MV Dirona travel digest for Fall to Winter 2022


Show Fall to Winter 2022 travel log map Click the travel log icon on the left to see these locations on a map, with the complete log of our cruise.

On the map page, clicking on a camera or text icon will display a picture and/or log entry for that location, and clicking on the smaller icons along the route will display latitude, longitude and other navigation data for that location. And a live map of our current route and most recent log entries always is available at //mvdirona.com/maps/LocationCurrent.html.


   

11/19/2022: Port of Seattle
The Port of Seattle on a cold and still morning shortly after takeoff on our flight to Miami. We'll be embarking on the Norwegian Encore for a 7-night Caribbean cruise.
11/19/2022: Sunrise
Sunrise over the Cascade Range near Snoqualmie Pass. Snow has been falling over the past week or so and the ski resorts will be opening up soon.
11/19/2022: Moses Lake
The city of Moses Lake, WA, situated on the multi-armed lake of the same name.
11/19/2022: Fields
Snow-dusted fields near the Washington-Idaho border.
11/19/2022: Bitterroot Range
Crossing the rippling ridges of the Bitterroot Range on the Idaho-Montana border.
11/19/2022: West Pioneer Mountains
Deep snow in Montana's West Pioneer Mountains.
11/19/2022: Fort Meyers
Looking north along the Caloosahatchee River that passes through Fort Meyers.
11/19/2022: Argos Ready Mix
The Argos Ready Mix concrete plant outside Fort Meyers. Argos is a Columbia-based company with cement operations also in Honduras, Panama and the Caribbean. They are the leading producer of cement in Columbia and fourth-largest in the US.
11/19/2022: TopGolf
The Topgolf Miami driving range. The company uses electronically-tracked balls to automatically scores customers' drives in 70 locations around the world.
11/19/2022: VORTAC
FAA VORTAC (very high frequency omnirange tactical air navigation beacon) radio-based navigation aid serving the Miami region. The VHF-based network of ground systems allows aircraft pilots to determine their position and course. The technology was developed in the US in 1936 and deployed starting in 1946, but GPS systems are making them obsolete.
11/19/2022: Cruise Terminal
Passing the Miami Cruise Terminal en route to our hotel. With room for ten large cruise ships, the facility is the busiest passenger port in the world and handled 3.4 million travelers in 2020. The Norwegian Prima is currently at the Norwegian Cruise Lines dock, and we'll be arriving there tomorrow to board the Norwegian Encore for a Caribbean cruise.
11/19/2022: Hilton Bentley
Our room for the night at the Hilton Bentley in South Beach, Miami prior to our cruise.
11/19/2022: Bedroom
Wonderful ocean view from the bedroom of our Miami hotel room.
11/19/2022: Balcony
Jennifer taking in the view from the balcony of our Miami hotel room.
11/19/2022: South Pointe Beach
Looking across South Pointe Beach to the Atlantic Ocean from our hotel balcony.
11/19/2022: Beachgoers
It's a bit of a blustery day, and relatively few people are out on the South Pointe Beach today.
11/19/2022: NCL Prima
The Norwegian Prima departing Miami on a Caribbean cruise. Launched in August of this year, it is the first of the planned six ships in the Prima class.
11/19/2022: South Point Tavern
Having a pre-dinner drink on the terrace at the South Point Tavern in Miami South Beach.
11/19/2022: Santorini
An excellent meal poolside at Santorini in the Hilton Bentley where we are staying.
11/19/2022: Huge Drink
A huge drink on the table next to us at Santorini. We figure that one could slow an elephant.
11/19/2022: Night
View to the ocean at night from our Miami hotel room balcony, with a few ships visible in the distance. South Pointe beach is pretty deserted this time of night.
11/20/2022: South Pointe Beach
A blustery and wet morning looking across South Pointe Beach from our Miami hotel room at the Hilton Bentley.
11/20/2022: Cruise Terminal
Passing the Miami Cruise Terminal on the MacArther Causeway en route to the Norwegian Encore, at center, for our Caribbean cruise. The ship on the left is Oasis of the Seas, the first of the Oasis class ships that are the largest passenger ships in the world, and at right is MSC Seashore.
11/20/2022: Carnival
Four more cruise ships visible in the Miami Cruise Terminal as we cross the MacArthur Causeway ICW bridge. At left are two owned by Carnival, with a Royal Caribbean and a Virgin cruise ship to the right.
11/20/2022: Flooding
Flooding on NE 13th street due to the recent heavy rains.
11/20/2022: Crowds
A crowded Norwegian Cruise lines terminal as passengers disembark from the recently-arrived Norwegian Encore.
11/20/2022: Norwegian Encore
The Norwegian Encore, our home for the next week while on a Caribbean cruise. We're super-excited and are really looking forward to getting on board and exploring the ship. We've never pictured ourselves as even vaguely interested in cruising on large ships, but it will be an interesting experiment and fun to see the details behind a boat big enough to carry more than 4,000 guests.
11/20/2022: Checking In
Checking in at the NCL (Norwegian Cruise Lines) desk and picking up our keycards, with the Encore visible out the window.
11/20/2022: Atrium
The airy and light-filled atrium of the NCL cruise terminal.
11/20/2022: The Office
Getting a little work done at the NCL cruise terminal while waiting to board the Encore, filling the window beyond.
11/20/2022: Power Adapter
Our laptop power adapters won't fit into the floor outlet, but our swiveling wall adapters do. We primarily bought the adapters to fold our laptop power adapters down to better secure the in airplane outlets, but we're finding other uses for them as well.
11/20/2022: Disembarking
The end of the queue of passengers disembarking from the Encore shortly before 10:00am. This process started at 7:30am and most people are off the ship by 10:00am. That's pretty efficient for nearly 4,000 people, but the lines were truly massive.
11/20/2022: Security Checkin
Looking down the the main security checkin at the NCL terminal. All luggage is scanned for prohibited items, including weapons, explosives and anything with a heating element that could start a fire such as a kettle.
11/20/2022: Waiting Area
The main waiting area in the NCL terminal is mostly empty now at 10:00am, but will fill up as we get close to boarding at noon.
11/20/2022: Window Cleaning
A window cleaner at work on deck 10 of the Encore. The balcony of our stateroom at the aft corner of deck 11 is partially visible one deck up.
11/20/2022: Loading
The Norwegian Encore pier is a hive of activity with a steady stream of forklifts delivery fresh produce to the ship.
11/20/2022: Squall
Rain has been falling all morning, but occasionally a more intense squall comes through strong enough to halt the loading activity below and reduce visibility to near zero.
11/20/2022: Boarding
Passing through the Haven Courtyard as we board the Encore. The Haven is a ship-within-a-ship concept that NCL pioneered in 2005 and many other cruise lines have since duplicated. Haven guests have exclusive access to restaurants, bars, lounges and public spaces in the Haven area, and priority access to restaurants, shows and other attractions on the rest of the ship. It's a way of making a mega-ship feel less busy and more intimate.
11/20/2022: Horizon Lounge
Looking down from the upper floor of the Haven Lounge to the main lounge area during our boarding orientation. This is about as busy as it ever got in the Haven the entire time we were on board.
11/20/2022: American Diner
Enjoying the first of many good meals on board the Norwegian Encore, this one a casual lunch at American Diner on deck 17, with a view to the Port of Miami.
11/20/2022: Classic Cars
The booths at American Diner are built in the shape of classic American cars.
11/20/2022: Heatstrip
Heatstrip patio heaters in the ceiling of American Diner, the same brand we used on our aft deck on Dirona.
11/20/2022: Room Available
We boarded the Encore at 11:30am and cabin was available just before 1:00 pm. This is looking from the doorway through the main living to the Jennifer on the balcony.
11/20/2022: Balcony
We picked this room specifically for its aft-facing corner balcony. This gave us a view both behind and beside the ship.
11/20/2022: Bedroom
The bedroom of our cabin on the Encore was spacious and comfortable, with plenty of built-in storage for clothes. We're once again travelling light with only carry-on baggage, so won't come close to using it up.
11/20/2022: Bathroom
The bathroom in our suite has a large window that overlooks our balcony.
