NCL Prima eastbound 15 days TA (Live) 27 Apr, 2024 - N.Y. to Southampton via Halifax, Iceland & EU ports - preview intro

[mking8288]

Today is a religious, public holiday and there are people and bicycles everywhere - and - lines for some of the restaurants.  We decided to diet, exercise and slowly made our way back to the ship after being dropped off near the middle of the city, near the train station - a 20 minutes slow walk to the cruise terminal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ontheweb]

31 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Windmills in Amsterdam - 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bicycles everywhere - even out here, mind the bike lanes as they don't yield 🫢

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you climb to the top at any of the windmills?

 

And I second your comment about the natives on bicycles. They definitely do not yield for any pedestrians. And basically none of them wear helmets.

[ontheweb]

13 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Today is a religious, public holiday and there are people and bicycles everywhere - and - lines for some of the restaurants.  We decided to diet, exercise and slowly made our way back to the ship after being dropped off near the middle of the city, near the train station - a 20 minutes slow walk to the cruise terminal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had 3 religious holidays. The first was Maundy Thursday. The major cathedral that was included in our free tour was closed in the morning. We were able to go later on our own time and just show them the id from our river cruise for a free admission. IIRC, we were in Antwerp, Belgium that day. The next day was Good Friday, and the only real effect that had was it was also DW's birthday. And then there was Easter Sunday. DW missed our free excursion as she chose to go to a church service.

[Fogfog]

1 hour ago, mking8288 said:

Finished dinner early, 4 hungry adults left plenty of food for others, held in the gallery ... including the 7 near-pier runners being paged around 7:40 PM.  Apparently, they made it as it's just 7:05 and we are on the move already, heading straight out toward the lock.

 

 

 

 

Tonight's MDR menu isn't seen or used often, Chinese themed options and tomorrow night, Thai themed as the niece placed her pre-order.

 

 

 

 

 

Some debate during sail away if any of those paged here in Amsterdam were among the ones paged..ie former pier runners in Iceland.

Best line of the day was..”they should have not been allowed off the ship at the next port”

ha

 

 

Great sail away weather, dinner, views

Edited May 9 by Fogfog

[Fogfog]

21 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

Did you climb to the top at any of the windmills?

 

And I second your comment about the natives on bicycles. They definitely do not yield for any pedestrians. And basically none of them wear helmets.

We noticed this

Not a bicycle helmet anywhere..none. Not on adults nor kids

 

We got blessed on weather for sail away and into the lock tonight, sunset. Looking fwd to the posts of pics

Edited May 9 by Fogfog

[mking8288]

The "long" march returning to the Prima ... a long line to get into this waterfront floating Chinese restaurant, a la "Jumbo" in Aberdeen, Hong Kong ... bankrupt & gone out of business, the floating barges sank while being towed.  Perhaps, the owners gone abroad and set up this one instead ... looks quite new.  Maybe next time when we come back for another visit. 

 

 

 

River cruising 

 

 

 

It's a hotel directly above the cruise ship terminal ... reminds me of Vancouver, BC

 

 

 

 

Missed the all abroad, maybe one of these can help, if the captain is willing to toss down those rope ladder to climb up 😁 

 

[mking8288]

2 hours ago, Fogfog said:

Some debate during sail away if any of those paged here in Amsterdam were among the ones paged..ie former pier runners in Iceland.   ”they should have not been allowed off the ship at the next port” ha

LoL, several of them with the same last name as in Iceland

 

Not to worry according to our van guide - next port is only about 4 hours of driving, they don't have to fly.  Uber it 😆😆😆

Edited May 9 by mking8288

[mking8288]

A beautiful sunset forthcoming as we leave Amsterdam behind while the ducks swim away from us, going the other way ... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 9 by mking8288

[schmoopie17]

Where is the Red Light District?

 

Asking for a friend...

[mking8288]

@dexddd  Noticed anything unusual about the photo here - 

 

 

Look closely - allow me to zoom in 🤫 That is not my Station Zebra outpost, but it looks like an active radar system ... it's above my clearance level 😆 at CC to explain 

 

 

Meanwhile, Mrs M asked if this is the next cruise that I booked and sailing next.  Answer, what do you think  - it's mostly Oceanviews & insides 😁😁😁

 

 

Edited May 9 by mking8288

[mking8288]

It's about 9:45 PM and past sunset, the lock has reopened toward the North Sea and we are heading out to go south toward Bruges, ETA by 8 AM local time. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mking8288]

14 hours ago, YVRteacher said:

We always put in laundry once a week (so 3 times each on a 21 day cruise) ...  did the Star solo for 23 days last summer I had 3 bags of laundry for free. 

