Prima TA Semi-Live 11 Days to NY from Spain, 4+ days @Barcelona from JFK ... land/cruise early Thanksgiving vacation

[mking8288]

Photos taken of the twin lakes & surrounding landscape in PD, discovered & settled by the Portuguese 500 years ago ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amazing photo series 

[mking8288]

Blue Lake - views are just breathtaking

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 25, 2023 by mking8288

[RV2SEABLAZER]

On 11/23/2023 at 12:26 PM, www3traveler said:

People on the Viva say he is not there.

I wonder if he made good on his plan to retire?

he is on the joy

[mking8288]

Earlier tonight, dinner served in the Hudson MDR

 

Soup 

Pot stickers 

Corn bread

Asian noodles salad 

Red snapper 

Hawaiian pork belly

Fresh fruit plate and Coca cake w ice cream 

 

Edited November 25, 2023 by mking8288

[marys350]

Thanks for posting all your beautiful pictures from your stop in Ponta Delgada They bring back fond memories of our 7 day land vacation there in September, 2019. Stayed in a hotel in Ponta Delgada and hired a private tour guide for our party of 6 people for  4 days of touring all around the island of Sao Miguel. Fabulous scenery and very reasonable prices for hotels, restaurants, and tours. 

[Rockyhill]

4 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Ponta Delgarda photos - Series CS ...

Setes Cidades (Blue Lakes) a massive volcanic crater three miles across, the parish is on the north side of the island, water from these lakes channeled via viaducts into populated areas as drinking water. 

 

These photos are from Samsung Galaxy only, more Google Pixel HD photos will be released tomorrow 👌

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

**** Fair amount of walking required on uneven trails required to access some of these beautiful scenic beauties 😎

 

Henry have you been to “Crater lake” in oregon. At elevation 6500’ and six miles wide, it’s a real sight. These pics of yours are absolutely stunning.

[mking8288]

Day 6 - Sea Day ... Sunrise 7:55 on a cloudy morning, rain forecasted - indoors likely for all, on 260'ish heading, 19 knots, moderate sea swell - probably 8 to 10 ft. easing slightly.

 

 

 

Behind The Scene, comp'd tour this morning at 8:20

 

 

Notice the typical sea day schedule & hours for dining, shops & services, etc. - shortened compared to earlier times.

 

 

[mking8288]

Ross & Tom - this is advance info about slots for next week's Slot Pull. This week's CC Slot Pull is happening later this morning.

 

 

CAS contacts 

[cruiseny4life]

Just now, mking8288 said:

Ross & Tom - this is advance info about slots for next week's Slot Pull. This week's CC Slot Pull is happening later this morning.

 

 

CAS contacts 

Florina was extremely helpful in planning our slot pull for today!

[mking8288]

Buffet for breakfast (lunch & dinner, too) come early for best choice in seating options, or else, going to be almost standing room only or musical chairs, for our (in) convenience to sail & sustain. 

 

Impressions, subjectively biased & personal opinions of ours only - it's much smaller, fewer stations, reduces options & selections and variety. Not what you are accustomed to on the older ships, mid & mega-sized ones. IMHO, if you are in a hurry or perhaps grab-n-go, back to your cabin. And it closes at 9:30 PM nightly. Thankfully, we mostly avoid using it - except this morning due to the BTS tour.  Feels almost like a shopping Mall's food court or hometown buffet and chairs & tables packed sardines like, closely together.  The corridor walkpath is on the cozy, tight & a bit too close, together.  

 

 

No harsh browns - corporate purchasing & procurement decisions to align with menus and purchasing & sourcing them.

 

 

For our onboard friend w worsening memory issues, safer on a somewhat positive note, less likely to getting lost & disoriented. 

Edited November 25, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

BTS tour - photos batch 1 of 3

Large group of 40+ pax, split into 2 groups. Started with Deck 8's The Local gallery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mking8288]

 

BTS tour of provisions & crew bar - one of the Latitudes member that signed for the tour didn't join us, turned away as he uses a wheelchair.

