dinek1

Le Bistro is our favorite. Excellent food and service. Never disappointed. We always eat there on all NCL ships. Very consistent!

When we sailed a month ago it was 10am.

Thank you!

Does anyone know latest time you can disembark when returning from the cruise at Port Canaveral? We're having someone pick us up (after cruise) and I want to give her a time we will be outside.

Thank you for help with this.

It will definitely be filled with lots of people. Can be managed as the ship is large. Try to avoid having to use the elevators when you can (use stairs) and the buffet during peak times.

Important to book the shows you want to see as early as possible on the NCL site. If you want to eat at any specialty restaurants, book those, too. That way you get your preferred times.

We were on the Epic earlier earlier this year and will go on it again in January. Enjoyed the entertainment and food was good, too.

I've seen info about parking by port with higher cost than other parking places. Not necessary for us to park by the port unless that's only choice.

We do not need a hotel as it isn't a long drive to get to the area.

Wondering which of the "off port" parking places are reasonable and safe. Another issue is how frequently they run their shuttle to the port. We like to board when they are ready for new passengers so we can have lunch, unpack, and enjoy time on the ship.

Thanks in advance for any info.

Maybe and maybe not. I live in one of those states (Arizona) and the current driver's license does not comply with the Federal Real ID requirements for using it as an ID to fly domestically in the US. The license will need to comply by a certain date in 2016 in order to use it as an ID for domestic flights. The good news is that in April of 2016 Arizona will re-issue your DL so it is complaint with the Fed requirements. My guess is that the other states will probably do something similar. In Arizona it will cost $5.00, however, that will be a lot less than getting a passport if you don't need one. :cool:

NY State has an extension in place until October 2016.

http://dmv.ny.gov/driver-license/about-federal-real-id

Enhanced Drivers License is available for extra money. Most people don't know about the issue with changes with flying domestic and not being able to use their present drivers license. I'll just take my passport.

Ah, thanks for confirming that is the port for Florence. I seemed to remember that from one of our cruises in Italy some years ago.

 

I just found this link about taking the train.

http://www.livornonow.com/travelling_to_florence_by_train_from_livorno

We took a shuttle bus from the ship (can't remember about cost) to train station. You can then go to Florence or some other place.

We took train to Lucca, with connection in Pisa. Gave us time to see the Tower (and take pictures, of course) on our walk to connecting train station. On way back from Lucca, was same station for connection. Made sure we were at train station with plenty of time for going back to port on bus.

Have to keep track of time, but we had a good amount of time in port that day.

117 days plus some hours until the cruise.

Seems so far away but considering that we made the reservation 210 days ago, that's not to bad.

Of course, I'm always looking to plan another trip.:)

We were in a mini-suite on Jade once and didn't really think there was much of a difference from a regular balcony cabin other than the bathtub. Chose it due to location and excellent price for that departure.

Security lines in Orlando airport take a VERY LONG TIME. Then you have to get on the train to the other terminal for the flight. Suggest you take mid-afternoon flight or later just to be safe.

Thanks for the explanations. Much appreciated :)

 

The Haven suites appear to be quite a bit more; about double the cost of a balcony. Is that a fairly typical price difference? Thanks again.

Haven is always expensive. Also have to take into account extra gratuities.

We used to stay in Inside cabins but now usually balcony. Works out fine since we're not in the cabin all the time. We'd rather have money for other activities.

I am looking to book our first NCL cruise on the Breakaway next year. When I look at the Freestyle Choice promo, it says Havens and Suites get all four; balconies and min-suites get one. But when I look for a suite category, all I see is -- Haven, Mini Suite, Balcony etc. There is no "suite category" listed. Are there just no suites of the Breakaway, or am I doing something wrong, missing something?

 

Thanks in advance for your help. :)

Mini-suites are not considered "suites."

On the Breakaway, Haven has a variety of cabins, some indicate they are suites.

On some other ships, there are Penthouse Suites.

If I commit to a private tour, I go or expect to pay my share unless I find someone to take my place.

I don't set up any tours that require payment before the cruise.

I believe for the most part people are honest, its only in very rare cases when such a thing happens. I've never ever had this kind of experience in over 10 years of cruising,

 

Yes, they did show up and pay at the end of the tour, but what would I have done if they didn't? Haven't the vaguest idea:D

 

We live and learn, but despite this incident I still trust in people's basic honesty:)

If it's a tour with total amount to be paid, then probably good idea to collect money before the tour begins and then organizer can pay the guide with the money. I've been on some private tours where there's a set amount per person to be paid directly to guide. Tips, of course, are up to the individual.

I also trust people's honesty. Hope that doesn't change.

