mking8288

Apparently, NCL's IT needs a vacation too, hmmm - they can't wait either 😁😀 Just a quick note - for those embarking tomorrow (many are in NYC already - welcome) about ships @ 17:00 +/- that I'm tracking to "guess'timate" the probably ETA for the Prima ... Pearl is more than 1/2 way toward Halifax sailing at just 16.5 kts (1 less engine needed) - looking good. Carnival Venezia just sailed, heading toward VZB destination being Nassau at 16 kts, let's see if she's breaking the rules & speeding south once out in Lower NY Bay. Prima continues her run at 20.3 kts toward NY, 200+ nm off VA with nearest land being Virginia Beach and at her present pace, should be off to the east of Delaware Bay - MD/NJ in 4 to 5 hours, with Atlantic City & Toms River ahead. If she's passing these reference points by 9 to 10 PM later on, she's on track for an early (but, otherwise usual) arrival into NY harbor by 6 to 7 AM and docking after 8 to 9 AM, subject to harbor traffic ... (even if she has to throttle back to 10 kts or less for a short period of time) listening to marine radio traffic on my scanner for any whales related sighting and/or harbor advisories, etc. (none heard)

Funny that some of us "knew" Alvin from past cruises but hardly anyone chasing the quest for who's the Haven concierge and butler, LOL ... and, while we are in steerage, I know at least where some of you will be having breakfast in the morning # wink # wink. It's all good, either we head down to Hudson or Indulge for breakfast or just order room service breakfast to have it delivered, depending on how well they are managing the lines to wait & get seated. There is a chance that Alvin will be going on vacation soon & likely to ride along with us again, probably after we docked in Southampton, UK as flights home (Asia) are cheaper (and shorter) for NCL to arrange, for others & him alike to their much deserved & hard earned R&R. He is one of the few that leave a positive impression on the passengers, friendly & outgoing and often on the pier and near the gangway - overseeing his team while waiving at others coming & going. Ask me who some of the other CD on the Joy, Getaway, Epic and Escape from our recent cruises post-Covid, and I come up empty, LOL. "Gina" was one of the ACD going way, way back in the pre-FDR days, maybe before Kevin O, coming onto ship's PA systems often to announce, "it's Bingo times"

That was from CC M&G 2017 on the BA, I had to double check ... A very good turnout, can't remember exactly but don't think I was the organizer for that one. Here'a better, sharper photo - AI enhanced. Everything from the vest were silenced, are you sure the buzzing was mine 😁 Farewell on stage, Alvin has that sweet voice to it ... nowadays, virtual video farewell.

Backup - final prep: iPhone and Android smartphone do run out of storage space, sooner or later, regardless - while backing up to sync to home server ... click thru a couple of old NCL cruise folders - time flies. Found old photos of Alvin Oliver, CD currently onboard the Prima ... he's been around. He was conducting the Platinum behind-the-scene tour on the Breakaway 10 years ago (2014) and ran into him over the years, this was from a Halloween cruise on the BA in 2017. He did a great & fun presentation on cruise ship operations with slide presentations, go see it if and when scheduled onboard ... This was the Cruise Critic Meet & Greet, held in La Cucina b/c we had expected a fairly large turnout. Alvin is 2nd on the right (photo taken from iPhone 5S then ... kind of fuzzy) and he was a little "slimmer" in those days, wish I found a picture from 2014. NCL featured him, among others, on social media during the pandemic shutdown. If only Apple had developed AirTags then, maybe ... it would've help tracked down someone's CPAP, apparently checked and gone missing - do not, don't and shall not check medications and medical devices needed. Carry it and keep it with you, really. How and why would it be under the bed or inside the closet of a stateroom, unless the occupant place it there ... in other words, just return it and no questions asked. Doing a test to see how the Samsung SmartTag2 perform vs. Apple's AirTag, putting 1 of each in the checked spinner tomorrow and drop it off with the porter ... let the tracking begin. @Arzeena old friends popping up on this thread, isn't that cool - just skim thru the details, check out the pictures and that's plenty already ... something for almost everyone.

