intrepid_guy

Looks like the ship is out to sea and beginning some sea trials!! Exciting. About 100 days left, give or take! 

~Intrepid

5:41 Eastern. I still have only sea days on my cruise that ports every day.... They have a year and a half to get it straightened out. 

~Intrepid <-- Going somewhere.

On 1/29/2023 at 3:21 PM, poohdreaming said:

How was the food in the MDR? Which restaurants is preferred? MDR, Taste, Savor? And is it a must to make a reservation if there are a lot of cruisers? Thanks. 

I found the food to be mostly decent to quite good in the MDRs overall. The service, however, was hideously bad, especially in the Trop. We ate dinner there 3 times and each time it was a VERY long process, which really sucks with 2 kids.

We never made reservations and never waited. (1/20-2/1)

~Intrepid.

Unless I am missing it, no mention of tendering on the above Daily.... Hopefully, that will be the case when we arrive.

~Intrepid.

Hi all, 

We are sailing out of NYC in mid Jan. This will be our first cruise in several years and what is different is that our daughter has a physical disorder that has worsened over the years. So, we need to bring medical supplies.

We will be taking the train from Baltimore to NYC and anticipate no issue on the train, but I worry about getting from the train station to the pier. We will be 4, two adults and the kids 13 in WC and 8 yo sis that can't offer too much help. We will have luggage for 4 for 12 days... ugh and then supplies for our oldest. Bipap, O2 monitor, 12 days of liquid formula (about 60 cans) IV pole, gravity bags, meds, diapers etc. 

Has anyone had experience in this area? What do you suggest? Should we try to book something in advance? It is only a few blocks, but I am SURE we are going to need above average amount of help. Are there any services ya'll are familiar with that help with HC passengers at the terminals? Any other advice?

Intrepid <-- I'm sure there is more I am not even thinking of yet....

Hi all, 

We are sailing out of NYC in mid Jan. This will be our first cruise in several years and what is different is that our daughter has a physical disorder that has worsened over the years. So, we need to bring medical supplies.

We will be taking the train from Baltimore to NYC and anticipate no issue on the train, but I worry about getting from the train station to the pier. We will be 4, two adults and the kids 13 in WC and 8 yo sis that can't offer too much help. We will have luggage for 4 for 12 days... ugh and then supplies for our oldest. Bipap, O2 monitor, 12 days of liquid formula (about 60 cans) IV pole, gravity bags, meds, diapers etc. 

Has anyone had experience in this area? What do you suggest? Should we try to book something in advance? It is only a few blocks, but I am SURE we are going to need above average amount of help. Are there any services ya'll are familiar with that help with HC passengers at the terminals? Any other advice?

Intrepid <-- I'm sure there is more I am not even thinking of yet....

60 days. Getaway NYC --> Southern Caribbean

Enjoying the info on Bliss, we are going on her for the first time this November. Keep up the good info. (Also, disappointed about "Six")

~Intrepid

 

"Norwegian Gem will undergo redecoration of all Penthouse Suites and Horizon and Observation lounges. It will also get custom-crafted furnishings, wall coverings, original artworks, new lighting and new carpets. New furniture will also be added to Deck 11 relaxation area and Deck 12."

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=521

 

So now back to planning which cruise to book! ;)

I believe this info is actually about the Jewel. It is scheduled for drydock in SF.

~Intrepid

The festivities begin around 4:30. However, I believe you have to be invited.

~Intrepid

Ok... I only said who the CURRENT CD is... sheesh.

As stated, Sinan will be on the Getaway March 1st through at least the April 12th sailing.

~Intrepid.

Julie V is the current CD on Getaway.

~Intrepid

The Beverage Packages cannot be bought in advance, you can only buy them once you are onboard. The prices can be seen in the Gifts and More section. The restaurant package info will be emailed to you if and when it is available to prepurchase.

~Intrepid

Loved the Norway (see my avatar, still!). Sailed her 4 times and had the best cruises I can remember. So sad that she is gone. I bet we would still be sailing on the Blue Lady if she was still in service.

BTW, someone could not remember the name of the ice cream parlor (starboard, forward, International Deck), it was Sven's.

~Intrepid <--Join me for a martini in Club I?

I cant believe this post has been going around for 9 years! Wow.

~Intrepid <-- Still loves Norwegian, tho.

Ron,

My friend. Thanks for the great photos of my fave ship! I hope one day she will come back to the US so I can sail her again.

~Intrepid <-- Dont Needle me, Whixie.

