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Explorer NYC & Carib Jan 2014

January - February 2014
A 38-day adventure by Rulocal Read more
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  • TravelerExplorer NYC & Carib Jan 2014
    Day 17

    Cruise Cancelled !!

    January 25, 2014 in Puerto Rico ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    Well this is a first for me, the CDC have cancelled the rest of the cruise, and we are now not going to St Maarten, we are heading straight back to Bayonne, New Jersey, for sanitizing.
    There will be compensation etc, but we've not yet been told what it will be.
    Also we're not sure what's going to happen to us back to backers, we don't know if we'll be doing the second cruise or if that's being cancelled also.
    No doubt we'll find out today.
    I will keep you informed.

    P.S. Just watching CNN and a report came on about the sickness on the ship.
    According to the report there are more than 300 people sick that is 280 guests and over 20 staff.    Read more

  • TravelerExplorer NYC & Carib Jan 2014
    Day 19

    Free at last

    January 27, 2014 in Puerto Rico ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Sheila was finally let out of her quarantine in the cabin, woo hoo!
    We had docked in the usual berth in Old San Juan, so as Maz, Jim & the girls had gone to a shopping mall for some retail therapy, we decided on a stroll in to town.
    We headed for an ice cream parlour we had found last time we were here.
    It sells beautiful frozen yogurt and most importantly has free WiFi, not only free but it has a good strong signal and is quiet.
    Unlike the popular places like Starbucks and Burger king where you struggle with low bandwidth and hoards of people.
    Oh yes,I almost forgot. A follow on from an earlier post.
    The concierge pulled me aside yesterday and apologized for his attitude the other night when he told me off for being loud during the penalty shoot-out in the Manchester United semi final. I accepted his apology, but I feel it was made more because he doesn't want to lose any tips from our group, which is usually 8 or 10 people four of which are pinnacle members. I'll just see how it goes over this and the next cruise.    Read more

  • TravelerExplorer NYC & Carib Jan 2014
    Day 21

    Compensation sorted

    January 29, 2014, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    The compensation for the cancelled part of the cruise had been sorted.
    We are getting 50% off this first cruise, which includes a $400 refund they gave us yesterday, and then a further 50% off a future cruise.
    It seems quite reasonable, so no real complaints from me.
    They did a forum with the captain, in the theatre yesterday, which was put together with the good intentions of giving the passengers information and the chance to ask any questions, but I'm afraid it turned into a shouting match.
    With people not listening and just shouting out some really stupid questions.
    For me all it did was give some light entertainment for the morning.
    We will find out today what the arrangements are for the back to back cruisers.
    We know we're being put up in an hotel for two nights while they sanitize the ship, we're just not sure where the hotel will be, as it's Super Bowl week and the local hotels are packed out.    Read more

  • TravelerExplorer NYC & Carib Jan 2014
    Day 21

    Still waiting

    January 29, 2014 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ -7 °C

    None of the consecutive cruisers have yet got any proper information on what we're supposed to do for transfers, immigration or luggage etc.
    The right hand doesn't know what the left is doing, the buck is being passed with amazing speed.
    We were told we'd be getting a letter to explain everything by midnight last night.
    Well it's now 5.30 in the morning and it still hasn't arrived.
    So I've just been down too the pursers desk and they inform me that we will now be receiving the letter later this morning.
    Just have to wait and see.
    One thing we have been told is the name of the hotel we're going to, Le Parker Meridian on 5th Ave.
    We've Googled it and it looks nice and it's a 5 star, woo hoo!
    That's as long as we actually get off the ship lol.    Read more

  • TravelerExplorer NYC & Carib Jan 2014
    Day 22

    New York, a walk in the park

    January 30, 2014 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ -3 °C

    Finally in the hotel, and it's as nice as we thought.
    On Friday morning after breakfast Sheila and the others went back to the hotel.
    I had a walk up to Central Park for another tick off my bucket list, walking in Central Park in the snow (I know, I know, I'm sad).
    It was a cold but beautiful morning and the park was stunning.
    It's a really beautiful place no matter what time of year it is, but to me in to see it in winter it's especially lovely.
    It must have been a real shame in the years when it wasn't safe to walk through the park on your own.
    But since mayor Giuliani cleaned the city up many years ago it's been a brilliant city to walk around.    Read more