It's NCL spam time - again, this morning 😤 Global maritime as well as whale zone speed restrictions ... from DR to NYC, gotcha 🙄😳🫢 then NCL might be advised to recalibrate the fleet schedules to reflect that since these are then, by definitions, not unforseen circumstances like engine issues, medical diversion, labor strike or flight delays. Other cruise lines seemed to manage their schedules just fine and are on time or early. Whatever, I suppose, go with the flow and my sense of humor in picturing the mess created isn't funny, rather a sad one. Okay, Okay ... let it go, let it go. Prima is racing up the Atlantic, burning fuel ... maybe the USCG is offline with radar speed enforcement, just for us. Pray for no Code Alpha or Code Oscar, etc. and fingers crossed. Let's have another look this evening.

Happy travel day for many on the CC roll call or not - quick weather snapshot, not quite a Bermuda crossing to the Azores but not exactly as if we are going to Anchorage or even Iceland, wet & damp - yes ... cold, not really. Good thing I repacked again and Susan taking out a sweater, and the 2 Sharons know what it means 😆

Got my checked bag down to 45 lbs including 2 pairs of shoes, wearing the Timberland walk boots as that's the heavy one. Air tagged & double strapped. Was going to use a 22" rollerboard, 10 lbs empty, as carry-on ... ditched the idea, back to the convertible carry-on/backpack, 18 lbs to 19 lbs together, plus 3 lbs with notebook PC bundled w charger. The extra trick set-up is the personal bag for flying home, if needed. The black tote bag is well within allowable limit, take the medium packing tube with the bulkiest parka + fleece vest to make extra room in the check bag. Will use it only when we must, stowaway for now. Travel vests not needed, for now. Toss the loose items onto 2 small Eagle Creek pouches, liquid toiletries in the checked bag. This will work fine - look at the weather again overnight or morning. An older pair of shoes will not come home, did slippers will stay ... 2 lbs lighter, buy a new pair later. DW can buy 2 to 3 pairs of new shoes or clothes, room to fit w/o hitting 50 lbs max. Happy Happy

Happy & safe travel for all the CC'ers traveling to NY to join up for this TA. Prima continues speeding near full speed at 21+ kts this evening, seemed to be making good time to close those nautical distance, with a slight crosswind across the bow, starboard toward port. Pearl flew down the river & blew past the VZ Bridge by 19:00 at 16+ kts toward Halifax, ETA is 6:30 Saturday morning. Okay, who flipped on the laser b/c she slowed down to under 10 kts turning toward LI Sound out toward Nova Scotia ... been pacing under 10 kts fie for 2 hours, past JFK and east of Long Beach, approaching Jones Beach hugging the coastline 20 miles to her north. MSC Divina behind NCL also pacing at 10 kts. Carnival Venezia near Atlantic City at 15 kts toward NYC, ETA is 4 AM. "Radar" focused to see if there is someone doing a semi or live report from the Pearl on their TA ... none seen, yet. Escape TA earlier this month, didn't see any either or did I miss it. Doing my part and the other Semi Live 48 day adventure

@Travelicious - you did well today on your adventure. Google Map and/or MyTransit would've helped you from almost being stranded in BB/CI area and feeling lost ... the bus you're waiting for is likely an express bus, good service during rush hour into/from Manhattan & Brooklyn - otherwise, every 30 to 60 minutes is the average wait. Otherwise, local MTA (city) buses wouldn't have taken you into the "city" and only as far as downtown Brooklyn, another world in itself - nicknamed DUMBO, hip neighborhood of new hi-rise $$$ condo w views of skyline. From Little Italy which is practically Chinatown except for the 4 to 6 square blocks core area, then walking over to Katz is a "good" walking exercise, there's a local bus from Chinatown to get you there, maybe 10 stops alas too late. We loved Dos Caminos, food is good & salad is huge, good find. Rest well for another full day tomorrow. See all onboard soon.

Norwegian Pearl on the move @ 17:55 - bon voyage for leading the way, setting the pace. Just finished backing out of Pier 88 - started going sideway a short while ago - turning to go south on the Hudson River. Next stop - Halifax, arriving 2 days later ... our turns 2 days after them. Then, they head for Iceland, just as we do, following their wake. Live on portnywebcam.com to view with lots of folks on the upper & open deck. We typically do not book specialty dining on embarkation evening, no matter what - too easy for delays, changes & schedule adjustments and on a beautiful day like this, gotta be outside on the balcony, waterfront or upper deck, etc. to enjoy & appreciate that view, sailing down the Hudson. The Manhattan skyline and especially, the new World Trade Center where WTC 1 and 2 used to be ... and think of that sunny September morning, where we're when the towers came down, to reflect and to never forget. Pearl is already doing 11 kts heading down toward Lower NY Bay ... no armed USCG and/or NYPD escorts that I can see on the portcam, or fireboats doing the salute with their water canons.

