Crzy4my2

 LOL

I'm curious also 🙂

On 1/8/2019 at 5:29 PM, david_sobe said:

Been on Epic twice and loved it each time.  I prefer Epic over the Getaway.  I have yet to sail the Breakaway-Plus models so I cant compare them. I have always said that if you could slap a waterfront on the Epic, she still would be the best ship at sea.

I also prefer the Epic over the Getaway! My 1st cruise with NCL was on the Epic. The bathrooms work for my family. Someone can shower and someone else can use the toilet.. Just coordinate when you get out 😉 We went on the Getaway last Feb and I kept thinking "I wish I booked the Epic again" So we sail on the Epic again thins summer 🙂

 My 1st cruise was on RC's Allure It was very nice, We LOVED the staff. We spent a good amount in the Casino. The next time we wanted to take a cruise RC didn't have a sailing the dates we needed so we looked at NCL, and because they had the exact dates we wanted,  we booked and sailed on the Epic.  I actually bought a small water package because we drink a lot of water(family of 4)  and like to have it at night if we wake up thirsty. We never brought the bottles out of the room and if we wanted water when we were out and about on the ship, we just got the Ships water. It tasted perfectly fine. We spent the same amount of money in the Epic casino (maybe a little more but not much) and after our 1st cruise with NCL, I received an offer for a free cruise for 2 (pay taxes). We booked for last Feb and took the kids..So we had to pay for the 3rd and 4th guest.. After that cruise I got another offer for a free cruise for 2, Again we are taking the kids and paying for the 3rd and 4th passenger.. We are going on the Epic again to the Mediterranean for under $3,000 for 4 in family balcony room...There's MY incentive. I never received any offers from Royal Caribbean 

I just want to add that we did that cruise on the Getaway last Feb and LOVED it! (looks like you are on it now)

A few years ago we were on the Epic and there was fog at the dock in Port Canaveral.  We were doing "walk off" and they made us all wait on floor 7? (I forget the floor number) they just sat out in the water until it was clear enough and "our turn" to dock. I have Anxiety so I had booked our flight out the next day. I always worry about "what if" especially living in MA and having flights delayed due to weather but there were a lot of people who were missing their 1:30 flights. We didn't get off of the ship until after 1 pm and there was nothing open on board while we waited. It was CRAZY trying to get off and the people trying to get on. My parents live in Florida(Naples) and left their car at the hotel that we stayed at before the trip. Part of the parking special included transportation to the port and back to the hotel..thank god because you couldn't get a taxi or anything. It was just Chaos with people trying to re-book, find places to stay and finding rides. 

Loved your TR. So many helpful tips on the ports. We are sailing out of Rome on the Epic in July and then spending a few days in Rome after the cruise. My daughter will be celebrating her 16th birthday in Rome. We have sailed on the Epic before, out of Port Canaveral and wanted to sail on her again. 

My parents get them all of the time from Foxwoods Casino. They require them to come down on a certain day before a certain time to claim it to get people into the casino.. A lot of casinos do it (here in New England anyway) I got something from Plainridge park. I get great deals through the CAS so I haven't taken Plainridge up on theirs.

I personally liked the Epic better. I know some don't like the bathrooms but they don't bother us..we are a family of 4.

Wow, I'm surprised your card registered. We get new cards for each cruise. I've never used the same card on different cruises.

It's in my cabin or if by chance it's not, the casino just prints one out for me.

No clue, I just went to my stuff from the cruise and that was there with the drink card they gave me. So I assumed that was it..the drink card was a nice surprise..There was one for me, one for DH..I don't drink and my DH only drinks a little. so we didn't get the package. DH figured he would just buy a drink if he wanted any. with the drink card he went to the casino(and played)

I don't recall if they state the tier on them, but it's likely an old card. Was this it?

 

Thank you. Yes it was that card. I used it on our cruise in Feb.

