JinxyB

2 minutes ago, sid_9169 said:

The TSA pre check line wasn't bad at all, and my box of Cubans made it through without a hitch. I'm here at my gate a full two hours early, and I want something to eat, but I don't want to pay airport prices for mediocre food. As per tradition, I'm going to starve until I get home, then take another shower, then go get something to eat...

I surprised you didn’t take any snacks from the ship to tide you over???

21 minutes ago, Elsammo46 said:

Also I think I see y'all are docked where the Mardi Gras usually sits at Port Canaveral today as opposed to the terminal y'all left from last week. Doesn't appear to be overcrowded in port today so I wonder why that happened. 

They have to fix one of the anchors or anchor chains and couldn’t do this from the usual dock

56 minutes ago, MeganGC1983 said:

I feel like he’s freelancing something else now. 

Let the man freelance what he wants….. just saying…..

5 minutes ago, Roscoe13 said:

Glad you asked about the conversion rate, Sid's friend. Er, I mean Jinxy. 

So 100 Sid points equals 200 Shrute bucks. 

And as we all know 200 Shrute bucks equals 1/20th of a peso. 

But Sid points are collectors items so hold on to them! 

Oh, honey I’m priceless, as I’m sure Sid can attest to 

1 minute ago, sid_9169 said:

We have a winner!!!... One hundred Sid points for you!

Yay! What do I get for 100 Sid points?! 🤔🤫🤫

28 minutes ago, sid_9169 said:

Which one of yinz wants to guess why my "review" has been so sparse for the past couple of days? A hundred points to whomever gets it, but you have to keep it clean:)

You met a really cool girl who has been occupying your time? 

I hope you got the ravioli 

4 minutes ago, sid_9169 said:

Firecracker shrimp.

 

 

 

Those shrimp look obscene 🙃

18 minutes ago, sid_9169 said:

Old school NCL bartender... Just sit at his bar and order drinks, that's it. He's quite a character.

What bar is Cowboy at 

3 minutes ago, sid_9169 said:

I'm scared to switch over to the ships WiFi, as I've heard that it's terrible. I'm going to have to do it eventually.

The ships wifi is officially horrendous. See u at the M & G mañana 

The bed in the studio cabins is a full size bed - the same as the other studio cabins. I’m on the Prima now. The internet sucks so bad. It’s a beautiful ship, though 

Hope everyone is doing well in their quarantine.  I’m an essential hospital worker, so am probably being exposed every day while at work.  I was able to close on my home last week (thank god), but am now homeless while waiting for my new house to finish being built.  We are staying with my mom, because she needs to watch my son since he is out of school. You’d think a pandemic would be a reason for his deadbeat dad to call him, but haven’t heard a peep from him (not surprised at all).  My city is shut down, including real estate transactions, so who knows when I’ll actually be moving in my new place.  Just trying not to stress, as we are all healthy, have shelter/food, and I haven’t lost my job...and feel very fortunate I was able to sell my house before the market crashed.  Here are some pics of some hikes and nature walks from the last weekend... all state parks shut down last Saturday 😑

Just caught up with the last 10 pages or so.  Been a stressful time, like all others are experiencing.  I work at a very large hospital/trauma center and we are just waiting for it to get bad here in NC.  My movers cancelled on me last week bc of the virus, so I had to scramble to find other movers at the last minute (they are here now and I close tomorrow).  
 

I joined our airway response team and have been working nights to have my days free for this move.  I swung by target this AM after work and there was a line to get in the store at 0655.  You need to get there first thing to get the TP!  Bought a big pack for my mom since we will be staying with her for the next month until my new house is ready.

Good luck to everyone dealing with this pandemic!  

Well, sitting here in FLL after our Escape cruise.  What an eerie feeling being on the ship, knowing it’s the last cruise for 30 days.  The staff I spoke to said they will be staying onboard and cleaning.  They shut down the ropes course, sports court, mini golf, ping pong, etc. on day 4, yet the casino and arcade remained open.  No self service from buffet from day 2 on.  I’ve been a wreck the last few days reading all the emails from my work and son’s school.  I work at a large hospital and will be required to show up.  I’m a single parent and don’t quite know what I’m going to do with my kid while he’s out of school.  To top it off, I’m moving this week and close on my house 3/25 and I’m freaking out.  My new place is being built and won’t be ready until the end of April.  I just know I’ll be exposed to the virus at work- luckily I’m youngish and have a good immune system.  Drank way too much on the ship to try and drown my sorrows.  😵

On Escape now and we decided to stay on the ship today.  Mini golf closed, ropes course closed, no ping pong.  Arcade is still open, which is ridiculous.  No one is in there sanitizing the machines.

The ship has to tender in Cozumel today, which is a cluster.  Going to be a long sea day tomorrow...my kid likes all the activities.  

