Getaway NY's Winter 2023-24 mostly 10 Days - ports & food pix, who's who onboard, misc. etc. "Not semi or live report"

[mking8288]

Getaway MDR for lunch and dinner - embarkation day, sea days  ... and, on other days when it is open.  Recommended over the madness in the buffet - beware of shortened hours & choice of items during those in-between time in the afternoon.  

 

This bowl ... a subtle reminder that it's been around and used by NCL for 20 years, if not longer - go back to the Norwegian Crown and Dawn days in the early 2000.  

 

 

 

Starter / Salad / Appetizers in the MDR - 

 

 

 

 

Shrimp Cake - typically offered on Embarkation Day (vs. Crab Cake in specialty restaurant)

 

 

 

 

Edited December 18, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Some of the 2023 Getaway MDR lunch and dinner entrees - availability and choices will vary by ship and sailings, these can be expected.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Almost missed this one ... 

 

 

[mking8288]

Last but not least - some of the desserts (including ones that are now exclusive to specialty dining)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mking8288]

Here in NY, the worst of the fast moving storm - heading east out into the  Atlantic, relief 😔 and airport operations returning to normal. No live news from the Getaway cruisers currently onboard, yet 😬 

 

Looks like - AIS data as filed - they are heading southwest after attempting to visit BDA earlier, 14 kts in rough seas & swell ... should be better ahead.  A short 5 days pre-holiday cruise becoming a CTN, sea days where the outdoors aren't usable (yike).  

 

 

 

FWIW, conditions not looking really that much better upon leaving the narrow coral reef channel, if they can turn around to safely dock & then leave within next 30 hours. Disappointed as I am sure for those onboard. Next planned GA visit to Dockyard with better odds this weekend. 

 

Edited December 18, 2023 by mking8288

[Fissues]

Lord knows what the captain was thinking when he left New York. He’s an idiot.

[graphicguy]

Dang it.....I'm sitting here eating cottage cheese and a bunless burger for lunch.  Then, I see these pictures.  Thanks a lot!!!!

Edited December 18, 2023 by graphicguy

[mking8288]

@Fissues  I won't call out the Captain on his bridge decision to proceed, since they have the latest ... state-of-the-art navigation & weather forecast tools at their disposal, plus NCL's operations center in the background ... what do I (we) know, right.  

 

Cruisemapper has the ship on a 260 to 270'ish course heading, moving further away from Bermuda - does NOT look good for turning around to Dockyard .... unhappy campers onboard.  Windy app showing another weather system near the Bermuda sectors over the next 2 to 3 days, sailing into the fog now.  Who knows, maybe, NCL is going to make a surprise call to Norfolk, VA and let folks go ashore & stretch their sea legs before returning to NY by Friday morning.  

 

@graphicguy  LOL, Dan ... checking out deals too ?  Five Guys and/or Shake Shack for a juicy burger.  DW had me looking at the Getaway options this winter, since we bailed on Prima's 2nd leg B2B, been getting itchy but even for a last minute "deal" - can't get excited, knowing that the "bonus" Bermuda stop during these months is at best 50:50 or a coin toss.  

[Fissues]

I have a Masters License. He’s an idiot. Must have been a corporate call. 

Edited December 18, 2023 by Fissues

[graphicguy]

27 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

@Fissues  I won't call out the Captain on his bridge decision to proceed, since they have the latest ... state-of-the-art navigation & weather forecast tools at their disposal, plus NCL's operations center in the background ... what do I (we) know, right.  

 

Cruisemapper has the ship on a 260 to 270'ish course heading, moving further away from Bermuda - does NOT look good for turning around to Dockyard .... unhappy campers onboard.  Windy app showing another weather system near the Bermuda sectors over the next 2 to 3 days, sailing into the fog now.  Who knows, maybe, NCL is going to make a surprise call to Norfolk, VA and let folks go ashore & stretch their sea legs before returning to NY by Friday morning.  

