shelleyo

Thank you so much been a great help

We too have the drinks packages and have been advised that the gratuities are actually included in the package, however if you go over the $12 limit you will need to pay the additional cost of the beverage + the additional gratuity over $12. Hope that makes sense.

Thanks for your help, I received a email today from RCI who advised a glass of wine from $6.50 and what else is covered, so fingers crossed for September they honour the package they have given us :)

Hi Guys,

For all you seasoned RCI customers, please can you answer a question?

We have been on two cruises with NCL and really enjoyed those, this will be our first time on the Indy. And we booked a cruise which incorporates the "Deluxe" drinks package, we are not sailing till September, however I have spotted a couple of items on the CC site that says that some clients have experienced an increase in prices on the drinks supplied, ranging from $13 to $15 each.

Our package states drinks up to $12 each, is this the norm or are the prices well over that so you have to pay the difference ?

One of the reasons for choosing this cruise from Southampton was the whole package and I hope that RCI are going to have a selection of all beverages in the $12 range, we normally like beers during the day and a glass or two of wine in the evening finishing off with a cocktail as a nightcap. I have written to RCI, to query this, wondering if you have the drinks package if they increase this to $13 to cover their increases, just so we can budget if we do have to pay the difference, however I have not heard from them.

So if any of you lovely fellow cruisers can assist, we would be more than grateful :)

Sailed on the Epic Xmas week and loved the shows, was especially impressed by the 3 leads in Priscilla, but did not manage to find out the names, they were all really good, just wondered if anyone knew their names ?

Hi Hlsess,

well as far as I can remember, there were no special menus, it was standard NCl food and very nice as far as I was concerned, however it did have turkey on the menu for Xmas day night as a meat. Being a brit I was hoping for Xmas put, but sadly they did not have it on, one of our M&G brought along mince pies for after dinner, and I think we will do the same this year, the waiters seemed to like them as we did not eat them all last year LOL.

There were lots of things to get you in the mood for Xmas - the Spirit was beautifully decorated, and I am hoping that the Epic will be similar. During the cruise there were a couple of Xmas themed quizzes on the lead up to the big day. There were Christmas carols in the foyer/atrium on Christmas eve evening and the entertainment team did a Christmas show around 4pm xmas eve in the auditorium more for families but was fun as an adult singing along with a bit of slapstick thrown in :-) Don't know how it will pan out though as the ship leaves port early on Xmas Eve, so I assume the shows will take place once we are at sea.

All in all it is a lovely atmosphere especially Christmas morning with lots of people opening presses in the lounges. Most people seem happy, but there are always some bah humbugs !!

I am sure that you will have a great time at Cagneys and Cirque :-)

QUOTE=hlsess;48171953]can you remember what was planned special for Christmas Eve/Day- any special meals? We are booked at Cagney's Xmas Eve and Cirque Christmas night late show... thanks for this info

We did this cruise (Christmas) 19th December last year on the Spirit. So in answer to your question -dress attire- really anything goes. During the day we and most of the boat tended to dress very causally, from shorts and t shirts to jeans, linens, blouses and jackets. On the evening it varied so much, some folks got dressed to the nines and looked really elegant, to some people wearing the same that they had on during the day. Christmas Day at sea was fun, lots of people wear the "xmas attire" ie silly jumpers hats etc, which is always good for a laugh, and then for dinner xmas day night, most people made an effort to wear something smart, New Year's Eve cruise saw lots of elegant dresses and tuxes for the gentlemen. However that said there were lots of people still wearing smart casual. We will not be taking the tux this year, due to luggage space, but I will be doing lots of sparkly tops as it is xmas and doning the silly stuff for xmas day :-). It does get quiet warm on the boat when you are inside, so light clothing is fine.

You did ask about the weather, well who knows, last year we were really lucky and got caught one port day with rain, as for day wear I would tend to go for light jeans/trousers and layers for the top as the weather can vary so if it does become warm you can take of or put on if it comes in chill. I would definitely pack a waterproof though. We really enjoyed last years cruise, and are hoping that this year on the bigger boat it will be enjoyable too :-) lots more to do. On the journey back from the canaries, we sat out enjoying the sun, so packing a sun cream is advisable as you can get caught by the sun. Not long now though :-)

Sorry just checked we are on 10 not 11 - oh dear the confusion has already begun !! got lost last year on the Sprit so goodness help me on the Epic LOL

Same deck and dates as us :-)

So looking forward to it - don't forget to join our role call

Same deck and dates as us :-)

So looking forward to it - don't forget to join our role call

We`re booked on the December 19th Barcelona-Canaries-Barcelona on deck 11 with UDP so looking forward to this trip & thanks for the advice people.;)

Hi Transalp

We took the NCL cruise on the Spirit last year which covered Xmas and New Year, we really loved the cruise and we were first time cruisers, it was also a smaller boat than the epic I believe too.

