Escape Bermuda Halloween 10-28-2018 Preview ... Semi-Live, an limited (Sunday) ed.

[mking8288]

We are off to a late start this Sunday, NCL robocalled passengers Friday afternoon that embarkation will not start until after 12 noon and to not arrive any earlier due to a scheduled USCG inspection.  BA is finally out to sea now, passing the Escape on the way in - she's about to sail up the Hudson River now, watching it from home over coffee & a light breakfast.  

 

Given this Saturday's mess with the Breakaway inbound & turnaround/repo to N.O. - fingers crossed.  Like our previous sailing, no plans to upgrade to "unlimited" ship WiFi, will decide & switch by Monday evening if conditions warranted - plan is to post for about an hour each day until we get into Dockyard late Wednesday (5 or 6 pm, local time ... not 8 am).   Plenty of time at sea (choppy & swells, likely heading out) to relax - run a Roll Call in between, a Cabin Crawl & Slot Pull.  

 

Our first time - Halloween Escape, Breakaway as a reference, one BIL/SIL & her sis sailing this route/Escape for a 2nd. time this season - they are on a balcony, deck 15 (BA) while we are on a deck 5 Fwd/Mid (OB.)  Come along if you wish - will get some updates for Pier 88, the sailaway, on the hunt for new menus ... upload pix if/when I can.  Questions, comments or wanted to know - ask & post them, I will get back to them, sooner & maybe later.  Our 2+ nights on the islands should get us full cellular 4G data access locally, faster & will perhaps "live" a little more - DigiCel is the roaming carrier for Project Fi (Google).  Let's see which side of the ship will be facing Dockyard.    

 

Bags are packed & ready to go, Carmel car service is our choice, taking the shortest & fastest route - either over Bronx-WS or RFK Bridge from NE Queens to MCT/Pier 88, usually a 30 minutes ride on weekend mornings.  Not expecting to sail until 5 & probably 6 pm tonight with the delay & next Sunday, returning on DST change and Marathon Day ... what an adventure this is going to be.  Ship is sold out & had last minute sign-up for the Roll Call yesterday evening, OMG.  

 

 

These screenshots & pictures served to get things rolling under this new CC website, mobile friendly - will see how easy it will be to do a semi-live update along our Bermuda run, and as a test for the Escape's satellite WiFi network ... thus, could be a rather limited edition.  Find out soon - so far, so good, no limits on uploading 6 images, etc. per post.  

 

Edited October 28, 2018 by mking8288

[WendyBee]

We are on our way from Philly! Can't wait for my first cruise ever!!!!

 

[jimbri]

Have a great time.  Looking forward to your review!

[mking8288]

 

Inside Pier 88, special needs to left, scooters are there. Bathrooms before & after security, to the right. Check-in was fast for us, zone #1 and it's going to be a while - maybe for several hours - with 1,500 guests still coming off plus USCG inspection. It's very warm inside the building, as reported by those from BA yesterday.

 

Leaving at 6 or 7 pm very doubtful, dinner booked for 6:30 pm, sunset on the Hudson ... candlelighted.

Edited October 28, 2018 by mking8288

[meatball_nyc]

Looking forward to your report, as usual.

Have a great cruise!

😎

[mking8288]

USCG drills just getting underway now, still no update on when boarding will start. Running out of space for those yet to be checked in.

 

Lunch ... it's a $3 hot dog from Pier 88 Cafe, instead of MDR, a first !! 

Edited October 28, 2018 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Boarding started, we followed Special Needs and got onboard 15 minutes ago, rooms not ready, lunch in Taste

[mking8288]

Prompt & friendly MDR service, same lunch menu - no 2018 changes. Still good to sit back and get pampered.

 

Staterooms still aren't ready yet, muster drills moved back to 4:30 pm, still planning to sail at 5 pm. We shall see.

 

[mking8288]

Almost done loading luggage sitting on the Pier at 5 pm. Plan is to leave at 5:15 pm.

 

From deck 7 starboard, looks like getting ready to release the lines and backing away soon. 

 

Edited October 28, 2018 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Passed Statue of Liberty just now, Bermuda ... here we come ! 

 

Now connected to ship's WiFi using one of 30 minutes. Works fine.

[Iworktocruiseandtravel]

Enjoy your vacation!!!!!

[Kealy]

Have a fantastic trip -- looking forward to reading about your adventures.

[Sand and Seas]

Great pictures and a great start.  Thanks for taking us along!

Have a great cruise

[mking8288]

Got about 15 minutes remaining.   These pix should speak for itself. 

 

Start w tonight's MDR menu, some items are new, different for a change. Good.  

