NCL Prima eastbound 15 days TA (Live) 27 Apr, 2024 - N.Y. to Southampton via Halifax, Iceland & EU ports - preview intro

Fogfog · May 10

9 hours ago, mking8288 said:

LoL, several of them with the same last name as in Iceland

Not to worry according to our van guide - next port is only about 4 hours of driving, they don't have to fly. Uber it 😆😆😆

We noticed the same thing.

Have thoughts I’ll share back channel

Fogfog · May 10

For those considering this route, we’ve had good experiences at the port stops.

We came in early at NYC and were glad to do that,

Sail away from NY is magical..and if you are one like me with roots there, I was so glad to be seeing things from the river in such a special way.

Halifax, we used Paul. We found him through the CC Halifax boards. Small van. Historical tour Got lunch across the area so we were looking at our ship and avoiding the big bus crush.

Iceland, we used the free bus to walk in town for several hours before a private Golden Circle tour. We were 12 and able to have a nice casual dinner at a gastronomic pub before being back on the ship. Used a ship tour for local stuff the next so as to not be pier runners.

Amsterdam, we used the very easy, clean, efficient trams. I bought museum tickets online about a month out. We didn’t use any package tickets as we were not going to be in Amsterdam long enough to make use of it.

More port thoughts later.

On the Haven lounge snack debate…no one is going hungry…and I know from first hand experience, they bring so many lovely options to your suite daily..on top of lots of options for 3 meals daily. We just don’t eat it. And my fellow pax are not deprived in the waist line

I wonder if not having open snacks saves from food waste…and germs.

We have been offered little bowls of spiced nuts or such with cocktails on occasion.

Gotto go.

We dock shortly

mking8288 · May 10

Welcome to Belgium, my Google Pixel is out of airplane mode, we are next to the MSC ship, sun is coming out of the fog and as Sharon @Fogfog said, docking now.

Data use is up from MiFi tethering and 1 international call made at only 28 cents.

Room service breakfast is here, Susan doesn't have to get ready to go downstairs to eat first, etc

Today's plan, free shuttle inside industrial port to outside, and private shuttle bus to town, explore & roam, waffles & chocolate ... maybe shopping - once we come to a full stop, gangway is ready & clear to go outside (not yet, at 0.2 kts)

No cigars ... I mean, no hash browns or cookies on any of the plated items.

Buffet has a small ice cream station, maybe 😉😉😉

Edited May 10 by mking8288

mking8288 · May 10

Full stop just a short while, minutes ago ...

mking8288 · May 10

@Ellis1138 I think your hubby's walking boots should be fine as flat ones, they don't want heels, sandals or flip-flop shoes for the race cars.

@Sugar Magnolia suspecting someone is at NCL is spying on our live reporting & trying to downplay the shortage or cutback. Are the cookies freshly baked ?

Nice illustrated pix in Amsterdam for the friend of friend asking 😁

Gangways on Deck 6 AFT and FWD, passports needed - clear now at 8:25 to exit ship & take required port shuttle buses to leave the port area, walking around here not permitted.

Edited May 10 by mking8288

Sugar Magnolia · May 10

33 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

@Sugar Magnolia suspecting someone is at NCL is spying on our live reporting & trying to downplay the shortage or cutback. Are the cookies freshly baked ?

Yes the cookies were freshly baked and exactly the ones we are familiar with on NCL ships. Maybe the spies will see this and send white chocolate macadamia cookies tonight. Or In-N-Out burgers.

On occasion we will see little surprises at the solo lounge thanks to solo travelers who generously share their largesse.

mking8288 · May 10

Free port shuttle to the small terminal building, quick 50 steps across the street to the shuttle bus office to exchange our tickets.

@dexddd You are on MSC this morning "stalking" us and providing security 😁😁😁

Sugar Magnolia · May 10

Thank you @JIMESOPUS for sharing the good news about the Heathrow strikes being called off. However, @mking8288 might be disappointed that he won’t be stranded in London for a few days.