To be honest with you I thought that the boat would be busy, and at times it did feel like that, but you could always find somewhere quiet to sit. I must admit that on the Xmas/New Year cruise last year there were quiet a lot of Spanish families, and it times it did seem a little overcrowded. However saying that we had an awesome time, so much so we have booked again for this year on the bigger ship. I did think that I may be bored, however we did not really have time to be bored, there was always something of interest to do and see.

We loved the shows on the smaller boat - and I am excited to see that they have changed the show to Priscilla Queen of the dessert. Already booked for that.

We took the drinks package last year and loved trying the cocktails and different wines. As for the food, I was not disappointed, from the buffett choice to the main complimentary restaurants. We did not opt for the speciality ones as we wanted to taste the food you get as normal - this year I think we will opt for the Spigel tent and may try a speciality one. But saying that it could all change once we are on board.

We are a couple without kids, and we loved it, although we are probably 2 big kids anyway :-)

Give it a go - I am sure you won't be disappointed.

I am a newbie & would like to know if anyone has taken the Dec 19th 10 day cruise from Barcelona-Morroco-Canaries trip over Xmas? Is it overcrowded & full of kids or could a couple without kids enjoy themselves with regards to decent food, drink & entertainment? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.:confused:

Hi Georgina

Thanks for the quick response, wow I thought I had missed the boat, excuse the pun 😄

I will go back in on day 90 :-)

Thanks for the info - muchly appreciated

Shelley

It did the same to me but they don't go on sale until the 90th day! They were showing on my account from day 99 @ £159 but when I booked on the 90th day I got them at £103 :) just make sure you log on straight away on the 90th day as they sell out fast!! At the moment I think there just on sale for Haven passengers.

Well we are on day 99 to the cruise and thermal passes are showing up on our cruise, but when you go in it shows as fully booked, so gutted as was going to book one for me :-(

We are on the epic 19/12 so I can't believe that they sell out do fast! Are there ever any cancellations ?

Thank you Sauer Kraut for the info on the Thermal spa, i am very interested, may do a day if possible I think a week would be too long, but it looks a lovely relaxing place, thank you for taking the time to post images too- very helpful :)

Hi Vanchelle

Thanks for the info, excuse my naivety - but may I ask what the Thermal suite pass is ? It sounds quite interesting.

Many thanks

Shelley

We were on epic in April of this year....spice h2o during the day was fine-kid free as advertised with exception of sailaway party (parents had kids at the bar and had to be asked to leave) and then there are occasional kids stopping at the bar for refills with soda cards. If you're down by the chairs and pool you won't even notice them. We only used h2o two days...I loved having a thermal suite pass to avoid crowds for an hr each day

Ok thank you for your advice, I will try Spice and see hoe it goes, just a few hours a day so I can read my book on sea days would be great :>

If it does get bad I might well look at Posh, but feel a bit aggrieved at having to pay extra to find a truly adult only area !

But I guess that's how the cruise liners make the money.

Hi Guys

Don't know if any of you seasoned cruisers can help with this. We are on the Epic in December and have read that there is an Adults only Area called Spice/H20 - Great.

On the Epic it says that it's Adult only till 8pm and then kids are let in after that. However after having read some previous comments on the board it seems that there aren't any real child free areas anyway? Just wondered if there are any other Adult only areas on board where one can remove oneself from other folks darling offspring ?

Not that I dislike children, however when you don't have any of your own the last thing I want on my holiday is to have to listen to screeching and crying children all day, just wondered if there is a small area where one can obtain a bit of peace and quiet for a couple hours of the day, I realise it is a family ship and the Spice / H20 sounded good at first.

Thanks in advance

Shell

This is one for the ladies ! Just wondered if anyone had or knew if the NCL spas offer the Gel Nail package - I was going to have mine done before I left for our Xmas cruise, however my usual salon was fully booked - with it being Xmas week. Just asking if this is available on the Spirit and roughly how much?

When I say gel - I mean the one with the LED/UV light which sets the polish for 14 days

Thanks in advance

It is a theme night which includes a lively dance party in the Galaxy of the Stars lounge.

There are free neon bands, crew dancers with white wings. There are some other aspects which I forget

 

People wear something white and the dance floor is packed.

Sounds fun - do you have to wear white? I am guessing this?

What's white hot? We are doing our 1st cruise in December on the Spirit, thanks in advance :-)