 

Room Steward managed a simple towel animal on first night. Welcome treat and the 2 comp'd bottled NCL branded purified still water got bigger. 

 

One single Anker USB charger into 220 outlet with simple adapter, including Fire HD8 tablet w Bluetooth keyboard, works great. Using the new Norwegian App, it's good & better. 

 

That's about all tonight, BTS tour at 9:30 then Meet n Greet at noon. Later.

 

Edited October 29, 2018 by mking8288

[shof515]

i never seen that emergency button on the wall next to the phone before. what does that do?

[dexddd]

Following along and will watch POB webcam later Wednesday for your arrival.

[BirdTravels]

Great photos! Thanks for sharing. 

[BalconyGal]

Thanks for taking us along.  Looking forward to it! 

[mking8288]

Good afternoon all, I am back online - signed into satellite WiFi on my Sony Viao laptop for now, easier to navigate this new CC site.  

 

We've sailed only about 67 nm just before midnight, doing 9.5 knots, seas under 5 ft. with 21 knots wind. Currently doing 10.5 knots, sailed 233 miles from NYC with 480 miles to go, turning clock ahead 1 hour tonight, ETA at Heritage Wharf is 5 pm local time on Wednesday.  It a bit windy today, seas w large waves at 11.5 ft. but being on deck 5, still not feeling much, to us.  Uploading some chart shortly.

 

Sit-down breakfast at Savor this morning - no changes in menu, Eggs Benedict was good, a bit of fruit yogurt & plate of sliced melon, juice & coffee ... that's a vacation.  

 

Alvin is currently CD on the Escape, he was on the BA before so we chatted briefly just before the Meet & Greet ... had a very good turnout, more than 100+ turnout.  Samples of beer was a nice treat.  More last minute sign-up for the Cabin Crawl so we are doing it tomorrow plus a Cabin Crawl, a fellow CC'er will help run it - thank you.  

 

Came back to our stateroom & found a little extra goodie waiting for us - kudo's to NCL for appreciating CruiseCritics.  Standby for more pictures - should tell the stories by itself, if not - Dexddd & others - feel free to comment & make a guess.   I will answer & get into more details later, "metering" my internet minutes.  Booked LeBistro tomorrow & Moderno on Wednesday, catching a late 10 pm show tonight - in between, finalizing the mapping of the cabins for the tour.  Yes, some folks really wanted to see the actual Studio - let's see if we can fit 30 to 40 plus in there all at once, probably impossible.  

Edited October 29, 2018 by mking8288

[Arizonacruiser88]

Looks like you are having a great time. Would love to see a pic of Le Bistro and Cagney’s menus. Enjoy the rest of the cruise. 

[mking8288]

Whew, got those last few pix uploaded in a hurry or else CC won't allow editing.  Just a few quick items to note, follow by compressed pictures, before we head out for dinner reservations.  I will fully comment & answer more questions later on - maybe once we get into Dockyard & get a solid 4G broadband land connections.

 

Platinum Behind The Scene tour on the Escape - book them fast & in a hurry, they filled up & some of our fellow CC members were placed on a stand-by list ... Photos from the Supper Club & robotic-Laundry area, as we are now allowed to snap images once on I-95, a security officer following along as our escort ... 

 

Norwegian App  (new one) works but for whatever reasons, long lines continue today at the i-Connect Cafe for help, luckily - we managed on our own.  

 

Tonight is Seafood Buffet in the Garden Cafe, crew has been promoting it all over the ship ... 

 

Freestyle Dailies - since this is the end of the 2018 Bermuda season, I don't see reasons to upload them, saving it & can upload on request.  Other items, I will review & will post the useful & practical ones, i.e. Internet plans, etc. 

 

There are 1,729 crew members on this sailing.  Escape passed yesterday's USCG inspection with 100% score - excellent.  # of passengers onboard - we will ask & find out tomorrow, maybe, at the Latitude's gathering at 1:30 pm - also, invited to the Captain's VIP evening cocktail reception.  

 

 

 @7 Isles

Edited October 29, 2018 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Tonight's MDR menu and goodies from HD.

 

[Norovirus595]

That parmesan crusted porkchop is very good. 

[dexddd]

I spy...they gave you some canapes, fruit bowl, Haven slippers and robes, and the Bulgari toiletries.  

 

Glad you got the BTS tour at a separate time and for the large turnout.  The laundry was interesting as was the stage area.

 

Keep enjoying your vacation...we can wait until you get to Bermuda.

[Beer Belly]

Where / how do you acquire the "Cruise Critic" luggage ID ?. Thanks for taking us along. Is Charry still on board as the Hotel Directors Secretary ?.....she is great to deal with if you have any issues......always referred to me as Mr. Richard....guess the last name was hard to pronounce