mking8288

Just after midnight, Prima still at 18 kts and probably 70 to 80 NM from the cruise terminal. With Iceland face to face immigration, passport check for all at the Commodore Room, we are ordering hot breakfast room service delivery this morning to avoid chaotic mess by going downstairs to eat as the buffet is likely going to be a zoo. C.I. shared info that ship could be docking as early as 4 AM.

Just pictures - enjoy the scenery from the balcony, starboard side at 9:30 PM and from the Surfside Cafe, thru the buffet window A beautiful late evening as the Prima continue to speed toward the harbor at Reykjavik, Iceland with fellow passenger(s) in need of higher level of advanced medical care. Wish them speedy recovery & get well again and soon 🙏 🙏

It's official, Alvin CD just announced that Prima will be arriving by 6 AM due to onboard medical emergency, cruising at max speed - guests are advised to wait 90 minutes after arrival to set up the gangway, offload the patient, etc. before other guests can go ashore. No changes to shorex times via NCL. All abroad time is 12:30 PM on Monday. For all practical purposes, we gained 6 hours in Iceland. We pray for the patient's speedy recovery and to get well, and our thoughts & prayers for family & others traveling together. @Fogfog Sharon, sometimes, I rather be wrong or proven to be something else & different, logics and other data, put the puzzles together - led me to made that bold & darling call. I really wished the reason to speed up is for something else - with 3 Code Alpha

Preview of the Reykjavik terminal - Prima on her last visit.

@Fogfog Yulp, dad renewed his US passport but stored them together at home, took the expired one and the daughter did double check & left together for P88, and being compliant w NCL's spam email bombing to not show up any earlier than noon & figured they aren't going to fight for a late lunch once onboard, arriving between 1 to 2 PM, caught in that cruise terminal fiasco ... Weather isn't all that bad and no snow in forecast, just be prepared for showers & windy conditions, real-feel temp in the 30's and 20's overnight. Timberland waterproof walking boots ready 👌 @dexddd Sharon helped answered your Q on H access, I hope. As for the missing anchor, I will try to find out & report back. We've trimmed the speed down to 19.7 kts now but with my rough calculated nm distance to port & speed ...I say we are looking at a pre-dawn or sunrise arrival ... the cloth hangers, ceiling panels and noises behind the wall partitions are vibrating & shaking again with the steady "rattling" sound. Beginning to see smaller birds hovering just above the ocean water searching for food, must be close to land but no sighting of whales or dolphins (???) - got my binoculars ready to spot for marine life and land - not quite there yet. Just don't be surprised if we sail into the harbor at 4 or 5 AM Google Gemini (Bard) generated this AI image a while ago -

Ha 😆 you are doing DWO tonight, unless you are beaming for a liquid diet, complimentary of course - should - for the special table - you might still be hungry afterward, given the "Cooking Lite" dinner sized servings in the MDR. Drop by Cagney's and if we aren't done by 8:30 PM - good chance you can join the ladies for French press coffee to go with dessert. As for missing Code Alpha, you weren't alone, our dancing niece crashed after another late night & never heard it. Since you are inside the Studio section, don't believe we can rush over to bang the doors, perhaps another CC'er in that area can do a wellness check to make sure you are safely evacuated if & when it isn't just a drill. If none of us hear anything about the reasons for the Prima to speed on the final stretch to Iceland and ignored maritime regulations & whales protection zones, you can ask the officers the reason for racing ahead. The Pearl was taking her sweet time getting to Reykjavik on Wednesday & only docked slightly earlier than their 2 PM arrival. Enjoy dinner & do share and tell us later.

Continuation of above - ETA is listed as 9:30 AM tomorrow morning. However, looking at our latest position, course heading of 44 deg (NE direction) at 20.5 kts, best estimated distance of 220 nm or less - even if our average cruise speed is throttled to 17.5 kts - we can easily be on final approach into Reykjavik's harbor for the cruise pier by sunrise or 4 to 5 AM. Of course, to sail & sustain, even at 14 to 15 kts, we can still dock by 9:30 AM 🤔 and that will be 4+ hours earlier than planned for. On the opposite end, I can see us at the pier by 2 to 3 AM during the overnight hours. No announcement of any kind nor do I expect them to say anything otherwise except on a need to know basis. There's a reason for the bridge to speed up again to Iceland and weather is not the reason, the adjustment is monitored & GPS tracked by NCL Miami's HQ operations command center, approval requested from the watch team on the bridge & being carried out ... it's one of the fun question asked by Peter last night during DWO and answered by the Ship Safety Officer. Let's just have trust & faith in choices made, and things to work out.

