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

[mking8288]

3 hours ago, graphicguy said:

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

Nevermind, look what we got earlier and it's safely onboard ... had to be careful as the buffet crew were all asking questions & looking for a way to clear our table 😅 

 

 

Edited May 10 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Happenings around the ship and outdoors - Ocean Walk ... not a soul out there, can't tell if the Infinity Pool is open

 

Vibe Beach Club - looks quiet today 

 

 

Noodles soup in the buffet - 

 

The quieter section toward the back, hotdogs, burgers & things are served here.

 

Harbor cruise ??? 

 

 

Edited May 10 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Seagulls & birds are here, meal time signals as the ship's thrusters are spinning as if we are ready to set aside - no pier runners today since the PA system hasn't call out for guests to contact them  ....

 

 

 

 

[Fogfog]

Edited May 10 by Fogfog

[Fogfog]

No clever enough to add text. Above is a pic of one of the panels of the Ghent Altarpiece.

Had a great tour today. Ghent is a great visit if you have been to Brugge before.

45 min ride, 2 hour walking tour, very informative.

2 hours free..we choose to go get Thai food for lunch, 

then a canal ride back to the port.

 

Tom is Le Havre…we are headed to Mont Saint Michele.

 

 

[Fogfog]

@Sugar Magnolia Wasn’t able to get into the article about the whale.

From the title it sounds horrific.

One would think a species that’s normally deep sea would be sick or injured and the remains just got caught on the bow ball or whatever they call that…

am I guessing correctly?

 

also..above..I meant..canal ride back to bus..then 45 min to port. 

 

 

Edited May 10 by Fogfog

[schmoopie17]

@mking8288I've been accused of waffling a time or two. However, I really need to get to Belgium to do some serious waffling. Those waffles look fantastic...

[ontheweb]

2 hours ago, mking8288 said:

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. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You probably also had passengers from river cruises there also. Our ship actually ported in Ghent with an optional tour to Brugge which we took. I'd say it was about half the passengers took the optional Brugge all day tour and half stayed in Ghent, one bus for each.

 

As for cobblestone streets, much of Europe is like that.

Edited May 10 by ontheweb
added second paragraph + a few grammatical changes

[ontheweb]

5 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

You probably also had passengers from river cruises there also. Our ship actually ported in Ghent with an optional tour to Brugge which we took. I'd say it was about half the passengers took the optional Brugge all day tour and half stayed in Ghent, one bus for each.

 

As for cobblestone streets, much of Europe is like that.

@mking8288, I edited the post you just gave a like, so you may want to look at it again.

[dexddd]

More Vibe for those that partake.

[dexddd]

Washy washy.

[dexddd]

Already a bit of rust back when new.

[dexddd]

Still a thing?

[mking8288]

2 hours ago, dexddd said:

Still a thing? 

Swift - yes, still available, for your convenience, to sail & sustain.  

 

And, with just a nominal charge only. 

[mking8288]

2 hours ago, schmoopie17 said:

@mking8288I really need to get to Belgium to do some serious waffling. Those waffles look fantastic...

Get those waffles - 1 or 2 of the 10 varieties should bring a smile to you and at those prices, try their beef stew but skip the hotdog.  Our total came to just 30.20 Euro including 3 soda & cappuccino, less than the cost of a single price fixed set lunch. 

[mking8288]

Randomly chosen MDR food pictures - Day 14

 

 

 

 

Niece's pre-order for today's MDR came out good as it should, with her multiple food allergies.  She'll know better to eat only in the buffet in the future, whether it's NCL again ( Platinum ) after this cruise or back to Princess and Royal Caribbean. 

 

[Fogfog]

Showing my age🥰

In 1985 I was in Brugge as a student ..spending the summer in Strasbourg studying French 

Bought 2 small copper plate etchings on paper..framed. 1 colored, 1 plain…as well as some bobbin lace trimmed placemats and napkins.

Whats notable to me is that I am comparatively young and don’t hear folks talk about buying original art or handcrafts in European ports now.

guess I was that weird kid.

I still own those items

 

I have German tagged Christmas ornaments,a  French Bacarrat decanter, all thing I bought with baby sitting money saved up and used on that trip.

And more then 40 years later still have those things.

 

Point being.….…...I hope you all find treasures whether as memories of events, meals or pieces to pass on from our sailing.

Fog

 

[mking8288]

Lots of vessels traffic as we head toward the English Channel earlier, another cruise ship in the distance, starboard side - P&O Iona at 30x zoom

 

 

 

 

A pretty sunset heading south on the Channel, England on the distance, going 22 kts. with ETA given on Marinetraffic as 5 AM.

 

 

 

 

Amazingly calm seas nearly all the way on this TA, and not missing a single port of call. 

[mking8288]

Swift Menu, dated 8/202

prices up ? maybe

fewer choices, in the spirit of simplicity - for your in/convenience - sure bet 

@dexddd - proof positive, it's alive & well

 

 

[Fogfog]

@dexddd  are you on MSC ? 
Check out my thought

MSC Yacht Club Loyalist Tries Haven thred

[Fogfog]

19 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Lots of vessels traffic as we head toward the English Channel earlier, another cruise ship in the distance, starboard side - P&O Iona at 30x zoom

 

 

 

 

A pretty sunset heading south on the Channel, England on the distance, going 22 kts. with ETA given on Marinetraffic as 5 AM.

 

 

 

 

Amazingly calm seas nearly all the way on this TA, and not missing a single port of call. 

Wish we could extend a week. Feel like we all just got started.

 

[mking8288]

27 minutes ago, Fogfog said:

Showing my age🥰 .….…...I hope you all find treasures whether as memories of events, meals or pieces to pass on from our sailing.  Fog

Ditto, allow me to add ...meeting finally those mysterious CC strangers in person to know they aren't AI bots, the friendship that hopefully will endure, continue and last, until the next cruise 🤗 - 36 hours remaining on this TA. 

 

We can and will be on the back channel, sidebar, and direct messaging on top of being on CC. 

 

BTW, we're finally able to book the last show, one & only this evening at 6:30 PM 🙄😳🫢🤔😯 to see The Price is Right.  If we did not had better things to do, would've rush over to see the "show" again as we did so already on the last TA 

 

Let it Go, Let it Go 😉😉😉

Edited May 10 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Meanwhile, 95% finished packing Susan's 24" suitcase - no extra shoes yet, going to disappoint the 2 Sharon's and AR.  But, never know with 2 days remaining 😁 

 

[Turtles06]

Folks, check the skies tonight — a very strong geomagnetic storm has hit the earth today, which will make the Aurora Borealis visible (weather permitting) further south than usual, including down into Northern Europe.  
 

Even if you just see a patch of dark sky, take a photo with your cellphone or other camera. Cameras capture light that our eyes can’t see, and you may be surprised. 
 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2024/05/10/northern-lights-solar-storm-where-to-watch/

 

Good luck! 

[mking8288]

@Turtles06 Judith, thanks 👍 and so far so good, it's about 10:45 PM out here on the English Channel with the moon up to our west, starboard side.  Coastal England is about 20 nm away only.  Nothing yet but the night sky is brighter than usual, clear skies and calm seas. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Starlink is working onboard and dial into Station Zebra home base - it's 4:45 PM in NY, all is good.  

 

 

Edited May 10 by mking8288