Live from the Epic

[Kfamilycruise]

13275 is directly opposite 13277

 

 

You rock! Thx!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Kfamilycruise]

Cd?

 

 

Cruise director maybe?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[KeithJenner]

Cruise director maybe?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

 

 

Of course.

 

From memory it's someone called Monica. Can't say I've really noticed them.

[KeithJenner]

Lots of restaurant availability. Spaces still available tonight (it's currently 7.30pm) everywhere, including Teppenyaki and Le Bistro

[cc_rider]

When we disembarked from the Epic (May 1) there were plenty of taxis. We had no wait.

 

Did you recall if taxi's were readily available at the port in Barcelona? Since we embark in Rome, Barcelona is just stop for us and we will be heading to Sagrada Familia in the AM. We are hoping to take a taxi from the port.

[Sissaaaaaa]

Of course.

 

From memory it's someone called Monica. Can't say I've really noticed them.

 

Thanks

[TheTruth79]

Thanks so much for all the great answers!

Can you tell me where smoking is allowed? Besides the casino.... Spice? Any of the top deck? Posh? When I was on the Getaway, we found a nice little bar area on the top deck where they allowed it.

I am not asking to start an argument, as this questions is a hot button for most. Just a curious traveler. I will be in the Epic December 2016

[KeithJenner]

Thanks so much for all the great answers!

 

Can you tell me where smoking is allowed? Besides the casino.... Spice? Any of the top deck? Posh? When I was on the Getaway, we found a nice little bar area on the top deck where they allowed it.

 

I am not asking to start an argument, as this questions is a hot button for most. Just a curious traveler. I will be in the Epic December 2016

 

 

 

I'm not totally sure as I don't smoke, and am also not bothered too much by those who are, so tend not to notice.

 

However, I did see someone light up in Spice today, so assume you can smoke there.

 

There is also the smoking lounge on deck 7.

 

Other than that I'm not sure.

[BamaVol]

Who is your CD?

 

The 5/15 departure from BCN, it was Pedro.

 

When we disembarked from the Epic (May 1) there were plenty of taxis. We had no wait.

 

We had a relatively short line at 8:30 on 5/22, maybe 50 people ahead of us, and were in a taxi in well under 10 minutes. However, 1/2 the ship was a group tour that would have had their own buses. The line was well organized and they kept hustling cruisers to the waiting cabs.

Edited May 30, 2016 by BamaVol

[KeithJenner]

Regarding taxis, I can't stress enough how much this can fluctuate and really depends on what other ships are in port.

 

I could use three of my experiences to say that taxis are plentiful, but that doesn't change the fact that we almost missed out flight on the occasion that we were waiting for about 90 minutes due to other ships being in port on the same day.

 

Check the cruise schedules and prepare. If Harmony is regularly docking on Sunday's (I don't know whether it is) then that is potentially a gamechanger and all previous experience could be irrelevant.

[Dramamamahil]

Regarding taxis, I can't stress enough how much this can fluctuate and really depends on what other ships are in port.

 

I could use three of my experiences to say that taxis are plentiful, but that doesn't change the fact that we almost missed out flight on the occasion that we were waiting for about 90 minutes due to other ships being in port on the same day.

 

Check the cruise schedules and prepare. If Harmony is regularly docking on Sunday's (I don't know whether it is) then that is potentially a gamechanger and all previous experience could be irrelevant.

 

I looked it up and Harmony will be docking at the same time as Epic (5am) and it looks like Holland America's Oosterdam will be arriving at 8am.

 

Now I'm nervous about making our 8:45 tour time without getting off the ship crazy early! Would reserving transportation be our best bet and can you recommend a transportation company?

[ollienbertsmum]

Regarding taxis, I can't stress enough how much this can fluctuate and really depends on what other ships are in port.

 

I could use three of my experiences to say that taxis are plentiful, but that doesn't change the fact that we almost missed out flight on the occasion that we were waiting for about 90 minutes due to other ships being in port on the same day.

 

Check the cruise schedules and prepare. If Harmony is regularly docking on Sunday's (I don't know whether it is) then that is potentially a gamechanger and all previous experience could be irrelevant.

 

This is excellent advice.

 

We had an 8.30 train and were off at 6.30 - there were three taxis waiting. No queue. We were of course an hour early. However we did not miss our train. Not a chance.

 

I didn't think to check the cruise schedules - but I should have.

[TheTruth79]

 

However, I did see someone light up in Spice today, so assume you can smoke there.

There is also the smoking lounge on deck 7.

Other than that I'm not sure.

 

Ok thanks, sounds good! I much prefer an open area like Spice as opposed to a secluded area. Tends to be so smokey there even for a smoker. :eek:

[Feebs2015]

I looked it up and Harmony will be docking at the same time as Epic (5am) and it looks like Holland America's Oosterdam will be arriving at 8am.

 

Now I'm nervous about making our 8:45 tour time without getting off the ship crazy early! Would reserving transportation be our best bet and can you recommend a transportation company?

 

I have booked private car transfers with Sun Transfers to the port from airport and from the port to airport. Very reasonable.

Our flight home is at 10.10 am so I need to be off ship at 0615am .