11/20/2022: Shower
Even the shower has a nice view. We enjoyed taking a shower at sea with the ship's wake visible trailing behind us.
11/20/2022: Bathtub View
The view from the bathroom past the bathtub, with James on the balcony taking pictures.
11/20/2022:
The MSC Seashore moored directly behind us at the Miami Cruise Terminal.
11/20/2022: Bridge
Officers on the bridge of the MSC Seashore moored behind the Encore. Most of the ships will be departing within the next three to four hours.
11/20/2022: Osceola
The tug Osceola transporting a fuel barge through the main channel at the Miami Cruise Terminal.
11/20/2022: District Brewhouse
Watching a Sunday NFL game at The District Brewhouse bar on deck 8 of the Norwegian Encore. The bar serves 50 different bottled beers plus 22 on tap, our kind of venue. Our plan while on board is to mostly spend our time exploring and enjoying the ship, with some time spent walking ashore at the ports we visit.
11/20/2022: Lifeboats
On deck 7, looking past a few of the Norwegian Encore's many lifeboats.
11/20/2022: Ramp Detached
The boarding ramp detached at 5:15pm for a 5:30pm departure.
11/20/2022: Latecomers
A family arrived into the terminal with their luggage shortly after the ramp was detached. Hopefully they were able to board another way.
11/20/2022: Center Atrium
The sculpture hanging in the three-floor central atrium on the Norwegian Encore changed colors throughout the cruise.
11/20/2022: Carnival Horizon
The Carnival Horizon departing at 6pm.
11/20/2022: Rainjacket
The rain hasn't relented much all day, but we're having a great time watching the port activity from our balcony and keeping dry with rainjackets.
11/20/2022: Easing Off
The Norwegian Encore easing off the dock as we get underway.
11/20/2022: Mud
Mud churning up behind the ship as we transit the main channel at the Miami Cruise Terminal.
11/20/2022: NCL Terminal
A last look at the striking NCL terminal building as we depart.
11/20/2022: Ferry
Several ferries swooped around the ship as we moved through the channel.
11/20/2022: Palazzo Della Luna
Passing close by the Palazzo Della Luna condominium building as we head to sea.
11/20/2022: Breakwater
Passing alongside the breakwater at the end of the main channel as we enter the Atlantic Ocean. Our hotel last night, the Hilton Bentley, overlooks South Pointe Beach at far right.
11/20/2022: Pilot Boat
Looking down from the Haven Restaurant to the pilot boat picking up our Miami pilot.
11/20/2022: Weather
The weather is not looking great for the next day or so, and we're heading right in to the wind and waves. Dirona would be moving quite a bit in these conditions, but we hardly notice it on board the Norwegian Encore.
11/20/2022: Social Comedy Club
We finished our first day on board the Norwegian Encore taking in an entertaining show at the Social Comedy Club.
11/21/2022: Great Stirrup Cay
Great Stirrup Cay, a private island in the Bahamas owned by Norwegian Cruise Line, was supposed to be our first stop of the cruise. But the island has no dock and conditions were too rough to transfer passengers by lifeboat, so we'll be skipping and spending another day at sea.
11/21/2022: Wonder of the Seas
The Royal Caribbean cruise ship Wonder of the Seas behind us off Stirrup Cay.
11/21/2022: Breakfast
Breakfast underway on our balcony aboard the Norwegian Encore. We slept well and are really enjoying our time on the ship. It's been six years since we were in the Caribbean and it's great to be here and at sea again.
11/21/2022: Celebrity Reflection
Celebrity Reflection underway off the Abaco Island in the Bahamas. There are a lot of cruise ships in the area.
11/21/2022: Empty Chairs
Mostly empty chairs at the main sun deck on deck 16 the Norwegian Encore as we explore the ship a bit. Normally on a sea day this area would be much more crowded, but many passengers are staying in their rooms due to the roughness. We've noticed a bit of boat motion as we walk around, but it's not bothersome at all.
11/21/2022: Aqua Park
Looking aft from deck 17 on the Norwegian Encore across the deck 16 pool deck to the Aqua Park. The park has water slides extending off either side and a children's play area beneath the right slide. It's a pretty wild-looking ship.
11/21/2022: Netting
One of the pools on the sun deck is closed with netting due to the rough conditions.
11/21/2022: Surge
Visible surge in the Haven Courtyard pool due to boat motion.
11/21/2022: Haven Lounge
The Haven Lounge at the front of the ship had a few people in it, but plenty of empty seats.
11/21/2022: Haven Courtyard
Looking forward across the Haven Courtyard from the deck 19 balcony.
11/21/2022: Lunch
A delicious lunch on the terrace at the Haven Restaurant with a view to sea. We had dinner in the restaurant last night and were really impressed with the food quality.
11/21/2022: More People
Conditions are starting to settle down a bit and the deck 16 sun deck is getting busier. We're not very interested in sunning by the pool, but this is getting to be about as busy as we could stand if we were.
11/21/2022: Encore Speedway
The 11,500-ft (3,505 m) Encore Speedway is the largest go-cart track at sea with enough room for ten drivers at a time in electric cars that can reach speeds of up to 30 mph (48 kph). The track is built over two decks, 18 and 19, and extends over the edge of the ship in 4 places, one almost 13 feet out. The concept was met with doubt from the cruise industry, but has been wildly successful since Norwegian unveiled the first go-kart tracks at sea aboard the Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Bliss in 2017 and 2018.
11/21/2022: Speedway Barrier
Looking down into the barrier of the Encore Speedway. The barrier design has some features in common with a NASCAR SAFER Barrier where a smooth outer surface avoids catching the car causing spinning or flipping with an energy absorption layer behind it.
11/21/2022: Laser Tag
The laser tag area at the aft of the ship on deck 18 wasn't open for tag yet, so we were able to walk around.
11/21/2022: Stern
Looking down the stern to the water from the back of the laser tag area on deck 18. Our balcony is barely visible just over halfway down.
11/21/2022: The Cellars
A glass of sparkling wine before dinner at the Cellars Wine Bar on deck 8. We later had an excellent meal on the terrace at adjacent Onda restaurant.
11/21/2022: Alex Yosi
After dinner, we stopped by the theater to check out the show playing there. The Southern Swing singer Alex Yosi was not really to our taste, but was quite popular with many on board. It's kind of amazing to have an 800-person theater in the middle of a ship.
11/21/2022: Soundboard
One of two soundboard technicians managing the Alex Yosi show.
11/21/2022: Empty Lounge
We returned to the front of the ship to explore the Haven area some more. At 8pm, the lounge was completely empty.
11/21/2022: Haven Sun Deck
Checking out the Haven Sun Deck on deck 19. It's pretty quiet up here too, partly because it's still quite windy.
11/21/2022: Sun Deck View Aft
Looking aft from the Haven Sun Deck down the starboard side of the Norwegian Encore. The engine smoke is visible billowing away in the distance beyond one of the satellite dishes.
11/21/2022: Bridge Wing
The deck 14 bridge wings on the Norwegian Encore, viewed from the deck 19 sun deck.
11/21/2022: Windy
Jennifer's dress is turning into a bit of a sail in the windy conditions at the front of deck 19.
11/21/2022: Settling
Conditions have settled considerably and the Haven Courtyard pool on the Norwegian Encore is looking a lot calmer in the evening compared to the surge we saw earlier today.
11/22/2022: Breakfast
Breakfast on our balcony at the stern of the Norwegian Encore. We're really enjoying being at sea again and watching the wake trail behind us into the distance.
11/22/2022: Nohshu Maru
The 976-ft (297.5 m) LNG tanker Nohshu Maru, owned by Tokyo-based O.S.K. Lines, passing behind us.
11/22/2022: Coolpix P1000
When we travel, we normally just bring our portable Canon PowerShot SX70. But for this trip we also brought our larger and heavier Nikon Coolpix P1000. The long lens is ideal for taking pictures from our cabin balcony, and we carry the smaller and lighter Canon for taking pictures outside the room.
