Semi-Live Getaway 2.0 Jan 16 - Feb 1, 2023 NY - So. Caribbean ... 12 nights ( is it Live, Semi-Live or Limited ?? )

[mking8288]

 

Good results on 5 Ghz WiFi 4 with the Google Pixel 7 Pro - can't get the Galaxy S22+ to match or beat it.

 

Edited January 27, 2023 by mking8288

[shof515]

6 hours ago, mking8288 said:

FWIW - reason given was someone at NCL did not want to tender 4,000 passengers ashore at St. Lucia.  This is what I learned, could be urban legend ... and if there will be 4,700 onboard 🫣

it appears St Lucia has 4 berths for cruise ships and there were 4 cruise ships scheduled. 3 out of the 4 cruises successfully docked. something had to happen and it is not tendering related

[mking8288]

OK Google - let's map it

St. John's, Antiqua - arrived @ 7:40 am local time (AST) & docked about 10 minutes to the calls of roosters around town. 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 27, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Another picture-perfect port day, low hanging clouds with sunny skies ahead😎   Gangway is FWD Deck 4, cleared & ready about 10 minutes ago.  Day 8 of our 12 days ... time flies, St. Thomas tomorrow & we looked certain in stopping at Amber Cove on Sunday. 

Edited January 27, 2023 by mking8288

[brookie848]

1 hour ago, mking8288 said:

OK Google - let's map it

St. John's, Antiqua - arrived @ 7:40 am local time (AST) & docked about 10 minutes to the calls of roosters around town. 

 

 

My favorite port!!!

[mking8288]

 Stay tuned - hooping past our landmark, Diamonds Int'l on "Broadway" 😆

 

Scenic island tour coming up, 2 hours for $20 to $25 p/p in a 15 seats air conditioned van.

 

Edited January 27, 2023 by mking8288

[shof515]

its been about 7 years since ive been to Antigua. that area near the ship looks really built up with the stores. wow. looks very different 

[mking8288]

Today's short tour photos batch #1 as we left the shopping area where the van was parked, just 8 of us sharing the van.

 

Churches, oldest sugarcane factory, sports stadium as we head to the central south side of the island, population about 90,000

[mking8288]

St. John's highlights - photos, batch 2

 

[mking8288]

Discovering use of the digital zoom features on the Google Pixel 7 Pro advanced camera - sharply focused & clear vs. the Galaxy S22+ 

 

 

[mking8288]

St. John's highlights - photos, batch 2

 

[EllieinNJ]

Henry, are you picking up all these cheap tours at the port or did you book in advance?  

[Maplemoose]

About that $20 tour of Antigua. What was the company? I am presuming it wasn't an NCL excursion at that price. 

[mking8288]

2 hours ago, EllieinNJ said:

Henry, are you picking up all these cheap tours at the port or did you book in advance?  

We didn't book anything as our plan was just to wing it when we step outside, as we weren't sure if our friends are up to doing any sightseeing.  Google is my "research" partner.  The photos from this cruise's port stops have visual clues on where the taxi stands & dispatcher/tour agents are standing ... and sometimes take a little negotiating, like today - 2 hour tour was either $20 or $25, and we just walked past one driver trying to 8 of us into the van for $30 each. Those extra details should help a few of you looking for deals on your own - be sure to have a working mobile phone & port agent's info/contact in case of emergencies.

 

Asked to make sure it's air conditioned, working & that it'll be on - some of the official tour partners were using open air pickup w converted bus seats, bouncing up & down - roads are not exactly well maintained or flat, some pretty steep & hilly. We've been blessed with nice, sunny & beautiful weather with temp's in low to mid 80's. 

 

These aren't, obviously NCL official tours but we don't see good values with their offerings.  Another friend of mine cruising solo (didn't know we're on the same ship/cruise until St. Kitts) this time managed to use those $50 Shorex credit to his advantage, net cost for a 2 hour trolly tour was $19.  

 

Let me know, Ellie, if you have other questions & feel free to just ask. Regards - H

[mking8288]

1 hour ago, Maplemoose said:

About that $20 tour of Antigua. What was the company? I am presuming it wasn't an NCL excursion at that price. 

Independent taxi driver that's locally approved to work in the ports area. Driver will do restroom stops as planned & requested if "urgent"

 

NCL cost, suffice to say, more. 

 

   #   #   #

 

The semi "crowded" bleach in the last batch of photos were due to NCL ship passengers being there, it looked pretty nice - just as easy to arrange transportation yourself to get there & return later, allow extra time as there are some sections of roads with traffic slowdowns. 

 

5:35vpm local time, past all abroad time - ship sounded her horn twice already ... scheduled to leave at 6 pm for St. Thomas, USVI

Edited January 27, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

For tech geeks only - cellular data speed (Jamaica - Digicel, the carrier)

 

5:45 pm, thrusters on, stirring up the cloudy underwater mud bottoms at the pier ... looks like no pier runners & should be leaving soon, either on time or slightly early.  2 minutes later, we are backing out & away from the cruise pier.

 

 

Edited January 27, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Enjoy these pictures - final batch as we continued to reverse out towards the Caribbean Sea, doing a 180 port side & leaving St. John's.  Until next time, bye 👍

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 27, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Scenic & just beautiful 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 27, 2023 by mking8288

[bedfordmom]

Do you know the name of the beach that the excursions went to today? I am hoping to take a taxi there when we cruise there on the 2/26 Getaway.  I prefer using local resources for non ship excursions as I want all my money to go to those vendors

[mking8288]

Expecting our 4G LTE signal to fade & drop pretty soon, going to dinner around 7'ish. Will come back online later over Satellite WiFi - news about Starlink coming soon is just great - and answer questions left here, hopefully to help ... best efforts. 

 

Later 

[brookie848]

1 hour ago, bedfordmom said:

Do you know the name of the beach that the excursions went to today? I am hoping to take a taxi there when we cruise there on the 2/26 Getaway.  I prefer using local resources for non ship excursions as I want all my money to go to those vendors

The reason I love Antigua so much is we go to BeachLimerz. It is a short drive from port. When we went, they arranged the transportation for us. It was not crowded (I think the first time we were there there were less than 10 other people there). They have been the best beach days we've had.

 

Here is their site. You can contact them about day passes. https://www.beachlimerz.com/

[mking8288]

Third time eating dinner in Tropicana, step up to the first podium at 6:45 pm as we didn't reserve ahead, given that vibrating pager to wait nearby, i.e. casino bar.  Place is full with some empty tables waiting to be cleaned & set for the new round. 10-15 minutes later, it was our turn ... not bad, gave us an almost front row seat next to the singers & dance floor.

 

The singer duo were live on stage, but not impressed, especially her relatively flat tones & being somewhat missing the key. 

 

Our meal took 1:45 as expected. Again, when Susan (DW) said wow, the portion is just small and she is a small eater. 

 

Guess who's socializing with some of the guests nearby ... surely, some of you recognized him, he gained a little extra.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you know or recognize him ?

Edited January 28, 2023 by mking8288

[cruiservictor]

Looking forward to cruising with Alvin again next week. The last time we cruised with him, October 2021 on the Breakaway, I showed him a picture I took of him with us on the BA in 2014. Suffice to say, he and I have both put on a few pounds since. 😉

[fdcruisers]

Hi everyone.  Does anyone know if there are good options for gluten free and dairy free passengers?

[JIMESOPUS]

@mking8288looks like he lost about 10lbs since the 1/8/23 cruise