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

[mking8288]

2nd batch from Bridgetown, Barbados going around the scenic island, villas & resorts

 

Oldest Anglo Church here, since 1600's

 

Monkey troops roaming free

[mking8288]

3rd batch of Barbados photos

 

[Red-Sol]

Rihanna Drive....who knew? 🙂

[Outta My Work Clothes]

Were you scheduled to arrive in Barbados at 11am (ish) all along or was this one the last minute changes?

[mking8288]

 

Last batch from our tour - plenty of taxi drivers outside the gated area, to the right - marked as taxi stand, with prices clearly marked ($2 BDD currency = $1 USD) as we head back for a very late lunch / early dinner onboard.  There is a 1 hour quickie tour for $10 p/p, taxi fare to 2 nearby beach are $7 p/p.  Walk to downtown is 20 to 30 minutes a little over a mile away.

 

... some of these images are ideal as wallpapers for PC & smartphone, etc.

 

Edited January 25, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

1 hour ago, Outta My Work Clothes said:

Were you scheduled to arrive in Barbados at 11am (ish) all along ...

Scheduled 12 noon to 8 pm, all abroad 7 pm for off-duty crew & passengers at 7:30 pm to sail at 8.  Just took them 35+ minutes to get cleared & everything ready. 

 

Terminal building with duty-free shops air conditioned and good WiFi with crews off the ship phoning home & even GM super Mario was in the shops area. 

 

Tonight's MDR menu, folks slowly making their way back to the ship & Tropicana starting to get busy ... ordered & waiting for our starters, soup & salad.

[bedfordmom]

14 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Scheduled 12 noon to 8 pm, all abroad 7 pm for off-duty crew & passengers at 7:30 pm to sail at 8.  Just took them 35+ minutes to get cleared & everything ready. 

 

Terminal building with duty-free shops air conditioned and good WiFi with crews off the ship phoning home & even GM super Mario was in the shops area. 

 

Tonight's MDR menu, folks slowly making their way back to the ship & Tropicana starting to get busy ... ordered & waiting for our starters, soup & salad.

Whats for dinner tonight?

[mking8288]

1 hour ago, bedfordmom said:

Whats for dinner tonight?

Haha, menu w pictures.  Food nicely presented but temperature would fail NYC Dept of Health inspection & safety standard, cold food cold & hot food served (not) hot, lukewarm only ... although they are supposed to be kept under heat lamps in the gallery (not easy to do, still)

 

[mking8288]

2 oversized lamb shank ( entire leg ) for the table to share ...

 

[mking8288]

Everyone accounted for, no Pier runners late in returning and we are on the move at 7:25 pm, thrusters sideways & leaving Bridgetown, Barbados. 

 

Tomorrow is the unplanned, last minute change stop from St. Lucia to Dominicia. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos by Google Pixel 7 Pro

Edited January 25, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Tonight's Featured Complimentary Entertainment are Levity Comedy & Syf Norman's Tribute to Rumours.  Plus, Dune at 7:30 pm in the GA Theater, PG-13 Movie 😳  

 

Broadway Unplugged, 7 pm at the Illusionarium, reservations required ... 

 

Splash Academy opened until 11 pm, with late night fun zone from 11 pm to 1 am.  Garden Cafe promptly closed up @ 9:30 pm & entrances roped off while I got there just in time to get some fruits

 

Today is the $29 Laundry Special. Doing our free bag tomorrow instead, on Day 7, midpoint of this cruise.  Found a perfect fit & use for one of the photo studio bag, as a sturdy liner or insert for the thin & flimsy paper bag - rolled tightly & stuffed the bag full, about $100 worth itemized with the downsized bag.  

 

We'll do a 2nd bag later but for 12 nights cruise, only get 1 bag free each - same as a 7 nighter.  The bag isn't all that big as you can probably see 🙈

 

 

That's all from Day 6, Roseau, Dominicia in the morning ... cruising just under 19 knots, small waves at 4.9 ft. & strong tail wind, 100 nm to go, should reach the port around 7 am, on time to be there from 8 am to 6 pm.

