mking8288

QE's Starlink has been good, very good to excellent, beyond expectations esp. against NCL.  This is peak time now, dinner services and I think it's marginally slower 😁😁😁 hahaha 

NCL Prima's Starlink on this April-May T.A. crossing, NY to Southampton, UK  (below)😳🙄😤

Stateroom details worthy to be noted as FAQ for others - 

Rather spacious interior over NCL's mini refrigerator.

Light switch for the porch ... oops 😬 the balcony and noticed the wire under the floor mat by the door

This is the 6 ft. USB 3.0 extension cord, another 6 ft. will reach the loveseat sofa. 

Behind the nightstands, next to the bed - possible use for CPAP users with the correct power adapter - I highly suggest & recommend talking to the Access Desk about one's health needs to safely plug in an approved device, electrical & fire safety first ... never use uncertified or approved power strips not intended for marine vessels.

Virtual dining queue and how to -

Deck 2, starboard side 

MDR Lunch Menu 

13 minutes ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

Should be a much simpler pack for the Liberty.

Yes 🤗   Code = "should" is the keyword ... we took the bait b/c of our friend's casino offer for 2nd room, with our luck vs hurricane season, end up in Coco Cay and Nassau ... but, whatever - saves on grocery & household expenses.

And we can do a carry-on plus a daypack.  It's a 90 minutes weekday drive to Cape Liberty & parking there, no complaint there.

2 hours ago, www3traveler said:

When is your next adventure?

Mandy, coming right up - fly back and at home on 9/11,  get 2 weeks break before the 9 nights New England & Canada - our 2 best friends and the other bro-in-law and sis-n-law with mobility issues will be on the sailing.  

Will be another interesting comparison against NCL ... and even Cunard. One of the sister ship, Qvation just passed us heading north while the Quantum is behind us, heading into Victoria also - 3 ships visiting tomorrow. 

More guests doing their exercise here in the QR than the gym. 

Like NCL, $10 (and up) specials - of course, someone woke up & went to "investigate" 

1 hour ago, www3traveler said:

... (325 miles South and East of Seattle), we have a lot of smoke in the air from burning wildfires.  The Seattle Space Needle webcam, is also showing lots of smoke.

Thanks, Mandy ... Vancouver area also affected by smoke from the wildfire from what we read. Will disembark mid-morning on Monday, hopefully the morning traffic will ease for our taxi ride, drop off luggage at our B&B, then lunch & have dinner with a local relative ... and check-in online for our United flights out east via DENver on Tuesday. 

Our neighbor apparently believed in "we'll leave the lights on ... " all week long, never switched off (hey that's a tagline from the Motel 6 commercial)

For a 15 years old vessel, signs of normal wear & tear can be seen if you look closely, none safety related & just cosmetic ... and you also see efforts to repaint rusted spots. 

The shower flooring (pan), think I mentioned it earlier, isn't solid and popped a bit upon being stepped upon ... like the Norwegian Epic. 

Let the sunshine in ... 

Plans for tomorrow in Victoria, BC - temp in the mid/upper 60's or close to 20 deg. C.   Shuttle to waterfront in town by the Parliament, then see one of the oldest Chinatown in North America with it's classic Archway. 

A relaxing day at sea  😄 

Yummy 😋 😋 Yummy

@dexddd - baked beans are 👍 very good today as well the smoked fish/salmon. $5 plus 20% fees not going to Harry & Co but directly to the crew members that knock & deliver these, with a thank you. 

From our points of view, what we've seen certainly place NCL, Haven excluded, at a disadvantage.  Will those that are doing MSC stick with their TV (similar & about the same as Grills on Cunard) ?   Sorry, I don't think I am among those that can do a fair comparison.

Brace for rougher sea state later as we approach Vancouver Island 🫢

4 hours ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

 

Assuming you meant puffins and not the delicious dessert...

Yes, that's it ... darn autocorrect 

@dexddd  Mine is on station, safe & sound. You bribed the steward and he got someone else by mistake 😁😁😁

First timer and anyone rushing to catch a flight out disembarking, this might be helpful as a general guide - as always, YMMV. 

The Breakfast Room Service Menu of choices, cold & hot - no delivery charge and no 20% add-on. 

Almost forgotten to check it out, Cunard's Late Night Snacks option in the Lido Pizzeria section, opposite the main beverage station ... typical hours: 10 PM to midnight, perfect for those hungry after the late show at the Royal Theater or dancing in the Queens Room ... or just overslept & missed dinner/supper elsewhere.  And, I smell curry food (hot). 

@Sugar Magnolia  what do you think ? 

Of course, Room Service is 24/7 free and no charge for delivery, with a late night menu. 

How does NCL compares ... 😆 nil, none, surrendered by default 👎 

Hunger late night onboard is not an option, except by choice, to sail & sustain and based on passengers feedback ... there are probably 40 + in the Lido when I dropped in "unannounced" and under the covers of a moon-less night, speeding toward Victoria.

Tonight's MDR menu (Britannia Restaurant)

Salmon Fillet - my favorite @sea

Spanish Paella 

Lamb Shank 

This is the free shuttle drop-off and pick-up location in the city centre, behind the main street / business district ... a 15 minutes trip each way to/from the ship.

One of the 2 traffic lights in town. 

Misc - about the bears & owls

More totoem poles - quick tour of the Sitka, population of 8,000 year round residents, 2 traffic lights and 4 police cars

There used to be 1 McDonald's in town, no more and just 1 Subway franchise these days ... everything being shipped in or flown in, more expensive. 

One of the 2 small cruise ships anchored in the harbor and required to tender.  Cruise terminal can handle 2 ships, this month - they expect to get 10,000 pax on busier days with mega ships coming in. 

Our 3 hours semi-privare shared tour continued - salmon in the streams 

That's the veterans final resting ground

Quick scenic photo-stop while in route to see black & brown bears

Eagles & Owls - Sitka, part 2 of 2

Moving on ... 

Eagles & Owls - Sitka, part 1 of 2

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