11/22/2022: Floating Hotel Presentation
We're quite impressed with how well NCL so smoothly operates such a huge vessel and today we attended a presentation to learn more about the ship. The Encore is essentially a floating resort for more than 4,000 guests. The ship is nearly a quarter mile long, cost USD $1 billion, is powered by 103,000 HP and has a crew of 2,100 people, and yet can cruise the seas at over 22 knots.
11/22/2022: Shopping List
The weekly food consumption on board the Encore is staggering. This is their weekly "shopping list" that needs to be replenished in Miami before the start of each cruise. And we thought getting several months of supplies stowed on board Dirona was a big job.
11/22/2022: Officers
For the final section of the presentation, ship's officers representing a range of hotel groups from Beverages to Housekeeping came on stage to answer questions from the audience. We were particularly interested in learning about their backgrounds and responsibilities as part of their introduction.
11/22/2022: Lunch
We frequently had lunch on the terrace at the Haven restaurant. The food is excellent and the outdoor seating on deck 18 is hard to beat.
11/22/2022: Pool Deck
The pool deck is much busier than yesterday now that sea conditions are more settled.
11/22/2022: Haven Lounge
We're really liking the Haven concept, where we can enjoy everything a big ship has to offer and escape the crowds and noise at will. Here we are taking in the view forward from the near-empty Haven Lounge on deck 17.
11/22/2022: Ocean Blue
An excellent seafood dinner at Ocean Blue on The Waterfront. In the past decade, Norwegian redesigned their promenade decks to introduce "The Waterfront," a unique quarter-mile outdoor walking path with comfortable seating and wind breaks. Most of the popular restaurants have terraces for outdoor dining, and several of the bars have outside seating as well. We love being outdoors whatever the temperature, and ate most of our meals outside while on board the Encore.
11/22/2022: The Cavern Club
The Cavern Club on the Norwegian Encore is a replica of Beatles' home club in Liverpool, where they played 275 times. Several nights during the cruise, a Beatles tribute band played songs from a specific Beatles era. Here they are playing songs from the early period of 1962 to 1965. The band was rather good, and we enjoyed their show.
11/22/2022: Evening Soak
An evening soak at the Haven sun deck. The hot tubs around the main pool deck were packed when we walked by, but we didn't see another guest the entire time we were in the Haven tub.
11/22/2022: Daybed
The wicker-enclosed multi-person daybeds in the Haven Courtyard looked cozy, and we'd been wanted to try them out. So we settled into one with a glass of wine after our hot tub soak.
11/22/2022: Haven Courtyard
Looking aft across the Haven Courtyard on the Norwegian Encore, with James just visible in the daybed at right. The courtyard is usually pretty quiet, but even more so later in the evening, particularly compared to the rest of the ship.
11/23/2022: Land Ho
Our first view of the Virgin Islands since early 2016. The Norwegian Encore's course is very close to Dirona's through the area en route from St. Lucia to Florida. Back then, we passed close enough to take a photo of three large cruise ships moored at Charlotte Amalie, our current destination.
11/23/2022: Rainbow
A rainbow to the right of Water Island, with the island of St. Thomas, USVI in the distance.
11/23/2022: Epic Curacao
The inter-island LPG tanker Epic Curacao underway from St. Thomas, USVI.
11/23/2022: Flamingo Point
This house perched on Flamingo Point on the southern tip of Water Island has a wonderful view and is available to rent for USD $3,000 per week.
11/23/2022: Rupert Rock
Looking across Rupert Rock, right, off St. Thomas. The Nieuw Statendam is moored on the Charlotte Amalie cruise ship pier at center, with the island of St. Thomas rising behind.
11/23/2022: Fort Willoughby
Looking back to sea past Fort Willoughby on the southern end of Hassel Island. Originally called Prince Frederik's Battery, the fortification was built by the Danish in the late 18th century.
11/23/2022: Buoys
Looking down the starboard side of the Norwegian Encore as the ship nears the buoys off the end of the cruise ship pier. We're really enjoying the corner balcony with a view to starboard and to stern.
11/23/2022: Watching Landing
Watching the landing at Charlotte Amalie from our balcony on the Norwegian Encore.
11/23/2022: Mud
Mud churning up behind the Norwegian Encore as the ship turns to back on to the cruise ship pier.
11/23/2022: Harbor of Charlotte Amalie
Looking from the stern to the pleasure craft moored in the Harbor of Charlotte Amalia as the captain of the Norwegian Encore brings the stern around to back on to the pier. Maneuvering space is quite limited here and it must feel a little unnerving to be in one of those small boats as the large ship swings to close by. We couldn't see any obvious buoys or markers to keep anchored vessels out of the turning area for the cruise ships. We guess a 170,000 gross ton ship is self enforcing :-).
11/23/2022: Pasion
Most of the vessels at anchor in Charlotte Amalie were sailboats, with a few power catamarans and one trawler, Pasion.
11/23/2022: Tour Boats
As we docked, tour boats were arriving in the area to pickup passengers for shore excursions.
11/23/2022: Wash
The wash behind the Norwegian Encore as the ship backs onto the pier at Charlotte Amalie.
11/23/2022: Messenger Line
In the messenger lines procedures we've watched previously, the ship's crew sends a light messenger line to shore, the shore workers tie a medium-weight line to the end, the messenger line is pulled back to the ship, the heavy ship's line is attached to the end of the medium line, and the shore workers pull the medium line back to shore along with the ship's heavy line. This process is then repeated for each line.

The Norwegian Encore uses a much more efficient process where short 10-ft pigtail lines are permanently attached to the heavy ship's lines, both made from floating material, and the messenger line is always held on shore and on the boat. Each pigtail is attached midway along the messenger lie, pulled to shore, released, and the messenger line mid-point pulled back to the ship, attached to the next line, then pulled back to shore. Rinse and Repeat. This is much more efficient by skipping an entire back-and-forth of the messenger and medium lines for each ship's line pulled ashore.

In the picture, the short yellow pigtail line is just about to come out of the water with the heavy ship's line trailing behind it. The orange light messenger line is attached to the forklift at upper left and trails to the yellow pigtail line and then back to the ship just to the right of the heavier lines.
11/23/2022: Detaching Line
The shore crew detaching the orange light messenger line from the yellow medium pigtail line. The messenger line, visible heading into the water to the right of the medium line and trailing away at upper left, will be partially pulled back to the ship for the next set of lines while the shore crew pulls the current ship's line ashore and onto a bollard.
11/23/2022: Forklift
A forklift pulling the medium yellow pigtail line, attached to the ship's line, ashore to place on a bollard while the Norwegian Encore crew pulls the mid-point of the the orange messenger line, visible at far left, back to the ship to attach the next line.
11/23/2022: Watching Docking
We really enjoyed watching the ship dock from our balcony and stayed out until the last line was in place.
11/23/2022: Villa
Several huge villas are in the hills above Charlotte Amalie.
11/23/2022: Superyachts
A lightly-loaded superyacht dock at St. Thomas.
11/23/2022: Tail Lights
The 115-ft (35 m) Azumit yacht Tail Lights arriving into Charlotte Amalie. The vessel has a crew of 6 and charters for USD $80,000 per week, plus expenses.
11/23/2022: Excursions
Passengers from the Nieuw Statendam lining up for a shore excursion.
11/23/2022: Squall
A brief squall passed through the area as the crew of the Nieuw Statendam were starting lifeboat drills.
11/23/2022: Lifeboat Drill
Lifeboats from the Nieuw Statendam in the water for a drill at Charlotte Amalie, USVI.
11/23/2022: Movie
A movie playing at the deck 6 atrium on board the Encore as we pass by on our way ashore. We're still not really used the size of the ship and it seems amazing to have a near drive-in-sized movie screen inside the middle of a boat.
11/23/2022: Ashore
Ashore at Charlotte Amalie, our first time off the Encore since departing Miami three days ago. We've been finding the ship surprisingly enjoyable, and haven't been in any rush to disembark.
11/23/2022: Our Balcony
Looking up to the balcony of our cabin from shore. It's in the middle vertically of the seven decks with balconies, and at far right.
11/23/2022: Gondola
At the bottom of the Skyride gondola to Paradise Point.
11/23/2022: Deere
We're always happy to see a John Deere in the wild, this one at work on the road up to Paradise Point.
