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

[Jasonmom]

On 1/11/2019 at 3:21 PM, Books4U said:

 I see Armin and RJ in the slot pull photo, tell I said hi.

Bill

 

Any idea how the slot pull went?  

[bob brown]

On 1/11/2019 at 3:21 PM, Books4U said:

I see Armin and RJ in the slot pull photo, tell I said hi.

Bill

 

Yes....say 'hi' for me too!  Tell them (thanks to your thread), they can be "stalked' even while I'm at sea on another ship...

[Casino Comp Chick]

23 hours ago, mking8288 said:

 

Of course, how are you. Thanks for the help. DW and I might do a South Caribbean itinerary but always a possibility of doing this again, just beautiful n excellent weather.  Will stay in touch & talk to you later.

 

Alvin, just announced that we can start going ashore when ready, neighbors are on their balconies ... super excited. Last tender is 4:30 pm. 

 

 

I am booked on the Bliss one, we will talk when you get back! Have fun!

[mking8288]

Good morning, all - breakfast on the balcony (it is roomier than the Breakaway, a little) - satellite WiFi and/or CC was acting up last night, wasted about 15 minutes (I know) so posted off my Sony notebook - not going to quote everyone, nice to know some of you are following & enjoying these limited post, as promised - dailies, menus, Q&A will be addressed once we sailed home. 

 

Beautiful & warm sea day, a bit humid - shipwide vigilance on Norovirus precaution, clearly RCI's incident on corporate & ship mgmt's mind.  

 

Cathi007 - I will track down & post your info as best I can, before your sailing  ... we've been taking care of the ship for everyone.

 

Jasonmom - will do, say hi to Armin & RJ ... Slot pull went well in about 1 hour & they broke even.  A handful of us went on to do lunch in Taste, then went on to do the Cabin Crawl with about 2 dozen folks.

 

Bob Brown - I will "deliver" the message to Arzeena on your "stalking"

Books4U - Bill, likewise - will be happy to give hi message ... Latitude Reception in the Supper Club this afternoon by senior officers, they should be there.

 

CCC - nice, we will definitely stay in touch & let's see who will post a good blog on the Bliss.  Friends of ours got a VIP deal to sail on the Joy (via CAS) but we aren't sure of doing that ship, looking at the Jewel - Alaska.

 

Got our free laundry back in 2 days, neated folded in a basket as usual. 

 

Pictures should tell a bit of the story and I trust Dexddd to do a reasonable good & nice job of explaining and guessing. 

 

[cathi007]

Thank you so much I appreciate all the information you have been giving us all :). It looks like you weather has been amazing, so happy to see. Enjoy your time 🙂 Thanks again

[dexddd]

Glad you found your WOF game.

 

Based on post 92, anyone tell you that you could be a hand model?

 

Have a great sea day.

[mking8288]

According to Shawn @ Cruise Next during the Latitude event, NCL's rank of Ambassadors are now down to just 32, 7 of them onboard now, top person has 947 points, 824, 752 & 707 ... wow.  It was in the 40's less than 2 years ago. 

 

Canvas 4 You is $35 per, max 15 per class, offered twice thus far onboard n signed up. 

 

Here's a screenshot of varoius comedy n availability, booked via iTV too but not w App.

 

A lunch special.  Dinner n show, later ...

[cathi007]

1 hour ago, mking8288 said:

According to Shawn @ Cruise Next during the Latitude event, NCL's rank of Ambassadors are now down to just 32, 7 of them onboard now, top person has 947 points, 824, 752 & 707 ... wow.  It was in the 40's less than 2 years ago. 

 

Canvas 4 You is $35 per, max 15 per class, offered twice thus far onboard n signed up. 

 

Here's a screenshot of varoius comedy n availability, booked via iTV too but not w App.

 

A lunch special.  Dinner n show, later ...

