Epic West Med 10th May 2015

[Cloudyrain]

Just back off the Epic following a week on a roundtrip from Barcelona.

 

I'm going to give a brief review of the different aspects of our trip: no photos/dailies I'm afraid, but any questions I can answer I will try :)

 

I will also try and address a few of the issues raised recently and compare it to the same trip we took 2 years ago.

[Cloudyrain]

Arrival and Embarkation

 

We stayed at the Barcelona Airport Hotel the night before and took their shuttle to the port at 11am on the morning (11e per person) - we didn't pre-book the shuttle, just booked it when we arrived. If anyone is using this hotel, the shuttle from the airport to the hotel is quite regular but not that easy to find in the dark after a long day travelling! When you walk out of Terminal 2 turn right and you will see a run of shelters along the pavement with lots of different mini-buses parked up. Lots of different hotels use this location so sometimes they pull up alongside each other. The food at the hotel is very Spanish, but they do have a separate Room Service menu that has things like Pizza and burgers: the Pizza was lovely and quite a good size, the burger and fries were ok, and the tea was tolerable, but all ok for 33e. They also have a little shop area adjacent to reception with (overpriced) water and crisps etc.

 

We arrived at Port about 11.30 and checked in very quickly (waited all of 2 minutes) via the normal check in desks (there were longer queues at the latitudes desks!) and could have boarded relatively soon after. However, we decided to pop into Barcelona using the Port Shuttle (3e each return from just outside the Terminal building).

[Cloudyrain]

Stateroom

 

We had a GTY Balcony and were allocated Family Stateroom 13256 which happens to be an interconnecting room, and has the bed by the balcony (which worked well for us).

 

Even with the interconnecting door we didn't experience any noise from the neighbours, and although it was slightly aft we didn't get any problems with the vibrations. We also quite liked how easy it was to get to Spice.

 

The TV had the usual selection of channels and the free films being shown were a mix of old and new: Hunger Games Mockingjay Pt 1, Dirty Dancing, Million Dollar Arm, Remember the Titans, Pitch Perfect, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers etc. The paid for films were about $10.

 

The tea was dreadful, one cup was enough to put me off for the week! However, maybe it was circumstance, but I found a new love for the coffee machine, it wasn't the best coffee I have had, but it was fine.

 

Room Service: we didn't order any! There was a note on the menu that the basic breakfast could still be ordered using one of the forms, but wedding have any forms and were not that bothered to get form, but I did see other people had them out so they must exist for those who want them.

 

Smoking: both neighbouring sides smoked in the first half of the week. I used to be a smoker and have a keen nose for it, but it didn't bother me at all, and didn't drift in the room even with the balcony door wide open. In fact I was more negatively affected by idiots leaving their balcony lights on all night meaning we had to sleep with the curtains closed :rolleyes:

 

Cleanliness: Our sheets, towels, and room were well cleaned and well kept. The Room Steward did a good job and I wouldn't say the room overall was immaculate, but it was clean and more than acceptable. There could have been an eyelash or skin cell in a drawer or something but I didn't check and didn't really care :)

 

Bathroom: I've said it before, but i will say it again - it was fine. It didn't matter to us and was 100% acceptable. In fact the curtain was actually useful for when wanted to get changed but didn't want to shut the main curtain and blockout the daylight.

[luv2gonow]

Thanks for the review.... Looking forward to this cruise in July. I board in Rome

Though.

What kind of coffee maker can I just bring my own coffee?

Thanks

Kerri

[smartpeach]

I have a few questions, if you don't mind:

 

1. Did you have to do the lifeboat drill twice? Can you skip it in Barcelona ?

 

2. What day was the $27 laundry special bag?

 

3. Where there food police around? Can you take the food out of the buffet areas?

 

4. What is the latest time can you disembark after the cruise? Do they want you out as fast as possible? Or can you stay as late as 10 or 10:30am?

 

thank you!

 

:)

[alvin18]

I have a few questions, if you don't mind:

 

1. Did you have to do the lifeboat drill twice? Can you skip it in Barcelona ?

 

2. What day was the $27 laundry special bag?

 

3. Where there food police around? Can you take the food out of the buffet areas?

 

4. What is the latest time can you disembark after the cruise? Do they want you out as fast as possible? Or can you stay as late as 10 or 10:30am?

 

thank you!

 

:)

We were on the same itinerary but boarded from Rome instead of Barcelona. For us that boarded from Rome, we did a safety meeting in the Epic theater, no life vests needed, no meetup at the muster station.