11/23/2022: Wonder of the Seas
A view to Wonder of the Seas in Crown Bay, where deeper draft vessels must moor. Completed in 2022, it's the largest cruise ship in the world by tonnage at 236,857 GT.
11/23/2022: Infinity Pool
Infinity pool outside a villa in the hills above Charlotte Amalie, taken from the gondola to Paradise Point.
11/23/2022: Paradise Point View
The spectacular view across the Harbor of Charlotte Amalie from Paradise Point.
11/23/2022: Gondolas
The Skyride to Paradise Point runs a triple set of gondolas each way.
11/23/2022: Bushwacker
Enjoying a signature Bushwacker cocktail, and the view, at the Paradise Point restaurant. Invented in St. Thomas in 1975, the ingredients in a Bushwacker include Baileys Irish Cream, vodka, rum, Kahlua and Amaretto. It's quite tasty.
11/23/2022: Genie
The long arm of a Genie extended out to the bow of the Norwegian Encore. The crew was constantly doing maintenance whenever we were in port.
11/23/2022: Nano Daypack
A couple of years back we bought a Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Nano Daypack and always carry it with us. We haven't used it a lot, but the compact size is ideal for this trip. We're traveling light with carry-on bags only, so don't have space for a separate lightweight pack.
11/23/2022: Dinghy Dock
The dinghy dock at Charlotte Amalie with the Nieuw Statendam and the Norwegian Encore moored beyond. We're quite happy being here on the Encore and are somewhat surprised that sights like this don't make us wistful for Dirona.
11/23/2022: Big Fish
A surprisingly large fish swimming along shore in the harbor of Charlotte Amalie.
11/23/2022: Yacht Haven
Jennifer in the big chair outside the Yacht Haven Grande marina at Charlotte Amalie.
11/23/2022: No Passport Required
We got a laugh from the sign at the No Passport Required rum stand: "Drinking rum before noon makes you a pirate, not an alcoholic."
11/23/2022: Painting
Norwegian Encore crew members out in a skiff to touch up the paint on the stern.
11/23/2022: Pigtails
A pair of the yellow pigtails that are permanently attached to the heavy ship's lines to pull them ashore by messenger line.
11/23/2022: Hatch Seal
The heavy-duty seal in the Norwegian Encore hatch is compressed closed by the ship hydraulics. Being only 10-ft above the water, these will take the full impact of wave action in storms and need to seal well.
11/23/2022: Hot Tub
Enjoying a soak in one of the hot tubs on the Haven sun deck, with a view across the southeast St. Thomas shoreline. These tubs are great in that they overhang the edge of the ship and you can see all the way down the side both forward and aft, with the bridge wing forward and three floors below.
11/23/2022: Paradise Point
Looking from the Haven sun deck to the Skyride gondola, beyond the buildings in the distance, with Paradise Point just beneath the summit at upper right.
11/23/2022: Waterfront Estate
The Waterfront Estate, perched off the point just south of the cruise ship pier, is a 9-acre (3.6 ha) compound with 4 separate villas that recently was listed for USD $24 million. The colorful buildings ringing the cove beyond are part of the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove resort.
11/23/2022: Bridge
Officers in the bridge wing of the Nieuw Statendam preparing to get underway.
11/23/2022: Departing
The Nieuw Statendam easing off the pier behind us.
11/23/2022: Observation Crew
Crew keeping an eye on the surroundings from a pop-out platform low in the bow of the Nieuw Statendam.
11/23/2022: Close Quarters
There's not much space between the two ships as the Nieuw Statendam departs.
11/23/2022: Passengers
Passengers on both ships were watching as the Nieuw Statendam departed alongside the Norwegian Encore. Those rear corner balconies on the Nieuw Statendam look very nice.
11/23/2022: Haven Restaurant
Another excellent meal on the terrace of the Haven Restaurant, with the lights of Charlotte Amalie visible beyond.
11/23/2022: Exhaust
Exhaust pouring out of the Norwegian Encore smokestacks as the engines are spun up for departure.
11/23/2022: Cavern Club
Tonight the Cavern Club Beatles tribute band was playing songs from their middle era, including Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
11/23/2022: Levity Live
After listening to a few songs in the Cavern Club, we finished the evening with a Levity Live comedy show in the Norwegian Encore's main theater. We didn't really take the cruise for the shows, and weren't that interested in attending them. But we often go since we are around, and it's surprising how much we enjoy them.
11/24/2022: Road Town
The Norwegian Encore arrived into Road Town, Tortola, BVI while we were sleeping and this was our view when we got up this morning.
11/24/2022: The Moorings
The Moorings yacht charter company's large British Virgin Islands fleet.
11/24/2022: Speedy's
The Speedy's Sprinter fast ferry departing Road Town.
11/24/2022: Excursion
A group from the Norwegian Encore heading out on a tour of the island in an open-air safari bus. The mass excursions aren't that attractive for us but, so far, we're neither bored nor feeling anyway constrained by the population pressure of this crazy big boat. So far, we really haven't noticed it.
11/24/2022: Police
A capable-looking police RIB.
11/24/2022: The Office
Getting a little work done on the balcony of our cabin before heading ashore.
11/24/2022: Three Ships
Two other ships are in Road Town today, the AIDA luna, at left, and the AIDA diva, anchored off in the distance.
11/24/2022: Wall of Ships
The two cruise ships tower over the Tortola pier.
11/24/2022: Lifeboat
A lifeboat from the AIDA diva transferring passengers between ship and shore. It's amazing that two mega-ships are at dock and one more of similar size is at anchor.
11/24/2022: Tortola Pier Park
Tortola Pier Park has several appealing-looking bars and restaurants.
11/24/2022: CIBC
We were surprised to see the familiar logo of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) used by the First Caribbean International Bank. It turns out CIBC in 2006 purchased a majority share in the Caribbean bank.
11/24/2022: Drainage Channel
This large drainage channel through Road Town gives an indication of how heavy the rains can fall here.
11/24/2022: Supreme Court
The Virgin Islands Supreme Court building in Road Town.
11/24/2022: Pusser's Pub
In 1979, Charles Tobias obtained the rights and blending information for the rum produced in past centuries by the British Admiralty, including the right to use the Royal Navy’s White Ensign on the label, and began bottling and selling it on Tortola. The rum can be purchased and consumed here in Pusser's Pub and Store, and at a few other locations in the BVI, plus one in Munich. The term Pusser is a centuries-old navy seamen's mispronunciation of Purser, the officer responsible for doling out the Navy's rum rations and stores.
11/24/2022: Painkiller
Enjoying a Painkiller, the official drink of the BVI, invented 40 years ago using Pusser's Rum. It was tasty, but potent. James played it safe and stuck with beer.
11/24/2022: Tola IPA
James opted instead for a locally-brewed Tola IPA. It was also quite tasty, but less potent than the Painkiller.
11/24/2022: Chickens
A few chickens wandered through Pusser's while we had lunch there. That doesn't happen very often in Seattle.
11/24/2022: Squall
A brief squall came through town while we were having lunch.
11/24/2022: Pier Extension
Looking down the extension to the Tortola pier that allows larger ships to tie off.
11/24/2022: Departing
Mud churned up as the Norwegian Encore departs Tortola.
11/24/2022: Bridge
Officers on the bridge of the anchored AIDA diva as the Norwegian Encore passes close by. They have raised anchor and are getting ready to move onto the Tortola pier.
11/24/2022: AIDA diva
The AIDA diva turning in place before proceeding to the berth our ship just vacated.
11/24/2022: Dream Star
The BVI ferry Dream Star underway behind another ferry behind Norwegian Encore.
11/24/2022: Los Lobos
A delicious Mexican dinner at Los Lobos on The Waterfront as the Norwegian Encore is underway for the Dominican Republic.
11/24/2022: Dusk
Taking in the view to the stern from The Waterfront outdoor walkway.
11/24/2022: Choir of Man
The stage for the British musical The Choir of Man. The singers were very talented and, as with all the other shows we've attended on board the Norwegian Encore, we found it quite entertaining.
