*** Live/Near-Live*** from NCL Escape - 01 October to 08 October **2023**

[plainsstormchaser]

As we reach Day 0 on the countdown to this cruise, an update on the countdown to our next cruise:

 

We hit the road in under 5 hours.

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...and this is what "on the road" looks like...

(Car status, on my phone at top, mapping at left side of the tablet (directions), radar at right side of tablet, and map of current location and surroundings (follow-me) on the radio screen, lower.

 

Don't worry, Roxan was holding the wheel while I took this!

 

Unfortunately, this is also "on the road"...

An injury traffic crash ahead of us with a car that caught fire. We're in a construction zone and just have to wait for it to be cleared. As you can see we have no way around it due to the barrier wall and both lanes of traffic being on this side of the road. We're 15 minutes or so east of Effingham, IL.

 

I'm glad we're here and not stressed out over whether our flight will make it into rain-soaked NYC, or worse yet, whoever was in that crash!

 

There but for the grace of God go I....

 

 

[mendi]

NYC got 8" of rain on Friday, looks great for Sunday. Happy sailing. Take care of your bartenders!

[plainsstormchaser]

We heard from a lot fo the group who were fling in, during the day today....sounds like they made it successfully. I'm so glad for them! Or two-day drive is over, we saw some foloiage starting to turn in the Appalacians and I've attached some here as well as linking to a coupe of videos.

 

 

 

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Tendering in to Newport this morning 

 

 

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Looks like last night's post didn't "take," ship wifi, what can I say? I'll repost after we get aboard this afternoon, while we still have 5G.

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Yesterday's photo dump, while we're waiting on breakfast:

 

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Yesterday was a special day, as we experienced something we've read about from others here, seeing two (at least) crew members from last year's Encore sailing. Avelino, the O'Sheehans Maitre'D, was The Local Maitre'D last year, and our lead waiter in Cagney's was someone I remember from last year, though he didn't serve us directly that I recall. Still, it is a cool experience.

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Breakfast this morning at Corner Cafe in Newport. 

Vermont Omelette, the main distinguishing taste being caramelized apples. A good experience and good food, worth the half mile walk. Sitting 9n a bench at the pier now, waiting on our lighthouse tour! 

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So...the Rose Island lighthouse tour is NOT a lighthouse tour! And that's a good thing....

 

Rose Island was part of the assembly program for US torpedoes in WWI and WWII. The current conservator is gradually reclaiming portions of the military side of the island from the overgrowth and is making some intriguing discoveries. Like this bunker, circa WW1: 

 

He will soon be attempting to open what he believes is the underground facility that would have housed military families if the island had come under attack. Her has a page about his finds on social media, Tales from the Rose (Rose Island).

 

Check it out...and if you can take this your I recommend it highly!

 

 

[plainsstormchaser]

Tuesday turned into a down day for us... mostly me. I think the past month, plus a bit of over-exuberance in participating in the bar "sit" (it wasn't a crawl, we didn't go anywhere because so many were delayed by the tender lines getting back aboard), finally caught up.

 

I've slept more hours than I've been awake in the past 24, and that's okay. I feel less stressed and more ready to vacation for the rest of the trip.

 

We skipped the Lighthouses of Maine excursion, realizing about 10 minutes before time to board the bus that we'd get back too late to host the Meet & Mingle. So we dropped it last minute...commitment to our fellow cruisers being the more important thing. 

The event went well. Syd Norman's is a neat venue and we were introduced to the ship's hotel officers. It ran somewhat differently than previous ones, and frankly felt a bit less welcoming from the NCL side than previous ones. I think it's because it was just an introduction, none of the officers said anything, and because they rushed out as a group to another event. 

 

We were talking after they left about the scheduling difficulties these port intensive itineraries create for social events. The lack of a sailing day until Saturday makes a noticeable impact. The jury is still out on how much of the less-friendly vibe I'm getting is the itinerary related challenges, how much is the personality of the current leadership, and how much may have to do with the changes that have come due to COVID-forced efficiencies and changes in service/staffing levels and their impact on morale.

 

The subtle difference in environment is something I'm observing but not sure how to allocate a cause. I think maybe I don't have enough data yet.

