Donh44 Posted May 13, 2010 #1 Share Posted May 13, 2010 This is my first NCL cruise. Other ships that I have been on had buffet lunch going on the Lido deck all afternoon before sailaway. Will there be anything like this on EPIC? I am going to be pretty hungry after travelling from early am to get to the port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
time2cruise1 Posted May 14, 2010 #2 Share Posted May 14, 2010 This is my first NCL cruise. Other ships that I have been on had buffet lunch going on the Lido deck all afternoon before sailaway. Will there be anything like this on EPIC? I am going to be pretty hungry after travelling from early am to get to the port. Garden Café (Buffet) will be open. O'Shehans and one main dining room should be as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptData Posted May 14, 2010 #3 Share Posted May 14, 2010 And if you are in a suite the Epic Grill should be open too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donh44 Posted May 14, 2010 Author #4 Share Posted May 14, 2010 Not in a suite here. I will be staying in one of the "single studios". Thanks for the info. Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mafig Posted May 15, 2010 #5 Share Posted May 15, 2010 It's always nice when you have the option of going to a restaurant instead of the buffet. That first day can be a madhouse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregoryTribe83 Posted May 19, 2010 #6 Share Posted May 19, 2010 On a related note, what time do you think we'll be able to get onto the Epic? What is the earliest time to embark? What is the best time to embark with the least amount of crowds? On my 1st cruise last year, I was told that the later you check in the easier it would be. I arrived at the gate in Ft. Lauderdale around 2:30 PM and it took me about an hour to wait in line, check in and embark. :mad: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ERLEC Posted May 20, 2010 #7 Share Posted May 20, 2010 I don't know for NCL, I have not tried them yet (maybe in December on the Epic) but I did two Carnival cruises and I arrived in port around 11:30 ish. It normally took me between 45 minutes to 1h to get on the ship and sit in the buffet for a lunch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cymberle Posted May 20, 2010 #8 Share Posted May 20, 2010 On a related note, what time do you think we'll be able to get onto the Epic? What is the earliest time to embark? What is the best time to embark with the least amount of crowds? On my 1st cruise last year, I was told that the later you check in the easier it would be. I arrived at the gate in Ft. Lauderdale around 2:30 PM and it took me about an hour to wait in line, check in and embark. :mad: My edocs state that check in begins at noon. It also asks that passengers arrive no more than 1 hour prior to this. I like to get on the ship as soon as possible. Just bear in mind that the rooms may not be ready. If they don't have a place to store carry-ons you'll have to schlep it around the ship. When I was on the Pearl the rooms weren't ready until 2pm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intrepid_guy Posted May 20, 2010 #9 Share Posted May 20, 2010 I never arrive late in the embarkation process... I usually cannot wait to get aboard. However, with Freestyle Debarkation, departing guests can stay in their rooms until they debark the ship (up to say 10:30 or 11) so of course rooms will not be available. Usually, I arrive early, bout 11, get on board ASAP and then go find food and try to tour the ship (get my bearings). It seems that the later you arrive to the port, the bigger the crush of people boarding. I will be in Miami 3 days before the cruise, plenty of time to wait in line :D ~Intrepid <-- early bird Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickinNYC Posted May 20, 2010 #10 Share Posted May 20, 2010 We're the same. Too excited to dilly dally so we usually get to the dock around 11am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregoryTribe83 Posted May 20, 2010 #11 Share Posted May 20, 2010 Thanks for the info ERLEC, cymberle, intrepid-guy and RickinNYC. I will plan to get in line around 11 AM or 11:30AM on Embarkation day. I'd really like to take advantage of some of the amenities on the day we sail and get oriented with the ship. It would be nice to get lunch immediately upon boarding - then having many adult beverages! Or, I suppose my first order of business upon boarding should be the adult beverage - then lunch...:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