Ah, how I miss the NORWAY. I cruised on her 4 times (as you can see in my signature) and I would probably still cruise on her today if she was around. I love today's ships but there was something about the old NORWAY. This makes me want to go dig out my photos from the 80's

~Intrepid <-- anyone for martinis in Club I?

I used the Freestyle deck on the EPIC last year. It does not specify topless or CO. It is up to the people that go up there. When I used it there were many people that went nude. It was nice but quite windy when at sea!

~Intrepid <-- just a little crispy.

intrepid_guy Cool Cruiser

 

So, regarding the NCL Epic....how do I apply this tip or is it just common sense - no alcohol in your drink the price will be almost half off or at least 30% less. Is it even worth mentioning as a TIP....

 

PS do you think my pal emailed me this tip....with the thought that someone may want to either enjoy virgin drinks or add somehting to their drink...I am unsure...

Not sure why anyone would send you this as a tip... Of course a virgin drink is less expensive than one with alcohol in it, seems to be common sense. I dont think this needs to be a tip at all.

~Intrepid

A pal emailed me....but now went to bed....and they said..

 

'drinks are expensive, but if you order "virgin" drinks, you get them 1/2 price'.

 

Is that true for the EPIC.......please and thanks.....um.....anyone....

Drinks are not "expensive", they are comparable to most cities I have been too (other than NYC which is WAY more expensive). Most cocktails are in the $5 range. Margaritas and daiquiris are about the same as any Don Pablo's, Chili's etc. Martini's are similar to bar prices... average $10, some more some less. Beer runs just about $5

~Intrepid <-- Where everybody knows your name.

Medtech2...or anyone..

Does anyone know exactly how much alcohol you are allowed to buy and bring off the ship at the end of the cruise?? I have gotten conflicting info and cannot seem to find the correct answer online anywhere:confused:

 

Thanks!!

It depends on your destination. Western is very limited, 1 bottle per person I believe. Eastern has different rules. I believe the best is St Thomas, they allow the most booze from there. You can surely find out from Guest Services when you board.

~Intrepid <-- Mix master!

Okay, so I'm reading this and since I love the Churrascaria and it doesn't sound like the ones I'm familiar with. Do they not walk around with the meat on swords and cut off pieces. Somone mentioned they start out with chicken, sausage, ribs. Do not serveral waiters wander around the room with various stuff all the time? If I have a plate of stuff and the lamb guy walks by I might not want that at that moment, but I'd like the opportunity to have him come by again at some point in the evening.

You have a single waiter for your table, this waiter is also your pasador. Your server will bring around the meats to you. They will also bring back your favorites! Our server (Wanda) was a naughty girl and kept tempting me with the Garlic Beef... to the tune of 5 pieces.

~Intrepid <-- garlic breath

Cirque show: Go the washroom before you watch the show , they do NOT let anyone leave for the whole 2 hours.

 

This can't be true??

Well... true, they cannot ask you not to get up and go to the bathroom. However, they do ask you to stay seated. Reason: There are performers everywhere often moving quickly, making entrances and exits. For your safety and for theirs too, you should not get up unless very necessary. If you do... be VERY aware of your surroundings so you dont get run over or hurt someone.

~Intrepid <-- numb bum.

Last updated: 8-29-2010, 9-41 AM, Pacific

 

A-Z Complete (if you more tips come in, we will add them)

 

a)Shows: BMG Best time to see Blue Man group without reservations is Saturday night. Lots of open seats and the first two rows is a “splash zone” where they provide ponchos and have plastic seats.

b) Fish and Chips, wings, chicken pot pie, Strawberry pound cake, Apple Crumble or Brownie Sunday very yummy....and milkshakes (extra fee) from O'Sheehans. Best value in beer: Dos Equis Lager draft beer in O’Sheehans. $6.84 (with tax/gratuity) for a 25 (estimated) ounce glass.

c) Pretzel Rolls (some call them pretzel balls also)......and for a cool snack...$5 pizza delivery almost anywhere (except to pool side or the casino tables) for a 16" in 1 of 3 flavours.

d) Fat Cats for major blues (amazing show)

e) Bowling at Bliss (but if it is busy, wait there or you will lose your place)

f) A q u a P a r k (expect long lines during busy times or hot weather)

g) Second City Comedy id great...but the Comedic-Magician is ok but not for kids.

h) Lobster Night Monday served in Taste ad Manhattan Club on Monday (TBA)

i) The pistachio cake and lemon pound cake is very yummy at the Atrium Cafe

j) Try the water slides before they close,. less busy time and the green water slide is the fastest and scariest, but go purple if you want short lines

k) Crique show: Go the washroom before you watch the show , they do NOT let anyone leave for the whole 2 hours. Also, the show is a bit risqué and uses double entendres (for kids) and has lots of gay and sexual references. The food also was considered fairly bland and very average.