[plainsstormchaser]

Will Phillipe become a factor? Given recent history and this morning's NHC forecast times for Tropical Storm-force wind arrival, I'd put chances at 50/50.

 

NHC earliest reasonable arrival time of TS-force wind.

 

NHC forecast most likely arrival time of TS force wind.

 

Bottom line: TS force wind sometime Saturday along the path Escape usually takes from Halifax to NYC.

 

We shall see. And make the best of it either way 😎

[mking8288]

Oh, no - Escape's fall sailings just can't seem to get a nice and continuous break in weather this Fall ... Halifax (and, along with Saint John & Bar Harbor, NS) on storm watch again.  This is the latest advisory from Halifax news source - citing  "The latest storm track has it making landfall very near the Maine-New Brunswick border late Saturday or early Sunday morning with winds between 85-90 km/h. The CHC says that people living in the area should monitor the storm as it could influence weekend weather. " 

https://halifax.citynews.ca/2023/10/04/canadian-hurricane-centre-monitoring-the-approach-of-tropical-storm-philippe/

 

My guestimate is that NCL are waiting and watching, but will not make any decisions until tomorrow, maybe this evening - shortly before all abroad ... and might skip either Saint John or Halifax, and jump ahead and skip one port, and turn around for home early again.  

 

As for the CC Meet & Greet - ours were somewhat better & held in the Brew House, attendance was below average to poor, not well organized with the folks anyway ... looking at the senior hotel operations officers in the picture, several of them in acting capacity while the regulars are mostly on vacation (left in September) but will be returning around December - some of them probably not well versed in socializing and/or learning the ropes at these small group events.  Sometimes, the CD (acting one here) and 1 or 2 "officers in 2 stripes will stay around briefly to mingle while the rest must take over to another function or event, perhaps back to their duty stations.  When we're on the Epic, they had another "presentation" on ship operations scheduled in the atrium right after the CC gathering, so more or less, they did the welcome, short intro & took 1 to 2 friendly questions, then marched off together.   I agree that the port intensive schedule with the last day being the only planned sea day, where these CC gathering are typically held, didn't help either & the roll call organizer initially didn't want to be bothered with.  

 

As a whole, we found the crew members on the Escape, including the dining room teams, host/ess, etc. to be friendly, smiling and cheerful, and most (not all as expected & obligated with their rules of conduct) will greet & say hello when passing us in the corridors & hallways.  

 

Weather forecast for NY - Friday & Saturday aren't good - rain, wind & clouds, make the best of fair weather further north for the next day and two.  Check out that Spice H20 on Deck 16 AFT, it's one of the many cool places that we missed visiting last month, and only our 4th time (3rd ?) sailing the Escape, so much to do, see & experience.  Enjoy the rest of the week, thanks for sharing & bring us along to re-live our week onboard.  Cheers ! 

[plainsstormchaser]

We are still making St John tomorrow...this is shaping up quite similar to the last time, 2 weeks ago, where it really didn't become clear what was happening until Silversea made the turn out of Bay of Fundy and Escape kept on course for NYC. Latest NHC forecast cuts a narrow window where we could make it, but I imagine based on previous patterns they will err on the side of safety. 

[plainsstormchaser]

As for our activities today, Roxan took another down day. I went whale watching. 

 

NCL was not well organized at shore. I arrived on tender at 1030 for a 1045 meet time, showed my ticket to a ShoreEx crew member and received an indistinct "1045, stand over there for a bit" motion and gesture. At 1042, after not drifting more than 100 feet and never hearing the tour called, I approached the same person only to find the group had left. I got handed off to the first of two people who hustled me to the whale watching boat dock. They were pleasant enough, particularly the first person.

 

On arrival at the dock, I encountered the first example of the attitude I think the locals are displaying with the cruise ship limits and re-forming the tourism board without any cruise industry representation...we're happy to take your money, but only until you become inconvenient. The specific statement was something I overheard (isn't it always?) "This ship leaves at exactly 11 and we are still 16 stragglers short." Mind you, this is at 10:50am. It was quite clear a little thing like a paying customer who didn't make it by straight up 11 wasn't going to deter his on-time cast-off.

