mking8288

@Dorhead1230 Quick answer to your questions, don't worry as you can share & use those minutes, 600 in all for 4 passengers. Switch from 1 to the other on same device. The key is to remember to always log out when the minutes meter is running. You can switch to another account when one in use is out of free minutes. Just check your usage & remaining minutes each time as the screen will pop out. I'll do some more screenshots as illustrated guide later & upload here, and tag it for your attention.

We were using the Garden Cafe / buffet as our, informal, unofficial lounge for after dinner hangout for coffee since the atrium & other places remained packed. Promptly at 9:30 pm, the buffet went to shut down mode & roped off to all coming in. 10 to 15 minutes earlier, some of the privileged crew members including Alvin, CD came in to eat their late dinner. Plan accordingly if you are coming out of a late show & didn't eat earlier. MDR and specialty dining are open until 10 pm only. O'Sheehan's or Room Services with a fee, for your convenience ...

It's 9:45 pm, ship time ... Splash Academy is still open w kids running around by the FWD elevators. Kid's Pool already closed on Deck 15 and being drained & cleaned. Adult's hot tubs still pretty full at this hour. As expected, Deck 15 AFT's also closed.

Impressions on Tappenyaki tonight - strictly our opinions, YMMV: Miso soup is just okay, served warm. Seaweed salad with dressing is good. Avoid the chicken breast option as entree, portion size just tiny. Good thing we didn't order it. Chef's demonstration entertainment is always fun, he's from southern Philippines. Just got married on the GA 2 months ago, his wife works at a waitress in the MDR.

Tappenyaki - just the menu, where's the beef 😉 it's now strip loin.

Evening of Day 3 - Garden Cafe - Italian Night, not busy at 7:30 pm. Outside LeBristo, Taste & Savor, it's wall-to-wall people lined up for dinner and hanging out at the bars ...OMG, crazy crowded. Earlier at Tappenyaki ...

Posting key pages of FSD from 1 to 3, should help a bit. YMMV of course. Burn The Floor - looks like 3 shows in total, 2 tonight, sold out 7:30 and 9:30 pm and later, Jan 26, 1 show only at 7:30 & we booked on the App ourselves. MDQ - 3 nightly, 1 show per evening at 7:30 pm. Keep in mind, dinner can be 90 minutes+ to 2 hours lately everywhere except the packed buffet, even if you go at 5 or 5:30 pm, might need to rush out of there and tell the server to hurry ... skip the dessert (no takeouts permitted anymore, for your (in)convenience, of course) IMHO, strictly my personal opinion, just seeing 5 to 10% masking up in crowded places, for those who prefer to self protect and in high risk categories as XBB ... Washy Washy loosely encouraged - no desire to risk norovirus onboard ourselves. Plan & be wise, freestyle of course.

Tonight's MDR menu for Day 3 ... will be going to Tappenyaki for dinner. Used the App to book 2 shows, BTF and MDQ later in the week at 7:30 pm, with one show nightly only. Chair hogs out in force and that overcrowded communal bath ... I meant hot tubs, full. Half of the ship eating late buffet lunch at 2 pm, tables all occupied.

Lunch at Shanghai Noodles, with a basic comfort food choice menu, all complimentary but get there early, first seating full and 2nd seating too, latecomers turned away disappointed. Fried pot stickers & mini egg drops were good, Cha Shiu (Roast Pork) noodles soup was good, broth isn't & tasted like soy sauce water mixed. Singapore (thin rice) Noodles has a touch of yellow curry but not spicy hot - other noodles were similar with different flavors, otherwise lookalike. Panda fruit salad w coconut syrup was good, as were the chocolate lava cake. Portion size is small. Continued with part 2 - coffee at the buffet w fruits & mini items. Ever busy upstairs on Deck 15 AFT.

