SpainAlien

They are out in force today on our sea day. I have a couple of sunbeds that we are occupying at the moment, we have been here since 9am (1 hour) we are the only people actually sitting here in a group of about 20 sunbeds and yet every bed has a towel. I have spoken to one of the crew and he said they allow one hour!  So I pointed out that we are the only people here and have been for an hour so he put a sticker on the sunbeds presumably giving them another hour, in the meantime people are wandering about looking for somewhere to sit, it's disgraceful 

1 hour ago, complawyer said:

mentioned this before. we usually try to stay in a haven suite. at breakfast we tip the server $5.00, same at lunch.  at mdr, or specialty restaurants $10.

 

cabin steward $20 when we sail, $20 mid cruise and $20 at the end.  Butler $100, concierge $50

 

bartenders, $2.00 per order.

 

also $20 to the porter that takes our luggage at dock.

 

i sometimes tip more, if the service is extra good, but never, never less than the above amounts

So, in excess of $400 per week plus DSC.  Bloody hell, some weeks I don't earn that in a week myself

The Epic has a different price dependant on whether she is in Europe or not. I bought my spa pass for 139$ for the week sailing from Barcelona

12 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

It is 8:00 to 10:00 except on the last night when it closes early. 
 

If you purchase the pass pre cruise, you key will be encoded to open the door. If you buy it onboard, you get a sticker and have to check in. 

I pre purchased my spa pass months ago but when I arrived on the Epic this week I had to go up to the spa to have a sticker added to my room card. When I want to go to the thermal suite I have to go to spa reception and they exchange my room card for a thermal suite card temporarily. Perhaps it is different if you are in a spa cabin

I am onboard Epic right now and this is the price for the messaging and call feature

My son cancelled his cruise which had 2 x cruise next certificates in it, he received 50% of the total in FCC his travel partner also received 50% in FCC, the cruise next certificates are no more

I sail today on Epic which currently offers LATDBLX but my booking was made months ago and us part of a group booking so I only have LATITUDE, I will not get the extra points on this sailing and I don't expect them.

I have a booking for May 2023 which does show LATDBLX on the confirmation because it was booked when every sailing qualified but I know if I change the booking, ie upgrade my cabin or do a price match, I will move to whatever the current promo is and I will lose my extra points

The problem is that when you upgrade you change to the current promotion which doesn't include airfare. If you had a booking which didn't include airfare it would be fine you would just get the new promo instead

On my last two cruises the shops were sailing pretty much at 100% and upgrade bid success was rare however we board NCL Epic on Sunday and a lot of minimum bid upgrades were accepted.  One guest from a balcony cabin bid 645€ and won the 2BR Have suite, I went from an inside cabin to a club balcony for 160€. Prices quoted are per person based on two persons in the cabin. 

The success of you bid will depend on the capacity of your sailing more than anything 

I have cruises booked for December this year and April next year the cabins I have booked for each of these cruises are currently twice what I paid last year. Of course I perhaps got a good deal but I think the prices are higher at the moment on certain sailings

Watch out for the cancellation policy for shore excursions, I think you can cancel them onboard only if you do so 48 hours or more before the excursion takes place and I believe it is then converted into obc not refunded to your card

What is the cancellation process once I’m on board?

Shore Excursions: Guests that cancel on board more than 48 hours prior to the tour will receive a refund for their purchase in the form of an onboard credit. Tours cancelled by guests less than 48 hours prior to arrival in the port where the tour is scheduled are non-refundable. Please note that certain tours, such as overland tours, customised tours and tours with theatre performances or special events may be subject to different cancellation fees. To make a cancellation on board or for additional details, please visit the Shore Excursion Desk.

And:

http://ncl-drupal6.ncl.com:9050/cruise-faq/what-if-i-miss-cancellation-deadline-and-do-not-want-my-tour

On 9/13/2021 at 11:43 AM, nyc2pdx said:

I noticed on the Dailies something about Swift and getting things delivered to your stateroom. Is this something new?  Previously drinks could be ordered but were not included under the beverage plan. Has something changed?