Beautiful afternoon with the sun out, starboard side - sunset tonight is around 10:15 PM, as close as we'll get to the midnight 🌞 sun. Prima was going about 14 to 15 kts during lunch - that was about 3.5 hours ago. Capt Kevin "Out" has been speeding again, seas are 1 to 2 m or 5 to 8 ft. with small caps, a slightly rougher ride but hardly anyone noticed that we are going rather fast at 20.5 kts +/- for the past 2 hours. 🤔 Hmmm

Email received, thanks ... will do. We'll chat privately more on our sidebar, station channel. Enjoy 😊 your weekend at Hell's Kitchen 😉

Random things around the ship - CruiseNext DoubleUp, any date, any ship, any stateroom - extra OBC to use on current cruise.

Nothing fishy, it just stinks for them, adult daughter taking aged, frail parent in late 70's, on this cruise - from Brooklyn, NY - one US passport is valid but other one was mistakenly taken from home, valid & already renewed current US passport left behind when they left for Pier 88. While standing in line to get checked in with the massive chaotic lines inside Pier 88, had they looked carefully again - should and would have realized the elder's mistaken ... probably could've made a round trip ride - weekend traffic is "lighter" - to Brooklyn (nearby) to retrieve the valid passport. Then avoid the long line while standing & waiting, and walked onboard close to 4 PM. Their checked bags had already been handed off to Pier porter when they got out of the car service. Avoidable but ...

Internet (iCafe) cafe with DIY $$ wireless printing service 24/7 but BYO - laptop, notebook PC, iPad, tablet, smartphone & iPhone, etc to connect. No desktop stations or terminals w keyboard/mouse to rent for a fee or use, etc. Station Zebra online - Linux Ubuntu v22.x LTS with Chrome browser, NCL hotspot log-in screen. Disable or turnoff VPN if connectivity issues are encountered. There are a total of 4 110v 3-prong US outlet in the balcony cabin, plus 1 220v 2 pin EU outlet (adapter required) and 2 sets of USB charging outlets, 1 being A and other C type, max output is 1.5A only. However, by (poor) design, unless you are using a micro-sized or slim/compact charger, the USB-A or USB-C outlet will be unusable, blocked ... unless you have a short 6" extension cord/tap (non-surge suppressed) Bedside, one 119v outlet is available and 1 pair of USB outlet per bedside USB lamp.

MDR breakfast & lunch photos - eating "light" Smoked salmon on a very, very lightly toasted half bagel x 2, yogurt and fruit plate, OJ & coffee. *** 1 piece of rolled up smoke salmon (endangered 😬) as I am used to getting 2 to 3 pieces per order - thus, double-up.

Random facts and info only "details" that we've learned onboard Casino At Sea players (base level or lowest tier) - no more house drink card, and not even carton of water while playing in the casino ... bar runners will bring a glass of water. Costs for missing embarkation & pier check-in cutoff and getting to next port, Halifax, NS, Canada to board the ship (missed 2 nights onboard) $1,000 USD for OW flight, LGA to Halifax on Air Canada connecting via Toronto (no direct non-stop) and 1 night hotel plus Uber to cruise terminal. #ouch #ouch - x 2 adults, one with an expired passport ... discovered / realized only after at the check-in counter inside Pier 88 last Saturday, after being in the long line before 2 PM moving slower ( got there sometime after 1 PM'ish) Lots of what if's ... no trip insurance. Pennywise & pound foolish - cost 2 of them an extra $2,000 to do this TA. True story from niece's circle of friends from NYC.

Beautiful day at sea, sunshine and calm wind, seas at 1 meter or 3 to 4 ft. Speed trimmed to 14 kts. Conditions will worsen ***** later today. ***** "Increased to" 2 meters or 5 to 8, 9 ft. and more wind speed.

Alex, LHR labor issues might be settled last minute, as you know ... Our GTW non-stop to JFK should land about 2 hours later than yours. Niece now said she can take Monday off so we don't mind an unplanned overnight stay at airline's expense, if our flight is delayed 😆. Fingers crossed Let's worry about that later ... gotta do last minute prep for tomorrow & download maps for navigation.

Good morning 🌞 cloudy skies and it's Day #8 - will arrive Iceland tomorrow around 1 to 2 PM. Temp will be in 40's and showery. Prima now doing 17 kts vs 13 kts over the past 3 days ... pushing faster to get there earlier ? Now, sitting in the Hudson MDR over breakfast - going at 18+ kts Code Alpha over ship's PA system around 6 AM in cabin 119xx starboard side, broadcasted into all stateroom - 3rd one on this TA.