Ditto, we got 2 more bags of free laundries done free ( Diamond tier ) for our 2 cabins - sent out yesterday afternoon & they're in our cabins when we came back onboard this afternoon - no charge.  We didn't put any "coupon" in our stuffed bags, write Diamond on the slip and the paper bag. That's all - mission accomplished 😁

 

 

Next time, with 2 more reaching Platinum status, we can do more on the next 15+ days 🤗

 

Local cellular service as we roam, continued to prove high speed & very good signal.  NCL's StarLink as advertised #cough #cough 👎  My station gears or hardwares being a factor, of course.

 

 

 

Edited May 9 by mking8288

[mking8288]

6 hours ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

To paraphrase Yogi Berra…no one comes to this thread anymore…it’s become too hot

This is possible only with all the named and nameless heros on CC contributing and writing, leaving insider's jokes along with comments and their mini reports as live reporters in the field ... give meanings to  team spirits and speak for the tiny influence we being with CC as members carried, if any. 

 

@The P  Susan still has 3 days to shop for shoes including the side trip between Southampton & London Gatwick Airport, not to mention ... duty-free shops. 

 

We are definitely dumping 2 pairs of shoes as they're reached EOL in service.

[The P]

3 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

This is possible only with all the named and nameless heros on CC contributing and writing, leaving insider's jokes along with comments and their mini reports as live reporters in the field ... give meanings to  team spirits and speak for the tiny influence we being with CC as members carried, if any. 

 

@The P  Susan still has 3 days to shop for shoes including the side trip between Southampton & London Gatwick Airport, not to mention ... duty-free shops. 

 

We are definitely dumping 2 pairs of shoes as they're reached EOL in service.

She will succeed as she eyes the goods! I'm keeping the faith....Henry, I'm originally from Amsterdam, NY. Upstate near Schenectady and Albany. We don't have a canal but we have the Mohawk River(!!). No red light district either, LOL.....I visited the A'dam you just left when I was a teen; it looks much nicer now.

[njhorseman]

55 minutes ago, The P said:

I'm originally from Amsterdam, NY. Upstate near Schenectady and Albany. We don't have a canal

Sure you have a canal...the Erie Canal ! 😉

[graphicguy]

I certainly share this with all the sailors on the Prima.......I can't tell you how happy your review makes me.  What a wonderful trip.  Thank you!

[The P]

6 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

Sure you have a canal...the Erie Canal ! 😉

I think the closest to us we have to go to Fonda, NY to see it. I do have a bookmark with the Erie Canal Song on it though. 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Despite the inconvenience of having to break in my new pair of shoes today, I had a great day in Amsterdam. Some people have commented that the city is a bit gritty but I have always loved Amsterdam and the Netherlands in general.  
 

I will try to share more photos from my day at a later date once I go through them. However, I did want to share some highlights while they are fresh in my head.  
 

 

 

 

I really wanted to see what a sexy loo looks like but I did not have 2 euros on me. 

 

[The P]

6 minutes ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

Despite the inconvenience of having to break in my new pair of shoes today, I had a great day in Amsterdam. Some people have commented that the city is a bit gritty but I have always loved Amsterdam and the Netherlands in general.  
 

I will try to share more photos from my day at a later date once I go through them. However, I did want to share some highlights while they are fresh in my head.  
 

 

 

 

I really wanted to see what a sexy loo looks like but I did not have 2 euros on me. 

 

2 Euros is a little over $2. That's an expensive Sexy Loo to use!...Your feet may hurt now but you looked good as you walked.

[Sugar Magnolia]

I had a great table to myself at Hudson’s tonight while we transited through the canal and locks. 
 

 

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Members of my posse are beginning to lose steam so there was no clubbing tonight. I was not disappointed because…

 

 

 

[Ellis1138]

3 hours ago, njhorseman said:

Sure you have a canal...the Erie Canal ! 😉

And don't forget Love Canal (though admittedly, that's closer to Niagara Falls than Schenectady.)

 

Also, I hope that Sexy Loo wasn't the only public toilet. 

[brookie848]

4 hours ago, The P said:

She will succeed as she eyes the goods! I'm keeping the faith....Henry, I'm originally from Amsterdam, NY. Upstate near Schenectady and Albany. We don't have a canal but we have the Mohawk River(!!). No red light district either, LOL.....I visited the A'dam you just left when I was a teen; it looks much nicer now.

Well, we have the Erie Canal where the Mohawk becomes uncooperative.

[JIMESOPUS]

Good Morning Prima, while you were resting last night the Getaway passed on by.

 

According to the Weather Channel looks to be a nice day to explore and sample some of that famous Belgian chocolate.

[JIMESOPUS]

Quick update about the possible strike at Heathrow.