l) Take a power strip with you. There's only one outlet with two plugs in standard balcony room

m) The spa has an aft balcony with loungers and two wicker couches. Awesome spot to watch the world go by (but you have to pay to be there)

o) On the last sea day they have a big sale on Epic stuff in the shops on deck15. 2 shirts for $10 are a good deal for gifts - some nice sweatshirts, jackets, hats and other items for 50% off. The main gift shops don’t have sales the last day.

p) In the spa, towels are in the huge wall racks, but there are robes hiding in the little basket by the door.

q) The ship doesn't supply conditioner or bar soap. Bring some if you need it.

r) The cruelest joke is the amazing salad bar at Moderno....and the Garlic beef was awesome.

s) There's an awesome out-of-the-way place for shaded lounging... under the sports deck starboard aft

t) There are at least four places to get a made to order omelet in the Garden Café at breakfast.

u)The public sun decks on 18 are virtually empty, even when the pool is full ( seating for about 100 people up there)

v) Feeling ill, go to the front desk for FREE sea-sick pills.

w) Discovered the fix for the sink splashing.......don't turn the faucet on full blast.

x)Wear your shoes while walking on the decks outside ( I kid you not the deck got so hot that we met a woman who got second degree burns on her feet rug runners have been put down but NOT everywhere.

y) SVEDKA Ice Bar: Wear socks and long pants (it will help keep you more comfortable)

z)If you want any fruit-juices throughout the day or evening for yourself or your children (grab some during the breakfast time only - up until 10:30 am). They will offer, cranberry, orange and apple juice and that is it.

 

Bonus Tips:

-"Secret" aft stairs are aft - on either side at the very back of the Epic. If you look at the deck plan you'll see blank spots there. Here are some aft photos - the stairway has cutouts with side view.

- Pub Crawl Reunion Tour happens 2x in a week: Saturday and Thursday Night. We met in Martlings Bar at 9 pm. It was $25 per person. We visited 5 bars in 55 minutes. We had 4 large shots. I would say like a double shot size. We also had one whole beer along the way from one of the games and then more beer during the flip cups game, and we finished with a full-size Bahama Mama.

- Note that the cabin telephone is very bright. It’s like a giant cell phone that is constantly on. On the upper right of the screen there is a light bulb, touch the bulb and the phone goes to sleep

- If you so desire a super-snack – try ordering ‘the home-made potatoes chips with blue cheese crumble’ trough room service.

- For patrons new to NCL ones or who may not be a Latitudes members yet –for a FEE they offer a private behind the scenes tour. For $55. It was a 2 hour tour that included talks from the entertainment/technical director, head chef, laundry, and other areas. Was very interesting and I really enjoyed it. It gave a new respect for the employees and how they are able to do what they do on such a large scale.

- A simple tip for future cruisers, You don't need to use your key card to keep the lights on. Any card will work. Just put it in the slot by the door.

- To get in contact with people on baord or thereafter: we make business cards to hand out that has our home contact information, cruise itinerary as well as the cabin we are staying in. It is a convenient way to give information to the new friends we meet instead of writing our addresses, emails on a slip of paper that eventually gets lost.

- For you sun-worshipers: brings lots of aloe gel or we also highly recommend a product by Berts Bee's called Aloe & Linden Flower After Sun Soother.

- On the outside where your room number is there is a wheel that you can change between Welcome, Do Not Disturb, Please Make up Room, and Please Turn Down Room. That’s convenient. Your cabin steward won’t even knock if it says not to disturb.

- Crème Brule at Cagney's says Raspberry Crème Brule

- Just it case it pertains to you - you are not being allowed to wear flip-flops in Manhattans dining room, but sandals are ok.

- The carpets on the port side of passenger decks are orange. On the starboard side, the carpets are blue. It took me a few days to notice this, but lights on the elevator buttons and the signage near the elevators are also orange on the port side, and blue on the starboard side. In addition, if you are not sure which was is fore or aft, look at the map of the ship, the front faces front everywhere you are.

- If you’re going to play in the casino even a little, sign up for their casino club. The deals and discounts ($5 off slot/BJ tourneys, for instance) make it well worth your time.

- Alaskan King Crab Legs are cut in half at Cagney's so you don't need to crack them to eat them.

- Take cash with you to Howl at the Moon so you can tip the musician to stop playing an awful song... like your rival college football team fight song. ha ha ha

- No recording or flash photography allowed at shows in the Epic Theater or Spiegel Tent. Take your camera anyways for candid shots before the show begins.

