Getaway Western Caribbean 9/9/2018

[jlmd56]

NCL originally got a three year contract for MDQ. It started on another ship (the Escape?) and then moved to the Getaway. They are into their third year now. The current cast finishes around the beginning of December. I have not heard that the contract for the show has been renewed, but that does not mean it hasn't. I will see what I can find out. The show is popular and was voted the #1 show in the NCL fleet.

Nice pictures BTW even tho the show is copywrited!

(My son is the one in the purple coat playing the red guitar standing on the bass-he plays Carl Perkins)

 

 

Best show I've seen on NCL. Hope it continues forever. BTW, your son is a great musician.

[Seminole1975]

Best show I've seen on NCL. Hope it continues forever. BTW, your son is a great musician.

 

Thanks! He works hard at it. A lot of practice.

[Sand and Seas]

Best show I've seen on NCL. Hope it continues forever. BTW, your son is a great musician.

We totally agree with this.....best show at sea! Very talented cast.

 

Hope they keep MDQ on the Getaway when it moves to NOLA next year.

[nigeldcat]

We totally agree with this.....best show at sea! Very talented cast.

 

Hope they keep MDQ on the Getaway when it moves to NOLA next year.

Last time on Getaway we had reservations for MDQ, but got cancelled for whole trip. Made reservations for trip coming up in less than a week so looking forward to it.

 

One of my favorite movies is Jim Jaramush’s Mystery Train which features a Japanese couple visiting Memphis where the guy emulates and is obsessed with Carl Perkins circa 1950. Looking forward to seeing MDQ since in centers around an early jam session with Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins in 56:cool:

Edited October 1, 2018 by nigeldcat

[Seminole1975]

Last time on Getaway we had reservations for MDQ, but got cancelled for whole trip. Made reservations for trip coming up in less than a week so looking forward to it.

 

One of my favorite movies is Jim Jaramush’s Mystery Train which features a Japanese couple visiting Memphis where the guy emulates and is obsessed with Carl Perkins circa 1950. Looking forward to seeing MDQ since in centers around an early jam session with Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins in 56:cool:

Thanks! Never heard of this. I will let my son know about it. He watches a lot of movies.

[graphicguy]

Just realized that I have not even mentioned the excursions. Frankly, I've sailed the Caribbean a lot. I've seen most of it, on different cruise lines. For the most part, I just wandered about or grabbed a taxi once ashore to view what I might have missed.

 

Belize......I like to get away from the "touristy" places and see what the areas are really like....

 

IMG_0826 by D J, on Flickr

 

IMG_0821 by D J, on Flickr

 

IMG_0822 by D J, on Flickr

 

It was HOT. It was HUMID. So, mostly I just walked around and stopped every once in a while and grabbed a soft drink.

 

We tendered from the Getaway.....

 

IMG_0818 by D J, on Flickr

 

Understand, there are parts of Belize that are much more "touristy" you can visit outside of this area. I just chose not to go there.

[graphicguy]

Harvest Caye is NCL's newly opened private area on Belize. You can tell they are planning a very extensive area for their passengers. But, they are also just getting it opened and operating. I think it's going to be quite nice once it's fully operational....

 

IMG_0814 by D J, on Flickr

 

IMG_0815 by D J, on Flickr

 

Birds and Monkey preserve (actually, this is a private area owned by one large investor who lives on the preserve)....

 

IMG_0784 by D J, on Flickr

 

IMG_0789 by D J, on Flickr

[graphicguy]

Roatan....

 

No tender required....

 

IMG_0777 by D J, on Flickr

 

IMG_0780 by D J, on Flickr

 

IMG_0770 by D J, on Flickr

 

IMG_0774 by D J, on Flickr

[graphicguy]

Costa Maya...

 

IMG_0867 by D J, on Flickr

 

IMG_0875 by D J, on Flickr

 

IMG_0868 by D J, on Flickr

 

Cheap massages available on the beach.....

 

IMG_0873 by D J, on Flickr

 

 

I've seen this before, but it alway startles me a bit. Those who have been to any of these areas have seen the "Pharmacia" on just about every street corner......over the counter you can get Phen-Phen, ******, Imoxicilin and a host of other prescription drugs. I have seen plenty of people coming in and out of them. Not sure about the quality or the oversight any of these places have, but people flock to them.

[graphicguy]

I have been to Cozumel more times than I can count.

 

Again, this time 'round....I wandered....(mostly to get away from the silver, tequila, jewelry, cigar, etc vendors....

 

IMG_0911 by D J, on Flickr

 

IMG_0907 by D J, on Flickr

 

IMG_0917 by D J, on Flickr

 

IMG_0912 by D J, on Flickr

 

Interestingly, in Cozumel, there were passengers loading and unloading on an MSC ship. We saw that in the Mediterranean. So, if you want to start your cruise in one place instead of the inception point to embark, you can. This was one of those times...

IMG_0901 by D J, on Flickr

 

They were also stocking up on provisions...

 

IMG_0902 by D J, on Flickr

[graphicguy]

We ported with other ships....

 

MSC from my balcony...

 

IMG_0922 by D J, on Flickr

 

MSC from the pier....

 

IMG_0904 by D J, on Flickr

[graphicguy]

All of the ships docked at the same time.....

 

IMG_0879 by D J, on Flickr

 

Posterior shots with MSC and Royal...

 

IMG_0888 by D J, on Flickr

[graphicguy]

Getting towards the end.....some misc shots....

 

IMG_0937 by D J, on Flickr

 

IMG_0848 by D J, on Flickr

 

IMG_0841 by D J, on Flickr

[graphicguy]

To sum up....this was just a tremendous cruise. The ship was beautiful and well cared for. The service was outstanding. The entertainment was the best at sea.

 

Don't let anyone dissuade you from sailing the Haven. If you can swing it, it's an experience that you must do at least once in your cruising vacation lifetime. Well worth the extra money.

 

If there are "nits" (and there are some petty ones I have), it would be the Shanghai restaurant. It's needs a lot of work.....from the food being cold and undercooked, to the service being lethargic....AT BEST. This has been true of the last two cruises I've taken when I've dined there.

 

What made this cruise, were the people. I met some wonderful people inside and outside the Haven. Some were crew...some were passengers. Everyone (even those who were a little sideways some nights) made it a wonderful and memorable experience.

 

Can't think of a better way to finish this up than this.....

 

IMG_0769 by D J, on Flickr