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Latitudes Welcome Back reception inside the OL is a joke, made that a big, big, really joke in hosting a large scale event for 2,200+ Latitudes guests with seating space normally for 75 to 100 plus, including back against the window "seats" on the wraparound lounge, where you can hear and music after passing the band but otherwise cannot see the rest. Cubes of cheese & crackers only served. Over 900+ Platinum and higher Latitudes members, over 80% of the ship passengers being Latitudes - apologies for a big turnout, really. The reception should've been held not here but in a bigger event space. CruiseNext manager was the only one that spoke, nobody else - not the Captain nor the GM, who was here along with (some) other officers. Rants done and moving from being grumpy. Otherwise, view from the OL - foggy and ship blowing it's horn on a regular interval.

According to Capt "Out" 10 AM daily bridge briefing, rest of today seas expected to be 9 to 12 ft. - nearest land to the west around 200 mi Clock will be advanced by 1 hour again at 2 pm this afternoon. Ocean Walk is open but empty, it's windy, wet and on the chilly side. No hogs for loungers and chairs outside Lunch will be at Indulge Food Hall as we got here just before 11:30 and it's already filling up ... where's @Sugar Magnolia since there is no food police around. Tonight will be Onda ... skipping the MDR 😸 lines and wait.

Prima's TV Ch 1 is the navigational channel - informative, huh. Not 👎🙄😤 NCL has been upgrading the on-screen displayed data since late 2023 - still in beta mode 😳🤔 Older systems are much preferred here 👍 Nice Samsung Smart TV monitor with sharper resolutions, however ...

Good morning all - Day 4 ... A bumpy ride during the overnight hours as we went thru a weather system, windy and it's now foggy outside - breakfast sitting next to big picture window. Waves 7 to 10 ft. with occasional small, white caps. Our live shipcam view earlier Pearl continuing their TA, heading also to Reykjavik, Iceland with a 2 days lead ahead of us ... calm seas. View outside now - a bit of wind & foggy, just as Sharon @Fogfog described.

Upgrade to unlimited WiFi Internet is lowered by $25 after midnight, now pro-rated for remaining 12 days at $25 x 12 days = $300, less a $145 trade-up credit (from the partially used 300 free airtime minutes) for a net cost of $155 USD only. Avg daily cost is under $13 for unlimited use over 12 days, 7 of which being full sea days. Royal Caribbean's Voom is $20 a day for streaming unlimited use (vs. $40 for NCL) Since we have $250 NR-OBC, it's "free" leaving $95 in credit balance to spend it or lose it. Keep in mind, the daily cost go back to $30 per day instead of $25, once the # of cruise day is 10 or less, maybe 11 ... I am not sure, sorry but will check. Stay tuned in for update about using Libby (library) app to access & use Prima's onboard Library; and, the HDMI port access. Linux USB boot drive ...

WiFi 6 StarLink-powered Station Zebra now setup to sail & support "Live" CruiseCritic posting over the next 5 full days of eastbound TA crossing to Reykjavik, Iceland.

Freestyle Daily #3 - PDF w all pages, except info-mercials Prima TA Apr 2024 free-style-daily-03.pdf

See comments from post #350 Between 7:55 PM and 8:30 PM outside the Hudson MDR ... deceptively didn't "look" that bad, huh. Undercover since I blended in the crowd until being spotted by ...

