Live from the Epic

[LrgPizza]

.....

A result of all the demographic on this cruise seems to be that restaurants and shows are quieter. Reservations are available almost everywhere, even in the evening, with some surprising exceptions. For example one evening, you could have got in everywhere except for La Cucina.

 

That is the complete opposite of everything everywhere ever in history. :D

[Kingmaker_inc]

Keith, I'm really appreciating your updates, and I'm looking forward to the dailies in due course.

 

Enjoy your remaining time onboard!!

 

Best wishes for clear sailing and sunny skies!

[don1976]

The wifi is as patchy as always. I think it's quicker than previously, but it does seem quicker when it works.

 

As usual, it is very reliable when we are in port but does jam up a bit when everyone arrives back and starts posting pictures and things.

 

We've tended to use the shore cellular service whilst in port as we can all be online at the same time, and rely on the wifi when we are at sea. That means that we are using it at the busy times.

 

I don't know any specifics about the casino, but dollars are used onboard for everything, regardless of the ships location.

 

I seem to remember mention of a specific machine that takes Euros, but I don't know whether that is correct.

Keith. When you say shore cellular, how have you gone about it? Have you bought a local sim in Italy?

 

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[tel2]

Is it 16011 by any chance??

 

We were in 16011 3 weeks ago. What do you want to know?

 

terry

Edited June 3, 2016 by tel2

[Seininya]

Yea it is. $15 per person.

 

Thanks KeithJenner. NCL was clueless and told me they don't run shuttles except to airport...:eek:

[maxi305]

Thanks for all the information Keith! In gambees review of the escape I notices the menu of O´Sheenan´s has changed. Is the new menu already on the epic?

[ollienbertsmum]

Thanks KeithJenner. NCL was clueless and told me they don't run shuttles except to airport...:eek:

 

I think it may be that you pay for those shuttles either in cash or with your room card. You don't book them ahead. If an NCL agent sitting in Florida looked at the excursion list it would not appear. They would then perhaps assume that there was none.

 

You could also get a shuttle to Pisa, stay for 2 hours and then get back again. If you just want to look around the Tower area and go into one of the museums it would be enough time.

[KeithJenner]

Keith. When you say shore cellular, how have you gone about it? Have you bought a local sim in Italy?

 

Sent from my ONE A2003 using Tapatalk

 

 

 

We all use 3 for our mobiles. The main reason for that is their "feel at home" where your tariff includes data, calls and text in lots of other countries. It includes most of Europe and the US. It's really worth it if you travel a lot.

[KeithJenner]

Thanks for all the information Keith! In gambees review of the escape I notices the menu of O´Sheenan´s has changed. Is the new menu already on the epic?

 

 

 

Yes, all the menus have changed.

 

Actually, I haven't checked the MDR menus, but I assume they have changed as well. O'Sheehans and the speciality restaurants have all changed.

[KeithJenner]

Regarding shuttles, there are a few options. It always causes some discussion so I'll run through the options.

 

The basic shuttle costs €5 return and I believe is run by the port. You pay in cash at the bus and it takes you to the town square.

 

You need to use that shuttle if you want to get to the town centre, as you aren't allowed to walk through the port. Given that restriction, I think it's rather questionable whether a charge should be made for it. Most ports with similar restrictions offer them for free.

 

NCL offer the shuttle to the train station. They seem to offer this as their suggested way of getting to Pisa. I'm not sure they offer a Pisa only tour, so the train to Pisa isn't directly competing with their excursions. That costs $15 and is chargeable to your room.

 

If you take that shuttle then it's an short train journey to Pisa as then a nice walk to the tower. There isn't much else in Pisa, but I think it's a nice city to walk through.

 

Another option for the train is to get the city shuttle and then catch the local bus to the train station. We did this a few years ago. It's the cheapest method, but is a bit of messing about. The return journey was quite annoying.

 

Our plan this time was to use City Sightseeing, who offer a shuttle bus directly from the town square to Pisa with a return about 2and a half hours later. Price wise, it was very similar to the NCL shuttle plus train, as you also need the town centre shuttle.

 

Unfortunately, I can't say how it worked as the weather put us off. A couple of other people on our roll call were also booked on it, so they may know.

 

That is the problem with times tickets. If you want to go up the tower then that can't be avoided as you need to prebook to avoid queueing. The weather improved yesterday, so we could have gone to Pisa in the afternoon but we would have had to pay again for our transport and also wouldn't have got up the tower. Had we been planning to use the train and not been fussed about going up the tower then we would have been fine to wait.

[Jmw148]

Thanks for all your interesting posts and useful info.

I'm wondering about the epic plunge - does it run all day or is it just certain hours. And is it going on port days?

Thanks very much.

[KeithJenner]

Thanks for all your interesting posts and useful info.

