mking8288

Swift Menu, dated 8/202 prices up ? maybe fewer choices, in the spirit of simplicity - for your in/convenience - sure bet @dexddd - proof positive, it's alive & well

Lots of vessels traffic as we head toward the English Channel earlier, another cruise ship in the distance, starboard side - P&O Iona at 30x zoom A pretty sunset heading south on the Channel, England on the distance, going 22 kts. with ETA given on Marinetraffic as 5 AM. Amazingly calm seas nearly all the way on this TA, and not missing a single port of call.

Randomly chosen MDR food pictures - Day 14 Niece's pre-order for today's MDR came out good as it should, with her multiple food allergies. She'll know better to eat only in the buffet in the future, whether it's NCL again ( Platinum ) after this cruise or back to Princess and Royal Caribbean.

Get those waffles - 1 or 2 of the 10 varieties should bring a smile to you and at those prices, try their beef stew but skip the hotdog. Our total came to just 30.20 Euro including 3 soda & cappuccino, less than the cost of a single price fixed set lunch.

Swift - yes, still available, for your convenience, to sail & sustain. And, with just a nominal charge only.

Seagulls & birds are here, meal time signals as the ship's thrusters are spinning as if we are ready to set aside - no pier runners today since the PA system hasn't call out for guests to contact them ....

Happenings around the ship and outdoors - Ocean Walk ... not a soul out there, can't tell if the Infinity Pool is open Vibe Beach Club - looks quiet today Noodles soup in the buffet - The quieter section toward the back, hotdogs, burgers & things are served here. Harbor cruise ???

Nevermind, look what we got earlier and it's safely onboard ... had to be careful as the buffet crew were all asking questions & looking for a way to clear our table 😅

Very scenic and great for photography loving cruisers ... over 7,000 steps today for us. Leave those high heels on the ship and get out those walking boots. No life vests - all swimmers onboard ... Watch out for them and the bicyclists that appeared out of nowhere 😳 The check is in the mail - it's a functioning mail drop.

Zeebrugge and Brugge isn't exactly a friendly port for anyone with mobility challenges or access issues in getting around. Must be like 6,000 cruise ship passengers from NCL and MSC combined today, lead by 288 different tour guides speaking into multilingual audio feeds to explain as everyone was going to and passing on the same narrow cobblestone streets.

How far is too far to walk ... Uber is available but if you are late - better use them to rush you back.

This is the park area where the 30 minutes one-way private shuttle and NCL shuttle (they are a little shorter walk) drop everyone off & pick up for the return to the ship, then thru port security - followed by quick 3 to 4 minutes free, double decker port shuttle bus to the ship - follow by another security screening to board the ship. Just like NYC, watch out for those stealthy & silent bicyclists, some do the horn while others just zip thru - and like other EU cities, no safety helmets ... must be fearless. W.C. or bathroom use - 1 Euro 😯

Coffee break time - ideal with waffles, hotdog and Flemish beef stew over fries and cappuccino - yummy 😋

Belgium Chocolate Store - checked 😋

Here is your virtual ship images of MSC as we returned to the ship around 1:45 PM - she's huge

We are rolling down the highway, once we exited the industrial port & now heading into the city. LTE signal is now 5G 👍

Free port shuttle to the small terminal building, quick 50 steps across the street to the shuttle bus office to exchange our tickets. @dexddd You are on MSC this morning "stalking" us and providing security 😁😁😁

@Ellis1138 I think your hubby's walking boots should be fine as flat ones, they don't want heels, sandals or flip-flop shoes for the race cars. @Sugar Magnolia suspecting someone is at NCL is spying on our live reporting & trying to downplay the shortage or cutback. Are the cookies freshly baked ? Nice illustrated pix in Amsterdam for the friend of friend asking 😁 Gangways on Deck 6 AFT and FWD, passports needed - clear now at 8:25 to exit ship & take required port shuttle buses to leave the port area, walking around here not permitted.

Full stop just a short while, minutes ago ...

Welcome to Belgium, my Google Pixel is out of airplane mode, we are next to the MSC ship, sun is coming out of the fog and as Sharon @Fogfog said, docking now. Data use is up from MiFi tethering and 1 international call made at only 28 cents. Room service breakfast is here, Susan doesn't have to get ready to go downstairs to eat first, etc Today's plan, free shuttle inside industrial port to outside, and private shuttle bus to town, explore & roam, waffles & chocolate ... maybe shopping - once we come to a full stop, gangway is ready & clear to go outside (not yet, at 0.2 kts) No cigars ... I mean, no hash browns or cookies on any of the plated items. Buffet has a small ice cream station, maybe 😉😉😉

This is possible only with all the named and nameless heros on CC contributing and writing, leaving insider's jokes along with comments and their mini reports as live reporters in the field ... give meanings to team spirits and speak for the tiny influence we being with CC as members carried, if any. @The P Susan still has 3 days to shop for shoes including the side trip between Southampton & London Gatwick Airport, not to mention ... duty-free shops. We are definitely dumping 2 pairs of shoes as they're reached EOL in service.

Ditto, we got 2 more bags of free laundries done free ( Diamond tier ) for our 2 cabins - sent out yesterday afternoon & they're in our cabins when we came back onboard this afternoon - no charge. We didn't put any "coupon" in our stuffed bags, write Diamond on the slip and the paper bag. That's all - mission accomplished 😁 Next time, with 2 more reaching Platinum status, we can do more on the next 15+ days 🤗 Local cellular service as we roam, continued to prove high speed & very good signal. NCL's StarLink as advertised #cough #cough 👎 My station gears or hardwares being a factor, of course.

It's about 9:45 PM and past sunset, the lock has reopened toward the North Sea and we are heading out to go south toward Bruges, ETA by 8 AM local time.

@dexddd Noticed anything unusual about the photo here - Look closely - allow me to zoom in 🤫 That is not my Station Zebra outpost, but it looks like an active radar system ... it's above my clearance level 😆 at CC to explain Meanwhile, Mrs M asked if this is the next cruise that I booked and sailing next. Answer, what do you think - it's mostly Oceanviews & insides 😁😁😁