Ships on the move - Pearl is at Pier 88, nice & sunny day, scheduled to sail at 18:00 or about. The gated entrance for trucks provisioning was still open at 16:20, now closed. Meanwhile, it's all ahead or full speed onboard the Prima at 20 to 21 kts since leaving DR yesterday around 15:00 or 25 hours later, she's - relatively speaking, on a flat map & not 3D circular map - north of Nassau, Bahamas straight towards NYC. NCL ships routinely sail these routes and it's not uncommon to reach NY harbor by 3 to 4 AM going much slower en route, slowly further on that last 100 nm closing into NJ for Ambrose & Sandy Hook to meet the pilot boat to continue into MCT, docking by 6 to 7 AM - regardless of Right whales sightings and speed zones, etc. Thoughts: I have a theory or two, unproven and nothing to confirm or proof otherwise, the basis for the delays called just 2 weeks ago. RC and Carnival ships seemed to be doing just fine - confidently - maintaining their posted sailing schedules, and not posting last minute changes that's anxiety provoking to passengers with air, train & bus schedules to rearrange. I have no issues sailing to sustain and supporting green efforts, be kind & gentle to marine life; and, to achieve financial goals, as shareholders - NCL to be successful. These "changes" aren't isolated, just look at some of the other posts - cannot cheer or wave the pom poms - whisper of leadership, management and stewardship at the top. Back on getting ready ... another 24 hours from now, should have a good idea of whether Prima will be docking as late as 10 AM or not, an early bet & call it differently, closer to somewhere between 6 to 8 AM. With the usual repo & turnaround time, odds of onboard by noon looking good - not just lining up for security screening & waiting to check-in or early board. Might as well sail at 19:00 and make it a sunset cruise down the river to salute the Statue of Liberty on the way out to Halifax.

@skeeter195 Thanks, looks good, interesting & useful - another addition to the "toolbox" ahead, adding a new bookmark on the Chrome browser to run that off Linux laptop onboard, not seeing any major "threats" en route, do you see any ? BTW, you will be at the M&G too, cabin crawl is a bust (I checked w Peter) but someone else in Haven interested in a private tour to check out yours, if you are open to that - they are in a different OS - set that up on Sunday between 4 of you, perhaps. If not, that's okay too, it's a "sidebar" matter and don't need to involve the roll call crowd.

Hahaha - don't jinx it for others. I did looked up our trip insurance and strikes are covered, even if they spread to Gatwick, only if delayed for 12+ hours and certified by the carrier. We didn't go for broke with coverage, but delays and change fees are covered although I'm not sure how much we can "buy" if we are "forced" to stay an extra day or two near London & hangout by the airport. Not a bad idea, hop on the train into town & call up my niece - she has a car & promised to show us around. Since we are taking our "chances" with Norse Air, EU tarmac delays and other rules got us covered - another reason to choose to fly their fairly new B787's vs A321's or B737 series - cash compensations & things vs. vouchers (new US-DOT rules wont' get fully phrased in for 2 years) Iceland, if SHTF, nothing we can do if the captain has to divert or skip for safety reasons ... as long as we have 24 hours notice before arrival, can cancel our 4WD car rental at no charge while at sea by calling or email notification to them - hence, keeping Station Zebra functional is a must and of course, at the "mercy" of Starlink's satellite network coverage. Worst come to worst, make a 2 or 3 minutes marine telephone call, ship to shore at $4.99 a minute - should be billed to Onboard Account, and, that - I am sure - is a valid charge offset by any unused non-refundable OBC (expect port charges/fees to be at least partially refunded if that happen - we'll see) In short, don't skim on trip, travel & medical/evac insurance when traveling long distance, just foolish. High security alerts in NYC ... (motorcade today & tomorrow, mainly between midtown & downtown courts) not worried, safe & secure out in the suburb and not going into Manhattan, unlike out-of-town TA cruisers with some arriving today, tomorrow and a few on day-of-embarkation ... daring to use mass transit as frugal travelers (which I think is fine or doable, since we aren't sailing until 6 PM and they have until 16:00 to report to the pier & check-in) Prima is going to load a good half a "tankful" of fuel oil after her high-speed run from Puerto Plata to NY for the crossing; plus restock her food storage, provisions and liquor, toilet papers and things (given up on hash browns and cookies, not a deal breaker but nice to have a few) - if she's "late" per NCL's notification, I really wonder if we are going to sail, close to on-time around 6 PM ... we'll see. Sales taxes will be charged while docked & within US waters - you, me and others know but not everyone, especially newbies. Too bad you aren't along for this, upgrade bids are still cheerfully taken - OMG, starting bids for the premium Haven suites as high as $20k ... crazy. No thanks.