**At first I felt kind of put off because after we boarded we didn't get any kind of welcome show or meetings regarding the upcoming excursions, I brought this up to an excursion specialists and she mentioned that when they started they itinerary, they did it but people didnt show up. Find out Barcelona has roughly 3,000 passengers getting on whereas roughly 1,000 join from Rome. I get it, better to cater to the larger group than the smaller group..lol, it's business, I get it.

The laundry service I think was offered to us on our 3rd day of the cruise, they had a second one for the people who joined from Barcelona.

NO food police were around, everything felt like normal compared to my other NCL cruises.

-We were told all passengers had to be off the ship by 9-9:30.

**This was our first visit to Europe and wanted to see everything we could, we ended up taking some of the most expensive excursions but never regretted paying the extra for being able to maximize every stop. Very tiring as we were out pretty much all day. Not much time to enjoy the ship this time as we needed to sleep early due to very early excursions.

Very friendly crew, cleanliness was good all around the ship, very good cruise.

[luvtheships]

Why was there smoking on the balcony?

 

You said first half if the week so I'm assuming they were told to stop after some complaints?

 

I would be very upset if ncl wasn't enforcing this rule

 

Do you gave more detail on the balcony smokers?

 

Thanks

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[eroller]

Why was there smoking on the balcony?

 

You said first half if the week so I'm assuming they were told to stop after some complaints?

 

I would be very upset if ncl wasn't enforcing this rule

 

Do you gave more detail on the balcony smokers?

 

Thanks

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

 

I believe smoking on the balcony is permitted on EPIC in Europe. Just another of those little changes that NCL doesn't communicate.

 

I sailed on the crossing from Miami to Barcelona on the EPIC last month. A bit more than 1/2 through the cruise, the smoking policy as listed on the Freestyle Daily changed, and no longer listed balconies as being restricted. I think enough people complained about the policy changing during the cruise so the Freestyle Daily reverted back to the more restrictive policy a day or two later.

 

Anyway since the ship is catering to a lot of Europeans I think NCL allows smoking on the balcony. Bad move IMO.

[mr bluetoon]

Good to hear people with positive reviews of the Epic, as we are going aboard her next month for the first time (also first time Ncl)

I have a question regards ports, do Ncl lay on a shuttle service to city centres when docked specifically Palma and Livorno? I'm sure I read somewhere, maybe on older reviews, they did for a small charge?

[Tina-Obk]

We were on this Epic cruise last week too.

Regarding the smoking policy: In every Freestyle Daily of our cruise it says on the last page "Smoking of any kind is prohibited in the staterooms and balcony".

So there seem to be no other rules for european cruises.

[Tina-Obk]

Good to hear people with positive reviews of the Epic, as we are going aboard her next month for the first time (also first time Ncl)

I have a question regards ports, do Ncl lay on a shuttle service to city centres when docked specifically Palma and Livorno? I'm sure I read somewhere, maybe on older reviews, they did for a small charge?

 

In Livorno there was a NCL Shuttle to the trainstation for 12$ roundtrip.

Be careful if you want to take a specific train: We waited 35 minutes in the bus before it was full and finally left for the trainstation...

 

A shuttle to the city center of Livorno was provided by another organization but I don't know how much that shuttle was.

 

In Palma there was also a NCL shuttle for 12$ roundtrip.

We used the public bus Nr 1. It was 1,50 Euro single fare to the city center (exit at "Avenguida Argentina"). We could pay directly to the driver. It was much cheaper than the shuttle and the bus left in front of the Cruise Terminal.

[mr bluetoon]

In Livorno there was a NCL Shuttle to the trainstation for 12$ roundtrip.

Be careful if you want to take a specific train: We waited 35 minutes in the bus before it was full and finally left for the trainstation...

 

A shuttle to the city center of Livorno was provided by another organization but I don't know how much that shuttle was.

 

In Palma there was also a NCL shuttle for 12$ roundtrip.

We used the public bus Nr 1. It was 1,50 Euro single fare to the city center (exit at "Avenguida Argentina"). We could pay directly to the driver. It was much cheaper than the shuttle and the bus left in front of the Cruise Terminal.

 

Thank you very much that's exactly what I needed to know:) I take it the returns leave from the drop off points?

[Nataly1982]

Hi,

 

We're taking this cruise on 14th June. This will be our first cruise ever and we are super excited. I would appreciate if you could advise the following:

 

- Which shows are playing in main theatre?

 

- What time did they start embarking & disembarking in Barcelona? We have to catch 10:30 plane on our return.

 

- Do you have to make reservation for Ice Bar?

 

- Where would you suggest to have lunch on first day?

 

- Please can you describe your excursions as I may have more auestions.