 

@graphicguy  LOL, Dan ... checking out deals too ?  Five Guys and/or Shake Shack for a juicy burger.  DW had me looking at the Getaway options this winter, since we bailed on Prima's 2nd leg B2B, been getting itchy but even for a last minute "deal" - can't get excited, knowing that the "bonus" Bermuda stop during these months is at best 50:50 or a coin toss.  

Yeah...I have been looking at those Bliss-Alaska sailings given NCL sent me a 10% off coupon.  So far, none of those fares have excited me.

 

Looking at Viva and Aqua fares, too.  Will be on the Prima in Feb, so will keep eyes peeled as 2023 turns into 2024.

[v3cruiser]

5 hours ago, Fissues said:

Lord knows what the captain was thinking when he left New York. He’s an idiot.

Cant imagine the mayhem if he did not leave new york and people lining up to get off the ship demanding their money back. Doubt the decision was his. 

[schmoopie17]

18 hours ago, mking8288 said:

 

These are from O'Sheehan's (refer to as The Local on other NCL ships)

If O'Sheahan's and the Local are virtually interchangeable as far as their menus, why is the Local the only one to offer the Hot Fudge Sundae? Enquiring minds want to know...especially me, since my next two cruises are on ships that don't have a Local.

[mking8288]

Got an idea, dunno if it's going to work but heck ... contact Special Needs ahead of your dietary requirements and perhaps, for your convenience to sail and sustain ... they can cheerfully make it available, probably for the usual upcharge + 20%  

 

These 2 venues are "virtually" interechangeable but not mirrored to 99.95%, right - it's like the now infamous hash brown hunts.  And, then, the chunky potatoes popped out - fewer cuts to chop them up instead of finely dicing them up ... time & labor savings, I think is the justification for the changeover.  

 

NCL is just full of unexpected surprises post-Covid shutdown these days ... 

 

3 hours ago, schmoopie17 said:

 ... why is the Local the only one to offer the Hot Fudge Sundae? Enquiring minds want to know... my next two cruises are on ships that don't have a Local.

[mking8288]

Tuesday, Day 4 of this sailing's 5 Days data, headings ... next & final stop is back to NYC for disembarkation, not visiting an alternate port. MSC Merv was still in Boston last night. In all fairness, multiple cruise line ships were affected by the weekend storm.

 

 

 

 

Maybe, they will open the rope course today ??  Nieces had fun last week. 

 

 

[dexddd]

On 12/18/2023 at 4:48 PM, schmoopie17 said:

 

Edited December 20, 2023 by dexddd
Eta

[dexddd]

GA and Gem should be passing soon near Virginia Beach.  Why not make it a port stop?

[mking8288]

5 hours ago, dexddd said:

GA and Gem should be passing soon ... Why not make it a port stop?

I saw 😉 an early bird - up early & catching up on CC posts.  You and I both know that's unlikely, even if they have hash browns and beans on one ship and not the other ... can't just transfer across, even if USCG and public health regulations permit that while at sea.  Question is whether or not, chunky potatoes are in and the finely diced potatoes are on the way out 😁 😆 🤔 

 

Assuming the AIS data provided on CruiseMapper is reasonably accurate, was wondering why they turned north & sailed rather close to the VA coastline, within 50 to 70 nm - last night, tracking suggested maybe a port stop was remotely possible, a medivac patient transfer ???  But, nobody posting semi-live or giving any update onboard, hard to tell what speed the ship was doing & whether or not ... The port stop could've been done yesterday morning, even if it's just a few hours.  Maybe, we'll hear or get to read about it once they disembark folks tomorrow - looked like they will arrive very early again (AIS filed for a 3:00 EDT arrival)

 

 

 

Merg is now up in Portland, ME - wondering what's open & good for folks to see and do, some of the shops & stores are probably closed for the winter months ... lobster season, this isn't.  Gossips from the MSC board ?? 

 

Seas look better this morning and the GEM sailed passing the GA earlier, now more than 100 nm apart again, going their opposite & own ways.  