In other news…very sad news…

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/08/us/dead-whale-cruise-ship-port-brooklyn.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

mking8288 · May 10

We are rolling down the highway, once we exited the industrial port & now heading into the city. LTE signal is now 5G 👍

Edited May 10 by mking8288

ontheweb · May 10

15 hours ago, Fogfog said:

We noticed this

Not a bicycle helmet anywhere..none. Not on adults nor kids

We got blessed on weather for sail away and into the lock tonight, sunset. Looking fwd to the posts of pics

We actually saw a few bicycle helmets, but let me emphasize a very few.

dexddd · May 10

15 hours ago, mking8288 said:

@dexddd Noticed anything unusual about the photo here -

Look closely - allow me to zoom in 🤫 That is not my Station Zebra outpost, but it looks like an active radar system ... it's above my clearance level 😆 at CC to explain

Meanwhile, Mrs M asked if this is the next cruise that I booked and sailing next. Answer, what do you think - it's mostly Oceanviews & insides 😁😁😁

Thanks for the zoom, I do see it now, thought at first large pole on the ship to the left.

That ship looks like first NCL for me circa 1985. Ahh, baked Alaska.

ontheweb · May 10

10 hours ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

Members of my posse are beginning to lose steam so there was no clubbing tonight. I was not disappointed because…

👍 for available cookies. On our recent river cruise, there were at least 2 and I think 3 spots on the ship where cookies were always available. And I often took advantage of that.😉

ontheweb · May 10

7 hours ago, JIMESOPUS said:

Quick update about the possible strike at Heathrow.

That must be great news for all of you on board the Prima now!

dexddd · May 10

3 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Free port shuttle to the small terminal building, quick 50 steps across the street to the shuttle bus office to exchange our tickets.

@dexddd You are on MSC this morning "stalking" us and providing security 😁😁😁

We were booked on MSC Virtuosa June 2021 for a long Northern Europe trip to some very nice ports. Ship was brand new. Celebrate two graduations. Even brother was going.

No go.

dexddd · May 10

See Amsterdam send off was one blue economy car or perhaps the Prima interrupted lover's lane.

dexddd · May 10

Today is stroopwafel day.

mking8288 · May 10

2 hours ago, dexddd said:

We were booked on MSC Virtuosa June 2021 for a long Northern Europe trip to some very nice ports. Ship was brand new. Celebrate two graduations. Even brother was going. No go.

Here is your virtual ship images of MSC as we returned to the ship around 1:45 PM - she's huge

mking8288 · May 10

Belgium Chocolate Store - checked 😋

mking8288 · May 10

Coffee break time - ideal with waffles, hotdog and Flemish beef stew over fries and cappuccino - yummy 😋

Edited May 10 by mking8288

mking8288 · May 10

This is the park area where the 30 minutes one-way private shuttle and NCL shuttle (they are a little shorter walk) drop everyone off & pick up for the return to the ship, then thru port security - followed by quick 3 to 4 minutes free, double decker port shuttle bus to the ship - follow by another security screening to board the ship.

Just like NYC, watch out for those stealthy & silent bicyclists, some do the horn while others just zip thru - and like other EU cities, no safety helmets ... must be fearless.

W.C. or bathroom use - 1 Euro 😯

Edited May 10 by mking8288

mking8288 · May 10

How far is too far to walk ... Uber is available but if you are late - better use them to rush you back.

graphicguy · May 10

13 hours ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

Members of my posse are beginning to lose steam so there was no clubbing tonight. I was not disappointed because…

Ah-Hah! There are cookies on board. Just have to know where to look.

I found them just outside of CoCos on a standalone kiosk.

mking8288 · May 10

Zeebrugge and Brugge isn't exactly a friendly port for anyone with mobility challenges or access issues in getting around.

Must be like 6,000 cruise ship passengers from NCL and MSC combined today, lead by 288 different tour guides speaking into multilingual audio feeds to explain as everyone was going to and passing on the same narrow cobblestone streets.

mking8288 · May 10

Very scenic and great for photography loving cruisers ... over 7,000 steps today for us. Leave those high heels on the ship and get out those walking boots.