The Swift service is itemised on the room service menu

Thank you for reporting back to us at what must be a stressful time for you and your family, I wish you all well

On 9/13/2021 at 11:28 PM, cmecruise1962 said:

I have not been able to book on my Dec 4 Joy sailing out of Miami.  I'm not going to stress about it...but will be very annoyed if I can't get in for 2 dinners outside of the Haven!

I am also on Dec 4 Joy, I called NCL and booked Teppenyaki and Cagney's over the phone

No, only on organised "bubble" excursions, it doesn't matter what nationality you are 

If it is non-refundable then no, otherwise yes

1 hour ago, ziggyuk said:

 

You can get them here for £22.40, take them with you and use them in your hotel room, upload the results for a certificate:

https://www.chronomics.com/britishairways?affiliate=british-airways

 

Note: not suitable for some countries like the US who need a supervised test.

 

EDIT: It's still a brain tickle test but you get to tickle your own brain 😂

Thank you

3 hours ago, Fifi1910 said:

Yes this is what I meant as a home test.
I will order an antigen test to my home and upload the results online and the company will email me a certificate. 
It will save me a two hour round trip to my nearest boots, makes it easier for timing as well as we are staying at Heathrow the night before as we have an early flight.

NCL seem to keep changing their policy on this that’s why I asked them directly. 

 

Thanks for the info. Where do you get this type of test from? I am in UK next week so that would be a better option than the brain tickle tests we get over here

4 hours ago, Trimone said:

Starter goats cheese walnut, main rubber steak with crab dressing, pudding chocolate mousse ? Remember it’s not a dining option anymore it’s an attraction $29.99 each.

The acts are a jumble of good and bad, not in the same league as circus dreams…

I thought it was a dining option, I would never pay $60 for it, I did by accident….

Steak with crab sauce is a bit of an odd mix. I think we will give it a miss

1 hour ago, steamboats said:

As Pompeii is operated by the country of Italy all EU citizens (sorry, Brits) 65 and up or 18 and under should have free entrance...

 

Worked for parts of my family in Herculaneum or the Greek Theater in Taormina as well as the Colosseum in Rome (back in those days my DD was still 18 and under).

 

steamboats

I don't think that still applies to UK citizens now

On 8/15/2021 at 9:41 PM, DanielNL said:

On the NCL website; Zambooka. Is this a new show on the Epic? Or maby just replacement of the Cirque Dreams?

Hi @DanielNL have you been to this show yet? I'm hoping for menu details

In the Vacation Summary where you see the 250 minutes there should be an option to upgrade right there, when are you due to sail, maybe it's too early or are you on Prima so perhaps it hasn't been released yet

1 hour ago, roxette said:

Just off the Epic for the second time.

It is a terrible ship. Good service, Good Good. Bad ship.

 

Didn't mind the cabin, club balcony suite, so that was not issue.

 

Only thing that was not too bad was spice h2O. 

 

I would pick any ship, any line before Epic again. 

 

Have been on pretty much all ships in the NCL fleet. From the Sky to the Bliss. In all continents except Africa. I have loved them all. Except Epic.

 

If this would have been my first cruise, it would have been my last, as well.

 

 

 

I've been on Epic twice so far and am booked again for 26th Sept and the TA in April. She was my first ship so I have a fondness for her. The bathroom arrangement is a bit odd but not a deal breaker. I particularly like O'Sheehans on the Epic for the atmosphere but the only other NCL ship I have been on is the Spirit so there is no comparison.

I am looking forward to going on more of the fleet soon. I am currently Bronze but should be Platinum by May next year if all goes according to plan 

15 minutes ago, washcruise13 said:

In EU.  Masks are mandatory at all times (except when eating or drinking) inside or out.  This includes the spa and thermal suite as well.

 

 

Not in Spain. We wear asks inside unless sitting and actively drinking or eating but outside you only have to wear a mask if you can't socially distance