EPIC MIA 2 terminals - 2 lines? POSH passes

[BendORcruiser]

It am on the Epic in a few weeks. It is quite important to me to get Posh passes, so I plan to arrive at the port early in order to be in group 1. But I just recently became aware that there are two boarding terminals (from a scathing review posted here.)

 

Does that mean that there will be TWO boarding group 1's, one for each terminal? What if they start boarding the one terminal slightly before the other? As people have noted, the Posh passes can be gone in minutes.

 

Anyone had experience with that in Miami?

 

 

(And yes, I am OCD. Get over it or don't respond please.)

[Demonyte]

Yes, there can be two groups entering the ship through two different doors (one in casino, another one close to Epic Theatre).

 

Nothing you can do about it except to make your way to Guest Services as soon as you can and hope for the best.

 

Also, suite passengers and casino VIPs board before regular passengers anyway - since on Epic suite passengers get access anyway they aren't that much of a threat to your plans.

 

P.S. MIA is the airport, POM is the Port of Miami. ;) (I'm pretty OCD too.)

Edited March 17, 2015 by Demonyte

[TifffanyD]

FYI not only are there 2 terminals but when we were there they were boarding the groups in pairs (1&2 then 3&4, etc). We were group 7 and I positioned myself so we were at the very front when they called 7&8.

 

Also, if they say they are full on passes HANG AROUND because originally they had 20 and I was 18th and then they decided to bump it to 25. Folks had gotten turned away and then new people wandered up and got them instead.

[detroitlions]

It am on the Epic in a few weeks. It is quite important to me to get Posh passes, so I plan to arrive at the port early in order to be in group 1. But I just recently became aware that there are two boarding terminals (from a scathing review posted here.)

 

Does that mean that there will be TWO boarding group 1's, one for each terminal? What if they start boarding the one terminal slightly before the other? As people have noted, the Posh passes can be gone in minutes.

 

Anyone had experience with that in Miami?

 

 

(And yes, I am OCD. Get over it or don't respond please.)

I would just cancel my cruise there is double the risk of you not getting your posh pass. I hope you fly in the day before the POM is crowded at 9am during spring break.

[BendORcruiser]

Also, if they say they are full on passes HANG AROUND because originally they had 20 and I was 18th and then they decided to bump it to 25. Folks had gotten turned away and then new people wandered up and got them instead.

 

Great tip! Thanks!

[BendORcruiser]

Yes, there can be two groups entering the ship through two different doors (one in casino, another one close to Epic Theatre).

 

I'm in Terminal B. Does anyone know if that is the casino entrance or or the Theater entrance?

[bluesea777]

I'm in Terminal B. Does anyone know if that is the casino entrance or or the Theater entrance?

 

It depends on the direction the ship is facing. If she faces toward the sea (this happens most of the time), then you'll enter forward - the Theatre - just go down the stairs as you enter to deck 5.

 

If the ship faces toward Miami (the turnaround basin) you'll enter via casino - go left to the escalators to deck 5.

 

Reason for 2 terminals is the volume of pax. Alternate decks use Terminal B and others use Terminal C.

[BendORcruiser]

It depends on the direction the ship is facing. If she faces toward the sea (this happens most of the time), then you'll enter forward - the Theatre - just go down the stairs as you enter to deck 5.

 

If the ship faces toward Miami (the turnaround basin) you'll enter via casino - go left to the escalators to deck 5.

 

Reason for 2 terminals is the volume of pax. Alternate decks use Terminal B and others use Terminal C.

 

Thank you so much!

[Ilovesailing]

It am on the Epic in a few weeks. It is quite important to me to get Posh passes, so I plan to arrive at the port early in order to be in group 1. But I just recently became aware that there are two boarding terminals (from a scathing review posted here.)

 

Does that mean that there will be TWO boarding group 1's, one for each terminal? What if they start boarding the one terminal slightly before the other? As people have noted, the Posh passes can be gone in minutes.

 

Anyone had experience with that in Miami?

 

 

(And yes, I am OCD. Get over it or don't respond please.)

 

 

Unfortunately It's is quite important to dozens of others to for the Posh passes. Just go with the flow.

[BendORcruiser]

Unfortunately It's is quite important to dozens of others to for the Posh passes. Just go with the flow.

 

I agree. But the passes definitely won't go to those who are unaware or unprepared. :cool:

[Dutchie13]

We were on the Epic March 1st and I did not notice 2 boarding terminals. We were all just shown to the same terminal.

 

We were in boarding group 16 so I did not expect to get Posh passes and we did not even go to Guest services straight away when we boarded (around 11:45AM). However when we passed the guest services desk at around noon I decided to ask anyway.

 

They were just selling the 20th pass, but they decided to sell 2 more to us and 2 more to the couple behind us. So 24 passes in total. Always worth a try even if you are not in the first boarding group!

Good luck! :-)

[bluesea777]

Thank you so much!

 

By the way, when you see the ship, Terminal B is at right. There is no Terminal A, so Terminal B is the first, and Terminal C is to the left to B.

 

ENJOY!!!

[Diver2014]

Okay, I'm the dummy here. I've been on 6 NCL cruises and just booked for the Escape in December. What's a Posh pass?

[BendORcruiser]

Okay, I'm the dummy here. I've been on 6 NCL cruises and just booked for the Escape in December. What's a Posh pass?

