mking8288

Observations & comments on Day 3 : (background - known) MDR no longer taking reservations (Prima, exclusive ??) for groups of 5 or less, only 6 and more. Corporate decision ? Digital display status board not showing updated current state at all. I.T. issues again ? Punt the ball. Crowds standing around getting restless after 30+ minutes. A single dining crew trying to smile and do what he can as friendly greeter. "Thinking outside the litter box" Faulty system designs - pass the bucks. Tonight, junior officers standing near one corner selectively greeting some guests while looking busy. "Keep up the image ?" Got them on candid camera's zoom lens. Hudson MDR has crew covering from Palomar and Los Lobos, etc. to supplement staffing. "Less is more ?" Let's hear the top brass answer 00 for an hour. "Sir, all the tables are full. There is no priority seating" not even for Diamond. You can go over to the Metropolitan Bar" and wait. (No, I will stand here, watch & wait, thank you.). Wait, how about you call my room when you find a table & it's ready while I take a nap, it's only 8:15 PM ? I already waited 20 minutes for a table if 4 and you lost my Room # and need to check the "pager" number in my hand. " Speechless" Not sure how to grade their managerial plan on mitigating passengers (did)satisfactions. On the bright side, this should get better over the next 12 days - I hope we hit rock bottom. The best (worst) is yet to come. Tomorrow is the 2nd full sea day and the Latitude reception for Deck 12 & below is 1 PM. Why would they knowingly schedule it when the MDR is open from 12 to 1:30 PM only, and expect guests to eat and run, or skip a meal - or jam the buffet or The Local after 1:30'ish. For your convenience to sail & sustain, of course. Since we have a number of CC'ers on the TA already sharing their thoughts, we might consider a joint session, let's take it up at the bar crawl. Or, just go with the flow. Let it Go, Let it Go.

Pilot boat action photos, coming alongside and the pilot is off the ship. Captain Kevin "Out" is now taking us to Iceland as we edge along and soon be turning northeast

Use close to 1 GB worth of 5G data today included tethering over WiFi hotspot use, included in plan with no extra costs Still on cellular (Bell Canada) but will be switching to StarLink for next 6 days while at sea, until we pick up Iceland signals, covered & included 👍

Here she goes and bye, Halifax until ... underway by 5:15 PM @Sugar Magnolia Salty's. LoL, we found it and were there but too early, employees just beginning to show up for work ... so, we Uber again to hunt down Pho. Was very good + the crew know this place, word of mouth.

Pearl's shipcam live - doesn't look bad, foggy and choppy seas to be expected. It's our turn to cross and follow them 😄

Gangway lifted, hoisted and we are preparing to get underway ... no idea if they accounted for all passengers.

Pearl is on their way, early arrival ETA on CruiseMapper, ditto for us at this moment. Windy App forecasts, looking like we should slip thru just fine, maybe some mild rocking & rolling. Fwd gangway already close an hour ago, Aft gangway isn't and 3 minutes to 17:00 scheduled sail away time to Reykjavik, Iceland 🙈🙈🙈

FYI only - London Gatwick traffic alert for those flying out - just been alerted by our Southampton car (taxi tour) services. "I've just received news that the main orbital motorway to Gatwick is going to be closed for major engineering work on the weekend of 10th - 13th May (see attachment). This is going to have a massive impact on our journey to Gatwick from Windsor and I think you should reconsider. The other alternative is to take the coast road and visit either Portsmouth, Chichester or Arundel Castle." Otherwise, it's past 16:30 or 4:30 PM ... all abroad. Farewell bagpipe music ... a short video clip (65 MB file over 5G cellular, not possible over ship's basic unlimited WiFi) PXL_20240429_193506747.TS.mp4 Guest Services paging parties to report ... pier runners PXL_20240429_193506747.TS.mp4

Made our way up to the OL on D17 Fwd, rather full but we managed to find some seats. Will be interesting to see 🙈 how pack this place become over the next 5 consecutive sea days. Have seen no Ocean Walk activities below aside from those doing their healthy walks. @dexddd Field base for running a makeshift Station Zebra as "live" CC command, while having "afternoon tea" No solar or wind power so boosting with the USB power bank (10,000 mAH) by Mophie.

New pillows arrangement today waiting for us as we got back onboard. Overheard a conversation that pax in motorized scooter unable to go back into his room b/c housekeeping hasn't gotten to do his yet (deck 15)

Gangway and stairs, don't ask me to explain ... I waited & followed from the rear or bottom as the safety while they battled the stair master. Made it, it's a field goal ... or a touchdown, whatever 😄 like passing the nuclear stress imaging tests on the treadmill.

Just 3 blocks to the ship and it's a long walk ... =

Time to get them to walk slowly back to the ship - 3 blocks to the pier. No Uber ride.

We are now walking distance, downhill, walking back to the ship. Target locked for shore side specialty dining ... guess what, this is a popular food joint for off duty crews from cruise ships, making up for half of the patrons - super busy 👍

More waterfront & downtown Halifax photos - Casino Nova Scotia anyone ? 3 more blocks from here.

Still on the prowe for shoes as @The P knows That's not me next to the Marriott on the waterfront.

Someone pulled the emergency hand brake - shopping mall, indoor, restroom & ATM

Uber ride to the waterfront, ladies on a quest -

E.T. is home AirTags tracking

Yes, sir. On the doubled up - Halifax does have solar panels on top of the cruise terminal roof, for their convenience to sail & sustain, of course. Fwd gangway is shorter and AFT on deck 8 is for those to exercise and burn off those food calories. The sun will come out ... tomorrow is too late. Alexia, I will take noon - showers off & on this morning - they don't feel like doing the Citadel hilltop 😱 Food tour on our own via Uber ? Vietnamese food places spotted - they dive for good eats, no matter what. Will see 🫣

First world problem, obviously not looking for hash browns anymore but out of banana also, settled for a fruit plate & doubled order of smoked salmon bagel, OJ and coffee. Still took them 10 minutes to seat us - 4 tops. 20 minutes to get hot oatmeal & my fruit & salmon w bagel ... kitchen is 50 ft. behind the double doors. Prima's service standard of excellence 🙄😳😬 Lamp chops last night was good. Lobster, not so much Day 3 - 7 hours here and then, all abroad & sail toward Iceland.

Half & Half for coffee MDR lines not as bad at 8:40 but not enough staff to escort to tables, still pack full of pax not rushing to go anywhere.

Getting a bit of foggy outside. Uber anyone - bargain fares 🤗😆🤫