Semi/Live: an "Epic" TA, 15 nights NY to Barcelona 04/22/23 - 05/07/23

[depplep]

Is it normal to wait that long to be seated for dinner on NCL? We've never waited longer than maybe 10-15 minutes on any Royal ship and I've never seen a pager on Royal. Is it because it's a transatlantic and every one is on eat, sleep, repeat?

[mking8288]

Midnight, local time and we are less than 80 nm from Cadiz-Seville, off coastal Spain cruising at 16 knots - early to ontime arrival.   

 

Night owls in NY and on the West Coast can track us on live shipcam, easing into the cruise pier before catching some shut-eyes 😴😴

 

 

 

 

[mking8288]

5 hours ago, podgeandrodge said:

Tech question------Pixel 7P accessing the mSD memory card via the USB-C Dongle, play video & output via HDMI""""""- I have the Pixel 7 Pro, but didn't think it had USB-C video output  ...  Is it that the USB-C dongle allows this function as it has a HDMI port on it? 

 

Secondly, """"s Platinum & Sapphire or Diamonds, with 15 days at sea, we get 2 free bags of laundry done...""""" - good to know, the latitude rewards page ...

 

Yes, I was able to use the Anker 7-in-1 USB-C to output to our HD monitors at home on 1080p but not on QHD or 1440. The mini 4k USB-C to HDMI adapter was able to do that with ease, just played with it briefly w DW's Samsung Galaxy S22+ (formerly mine) while I kept her S22+ with 128GB (less) storage. 

 

The key is that Samsung monitors on the Epic will work with a HDMI signal from my Lenovo Chromebook, that's a big plus, given it's cross-OS compatibility and in running Android apps ... developer's mode enabled. 

 

Not all adapters work with these set-up as I had returned those to Amazon. Will play a little more before we disembark on Sunday ... this is the fun part & turned out sea days weren't boring and we're quite busy & occupied, despite the "lack" of production shows.  Not fans of comedy or club music in a crowded setting. 

 

Maybe I am going to be using 2 flagship Androids but can't stand bloatwares from Samsung. 

 

 

[podgeandrodge]

52 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

 

Yes, I was able to use the Anker 7-in-1 USB-C to output to our HD monitors at home on 1080p but not on QHD or 1440. The mini 4k USB-C to HDMI adapter was able to do that with ease, just played with it briefly w DW's Samsung Galaxy S22+ (formerly mine) while I kept her S22+ with 128GB (less) storage. 

 

The key is that Samsung monitors on the Epic will work with a HDMI signal from my Lenovo Chromebook, that's a big plus, given it's cross-OS compatibility and in running Android apps ... developer's mode enabled. 

 

Not all adapters work with these set-up as I had returned those to Amazon. Will play a little more before we disembark on Sunday ... this is the fun part & turned out sea days weren't boring and we're quite busy & occupied, despite the "lack" of production shows.  Not fans of comedy or club music in a crowded setting. 

 

Maybe I am going to be using 2 flagship Androids but can't stand bloatwares from Samsung. 

 

 

Works with Pixel Pro 7 too? Thanks 

[JIMESOPUS]

@mking8288Good Evening from NY, your TransAtlantic is almost complete. 

[AtSeaAlways]

Course change and a big wind 6+ Beuforts.  The TV says we are not headed to Cadiz.  

[AtSeaAlways]

12 minutes ago, AtSeaAlways said:

Course change and a big wind 6+ Beuforts.  The TV says we are not headed to Cadiz.  

A guess is we got a wave off from the port.  We cannot dock in 45 knots of wind.  Be kind to the crew here.  New course 140, speed 6.8 = sea day.  

Edited May 3, 2023 by AtSeaAlways

[mking8288]

Well, folks ☹️ as you know from above supplemental live coverage, we were heading into Cadiz with 60 knots wind, 45 knots inside the channel - as captain said, simply cannot safely dock.  Processing at 6 knots toward the Strait, reaching there around 2 pm and continue with a sea day, conditions remain windy, per the captain's & CD announcement.

 

Sitting in MDR for a leisurely breakfast, that's now getting busy.  Not everyone onboard have figured out what we aren't docked 90+ minutes later than scheduled. Cellular signal was available but faded & dropped entirely since. 

 

Those with shorex booked thru will get automated refund. Others, possibly scramble to contact tour operators about cancellations. An updated FSD is being printed & will be available shortly. 

 

Whether a pro-rated port charges & fees will get refunded or not ... TBA

 

Ship's ride is fairly smooth as if normal conditions prevail, being in mid-ship ... until one look outside & check the live streaming bridge cam.

 

 

Edited May 3, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Revised Day 12 - At Sea

(heading to Motril, tomorrow is expected to be a nice day in the 70's)

 

[mking8288]

Outside ... conditions as expected, and inside - a little bit of rattling sound from the slight shaking between metal joints inside the walls. AFT - noticing that a faint, light blue tinted exhaust smoke, coming from the stacks ?? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 3, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Last time on a sailboat was probably 45 years ago, launched into a lake in Central NY ... this 🫣 is vastly different & far more challenging, I think.

 

 

Edited May 3, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Posted outside the Cavern Club this morning ...

 

Edited May 3, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Shopping for essentials, inside Epic's Duty-Free ... should you must buy them

 

[AtSeaAlways]

50 MPH wind gusts still.  The racing sailboat is sponsored by Fortinet - reefed carbon fiber main and blade/storm staysail up.  Exciting ride I'm sure aboard.  DW who called the big wind and course change at 0300 just pointed out Africa to Starboard.  The blue smoke was discussed as a mixture of heavy fuel oil exhaust and scrubber steam.  Lots of shipping traffic.  

[dexddd]

See from cam no port.  Maybe a divert to GSC, for your convenience, of course?  I'm sure you'll see refund of port fees unlike us who get nothing anytime.

 

Since you never sleep, is there a chance a Carnival ship or Costa did mid night intercept to deliver bananas and Spam on a mercy run?

 

The food pics are killing me.  Dinner here frozen spring rolls and sloppy Joe's.

[dexddd]

1 hour ago, mking8288 said:

Shopping for essentials, inside Epic's Duty-Free ... should you must buy them

 

Buy one from each category so we can wager what bill is.  My guess, $1,000.

[dexddd]

Don't buy the $7.88 or 2.88 Foille.  Cheap knock off catheter.

[mking8288]

Good morning 🌄 to those on the East Coast, instead of seeing Cadiz-Seville, showing our daylight passage thru the Strait of Gilbrator ... Cape Spartel starboard side, Morocco & Africa continent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 3, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 3, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

More from the Strait 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 3, 2023 by mking8288

[www3traveler]

WOW!!  Just beautiful and a very rough crossing.

How are you folks doing?

Thank You

[mking8288]

We know that some of our CC friends would rather be here ... picking up an excellent cellular signal from Morocco to use.

 

@www3traveler - we are doing great, an almost near perfect TA crossing, until this morning. Thank you.  Disappointed that we missed Cadiz but glad that we are crossing the Strait in daylight, even with a bit of haze & misty fog, giving us the chance to capture the spectacular scenic beauty. 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 3, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Captured the moments 😎 - Africa Morocco Line - ferry service ... cellular services coming from Spain now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 3, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Everyone is overtaking us ...

 

Edited May 3, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Turning to the northeast as we exited the Strait fot Motril, Spain ... Still on Spain's cellular network.

 

 

 

Edited May 3, 2023 by mking8288