 

 

 

Rare look inside the crew bar. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 25, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

BTS tour 2.1 of 3 quicken tour of laundry area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mking8288]

Last batch BTS tour photos with our lucky, extra stop - 3 of 3 - unlike our last tour, photos allowed except the I-95 corridor and stage crew's dressing area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is one of the better BTS free tour given by CN staff without rushing and where some photos are permitted. 

 

Edited November 25, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Lunch time, ship cruising at 19 knots with a southery wind at port side, sideways can be felt especially Aft and Fwd. Sea swell rougher with occasional small white caps.

 

 

CruiseNext staff confirmed, verbally, that all CNC no longer expires and/will show 2099 as the expiration date.  NCL will have an official announcement in January 2024, with additional changes ... with the Latitudes/CruiseNext program - details that they still do not have. 

 

[Rockyhill]

Henry, the planner says nothing opens until 10:30 on sea days, say what?

[EllieinNJ]

1 hour ago, mking8288 said:

Lunch time, ship cruising at 19 knots with a southery wind at port side, sideways can be felt especially Aft and Fwd. Sea swell rougher with occasional small white caps.

 

 

CruiseNext staff confirmed, verbally, that all CNC no longer expires and/will show 2099 as the expiration date.  NCL will have an official announcement in January 2024, with additional changes ... with the Latitudes/CruiseNext program - details that they still do not have. 

 

Henry, do you think they might be combining the CN and Cruise first?  I only have one CN left and would love to use a CF also.  I know now you can't combine them 

[schmoopie17]

4 hours ago, mking8288 said:

 

4 hours ago, mking8288 said:

 

No harsh browns 

Freudian slip?? Oh wait, that would be what I would call those little grease sponges...😁

 

 

 

[mking8288]

2 hours ago, Rockyhill said:

Henry, the planner says nothing opens until 10:30 on sea days, say what?

 

Hi, Tom ... Been rather busy and not checking the "specific" details in the published Freestyle Dailies but will be able to do a little more in the next 3 consecutive sea days assuming we remained on time & on course/heading to Dockyard, Bermuda as our next POC/day stop destination - but, "semi" prepared for 6 sea days if we end up "skipping" it due to storm & weather.

 

Skies have cleared up a little bit, and, folks - trust me, Windy App is invaluable to check & read the near-term marine forecast - wind, sea state, waves, swell, temperature, etc. on your own, as long as satellite and/or WiFi & cellular connections can be accessed. 

 

Now on Station Zebra with my Linux laptop tethering on Starlink connection as @dexddd joked & poked at me all the time with humor - so "command central" is online ... wait, it's really one of the CC member being online, semi-live - catching up on Q&A and unanswered matters - best efforts to try to answer them or ask others to see if someone knows.  

 

It's quiet here, sometimes, in the early morning hours - unless it's a port day.  Haven't trouble finding a table to sit & enjoy buffet breakfast - go there at 7 AM when it's scheduled to reopen - no issues but if you show up at peak time, forget it.  Below, you will find the Dining Options and hours, as a general guide.  

 

I remember someone on the roll call asked about Spa Passes - info is on that screenshot, a 3 day pass being offered now onboard.  Casino isn't very busy, partially b/c there aren't that many US-based CAS players on the sailing - next Friday, from what I heard - rumors - that it will be different.

Good news, the smoke room is contained within and others walking by or feeding the parking meters ( ... I mean, the armless bandits) might see a big crowd.  Yes, there was also a CAS check-in line in Barcelona, our friends traveling with us didn't need or use that, we had priority embarkation (non-escorted ones) and we're in that hall & out of there in 15 or 20 minutes, really quick ... MCT / Pier 88 is another animal.

 

Also, speed reading Viva's TA arrival into St. Thomas, USVI - sounded pretty much what I said earlier & expected - lines & delays, frustration & madness, etc. with full immigration/document checks & inspection, including crews ... fire/safety inspections & drills, and public health & food safety checks, etc.  Plan for a late morning embarkation for "regulars" and even Haven next week, don't be shocked if many won't be on the gangways until noon to 1 PM.  It is what it is - nothing to do with NCL, it's our USG red tapes, etc. etc. 

