Escape New England-Canada Sept 10-17, 2023 updating Semi Live rev 3.0

[mking8288]

Posting on the Lenovo Chromebook, tethering off 5G / 4G LTE from Google Pixel 7 Pro - Fi (T-Mobile) network with free data roaming in Canada (and Mexico) plus unlimited voice & data ... while we still have coverage & still within cellular tower range in the Bay of Fundy.  

 

@Cyndi874 - thanks & hello, promise to help take care of the Escape and bring her back to NY.  Safe travel & best wishes ... the crew among the best within NCL, friendly & smiling, and say hello as they walk toward & pass us in the hallway ... as Deck 5 is their alternate I-95 path on the ship.  

 

[mking8288]

 

 

 

Casino is jammed pack full tonight as we walked past ... who's worried 🤗

 

Only 511 nm to NY's Pier 88, now at 16 knots - only need 30 hours at full speed to get back.

Edited September 14, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Day 5’s FSD Sea Day … Food Republic open for lunch, MDR breakfast until 10 AM

 

***** Still has 4G LTE cellular coverage & tethering from MiFi hotspot on Google Fi @ 11:20 PM, 90 minutes after leaving cruise pier.  (didn't "hurt" that our cabin is starboard side, sailing southwest across the Bay of Fundy toward NY, with land to our right) 

 

 

 

Edited September 14, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

FSD Day 4 - posting these while connected only to NCL's free WiFi inTRAnet only, not using remaining free airtime minutes. 

 

Edited September 14, 2023 by mking8288

[momtodani]

@mking8288thank you so much for answering. Much appreciated. Prayers for smooth sailing and safe travels home

[mking8288]

[dexddd]

So on day six are you going home to see if auto plant watering working OK?  Is that one of your two planned excusions?

 

See OSH has reuben with corned beef.  It had been pastrami our last trip but still good.

 

What's up with the lady accosting the guy with the umbrella?

[mking8288]

Good morning w a quick update, ship about 1/3 way returning to NY at 15.5 knots, headwind toward us & increasing wind speed, seas at 8 ft. & swell, moderate. Foggy, cloudy & 67 degrees F.  Hardly any difference at all. Heading to breakfast 👌

 

 

[Steelers0854]

12 hours ago, molsiesmom said:

My husband is gluten free due to allergies and we never know he could have the chicken wings in O'Sheehans.  Which ones are safe?  We were on the cruise before you and will be on the getaway in November.  He will be so happy about this. 

I’m assuming you’re asking about the sauces? We didn’t ask, DW doesn’t mind eating them without sauce if needed but we will check when we go and report back. I’m assuming there is atleast one of the sauces that’s ok since they said she could eat them. 

[RedRover96]

Could be breaded vs "naked" wings.  I think in the past CC post it is possible to order them "naked", today???

 

RedRover

[mking8288]

@RedRover96 not sure about naked wings, but will ask whether it can be ordered.  The coating or breading on the new wings are pretty thin and not too soggy, better than the ones served on the Joy, Getaway and Epic as we've tried them all.

 

MDR open for breakfast & lunch on all 3 sea days.

 

Walking past Guest Services, folks gathering for the complimentary Behind The Scene tour, with security escorts. We decided to skip repeating this ship's tour for the 3rd time.

 

P.S. posting this without connecting to ship's WiFi internet, only inTRAnet with the breakfast menus upload - variation with Daily Special choices

[JIMESOPUS]

@mking8288 Appears that you have company around you, orange is the Escape

 

Forecasted waves today at noontime

 

Fridays forecasted waves

 

Safe travels 

[mendi]

5 minutes ago, JIMESOPUS said:

@mking8288 Appears that you have company around you, orange is the Escape

 

Forecasted waves today at noontime

 

Fridays forecasted waves

 

Safe travels 

Yes my Marine Traffic site shows the Escape, MH Vista, Emerald Princess, Caribbean Princess, Liberty of the Seas and Carnival Legend all heading to NY.  Safe travels to all.

[JIMESOPUS]

18 minutes ago, mendi said:

Yes my Marine Traffic site shows the Escape, MH Vista, Emerald Princess, Caribbean Princess, Liberty of the Seas and Carnival Legend all heading to NY.  Safe travels to all.

Seven Seas Mariner skipped Bermuda and is also heading to NYC. 

[mendi]

I am boarding the Escape on Sunday in NY for the NE/Canada Itinerary. Hope Lee is history soon after.

[Steelers0854]

Day 4 Saint John, Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick - Maple Sugar Shack & Tasting (10:30 - 21:00) Cont.

 

 

We got back from our excursion and got to Cagneys about 18:40 with an 18:00 reservation. We explained what happened and they were wonderful and sat us in less than 10 min. DW had preordered the beefsteak tomorrow, wedge salad, filet, mashed potatoes and mushrooms. They made the most delicious balsamic vinaigrette for the salad which was huge. The tomato dish was good and also had a good balsamic drizzle as well. The filet wasn’t great, lacked seasoning and wasn’t nearly as good as Moderno. The mushrooms were amazing, well seasoned and delicious. The mashed potatoes were basically a baked potato mashed up, no oil or any attempt to make them anything different, but they were fine. For dessert she got the same blueberry compote but this time they put what appeared to be crumbled chocolate chip cookies on the top. DW said it was good and it was nice to have something other than a dish of blueberry pie filling.  Sorry some of the photos I grabbed late and a couple of bites may have already been taken 😎

 

 

 

 