Observations & comments on Day 3 : (background - known) MDR no longer taking reservations (Prima, exclusive ??) for groups of 5 or less, only 6 and more. Corporate decision ? Digital display status board not showing updated current state at all. I.T. issues again ? Punt the ball. Crowds standing around getting restless after 30+ minutes. A single dining crew trying to smile and do what he can as friendly greeter. "Thinking outside the litter box" Faulty system designs - pass the bucks. Tonight, junior officers standing near one corner selectively greeting some guests while looking busy. "Keep up the image ?" Got them on candid camera's zoom lens. Hudson MDR has crew covering from Palomar and Los Lobos, etc. to supplement staffing. "Less is more ?" Let's hear the top brass answer 00 for an hour. "Sir, all the tables are full. There is no priority seating" not even for Diamond. You can go over to the Metropolitan Bar" and wait. (No, I will stand here, watch & wait, thank you.). Wait, how about you call my room when you find a table & it's ready while I take a nap, it's only 8:15 PM ? I already waited 20 minutes for a table if 4 and you lost my Room # and need to check the "pager" number in my hand. " Speechless" Not sure how to grade their managerial plan on mitigating passengers (did)satisfactions. On the bright side, this should get better over the next 12 days - I hope we hit rock bottom. The best (worst) is yet to come. Tomorrow is the 2nd full sea day and the Latitude reception for Deck 12 & below is 1 PM. Why would they knowingly schedule it when the MDR is open from 12 to 1:30 PM only, and expect guests to eat and run, or skip a meal - or jam the buffet or The Local after 1:30'ish. For your convenience to sail & sustain, of course. Since we have a number of CC'ers on the TA already sharing their thoughts, we might consider a joint session, let's take it up at the bar crawl. Or, just go with the flow. Let it Go, Let it Go.

Pilot boat action photos, coming alongside and the pilot is off the ship. Captain Kevin "Out" is now taking us to Iceland as we edge along and soon be turning northeast

Use close to 1 GB worth of 5G data today included tethering over WiFi hotspot use, included in plan with no extra costs Still on cellular (Bell Canada) but will be switching to StarLink for next 6 days while at sea, until we pick up Iceland signals, covered & included 👍

Here she goes and bye, Halifax until ... underway by 5:15 PM @Sugar Magnolia Salty's. LoL, we found it and were there but too early, employees just beginning to show up for work ... so, we Uber again to hunt down Pho. Was very good + the crew know this place, word of mouth.

Pearl's shipcam live - doesn't look bad, foggy and choppy seas to be expected. It's our turn to cross and follow them 😄

Gangway lifted, hoisted and we are preparing to get underway ... no idea if they accounted for all passengers.

Pearl is on their way, early arrival ETA on CruiseMapper, ditto for us at this moment. Windy App forecasts, looking like we should slip thru just fine, maybe some mild rocking & rolling. Fwd gangway already close an hour ago, Aft gangway isn't and 3 minutes to 17:00 scheduled sail away time to Reykjavik, Iceland 🙈🙈🙈

FYI only - London Gatwick traffic alert for those flying out - just been alerted by our Southampton car (taxi tour) services. "I've just received news that the main orbital motorway to Gatwick is going to be closed for major engineering work on the weekend of 10th - 13th May (see attachment). This is going to have a massive impact on our journey to Gatwick from Windsor and I think you should reconsider. The other alternative is to take the coast road and visit either Portsmouth, Chichester or Arundel Castle." Otherwise, it's past 16:30 or 4:30 PM ... all abroad. Farewell bagpipe music ... a short video clip (65 MB file over 5G cellular, not possible over ship's basic unlimited WiFi) PXL_20240429_193506747.TS.mp4 Guest Services paging parties to report ... pier runners PXL_20240429_193506747.TS.mp4

Made our way up to the OL on D17 Fwd, rather full but we managed to find some seats. Will be interesting to see 🙈 how pack this place become over the next 5 consecutive sea days. Have seen no Ocean Walk activities below aside from those doing their healthy walks. @dexddd Field base for running a makeshift Station Zebra as "live" CC command, while having "afternoon tea" No solar or wind power so boosting with the USB power bank (10,000 mAH) by Mophie.

New pillows arrangement today waiting for us as we got back onboard. Overheard a conversation that pax in motorized scooter unable to go back into his room b/c housekeeping hasn't gotten to do his yet (deck 15)

Gangway and stairs, don't ask me to explain ... I waited & followed from the rear or bottom as the safety while they battled the stair master. Made it, it's a field goal ... or a touchdown, whatever 😄 like passing the nuclear stress imaging tests on the treadmill.

Just 3 blocks to the ship and it's a long walk ... =

Time to get them to walk slowly back to the ship - 3 blocks to the pier. No Uber ride.

We are now walking distance, downhill, walking back to the ship. Target locked for shore side specialty dining ... guess what, this is a popular food joint for off duty crews from cruise ships, making up for half of the patrons - super busy 👍

More waterfront & downtown Halifax photos - Casino Nova Scotia anyone ? 3 more blocks from here.