 

Many thanks

[Tina-Obk]

In Livorno at the trainstation yes and the Public Bus Stop for the return in Palma was at the opposite side of the street - easy to find :)

Edited May 18, 2015 by Tina-Obk

[Tina-Obk]

Hi,

 

We're taking this cruise on 14th June. This will be our first cruise ever and we are super excited. I would appreciate if you could advise the following:

 

- Which shows are playing in main theatre?

 

- What time did they start embarking & disembarking in Barcelona? We have to catch 10:30 plane on our return.

 

- Do you have to make reservation for Ice Bar?

 

- Where would you suggest to have lunch on first day?

 

- Please can you describe your excursions as I may have more auestions.

 

Many thanks

 

 

I try to answer some of your questions:

 

Burn the Floor and Legends in Concert were played in the Epic Theatre

 

We embarked at 12:30 pm, I guess they started embarkation around noon.

 

Under normal circumstances you should be able to catch your return flight easily.

We docked around 5 am and I guess disembarkation started around 6 am.

The trip to the airport by Taxi takes more or less 30 minutes (not much traffic that early on Sunday mornings in Barcelona)

 

We haven't been to the Ice Bar so I don't know if reservations are needed.

 

We had lunch in Taste (Main Dining Room). I like it there because it is less crowded than the buffet.

 

We didn't take any of the ship excursions. We have been to all of the ports several times before so we did every Port on our own. So I can't help you with that question.

[angelac76]

Hi,

 

We're taking this cruise on 14th June. This will be our first cruise ever and we are super excited. I would appreciate if you could advise the following:

 

- Which shows are playing in main theatre?

 

- What time did they start embarking & disembarking in Barcelona? We have to catch 10:30 plane on our return.

 

- Do you have to make reservation for Ice Bar?

 

- Where would you suggest to have lunch on first day?

 

- Please can you describe your excursions as I may have more auestions.

 

Many thanks

 

My flight was 10.20am and i disembarked just before 7am. I took the NCL bus and was at the airport well before 8am :)

[Cloudyrain]

Thanks for the review.... Looking forward to this cruise in July. I board in Rome

Though.

What kind of coffee maker can I just bring my own coffee?

Thanks

Kerri

 

I'm sure you will have fun :)

 

It's a Mr Coffee style dripper with a hot plate so you can drink your own grounds in filter bags, but for me what was provided was fine - though I'm not picky at all when it comes to coffee :D

[Cloudyrain]

I have a few questions, if you don't mind:

 

1. Did you have to do the lifeboat drill twice? Can you skip it in Barcelona ?

 

2. What day was the $27 laundry special bag?

 

3. Where there food police around? Can you take the food out of the buffet areas?

 

4. What is the latest time can you disembark after the cruise? Do they want you out as fast as possible? Or can you stay as late as 10 or 10:30am?

 

thank you!

 

:)

 

1. You only have to go to muster once, but it must be on the day you arrive (although they do a make-up drill in case people have a problem getting checked in on time). It's the law that it needs to be 24hrs from embarkation, but I think looking at what happened on the Costa Concordia Im happy to do it as soon as possible.

 

2. I think it was about day 4 of our trip.

 

3. I took cookies and fruit from the buffet most days to take to my room, no on stopped me and I didn't get made to walk the plank :D

 

4. The Leaving Leaflet asks you to be put of your room by 8.30 and off the ship by 9.15, but there weren't any klaxons or anything, you just need to make sure you go and get the coloured tags as soon as they are released as the selected times go quickly! Alternatively you can use easy walk off and take your own luggage out.

[Cloudyrain]

Why was there smoking on the balcony?

 

You said first half if the week so I'm assuming they were told to stop after some complaints?

 

I would be very upset if ncl wasn't enforcing this rule

 

Do you gave more detail on the balcony smokers?

 

Thanks

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

I didn't complain about it, it didn't bother me and i only really noticed in the first place because I heard the click of the lighter and saw the "bottle ash tray" on the table. The reason it stopped half way through was that the guests changed - lots of people leave at Rome and we boarded at Barcelona.

 

Both people left the "Do not disturb" signs on (resulting in cards from NCL asking them to let them in!) so they couldn't have known and as I said it didn't cause a problem for me so I can't imagine it did for anyone else either.

[Cloudyrain]

Good to hear people with positive reviews of the Epic, as we are going aboard her next month for the first time (also first time Ncl)

I have a question regards ports, do Ncl lay on a shuttle service to city centres when docked specifically Palma and Livorno? I'm sure I read somewhere, maybe on older reviews, they did for a small charge?

 

In Livorno it's $11 return and for Palma it's $12 return. I can't comment on Livorno as we didn't go into town that day (too tired from Rome!) but you aren't able to walk through the Port so options are limited. With Palma I would suggest walking to the main road and using the public Bus to go to the main town - about 2/3e and they run very regularly.