Edited January 26, 2023 by mking8288

[trbarton]

On 1/20/2023 at 1:41 PM, mking8288 said:

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

Do you know how many people can go to the “Dine With the Officers” plus the cost & if mentioned which day?

 

Thanks!

 

Tom😀

[trbarton]

On 1/20/2023 at 5:46 AM, cruiseny4life said:

15 minutes until Carmel arrives. Have a safe land-based journey to port from Queens. And, of course, I hope your bags don't slip into the drink. Only thing drinking should be you in about 2 - 3 hours. 

 

Bon voyage! 

Can you explain Camel & are they available from JFK to Times Square?

 

Thanks!

 

Tom😀

[mking8288]

Good morning, Day 7 - docked at 7:30 am at Roseau, Dominicia

 

 

A very short walk from the pier to the waterfront 

Edited January 26, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

@trbarton Dine with Officers is an "earned" perk for Platinum members that reached Sapphire & higher status, not for others.  Once signed up for, they arranged dining time & date for different evenings, as there are quite a few on this sailing.

[njhorseman]

8 hours ago, trbarton said:

Can you explain Camel & are they available from JFK to Times Square?

 

Thanks!

 

Tom😀

If you don't mind someone else answering:

Carmel Limo is a car service. They'll take you anywhere in NY City and the nearby suburbs.

To get from JFK to Manhattan you can take a car service such as Carmel limo or Dial 7, ridesharing services Uber or Lyft, or a NY City taxi.

There are mass transit options too, but unless you're traveling very light mass transit isn't an attractive way to go.

[mking8288]

Going ashore now, checking out the tourism info ... independent 3 hours tour of the area, taxi dispatch right off the pier, museum across the street.

 

Google Fi 4G LTE data coverage, included in my data plan

[mking8288]

Roseau highlights for 3 hours, 5 stops - $40 p/p in air conditioned minivan for up to 10, ready to leave shortly with 8  

 

 

Passed by St. Lucia last night after 10 pm, port side ... still not clear reasons for skipping the island. Read somewhere that political instability & safety being the main reasons for the change, unconfirmed & not facts checked, just rumors & strictly speculations. Weather is absolutely not a consideration, calm seas & fair weather, low 80's , mainly sunny & some clouds. 

Edited January 26, 2023 by mking8288

[Outta My Work Clothes]

Thankx for all your posts n pictures! We will be on Getaway in 11 days on the same itinerary.... SORTA!!! 😉

[shof515]

48 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Passed by St. Lucia last night after 10 pm, port side ... still not clear reasons for skipping the island. Read somewhere that political instability & safety being the main reasons for the change, unconfirmed & not facts checked, just rumors & strictly speculations. Weather is absolutely not a consideration, calm seas & fair weather, low 80's , mainly sunny & some clouds. 

 

 

 

looking at Marine traffic ship tracking website it appears the reason for the St Lucia cancelation seems to be due to a berth availability issue. It appears that a cargo ship took the getaway parking spot

[Bonobochick]

Dominica is not a usual NCL port stop so I am enjoying the pics ☺

[mking8288]

Heading out to the mountain top rainforest 

 

[mking8288]

Long & winding road, some of it quite steep and required carefully driving slow & easy with low speed, low gear - Boiling Lake Trail & Ti You Gorge.

 

 

Edited January 26, 2023 by mking8288

[GizmoCat]

Could I ask if the ship changes port at the last minute, does NCL put on any excursions? 

[bedfordmom]

49 minutes ago, GizmoCat said:

Could I ask if the ship changes port at the last minute, does NCL put on any excursions? 

In 2017 on the Dawn Repo  after Hurricane Maria, our ports were switched several times up to 24 hours for arrival in St Croix was changed to St. Thomas (which we were their first ship) . There were limited excursions and those who had them booked prior had first priority and were sold out before we were able to book something.  Ended up at my favorite St Thomas Jeweler instead  and spent way more money than if we had taken an excursion lol  Our scheduled St. Croix private excursion was immediately refunded.  Not sure how this trip is handling it.