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

[PistolPete13]

1 hour ago, mking8288 said:

Compare to previous NCL cruises, not finding really more than 1 to 2 vacation heros to write & recognize. The friendly, smiling, cheerful & helpful energies that come to symbolize NCL's crews & team spirits, not - not coming together on this ship unlike a year ago & with almost the same senior team. None of them, as we've seen over the last 12 days, in going above & beyond, as the synergy seemed missing.  This is a personal opinion of mine & ours alone.  

 

That is disheartening to hear...

[mking8288]

Just posting now, comments & replies later ... as some folks are sailing soon on the Getaway & following these, just wanted to get the details & facts out ASAP. 

 

Tonight - one 7:30 pm showing of MDQ and repeat again tomorrow, final evening again - one show again ... 

 

Impossible to get into Syd Norman's small venue with long lines forming up to 1 hour early, and it's packed full & standing for many inside.  Welcome to the new normal. 

 

Tonight's MDR menu compiled together & photos ... Soups lately aren't salty or high in sodium, unlike previous cruises.  Flan de Coco was very good as always. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 31, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Tomorrow's Day 12 FSD & a little extra, info-mmercial on Spa w specials 😷

 

Meanwhile, we should be getting priority disembarkation luggage tags by now as Sapphire to use, but ...  Besides, we aren't in a hurry to disembark on a weekday morning into the colder weather.  Come to think of it, never received a Welcome back/abroad letter about anything either.

 

Oh, did I mention ... cannot find, access or open any of the dining menu at all ... not on the NCL app, not stateroom TV.   Go with the flow & not going to allow the annoying micro details to disrupt our days. 

 

 

Edited January 31, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Room Steward just returned our 2nd free load of (Platinum/Sapphire) laundry, washed & dry, folded into the basket and ready to repack most as clean clothes for our next trip - going to be fly & drive at staying in a studio suite, 450 sq. ft.   

 

Impossible to do just 1 load over 10+ days for 2 adults, traveling light, with the downsized thin paper bag these days ... we came prepared & also Woolite it.

 

She's getting a new job title next month as "Room Attendant" ...

 

Closets are ideal for using medium packing cubes (also slim & small ones) to keep everything neat, clean & organized - normally we fit them perfectly into 22" spinners & rollerboards, but used 24" ones as it's a longer cruise. 

Edited January 31, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Almost forgot, our CAS friends said, if you need a mid-morning bite & coffee, feel free to stop by the casino area, starboard side near the table games in the center atrium ... and cookies (only) after 11 pm - no more wings, finger sandwiches, cheese, etc. for your convenience, of course. 

 

[mking8288]

 

Ship's satellite WiFi crashed about 2 hours ago (2.4 Ghz band only) ... maybe just overwhelmed when majority of 3,900 pax decided to go online.

 

Anyway, Pixel 7 Pro locked onto 5Ghz band & I could do things again online, speed remained fine too ... others onboard might not be lucky as the iCafe help desk is closed for the evening

 

 

 

Edited January 31, 2023 by mking8288

[SunshineGal2022]

On 1/29/2023 at 11:15 AM, mking8288 said:

After a light breakfast of fruits, yogurt, smoked salmon bagel, juice & coffee, rested briefly and just checked out the shops here at AC.  Very good prices & wide selections at the duty-free shop vs. onboard Tradewind options as we needed to pickup gifts for someone. Open WiFi for general use is available at some of the stores including one of the cafe.

 

Looked around a bit, photos & then returned to the ship for a buffet lunch. Those taxi-bike are free, seats 2 and drivers worked for tips only. Being hot, humid & sunny ... we used them. 

Breakfast looks delicious!
 

I plan on using these taxi bikes.  What is an appropriate tip/ person ? (I have never tipped anyone performing a similar transport method; my tipping experience generally is with restaurants and barber shops.)  I assume they take US dollars?  Do the tips given tend to change depending if they are going away from the ship or towards it (when it is hotter)?

[mking8288]

Good & beautiful Tuesday morning, 69 degree F outside, light wind and 450 nm to NY, cruising at 20.2 knots and small waves at 4.9 ft. in calm seas. 

 

Time for another relaxing breakfast at sea. 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 31, 2023 by mking8288

[EllieinNJ]

Henry. Thanks so much for the time and effort you have put into your daily updates.  They have been so helpful to plan our Getaway cruise starting tomorrow.  Our next cruise after that will be on a Carnival ship in May for a 21 day b2b in Europe.  The only planning is being done by the fb group.  It sure isn't as comprehensive as it is here in cruise critic.  

[mking8288]

As expected, the MDR are jammed packed this morning for that last full sea day sit-down breakfast, must be about 75 to 100 waiting for a table in Savor and Taste, holding that pager.  Priority restaurant seating really doesn't mean much this morning, everyone gained back that extra hour of sleep - hungry and wants to eat. AND, they are asking folks to share tables too if they show up as solo, 2's and 3's

 

 

Got our own table of 4 a few minutes ago ... Menu has 2 Daily Features

 

 

Sliced butter instead of wrapped ones ... supply logistics in provisioning

 

Edited January 31, 2023 by mking8288

[rxlowry]

Thanks for this report! I am enjoying following along although not to keen on the changes occurring.  I'll see it for myself in 12 days on the Encore.

[mking8288]

20 minutes ago, rxlowry said:

... I'll see it for myself in 12 days on the Encore.

Go with the flow, look beyond the changes and maintain that sense of humor, that's how we are doing to best enjoy this cruise vacation ... while looking at things critically.