[Cloudyrain]

Hi,

 

We're taking this cruise on 14th June. This will be our first cruise ever and we are super excited. I would appreciate if you could advise the following:

 

- Which shows are playing in main theatre?

 

- What time did they start embarking & disembarking in Barcelona? We have to catch 10:30 plane on our return.

 

- Do you have to make reservation for Ice Bar?

 

- Where would you suggest to have lunch on first day?

 

- Please can you describe your excursions as I may have more auestions.

 

Many thanks

 

1. The Main theatre had Burn The Floor, Legends (Sting, Gloria Estefan, and Rod Stewart), plus the Epic Showcase. There was also 4 Stations (Il Divo tribute), Comedy Magician, flamenco, and Gypsy Kings tribute in Headliners, and the Beatles most nights!

 

2. You can get off from 6 - just get a coloured tag from reception as soon as they are released if you want a specific time - you will have no problem getting to the airport though, it's 20mins, 38e set fare, and the queue moves quick.

 

3. the ice bar is never fully booked, don't worry!

 

4. O'Sheehans is lovely on embarkation as it's pretty quiet and quick.

 

5. I'm going to do a Port review over the next few days :)

[Cloudyrain]

Food

 

Buffet - we went here on sea day at 12.30 and although it was busy it wasn't bedlam. We got an amazing seat by going downstairs and utilizing the La Cuchina seating and it was very quiet here and actually enjoyable! I also found that sticking to the Starboard side of the buffet it was quieter and less queuing! There were the usual selections of salad, Indian food, burgers, pasta (fresh cooked to order), Pizza (which was actually lovely), and chilli, jacket potatoes, paninis, ice cream (a large scoop selection and soft-self-serve) etc. We went here a few other times and it was fine. We sometimes grabbed snacks from the outside section, which was also fine (but really, if you want a burger go to O'sheehans!). The breakfast was ok, but it's not really our "thing", though I did enjoy the French toast and honey/maple syrup, but I haven't ever had it before so have nothing to compare it too!

 

***Just to confirm: I took food from the buffet to eat in Spice quite a few times, no on stopped me. I also took plates with fruit and cookies etc to my room, no one stopped me. I didn't see one sign or notice saying I couldn't and no one said I couldn't.

 

O'sheehans - we love it here and enjoyed lunch (fish and chips, burgers, chicken wings) but wasn't over enamoured with the breakfast - although other people loved it, I just think it's the sausages and bacon are not what we are used too.

 

Manhattan - we went here every night we enjoyed it that much! The service was good, and the food was generally brill. I actually think that the meat quality has improved since we went last time: the beef/steak/prime rib etc was lovely and extremely tasty. We also fell in love with the Chocolate Volcano! I wasn't too impressed with the starters, but that's because I used to love the Spring Roll and that was only on there once :eek: We went at a variety of times during the service and always got a table for two straight away.

 

Specialities - we didn't go to any! We were planning on going to Cagneys and Moderno, but with the quality of the beef in Manhattans we didn't feel the need. They did seem to be busy and were often yellow or red on the screens, but there were always spaces available at some point during service for those that are flexible.

[michelle028]

In Livorno there was a NCL Shuttle to the trainstation for 12$ roundtrip.

Be careful if you want to take a specific train: We waited 35 minutes in the bus before it was full and finally left for the trainstation...

 

A shuttle to the city center of Livorno was provided by another organization but I don't know how much that shuttle was.

 

In Palma there was also a NCL shuttle for 12$ roundtrip.

We used the public bus Nr 1. It was 1,50 Euro single fare to the city center (exit at "Avenguida Argentina"). We could pay directly to the driver. It was much cheaper than the shuttle and the bus left in front of the Cruise Terminal.

 

Sorry to interrupt this thread....but where does the Palma public bus drop you off?

[kkpcruiser]

Thanks for posting! There really isn't a lot of info on the 2015 Epic Med sailings and I think the information the OP and other cruisers on the same sailing shared has been very helpful.

We sail in late June , our first Med cruise but our second on Epic. We really enjoyed the ship the first time around and are looking forward to exploring the ports offered.

Thanks also for the clarification on the balcony smoking situation. I would be pretty unhappy if it is published as no smoking, and my neighbors ignored the rules.

Looking forward to any other info .

Many Thanks

[Jimmer2]

Do you know if there is a charge for breakfast room service delivery?

If you have a drink package can you get wine with dinner?

 

How much do the charge for a bottle of water?

 

Do you know what the minimum bet is on the gaming tables?

 

Jimmer2

Sailing on Epic May 24