Semi-limited Live: Escape to W. Caribbean 14 days Jan 6, 2019

[mking8288]

DuckTollerFans, took us years ... decades to pursue this travel passion of ours, work hard & we are just starting to play and live. Go for it, keep it in your dreams.  See ya all sometime on a M&G. 

 

Ship slowed down, pilot onboard, heading into the channel, has T-Mo & Google signals, should be at the pier terminal by noon.  MDR are open for lunch. It's a good day for those heading into Greater Orlando area, it's more than theme parks.

 

That's Coca Beach in the distance ...

 

 

Edited January 8, 2019 by mking8288

[dexddd]

Checked about 1.5 hours ago and see you docked by the Disney terminal.  Have fun on the ship.  I spy the Bulgari items again! 

[mking8288]

Incredibles 2, animation film by Disney played in Atrium lobby earlier. Folks already beginning to return to the ship. Passengers boarding the ship here w. luggage, saw a few at Guest Services ??

 

Supplies being offloaded by trailers, also crews on vacation & rotation arriving and leaving, using their special gated entrance.

 

Picture of the nearest beach just off port side as we came in. An odd arrival protocol with fire & rescue truck on standby at the pier earlier. 

 

Tonight is LeBistro night for us, reminder VM call about long pants. Booked Moderno next week. Plenty of specialty dining availability, even today & also reserved more MDR time for those nights that we couldn't book weeks ago. Even Teppanyaki is NOT entirely booked or soldout as of today.  Food Republic was sold out even when we boarded.

 

Host/ess at the MDR, both Taste & Savor are asking & trying to steer folks into sharing tables of 6 as 2-2-2, especially at peak time. Just a FYI heads up. I stood firm last night that we had a confirmed reservation on a table for 2. I am fine with other folk's tables 8 inches away as they split up long tables. This could be a hot topic for some ... Freestyle Cruising.

[mkerewski]

29 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Incredibles 2, animation film by Disney played in Atrium lobby earlier. Folks already beginning to return to the ship. Passengers boarding the ship here w. luggage, saw a few at Guest Services ??

 

Supplies being offloaded by trailers, also crews on vacation & rotation arriving and leaving, using their special gated entrance.

 

Picture of the nearest beach just off port side as we came in. An odd arrival protocol with fire & rescue truck on standby at the pier earlier. 

 

Tonight is LeBistro night for us, reminder VM call about long pants. Booked Moderno next week. Plenty of specialty dining availability, even today & also reserved more MDR time for those nights that we couldn't book weeks ago. Even Teppanyaki is NOT entirely booked or soldout as of today.  Food Republic was sold out even when we boarded.

 

Host/ess at the MDR, both Taste & Savor are asking & trying to steer folks into sharing tables of 6 as 2-2-2, especially at peak time. Just a FYI heads up. I stood firm last night that we had a confirmed reservation on a table for 2. I am fine with other folk's tables 8 inches away as they split up long tables. This could be a hot topic for some ... Freestyle Cruising.

 

On thr christmas cruise, food republic also showed sold out, but it was never full...I think it's just the way they have it on the app... and I saw the same thing with thr fire truck on that cruise, we also had an ambulance there for a patient offload when we docked

[mking8288]

A beautiful Florida sunset in PC.

 

The crew walkway to/from the ship, some coming back while others get next 2 or 3 hours off until all abroad. Trailers still arriving to unload provisions.

[mking8288]

Tomorrow is GSC, seas are calm, weather is good but cloudy, supposed to be windy n blowing north to south, usually not favorable for tendering. Wish us luck, arrival is planned for 10 am.  

 

Or else, could be 2 days at sea or Nassau ??

Edited January 8, 2019 by mking8288

[mking8288]

As usual, a good dinner at LB.  Platinum wine list & menu included, newer dessert choices.

[mking8288]

All abroad, 2 buses just returned 10 minutes ago loaded w passengers, but Guest Services already started paging others ...

[mking8288]

Ship horn sounded, sharply at 21:00 and we are leaving on time. No pier runners left behind.  Turning around in the basin.

Edited January 9, 2019 by mking8288

[luvcruzing]

No picture of the Statue of Liberty?  

[KBMILA]

12 hours ago, Books4U said:

I see you were on the Escape on 11-25, so was I.  Did you have a great time?

I’ve loved it ! Wish I’ m sailing her now 😉

[KBMILA]

Escape in PC on 11.27.2018 , t was around   40 degrees 😳

[mking8288]

Passage on Deck 13 ... hallways & corridors can be a challenge, if.

 

WiFi upgrade can be done up to 10 pm on Day 4, note lower prices ... somewhat.  

 

That's all, folks for now - good night. Priority tendering tomorrow, if we get to GSC.

[dexddd]

7 hours ago, luvcruzing said:

No picture of the Statue of Liberty?  

Maybe on way home as they are port side.

[mking8288]

Came to full stop at GSC about 30 minutes ago, prepared to tender.

 

Then, we saw the RCL ship over next island started leaving & moving away ... Oh, no ... just what I was worried about 

 

Captain just came on to deliver the bad news, local authorities closed the island due to unsafe conditions due to sea swell & wind. We will be doing a a full day at sea instead, thus 2 days till Jamaica. Shorex booked will be auto refunded. 

 

 

 

Edited January 9, 2019 by mking8288

[dexddd]

I wasn't sure if you had made it as webcam showing what looks like calm seas but never a swing in camera to see part of island.

[dreadpirate3]

22 hours ago, mking8288 said:

 

Picture of the nearest beach just off port side as we came in. An odd arrival protocol with fire & rescue truck on standby at the pier earlier. 

 

 

 

 

Fairly common practice with ships on port calls at Port Canaveral. The closest station is minutes away, better to have them on hand if needed. We saw the same at Port Everglades.

 

Enjoying your review very much.

[mking8288]

Sailed about 130 nm away from GSC and 590 nm remaining to next port, at 15 knots, calm wind n 80 degrees. 

 

A very quiet buffet before lunch, chair hogs out in force. Making the best out of sea day.

 

No changes in MDR menus since I posted some last November, Dailies kept too, will upload those when we get back.

[meatball_nyc]

Too bad about GSC. We’ve never made it there yet 😔

 

Any plans for Jamaica?

 

Thank you for the great pics. 

 

Safe Sailing!

 

[katyjeka]

Curious, are there a lot of children??

[meatball_nyc]

P.S.

current weather alert for the tri-state area (wishing I was on my way to Jamaica):

 

Gusty west to northwest winds will continue tonight across theTri-State Area with wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph. These gusts could

bring down isolated small tree limbs and possibly some power

lines. These gusts could continue into Thursday.

 

Issuing Office: New York City

 

Source: National Weather Service

 

Issued: Wed, Jan 9, 3:50 PM EST

[mking8288]

Thanks, meatball !! Virtual cruise pix for you.

 

Yes, small # of pre-schoolers mostly.

 

Folding chairs in use in buffet but mainly in lobby for events. Stop in OSH for soup & wings.

 

More tomorrow, not sure what we will do in Jamaica yet.

 

 

[mking8288]

Beautiful sea day on course, on track ...

[mking8288]

Slot Pull earlier by Charlie, 64 players signed up for it.  Cabin Crawl, 2 stops in Haven, thank you to fellow CC'er for sharing their suites & staterooms. Rain hard briefly but sun is out again, Cuba is ahead.

[mking8288]

Who's Who among the senior NCL Escape officers ... a busy Atrium lobby at 7 pm.  Interesting storm clouds ahead, port side.