 

Whatever. We left when we left, and actually enjoyed a fantastic day! In fact our guide Julie said it was perhaps the best day of the year, with five breaches close to the boat, a total of 12 or more unique whales, 8 of whom were recognized by name, and more breaches, blows, and whale tails than anyone could count.

 

My images and videos are far from the best taken 😎

Edited October 5, 2023 by plainsstormchaser

[plainsstormchaser]

Had dinner this evening in Savor...that has become our default because Avelino works there in the evening. The menu has been good each evening. Tonight I enjoyed a NY strip steak and a Pork Belly on "smashed" yams.

 

We had the best non-specialty service experience tonight of the trip so far. Kudos to our waiters, Lahan and Arjay!!

 

[mking8288]

Here's a funky question for the Escape ... Do you see hash brown potatoes being served and/or available at breakfast anywhere, not a deal breaker but we're told no longer, for whatever reasons.  Apparently, NCL has no difficulties obtaining French Fries & "proudly" served them in the buffet, MDR for lunch and dinner, and of course - at supper or dinner time.  

 

Have a great day at Saint John tomorrow and if it looked like Halifax is again, not going due to unforeseen and predictive weather, maybe - an extended stay at Bay of Fundy (based on tidal tables) instead, before sailing back toward the relative safety of NY early - as my feeling is that Capt. Mattias on the bridge rather do so out of an abundance of precautions.  Looking at Windy App's forecast charts & tables, Saturday morning coming across toward Cape Cod will still be fine, conditions rapidly worsen by midday with waves at 15 ft. sea swell, windy conditions & rain, etc.   Sorry, I'm just calling out what's in front with the latest storm tracking info.  

[plainsstormchaser]

No, I've not seen hash browns. 

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We called an audible today (a sportball term I heard somewhere, I'll trust it's used correctly) and went walkabout instead of on our excursions. On balance I think we made the right choice.

 

After perusing the shops in the quaint Shipping Container village just outside the cruise terminal and buying some authentic Maple Syrup from a "farmer" (I'll return to that)

 

We walked out to see what we could find. Ooh, look, a glass blower!

And they're doing demonstrations!

 

 

This is an example of a piece like we saw blown in the demonstration. 

 

On the way down the hill we found a store and did our first souvenir shopping of the trip. And, oh, look there was the Maple syrup! So, either it's manufactured not by a farmer, or the farmer and gift shop have a deal....

 

Not that it really makes any difference to me...I have authentic Maple syrup, so it doesn't really matter 🙂

 

Eh?

 

Edited October 5, 2023 by plainsstormchaser

[plainsstormchaser]

Sitting in Halifax harbor waiting for all aboard in about 15  minutes and the Captain just informed us of the plan: we have commandeered 7,200 Zodiacs and will use them to make a high-speed run for clear water. Well, part of that is true...

 

We are sitting in Halifax harbor waiting on pier runners,  though I'll be surprised if the wait lasts more than 8 more minutes.

 

The Captain has announced the plan.

 

It does involve pushing, encouraging, coaxing, and cussing and kicking if necessary, to eke every ounce of performance and speed from Escape's propulsion system to get us past Nantucket by 3pm EDT tomorrow.  At that time we are expected to have to slow and trim to run as safely as possible in gale-force wind and waves.

 

So, some Rock and Roll Hoochie-coo will be part of our Saturday!

 

 

Bring it on!

 

 

[plainsstormchaser]

Two pax still outstanding....

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Don't know if they made it,  but aft lines have been reeled in and it looks like this end of the ship is ready to roll...

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And we're maneuvering...departure 19:53.

[mking8288]

Have a safe trip coming back to NY, hold on to those railings if & when using stairs, NY is bracing for rain, wind & thunderstorm, etc. starting tonight into tomorrow evening ... you know the rest. Thanks for the update & good luck if the pier visitors choose to stay behind. 

 

P.S.  She can go 22 knots, faster with a good tail wind, except ship will come across strong cross wind coming port side, best to stay indoors but odds are for safety reasons, outdoors & outside decks will be closed off. 

 

 

 

Edited October 7, 2023 by mking8288