11/25/2022: Sunrise
Sunrise at sea a few hours out of the Dominican Republic. Having an aft balcony is working out really well. We're protected from most winds and we love watching the wake trailing behind the ship.
11/25/2022: Piloto 10
The pilot boat Piloto 10 moving away after dropping off the Norwegian Encore's pilot for entering Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic.
11/25/2022: Dominican Republic
A first view to the Dominican Republic, at Amber Cove, as the Norwegian Encore backs onto the pier.
11/25/2022: Punta de la Guardia
Guests of the Senator Puerto Plata resort watching from Punta de la Guardia as our ship arrives.
11/25/2022: Backing
The Norwegian Encore backing down to the pier at Amber Cove.
11/25/2022: Docking
Shore workers draping the heavy ship's lines over bollard number 9.
11/25/2022: Sky Bar
The roof of the bar Puerto Plata looks like a satellite dish.
11/25/2022: Cabanas
Cabanas in Amber Cove available to rent for the day.
11/25/2022: Ashore
Ashore next to the Norwegian Encore at Amber Cove.
11/25/2022: Painting
Crew members touching up the paint on the Norwegian Encore.
11/25/2022: Norwegian Encore
Looking back to the Encore as we head ashore to explore Amber Cove.
11/25/2022: Amber Cove
Amber Cove is an isolated cruise terminal owned by Carnival Cruise Lines that opened in 2019 and is mainly designed as a transportation hub for cruise ship passengers. We initially were scheduled to land a little to the south at Puerto Plata, the third-largest city in the Dominican Republic, which would have been more interesting.
11/25/2022: View from Sky Bar
Looking down to Amber Cove from the Sky Bar we saw earlier that looks like a satellite dish.
11/25/2022: Water Slide
Amber Cove has a small adventure park, with a zip line and a water slide.
11/25/2022: Waterfall
One of two man-made waterfalls at Amber Cove.
11/25/2022: Orchid
Beautiful orchid growing near the waterfalls in Amber Cover.
11/25/2022: Ocean Loops
Back on board the lightly-loaded Encore, we spent some time in the Aqua Park on deck 18. This is the double-lopped Ocean Loops slide with clear sections that extend over the edge of the deck. The circular stairs to the starting point are partially visible behind the support post in the foreground.
11/25/2022: Ready to Launch
The attendant at the top of the Ocean Loops slide preparing James for the ride.
11/25/2022: Free Fall
James free-falling through the first clear section of the Ocean Loops slide.
11/25/2022: Loop
Passing through the first loop of the Ocean Loops slide, extended over the edge of the deck.
11/25/2022: Wild!
What a ride! James rode a couple of more times, but Jennifer was too light for the 120-lb (54 kg) minimum weight of the Ocean Loops slide. Several times during the cruise we saw people get stuck in the slide and have to be extracted through side doors. So we switched to the Aqua Racer slide, where we rode down separately and together on single- and double-person inflatable tubes.
11/25/2022: Dusk
Dusk as the last few passengers return back to the Norwegian Encore from shore excursions.
11/25/2022: Departing
A last view to Amber Cove as we depart for Miami.
11/25/2022: Kinky Boots
The final show we watched on the Norwegian Encore was the Broadway musical Kinky Boots, a six-time Tony Award winner. We're generally not big fans of musicals, but really enjoyed the show, more than any others we'd attended on board. The talented cast put on an exceptional performance.
11/25/2022: Haven Restaurant
Lobster deviled eggs to start a late dinner on the terrace at the Haven Restaurant after taking in the Kinky Boots show.
11/25/2022: H2Glow Party
After dinner, we watched a bit of the H2Glow Dance Party taking place poolside on deck 16 of the Norwegian Encore. Passengers are encouraged to wear white or neon colors and are given glow-in-the-dark jewelry and light sabers.
11/26/2022: Carnival Ship
A Carnival Cruise Line ship, with their trademark whale-tail funnel, visible in the distance behind the Norwegian Encore early this morning as we're underway for Miami.
11/26/2022: Mechanical Systems
This morning we attended a super-interesting talk on the Norwegian Encore's mechanical systems. This is a picture of the ship's retractable stabilizers, built by Italian company Fincantieri. The fins are 24 feet (7.5 m) long, with a surface area of 215 square feet (20 sq m). They would certainly have been deployed on our first couple of days at sea, making the ride a lot smoother in the beam seas.
11/26/2022: Captain and Chief Engineer
The captain and chief engineer came on the stage to answer audience questions in the last portion of the mechanical systems presentation. As expected, both have long careers at sea and are very knowledgeable of the ship's systems. And the entertaining chief engineer could easily have a second career as a comic.
11/26/2022: Glacier Bay
Our phones' location determination has been really messed up on this trip, often placing us in Glacier Bay, Alaska and sometimes in the South China Sea. Google location services uses WiFi and mobile networks to improve location accuracy and we'd likely be better off disabling this and relying purely on the GPS location when on a cruise.
11/26/2022: Encore Speedway
This afternoon we checked out the multi-deck Encore Speedway. This is looking from our car in the 'pit area' to the ramp leading up to the track's upper level.
11/26/2022: Two-Seater
The Encore Speedway runs either single or double go-carts depending on the time of day, and were running two-seaters when we arrived. It was a ton of fun and we immediately went back for another ride after we finished this one.
11/26/2022: One-Seater
After our second two-seater go-kart ride, the speedway switched over to the single-seat cars. Here we are ready to go, each in our own car. It was pretty wild to be driving on a go-kart track on the top of a ship. In the two-seater car, we went from last to first both times. But on the single-seater racing, James started and stayed out front but only managed the third-best time.
11/26/2022: Grandeur of the Seas
Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas overtaking the Norwegian Encore just north of Cuba.
11/27/2022: Oasis of the Seas
The view aft to Oasis of the Seas at 5am this morning shortly after the Norwegian Encore arrived back into the Miami Cruise Terminal.
11/27/2022: Port of Miami
Sunrise over the Port of Miami as we prepare to disembark.
11/27/2022: Disembarking
All packed up and ready to depart our cabin for the final time. We had a fabulous week on the Norwegian Encore, much more so than we anticipated, and would love to stay longer.
11/27/2022: Kimpton EPIC
Taking in the view west from our room at the Kimpton EPIC overlooking the Miami River in the city's Brickell district.
11/27/2022: Burlingame Island
Looking southeast across the mouth of the Miami River to the condominium towers on Burlingame Island. The island was created from multiple dredgings of the the Miami River and wasn't developed until after 1972 when a bridge was built connecting it to the mainland. Visible in the distance are few Port of Miami cranes, and we could almost see the the Norwegian Encore.
11/27/2022: Brickell Ave. Bridge
Boat traffic is heavy on the Miami River. Most fit under the bridge's 23-ft (7 m) clearance, but several times during our stay the bridge opened for taller vessels. Even on a Sunday, traffic immediately backs up in both directions and during rush hour the bridge opens on a 30-minute schedule.
11/27/2022: Convict
Convict, one of many multi-million dollar yachts moored in Miami. A sistership of the 100-ft (30m) Riva Corsaro was listed recently for USD $9.2M.
11/27/2022: Cantina La Veinte
A wonderful meal at Cantina La Veinte with the bridge to Burlingame Island visible in the distance.
11/27/2022: Evening
Colorfully-lit boats plying the Miami River as we return to our hotel room from dinner. The boat traffic hardly slows down at night.
11/28/2022: Hoover Dam
The Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, viewed as our flight approaches Las Vegas from Miami. The Lake Mead water levels looks unusually low.
11/28/2022: Lake Mead
Looking across Big Boulder Island in Lake Mead to the Lake Mead Marina, left, and the Las Vegas Boat Harbor.
11/28/2022: Google Henderson
The Google Henderson data center complex in Nevada. Construction of the $1.2B facility started in July of 2019 and second building became operational in February of 2021. James thought the parking for the facility looked unusually tight at the bottom of the picture, but that's the B&R Auto Wrecking yard.
11/30/2022: Palazzo
Our room at the Palazzo in Las Vegas while we attend the reInvent conference.
