Semi-Live Getaway 2.0 Jan 16 - Feb 1, 2023 NY - So. Caribbean ... 12 nights ( is it Live, Semi-Live or Limited ?? )

[www3traveler]

14 minutes ago, goldmom said:

Thank you for your report and all the gorgeous pictures.  I also remember Jenny from the Gem and her welcome back dancing.  I was sorry she left.  I think I still have her card somewhere!

Jenny Lim is one of the Regional Vice President's Hotel Fleet Operations now.

[mking8288]

Our complimentary Platinum laundry came back at midday, next day service, neatly folded in a basket, as it usually is. With the small bag, 25 items done, valued at $90 if billed on itemized pricing.

 

Today, MDQ is on - 1 show only at 7:30  in the main theater, sold out. We are booked - tomorrow night at 7:30 pm, no late showing for Million Dollars Quartet.

 

300 nm to Amber Cove, DR on ship's Nav.Channel #11. Bridge to Engine Room, all ahead - full speed, doing 20.6 knots, waves at 4.9 ft. and air temperature of 78 deg. F

 

Dinner at La Cucina shortly - current "menu" isn't on the App, online at NCL or via ship's interactive statetoom TV.  Will post more later ... 

 

[mking8288]

From sea to shining sea 😎 beautiful sunset coming up with clouds around  - sea days are for seeing these. "Imagine" 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 28, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Current - latest La Cucina Menu on the Getaway ... 

with Spec.Dining package - choice of 1 starter, soup or salad, and 1 from Pizza or entree selections (no upcharge for beef tenderloin) and dessert.

 

[mking8288]

Dinner at La Cucina

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 29, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Getaway Amber Cove info & Day 10's Freestyle Daily for Jan 29, 2023

 

[mking8288]

Findings from a night owl (11 pm, action currently up in Spice H2O, Deck 16 AFT outdoors) *** Glow Party (formerly, White Hot Party)

 

Atrium w movie on big screen. OSH not busy at the moment.

 

 

 

 

Here's your "new" late night casino snack station - DIY, for your convenience 😳 ☹️ 🙄  - facts checked as told by our CAS friends onboard with us this week, I verified it personally on the Getaway as being true 🙈 Enjoy 

 

Edited January 29, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Telling it like it is ...

 

These, as I previously seen in person, are just utterly unacceptable but ... it's not "always" there.  Returning to our stateroom at 11:15 pm after coming back from Ocean 6-7-8, the question is "what if" ... much more serious than plates & cups in the hallway not picked up (as there are no clear guidelines & rules for the herd to follow)

 

 

Edited January 29, 2023 by mking8288

[trbarton]

On 1/27/2023 at 5:41 PM, mking8288 said:

Third time eating dinner in Tropicana, step up to the first podium at 6:45 pm as we didn't reserve ahead, given that vibrating pager to wait nearby, i.e. casino bar.  Place is full with some empty tables waiting to be cleaned & set for the new round. 10-15 minutes later, it was our turn ... not bad, gave us an almost front row seat next to the singers & dance floor.

 

The singer duo were live on stage, but not impressed, especially her relatively flat tones & being somewhat missing the key. 

 

Our meal took 1:45 as expected. Again, when Susan (DW) said wow, the portion is just small and she is a small eater. 

 

Guess who's socializing with some of the guests nearby ... surely, some of you recognized him, he gained a little extra.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you know or recognize him ?

Since I’m traveling solo I wondering if they would agree to let me have the same waitstaff/table each night with a shared table?

 

Tom😀

[www3traveler]

56 minutes ago, trbarton said:

Since I’m traveling solo I wondering if they would agree to let me have the same waitstaff/table each night with a shared table?

 

Tom😀

Go to the Solo gatherings late each afternoon (listed in the Freestyle Daily.  Meet up with people and go to dinner as a group.

[mking8288]

Good morning, cruise speed at 17 knots just off the coast of DR, less than 20 nm from Amber Cove. A bit cloudy in the distance, MDR breakfast in Taste ... getting busy & crowded here at 9 am.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 29, 2023 by mking8288

[EllieinNJ]

Henry, was there an upcharge for the beef tenderloin in La Cucina if you use either the platinum or FAS coupons?  Someone said there was an upcharge for the filet mignons at Cagney's and/or Le Bistro.

[Mlake09]

22 minutes ago, EllieinNJ said:

Henry, was there an upcharge for the beef tenderloin in La Cucina if you use either the platinum or FAS coupons?  Someone said there was an upcharge for the filet mignons at Cagney's and/or Le Bistro.