 

Our breakfast was good and most of the staff are trying hard while getting stretched. 

 

 

 

Edited January 31, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Bargain sales, used to be $10, now up 50% to $15.  

 

CAS players with lots of OBC to spend, I found items in Photo Shop ... besides watches & jewelry items and duty-free buying.  Hi, to @fstuff1 where are you cruising to lately 😉

 

 

 

Edited January 31, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Latest Ocean Blue menu, note items with upcharge.  Ice Bar on Deck 8 Mid. 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 31, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Well, it was clear last night but apparently, unavoidable during the day, not shown ... 2 full sized baby strollers in the inside passage with the inside staterooms connecting port & starboard side, not primary egress route 

 

But ... something to be aware of when sailing the Getaway.  Concern was communicated in writing to Dear Mario, the GM with a note in the atrium mailbox.

 

There are no accessible cabins in this entire Fwd section at all 🤔

 

Edited January 31, 2023 by mking8288

[Bonobochick]

19 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Bargain sales, used to be $10, now up 50% to $15.  

 

I noticed that too on the Jan 8th cruise that the mega-sale is now $15. I wasn't planning to buy anything either way but it raised my eyebrows a bit.

 

As you've posted, there are definitely little changes... with many not necessarily for the better... and if you're a frequent cruiser, they're noticeable. Not enough for me to say "never again" to NCL but with the increase in daily charges, has me side-eyeing a bit a few times. Didn't get the unwrapped butter, though. And you got tea options in the buffet unlike on my cruise. 😊 

[mking8288]

Update on our ETA tomorrow for @EllieinNJ and others following, bon voyage & best wishes for sailing 👌

 

Expected to meet the pilot around 5 am, passed VZ Bridge & past SOL around 6:15 and docking between 7 to 7:30 am.  Express Walk-off starting at 8, Priority around 8:30 (all guests to be out of the staterooms by then) and other color tags around 9'ish. Zero count after 10 am. 

[mking8288]

Costs for add-on extra WiFi minutes if one's limited plan were used up & needed a little extra toward the end of a cruise - $75 for 100 minutes and $125 for 250 minutes, used to sell a 30 minutes add-on plan.

 

Edited January 31, 2023 by mking8288

[2Cruise4Ever]

@mking8288 ~ Thank you so much for all the details!  We are embarking tomorrow as you are disembarking.  Will waive to you (not that you'll see me... lol).  Haven't cruised since before the pandemic.  We are so excited to be back at sea!  

 

Do you know if the casino bar closes early, too?  Definitely hitting OSH for late-night snacks.  But, heard they close the bar there at 1:30 a.m.

[EllieinNJ]

So now we are hearing mixed reports about our cruise tomorrow.  Someone on our roll call said her taxi tour in Bermuda is cancelled because the ship is not docking there due to bad weather. Someone from your cruise said the same as he heard it from a worker.  Several of us called NCL and they assured us we are going to Bermuda.  Can you check with someone with more knowledge and let me know what they say?  Thanks  Ellie.

[shof515]

43 minutes ago, EllieinNJ said:

So now we are hearing mixed reports about our cruise tomorrow.  Someone on our roll call said her taxi tour in Bermuda is cancelled because the ship is not docking there due to bad weather. Someone from your cruise said the same as he heard it from a worker.  Several of us called NCL and they assured us we are going to Bermuda.  Can you check with someone with more knowledge and let me know what they say?  Thanks  Ellie.

the next cruise is a 5 day with Bermuda being the only port. If they do cancel that port, i wonder what will happen. Alternative ports like the Caribbean is too far, i don't think Canada is ready for any cruise ships this time of the year. its going to be interesting 

 

There is another arctic cold storm with cold weather and heavy winds coming this weekend to NYC

[2Cruise4Ever]

31 minutes ago, shof515 said:

the next cruise is a 5 day with Bermuda being the only port. If they do cancel that port, i wonder what will happen. Alternative ports like the Caribbean is too far, i don't think Canada is ready for any cruise ships this time of the year. its going to be interesting 

 

There is another arctic cold storm with cold weather and heavy winds coming this weekend to NYC

Highly doubt we'll go to Canada... arctic vortex like you said...  The only other option would be to high-tail it to Bahamas... port for a few hours and speed back...  that MIGHT be an option.. but we'll see.

[cruiseny4life]

39 minutes ago, shof515 said:

the next cruise is a 5 day with Bermuda being the only port. If they do cancel that port, i wonder what will happen. Alternative ports like the Caribbean is too far, i don't think Canada is ready for any cruise ships this time of the year. its going to be interesting 

 

There is another arctic cold storm with cold weather and heavy winds coming this weekend to NYC

In order to save the environment, NCL will probably cancel all ports and anchor off the coast of New Jersey. 

Edited January 31, 2023 by cruiseny4life
dock does not equal anchor

[Outta My Work Clothes]

Or not leave port at all!

[shof515]

1 hour ago, EllieinNJ said:

So now we are hearing mixed reports about our cruise tomorrow.  Someone on our roll call said her taxi tour in Bermuda is cancelled because the ship is not docking there due to bad weather. Someone from your cruise said the same as he heard it from a worker.  Several of us called NCL and they assured us we are going to Bermuda.  Can you check with someone with more knowledge and let me know what they say?  Thanks  Ellie.

 

Its official. Bermuda is canceled. Look at the Bermuda cruise ship schedule here: http://www.rccbermuda.bm/Documents/Shipping_schedules/2023 Cruise Ship Schedule.pdf

 

Getaway is crossed off and appears to be canceled. I wonder what Norwegian is going to do now