Semi-Live Getaway 2.0 Jan 16 - Feb 1, 2023 NY - So. Caribbean ... 12 nights ( is it Live, Semi-Live or Limited ?? )

[mking8288]

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 🧧

[mking8288]

8 hours ago, Aldeya said:

Latitudes rewards and it states for Platinum "Flow Waters cartons - 1 per member".

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.

[Saxomatic]

@mking8288

 

Thanks so far for your posts .

 

Can you post the activities part of the dailies to see how the planning . Curious to see how it changes from the previous cruise .

 

Thanx 🙂

[Red-Sol]

On 1/20/2023 at 3:54 PM, mking8288 said:

using Pixel 7 Pro for these shots.

As another Google Pixel fan fan I know many people tend to "Poo Poo" the cameras and phones...they fail to understand the imaging quality the phones provide at significantly lower prices than many other high end phones.

[mking8288]

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. 

 

Edited January 22, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

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.

 

 

Edited January 22, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

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.

 

 

[mking8288]

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.

 

[EllieinNJ]

Are all the shows at 7 30 nightly?  Any at 9 30?  Now I have to rebook all my dinner reservations which I made for 7 30.

[mking8288]

6 hours ago, Saxomatic said:

@mking8288

 

Thanks so far for your posts .

 

Can you post the activities part of the dailies to see ...

🙂

 

1 hour ago, EllieinNJ said:

Are all the shows at 7 30 nightly?  Any at 9 30?  Now I have to rebook all my dinner reservations which I made for 7 30.

 

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. 

 

 

 

[Cruising Lynne]

3 hours ago, mking8288 said:

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.

 

 

 

Wow. That chocolate dessert looks great. Norwegian always does a nice job plating desserts. Even in the complimentary venues. The smaller portions of the other menu items make it easier to try more different options, and have room for dessert.

[mking8288]

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 ...

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 22, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

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

 

 

[mking8288]

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.

 

Edited January 23, 2023 by mking8288

[cruiseny4life]

2 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

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.

 

OOOOOOOOO!!! You got him! He was definitely not our chef. I so wish he had been. His table was having a quite lovely time. Quite the showman and very outgoing.

 

That chicken, wow! I'm glad I went with "Seafood" earlier this month. Looks like you had "Edo?" Yum!

[Dorhead1230]

Hi @mking8288! You are so knowledgeable about all things tech-related on the ships, I thought I’d ask you this. When we sail next month, we have 2 cabins—one for DH and me and one for my mom and our 4-year-old DS. DS is a full-fledged passenger #2 in his cabin with all included promos, so I was wondering earlier if once I use my 150 included minutes, will I then be able to connect from my phone for his minutes? Would my device be barred from connecting to another cabin’s/passenger’s minutes? Would there be any possibility of the Internet desk people transferring his minutes to me or to DH? I mean DS is a full-fare, full gratuities passenger, but he’s 4 so he doesn’t have email to keep up with 😂 so it stands to reason we should be able to use his minutes somehow I’d think. Anyway, I’d appreciate any thoughts you have on this! Glad to see you’re enjoying yourself so far!

[mking8288]

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.

 

 

[mking8288]

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 ...

 

Edited January 23, 2023 by mking8288

[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.  

[leithbones]

On 1/21/2023 at 7:16 PM, mking8288 said:

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.

 

Have seen this reported elsewhere.

Would you characterize Vibrations .....

....Annoying/un-ignorable << or >> Background/soothing

(or a more accurate description of your choosing).

[KinLINY]

After looking through some of the restaurant pictures, I’m trying to figure out the dress code for men. I’ve booked four specialty restaurants and two main dining room restaurants for my 7 night cruise. Sport coat, collard shirts and pants? Shorts acceptable? Thanks again for the updates. 

[RadioPeri]

8 minutes ago, leithbones said:

Have seen this reported elsewhere.

Would you characterize Vibrations .....

....Annoying/un-ignorable << or >> Background/soothing

(or a more accurate description of your choosing).

 

I can only speak to my experience, but we're in an aft balcony and definitely feel the vibration but don't find it unpleasant at all. We're sleeping like babies. 😴

 

Sitting in Syd Norman's right now, and the ship is humming. 

 

Or maybe that's the Brown Sugars I'm drinking, lol. 🥃

[Pitzel]

10 minutes ago, KinLINY said:

After looking through some of the restaurant pictures, I’m trying to figure out the dress code for men. I’ve booked four specialty restaurants and two main dining room restaurants for my 7 night cruise. Sport coat, collard shirts and pants? Shorts acceptable? Thanks again for the updates. 

No sport coat required in any NCL restaurant. Here is the recommended dress code: https://www.ncl.com/faq#!#what-clothes-should-i-pack, though a polo shirt and shorts are often seen, especially in the main dining room.

[nmuller328]

1 hour ago, mking8288 said:

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 ...  

So no late night snacks- I thought there were cookies- and some food  in the Buffet area till 11:30 pm ?    I know the Getaway doesn't have the Great Outdoors like the Jewel line- but I thought I remembered stopping for cookies & ice cream later than 10 pm

 

[Dorhead1230]

@mking8288 thanks so much for the reply and the helpful screenshots! Great to know we can share the minutes, as I don’t think my mom will be using too many, either—maybe just to check email a couple times and iMessage a friend or two at home. You and your predecessors who did the other recent lives from the Getaway have been so wonderful that you’re inspiring me to maybe devote most of my Internet minutes to trying to keep the Getaway live review train rollin’. Although without buying the unlimited it would probably be less extensive than all of you have provided, and I’ll also be chasing after my son—there’s 3 adults on him but he’s about as feisty and energetic as 3 kids rolled into one so it should be interesting! Thanks again!