*Live blog* - Ben the Bendyman's Great GETAWAY - Maiden Voyage

[shelly11]

can't wait to see the ship!

[jimbri]

Enjoying your review - I am smiling :)

[TracieABD]

Just informed my husband that we HAVE to go to Amsterdam...

 

Awesome photo blog!

[welove2cruisedou]

Cant wait to see your pictures of the NCL Getaway!!:)

[Bunnynme]

Keep it coming, love reading your adventures. Can't wait to see the ship itself. Remember to enjoy!

[knittingpritty5]

So excited for your trip and the pictures. We are booked on her in March!

[turquoise 6]

This is sooo great. I feel as I'm traveling .

You captured it. The subway to Howard beach

Airport stop. Are lingus. Amsterdam

And BEN!!!!!!

:)

[sdmike]

Amsterdam is one of my most favorite cities in the world. Historic and beautiful. Thanks for the tour so far.

[kbowe]

Ben sure gets around! Hope to see you again one day soon!

[kylenyc]

Update from Paris, France, Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Interwebz blackouts, withdrawal, and time to enjoy the amazing Getaway... Oh my!

 

Thank you everyone for your well wishes! You're constantly on Ben's mind :)

 

Ben's dictating now from Paris, France while enjoying dinner in a cozy French restaurant with free wifi, plenty of electrical outlets, and an overworked one waiter tending eight tables, the aroma of fondue in the air.... Mmmmmh.

 

SO SORRY for the sudden silence but there's a good explaination. Been obviously trying to enjoy every single second of the two short days abord the beautiful, exciting, entertaining, fun Getaway and reacquainting with old friends and new... After 11 pm, NCL abruptly shut off the Intenet! Poor Ben and his typist were bouncing off the walls suffering from withdrawal as he wanted so much to blog about what an AMAZING time they've had aboard. NCL didn't offer packaged internet plans and instead sold internet service by the minute. While the price was reasonable ($0.25/min) it backfired as it prevented guests from purchasing a block of minutes they could use after purchasing was disabled between 11 pm and 1:30 pm the next day (this happens on the last day of any cruise which made these 1-Day cruises difficult on our interwebbed explorer.

 

Anywho... Will try to catch up a bit while in Paris.

Edited January 15, 2014 by kylenyc

[kylenyc]

Without further adieu...

 

Day 1, Monday, January 13, 2014 at 11 AM Local

The New Norwegian Getaway - Maiden voyage, January 13, 2014

1-Day Escape from Rotterdam, Netherlands to Southampton, United Kingdom

 

Ben took a taxi to the Maritime Hotel before crossing the Erasmusbrug across from the Rotterdam Cruise Terminal. He surprised when he became so excited to see the Getaway loom large into view. He was also elated not to have mistaken her for the M/S Lebo... and instead loved the hull art and the artist's tasteful and subdued placement of his signature.

 

Docked at the Cruise Terminal Rotterdam, Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 15, 2014 by kylenyc

[kylenyc]

Day 1 - Monday, January 13, 2014 at 11 AM Local

The New Norwegian Getaway - Maiden voyage, January 13, 2014

1-Day Escape from Rotterdam, Netherlands to Southampton, United Kingdom

 

Ben's boarded his chauffer/documentarian's backpack and had him ambulate across the Erasmusbrug (Erasmus Bridge?) to snap views of the Getaway while crossing the bridge. While on the the bridge he lept out and jumped for joy into friend and CC member's arms (Yemi)

 

Docked at the Cruise Terminal Rotterdam, Netherlands

 

 

 

 

 

Gorgious hull art by Lebo

 

Edited January 15, 2014 by kylenyc

[kylenyc]

Day 1 - Monday, January 13, 2014 at 11 AM Local

The New Norwegian Getaway - Maiden voyage, January 13, 2014

1-Day Escape from Rotterdam, Netherlands to Southampton, United Kingdom

 

Boarding has already begun by the time Ben's chauffer walked up to the terminal so there was a short queue at the security screening. Check-In was a breeze after he was ushered into a waiting elevator, then onto the priority check-in line, and had his cabin key in hand in minutes.

 

Docked at the Cruise Terminal Rotterdam, Netherlands

 

Cruise Terminal Rotterdam, Netherlands

 

Ben's makes a new friend

 

 

 

 

[Nextholiday?]

Can't wait to read more :)

[jdvmd]

Can't wait to read more :)

Ditto!

[kylenyc]

Day 1 - Monday, January 13, 2014 at 12 Noon Local

The New Norwegian Getaway - Maiden voyage, January 13, 2014

1-Day Escape from Rotterdam, Netherlands to Southampton, United Kingdom

 

View of the Getaway from inside Cruise Terminal Rotterdam, Netherlands

 

 

Check-In

 

 

 

 

Edited January 15, 2014 by kylenyc

[kylenyc]

Day 1 - Monday, January 13, 2014 at 12 Noon Local

Embarkation

 

There was no fanfare as Ben rode up the gangway and boarded the Getaway on Deck 5. The focus was on ship security and a second screening by UK immigration officials which as quick and painless.

 

Boarding the gangway

 

Security and another screening by UK immigration

 

 

 

 

Edited January 15, 2014 by kylenyc

[kylenyc]

Day 1 - Monday, January 13, 2014 at 1 PM Local

Exploring - The Grammy Experience

 

After letting his manservant drop of his bag of human oddities, he headed straight for things new and unique to Getaway and different from her older sister the Breakaway. The Grammy Experience is beautiful and decorated with memoriabilia presumable from the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. He can't wait to see the performance tonight by Grammy award winner Nestor Torres.

 

The Grammy Experience

 

Famous celebrity memorabilia

 

 

 

 

 

[kylenyc]

Day 1 - Monday, January 13, 2014 at 1 PM Local

Exploring - The Grammy Experience

 

Doe ray me, It's easy as 1 2 3... Oh baby give me one more chance... (Awesome!!!)

 

 

 

 

[3DBeach]

I can't wait to see more!!! Thank you so much!

[kato92]

Awesome!!! Keep it coming...............

[Journey11]

Thank you for "taking us along" on what I know will be a wonderful cruise. I am really enjoying your review so far and look forward to the other segments. Your pictures are great.

Edited January 16, 2014 by Journey11

[Oldgoat61]

I too want to thank you for "taking us along". It has been great so far!!:D

[kylenyc]

Day 1 - Monday, January 13, 2014 at 11 PM Local

Grammy Award Winner Nestor Torres

 

Ben went to see Nestor Torres in the late evening and would have had his socks blown off ... if actually wore them. Nestor was AMAZING. Like Slam Allen in Fat Cats, Nestor and his talented band in The Grammy Experience will be a great draw and meeting place for music afficianados.

 

Grammy Winner Nestor Torres... Incredibly skilled and talented and a joy to listen to. Simply amazing!

 

Edited January 16, 2014 by kylenyc

[Sunkissed Mommy]

Clearly, I am late to the game.

What a cute way to review a ship/trip!

 

I see Bendyman has been on many trips. Can't wait to read the rest. :)