Weather forecasts on ports and while at sea crossing the north Atlantic toward Iceland, at this moment, based on several online sources are looking good - for sailway, short hop to Halifax and continuing to Reykjavik ... nothing that look bad, nasty or real rough, 10' to 15' seas or even 20' should be expected but for others, maybe not. Going to count on Windy App to help with predicting ahead. Prima's ship navigational channel provides very basic, limited and inadequate information to look ahead ... unless they finished the upgrade (in progress, last November - haven't heard anything different otherwise) Changed out some clothings and jacket to be even better prepared for wet weather in Europe, warmer than usual for this time of the year and less "heavy" winter gears, layers is the buzz word. @Sugar Magnolia DW frequently "borrow" my XXXL tees as sleepwear, LOL - don't have a choice but to pack extras; and, to make max use of free onboard laundry services, especially now that they've reverted back to the full-sized paper laundry bag for steerage use. I have an extra 30L stowaway backpack and "personal bag" sized compression cube, should you or someone need to borrow, LOL. ("bonafide" onboard CC'ers in good standing only) Prima has been maintaining her cruise speed of 21 kts +/1 toward NY, seas are calm, sunny skies - ETA on CruiseMapper given as 08:00 on 27th Apr. Unless NCL is going to have the Prima (and Getaway, 2 days later for the TA) slow down for other "unforeseen" reasons, besides fuel saving ... to sail & sustain and to observe other maritime regulations including whales protection, I question how late she's arriving into NY. Other cruise lines and their ships apparently have been speeding up & down, and along the coastal waters near NY & NJ area, breaking the "rules" whereas NCL must be a good corporate citizen, hmmm. Then, again, what do I know - humors intended, just an unproven theory. Link to live Prima shipcam - might have to refresh this or type in the URL on a new (mobile)browser page to see - https://www.ncl.com/shipcams/primacam/fullsize.jpg (ad blocks/VPN might need to be disabled) Second day in a row, more NCL "spam" emails about safety videos on Youtube, just click & let the 90seconds run its course, jump to another tab/browser page and resume. Maybe they are tracking as to see whether the email was opened or not using AI and placing "cookies" (no, nope, not the edible kinds) when they pushed them to 1,700+ email addresses (# of cabins and/or email addresses, probably more as it's "individually" addressed) Sea state, waves & crossing the pond - the bigger picture as far as I'm concerned ... since we don't have a "weather master" on the roll call, I'm going to "fake" it as best as I can to call it. Maybe "Jim" sitting home or somewhere can assume the task or at least backup or help the weather to make it more fun & lively. Nothing major in the north Atlantic ahead ...

@Arzeena Hahaha, first, apology as I should've "alerted" you to start reading earlier to catch up on our busy cruiselife but you know ... and I am not even responsible for the M&G, just keeping the lines straight, the t's and the d's crossed to have a good headcount, plus the other "stuff" which we won't get into her. What's this thing that @JIMESOPUS is referring to, think I have an idea, happening to a # of other roll calls, whatever. No, I am packing more than wires & cables, smartphones, tablet, adapter, accessories and those washy washy items (remember the "Escape" norovirus ... do not want to go thru that again) Let me think about a mini Black Wire Project - whatever it means - later when this is behind us. Susan found room to put "my" iPad mini in her carry-on and leaving her iPad home (too heavy to carry - LOL) - Apple better not do another iOS "urgent" security update in the next several days, since its' all set & powered down, fully charged for gaming, etc. Isn't it great to find & see other old friends thru this live report - got a feeling both new & old time CC'ers are going to pop up here, cheers all.