Thanks for that. Hopefully I will be able to sign up fo the painting the first day. How is your weather? We are hearing of a possible Nor'Easter for Saturday into Sunday, but you know how these weather forecasters are....usually wrong. It looks nice. I love you ocean photos. Have fun 🙂

[mking8288]

Washy Washy, ship is serious, look at the buffet this evening.

 

Brat Pack, 2nd time for us, great show & cast.

 

Some of my SMS are slipping thru on WiFi mode, hush 😂 

 

Weather is near perfect, 2 to 5 ft. seas and light breeze, can't ask for more.  Tx for weather alert, not going to worry about it for a few days.

Edited January 14, 2019 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Rise & shine ... arrived at Belize, backing up toward Harvest Caye after a turn, sun is coming up shortly, ship time is 1 hour ahead of local time so all abroad is set for 3:30 on ship's clock. 

 

Google Fi got us covered, 4G LTE signal ... nice, and we are good for next 2 days too being Mexico.  

Edited January 14, 2019 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Harvest Caye n the pier. It's our first visit here.

 

Showers (brief) in the area's forecast.

Edited January 14, 2019 by mking8288

[mking8288]

HC vendors basically still run NOT by NCL so cash or credit card are Kings & queens, UBP not honored, per Freestyle Daily. We will take a stroll shortly & explore, report back if we find it otherwise.

 

The Washy Washy crew out with buckets of diluted bleach & wiping cloth in the dining area this morning. Public restroom entry doors popped open.

[Gershep]

The phone and messenger for $9.95 does that mean you can call home and text to the states from your cabin the entire cruise for just $9.95?

[Demonyte]

5 minutes ago, Gershep said:

The phone and messenger for $9.95 does that mean you can call home and text to the states from your cabin the entire cruise for just $9.95?

No, that's for intra-ship communications to ship's phones and those mobile devices onboard that have the app (and paid for the feature). So essentially a modern-day replacement for walkie-talkies.

[mking8288]

Harvest Caye ... it's a 1/4 mile walk under shades to the entrance from the pier, golf carts for the accessible and ... 

 

Pool is nice. Cabanas looked too closely spaced together & could be more secluded, lots of vented clam shells, 2 loungers will fit under them.

 

[Gershep]

2 hours ago, Demonyte said:

No, that's for intra-ship communications to ship's phones and those mobile devices onboard that have the app (and paid for the feature). So essentially a modern-day replacement for walkie-talkies.

Thank you!

[mking8288]

On 1/13/2019 at 10:22 AM, dexddd said:

Based on post 92, anyone tell you that you could be a hand model?

Have a great sea day.

 

Hahahaha ... LOL.  I am grateful for those hand lotion, as you know.

 

Those bottled distilled water are sourced in NY. Elsewhere, similar ones sold for $3 ... I won't swear, they are warehouse brand, by Costco 😂 although we don't shop there.

[mking8288]

It's 4 pm ship time, 3 pm local time, all abroad in 30 minutes, sail in 1 hour, been reminding folks to keep ship time.

 

MDR has a lunch entree special again. Salt & Pepper shakers disappeared, plain paper menus only, sugars n creamers on request only. Crew on patrol to clean & sanitize, even Guest keycard get wiped when handled. Might be wise to bring some Purell, just in case.

 

Been getting brief showers all day, sun is out again. Folks are coming back. Pretty long line for the free golf cart rides on the pier, lots of bone spurs ??  Should've packed my trail walking sticks ... 🤦‍♂️🙄

Just saying. 

 

[buggins0402]

On 1/12/2019 at 11:33 PM, bob brown said:

Yes....say 'hi' for me too!  Tell them (thanks to your thread), they can be "stalked' even while I'm at sea on another ship...

For those that want to follow Bob on his other ship, he is contributing to a group “around the world” cruise thread on the Oceania board. Here is the link:

 

 

[mking8288]

BREAKing News Alert, Capt just came on PA system to announce that a # of crew & guests reported acute Norovirus symptoms, as per CDC and PHS guidance, rigorous measures had been deployed ship-wide, as I already noticed or suspected. Medical center on the ship seemed to be busy since day 1.