11/28/2022: Cooler
The rooms at the Palazzo are spacious and quite nice, but don't include a guest fridge. We like to have fresh fruit, cold drinking water and some beer and wine on hand, so bought a disposable cooler at the local Walgreens store.
11/28/2022: Animazing Gallery
Kiss guitarist Gene Simmons is one of the artists whose work, at upper left, is featured at the Animazing Gallery in our Las Vegas hotel complex.
11/28/2022: Peter DeSantis
Monday Night Live with Peter DeSantis, Senior Vice President of AWS Utility Computing, the first of five keynotes at AWS re:Invent 2022. Peter did a great job of digging into the details behind AWS technology.
11/28/2022: Jock Clear
Jock Clear, Driver Coach for Charles Leclerc, on stage during Monday Night Live at AWS re:Invent. AWS sponsors the Ferrari Forumula 1 team.
11/29/2022: MSG Sphere
The MSG Sphere entertainment complex under construction, viewed from our Las Vegas hotel room. The sphere is being built by Madison Square Garden (MSG) Entertainment Group.
11/29/2022: Rock Band
The AWS conferences are always a little more edgy than a typical tech conference. Here an excellent rock cover band is playing live and loud at 8:00am Tuesday morning shortly before AWS CEO Adam Selipsky's AWS re:Invent keynote. And Selipsky was introduced to the sound of the band playing the opening section of the Guns N' Roses song "Sweet Child O' Mine".
11/29/2022: Full House
A packed house for AWS CEO Adam Selipsky's keynote at the re:Invent conference.
11/29/2022: Adam Selipsky
The AWS AWS re:Invent keynotes always include many announcements. One that CEO Adam Selipsky's announced was a pledge to be water positive by 2030.
11/29/2022: Antarctica
AWS CEO Adam Selipsky compared the Scott and Amundsen Antarctic expeditions as part of a discussion on extreme workloads. This was particularly interesting to us because we'll be Antarctic cruise in a couple of weeks.
11/29/2022: Dave Mathews
Dave Mathews on stage at evening customer event at AWS re:Invent. Mathews is well known as an excellent musician, but he also has an great sense of humor, and it was enjoyable show.
11/30/2022: DJ
A DJ warming up the crowd before the Wednesday morning AWS re:Invent keynote.
11/30/2022: Swami Sivasubramanian
Swami Sivasubramanian, Vice President, Data and Machine Learning, on stage for the AWS re:Invent keynote covering AWS data services. Swami leads the AWS machine learning, data, and analytics teams.
12/2/2022: Las Vegas Grand Prix
Construction underway for the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix to be held November of 2023, viewed from our flight home to Seattle.
12/2/2022: Allegiant Stadium
Allegiant Stadum, home of the Los Angeles Raiders NFL team and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Rebels college football team. Completed in 2020 at a cost of nearly US$2 billion, the stadium is the second most expensive in the world after US$5.5 billion SoFi stadium on Los Angeles.
12/2/2022: Detention Basin
One of 83 water detention basins designed to help prevent flooding in Las Vegas during heavy rains.
12/2/2022: Gypsum Resources Materials
The Gypsum Resources Materials quarry just west of Las Vegas.
12/2/2022: Mono Lake
Looking across the state border to Alkaline Mono Lake in California. The lake has no outlet and hence builds up high levels of salt deposits.
12/2/2022: Hawthorne Army Depot
The US Army depot at Hawthorne, Nevada is the world's largest weapons depot with 600,000 square feet (56,000 m2) of storage across 2,427 bunkers.
12/2/2022: Walker Lake
Like Mono Lake, Walker Lake in Nevada also has no outlet. Upstream diversions of its source, Walker River, have resulted in increased salt levels, destroying the fish population.
12/2/2022: Snow
We returned from the Caribbean and Las Vegas to winter in Seattle, with a dusting of snow on the ground.
12/2/2022: Souvenir
A cast bronze sign reading "That was something we used to do" is one of four sculptures that make up Sheila Klein's artwork Souvenir. The sculptures have been installed in Bell Street Park, on Bell Street between 1st and 5th avenues since 2014. We walk that area all the time and are surprised we've haven't noticed any of them until now.
12/2/2022: 4th & Bell
Construction at the 4th & Bell site has reached street level. These metal girders will soon be covered in wood in preparation for another cement pour.
12/3/2022: 36 F
While we were away, winter arrived in Seattle and its a chilly 36°F (2.2°C) this morning.
12/3/2022: Morning Calm
A ferry arriving into Seattle on a beautifully calm and clear morning.
12/3/2022: 4th and Bell
Looking down to the 4th and Bell construction site, almost ready for the next cement pour.
12/3/2022: Snow
With the cold temperatures, snow is still on many of the rooftops around our apartment buildling.
12/3/2022: Black Stax
The talented Black Stax musical group performing at the Seattle Center Armory Food & Event Hall while we had another lunch at the Wing Dome.
12/3/2022: Winterfest Village
One of two trains running the tracks in the late 19th-century model train and village at the Seattle Center Armory Food & Event Hall. The attention to detail is quite impressive, and the village is huge.
12/3/2022: Mayer Clock
Seattle was once known as the "city of clocks" because of its abundance of street clocks, many made by well-known local jeweler Joseph Mayer. By 1935, Mayer had made over 100 street clocks, with at least 40 standing in Seattle. This historic clock hanging in the Seattle Armory is one of Mayer's creations.
12/3/2022: Monorail Man
The fabulous Monorail Man statue at the monorail station in Seattle Center was created by the Seattle Monorail Services Maintenance Team using discarded from the Monorail trains and supporting systems.
12/3/2022: TeKu Tavern
Teku Tavern near our apartment supports up to 50 taps on their custom-built draft system. We've passed by literally dozens of times, but haven't yet stopped in because they don't serve food and we don't often go out for just a drink. But we did today, and really enjoyed the beer and the environment.
12/3/2022: Kraken vs Panthers
The puck in play as the Florida Panthers take on the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena. The Kraken lost 1-5, ending their 5-game winning streak, but we still had a great time at the game.
12/5/2022: Spitfire
Spitfire walking the dining room window ledge. At 19 years old, he sleeps more than he used to, but he still likes to explore.
12/5/2022: Holiday Lights
Holiday lights strung over a staircase down between 6th and 7th Avenue at the Amazon South Lake Union campus.
12/6/2022: Marion Street
Looking west along Marion Street across the brick steps between 1st and 2nd avenues to the modern F5 Tower in the distance. The 44-story F5 Tower, completed in 2017, is the 6th tallest in the city.
12/6/2022: UPS Store
Picking up our mail from the UPS store at 815 1st Avenue for a final time. We started using this store for our mailing address when we first moved aboard way back in 2009. Over the years, they've smoothly handled our mail plus thousands of parcels that we've picked up on return trips to the US while out cruising on Dirona. They also prepared and shipped several pallets of boat parts and spares, including a 2.6-cubic-meter pallet sent to Australia. The store has provided an excellent and invaluable service, but will be closing at the end of this year so we've switched all our mail over to our apartment.
12/6/2022: Prime Air
A Prime Air plane at the Sea-Tac airport, viewed from the runway on board James' flight to Houston.
12/6/2022: Icelandair
Icelandair plane at the Sea-Tac airport. We'll likely be flying this airline from Iceland to Seattle after our North Pole cruise aboard Le Commandant Charcot.
12/6/2022: Snow
Snow-covered farmland visible from James' flight to Houston.
12/6/2022: Trinidad Lake
Looking southwest across Trinidad Lake, a dammed reservoir in the state park of the same name, near the Colorado border with New Mexico.
12/6/2022: San Jacinto River
View to the winding San Jacinto River as James' flight descends into Houston.
12/7/2022: Cement Pour
Two trucks on hand for the next cement pour at the 4th & Bell construction site, viewed from our apartment window.
12/7/2022: Flight Path
The flight path at the Sea-Tac airport occasionally has planes heading directly east towards our apartment building and getting surprisingly close before they turn south to land.