time2cruise1 Posted May 20, 2010 #12 Share Posted May 20, 2010 I aways get to the pier before 11:00. I would rather wait comfortably in a chair after a quick checkin then stand in a long line. With 4000+ passengers and their baggage to get off the ship it will be interesting how long after the ship docks they can start boarding. As a point of reference here are a couple of pictures from the pier in NYC with both the Spirit and Crown docked and sharing one pier and the Dawn one pier over. The first picture out front around 11:00 the second just after 12:00. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmwells Posted May 20, 2010 #13 Share Posted May 20, 2010 Not in a suite here. I will be staying in one of the "single studios". Thanks for the info. Donn hey donn me too, i hope they're as nice as they look Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregoryTribe83 Posted May 21, 2010 #14 Share Posted May 21, 2010 timetocruise1, thank you for the photo. I think that is a terrific illustration... Do all of the Norwegian Cruise Lines start their embarkation process at 12 noon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donh44 Posted May 23, 2010 Author #15 Share Posted May 23, 2010 hey donn me too, i hope they're as nice as they look When are you sailing? I will be on the cruise for 10/23/10. Looking forward to it. Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregoryTribe83 Posted May 24, 2010 #16 Share Posted May 24, 2010 Donn59: I'm one week after you... Doing the Eastern Caribbean on November 6th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEACRUISER Posted May 25, 2010 #17 Share Posted May 25, 2010 I agree with arriving early. Even if you do have to wait you have a room full of excited people around you. I found that when I arrive on the early side my bags are also at my room quicker. Last year I arrived later and got a tad nervous about my bags. It is nice to get to roam the ship a bit in the common areas. You can always go by the pool and relax. They usually have a sail away BBQ too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bgem75 Posted May 26, 2010 #18 Share Posted May 26, 2010 My DH and I have gotten to the piers early and late....WE prefer EARLY so we can get on and relax, we don't care if our room is ready yet or not. Most people are still flying in when we are on embarking the ship. We also fly in the day before now. It takes all the craziness out of the day. Our last cruise (carnival) we arrived at the port at 11:10 and were eating on the ship by 11:45. It was the fastest we had EVER gotten on a ship. Usually it has taken us about 45 mins to an hour except for the one we got there later...that one took us 2 hours.:eek: And our last cruise we could not go to our rooms until 1:30 and when we arrived most of our luggage was already at the door..IT WAS GREAT!! So get there early, get a bite to eat and a great big drink...YOUR ON VACATION!!! LETS PARTY!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GigCrusier Posted May 26, 2010 #19 Share Posted May 26, 2010 After reading all the posts here, it appears the early arrival is best. I am now thinking about swimming out into the middle of the shipping lane and waiving my E-Ticket and passport. Do you think they might stop and pick me up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptData Posted May 26, 2010 #20 Share Posted May 26, 2010 Donn the Living Room area of the Studios is suppose to have some things to eat so you may not have to go far. Wait for Jun 10 people to report back. They have several members in Studio Room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erdoran Posted May 26, 2010 #21 Share Posted May 26, 2010 Ummm....it's June 24 and I'm going to be one of those studio people!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donh44 Posted June 3, 2010 Author #22 Share Posted June 3, 2010 Donn the Living Room area of the Studios is suppose to have some things to eat so you may not have to go far. Wait for Jun 10 people to report back. They have several members in Studio Room. Thank you so much - looking forward to their comments. GOSH!! June 10, only 8 more days for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erdoran Posted June 3, 2010 #23 Share Posted June 3, 2010 it is still June 24 for TA, June 21 for Rotterdam to southampton--what's this June 10 stuff? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukbecky Posted June 3, 2010 #24 Share Posted June 3, 2010 So.. If, according to yesterday's webcast, the Manhattan diningroom will not be open for lunch, What is anyone's best guess on where we can go for a sit-down lunch on embarkation day? Taste is the other 'included' diningroom but in the Atrium - busy enough on embarkation day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Granite Lady Posted June 4, 2010 #25 Share Posted June 4, 2010 We're the same. Too excited to dilly dally so we usually get to the dock around 11am. Hey Rick I'm Makmom from the Dis... someone else has my Dis name on here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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