ChuckL

Thank you for this info. Nice to know that they will provide an extension cord. This brings up another question. Will this be an additional charge and show up on the bill at the end of the cruise? I can see this as an extra charge but don't want to be under the impression that it is included.

 

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It has always been available without a charge in the past.

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Great news from both of you about JB on-time performance. If the schedule remains the same, we'll be taking a very early flight to Fort Lauderdale and returning on a late flight to Detroit. Those are currently the only nonstop flights offered by JB. Now it's just playing the waiting game for the dates for our seats to open up.

I saw a post of the Luggage Valet signup sheet for Celebrity on another thread which I cannot immediately find. It only covered several airlines. However I believe departure times from FLL were as late as 11:59 pm. Can’t recall the earliest, but the service was $25/person plus any baggage charges you would have. They would also provide you with your boarding passes and this would all get charged to your room account. Signup had to be completed several days prior to debarkation.

We will have a flight departure around 8 pm, so we will definitely be using this as we have in the past. Best to call Celebrity for further info on airlines and departure times it is available for. They also offer it for Fort Lauderdale arrivals departing from MIA, but with different scheduling times and airlines participating.

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Not sure how easy it would be. Had an NCL cruise that I had transferred to them as my TA, and then cancelled the other day in favor of a cruise on the Reflection. They were very efficient in both accepting the transfer and doing the cancellation. They were able to get through to NCL very quickly. You sure can’t beat their incentives for booking with them!

I replaced my cancelled booking online to Celebrity myself. Thought I could book the cabin I wanted directly online with the store but that cabin type wasn’t in their inventory being offered.

I’ve got about 55 days to decide if I’m going to transfer this booking to them, but I might be prohibited from doing so because I had a Celebrity vacation planner reach out and contact me after I made the online booking. She worked further on my booking to reduce my price points. She has been great to work with and very knowledgeable. Working with her probably counts as a transfer to her as my travel agent, which you can only do once. Anyone know if this is true when the TA is from Celebrity?

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Ashland,

When I looked at Fort Lauderdale on the Hyatt website, it looked like there were three locations near the cruiseport. There were two Hyatt Places and one Hyatt House directly across across the street from one of the Hyatt Places. It also looked like only the Hyatt House offered the evening reception, but only on M-Th evenings. Please clarify which of the locations you stayed at. Thanks.

We'll be flying out of Detroit, so we can fly either Delta or Jet Blue nonstop to Fort Lauderdale. At over six feet tall, I would definitely appreciate more legroom, and am debating Delta's Premium Economy (which costs more) to either standard seating on Jet Blue (A320 jet) or the extra space seats (which I understand are around $40 each way from Detroit). I'm definitely leaning towards Jet Blue, but I have a couple of concerns with them:

1) I've read multiple reviews on them that indicate their on time performance can turn into horror stories, such as 7 hour delays into FLL.

2) Since they are an independent airline and are not partners with any other airlines, if they cancel a flight for maintenance issues, there is no recourse other than what they have to offer you or scurrying around the airport to find and purchase another airline's flight.

3) Although the other airlines are already selling tickets for that time period, a Jet Blue representative told me that they just opened up February's reservations yesterday, and that I would have to wait about three months before I could purchase March 31-April 12 tickets. Do they always open up their ticket sales so late compared to other airlines?

Please comment on whether you have had any of these negative experiences, or whether we shouldn't be concerned. We do always fly in the day ahead of our cruise, so that relieves some of the anxiety.

I'm know it's been asked before, but I apologize for not going through 1300+ pages of threads or receiving dated information on these hotels by doing a search. We'll be taking a cruise in April 2019 that departs on a Monday afternoon, and we will be coming in early on Sunday. I would like to hear from other recent cruisers as to what their experiences have been in either of the two hotels. More specifically:

• Were the rooms outdated and in need of updating/repairs?
  
• Were other restaurants, stores and attractions within walking distance from the hotel, and if so, do you have any recommendations for any of those categories?
  
• How was the breakfast in the hotel (I know that Embassy Suites has an included cook-to-order breakfast along with it's buffet)?
  
• Were you able to check-in early, and if not, was the hotel able to store your luggage until your room was ready?
  
• If you had to wait for check in, were you able to use the hotel pool while you waited?
  
• How did you get to the cruise port? Did you use shuttle service available from the hotel, or use some other means of transportation? How was your experience in getting to the port?
  
• ANY other positive or negative comments on the hotels would be appreciated.
  

Thank you all for your feedback!

I have the 3 dinner dining package already included in the NCL cruise booking that I purchased. Does anyone know if that could be upgraded to 5 nights?

Also, I’ve heard that some of the ships have a Chef’s Table. I assume that wouldn’t be included in the package, but does anyone know if it is available on the Epic, and if so, how I would book that and at what approximate price/person.

Le Bistro - Because the room is kind of dark with candle lit up in the evening. It look more romantic for a dinner compared to Cagney's.

It looks like the jury has come up with a unanimous decision of Le Bistro, so that’s where we’ll be. (That was the direction I was leaning towards before I asked. ) [emoji457]

Now that I have that information, I would like opinions on which you would be more likely to choose to celebrate a 38th wedding anniversary at and why; Le Bistro or Cagney’s? We enjoy both types of food offered at these restaurants, so I guess I’m looking at which would be the most “special”. I’d appreciate all the input I can get. Thanks!

What is the standard tip that is customary to give the driver if warranted?

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Fabba (80's dance party) You might have a White Hot Party or a Glow Party those are the general themes.

What are the White Hot Party and Glow Party?

