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

[Jasonmom]

If not too much trouble, please let us know how going through customs is for you?  With the government shutdown and all.

[mking8288]

Good morning all, just a quick one - 

it's been a quiet night/morning - had in-room "vacation" light breakfast to ease the calories. Outside air temp is about 70 deg F on the windy side, seas between 2' to 5'.  ETA to NYC officially for 7 AM arrival, traveled 340 nm thus far, currently just directly north of Havana, Cuba in the Gulf of Mexico, Key West to our north & turning north toward Miami area later on. Ship speed varied from 17 to 21 knots, could arrive back in NY as early as late Saturday/super early Sunday morning.

 

meatball_nyc ... like your "new" profile location..  Virtual cruising do help dreaming about one's next cruise, right ... 

 

Books4U - thanks for that info, I will check & find out, and see if it's still being done.

 

Jasonmom - yes, will update on CBP at the pier, although we got Priority tags & typically use porter services.  

 

 

[terrirus]

Can you tell what Google FI is? Would you recommend that over ship wifi?   If so is it better to purchase the internet package prior to boarding?   Thank you for all the info and beautiful photos.  Enjoy 

[bayboy]

Looking forward to the MDR menus for the trip. 😀

[mking8288]

Dinner 6:30 pm @Savor, our section wasn't too busy - where's everybody ? Walk-ups without MDR reservations facing longer wait and has been consistently asked if they mind sharing table with others, just a heads-up (next sailing ...) 

 

Escape must be riding on a strong tail wind all day, gone from 22 knots, pushing 24.7 knots late afternoon & now, passing off the coastline of Miami & heading north, about 500 nm to go ... at this rate, COULD be in NY by Saturday (simple calculati.  ons)  Will post if we hear/learn of anything tomorrow. 

 

Everyone is being asked to wash and/or sanitize both hands before eating & especially after using restrooms.

 

 

 

Edited January 18, 2019 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Easy, look up Google Fi.

 

All is calm & fine.

 

Food Republic closed for lunch, M on Deck 17 open but quite empty. 

 

[mking8288]

More food pix, 12 days of MDR menus thus far, 2 more & will post later.

[mking8288]

Good Friday morning, no changes planned or announced, on track for 7 am Sunday arrival ... ship doing 17 knots now, 200 miles off coast of Georgia.

 

Crews are cleaning everywhere and MC still busy.  Be back later, keeping posts to minimal unless ...

[mking8288]

Heads up for next sailing, it is fairy definitive that we will be docking at MCT by/before 6 AM this because, Early Bird - Self Assist is expected to be called by 6:30 AM and MDR (and, buffet) will be open for breakfast at 6 AM (time to set that alarm) - see attached, zoomable.  Given the weather forecast, it's not a bad idea to get on the roads early & traffic is always lighter in the early Sunday hours ... except some folks will be heading in the path of the forecasted storm. 

 

Reminders & announcements on cleaning and vigilance about cleaning are everywhere ... NCL do/should provide notifications in other common langugages spoken on this sailing, as one cannot assume all passengers onboard are fluent in English on the importance of addressing Norovirus, etc. just my 2 cents. Otherwise, it appeared that it is under control and managed per CDC guidelines. 

 

To maximize & optimize my metered satellite WiFi minutes, writing & editing my notes/comments and pix for upload on the laptop/notebook, with a (bluetooth) keyboard is much better, faster & efficient than to try to use the smartphone or iPad (mini) - a personal preference & tips, easily to cut-n-paste, move & highlight.  

 

@ 16:15 - Escape doing about 18 knots, on course with about 570 nm to Manhattan, outside air temp is 65 degree, light wind & seas are calm, 5' waves & cloudy, we are off the South Carolina coast, probably by 200 nm.  

 

It's a quiet, relaxing day for us in our cabin - MDR has a salmon lunch special (today & variations on sea days only) and it was very good - ditto for the salmon bagel w. cream cheese @ breakfast, healthy eating to balance out the calories. Tonight, dinner at Moderno - touchscreen still showing availability at most Specialty venue ... our comp'd Platinum meal used to be priced at $25 p/p if I am not mistaken, but it is now $30 p/p + 20%.  Made our stops at the Photo Shop to select some photos, Mrs. M stopped by the duty-free store to get cosmetics.  Cigarettes are on sale, buy 3 and get 1 free, Marlboro is about $145 for the 3+1 deal
 

[Red-Sol]

Thanks very much Henry! And Thank You for taking us along for your ride. 