 

 

 

Edited December 20, 2023 by mking8288

[snoozcroozr]

On 12/16/2023 at 5:51 AM, mking8288 said:

Port of Calls - changes announced prior to embarkation due to weather forecast en route -

 

 

Subsequently, it was announced mid-cruise that due to forecasted weather at Bermuda, the revised plan to call on Dockyard was cancelled.  An additional 90 minutes was extended for ship passengers to stay at St. Maarten (3 PM instead of 1:30 PM ...)

 

It was confirmed earlier this Thursday, that an OBC was issued $12 USD per passenger as a pro-rated adjustment for the missed/cancelled port of call (apparently, without "needing" to request and ask for the credit by going to Guest Services and/or the Onboard Credits Desk in the atrium.)  

 

 

 

The port fee and taxes adds up to more than $12 USD/pp.  An old document from Bermuda authorities indicates the fee is $25 USD/pp.  Other cruisers mentioned their cruise that docked only on Bermuda having taxes and fees in the hundreds of dollars.  Is the $12 refund just so that people think they are getting a refund and be done with it?

 

[mking8288]

GA sailed slowly last night, under 10 kts. and back in NY this morning.  

 

 

[WindinmySails]

Could you please tell me what pier you docked at in Puerto Rico?

[mking8288]

@WindinmySails NCL ships, including the Getaway, usually dock at the San Juan pier (not the old Pan American pier further away & on the other side)  ... it's close to Señor Frog's and Walgreen, next to the hotel, shops & restaurants nearby, including a Starbucks (yes, free WiFi) a block away - picture of the port/ship/waterfront at post #10 ... 

[Sugar Magnolia]

1 hour ago, mking8288 said:

@WindinmySails NCL ships, including the Getaway, usually dock at the San Juan pier (not the old Pan American pier further away & on the other side)  ... it's close to Señor Frog's and Walgreen, next to the hotel, shops & restaurants nearby, including a Starbucks (yes, free WiFi) a block away - picture of the port/ship/waterfront at post #10 ... 

 

Yes, when one of the NCL ships is visiting San Juan for the day as one of the ports of call on the itinerary, then she usually docks at the San Juan pier in Old San Juan. However, when the ship is home porting in San Juan, then she usually docks at the Pan American pier near the convention center. There are also different Sheraton Hotels located near both piers, so that further confuses some first time cruisers to San Juan. A friend of mine woke up at his hotel in Old San Juan on embarkation day and wondered why the Epic was not there. 😅

 

Edited December 22, 2023 by Sugar Magnolia

[dexddd]

12 hours ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

 

Yes, when one of the NCL ships is visiting San Juan for the day as one of the ports of call on the itinerary, then she usually docks at the San Juan pier in Old San Juan. However, when the ship is home porting in San Juan, then she usually docks at the Pan American pier near the convention center. There are also different Sheraton Hotels located near both piers, so that further confuses some first time cruisers to San Juan. A friend of mine woke up at his hotel in Old San Juan on embarkation day and wondered why the Epic was not there. 😅

 

Correct.

[dexddd]

Of course those viral videos showed up.  One on main MSN page of the humanity of Mera going to Boston and not Bahamas.  Showed lots of folks in Bamboo pool which is an enclosed pool area for Gen pop, even has a bar.  Whoops, we had one call out here from pc police we can't use that term, guess too many seasons of Orange left us with the term. 

 

Had been an NCL ship, no such venue if ship went north with inside pool except Haven.  Poor folks on Mera in YC no such enclosed pool area, demand compensation.  To sail and sustain though, YC has a large lounge with bar, fancy coffee maker, and eager staff.

[JIMESOPUS]

Did someone say an inside pool for those folks in steerage? 

[dexddd]

15 hours ago, JIMESOPUS said:

Did someone say an inside pool for those folks in steerage? 

Even Foosball.  Two levels.  Warm and humid.