 

 

 

52 minutes ago, EllieinNJ said:

Henry, do you think they might be combining the CN and Cruise first?  I only have one CN left and would love to use a CF also.  I know now you can't combine them 

 

Ellie, hi & didn't get a chance to wish you & hubby a great holiday, SOL is doing well & resuming travel - cruising soon, or planning one - go for it if his doctors give the thumbs up.  Wish I know the answer to the question, but who knows - with NCL, consistently inconsistent - that could be possible.  There are ways of getting those CN at 50% off or less via *Bay in addition to that other social site. 

 

Our nieces needed 3 of them recently for the GA cruise in early December, we only had 1 & transferred to her, BIL had extras and the girls got 2 more ... transfers were successfully & quickly completed within the same day or by next business day - to take advantage of time-limited promo like the DoubeUp (no bonus points for them)  

 

The CC'ers that sail often knows more than the CN staff onboard, and even if they seen some leaked info, they are bound by rules & restrictions to embargo the info & will get into trouble for releasing the details or changes ahead. For marketing, they are running not just 1, 2 but 3 (at least) daily presentation - not going to sit in the new mini-atrium lobby to listen to it, just go to view the video re-runs on NCL-InfoChannel ... loved the new & sharper HD TV resoutions & screens, and useful interactive functions.  Just hate the limited & scaled down NAVigational channel info as I love those details.  

 

 

Edited November 25, 2023 by mking8288

[dexddd]

Thanks for the BTS pics since we didn't get it offered last year.

 

A couple trips ago you were doing hand modeling - see you have moved to feet modeling.  Let's see if you can get a picture driving go karts in the blue driving slippers.

 

We only sat in buffet I think twice on our TA.  No room so avoided it.  In the aft area by grill sometimes some seats in buffet.

[mking8288]

We are fortunate to have a very good & responsive room attendant or steward on the TA, our room was cleaned, refreshed & prepared for the next 24 to 36 hours after we left the cabin just before noon ... and came back around 2:30 PM. 

 

 

4 pillows in a new (simple) arrangement today.  A little "direct" recognition certainly didn't hurt, and we didn't ask for anything but the Hamilton Beach CM and 2 laundry bags plus 2 slips - figured we don't need ice in the cooler box & it's big enough to fit a few "personal" items from the buffet inside.  Not a word about concierge-like limited services.  Maybe, next time ... 

The closets do have sensor-activated lights, and we liked the sliding drawers - worked well with packing cubes, plenty of wood hangers to use, some regular ones that go with the 4 wall hooks.  Next time, we'll leave our own plastic hangers at home along with magnetic hooks.

 

 

Edited November 25, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

PPV Movies anyone ... free ***** for suites & Havens guests only, here are screenshots for an idea of what's available & expect, subject to change & rotations ... 

 

 

My Fire HD 10 tablet has been idle, loaded with off-line contents - always nice to have contingencies - Plan C behind Plan B. 

 

Edited November 25, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Lunch in the MDR (Hudson) earlier - thumbs up, "passed" nothing exceptional - served hot, not overly high in sodium (salty) and good presentation, not petite in portion sizes ... the salad was "oversized" by NCL spec and generous vs. the similar one served in The Local.

 

... subjectively speaking, of course.

 

 

 

 

 

[mking8288]

@rmfortin and @Rockyhill Ross & Tom, scouted out some possibilities for the secret mission staging area next Friday, leaving it up to 2 if you, based on the polling of the lastest RC to see if ... 

 

This is the 6-7-8 area by Guest Services, it's nothing like the *Away ships and I don't recommend it.  

 

 

 

 

Good for more than the point for cabin crawl or gathering by the smaller groups. 

 

Edited November 25, 2023 by mking8288

[Rockyhill]

17 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

@rmfortin and @Rockyhill Ross & Tom, scouted out some possibilities for the secret mission staging area next Friday, leaving it up to 2 if you, based on the polling of the lastest RC to see if ... 

 

This is the 6-7-8 area by Guest Services, it's nothing like the *Away ships and I don't recommend it.  

 

 

 

 

Good for more than the point for cabin crawl or gathering by the smaller groups. 

 

Henry is there an exit to the outside there from Belvedere bar? Starboard?