Who thinks that sea days are boring with not much to do and these are free, included. Right next to the spa, Deck 15 Fwd starboard side. 580 nm to San Juan, ship speed at 20.5 knots, ETA about 4 pm tomorrow afternoon, almost 11 am.

Chair hogs still sleeping this morning, passing the smoking section on the pool deck, port side. Pool area isn't busy yet as temperature warmed to 79 with hot tubs in full use. Water temperature is 75 F. Biking time ... burn some of those calories off in between meals.

Arrrh, correct that to each Sapphire member gets 2 cartons, 2 x 2 = then 4 cartons. If 2 are Platinum only, then 2 cartons, 1 per member.

Good morning - 630 NM to San Juan at 8:15 am, 70 degree F air temperature, calm seas Beautiful full sea day ! And, it is Happy Asian Lunar New Year of the Rabbit 🐰around the World 🧧

Both being Platinum, thus 2 cartons (16.9 oz or 500 ml) each x 2 = 4 cartons. CAS (casino) guests with the Drink card ("House") can get more cartons from the casino bar / beverage runners while playing there - hence, like our friends - they don't "need" to spend extra for bottled water. Of course, those "free" water are often very "costly" LOL. Amended the earlier post with the Name Card, should be quite readable. Metin, apparently will be on the GA until he's going over to the Viva/Prima & take on greater responsibilities, according to "super" Mario. CruiseNext manager is same as last March & I spoke with him then. Some of the other faces / names are familiar but since none of them were permitted to be at 2022's M&G - not much of a renewed "connection" for me; and the Group Events Coordinators are new. Thankfully, they had everything ready by 10 a.m. when I walked by after an "extended" morning Savor breakfast. Should be interesting to see who'll host the table for Dine With Officers, waiting for the invite to be delivered to our stateroom. The latest lunch menu is very good, better than last year's choices. Portion-wise, it's petite to average, fine for us as we don't need the extra weight gain, LOL. We'll check out another SD tomorrow night & do another "show & tell" with pictures and our subjective findings - YMMV. Food temperature when served isn't one of them - it's hot, warm, and just barely above/at almost temperature ... It seems that nowadays, those descriptions are outdated. Specifically, Cagney's earlier - only 3 entree items has an upcharge, steak sauces are included, and it's spelled out. When in doubt, ask for the asst/manager on duty to help if the server isn't clear or sure, i.e. with the appetizers & soup/salad switching - explained to us as 1 starter (appetizer), 1 soup or salad and 1 entree, 1 dessert (plus regular coffee or tea). We used 1 Platinum voucher for 2 and 2 SD (FAS) vouchers among 4 of us - and followed the above "rules" - zero extra charges to sign for. We have La Cucina booked later in the cruise and will ask the server more specific "what if ... and, can we questions" Now that we know, asking them to wrap & take out the desserts aren't "allowed" Footnote: this post done on the Sony Vaio notebook PC running Windows 10 on SSD, no issues. BTW, Facebook Messenger are getting thru while connected to ship's WiFi inTRAnet, not logged in - just no pictures downloaded until "connected" & on the "meter". It's probably one of many known backdoor or loopholes with NCL's "system" configuration, expect them to be blocked & shut without warning at any time. ... to be continued, please kindly leave questions & best efforts to help and answer them, time permitting & internet - cooperating.

Winding down evening of Day 2, onboard for almost 36 hours ... seemed longer. 10 full days ahead. Going to figure out plans for Roseau, Dominica ?? "Okay, Google" Tonight, clock forward by 1 hour. There is an all points wanted bulletin for a lost grey color Travel Pro 22 med size rollerboard. Hint Hint: Air Tags The Rollator Walker left almost outside in our corridor closer to the FWD elevators and stairs aren't blocking as much as 50% like yesterday, but still partially outside obstructing safe egress in an emergency instead of folded up & stored or kept in the stateroom. Isn't that a hazardous condition but I don't need or shouldn't be that person to file a report or complaint. If I haven't retired from healthcare admin, this would be cited as a violation as EOC and Joint Commission mock inspection ... probably against maritime safety protocols. Public hallways & corridors in these passenger areas are just barely wide enough to be accessible friendly & compliant ... a bit selfish.