- When you order a drink, they will give you a short glass unless you specify a tall glass, which is only a couple bucks more and you can keep the souvenir cup. You may also order a double, double the price and more then double the booze!

- Impossible to keep up with multiple passengers in staterooms going to different events. Take a dry erase board with a magnet on the back and stick it on your door. Leave messages for your friends & family on the board.

- Regarding getting into shows: you should get to the shows about 30 minutes before it begins in order to get good seats (although the Epic Theater didn’t have a bad seat in the house, the comedy club had some terrible sight lines).

- You can drop off of bags at Headliners - to walk around without bags for a couple of hours.

- Spice H20 was a good “away from people” spot for lunch on embarkation day.

- Sports fan - on the big screen in the Atrium they will show games!

- The water fountain in the gym is small and warm because they want you to buy water. Take your water bottle to the buffet, and fill it with cold water before you hit the gym.

- NCL's White Hot Party was at Spice H2O ... Sunday night, starting at 10:15 pm.

- Like to bowl, it is at BLISS - Bowling is $5 per person per game.

- It's never too late unless you have left the restaurant. You can order as many appys and deserts as you like in the specialty restaurants.

- Studio Lounge Area: We liked the snacks they put in the fridge too. There are also coffee, salads, sandwiches, etc. Depending on the time of day. We never did see a bartender though, which is depicted in the brochures. Also, anyone can get in. There is not even a slot to swipe your card, so I am not sure why NCL talks about the exclusive key card access so much. They never even bothered to install one at all.

- all menus for all restaurants are available for viewing through interactive in cabin TV.

- This ship has the most beautiful gym I have ever seen on any ship. Great state of the art equipment that even charges your I POD while you are exercising.

- Pastries in the Atrium coffee shop are free, coffee is free, but specialty coffees cost money.

- Murder Mystery Lunch: Not sure this was worth the added cost. I’d probably recommend just going to see multiple showings of Second City shows during the week rather than this lunch.

- The slides are fresh water, and the pool is salt water (pulled and filtered locally). So, if going down the slides and you get some in your mouth - you will be fine.

- They have kiosks set up where you scan your card and it will bring up any pictures assigned to your stateroom. If you do posed pictures you present your cruise card so they know where to assign the pictures, otherwise they use facial recognition.

- When you head off to any of the beaches, it is good to bring some OFF-spray....epically if it has deet.

- Debarkation Day - go for breakfast in the Garden Café before 9 AM as it is scheduled to close by then (it will be crowded). Everyone had to be out of their rooms by 9am and off the ship by 10:15 We were never thrown out of our room. As a matter of fact we overslept until 9.

-If you are heading off the ship, need a ride, best transport is a cab. Since it’s only a 15 minute and $24 flat rate drive to the airport. NCL offers transfers for $20 per person, we walked out of the terminal and directly into a cab. $24 versus what would have been $40 and waiting to fill a shuttle.

- On the last full day of the cruise, when the duty-free liquor store is open in the am, they let you take your purchase with you (rather than waiting until the evening to pick it up). This helps make reading the final cruise bill a little easier (and less expensive)!

- NCL has gotten really cheap with certain things. They were very protective over pens and paper. None are provided in the stateroom, so bring a pad-pen yourself.

- The slides are a lot of fun. I waited until the port days to use them since we weren’t getting off the ship anyway. I would recommend doing the same. Even if you’re getting off the ship, maybe before you leave or right after you return, try the slides. The green and purple slides never had more than a 2 minute wait, and the most the orange plunge slide had was about 7-8 minutes, when compared to a wait well over 30 minutes on a sea day.

- For othe games...air hockey was $1.00 and pool was $1.50. You just swiped your card.

- Buffet was well laid out and had a good variety, BUT, was the same every day and by the end I was rather tired of it. Often VERY crowded and hard to find seats. I had read that crew members would direct you to open seats but I never saw this. For a treat (maybe dinner) or for real gourmet dining plan to visit the pay restaurants, but then you will have the best dining experience at sea.I did not find the buffet was "the same every day" simply not true, I could not find something I loved ever again at the buffet. There was always some similar items but usually with different meats or ingredients.

Just a few of my observations.

~Intrepid <-- full review coming.

A-Z Complete (if you more tips come in, we will add them)

- NCL has gotten really cheap with certain things. They were very protective over pens and paper. None are provided in the stateroom, so bring a pad-pen yourself.

Not so! I had a pen and a pad in my room. The pen was stuck inside the room service menu.

~Intrepid <--- forgot to steal the pen!!!!:mad: