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

[Clay Clayton]

As of 4:40 this was her position 

[vacation44]

Wishing you a wonderful  crossing and looking forward to reading about it.  Will be a busy week for us followers with @Clay Clayton and @graphicguy reporting too.

[mking8288]

Rise & shine ... it's a bit foggy & misty this morning. Epic is about to dock, all abroad for 7:30 pm sunset sailaway - bags are packed.

 

All 3 area airports with flights on time, arrivals & departures. 

 

Edited April 22, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Express self walk-off / disembarkation just underway within the last 30 minutes, going to take a while to reach zero count before we can early/board accordingly, Haven ... special needs, VIP, Platinums & higher, etc.  Let's see whether there will be any "priority check-in" - not boarding 😉 🤔

 

Car services will be coming to pickup for our short trip to Pier 88.  

 

 

Edited April 22, 2023 by mking8288

[spenecer]

15 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Express self walk-off / disembarkation just underway within the last 30 minutes, going to take a while to reach zero count before we can early/board accordingly, Haven ... special needs, VIP, Platinums & higher, etc.  Let's see whether there will be any "priority check-in" - not boarding 😉 🤔

 

Car services will be coming to pickup for our short trip to Pier 88.  

 

 

What site are you using for so many Epic camera views?  I was only able to find the Forward/Bridge Camera.

 

[mking8288]

No pets to worry but got our system up for the indoor, house plants - self watering while we are away.

 

Using one of our local car service here, crossing now to the Bronx for a longer but quicker ride over to Pier 88, going to be there early, as like 10 am or less than 30 minutes, curbside to curbside. Some sort of road closure on east side of Manhattan, taking this toll route ($7 extra).

 

 

 

Edited April 22, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

We are early, too early @ 9:58 am.  Porters have our checked bags - security aren't open for check-in. 

 

 

 

Snacks, anyone - vending, pre-security, prices at $1.50 or $1.75 each, not bad for a quick sugar boost.

 

 

Edited April 22, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

All checked in, probably "just" 1,000 people inside the terminal ready to board. 11 am and the small Platinum seating area is almost full. Still coming off the ship & not yet at zero count.  Doesn't look like early or priority boarding will start anytime soon.

 

 

 

 

MCT free WIFi SSiD - 

 

Edited April 22, 2023 by mking8288

[dexddd]

What an exciting day.  Quick sailing to Bermuda, we'll be looking for your arrival.  Maybe you can get Bluesea to pick you up for a tour.

[mking8288]

Organized chaotic start to early, special needs, priority & Latitudes boarding started around 11:45, we got on around noon & stop by the Bliss Lounge, our Muster Station A to swipe our key cards for the virtual, mandatory safety drills. 

 

Crew rotation in progress, boarding from the lower gangway. Otherwise, all passengers board using a single midship ramp - gangway. 

 

Rooms aren't ready yet & won't be for a while, there are luggage holding area for those with larger carry-ons. 

 

We decided to do lunch at nearby O'Sheehan's.  The new chicken wings were okay, soggy & just not the same. But, it is comfort food and good & friendly service, 

 

 

 

Edited April 22, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

O'Sheehan's lunch - pretty fast & prompt services today, freshly brewed pot of coffee for us - strong 👍

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 22, 2023 by mking8288

[smillerholmes]

9 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Organized chaotic start to early, sexual needs, priority & Latitudes boarding started around 11:45, we got on around noon & stop by the Bliss Lounge, our Muster Station A to swipe our key cards for the virtual, mandatory safety drills. 

 

Crew rotation in progress, boarding from the lower gangway. Otherwise, all passengers board using a single midship ramp - gangway. 

 

Rooms aren't ready yet & won't be for a while, there are luggage holding area for those with larger carry-ons. 

 

We decided to do lunch at nearby O'Sheehan's.  The new chicken wings were okay, soggy & just not the same. But, it is comfort food and good & friendly service, 

 

 

 

Ummm...these "sexual needs" - wow!!!

[mking8288]

2 minutes ago, smillerholmes said:

Ummm...these "sexual needs" - wow!!!

Oops.  😆 LOL.  Those darn AI auto-correct & predictive spelling, good catch & fixed in time. Changed just in time.

 

P.S  desktop view of Epic's shipcam is quite sharp on our monitor, looking across the street from the pier and can see pax outside with luggage. 

[smillerholmes]

4 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Oops.  😆 LOL.  Those darn AI auto-correct & predictive spelling, good catch & fixed in time. Changed just in time.

 

P.S  desktop view of Epic's shipcam is quite sharp on our monitor, looking across the street from the pier and can see pax outside with luggage. 

No worries.  I thought maybe, just maybe you had reached some sort of super special Latitude level that the rest of us could only dream of... 🤣

[schmoopie17]

21 minutes ago, smillerholmes said:

No worries.  I thought maybe, just maybe you had reached some sort of super special Latitude level that the rest of us could only dream of... 🤣

How much are the gratuities for that? Or are they included in the...ahem...package?

[mking8288]

Rooms are just about ready, a sneak peek of our slightly larger than average balcony on Deck 13 Fwd/Mid near the stairs & elevators.  Doubled the size of those on the BA and Getaway, or Escape.

 

 

 

Trailers lined up to load provisioning onto the ship, and still lots of luggage to be taken onboard. Plus, a bonus view of Pier 88's rather full parking lot and the Intrepid Museum.

 

 

 

 

Edited April 22, 2023 by mking8288

[www3traveler]

Thank you for all the wonderful pictures.

It is amazing how they get all the semi's lined up and off loaded in a short period of time.

I hope you have a wonderful cruise.

Would appricate knowing who the Bridge and Hotel Officers are.

 

 

Edited April 22, 2023 by www3traveler
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[Suetravel]

Hi Henry

 

Have a great and relaxing cruise. 

[mking8288]

Lines on Day 1 at Guest Services, Shorex, Restaurant Reservation Desk, and CruiseNext, where we signed up for Dine With Officers and the complimentary BTS tour, skipping the wine tasting. Paid BTS tour available too, stops at the Bridge and Engine Control Room, for a fee, of course. Safety isn't a problem with paid tour, huh, just for your wallet & convenience.

 

 

 

Edited April 22, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

All abroad, it's about 7:35 pm.  Dinner on the Hudson at Taste MDR done, a view of the West Side Hwy & skyline ... on our balcony, should be under way. 

 

Our dinner was pretty good, took about 90 minutes for 5 course selections, petite servings but just right for us.  There is 2 lines, one for those with reservations, at separate host/ess stations, just not always easy to figure out if the line is long.

 

The rotating dinner menus - tonight's Chicken Piccata was good. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These menu items pretty much unchanged from that used on the Getaway this January. 

Edited April 22, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

 

 

 

A picture is worth a thousand words. Ropes still tied up at the pier, yet to be released.

 

 

[Barb Nahoumi]

Is the ship leaving late?  

[mking8288]

Time-lapsed photos @ 8:25 pm  ... we are on the move, backing out now. 

 

 

 

 

Looks like we will rock & roll for a few hours overnight, not unexpected, but should be fine getting to Bermuda.  Let this TA get underway 🎊

 

 

Edited April 23, 2023 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Moving the clock ahead or + 1 hour (less sleep) still has a usable LTE signal.  Will be back online later ... or in the morning. 

 

Requested ice, done.  Coffee maker in the morning.  Flow waters delivered ...

 

 

[shof515]

The Epic is going to pass the Prima shortly. Prima appears to be docking at around 1am