I’ve heard that there are theme parties on the Epic at Spice H20. What are the parties and when (and after which port days) are they held on the Western Mediterranean Cruise?

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Locker Rooms: There are small saunas and steamrooms. Showers. Changing areas. Depending on the cruise, there is a potential for lots of jiggly bits hanging out in the locker room facilities. No plunges.

 

There are larger saunas ans steamrooms in the coed section. The saunas have large picture windows (absent in the Breakaway and Getaway). Large hydrotherapy pool. Separate relaxation room away from the noise of rushing water and humidity. Small outside balcony.

 

The Epic has the best Thermal Suite in the fleet.

What about using the thermal room in July? Is it still going to be enjoyable, or too hot? How hot is the hydrotherapy pool?

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I’ll be originating and returning to Barcelona on a round trip Western Med cruise to all EU countries.As a US citizen, will there be Customs to clear before departing from the cruise terminal?

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I’ve read in other threads that many consider the Thermal Suite on the Epic to be one of the best in the NCL fleet. However, I’m still not clear on what facilities are in the coed areas of the spa and what facilities are in the locker rooms. Are steam and sauna available in both? I’ve also seen mention of a Plunge Pool in one of the other ship’s locker rooms. Are these also in the Epic’s locker rooms?

I’m trying to decide if we should

pre-purchase passes for a July cruise. Although port intensive, we will probably pick and choose which ports we will take all day shore excursions versus partial days or just a day relaxing on an uncrowded ship.

All help and suggestions would be appreciated!

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Does the Epic also have the VIBE? We’ll be sailing on her on July 2019 out of Barcelona and it would be great to gain entry into the area. We’ll be celebrating our 37th anniversary on this cruise and sailed on the SS Norway for our honeymoon. That was a great ship!

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SDP FAQ (answers many questions)

 

There are a few other tidbits of info if you have any other questions.

The FAQ mentions an additional entree charge for Cagney’s and Le Bistro. Does this only apply if someone were to order more than one entree? That’s what confused me initially.

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I just noticed that some of the specialty restaurants (Cagney’s, Moderno) have changed from a fixed price per person to a la carte pricing. Can the package plan still be used in those restaurants? I didn’t notice an exclusion or surcharge listed for them under Terms and Conditions. My question is for the Epic, but probably pertains fleet wide.

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I haven't been on the boards for a while, until, today. Chuck and Shirley I am so glad you found me. It is so nice to hear from someone from a past cruise. Thanks for all of the nice things you said and for your sympathies. Hope you are both well. I am reminded that you are from Michigan. Our church is sponsoring a trip to Macinak Island, this summer and I was thinking about that. What do you think? Again, it was so nice to hear from you, Madmarti:)

We think you will love taking a trip to Mackinac (pronounced Mackinaw) Island. It is very scenic and you will enjoy the trip through northern Michigan to get there. There is no automobile traffic on the island, so you either walk, take a horse and carriage or bicycle around. Will you be staying on the island? Be sure to see the Grand Hotel and have some delicious fudge too. (There are fudge shops everywhere with tons of flavors.)

Hope you are doing well and also decide to take that solo cruise. We wish you the best. (You do have to take the ferry to the island, so that can be your first cruise :D )

Yes, Andrew, it is good to hear about a solo cruise from another perspective. I was recently widowed in Nov. 2012. I surprised myself even thinking about going on a cruise by myself. Do's and don'ts keep popping into my head, so of course I can't make a decision. As much as I feel the need to get away, I can't get myself to go ahead with it. Madmarti:eek:

Madmarti---

First, our heartfelt sympathies go out to you. We have such fond memories of meeting up with you and Hank at the Meet and Mingle after many months of discussions on the roll call for our 2011 cruise aboard the Allure. You are definitely a people person and got along well with everyone. Go ahead and make that decision to take another cruise and give yourself the opportunity to make new friendships. You really deserve it! Participating in another roll call will be a fresh start in making new friends before you cruise -- but you certainly know that well. Our thoughts and best wishes will be with you.

I believe it is every night, or every night but the first night. You used to have to email them to make reservations, but it is my understanding that it is now one of the options that come up on the specialty restaurant listings online and it can now be booked online. I'm not sure about that, as I haven't personally done it, but that's what has been expressed on these boards. If so, it should be similar to the other reservations which open 60-90 days before sailing.

 

There is only one seating per evening and it starts at 7:30. You gather in the Library starting after 7 PM. I believe we were done close to 10 PM.

 

Have a wonderful cruise!

Reservations for Chef's Table are made (and prepaid) like all other specialty restaurants. We made ours a couple weeks ago.

I believe it is every night, or every night but the first night. You used to have to email them to make reservations, but it is my understanding that it is now one of the options that come up on the specialty restaurant listings online and it can now be booked online. I'm not sure about that, as I haven't personally done it, but that's what has been expressed on these boards. If so, it should be similar to the other reservations which open 60-90 days before sailing.

 

There is only one seating per evening and it starts at 7:30. You gather in the Library starting after 7 PM. I believe we were done close to 10 PM.

 

Have a wonderful cruise!

Reservations for Chef's Table are made (and prepaid) like all other specialty restaurants. We made ours a couple weeks ago.

After spending the day in Nassau and dinner on our ship, we would like to go to the Atlantis Casino later in the evening. Do the slots accept bills, and if so, are US dollars accepted? If Bahamian dollars are needed, can we convert money at the casino, and should it be cash or do they accept US travellers checks? Also, should we win (ha-ha), can the winnings be paid back in US dollars? Will cabs be readily available at all hours to take us back to the pier? Is it safe to take a cab at night back to the pier? Your experience at the casino would also be most appreciated. Thanks!