 

Hate talking about "getting off ship" before I am even on it 😄😄😄

[ollienbertsmum]

I looked it up and Harmony will be docking at the same time as Epic (5am) and it looks like Holland America's Oosterdam will be arriving at 8am.

 

Now I'm nervous about making our 8:45 tour time without getting off the ship crazy early! Would reserving transportation be our best bet and can you recommend a transportation company?

 

I would have thought that if you leave the ship at 7.30 am you will have no difficulty getting a taxi. Check the route you have to take on Google map and if you find that you are crazy early, ask the taxi driver to drop you off sooner on the route and walk the rest of the way. Barcelona is lovely early on a Sunday morning.

[richstowe]

Thanks for all the good info . Looking forward to your port activities . Have you rented a car for any of the ports ?

We got the 3 meal dining package and have booked Cucina , Cagney's and Le Bistro but we may change .

We have read that Moderno & Teppanyaki are good . Any thoughts on the various surcharge options ?

Edited May 30, 2016 by richstowe

[Quilting_Cruiser]

It just never happened. It was a fairly active roll call, but not huge numbers of posters. Nobody volunteered to organise a meet and greet.

 

The same applies to the roll call for the Star in the Summer. Other than the cruise we had with only a couple of families on the Roll Call (in Alaska), we have always had meet and greets, so it's a bit odd not having one. The roll call was helpful though and some people have organised trips so they were still worth while.

 

I've never really been too fussed with them, to be honest. We usually just go to show our faces.

 

 

That makes sense. I've done only two NCL cruises and on the first one we didn't have a M&G but a few of us planned tours together. On the Epic cruise in March, we had more than 100 people at the M&G and had a great time--best M&G I've ever been to! But, the itinerary you're on (that I'll also be doing next year on Epic) is so port intensive and with the three embarkation ports, I'm thinking a M&G may be difficult. Especially since I'm boarding in Rome and there isn't a sea day for several days. So I'm happy to hear that without a M&G people still arranged tours.

 

Thanks!

[KeithJenner]

Enjoyed Le Bistro tonight. It is far from my wife's favourite restaurant, but I thought it was good as usual.

 

There was a big group eating at the same time, and the waitstaff did a very good job of serving them but not making us feel that we were not being looked after too.

 

Didn't do a great deal other than that. I really love Howl at the Moon, but the Headliners venue on the Epic isn't that good. We had a quick look in there last night, but I am waiting until later in the week to spend more time there (and go to see the Beatles as well).

 

We've got the three Italian ports coming up and a few people have expressed an interest in them. We have done these places quite a few times before, both on cruises and by other means, so we haven't got masses planned. However, feel free to ask questions, as I can help with getting into and around the various places. We tend to do it ourselves, so I can't help with tours, but may be able to give some advice on public transport.

[lachelli]

Loving the review, do You know who the entertainment teams is. In particular I am wondering if Fernando is on board

 

Thanks

[BamaVol]

Keith, last week there was a comedy string quartet in Headliners for a few shows. IIRC, the name was Grafitti Classics, although I may have that backwards. We thought they were quite good and laughed throughout the show. Are they still there?

Edited May 31, 2016 by BamaVol

[KeithJenner]

Keith, last week there was a comedy string quartet in Headliners for a few shows. IIRC, the name was Grafitti Classics, although I may have that backwards. We thought they were quite good and laughed throughout the show. Are they still there?

 

 

 

Yes, they are still here. I've seen them a couple of times before and I agree they are quite good.

 

I may see them later in the week, although I think they tend to clash with other reservations we have.

[KeithJenner]

Loving the review, do You know who the entertainment teams is. In particular I am wondering if Fernando is on board

 

 

 

Thanks

 

 

 

I'll check that out later if I can. I haven't heard anything from a Fernando, but I do tend to blank out the entertainment staff a bit.

[KeithJenner]

So, Naples, what can I say.

 

I've always struggled a bit to understand why people bother going to Herculinium or Pompeii when there is a perfectly good ruin just outside the port gates.

 

I jest, of course, well just a little. I have very mixed feelings about Naples. There is so much so see in the area, and it's an interesting city, but it certainly isn't easy on the eye. I always think that just a small amount of effort and a bit of litter picking would make so much difference.

 

We have been to Herculinium and Pompeii on previous trips, and would recommend them both (I preferred Herculinium as it is more compact). We are waiting to come on a land trip to do Sorrento and Capri.

 

As we were looking for something easy to do today, we took the Funicular to Castel Sant'Elmo. It was cheap (€2 Euro return and €2.50 for the Castle. There isn't much there, but the views are great and Naples actually looks nice from up there.

 

We stopped for Gelato on the way back, and now we're back in o'Sheehans for a quick drink before lunch and then some more goes on the water slides before it gets busier.

[KeithJenner]

Some pictures of Naples:

 

 

 

[lachelli]

So, Naples, what can I say.

 

As we were looking for something easy to do today, we took the Funicular to Castel Sant'Elmo. It was cheap (€2 Euro return and €2.50 for the Castle. There isn't much there, but the views are great and Naples actually looks nice from up there .

 

Been to Naples a couple of times but have never gone up to the Castel Sant Elmo, the views look stunning and it seems like it was a nice clear day as well. can I ask how did you get to the Funicular station and is it far from the port. Can't believe I am only finding out about this now

 

Thanks