I have a question about the cards. I see the different tiers. Green says Jade, Pearl is a grey. So when you move up, you get a different color card correct? Do they say Jade, Pearl etc on them? I have a red card but it says "you're hot"... LOL

You are still going to pay the 20% service charge, and if you want a refund you have to ask for it after you get home.

So if it's not on now, will they add it when we get on the ship? Honestly doesn't matter to me, I thought that there was an option, but if not then I rather have it paid before we go on the trip.

Won't they charge you gratuities anyway and you have to ask for a refund later by talking to a head manager? I thought this system of paying who you want on your own in cash instead of daily service charge was not an option?

I honestly have no idea. I booked through the Casino and she asked me if I wanted to pre pay gratuities. I said no. Hopefully it doesn't bite me in the butt later.

:eek: I'll do my duty when my friend is on the balcony. I also always bring bathroom spray!! :p

You can also download the Fan app (free on I phones) and turn it on when you go into the bathroom, you can leave it on the sink unless you use your phone in the bathroom :)

We are cruising again in August and we didn't get a drink package. I did not pre pay gratuities either. I found that we had been pre-paying and then giving the people serving/waiting/helping us an addition 20% tip. I rather give the money directly to the staff helping us so I know they are getting it.

I didn't feel it was bad. Maybe in the Atruim during certain events like the "deal or no deal" and then the hallways when events got out..

There's a lot of great suggestions here. A couple of things that I would add are to potentially bring any over-the-counter medication you might need that you don't normally take. For instance I pack motion sickness medication, even though I don't tend to get seasick, and I also bring aloe vera in case I get sunburnt.

 

Also, as others have mentioned bringing an alarm clock, I'd also suggest bringing a watch, or carry your cell phone around while on board. Sometimes, it can be difficult to know what time it is, because the ships don't always have clocks readily available.

 

 

 

:') That's great! I did that when I moved to my very first apartment once. I got home at like 2AM and tried unlocking the wrong door. As I ran off realizing what I did someone yelled "HELLO?!" :')

:o:o:'):')

find something to decorate your cabin door so it is easy to find. for me, i use a simple fridge magnet that i stick to the door, other people do a big arts/craft thing with the door

Last Cruise I kept trying to get into the wrong cabin...:rolleyes::rolleyes:Those poor people :rolleyes::eek:

Yes, How did you find that out? :)

We sailed RCCL's Allure in 2014 to the Eastern Caribbean and it was a good, cruise awesome, ship with a good staff (no complaints) but when we were looking for a cruise for a 2017 vacation, RCCL didn't have a cruise on the dates we needed and NCL had the exact dates. So we thought we would give it a try. I like to play the slot machines and after our 1st cruise with NCL I got a really great offer from NCL for another trip so we booked a cruise that was on 2/2018 and they have been good with everything.... they are giving me a great deal again for our 2019 European cruise. I have loved the staff that work on the ships and they are making me offers to come back. They now have me as a loyal customer.

We have booked about 6 months out but we just booked one for July 2019..Here is rushing/wishing the year away! :)

The one who will be drinking soda needs a package. I don't drink soda or Alcohol and I didn't get a drink package on our last trip in Feb but my kids and DH did. The staff did take the cards sometimes when the kids and DH got drinks(soda)

No, everyone does not have to get the soda package.. I drink water(even the water they provide in a glass :)) and I got my DH, DD and DS the soda package and nothing for me. My DH doesn't really drink and didn't want the UBP/UDP and figured if he wanted a beer we would just pay for it.. It worked out though because when we got on the ship, waiting in our room with our casino cards( I'm Pearl) we had drink cards attached.. This was only my 2nd cruise with NCL so I wasn't expecting the drink card for the casino

Yes they can order off of the kids menu. My DS16 ordered from the kids menu last year when we went and will again when we go. He is a SUPER picky eater and only eats the like same 5 things. We are going to 3 specialty dinners BUT I paid for both of my kids to have that package. I paid for it last year too so maybe that's why they didn't have an issue with it. My DD14 eats or will try anything. They were very accommodating last year on the Epic.