"LIVE" from Grandeur of the Seas - Jan 16, 2016

[breezy_carol]

As I sit here watching the snow pile up, I am enjoying cruising with you and will be sorry when it ends.

[wolfcathorse]

Radio, was Capt Trond one of those scheduled to go home 1-24? And if so, his replacement (Mattias Person) should be on board doing an overlap. What a welcome for the newly promoted master!

[Great 2 B at Sea]

Great review, Radio.....it's always a pleasure to follow your postings. Enjoy your extra day at sea, and thanks for letting us cruise right along with you! ;)

[A&L_Ont]

I don't have the advanced version of Marine traffic . . . I use that only when we are in range. The image posted this morning is from my GPS connected to my Laptap. I use a Garmin GPSMap 76CSx (Handheld portable GPS that is very precise) The software used for Navigation and Maps is from Delorme.

 

Thanks for the nice comments. . .

 

 

Radio

;);)

.

 

Thanks for the information Radio. I think I will investigate Marine Traffic further, as I'm not sure what I would need the portable GPS for at this point. It is something for me to think about.

 

I will enjoy the last of your reports from the ship. You might need to give us a few updates from your trip home as well, just so we see the snow pictures and know that you get there.

 

Have a great day.

Andrew

[FireStation46]

Great photos and info. Best wishes for a safe and uneventful return to port and your home all!

Edited January 23, 2016 by FireStation46

[jerseyk]

Hi Mark, great write up and pic's as you always do. We get on when you get off. Do you know what port we will miss since our 10 day cruise is now 9 day.

Thanks

Walter

[packerpegster]

Hope you have safe travels Radio! Thanks for your awesome info!!

[Setting sail for fun]

I have enjoyed catching up on your Live Report while being snowed in. Thanks for the great photos of the ship. We have never sailed on Grandeur, but she looks lovely and Baltimore would be an easy drive for us (except for right now)!

 

Glad you are able to enjoy an additional day at sea and safe travels home.

[Radio]

Hello everyone. . . Today was a very relaxing day. I was able to take a snooze (watch the news) on two occasions. It was needed since I have been waking early every day. There were no outdoor activities today. Some were cancelled and others were simply moved inside. There have been added shows, and movies in the Palladium Theater. The Cruise Compass for Day 8 (today) wasn’t available at turn down because it was being printed. I received my copy early this morning.

 

We are currently sailing off the coast of Cape Fear, NC. The seas are very rough, and passengers are not allowed on any outer decks (as of 5PM). Tomorrow things should be better as the forecast is for morning clouds, and sunny skies in the afternoon with no rain (or snow). It will be cold as usual, but the seas should be calmer as we approach the Cape Henry Pilot Station at 7PM.

 

It normally takes only 8 hrs to make it up the Bay, but some added time must have been added as will head north up the Chesapeake Bay until we arrive at Cruise Maryland at 7AM on Monday.

 

Many passengers will be happy tomorrow as most venues will have NFL Playoff games in the afternoon. The Cruise Compass for tomorrow shows the normal final day activities.

Grandeur crew has not suggested how the next cruise (shortened by 1 night) itinerary will be. I am guessing that 1 port will be scrubbed. I still have 2 more nights for my cruise and will make the best of it. Casino Royale is treating be better today. . . It time to hop up to Deck 5.

 

 

Here are a few pics from today. . . Thanks for tuning in.

 

Radio

 

 

Trivia Time at the Schooner Bar this afternoon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The pool looked very unusual earlier today . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Passengers gather in the Centrum for Latin Ballroom Dance fun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It appeared that the sun was trying to break through the cloudy sky. . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Rosario Strings played soothing music for passengers this afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Or current location . . . It is an unusual course.

 

 

 

 

 

.

Edited January 24, 2016 by Radio

[Radio]

Radio, was Capt Trond one of those scheduled to go home 1-24? And if so, his replacement (Mattias Person) should be on board doing an overlap. What a welcome for the newly promoted master!

 

Yes, he was scheduled to go home. . .He will now fly home on Jan 25. Captain Person is currently onboard. He will take Grandeur of the Seas to some very warm weather. . .

 

Radio

;);)

 

 

.

[joand452]

Late to the party, but better late than never!! I've enjoyed your cruise on Grandeur. Sitting here watching the snow pile up on our deck here in northern Virginia. It must be very close to 30" by now, but will stop sometime during the night. Just got an alert that Gov. Hogan has closed down all the major roads in Maryland. We got an automated phone call that VDOT won't get our streets plowed until sometime tomorrow. It's okay; we'll be lucky to get our driveway cleared by then, and we have a snowblower!

 

Enjoy your last day and night on board, and safe travels home on Monday.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[jessv12]

 

 

 

Another wonderful sunrise as Grandeur approaches Key West

 

 

 

 

love this picture!

[riclop]

I hope not to many people were looking for pool time on this cruise.

[micmacmissy]

We live about 12 miles from the port. Looking at the conditions at our house (3 feet of snow, local roads not clear until Weds) and I'm wondering how people are going to get home once the ship docks?

 

Are they clearing the parking lots? How is everyone going to dig out their cars?

 

The major roadways are shut down here as they haven't even been plowed yet.