 

I'm wondering about the epic plunge - does it run all day or is it just certain hours. And is it going on port days?

 

Thanks very much.

 

 

 

It is open all day (closes some time in the evening).

 

It's certainly open on port days. The only time we ever use it. Naples day is quietest.

[KeithJenner]

My son is having a swim, and I'm sitting in the sun on a beach in Cannes, so thought I would take the opportunity for an update.

 

Last night was Cirque. We haven't been before (I'm not sure why, but I'm not a big fan of circus generally). I have to say that it was very good.

 

If I have to go to a circus then my favourites are the funny stuff and balancing/juggling. They have all those well covered. The bits where they get audience members to join in were very funny (although in glad we were upstairs so no risk of getting picked). Why someone would pick balancing as a career choice is beyond me, but to then select a ship to do it on is just crazy.

 

Overall I would very much recommend it. We got premium tickets so we could sit upstairs and I'm glad we did. No craning our necks to see what was happening.

 

I understood from others that the seating was on tables, so that not everyone was right by the edge, but perhaps that is on different ships. What we had was seating similar to that looking down to the atrium from o'Sheehans so everyone was looking directly towards the performers. I would certainly go for those seats again.

 

It wasn't sold out, so there was no problem getting the required seats. Upstairs was only about half full.

 

I've got a picture of the seating and will post it later.

 

Anyway, after another lay in this morning, we got a tender to Cannes at about 11am (no reservations needed after that), and now we're enjoying the sun. Another relaxing day. :)

[KeithJenner]

This is the balcony seating at Cirque.

 

[jewelmick]

Thanks for the love review Keith. We leave July 10th...getting close.

I hope our trip is as chill as yours, but I doubt it will be. This is our first time traveling to the Med.

I have most of it planned out and have tried to build in down days, but it is so port intensive there is not anyway around it. I will keep reminding myself it is only a taste, there is no way see it all.

 

 

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[KeithJenner]

Yes, it's a lot different from us, compared to those of you who don't have as much option for just relaxing.

 

I'd certainly recommend avoiding planning too much though. I've seen people who are basically walking round like zombies after the three Italian ports. Don't plan too much and ruin it for yourselves. You can't do everything.

[MarkCheshire]

Anyway, after another lay in this morning, we got a tender to Cannes at about 11am (no reservations needed after that),

 

Hi

Is there a charge for the tender to Cannes? Thanks for your help.

Cheers

[KeithJenner]

No charge for the tenders.

 

Before about 11am you need a reservation due to capacity, but after that and for the return you just walk up.

[don1976]

We all use 3 for our mobiles. The main reason for that is their "feel at home" where your tariff includes data, calls and text in lots of other countries. It includes most of Europe and the US. It's really worth it if you travel a lot.

Thanks Keith. I think I'll get a 3 sim. I assume this only works when you're close to shore when on the ship?

 

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[KeithJenner]

Thanks Keith. I think I'll get a 3 sim. I assume this only works when you're close to shore when on the ship?

 

Sent from my ONE A2003 using Tapatalk

 

 

 

Yes, basically it's just while in port, but obviously on this cruise that is quite a bit of the time.

 

In Cannes it only just reaches the ship so the signal isn't great.

[jewelmick]

Do you reserve the tenders when you first get on board?

 

 

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[cc_rider]

When we were ready to go into Cannes, we used our cabin phone to reserve for the next available tender, then went straight down and got on. That was around 8:30 am.

[TwinMom123]

Keith, thank you so much for sharing all of this information with us! I am taking notes, as we sail away on June 26th! I also found your Instagram...thank you for sharing so many photos. It sounds like you all are having a great time!

[TwinMom123]

Mine is 16017. Chose it on purpose so I can glance at the entrance of the Haven pool from my suite if necessary.

 

 

 

Since our family is 5 and we like to stay together due to children, our only option is the H4 suite--otherwise, it would be nice to have something a little larger.

 

We are also in 16017 for our cruise in 3 weeks! Take good care of it for us :) Let me ask you...how did the other passengers seem to take children in the Haven? We were on NCL Jewel last August and we got a few annoyed looks when our kids (4) used the pool. They weren't being loud or disruptive...but we certainly got a few warning looks from a few. I prefer the main pools myself but we usually hang around there to have lunch with our family members who prefer the poolside service in Haven.

[kathybelcher2433]

Yes, it's a lot different from us, compared to those of you who don't have as much option for just relaxing.

 

I'd certainly recommend avoiding planning too much though. I've seen people who are basically walking round like zombies after the three Italian ports. Don't plan too much and ruin it for yourselves. You can't do everything.

 

 

Love this. There's not one single site in Italy that will make or break your vacation. But overextending yourself trying to get there will. You'll remember the overall experience not that "one thing".