Pwrmaster7

The excursions for both islands I want are sold out as I didn't book my cruise until 60 days out (my first cruise). I called NCL and they said they are good about getting people where they want to go on excursions once on board. Has anyone had any experience with this? I am on the Epic April 13th thru 20th if that matters and am interested in Jost Van Dyke while at Tortola and Trunk Bay while at St John. Thank you all very much :)

No just st Thomas and tortola. Yes main pier. Thanks

Going on the epic on 4/13. I have 150 dollar obc, can I use that toward 2 spa passes? Much easier for me to spend 250$ than 400$ lol. Thanks

time to get to Walmart and buy some plastic straws for my cruise next month! lol

I am going to have limited time to shop as our cruise ship is only there from 7-2 and we are doing the trunk bay excursion through ncl. Cananyone name the specific places to shop for the bourbons (blantons you can only get here etc) and rums? I really want to make sure I get some to bring home and wont have much time. 7-2 is such a terrible time as I doubt I can go before hand as no where will be open I am guessing. Thanks all

going to just take the 10 ferry and come back on the 2 barring another excursion showing up or booking one on board. Any recommendations on what to do when getting back from JVD around 230ish? Thanks all

Did you end up doing this on your own? I have the same itinerary and the cruise line excursion is all booked. I may do the same as you with the 10 oclock ferry and 2 back. shame the boat lands at 8 and cant get an earlier one or a later one as they go from 2 to 5 ...sigh. Thanks

Exactly my thoughts. Can't afford a charter or water taxi so that's out. Sigh. 

28 minutes ago, Nola26 said:

Also a bad habit. Lots a recent examples of cruisers being left at ports. 

 

You can be in a lurch if the ferry breaks down or has other issues. Fellow passengers recently had a 25 minute delay in Tortola due to a flat tire on a non NCL excursion. They were returning hours early so they were fine, but I would not suggest trying to "make it" in time with a ferry ride, too many variables and not a lot of options for plan B, C, etc.

 

As a first time cruiser does NCL really not offer anything interesting in Tortola? In St Thomas if you do your own thing consider planning to return pretty early. We have done a taxi to a beach, back for showers and lunch and then walked to skyride and back to ship, working in some shopping too.

 

FYI Coki beach has great snorkeling in St Thomas. I used my own $25 Amazon snorkel set.

 

Generally I book NCL excursions. My experiences have been good and I don't stress about late returns. We returned after all aboard in Nassau last week. I was not worried, actually enjoyed being able to snap a photo of the ship all lit up, usually we are on the ship when it gets dark.

This is ideally what I wanted to do, but the jvd one is sold out I think bc it isn't on the web site. I've tried calling but been on hold forever. Trying again tomorrow. St Thomas I'll probably just do meegans bc it's easy though I really want to do trunk bay. 

This was the plan but I think it's sold out as it isn't appearing on my ncl 

Well that is going to leave me in a lurch then....so far im striking out on both excursions I wanted to do on tortola and st Thomas. Not an ideal way to plan my first cruise lol

Specifically the Epic? I am trying to see if I have enough time to make the ferry back at tortola. They are currently an hour later than est time. The last ferry leaves at 5 their time so if its their time I cant make it. if its est time then its 4 boat time and I can make it lol. Thanks all

Maybe my question wasn't clear enough. I am just wondering if I catch the 5oclock ferry will I have enough time to make my ship if we lave at 6? I am just not sure if departure time is on ship time or on island time as im a total newbie.... Thanks

1 minute ago, mppap said:

Celtic Powerboats, Captain Patrick, it is fabulous.  You are lucky you have 8 hours.  We did the excursion for 5 hours.  Patrick is amazing.  http://www.celticboats.com/  If you don't have enough people you could list it on a roll call to get more so it is affordable. 

Thx MP. Its just my wife and I so we would definitely need more people. Ill steal your idea and see if it works 🙂

I did and posted on the tortola forum page as well. Most everything mentioned is thru the cruise lines and i have no tbeen able to book or talks of using the ferry. 😞

Hi all, as the title states I am trying to find the above excursion. There is not one listed in myNCL for my cruise which is on the epic leaving April 13th. The port times are 8-6. Can anyone lene me some guidance? I looked at the ferry times and the way those work out i would have only a couple hours on the island because they come back to Tortola at 2 or 5pm. Thanks everyone!