I’m on Escape now- they stopped all self- service in the buffet the other day.  Don’t know why it never started that way on day 1.  I have not heard what a code yellow is, but I’m assuming it’s the increased sanitation?  No issues otherwise regarding the ship.  We tendered to Harvest Caye yesterday because the pier is under repair. We are also tendering to Cozumel tomorrow, which is a bummer.

This is for you, Sid

Margarativille is no more- officially the American Diner 👎

Officially on vacation!  Got on the ship at 1120....they were doing temperature checks on everyone when you entered the terminal.  Looked through every page of passport then sent them for a ‘secondary’ check.  Decided against Vibe, even though there were passes available- just don’t think I’ll use it a lot with my son here. Sid, we drove by your Virgin ship- it looks really nice!  

We are sailing today... I think it’s bad business for NCL to not offer this policy effective immediately.  I wonder why the date of March 10 was chosen?

We are going and will make the best of it, but I honestly would have cancelled given the option.  We are young and healthy, so I’m not too worried about getting sick.  I cannot handle missing work due to a potential quarantine, kids missing school.  Not to mention we are closing on our house within 2 weeks of the sailing.  Can’t use insurance, either (don’t have CFAR). 

Well, Tribe, we are here in Miami and cruising on Escape tomorrow.  Going to make the best of it, Coronavirus be damned!  

4 hours ago, ceilidh1 said:

I need your support Tribe....I am full on freaking out now. Did you all see/hear the news about Grand Princess? This is all a little too close for comfort. I'm still not in the least bit worried about getting Covid-19 but all those "what ifs" that are circling right now. I don't want to get quarantined - on ship or land, I don't want to get stuck somewhere and not be allowed to dock, I don't want to be denied entry to the US or Canada. GAH! I'm not even sure my cruises will go ahead at this point and I have no idea if that would be a relief or a disappointment. I'm just not sure what to think right now.............

 

OK, I feel better now. Carry on.

I did read about the latest Princess ship...I’m cruising out of Miami on Saturday and the only thing I’m worried about is being quarantined on the ship.  I don’t want to miss work and my son miss school.  We are healthy and I’m always a crazy person with hand washing and wiping down everything with the toxic baby wipes I get from work.  I’m in health care and work around sick people and germs every day, so I’m not worried about catching the virus.  I would be worried and would cancel if we were had compromised  immune systems or suffered from lung disease, etc.

This virus is going to spread everywhere.  We have our first confirmed case here in NC- some idiot went to the nursing home in Washington then flew back to RDU!  My only advice is to cancel if you are going to be freaked out and worried so much you won’t enjoy your trip.  Otherwise, go and enjoy your cruise!!

1 hour ago, sid_9169 said:

Best advice is to place yourself near where the boarding process will begin. There are two terminals, B and C. Terminal B, the boarding begins right across from the restrooms. Terminal C, directly near the glass wall closest to the ship, also near the restrooms. Try to find a seat nearest this area, so that you can be prepared to make your move right after special needs boarding. (Haven passengers are escorted directly there, so the first announcement will be for special needs)

 

There is a platinum and above waiting area between terminal B and C that you can also wait in. If you go this route, hang out closest to the terminal B restrooms, which is boarding will begin from there.

 

Once you cross the bridge to the ship, head downstairs and towards the center of the ship. Doesn't matter if you board forward or aft, deck 6 only goes in one direction once you get to the bottom of the stairs... With this plan, you should be guaranteed a Vibe pass... Good luck, and let us know what happens!...

 

 

Thanks Sid- still debating if it’s going to be worth it or not.  I’ll have my son with me, but he goes to the kids club a few hours a day so I was planning on using it at those times so I don’t have to fight for a chair with the masses.  I’ll let you know what I decide!

Hi Sid- question for you regarding Vibe...I’m headed out on Escape this Saturday and would like to review my strategy for acquiring a Vibe pass.  I’m platinum, so plan on getting to the port around 10AM.  I have not been on a ship with Vibe since turning platinum, so will I be in the first boarding group after Haven? If so, I plan on running down to deck 6 Headliners to snag one.  Any tips or tricks?   Knock over the people in wheelchairs and walkers (kidding)?!  Thanks!!

Thank you for your review.  I had booked and cancelled Encore for last Thanksgiving break because of comments from posters here.  Your experience confirms I made the correct choice.  I am a sunbather, and fighting for deck space is a deal breaker for me.  I wouldn’t like being so close to my neighbors, either.  Like, where would you put your drink- you couldn’t even reach down by your side to put it under your chair.  Guess you have to put it by your feet and enter and exit the chair by crawling in at the foot of the chair.

I was originally turned off by the Encore by the go carts and the height requirements to drive the cart.  I usually travel with kids, and my child is not tall enough to drive the cart by himself.  I feel this is such wasted deck space.  Hopefully they retrofit the back into Spice H2O during drydock with enough complaints?  Honestly, I don’t go on a cruise to ride go carts, play laser tag, or go on roller coasters - I can do that where I live for less money and a better experience.  The slides, ropes course, etc are enough.  I don’t like how all these mega ships are trying to outdo themselves with gimmicks.