Thanks for reading along with me! :)

 

We were on Deck 12, mid ship. It was a bit of a walk from either of the elevators, but not a problem, as it gave us some exercise! ;)

No matter where we have our cabin, always do a lot of walking while on the ship. Use the stairs a lot, especially if going to a lower deck.

Enjoying your review. We'll be taking our first Epic cruise in January, also from Barcelona. Different itinerary, but we have been to some of the ports from your trip.

Looking forward to reading more about your ship experience. We also have a balcony cabin for the cruise. What deck were you on?

Thank you for taking the time to post.

Something very similar happened to me earlier this month on our British Isles cruise. We had an overnight in Dublin and I had put together tours for both days for a small group of seven. One couple had signed on to do both days, then at 10pm on Day 1 called me to say they couldn't join us on Day 2! The lady sounded quite surprised when I said they'd committed to pay irrespective of whether they came on the tour or not. I pointed out telling them it was the honor system when we first booked the tours six months out and that it wasn't fair to the others to have to chip in for them. Also where would I find someone else to take their spots that late at night?

 

Anyway, the lady wasn't happy but they did show up the next morning. They sort of acted like I didn't exist but that was okay by me. In my book when you sign up for something you give your word and should stand by it.

 

However, I should say that this is the first time ever such a thing has happened to, I have put together tours many times before in the past and never once had a problem. Last year a family of four who'd signed up for a tour had to cancel their cruise but they emailed me wanting to pay their share. Since we were about 10 days out from our sail date I was able to find someone else to take their spots and that worked out.

 

I like the idea of collecting money at the M&M or soon after embarkation, should do this on future cruises, thanks for the suggestion:)

I think you handled it very well. Interesting that the night before they "couldn't join" the tour but showed up for it when you made it clear they'd have to pay due to commitment and last minute calling.

Fortunately this doesn't happen often.

One point. Important to not do anything at M&M/M&G about private tours. The M&M is a cooperative program with the cruise line. Best to discuss the private tours away from there. I've seen postings on CC about this. We don't want the cruise line to stop having the M&M.

There were a lot of private tours, set up via CC roll call participants, on a cruise I went on that was RT from Rome (Civitavecchia). No one indicated there was any problem with people not paying or issues if someone cancelled.(Many of the tours had a waiting list.) On a tour I set up, we orginally had 4 couples. One woman had to travel alone as her husband couldn't go on the cruise. We tried to get a replacement person but she said she'd pay extra. Everyone on the tour decided to just split the cost evenly. We knew she had to pay extra for her cabin as she was staying in it alone. It really worked out ok. Difference wasn't very much for anyone.

I prefer going on tours that are not via the ship. Sometimes, however, I will take one with the ship if it's my only choice for a place my DH and I want to see and no one has set up something.

Most important, which all of us who set up tours did, is to have emails to keep in touch before the cruise. We also knew the cabin numbers.

Thank you for your feedback.

 

I know it's only cabins on that deck. but I was wondering if, considering the image i posted, once i get out of the cabin i see an elevator right away, or if this cabin is also on the cabins corridor. Do you know what i mean?

 

Looking at the picture it looks like the elevator is RIGHT in front of the cabin door, no wall, no nothing.

Does look like opens in front of elevator, but maybe on the end. Did you call NCL to ask?

Hi guys,

 

I've just seen that I got assigned cabin 9090 on NCL Epic. I can't say I'm surprised as I bought a GTY inside stateroom. According to the deck plans, it seems it's right in front of the elevators.

 

My question to you is:

 

Once I open the door I see the elevators right away? No wall, no nothing?

 

It's not like I plan to stay there for a while, as I'll probably just go sleep there, but no one likes to be in a stateroom where might get too noisy (not very likely during the night).

 

From the image I can't really understand, so I hope anyone can help me. You don't have to know this specific cabin, as this applies to all other cabins next to lifts. I've been trying to look up on Youtube to see how the corridors are like, etc, but so far haven't found anything yet.

 

 

Thanks!

Deck is all cabins so only noise would be when people are waiting for elevator. Probably not many people at once.

Is there a link to this? :D

http://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Norwegian-Cruise-Line-reverses-ban-on-taking-food-to-cabins

The breakfast menu that you hang on your door to pre-order breakfast is no charge up until 10 a.m.

 

The room service charge is per order.

 

Most cabins have coffee makers

 

Harriet

I never had a coffee maker in an inside cabin.

I miss the days when NCL's innovations were actually beneficial to their customers.

The time of Sheehan...

I dont bring a full meal to my cabin. Usually it's something simple like some fruit from breakfast that I can eat in later as a snack, especially after returning from a port.

Issue happens if one person in cabin isn't feeling quite up to going to the buffet. Both my DH and I have brought something simple to cabin for the other person.