on & off. This, IMHO, strictly a safety call by NCL.

Tonight's Burn The Floor - disorganized, long lines backed up past O'Sheehan's, human traffic jam converging into 2 staff checking in those with show reservations. Not what it used to be ... Didn't start opening the door until 7:20 pm and bar runners still taking orders at 7:45 pm. Lights not yet dimmed Grade - Failed (just cannot let them get a passing score)

Turtles06 - Bon Voyage & wishing you a successful cruise ahead & return (B2B) Sailing closer along the coast should be the smoother & better ride with sea state, wind & waves.

Doing a 180 turn, starboard side to head out to sea ... beautiful scenery 😎

Pier Runners Club update - seems like everyone made it, although quite a few - 2 dozens were behind the 5:30 pm cutoff. The last few late ones heard from ship security on the pier. Ropes released & we are pulling away at 5:50 pm, 10 minutes early. All abroad. Bye, Roseau 👌