Tortola is currently an hour later than eastern standard time. Does ship time run on est time? I am just trying to see if a 5 oclock pm ferry from JVD would give me enough time to get back to the cruise ship if its a 6pm departure time. If anyone has any other suggestions for a day trip I will gladly listen. We are in port 8-6 on the NCL epic and the cruises excursion is sold out already I believe as it is not listed. thanks

7 hours ago, bkrickles1 said:

I pretty much agree with all your saying. 

I also have the Encore booked for Jan. 2020 and I took all the perks, including the free airfare.

Booked a balcony for my wife, daughter and myself and with all the perks, soup to nuts I'm paying $3600.

And like you, the standard drink package works just fine for me and my wife. I'll drink bloody mary's for a couple of hours in the morning with kettle one or even grey goose, if it's included. And does it really matter in a bloody mary?

And then, for the rest of the day, I'm mostly a beer drinker and all the beers that I've ever seen were included in drink package. My wife's go to drink at night is Tito's and lemonade (ewww, I know) and she drinks a lot of soda throughout the day.

We liked getting the bottled water included on rccl, but we did fine on the Escape last July, without it.

As you said, FOR ME is the key. Everyone likes to enjoy their vacations in different ways and with all the choices out there, there's bound to be a fit that makes everyone happy.

I love cruising. I don't pay for the haven or any other exclusive areas on NCL or any other cruise line and I find happiness on all of them. I do a lot of research before my sailings so I typically know the shortcomings of the various ships and plan accordingly. For example, I knew that the Escape had an awfully small pool area before we sailed and studied the forums so I found a very nice area outside of Vibe on deck 19 with a bar, whirlpools and a misting machine. It was a great place to hang out and was still only a 60 second walk to the pool area. Because I knew this ahead of time, I didn't have that "oh no" moment you see on peoples faces when they show up at the pool area at 11am and there's nowhere to sit. I saw that look a bunch on the Escape. LOL.

I also knew exactly what was and wasn't included in the very talked about drink package and my family suffered no surprises.

Years ago, when I first started cruising, extensive research wasn't necessary. Everything was much more fair and balanced.

Now, unfortunately, if you don't do any research you're bound to have a couple of disappointments.

any tips on what I should be prepared for on the Epic? lol 

I have done tons of research, but still want to learn more. Appreciate it

On ‎2‎/‎28‎/‎2019 at 6:05 PM, tumblew467 said:

Somewhere on some review  which I cannot remember who posted this but-----they said Maltings Bar has whiskeys and bourbons included in UBP  that are not included at other bars

I am very interested to know if this is true. I am a huge whiskey guy and that would make me feel much better. Anyone confirm? Thanks!

On ‎2‎/‎25‎/‎2019 at 4:23 PM, Chesneygirl said:

Thank you!

 

We ended up going to St John on our own and went to Trunk Bay. It was so beautiful there!

And for Tortola we did a ship excursion called Escape to Jost Van Dyke and that dropped us off at White Bay aka The Soggy Dollar. 

What time was the ship in port at st Thomas? I am on the epic and we are there from 7-2. Desperately want to do trunk bay but not sure if we have the time.

I just thought I read somewhere that at 15 it was "their discretion" if you could have more and you would be billed at full price. I may have read something older or from another cruise line. Thanks all sorry for the dumb question lol

April 13th on NCL Epic, in port from 7-2. Want to go to trunk bay but NCL has only one excursion listed. Looking for other recommendations or reviews of the NCL listed one "St John Beach Escape and snorkel". Thanks!

Just now, KeithJenner said:

There is no 15 drink limit on NCL.

There isn't? I am so confused lol! I have read so much info maybe I misunderstood. Appreciate the response!

Hi all! If I were to buy drinks at say happy hour would I still have access to 15 included drinks with the UBP? At sea days I could see myself easily reaching the 15 (depending on the strength of their pours. all inclusives are my previous experience and those go down almost too easily). Not saying this will be needed but would like to know just in case. Also any  tips for a newbie in regards to the UBP (or anything else for that matter)? Cannot wait april 13th on the epic. Thanks all!

Cozumel - rent a car and go to the wild side! unreal beaches and coves. Any time I go there that is the one thing I am guaranteed to do.