 

Posh is specific to the Epic. On the Escape, it is going to be similar to the (even better) Vibe Beach Club. Limited number of weekly passes sold to an adults only exclusive area with padded lounge chairs, showers, hot tubs, gracious waiters who bring you fruit skewers and "spritz" you with water. All absolutely worth the money (ask around for current pricing.)

[Diver2014]

Posh is specific to the Epic. On the Escape, it is going to be similar to the (even better) Vibe Beach Club. Limited number of weekly passes sold to an adults only exclusive area with padded lounge chairs, showers, hot tubs, gracious waiters who bring you fruit skewers and "spritz" you with water. All absolutely worth the money (ask around for current pricing.)

 

Really? Gosh, I was on the Epic in 2013 and I've never heard of a posh pass.

Good thing I read Cruise Critic! How much are the posh passes? Just curious.

[BendORcruiser]

Really? Gosh, I was on the Epic in 2013 and I've never heard of a posh pass.

Good thing I read Cruise Critic! How much are the posh passes? Just curious.

 

I THINK Posh is $59pp for the week and Vibe is $99. I got Vibe passes on the Breakaway last year, but I reallly can't remember for sure. Plus, it might have changed.

[Diver2014]

I guess my next question is...do I NEED a Posh pass? It sounds like from NCL's website that any adult can use the Vibe Beach Club so I'm guessing the Posh pass is just an extra perk? Or is The Vibe Beach Club reserved for Haven guests? (and Posh pass holders.....) And what does 'OCD' mean?

Edited March 19, 2015 by Diver2014

[Demonyte]

I guess my next question is...do I NEED a Posh pass? It sounds like from NCL's website that any adult can use the Vibe Beach Club so I'm guessing the Posh pass is just an extra perk? And what does 'OCD' mean?

 

There are quite a few misunderstandings in your post. :)

 

1. Posh on Epic is what Vibe is on other, newer megaships - so it's either Posh or Vibe but not both. Older ships before Epic do not have either.

 

2. Like Posh, Vibe is also an extra perk that you need to pay for. Only on Epic Haven passengers (all suites on new megaships are Haven suites) have also access to Posh, it isn't the case with Vibe on other ships.

 

It is your personal choice if you need Posh pass or not - on our Epic cruise we were the first ones in the line after the final cut off so we didn't get the passes, but we managed just fine without access to Posh.

[BendORcruiser]

I guess my next question is...do I NEED a Posh pass? It sounds like from NCL's website that any adult can use the Vibe Beach Club so I'm guessing the Posh pass is just an extra perk? Or is The Vibe Beach Club reserved for Haven guests? (and Posh pass holders.....) And what does 'OCD' mean?

 

You cannot enter either Posh or Vibe without a pass (unless you are a Haven guest.)

 

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (it means I obsess over details. For me, it means I plan and double check EVERY detail of a trip over and over again until I go. I also check Cruise Critic boards every couple of minutes ALL DAY LONG! I can't stop.)

[Demonyte]

You cannot enter either Posh or Vibe without a pass (unless you are a Haven guest.)

 

As said few times before, the perk for Haven guests is only on Epic - not on any other ship. :)

[BendORcruiser]

As said few times before, the perk for Haven guests is only on Epic - not on any other ship. :)

 

I guess I just assumed that (for the price paid) Haven guests could go into the Vibe, too.

[Diver2014]

Got it. I do remember 'Posh' on Epic so the Escape will have the Vibe Beach Club. Thanks for all the clarifications but I will admit....I'm just as happy sitting on my own balcony or having a lounge chair anywhere in the shade on the ship.

I am also guilty of OCD when it comes to planning a cruise but I don't like surprises about something I could have done something about. Plus, since I retired last December, it keeps my brain working. :D

[Demonyte]

I guess I just assumed that (for the price paid) Haven guests could go into the Vibe, too.

 

On Breakaway class ships the Haven sundeck is only a separator wall away from the Vibe and they do have attentive drink/snack servers on the Haven side too - in my personal experience there was absolutely no need for Vibe when one already had access to Haven.

 

Of course kids are allowed to Haven unlike to Vibe, but at least on our cruise (April 2014) the few kids there stayed downstairs by the tiny pool and the sundeck was really quiet the whole time.

[Demonyte]

I will admit....I'm just as happy sitting on my own balcony or having a lounge chair anywhere in the shade on the ship.

 

Just that you know, the balconies on Breakaway plus class ships are as tiny as on Breakaway class ships, so unless you have a cabin with "large balcony" in it's name, there isn't going to be too much enjoyable sitting at your own balcony - most people can't sit facing the sea because the standard balcony is so narrow in depth.

 

Other than that, I'm sure that one finds a suitable spot if they don't need to get a lounger no more than four feet away from the pool on the pool deck. :D

[BendORcruiser]

Just that you know, the balconies on Breakaway there isn't going to be too much enjoyable sitting at your own balcony - most people can't sit facing the sea because the standard balcony is so narrow in depth

 

Absolutely agree. I am 5'4" and could not sit in the upright chair provided without my knees hitting the glass. I had to sit at an angle in order to fit. (On the Breakaway)

 

Does anyone know if the Epic standard balconies are just as small? Are mini-suite balconies even slightly bigger?