[meatball_nyc]

Thanks for all the updates. Safe sailing home 😎

[cathi007]

Thanks for all of the updates. Bundle up it’s going to be chilly the next few days. See you on board Sunday 😎

[BoatParts]

Glad you are enjoying the final days of the cruise and thanks for all the updates.

[mking8288]

Latest ...

[Gershep]

Latest weather forecast for New York is heavy rains and wind for Sunday morning. Safe travels home. 

[mking8288]

Thanks, Gershep. 

 

250 nm to go at 16 knots, Buffet will be open for breakfast at 5:30 am and Early Bird Express walk off at 6:30 am.

 

No other news to update or alert.

 

 

[dexddd]

Sky and seas looked nice today and past few days.

 

Where are all the chairhogs - taking advantage of cigarette deals?

 

Safe travels rest of trip.

[mking8288]

(Most) "All our bags are packed and (not) ready to Go ... Leaving on a jetplane (or not)"

@17:00 EDT - less than 160 nm to Pier 88, doing 16 knots, calculated ETA is 10 to 11 hours, longer if speed is throttled, strong breeze & chilly wind, temps in the 50's.  

 

No definitive or clear answers, asked of, about changes to main shows @ Escape Theater on next sailing, sorry, unable to confirm or verify, but ... Elevator TV has been beaming Choir of Man since day 1 and IMHO, pretty suggestive of what's floating & changes - won't be fun to realign dinner plans & shows, etc. Best of luck to the Jan 20th sailing with the matrix of things going on.  

 

Our dinner at Moderno last night ... it took longer than usual as crew has to assist with the salad bar ...

 

Proactive cleansing and reminders about proper hygiene & hand wash/cleaning continued, crews are still scrubbing down doors, rails & handles with bleach & other spray solutions, allow 15 minutes before being allowed to sit down at a buffet or dining table after it's been cleaned & disinfected.  

 

DIsembarkation will start no later than 6:30 am and all guests must be OFF by 9 am as the Escape will take on a full program of cleaning before embarkation is allowed for next sailing.

 

 

[mking8288]

Final semi-limited live on last evening #14 -until we picked up Google Fi/T-Mobile 4G signal in morning ...alarm set for pre-dawn breakfast & arrival, not sure if we are going to see Statue of Liberty (port side) but going to try.

 

Escape currently doing 15.4 knots, about 10 nm north of Atlantic City - everything appeared on track.  Should be trackable on Marine AIS already, if not, very soon. 

 

Random pix of Marcaritaville earlier & Rope Course above.  

 

Lunch & Dinner today @ MDR - including the Special.  All 14 sets of MDR Menu gathered, they will be posted once we get home & unwind.

 

Pix of our regular balcony, noticed HDMI hookup to Sole TV, using default input for direct MP4 playback, not streaming, from laptop/notebook, and 2 USB "Turbo" charging ports @bedside. 

 

[mking8288]

Woohoo ... making great time to bring us home super early.

 

Picked up 4G LTE signal ...

[mking8288]

Pilot boat alongside n dropped off.  Sailing into the NY Bay, up the Hudson & just about full stop at Pier 88.

 

Home !  Now, get a little zzzz, still too early for breakfast 😄 

 

[mking8288]

Time for one more sit-down MDR breakfast, good morning & say goodbye to some of the crews.

 

More post-cruise thoughts, comments & yet to be uploaded pix, unfinished Q&A, etc. later.

Edited January 20, 2019 by mking8288

[meatball_nyc]

Welcome home. Docked safe and sound. 

Thank you for taking us along!

[mking8288]

Heading downstairs for leisure disembarkation with priority. The rush should be easing up

[mking8288]

Look like usual CBP staffing n lines moving along, thank you to the officer for working. Taxis upstairs waiting n off we go. 

 

Folks already arriving at 9 am, going to be a long wait.

 

Some of the buses are cancelled for weather, ooops, not going to be good.