 

Stay tuned. Got our own stock of Purell.

 

Well, not to panic anyone either, not a stranger to infection control and we're cruised n flown during the SARS. Definitely noticed subtle changes n going to bypass the buffet.

 

Well, we are still on vacation, not going to change. Will limit non-essential posts while at sea for short, critical updates but Google Fi will be our vital cellular comm links till Wednesday, still have backup plan C to fall on to keep all informed as best as I can & should. 

 

Meanwhile, we are underway ... ship horn sounded. Bye, HC till next time.

Edited January 14, 2019 by mking8288

[mking8288]

CC site having problems again ?  I dunno, this is getting rather annoying.  Anyway, plan C - I will go on twitter in the morning if necessary, handle/ID is "cpn8288" to tweet up "critical" Noro updates/alert, should anyone wish to follow or find out.  It could also be ship's satellite connectivity, although I can ping & connect other sites, just fine ... whatever, left my 2 meter/70 cm portable at home or else, oh well.  

 

At the moment, everything seemed under control - guests are still gathered in the atrium lobby, just a few observations for us being seasoned cruisers, like the hand sanitizing dispensers by all the elevators.  Room Stewards are wiping down railings, door handles & even doors up and down the corridor.  Nobody in any sort of panic mode that I can see or tell roaming the public area.  

 

Not expecting any updates or announcements, if any, until morning ... at this point.  Sailed about 40 nm and about 160 nm to go (something like that) so will be at Costa Maya by 6  or 7 am local/ship time, arrival is 7 am and we will have Google Fi - cellular coverage once near land towers.  

 

Good night all, will be back online in the morning.  Not to worry !

 

Edited January 15, 2019 by mking8288

[graphicguy]

Oh man....this is timely.  Looking for a quick getaway on the Escapr 2/24.  Just saw this review @mking8288.  

 

Will read through it as I love your reviews!

[mking8288]

@graphicguy how's it going ...

 

We're arrived & docked at Costa Maya, it's pouring rain outside at the moment. Ship had been cleared, 7:30 am local time.  We got 4G LTE coverage.

 

Another ship coming in. It's Symphony of the Sea.

 

Tweeted out the stomach virus, just in case as heads up. Everything is calm.

Edited January 15, 2019 by mking8288

[graphicguy]

@mking8288...thanks so much for the review.

 

I know I’m a bit late to the party.  Some quick questions.

 

As mentioned, I’m looking at a last minute Escape 2/24 in a balcony (will probably “bid” on the Haven, though).  I’m sure sailaway was quite brisk.  When did it start to get to shortsleeve weather?

 

Probably coming in the night before.  Any opinions on the “YOTEL”?  Close to the pier?  Suggestions where to stay?

 

I’m hamstrung a bit because I’m using AMEX points for the flights and hotel.  So, some of them are better than others.

 

Also, trying to use VISA points to book the cruise.  It’s unclear whether I can use them and get the “perks”.

 

Did you book a “sail away rate”, or did you take the perks....which ones?  How long did it take to use the 250 internet minutes if you got them?

 

So many questions, I know.  Appreciate the help.

 

Great review!!!!!!

[mking8288]

Good morning again. Bridge update from the Capt @ 10 am, just a recap of the acute stomach virus and aggressive plans in place per CDC guidelines & best practices. No other news or changes, but if you roam the ship, you can clearly smell the bleaching done by the crew overnight, they're up late night, kudo !! Passengers need n must do our part.

 

Well, it is still wet, rain easing up, sun supposed to be out briefly but wet weather return we sail at 5 pm, all abroad 16:30 (we arrived 06:00)

 

Sitting on our balcony, a light windbreaker on for a bit of chilly wind. Our Plan C in place, we will hang out here n play by ears, maybe step off the ship after early lunch.

 

Again, we are on vacation n minor issues not going to ruin our relaxation.

Edited January 15, 2019 by mking8288