12/7/2022: Pixel Watch
The last time we were on Stornoway, Scotland, we both got Fitbit Sense watches and loved them. Jennifer's failed last week, where the Fitbit functionality kept working but the display failed, so she had to spend the past week essentially without having time available on her watch. In replacing it, we decided to try a Pixel Watch instead, since Google now owns Fitbit. The new watch is working out super-well so far, although just being able have the time on Jennifer's wrist feels like a big step up after going for a week without it :-).
12/7/2022: Alex Haley
The US Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley under tow towards the Seattle Coast Guard base in Elliott Bay. Based in Kodiak, Alaska, the Alex Haley was launched in 1971 as a US Navy rescue and salvage ship and recommissioned for the Coast Guard in 1999.
12/8/2022: Just Walk Out
A Hudson "Just Walk Out" store at the Nashville airport, where James is returning home from. Once a customer is recognized on entry (via credit card, palm print or app), the Amazon technology allows them to simply select the items and just walk out of the store without having to stand in line for a cashier. The technology is wonderfully convenient, but it feels very unusual to just leave the store this way after decades of explicit purchases.
12/9/2022: Spitfire
Spitfire licking his lips in anticipation of a treat.
12/9/2022: 40 Years
Celebrating the 40th anniversary of our first date at one of our favorite Seattle restaurants, The Butcher's Table. We met in 1982 in first-year Computer Science class at the University of Victoria, Canada and our first date was after a math exam later that year.
12/9/2022: Tonbi Fountain
Lights inside and beneath an Amazon campus overhead walkway reflecting onto the wet pavement below.
12/9/2022: 7th Avenue
Trees along 7th Avenue near the Amazon campus aglow with holiday lights.
12/9/2022: Cement Pour
An evening cement pour at the 6th and Bell construction site just north of our apartment building.
12/10/2022: Le Caviste
Another great evening at Le Caviste wine bar in Seattle. They have an excellent wine selection, delicious charcuterie boards, and a wonderful atmosphere.
12/10/2022: Deep Dive
Deep Dive is a speakeasy underneath the Seattle Spheres that we've not yet visited. The ultra-popular venue usually requires reservations days in advance, but we stopped by this evening on a whim and got a table right away. We're not big cocktail drinkers, but really enjoyed the ones we had there.
12/11/2022: Band
A large band playing just inside the entrance to Lumen Field prior to the Seahawks game against the Carolina Panthers.
12/11/2022: Geno Smith
Seattle quarterback Geno Smith warming up on the field before the game. James just got a new Pixel 7 Pro phone, and the reach of the 120mm telephoto camera is quite impressive. It's hard to believe the pictures possible from a smartphone camera these days.
12/11/2022: Coach Carroll
Coach Pete Carroll, circled in red at left, on the field during warming up, hugging second-year linebacker Jon Rhattigan. Carroll continued walking through the team, shaking hands and chatting with various players. He interacts much more closely with the players than most coaches we see. This is standard Pete Carroll pre-game practice.
12/11/2022: Blocked Pass
Seahawks nose tackle Al Woods reaches to block a pass from Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold. Woods left the game with a heel injury in the first half, contributing to Seattle's 30-24 loss, and it's not clear if he will play in this Thursday's game against San Francisco.
12/13/2022: Sikuliao
The arctic research vessel Sikuliao arriving into Pier 66 in Seattle. The 2012 vessel, owned by the National Science Foundation and operated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks, is one of the most advanced university vessels in the world is rated polar class 5 and can break ice up to 2.5-ft (0.8m m) thick. This is the same polar class as the National Geographic Endurance that we'll be taking to Antarctica on December 20th.
12/14/2022: Cinque Terre
An oyster and a salad to start a delicious meal at Cinque Terre Italian restaurant in downtown Seattle.
12/14/2022: Vactor 2100i
This Vactor 2100i sewer cleaner caught our attention as it passed by our window during dinner at Cinque Terre. It's one of the most modern and specialized storm-cleaning systems we've seen. We were surprised to see it operated by Seattle City Lights, and suspect that under certain storm conditions the storm sewers can backup into the underground utility service tunnels.
12/14/2022: Holiday Lights
Holiday lights over the bicycle path along 7th Avenue with Julie Speidel's sculpture Petros partly visible at left.
12/15/2022: Genie
The long arm of a Genie extended out for a window repair to a 6th Avenue Seattel building.
12/15/2022: Blue Thunder
The Seattle Seahawks drumline, Blue Thunder, outside Lumen field before the Thursday Night Football game against the San Franciso 49ers.
12/15/2022: Thursday Night Football
Amazon Prime Video has exclusive rights to broadcast Thursday Night Football and we got a chance to see behind the scenes at the production trucks. This is one of the 16 trucks the fully remote production team brings to each event. They have more trucks than any other sports broadcasting event and Lumen Field doesn't have capacity for them all in one place. So a few are parked just north of the stadium where we are now, and the rest are clustered in and around a media area underneath the stadium.
12/15/2022: Satellite Dish
One of two backup satellite dishes the Amazon Prime Video Thursday Night Football production team brings to every game.
12/15/2022: Generators
Two backup generators in case the stadium loses power. We were really impressed with the level of redundancy and variety of backups in place. The article Amazon Primed For 'Thursday Night Football' Tour provides an excellent overview of the system.
12/15/2022: Trucks
The Thursday Night Football trucks, custom built by Game Creek Trucks, have massive slide-outs on both sides.
12/15/2022: Joe "JP" Palmer
Joe "JP" Palmer, Prime Video senior manager of live production technical operations, taking us through the production trucks. JP knows the systems in incredible detail.
12/15/2022: Sound Board
The sound board for Amazon PrimeThursday Night Football. They have an incredible number of mikes spread throughout the stadium.
12/15/2022: Production Truck
The Amazon Prime Thursday Night Football main production truck is the largest of any remote facility used in sports.
12/15/2022: Tunnel Entrance
This is the tunnel entrance that will be rolled out onto the field for the Seahawks to run through during the team introductions just before the game.
12/15/2022: On the Field
On the field prior to the game. James had a chance to be on-field a few weeks back, but this is the first time for Jennifer. It was super-exciting.
12/15/2022: Sideline Comm Center
Landlines and radios at the visitor team Sideline Communications Center.ff
12/15/2022: SF Fans
The stands were so full with opposing team fans that you could easily believe we were in San Francisco. We've experienced the same thing in the past when playing against the Raiders. The 'Raider Nation' fans also travel in huge numbers and are particularly known for their fervor, demonstrated through complex and often intimidating outfits.
12/15/2022: Our Seats
Looking up to our seats just under the LUMEN sign.
12/15/2022: TNF Tonight
The TNF Tonight pre-game show being broadcast on-field.
12/15/2022: Danny Gray
San Francisco wide receiver Danny Gray concentrating on the ball above him as he practices catching punts in the end zone.
12/15/2022: Tyler Lockett
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett on the field before the game.
12/15/2022: Uprights
Looking south through the north uprights to the far end of the field.
12/15/2022: Ray-Ray McCloud III
San Francisco wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III caught this ball one-handed with ease.
12/15/2022: Blitz
Seattle Seahawks mascot Blitz on the field for the pre-game activities.
12/15/2022: Andy Jassy
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy with Seahawks mascot Blitz and others on the sideline before the Niners-Hawks game.
12/15/2022: Richard Sherman
Former Seattle Seahawks corner back Richard Sherman, right, and Ryan Fitzpatrick, two of the four TNF Tonight hosts doing the pre-game show.
12/15/2022: Cameras
Two of the more than 50 cameras that the Amazon Prime Thursday Night Football production team brings to the game.
12/15/2022: Big Boys
The big linemen out practicing in the end zone. They look large on TV, but are positively enormous close up and in-person.
12/15/2022: Having Fun
Having a great time on the field.
12/15/2022: 49ers Leaving Field
The 49ers running off the field after the pre-game warmup.
12/15/2022: Parabolic Mic
One of the hundreds of microphones spread throughout the Seahawks facility for Thursday Night Football.
12/15/2022: GENO
It's near-freezing in Seattle, but these fans don't care. Geno Smith is the Seattle Seahawks starting quarterback.
12/15/2022: Empty Stadium
The Seahawks lost to San Francisco, but we had such a great time with friends at the game that we ended up staying well past the end. We've never seen the stadium so empty.