Tonight's dinner food photos. We used 2 dining & 1 set of Platinum vouchers, and able to order 1 starter, 1 soup or salad, 1 entree (3 with upcharge) and 2 sides. No extra charges. Finished our coffee and dessert by 8:30 - a full 2+ hours. At least 10 tables in Cagney's remain empty & some not yet cleaned & turnaround ready for late sitting. Pace is reasonable with a touch of rushing, not really attentive but satisfactory. (Jumbo tiger shrimp 3x before, now 4 large shrimp.) For the record, we asked if we can; and waiter apologetically said we are no longer allowed to take things to do. ☹️

Seated in the back of Cagney's (AFT) for our 6:15 pm reservation, ship's speed at 20 knots, definitely feel the engine vibrations. Cagney's menu and the comp'd wine list choices for the Platinum voucher.

Oddly enough, iPhone 2020 SE pulling a good speed, like the Pixel 7 Pro Learn something new every time on NCL

Usually, in the MDR - invite will be delivered into our rooms, waiting. Last year on the GA, we're seated in a quieter corner section of Tropicana MDR. Very interesting 3 hours with the ship's public health officer. I believe if they are in the same stateroom, should be okay. They're cracking down on others who didn't even have Platinum status & managed to get in there. Other problem, too many with status these days vs. the small roped off area with room for maybe 120 at most.

Jim ... using latest Chrome browser on Android. I'm going to sign out to use iOS 16.2 briefly to see. S22+ as setup is usable, not fast but adequate for posting & getting these pix uploaded. Opera Mini should work well but if it's the one with built-in VPN, switch it off & on, see if it is different on speed. BA was okay but it's been a while & back then, bill by the MB data used ... not airtime minutes used, can get a lot of data out/in. Happy to read SWA got your down to Big Easy, enjoy & will follow your live report from here. Regards

Well, that $20 charge reversed and it's gone now. Line this morning with Onboard Credit desk was about 1/8 mile long, just as bad at Guest Services and Shorex too with all the changes & surprised. Super Mario, the GM said you are the faces of CC, call us & we'll try ... or something like that. Winston apparently tried that earlier and ... I was prepared to give them 2 to 3 days to fix it first as I am not going to be happy to stand in an overcrowded atrium lobby to tell them about their problem with billings. Magically ... disappeared

Double-up CNC promotion - it's a nice one to consider Satellite WiFi speed onboard, still trying to figure out how Google Pixel 7 Pro managed to get that extra, turbo speed over other devices on these NEC hotspots used everywhere on the Getaway.

Onboard, probably 5% of the pax, mostly older & frail ones are wearing masks. Others aren't - elevators are packed full 😷 😉 Same with crew, some are but most aren't with the relaxed policy. Tonight's MDR menu. We will be in Cagney's and that's our evening program 😁😁😁

Lunch today in Taste was better, service & speed wise, and food temperature also. Menu & pix

We had a good turnout for the M&G, closer to 55 or 60, out of 85+ that signed up. Mario was also the GM last year when some of us were on the GA, none of them present then due to COVID-19 restrictions. This time, they stayed for 20 minutes & talk, answered several questions, and heard some of the concerns - good and thank you. Metin isn't on vacation, he's currently Asst GM & holding F&B Director's title onboard & will be part of the Prima/Viva team. Alvin, CD is always cheerful, friendly & outgoing, left earlier than rest for an atrium presentation. Spoke w casino with the okay to do the slot pull at 11:45 but this crowd is more interested in chatting & mingled after the officers left, so many stayed & sat around to share stories instead. Here are pictures taken of the group and the ship's officers. Name Card & phone extension below.