mking8288

With the substitute ports, long lines at Guest Services, Restaurant reservation and Shorex desk. Always check our Onboard Account, what's a $20 service charge for, already prepaid our DSC.

Shanghai Noodles on Deck 7 AFT and Cagney's set up for our M&G.

Suffice to say, MDR breakfast was at a busy, leisurely pace this morning. Not impressed with the look & feel, and we are easy going. Services not as attentive as they always been, till this cruise. Menu & food pix

Tony, lol 😆 where are you ...Other folks still coming in at 9:55 am for breakfast. 4 of us are still sitting in Savor by the entrance as well. Crews looked busy & disorganized, indifferent and hardly anyone smiling at all. A very subtle & different feel than a year ago on the Getaway.

Speedtest results - slow on the Galaxy S22+ like before. Pixel 7 Pro has the advantage for sure I will answer (more, other, new) questions asked later. M&G this morning at 11 and also see if we can do a Slot Pull afterward.

Platinum / Sapphire vouchers or coupons ... Coffee in the stateroom - yes, it's stored on the top shelf. Just ask ...

MDR menu from Day 1. We're tired & went to sleep much earlier than usual. Going to MDR breakfast shortly. Seas have been calm, large wavelets at 2 to 3 ft. only. WiFi isn't slow this morning, much faster than all previous times on NCL, usable thus far ... what a surprise. Tested on my Google Pixel 7 Pro

Last night, dinner at Savor - line was long but able to get seated with our 5:30 reservation. Packed with people outside waiting & the bar was busy. Service was good, typical and took 2 hours, would've missed a 7 pm show unless we skipped dessert and ran out of there. Portions were petite, as expected and food temperature, just warm. Dining room was packed full and tables slow in getting turnaround. It's a different experience unlike last year.

Back online this morning, waited till after midnight and upgraded to basic unlimited WiFi, $30 x 11 days at $330, less $145 trade-up credit for $185 in costs. OBC will reduce the net cost further and keep DW happy, and we'll share our usage. Plus, still have 300 minutes on the 2nd FAS package to use. Phone & Messenger app functions still offered at $9.95 per device ... did it once before, not reliable. No Deal.

Good morning 🌞 all. Here's an important written notice from the Captain last night, left on the bed along with FS Daily. Hmmm, what can I say. It's a good thing we are just going to wing it on these scheduled visits to the islands. And, wow, getting back 1 hour to see San Juan, losing an hour at sea 🫢🤔😳🙄

Signed up for Dine w Officers. No BTS tour yet, wine tasting is offered. Dear GM comments - drop box at Guest Services Splash Academy is open, Deck 12 Fwd

Lady Liberty

Just imagine ... enjoy these images

There were more cars parked at Pier 90 this morning than now, maybe some from last Getaway sailing left their vehicles next Pier ? Nothing going on yet up on the bridge's port side console. Zoomed in at 5x from Deck 12 Fwd. Horns been sounded ... Next stop, San Juan, PR at 1,400 nm using Pixel 7 Pro for these shots. Update 4 pm and thrusters on, sideways & now backing out ... let's rock and roll.

We are supposed to sail on time but ... Gives me a chance to test the new Google Pixel 7 Pro's new cameras, using the Queen Victoria as subject, at 2x, 5x, 10x, 20x and 1x. Looks great, looks like my Olympus digital camera isn't needed for backup. S22+ battery down below 40% and fast charging wirelessly, tethering data to share among 3 devices.

Coffee maker / services, on request ... hiding out of sights. Sapphire/Platinum vouchers & perks, 4 cartons of 500 mg / 16.9 oz Flow water. Latitudes/ CruiseNext Party - Mon. Jan 23rd 12:30 pm at Tropicana, Deck 7 AFT Our ship captain comes from Greece, just announced that we should be releasing lines & sail on time at 3 pm. Alvin, CD going over the mandatory safety procedures ... from the bridge. Asst CD is Rod. Sailaway Party at Spice H20, Deck 16 AFT at 3 pm.

Staterooms ready about 1 pm, announced over PA system. Say hi to the bridge from our Fwd balcony. At 1:05 pm, there were folks still waiting to get pickup on level 2. Street or level 1 empty and clear. And plenty of parking over at Pier 90 if needed.

Next door at Pier 90, there were pax with luggage waiting to get pickup, disembarking the QV. @goldmom there are other disembarking pax upstairs waiting for pickup, street level is also possible - but massive traffic jam in the roadway, doubled parked unloading & loading. Assumed you are using Special Assistance when disembarking on yours & use porter services, check & ask them whether upstairs or downstairs is better, as they know - don't necessarily need to cross 12th Ave. I'll check & look around when we come back on Feb 1st. Pizza in the buffet is good, much better than years past.

Galaxy S22+ 3x zoom and 10x zoom

Started boarding for us at 11:05 and they roped off the area so everyone in the reserved area get to go ahead of others. Good. Facial recognition works at security podium for boarding. On board, B6 Assembly Station at O'Sheehan's for virtual muster station. No crowded assembly later 👍 Too early for MDR, up to Cafe to grab a nice window table & relax.

Clearing the boarding area, checking everyone's key card in the Platinum area. Full of people, unlike last year's - as expected

Connected to GA's WiFi, still good choice of Specialty Dining time for the week ahead ... Sunday at Moderno or Ocean Blue Here comes the Haven escorts, looks almost ready for early boarding ... at 10:45 am

Platinum & next to us, Special Needs waiting area, quite full already at 10:15 am. MCT WiFi is free, can also connect to GA's WiFi inTRAnet now to start booking shows & lookup dinner times to change.

Worst traffic this morning, at Pier 88 backed up to Pier 90 with Queen Victoria next to GA, delayed by 10 minutes. Check-in was smooth & quick, long walk to back as we are on Deck 12. Just a few quick health & travel questions, retake photos for DW and set w key cards. Boarding Group #6 but being Sapphire, we were among last to get into Platinum area to wait, it's full. Looks like ship at zero count already.

Carmel is early, Honda minivan loaded, buckled up, on our way, going over Bronx WS Bridge, fastest route to Pier 88. ETA 40 minutes Progress - 9:20pm ... on I-95 under "The Apartments" in upper Manhattan, traffic is heavy but moving, should be there in 15 or 20 minutes as we turn south on the Henry Hudson Pkwy