 

For me I got the crab cake, tuna tartare, prime rib (end cut), potatoes Al gratin and the creamed spinach. The crab cake was very good and had more crab in it than I expected. Don’t expect lump meat in this but it had great flavor and a nice sauce. The tuna fell way flat, no flavor, the pickled ginger mixed  in the middle of it was an odd choice, I would not get this again. The prime rib was terrible, it was the toughest piece of meat I have ever had. I would definitely not recommend asking for the end cut which is my go to as it’s usually super flavorful and tender. This was the opposite. It was also a HUGE portion, no way anyone could finish that even if they could chew through it. The potatoes came out hot-ish at best. The cheese had already solidified and they desperately needed salt. The creamed spinach was excellent. The best part of the dinner was the 7 layer chocolate cake. Man this thing was next level good. No way I could eat it all but it was fun trying!

 

 

 

 

 

We decided Cagneys isn’t worth it, Moderno was so much better and that would be our go to in the future.

 

After dinner we walked around. Every venue we went to was jam packed, we could have gone to the comedy show in the main theater but just decided to call it a night. The entertainment venues in this ship are so disappointing. The limited space and uncomfortable seating makes me miss Princess where we have almost never had any issues attending a show or performance and they have comfortable couches and chairs in their lounges. I think the issue is this ship has too many upcharge restaurants that take up all the space.

[mking8288]

Update from the Captain on the bridge, we expect to reach Cape Cod area this evening with about 310 nm remaining to NY, should meet the pilot boat by 8 AM tomorrow & escort thru VZ Bridge to anchor off Staten Island harbor to ride out the storm.  No berth available until 1 AM Sunday morning to proceed & dock, taking into consideration tide & ship's size & safety, etc. 

 

Lee expected to past thru our current location tomorrow morning up toward the Canadian maritime. Pax advised to use caution when out & about as wind & sea state might pose danger. 

 

Will post more later after the Latitudes reception at 1 PM and the 2nd CC Meet & Greet. 

 

Once back in NY tomorrow, should have good cellular coverage & resume "live" status 🤓👴🤗 

[mking8288]

New pillow vs old towel animal, new & simple but different pillows placement on the bed this morning when we came back from breakfast. 

 

 

[Steelers0854]

26 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

New pillow vs old towel animal, new & simple but different pillows placement on the bed this morning when we came back from breakfast. 

Back from Breakfast?!? Wow must be nice. We are lucky if our cabin is done by 4pm. 

[cruiservictor]

Thanks for all the information you have both provided about your trip. If one of you could post a picture of the officer board on deck 6 forward, that would be great. Wish you smooth sailing back to NY. 

[cyntil8ing]

 

Yesterday in Saint John, we did something unusual— a ship excursion. The tour was the Bay of Fundy Coastal Photography. It was a small group of 20, on a mini-bus with a wonderful photographer/guide. We really enjoyed it.

 

Interesting about the huge tide changes in the bay. I took the same photo of the ship before and after the three-ish hour excursion and you can see how much the tide dropped in that time. One complete deck of portholes “disappeared“. 

 

 

We went to the Reversing Falls, Mispec Beach and Cape Spencer Lighthouse. So beautiful!

 

 

 

 

After returning to the ship around 4:45, we grabbed a late lunch from the buffet. I am pleasantly surprised it is open so late. On other lines, our choices when returning onboard are often limited to pizza or burgers.

 

I resumed my regular spot of the Waterfront for a few hours before we had dinner in the Manhattan Dining Room. It was fine, nothing memorable good or bad, except our waiter handed us a card to fill out, which upon reading was for exceptional service. We didn’t feel we had exceptional service, so we left it blank.
 

After dinner we listened to the Latin duo in the Skylight Lounge. Since the casino was still closed, it wasn’t smoky. It will likely be our only visit there. Then we went to the adult comedy in the theater, then closed out the night with the Howl at the Moon pianos in the comedy club. 
 

I slept in until nearly 10 this morning! And have now resumed my post at the Waterfront while my daughter hits the gym and hot tub. I forgot my bathing suit, so no hot tub for me.😔

[mking8288]

[mking8288]

Rotating MDR menu for lunch ... Chicken Pho - Vietnamese style is back. Today only. Photos later, WiFi on ship extra slow today 👎

 

NEC wireless hotspot/router strategically situated in the hallways 

 

Edited September 14, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

2 hours ago, Steelers0854 said:

Back from Breakfast?!? Wow must be nice. We are lucky if our cabin is done by 4pm. 

Ya know about that old Las Vegas hotel trick at check-in with the extra sandwich slip 😉🤫🤭  Slip a bit of cash in advance does wonder, we don't even need to ask him to hurry & clean our cabin first.  Direct cash is  motivation 😄

Edited September 14, 2023 by mking8288

[Steelers0854]

19 hours ago, molsiesmom said:

My husband is gluten free due to allergies and we never know he could have the chicken wings in O'Sheehans.  Which ones are safe?  We were on the cruise before you and will be on the getaway in November.  He will be so happy about this. 

it seems on this ship you ask 3 different people and you get 3 different answers. Apparently the wings themselves are gluten free but there was a debate if the fryer was. DW can do cross contamination, she only gets sick if there is gluten in the food. I’ll let you know in a few hours how true it is. If your husband has celiac or can’t do cross contamination then I would avoid the wings to be safe. They said all the sauces have dairy, which I find odd the sweet chili would, but again there isn’t a lot of clear communication on this ship.