Prima's Abby - digital online library screenshots - several thousands titles in popular categories *** accessed Abby on my Amazon Fire HD 10 Fire tablet, using my QPLS Card, NCL Prima card needed to borrow a book, samples can be read without a card.

@Sugar Magnolia Haha, you should've - we had 2 empty seats & could've join us ... we've had better hosts for these dinners. With surround sound noises at high decibel level, not easy to share stories & carry a good group conversation with the long oval dining table. Was just thinking, should we consider an informal CC power breakfast next Tuesday or Wednesday while at sea, and invite the GM to join us for a listening & converse a bit, or scratch that, just among ourselves - a handful of us to mingle & shoot the breeze. Of course, we can request cookies & ask for hash browns too

@Dukemstr Well, hello CC'er sitting behind us at dinner on the Hudson earlier with 2 ship officers at that oval table - I guess you spotted my "not-trademarked" travel vest, LOL. Please feel free to post, share & add any comments or observations, cheerfully welcomed as it adds richness, color, views and subtle details that we often missed and overlooked. I made our Semi or Live Report open & inclusive, fun & informative. Did any of the asst. managers or "supervisor" (non-servers or assistant servers) come by to visit & say hello at your dining table ?? Unless I blinked and we missed, none came around ... but did noticed some of the servers coming in & out of the gallery (kitchen) taking a peak at our table to see. I should note, we felt that the pace of our service was being rushed somewhat, not everybody finished their starter/soup/salad and the entrees began showing up, with other plates moved aside ... not the proper or best way to do a cruise ship dinner onboard NCL, given our 25 years of cruising the brand. Alas, it is what it is - I call & tell it like it is, likes and dislikes - being a true critic, to be fair & balanced. Thoughts ??

DWO - Guess who else was at tonight's DWO table - Peter & Penny, on the cruise to celebrate her official retirement from teaching ... hosted by a 2 strips "Senior Fire Officer" and 3 strips "Safety Officer" Dwayne Rego, from UK, with aspirations to become a ship captain one day. We also learn that Captain Kevin "O" is around 38-39 years old only, the youngest in the NCL fleet ... 3 other senior officers, including the Staff Captain are qualified and hold licenses to assume the duties of a captain should it become necessary. Saw the CruiseNext Manager (he was on the Getaway & Escape as we've spoken to him before on Latitudes matter) walking past us from/to the Hudson MDR and joked with Peter while waiting, wondered if he is hosting our table tonight or not ... There are about 300 Sapphire members onboard, among the 900+ Platinum. DWO setup is usually a table of 10, hosted by 2 ship officers and 8 guests attending ... but just 6 for our table tonight, a pair from Germany and 4 of us, with 2 empty chairs (no-show or last minute cancellation) Observation footnote - Hudson MDR was busy this evening as usual, but not exceptionally crazy busy and with numerous hostess on duty out front and I am sure at least 2 to 3 asst. managers on duty - not one, and not once, did we see anyone come around to introduce, say hello and check on our table, etc. Scheduling of DWO are handled by GM (Marc)'s secretary - April Anne Acosta doing the invite on his behalf, RSVP to Ext. 00 (if and when they answer their phone at Guest Services, LOL) On other ships like the Escape, it is not uncommon for the GM's secretary or executive assistant to include her direct extension to call back, and/or for other related matters ... as a matter of personal touch. It's a reflection of management style and approaches.

Promoting Food Republic in "The Local" today and coming out of the Hudson MDR, both Nama & Hasuki are both 2/3 empty, perhaps another slow evening. Post mortem: these might be partially attributed to the diverse mix of cruisers onboard the TA and high concentration of Chinese speaking ones with their frenzy for Mahjong & sometimes being rather loud. Sad to call some of them out as bring inconsiderate and buffet hogs, and takeovers of public spaces, blocking passage ways & not holding elevators, first in and out, obstructing access to elevator buttons for others. Susan pointed out that it might alleviate and ease some of that by posting reminders in the proper language that they understand as being "English" only alone isn't adequate, and that a chat should be held with the tour leader waiving the flag as the group's guide. Maybe, it's not too late - "Google Translate" hello 🤗

Shane performing solo in the Metropolitan Bar this evening.

Sunset is around 9:15 to 9:30 PM and sunrise is 5:15 AM ... sky hasn't completely darken yet at 9:55 PM at our present position on a 32 deg heading cruising at 13 kts, with calm seas and waves of 1 to 2 meters - wind has subsided, ideal to sleep in late on a weekend morning, clock to set forward 1 hour at 2 AM. Images captured using Google Pixel 7 Pro in Night Sight mode

Day 7 - FSD and preview of #8 just delivered