Miami/FL - Transatlantic NCL - Feb 2025 - Chapter 07

Chapter 07

Twelve days on the Atlantic are now behind me. We are currently entering the English Channel and expect to arrive in Southampton on Wednesday morning at 7 AM.

The second half of the journey started with a course change to the southeast before heading back northeast about a day later. The captain likely preferred not to sail directly into the heavy storm that had developed along our original route across the Atlantic.

Last Saturday, we docked in Ponta Delgada, the capital of São Miguel, the largest island in the Azores. Despite the route changes, we arrived in the Azores on time, but we had to leave the island at exactly 2 PM, as the storm had also moved further northeast, and we still wanted to avoid it.

My shore excursion to Fire Lake - or Lagoa do Fogo, as the Portuguese call it — worked out perfectly in terms of timing. The crater lake is located in a basin-shaped depression of the Água de Pau volcano, sitting 575 meters above sea level.

On the way back to the ship, we passed through Ribeira Grande, the largest town on the island. We stopped there for about 45 minutes to take in some more impressions.

While walking through the town, I discovered a chocolate shop with some rather unusual flavors. I tried a mix with cheese but then decided that for +1, I should bring back a different variety instead. 😊

Upon arrival at the harbor, I was able to get a full view of the Breakaway for the first time on this trip. In Miami, large parts of the ship were obscured by the terminal.

At exactly 2 PM, we set off toward Southampton. Of course, I didn’t miss the opportunity to capture a few last impressions of the island from the pool deck.

It took three days to travel from the Azores to the English Channel. Tomorrow morning, I’ll be disembarking very early, as the last part of my journey begins at 8:30 AM: a trip to Stonehenge before, if all goes well, flying back from LHR to DUS at 5:20 PM on BA 932. I just completed check-in for the flight and selected seat 2C.

I assume the flight will depart from the C-Gates in Terminal 5. This way, I can avoid the overcrowded Club Lounges at the A-Gates and check out the lounge at the B-Gates instead, then walk back through the tunnel to the C-Gates. I haven’t been to that lounge before, but it’s supposed to be much more relaxed than the Club Lounges.

To be continued.

Written on February 18th, 2025 by Thorsten Scherf travel miami ncl