 

We have family members on this cruise, thanks for reporting Radio so we could follow along!

[BND]

We live about 12 miles from the port. Looking at the conditions at our house (3 feet of snow, local roads not clear until Weds) and I'm wondering how people are going to get home once the ship docks?

 

Are they clearing the parking lots? How is everyone going to dig out their cars?

 

The major roadways are shut down here as they haven't even been plowed yet.

 

We have family members on this cruise, thanks for reporting Radio so we could follow along!

 

Who said your roads won't be cleared til Wed? I live in NoVA and we're supposed to be cleared today and we also have 30+ inches of snow. I-95 will be driveable so people can get away from the port.

 

The port has in the past plowed and helped dig out cars. We have sunshine today and once they start plowing, roads will dry up fast.

[micmacmissy]

Who said your roads won't be cleared til Wed? I live in NoVA and we're supposed to be cleared today and we also have 30+ inches of snow. I-95 will be driveable so people can get away from the port.

 

The port has in the past plowed and helped dig out cars. We have sunshine today and once they start plowing, roads will dry up fast.

 

The state of Maryland had to shut down I-70 today to get it plowed. The Howard County government has said that major roadways (I-70, I-95) will be clear by Monday, but connecting and side roads will not be plowed until Wednesday.

 

So...folks can get off the ship, and in their cars, and onto the highway...and then what??? If they live in Baltimore/Carroll/Howard they aren't going to get into their neighborhoods until Weds, most likely.

 

I hope I'm wrong...we live adjacent to a state route and it hasn't been plowed once. It's REALLY bad out there.

[micmacmissy]

Here is an article if anyone cares to read it, target date is Wednesday:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/howard/clarksville/ph-ho-cf-sat-night-0128-20160123-story.html

 

I have a friend in NoVa (Falls Church City) who has said their roads look great, even neighborhoods have been plowed.

 

I don't know where most passengers go from Port of Baltimore- do most of them fly in? I always assumed those cruisers were more local, driving to port.

[FireStation46]

All great stuff Radio, safe travels home.

 

When all is said and done, can you post KISS on how you link your GPS and then post those photos. I have an older Garmin etrex. I use, ocassionally, my older Mac Pro, but basically use a newer iPad. No PC devices.

 

Could my set up work or do i need new gear?

 

Thanks!

[Grannycb]

There's no way we will be dug out before Wednesday. Sure glad we are on the cruise that leaves on Feb. 3 instead of this one. We are about 30 minutes from the port.

 

Radio - Safe travels home to you and your fellow passengers.

Edited January 24, 2016 by Grannycb

[Radio]

Hello everyone and good morning . . . Welcome to Day 9 of “LIVE” from Grandeur of the Seas.

Today is the last sea day of my cruise. I only have one more night aboard the beautiful Grandeur of the Seas. I woke up this morning and went outside to a bitter cold and windy dark morning. I would rather be on a ship than in a blizzard, but this time tomorrow I will home with a shovel in hand and a warm coat. Back to reality (and planning my next cruise).

 

 

The pitching and rolling may be worse this morning than I’ve had this cruise. . . There is significant side movement and trying to balance yourself, along with the pitching (up and down movement) can be a little difficult.

There are many final day activities today, but I really want to go to Captains Corner at 11AM and the Revel Centrum Party at 9:30 tonight. . . I may try the “Beat the Bloating” class at Vitality Day Spa. The Drink of the Day is Pirates Cape . . .

 

We are currently off of the coast of Cape Hatteras and moving at 12kts. Captain Holm announced yesterday that we are scheduled to pick up the Pilot at 7PM (at the Cape Henry Pilot Station) I have also heard a lot of discussions from crew that Grandeur will not be doing the planned Western Caribbean itinerary. It appears that she will be doing and eastern Caribbean (with NO Labadee).

 

 

 

Here are a few pics from this morning. . .

 

 

 

Radio

 

 

 

Early morning R Bar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Early morning Centrum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was at Windjammer when they opened at 6:30AM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yikes . . . the seas are rough this morning

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Very cold, and very rough . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our current location

 

 

 

 

 

.

Edited January 24, 2016 by Radio

[Radio]

All great stuff Radio, safe travels home.

 

When all is said and done, can you post KISS on how you link your GPS and then post those photos. I have an older Garmin etrex. I use, ocassionally, my older Mac Pro, but basically use a newer iPad. No PC devices.

 

Could my set up work or do i need new gear?

 

Thanks!

 

A Garmin eTrex will work fine. . .

 

 

Radio

;);)

 

 

.

[LisaNorthseadreamer]

Thanks for the pictures. :-)

Makes me think about the crews a few hundred years ago, when they would sometimes have to go through this type of wheather in nothing but a small(ish) wooden boat... Brrrr!

[debbip2000]

Thanks for the great pictures and stay warm :). I can't wait to see pics of the cars at the port

[seabeew]

Radio, If you enlarge photo five above, there appear to be black objects in the water. Any idea of what they are? And thanks for your review!

[Merc]

Radio, If you enlarge photo five above, there appear to be black objects in the water. Any idea of what they are? And thanks for your review!

 

Looks like the light that hangs over the side of ship. Great review radio, love following your reviews.