12/15/2022: Gum Wall
Passing the Gum Wall at Pike Place Market on our way to a late dinner after the Thursday Night Football game. We'd somehow never encountered this famous Seattle landmark before. People began sticking gum to the wall outside the box office for the Market Theater in the 1990s. In 2015 the wall was cleaned off, removing 2,350 pounds (1,065 kg) of gum, because the sugar was degrading the brick. It re-appeared almost immediately, and currently is 50 feet (15 m) long and up to 20 feet (6.1 m) high in places.
12/16/2022: Port of Seattle
The Port of Seattle shrouded in fog.
12/16/2022: Packing
Packing for our flight to Buenos Aires tomorrow. Our luggage limit is 50 lb (23 kg) per person of checked baggage and 17 lb (8 kg) of carry-on. This seems like plenty, but we'll be bringing a lot of winter gear, including knee-high waterproof boots, so we need to pack with care and weigh all the bags. We'll be checking the two LL Bean rolling duffle bags in the foreground, and will have two smaller carry-on bags.
12/16/2022: Elephant Car Wash
The historic Elephant Car Wash neon sign was just installed at the Amazon South Lake Union Campus. The car wash operated nearby for 60 years, but closed in 2020. The larger of its two iconic neon signs was donated to the local Museum of History and Industry and the smaller was given to Amazon. It's great to see the sign back on display in the area again.
12/17/2022: Sky Priority
At least 200 people were in the Delta SkyPriority line at SeaTac airport. We fortunately found a shorter line for those who just need to drop off checked luggage, but it still took us over 40 minutes to get through that. As airline travel has increased in the past year, many airlines have been experiencing an overload of customers with priority status. But the Delta line was by far the worse we've ever seen.
12/17/2022: Security Wait Times
The flySEA app shows wait current wait times at the various security check points at the SeaTac airport. Usually the TSA PreCheck lines, for pre-screened passengers, are much faster than the general security lines. But unusually, this morning the General Checkpoint 3 had a 5-10 minute wait while TSA PreCheck Checkpoint 1 was 20-25 minutes. The explosion of air traffic use and the resultant crowds is inverting, or at least equalizing, priority status. Here TSA PreCheck is worse than the regular lines, and Delta SkyPriority was at least as bad as non-priority.
12/17/2022: Mt. Rainier
A spectacular sunrise looking south towards Mt. Rainier, with Mt. Adams visible in the distance.
12/17/2022: Cloud River
A "cloud river" flowing through the Cascade Mountains east of Mt. Rainier (partly visible at right). In the distance are Mt. Adams and Mt. Hood.
12/17/2022: Quarry
Passing over one of many large quarries near the Tennessee-Mississippi border.
12/17/2022: Douglasville Quarry
The massive Martin Marietta quarry in Douglasville, Georgia. After various mergers and purchases, the company was once part of the aerospace manufacturer Lockheed Corporation, and is now an independent aggregate and building materials supplier with over 500 properties in North America and a revenue of US$4.7 billion in 2020.
12/17/2022: Snapfinger Creek
The Snapfinger Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant southeast of Atlanta currently handled 36 million gallons per day with an expansion underway to handle 54 millions of gallons per day.
12/17/2022: Delta Hub
We're flying Delta through Atlanta en route to Buenos Aires. Atlanta is the airline's headquarters and largest hub, with over 1,000 flights daily to 225 destinations around the globe. We passed several dozens Delta planes on the way to our gate.
12/17/2022: Flight Paths
The striking Flight Paths by artist Steve Waldeck extends the length of the 450ft (137m) tunnel between concourse A and B and uses bird sounds with visual effects to simulate a walk through a native Georgia rainforest.
12/17/2022: Train
Jennifer at her favorite position in the front car, enjoying the train ride between concourses at Atlanta airport.
12/17/2022: Delta Flights
These four screens show only a portion of the upcoming Delta flights from Atlanta. Small buttons below the screens support scrolling to view the rest. The buttons aren't very obvious and most people, including ourselves, looked in vain for our flight before learning about the scrolling functionality.
12/17/2022: Atlanta to Buenos Aires
An overview of our flight to Buenos Aires shortly after takeoff. We're 6 miles out of Atlanta with 5,072 miles to go.
12/18/2022: Welcome Pickups
This is our first time using Welcome Pickups to arrange a ride from the airport, and it worked out really well. A week before our flight, we were given our driver's name and contact information, and he was waiting for us in arrivals even though our flight was 20 minutes early. We're very happy with the service.
12/18/2022: Apartments
Narrow mid-height apartment buildings like these ones are common in Buenos Aires.
12/18/2022: Coast Guard Memorial
After dropping our bags at our hotel, we went for a walk of the area. This is a memorial to members of the Argentinean Coast Guard who have died in the line of duty. The boat depicted is GC-83 Rio Iguazu, a Coast Guard boat that was destroyed by the British during the Falklands War, killing one crew member.
12/18/2022: Laguna de los Coipos
Laguna de los Coipos, one of several lakes in the Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve.
12/18/2022: Water
Buying some water from a street vendor. We don't speak Spanish and they didn't speak English, but we managed to get what we wanted, and even pay with US currency.
12/18/2022: Street Vendors
Street vendor stalls decorated with the Argentinian flag in anticipation of the World Cup match later today.
12/18/2022: Paseo Guardavidas Argentinos
The beautiful tree-lined park Paseo Guardavidas Argentinos was closed today due to the football game, possibly over concerns about damage.
12/18/2022: Fuente de las Nereidas
The fountain Las Nereidas, made of white Carrara marble, is one of the most important works of sculptor Argentine Lola Mora. The sculpture depicts the Nereids attending the birth of the goddess Venus and was controversial when unveiled in 1903 because it portrayed nude figures.
12/18/2022: Produce
Colorful produce for sale along the street Rosario Vera Penaloza.
12/18/2022: Cranes
Two German-built cranes that were installed in Buenos Aires commercial port, Puerto Madero, in the 1970s. The cranes become obsolete in the 1990s, but were kept as part of the renovated neighborhood when port activities shifted elsewhere.
12/18/2022: Presidente Sarmiento
The frigate Presidente Sarmiento was built in the late 1800s as a training ship for the Argentine Navy and became a public museum ship in the 1960s.
12/18/2022: Empathy
Buenos Aires is full of excellent street art. This is Empathy by traveling artist Mabel Vicentef.
12/18/2022: Intervencion
Intervencion by American artist Barbara Kruger.
12/18/2022: Puente de la Mujer
The graceful Puente de la Mujer ("Women's Bridge"), completed in 2001, is a landmark in Puerto Madero. The rotating foot bridge is so-named because many of the streets in the area have women's names.
12/18/2022: Marina
A small pleasure craft marina in Puerto Madero.
12/18/2022: Helicopter Landing
We were surprised to see a helicopter landing area marked out in the middle of a street intersection.
12/18/2022: Negrazon y Chaveta
A statue of Negrazon y Chaveta along the Buenos Aires Cartoon Walk that pays tribute to popular Argentine cartoon characters.
12/18/2022: World Cup Celebration
After a walk around the area, we returned to the hotel to watch Argentina beat France in the World Cup, then followed the celebrating crowds to the Obelisk.

Read more ....
12/18/2022: Cabana Las Lilas
We had excellent steaks with a glass of Argentinian Malbec at Cabana Las Lilas overlooking Puerto Madero.
12/18/2022: Tomahawk on Flame
The table next to us ordered Tomahawk on Flame, a shared ribeye flamed with cognac. It was quite the show. Even shared between two people, that's 1.4 lbs (654 grams) of steak each.
12/18/2022: Puente de la Mujer at Night
The Puente de la Mujer, with the museum ship Presidente Sarmiento beyond, lit up beautifully at night.
12/18/2022: Alvear Icon
Enjoying a nightcap next to a steam flame at the bar of our hotel, Alvear Icon.
12/18/2022: Evening View
The evening view across Puerto Madero from our room at the Alvear Icon in Buenos Aires.
12/19/2022: Antarctica
The remainder of our time in Buenos Aires, and our fabulous trip to Antarctica are continued here.