  • TravelerExplorer NYC & Carib Jan 2014
    Day 25

    Always a silver lining

    February 2, 2014 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    The two nights in the hotel were, good, after a typical RCCL start, with no proper information about how we were to finance our meals etc.
    Eventually we were told to keep all receipts and submit them to the Miami office.
    Which is OK but the cruise line really should have supplied the finance up front rather than us having to spend our own money then claim it back.
    Anyway that aside the stay in the hotel was good it is a typical New York style hotel, with comfortable if a tad small rooms.
    We all actually had a brilliant time in NYC.
    Once again Mazens son, Aiman showed us around.
    He took us to another brilliant restaurant, this one was in mid town Manhattan, called Hill Country.
    A very busy and unusual restaurant, where you order your meat by weight and eat out of the paper it's wrapped in.
    I know that doesn't sound that good but it's actually brilliant and the food is amazing and the atmosphere is electric.
    So what started out as a disappointment with the cruise being cancelled, ended up being a great couple of days in New York.    Read more

  • TravelerExplorer NYC & Carib Jan 2014
    Day 27

    It's all Mr Englands fault

    February 4, 2014, Caribbean Sea ⋅ ⛅ -1 °C

    God I feel rough this morning.
    It's all the fault of the concierge barman, by the name of Clive England.
    We met him about 4 years ago on the independence and he's from Jamaica and is one of the best barmen we've come across on the cruise ships.
    Then again it's not all his fault, as after we finished on the concierge, we all went up for a bite to eat in the Windjammer, then some bright spark suggested we all go back to Jim and Eva's suite for a few more drinks, as we all had spare bottles of wine left.
    So that is why I feel like this, but I'm still blaming Clive for starting it all with his great service, lol.    Read more

  • TravelerExplorer NYC & Carib Jan 2014
    Day 27

    Bayonne New Jersey

    February 4, 2014 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ -5 °C

    Back on the ship for the second cruise.

    We had a brilliant surprise today.
    Out of the blue we received an invitation to dine with the Captain.
    Apparently the guests in the royal suite had to refuse their invitation, so I think they must have felt sorry for us and invited us instead, lol.
    Anyway it's not really my kind of thing the dining with the Captain stuff, but it was nice to be invited and it was a very pleasant experience.
    The food was beautiful and the service second to none, which it being the Captain's table was only to be expected.
    The executive chef came to the table to say hello, his name is Gary Thomas and believe it or not he's a Scouser. Only problem is he's a red! Lol.
    It was funny as we met him the night before in the concierge overflow lounge.
    He was talking to Sheila and she said to me, "Gary's from Liverpool, I said have you asked him the most important question?" Sheila said "what's that" and Gary knew, quick as a flash he said "blue or red" lol.
    I said "exactly".
    Turns out he's a red :-( lol. But despite that he's a lovely guy.    Read more

  • TravelerExplorer NYC & Carib Jan 2014
    Day 27

    Superbowl shocker!

    February 4, 2014 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ -1 °C

    Not that I follow American football, but the build up to the Super Bowl final in New Jersey was amazing, especially for the two unexpected days we spent in New York.
    Times Square and a chunk of Broadway where blocked off and then filled with outside TV studios and lots of sponsored side shows which ranges from simple kick a field goal, to banks of Xboxes where you could play virtual football games.
    Every big US company you could think of had a booth where you could play stuff or where you could get free memorabilia.
    As far as the game itself went I didn't watch it fully just bits and pieces.
    But Mazen, who is a big American Football supporter went to his cabin to watch the whole thing, that's about 6 hours, including all the build-up to the game.
    I'm afraid he was disappointed by the result as he was rooting for the Denver Broncos, who got hammered by the Seattle Seahawks by 43 - 8, which was a big shock as the Broncos were the strong favourites.    Read more

  • TravelerExplorer NYC & Carib Jan 2014
    Day 28

    Samana, Dominican republic

    February 5, 2014 in Dominican Republic ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Samana, in the Dominican Republic.
    We tendered in which I always enjoy, but I'm afraid there's not much of interest there, just the usual trinket stalls along the sea front and a couple of run-down bars.
    But the weather was beautiful so we had an enjoyable stroll.
    I spoke to Eric and Doreen, later and they had done a local tour and they said there was not much of interest to see.    Read more

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