On Gem two weeks ago, there was an up charge at Le Bistro but not at Cucina. We asked on our sailing if the supplement would be removed if we skipped the foie gras (we don’t like it anyways), but they said no. I’ve since seen others have some luck avoiding the supplement if they skip the foie gras. Hopefully that will roll out fleet wide. We’re on the Getaway in a few weeks and I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

[mking8288]

@EllieinNJ Ellie, no upcharge at LC last night & the tenderloin was excellent. Enjoy your short visit to Bermuda later in the week.   Henry

[mking8288]

Amber Cove, all for us from the Getaway at a CCL facility.  It's hot, sunny & feeling the humidity too 😎 

 

Looks kinda like a mini Harvest Caye ... but shorter walking distance from the gangway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10:35 am - still waiting to be cleared & gangways ready for those going ashore.

Edited January 29, 2023 by mking8288

[EllieinNJ]

1 hour ago, Mlake09 said:

On Gem two weeks ago, there was an up charge at Le Bistro but not at Cucina. We asked on our sailing if the supplement would be removed if we skipped the foie gras (we don’t like it anyways), but they said no. I’ve since seen others have some luck avoiding the supplement if they skip the foie gras. Hopefully that will roll out fleet wide. We’re on the Getaway in a few weeks and I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

Yep.  Found it.

[Saxomatic]

Cant believe people leave their stroller outside . On our cruisr on the joy in september we kept our stroller inside even if we were tight ouf of respect . The hallway are narrow !

 

We will do the same on the getaway on our upcomming cruise on feb 26th.

 

Safety and respect 101 ! 

[JoeTec]

12 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Telling it like it is ...

 

These, as I previously seen in person, are just utterly unacceptable but ... it's not "always" there.  Returning to our stateroom at 11:15 pm after coming back from Ocean 6-7-8, the question is "what if" ... much more serious than plates & cups in the hallway not picked up (as there are no clear guidelines & rules for the herd to follow)

 

 

 

When my Mom brought her rollator with her we would put it in the shower at night

[mking8288]

3 hours ago, JoeTec said:

When my Mom brought her rollator, we would put it in the shower at night

My mom used one until age 91 to get around - always folded, stored & out of the way.  One of my SIL had to use them as she bravely fought stage 4 cancer that metastasized & affect her neuromotor functions, no longer needed as she joined the NCL eternal Heaven. There are plenty other guests onboard with access challenges yet not behaving entitled ... I keep a folded walking stick on my luggage just in case it's needed as my knees can act up again.

3 hours ago, Saxomatic said:

Cant believe people leave their stroller outside ... we kept our stroller inside even if we were tight ouf of respect . The hallway are nallow ...Safety and respect 101 ! 

Exactly, nothing against bring them along and using them with younger ones, it's common sense. These aren't compact and full-sized, but, still can be folded & stored somewhere in a closet by working with housekeeping.  Selfish mindset.

 

I've communicated with the GM's team and asked them to review as to whether it's appropriate & to mitigate, in fairness to all guests.  

[mking8288]

After a light breakfast of fruits, yogurt, smoked salmon bagel, juice & coffee, rested briefly and just checked out the shops here at AC.  Very good prices & wide selections at the duty-free shop vs. onboard Tradewind options as we needed to pickup gifts for someone. Open WiFi for general use is available at some of the stores including one of the cafe.

 

Looked around a bit, photos & then returned to the ship for a buffet lunch. Those taxi-bike are free, seats 2 and drivers worked for tips only. Being hot, humid & sunny ... we used them. 

 

BTW, ship is out of bananas completely, got melons, apples & other fruits, etc. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 29, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

More pictures at Amber Cove ... tourist downtown is 20 minutes away, not worth our while to do for such a short time in the port. It's neat, clean & commercialized but okay. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 29, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

More pictures of what's nearby, including a small beach, pretty crowded but shaded, about 10 minutes walk from the ship's gangway. 

 

It's 3:45 pm already ... still lots of finalists for the Pier Runners Club, bridge just sounded the first horn blast, now #2 blast on the horn. Another 40+ pax just walked thru port security by the duty-free shop now.  All abroad was 3:30 for 4 pm sailing 🫢

 

 

 

 

Edited January 29, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Ship already blasted her horn for the 4th time at 3:50 pm.  Many are late, most certainly on a ship tour, dozens that would become members of the Pier Runners Club at Amber Cove today - Pixel 7 Pro at 5x zoom power

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time now 4:10 pm - should be going soon. Thrusters on below the bow👇

Edited January 29, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

4:15 pm and we are on the move, homeward bound for NYC.

 

 

 

 

14x power zoom 

 

 

Puerto Plata is 20 minutes away via highway route, beyond the hills & not exactly close or easy to walk there or back

 

Not quite a colorful rainbow 

Wind farm for energy (and plenty of solar power) in use on these different islands.

Edited January 29, 2023 by mking8288

[poohdreaming]

Wanted to say, thanks for sharing your pictures. I have some quick questions. Is it a must to make dinner reservations if there are a lot of people on the cruise? Which complimentary restaurants are good? - MDR/Taste/Savor